JP2020199948A - Accelerator pedal device - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve feeling that the foot of a driver is pushed back during active control for adding reaction force in an accelerator pedal device.SOLUTION: An accelerator pedal device includes: a pedal arm 30 which interlocks with tread force of an accelerator pedal; a housing 10 which oscillatably supports the pedal arm around an axis line S; a return spring 40 which exerts energization force for returning the pedal arm to a rest position; a hysteresis generation mechanism 50 which generates hysteresis in tread force in a stepping operation and a return operation of the accelerator pedal; and a reaction force addition mechanism which has a reaction force lever 70 for exerting reaction force to the pedal arm so as to add reaction force in a direction for pushing back the accelerator pedal and a driving source 60 for rotationally driving the reaction force lever. The reaction force lever 70 has a columnar spindle 72 and a contact unit 73 which is supported by the spindle so as to be brought into rolling contact with the spindle 72 and the pedal arm 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an accelerator pedal device applied to a vehicle or the like, and more particularly to an accelerator pedal device capable of active control that generates a reaction force that opposes a pedaling force.

Conventional accelerator pedal devices include a pedal arm, a housing that swingably supports the pedal arm, a return spring that returns the pedal arm to the resting position, a hysteresis generation mechanism that generates hysteresis in the pedal effort, and a pedal arm. It is equipped with an active control mechanism that performs active control so as to push it back toward the rest position, and the active control mechanism provides a return lever that contacts the pedal arm, a drive source that rotationally drives the return lever, and a control circuit board that controls the drive source. Those containing are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this accelerator pedal device, in the normal mode in which active control is not performed, as the pedaling force characteristic, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 16, the pedaling force line NL that performs hysteresis based on the hysteresis generation mechanism is obtained.
On the other hand, in the case of the control mode in which active control is performed at the time of danger avoidance or the like, as the pedaling force characteristic, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 16, the pedaling force line AL forming hysteresis based on the active control mechanism is obtained.
In this control mode, the pedaling force felt by the driver shifts from the pedaling force line DNL at the time of stepping in the normal mode to the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning in the control mode, as shown by the arrow in FIG.

Therefore, in order to generate a large reaction force that overcomes the driver's pedaling force, push the pedal arm back to the rest position, and surely give the driver the feeling that the foot is pushed back, the pedaling force line RAL is relative to the pedaling force line DNL. Is large, that is, it is desirable that the pedaling force difference ΔF is large.
However, in the pedaling force line AL in the conventional control mode, the pedaling force difference ΔFA (hysteresis) between the pedaling force line DAL at the time of stepping on and the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning is large, so that the pedaling force difference ΔF is small.
In order to deal with this, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 16, if the pedaling force line AL is shifted upward as a whole to increase the reaction force as a whole, the pedaling force difference ΔF can be increased, but high torque is generated. This will lead to an increase in the size of the drive source or an increase in current consumption.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-6544

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to operate in active control in which a reaction force is applied without causing an increase in size of a drive source or an increase in current consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide an accelerator pedal device capable of improving the feeling that a person's foot is pushed back.

The accelerator pedal device of the present invention includes a pedal arm linked to the pedaling force of the accelerator pedal, a housing that swingably supports the pedal arm around a predetermined axis, and a return spring that exerts a urging force to return the pedal arm to a resting position. , A hysteresis generation mechanism that generates hysteresis in the pedaling force during the depression and return operations of the accelerator pedal, and the reaction force lever and reaction force lever that exert a reaction force on the pedal arm in order to add a reaction force in the direction of pushing back the accelerator pedal. It comprises a reaction force applying mechanism including a driving source to drive, and the reaction force lever includes a columnar support shaft and a contact unit supported by the support shaft for rolling contact with the support shaft and the pedal arm. It has become.

In the accelerator pedal device, the contact unit may adopt a configuration including an outer ring that is in rolling contact with the pedal arm and a plurality of rolling elements that are interposed between the support shaft and the outer ring.

In the accelerator pedal device, the contact unit may adopt a configuration including an inner ring interposed between the support shaft and the rolling element and fitted to the support shaft.

In the accelerator pedal device, the drive source includes a drive shaft extending parallel to the axis, the reaction lever includes a lever body formed in a flat plate shape and fixed to the end of the drive shaft, and the support shaft includes a support shaft. A configuration may be adopted in which the lever body protrudes in parallel with the axis toward the drive source side.

In the accelerator pedal device, the drive source includes a rotor having a drive shaft, and the drive shaft has a first protruding shaft portion protruding from one end of the rotor in a direction parallel to the axis and a second protruding shaft portion protruding from the other end of the rotor. A configuration may be adopted in which the first protruding shaft portion and the second protruding shaft portion are supported by the housing via bearings, including the protruding shaft portion.

In the accelerator pedal device, the housing includes a housing body that defines the accommodation space, a housing cover that is coupled to the housing body to close the accommodation space, and an auxiliary cover that covers a part of the drive source outside the housing body. The housing body and the auxiliary cover may adopt a configuration in which the drive shaft is rotatably supported via bearings.

In the accelerator pedal device, the pedal arm has a supported portion supported by the housing, an upper arm extending vertically upward from the supported portion, and an accelerator pedal extending downward in the vertical direction from the supported portion. A configuration may be adopted in which the upper arm includes a lower arm and the upper arm has a contact surface with which the contact unit rolls and contacts.

In the accelerator pedal device, the hysteresis generating mechanism includes a slider that slides on the housing and an urging spring that exerts an urging force that pushes the slider back against the housing, and the pedal arm abuts on the slider in the upper region of the upper arm. A configuration may be adopted in which the contact portion, the spring receiving portion that receives the return spring in the lower region of the upper arm, and the contact surface in the intermediate region between the contact portion and the spring receiving portion.

In the accelerator pedal device, a configuration may be adopted in which a coating film is formed on the contact surface.

In the accelerator pedal device, the coating may adopt a configuration containing any one of molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

According to the accelerator pedal device having the above configuration, it is possible to improve the feeling that the driver's foot is pushed back during active control in which a reaction force is applied, without causing an increase in the size of the drive source and an increase in current consumption. ..

It is an external perspective view which shows the accelerator pedal device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the accelerator pedal device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from another angle. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the housing cover and the auxiliary cover in the accelerator pedal device shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the inside of the accelerator pedal device shown in FIG. 2 and the operation of a pedal arm. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the housing body which forms a part of the housing included in the accelerator pedal device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the outside of the housing body shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the housing cover which forms a part of the housing included in the accelerator pedal device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the pedal arm, the rotor and the drive shaft, the reaction force lever, and the contact unit (inner ring, outer ring, and rolling element) included in the accelerator pedal device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotor, a drive shaft, a bearing, a reaction force lever, a support shaft, a contact unit (inner ring, outer ring, and rolling element) and the like included in the accelerator pedal device according to the present invention. It is a perspective sectional view passing through the center line of a contact unit. It is sectional drawing in the plane perpendicular to the center line of a contact unit. It is a perspective sectional view which shows the support state of a drive shaft. It is a characteristic figure which shows the pedaling force characteristic of the accelerator pedal device which concerns on this invention. It is a characteristic figure which shows the other pedaling force characteristic of the accelerator pedal device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other embodiment of a contact unit. It is a characteristic figure which shows the pedaling force characteristic of the conventional accelerator pedal device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The accelerator pedal device M according to one embodiment is fixed to the dash lower panel of the vehicle body via a bracket.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the accelerator pedal device M includes a housing 10, a collar 20, a pedal arm 30, a return spring 40 for returning the pedal arm 30 to a resting position, a hysteresis generating mechanism 50 for generating hysteresis in pedaling force, and a drive. It includes a source 60, a reaction force lever 70 including a support shaft 72 and a contact unit 73, a position sensor 80 for detecting the rotation angle position of the pedal arm 30, and a circuit board 90.
Here, a reaction force adding mechanism for applying a reaction force to the pedal arm 30 is configured by the drive source 60 and the reaction force lever 70.
Further, the drive source 60 is appropriately driven and controlled based on various control signals emitted from the control unit arranged on the circuit board 90 or the control unit of the vehicle, so that active control for adding a reaction force is performed.

The housing 10 includes a housing body 11, a housing cover 12 connected to the housing body 11, an auxiliary cover 13 connected to the outside of the housing body 11, and an auxiliary cover 14 connected to the outside of the housing cover 12. Has been done.

The housing body 11 is made of a resin material and includes a side wall 11a, a front wall 11b, a back wall 11c, and a top wall 11d so as to define the accommodation space A, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Further, the housing body 11 includes a support portion 11e, a bearing hole 11f, an inner wall surface 11g, 11h, a boss portion 11i, 11j, 11k, a motor mounting portion 11m, a fully open stopper 11n, a spring receiving portion 11p, a spring receiving portion 11q, and four. It is provided with a connecting claw 11r.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front wall 11b is partially cut out in a lower region so that the pedal arm 30 can move between the rest position Hp and the maximum stepping position Fp.
A part of the inner surface of the back wall 11c functions as a rest stopper 11c ₁ that defines a rest position of the pedal arm 30, as shown in FIG.

The support portion 11e is fitted in a fitting recess 31a formed in the supported portion 31 of the pedal arm 30, and is a columnar shape centered on the axis S so as to swingably support the pedal arm 30 around the axis S. Is formed in.
As shown in FIG. 12, the bearing hole 11f forms a circular hole into which the bearing 61b that rotatably supports the first protruding shaft portion 61a ₁ of the drive shaft 61a of the drive source 60 around the axis S2 is fitted.
The inner wall surface 11g slidably supports the slider 51 included in the hysteresis generation mechanism 50.
The inner wall surface 11h slidably supports the slider 52 included in the hysteresis generation mechanism 50.

The boss portions 11i, 11j, and 11k define through holes extending in parallel with the axis S so that the cylindrical collar 20 can be fitted.
The motor mounting portion 11m is formed so that a part of the coil 62 of the drive source 60 faces the accommodation space A and the yoke 63 of the drive source 60 is fixed.
The fully open stopper 11n receives the contact portion 33a of the pedal arm 30 and defines the maximum stepping position Fp of the pedal arm 30.

The housing cover 12 is formed of a resin material and is coupled to the housing body 11 so as to close the accommodation space A of the housing body 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the side wall 12a, the connector 12b, and the sensor It includes a buried portion 12c, a support portion 12e, a boss portion 12i, 12j, 12k, a substrate mounting portion 12m, and four connecting pieces 12r.

The connector 12b accommodates a terminal extending from the circuit board 90 so as to be connected to an external connector.
The sensor embedded portion 12c is centered on the axis S so that the stator 83 and the Hall element 84, which form a part of the position sensor 80, are embedded and arranged inside the supported portion 31 of the pedal arm 30 in a non-contact manner. Form a columnar shape.
The support portion 12e is a cylinder centered on the axis S so that the fitting convex portion 31b formed on the supported portion 31 of the pedal arm 30 is fitted and the pedal arm 30 is swingably supported around the axis S. Make a shape.
The boss portions 12i, 12j, and 12k are joined to the boss portions 11i, 11j, and 11k, respectively, and define a through hole extending in parallel with the axis S so that the collar 20 is fitted.

The auxiliary cover 13 is attached to a yoke 63 forming a part of the drive source 60 so as to cover the drive source 60 attached to the outer surface of the housing body 11.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the auxiliary cover 13 includes a fitting recess 13a for fitting the bearing 61c that supports the second protruding shaft portion 61b of the drive shaft 61a.
The auxiliary cover 14 is attached to the housing cover 12 so as to cover the circuit board 90 attached to the outer surface of the housing cover 12.

Then, in the housing cover 12, the three collars 20 fitted to the housing body 11 are fitted to the boss portions 12i, 12j, and 12k, respectively, and are joined to the housing body 11, and the connecting piece 12r is engaged with the connecting claw 11r. Will be combined. As a result, the housing cover 12 is integrally connected to the housing body 11.
Further, the housing 10 is obtained by connecting the auxiliary cover 13 to the outside of the housing main body 11 and connecting the auxiliary cover 14 to the outside of the housing cover 12.
In the accelerator pedal device M provided with the housing 10, the bolt B is passed through the collar 20 and fixed to the vehicle body side.

The collar 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal material, and is fitted into through holes of three boss portions 11i, 12i, 11j, 12j, 11k, and 12k of the housing body 11 and the housing cover 12.
Since the collar 20 is fitted to the housing body 11 and the housing cover 12 in this way, the mechanical strength of the housing 10 is increased even though the structure defining the accommodation space A of the housing 10 is divided into two parts. Can be enhanced.

The pedal arm 30 is formed of a resin material, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the supported portion 31 centered on the axis S, the upper arm 32 extending vertically upward from the supported portion 31, and supported. A lower arm 33 extending downward in the vertical direction from the portion 31 is provided.

The supported portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIG. 8, the fitting recess 31a into which the support portion 11e of the housing body 11 is fitted and the fitting portion 12e fitted into the support portion 12e of the housing cover 12 are fitted. It includes a convex portion 31b.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the supported portion 31 has an annular armature 81 forming a part of the position sensor 80 on the inner peripheral surface and a pair of circles connected to the inner peripheral surface of the armature 81. The arc-shaped permanent magnet 82 is fixed.

The upper arm 32 includes a spring receiving portion 32a that receives the end of the return spring 40, a contact portion 32b that abuts on the slider 51 of the hysteresis generation mechanism 50, a contact portion 32c that abuts on the rest stopper 11c ₁ at the rest position Hp, and a counter. A contact surface 32d with which the contact unit 73 of the force lever 70 comes into contact is provided.

The spring receiving portion 32a is formed in the lower region of the upper arm 32.
The contact portion 32b is formed in the upper region of the upper arm 32.
The contact surface 32d is formed in an intermediate region between the contact portion 32b and the spring receiving portion 32a.
Here, a film having excellent low frictional properties may be formed on the contact surface 32d.
As the coating film, any material such as molybdenum disulfide, graphite, or polytetrafluoroethylene may be contained.
According to this, the contact resistance between the contact unit 73 and the contact surface 32d can be reduced, and the wear resistance, durability and the like can be improved.
The lower arm 33 includes a contact portion 33a and an accelerator pedal 33b that come into contact with the fully open stopper 11n at the maximum depression position Fp.

As shown in FIG. 4, the return spring 40 is a compression type coil spring formed of spring steel or the like, one end of which is in contact with the spring receiving portion 11p of the housing body 11, and the other end of which is the spring of the pedal arm 30. It comes into contact with the receiving portion 32a and is attached in a state of being compressed to a predetermined compression allowance.
Then, the return spring 40 exerts an urging force to return the pedal arm 20 to the rest position Hp.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hysteresis generation mechanism 50 includes a slider 51, a slider 52, and an urging spring 53.
The slider 51 is formed of a resin material, for example, a highly slidable material such as an oil-impregnated polyacetal, and has a contact surface 51a that slidably contacts the inner wall surface 11g of the housing 10 and an inclined surface that contacts the inclined surface 52b of the slider 52. 51b, the engaging portion 32b of the upper arm portion 32 has an engaging surface 51c that can be disengaged and engaged.
The slider 52 is formed of a resin material, for example, a highly slidable material such as an oil-impregnated polyacetal, and has a contact surface 52a that slidably contacts the inner wall surface 11h of the housing 10 and an inclined surface that contacts the inclined surface 51b of the slider 51. 52b has a receiving surface 52c that receives one end of the urging spring 53.

The urging spring 53 is a compression type coil spring formed of, for example, spring steel, and one end abuts on the receiving surface 52c of the slider 52 and the other end abuts on the spring receiving portion 11q of the housing 10 for compression. It is placed in the state of being.
Then, the urging spring 53 presses the inclined surface 52b of the slider 52 against the inclined surface 51b of the slider 51, exerts a rusting action so as to press the sliders 51 and 52 toward the inner wall surfaces 11g and 11q, and also causes the slider 51 to rust. , 52 exerts an urging force to return the pedal arm 30 to the resting position.

In the hysteresis generation mechanism 50, when the accelerator pedal 33b is stepped on, a frictional force is generated between the sliders 51 and 52 and the housing 10 in a direction opposite to the stepping operation, and the amount of compression of the urging spring 53 increases. To increase.
On the other hand, when the accelerator pedal 33b is returned, the frictional force generated between the sliders 51 and 52 and the housing 10 is generated in the opposite direction to the case of the stepping operation, and decreases as the amount of compression of the urging spring 53 decreases.
Here, since the pedaling force of the return operation is smaller than the pedaling force of the stepping operation, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 13, the pedaling force that causes hysteresis in the pedaling force line DNL during the stepping operation and the pedaling force line RNL during the returning operation. Line NL is obtained.
If the slider 51 sticks and stops during the return operation, the pedal arm 30 returns to the rest position due to the urging force of the return spring 40.

The drive source 60 is a torque motor that generates torque according to the magnitude of the energized current, and forms a rotor 61 having a pair of permanent magnets, an exciting coil 62, and a magnetic path, as shown in FIG. It is equipped with a yoke 63.

The rotor 61 has a drive shaft 61a centered on an axis S2 parallel to the axis S.
As shown in FIG. 12, the drive shaft 61a is formed in a multi-stage columnar shape extending in the axis S2 direction, and has a first protruding shaft portion 61a ₁ protruding from one end of the rotor 61 and a second protruding shaft portion 61a ₁ protruding from the other end of the rotor 61. It includes a protruding shaft portion 61a ₂ , a fitting portion 61a ₃ as an end portion for fitting the reaction force lever 70, and a screw portion 61a ₄ for screwing the nut 61d.

Then, in the drive shaft 61a, the first protruding shaft portion 61a ₁ is supported by the housing body 11 via the bearing 61b, and the second protruding shaft portion 61a ₂ is supported by the auxiliary cover 13 via the bearing 61c. It is rotatably supported around the axis S2 with respect to the housing 10.
The bearing 61b is a radial bearing and is fitted in the bearing hole 11f of the housing body 11, and the bearing 61c is a radial bearing and is fitted in the fitting recess 13a of the auxiliary cover 13.

As described above, since the drive shaft 61a is supported by the bearings 61b and 61c on both sides of the rotor 61, the drive shaft 61a rotates about the axis S2 without deviating from the axis S2.
Therefore, the contact unit 73 can be uniformly rolled and brought into contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30 without tilting the reaction force lever 70 fixed to the end of the drive shaft 61a.

The coil 62 is wound around a bobbin held by a part of the yoke 63, and when energized, a magnetic field line is generated in the magnetic path of the yoke 63.
The yoke 63 is formed so as to face the rotor 61 with a gap, and is fixed to the motor mounting portion 11 m of the housing main body 11.
An auxiliary cover 13 is attached to the yoke 63 so as to cover a part of the drive source 60 from the outside in the axis S2 direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the reaction force lever 70 includes a lever body 71, a support shaft 72, a contact unit 73, and a retaining ring 74.
The lever body 71 is formed in a flat plate shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis S2, and has a substantially rectangular fitting hole 71a into which the fitting portion 61a ₃ of the drive shaft 61a is fitted, and a fitting portion 72a of the support shaft 72. It is provided with a circular fitting hole 71b to be fitted.

The support shaft 72 is formed in a multi-stage columnar shape centered on the axis S3 parallel to the axis S2, and includes a flanged fitting portion 72a, a support portion 72b, and an annular groove 72c.
The fitting portion 72a is fitted into the fitting hole 71b of the lever main body 71 so as to rotate around the axis S2 integrally with the lever main body 71.
The support portion 72b supports the contact unit 73 by fitting the inner ring 73a of the contact unit 73.
The annular groove 72c is formed so that the retaining ring 74 is fitted by snap-fitting.

Then, in a state where the support shaft 72 is fixed to the lever main body 71, as shown in FIG. 12, the support shaft 72 projects from the lever main body 71 toward the rotor 61 side of the drive source 60 in parallel with the axes S and S2. Arranged, the support 72b supports the contact unit 73.
That is, since the contact unit 73 in contact with the pedal arm 30 is arranged closer to the rotor 61 side, the amount of deviation from the center of the rotor 61 and the drive shaft 61a can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of a bending load exerted on the drive shaft 61a by the contact unit 73, and prevent or suppress the frictional resistance generated around the drive shaft 61a.
As a result, the contact unit 73 can be uniformly rolled and brought into contact with the contact surface 32d, and the frictional resistance between the contact unit 73 and the contact surface 32d can be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the contact unit 73 includes a retainer (not shown) that holds the inner ring 73a, the outer ring 73b, the plurality of rolling elements 73c, the shield plate 73d, and the rolling elements 73c at equal intervals.
The inner ring 73a is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a guide groove 73a ₁ on the outer peripheral surface thereof that accommodates the sphere 73c in the circumferential direction. Then, the inner ring 73a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the support portion 72b of the support shaft 72.
The outer ring 73b is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has an outer peripheral surface 73b ₁ that makes rolling contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30, a guide groove 73b ₂ that accommodates the rolling element 73c in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and shields on both sides thereof. A fixing portion 73b ₃ for fixing the plate 73d is provided.
The rolling element 73c is formed as a sphere, is interposed between the inner ring 73a and the outer ring 73b, and rolls along the matching grooves 73a ₁ and 73b ₂ .
The retaining ring 74 is fitted into the annular groove 72c of the support shaft 72 in order to prevent the contact unit 73 from coming off from the support portion 72b.

In the contact unit 73, the inner ring 73a is fitted to the support portion 72b of the support shaft 72 and is supported by the support shaft 72, so that the outer ring 73b is in rolling contact with the support shaft 72 via the rolling element 73c. , Rolling contact with the pedal arm 30.

Then, when the drive source 60 does not exert the driving force, the reaction force lever 70 follows the swing of the pedal arm 30 by the detent torque, and when the drive source 60 exerts the driving force, the pedal arm 30 resists the pedaling force. To push back toward the resting position Hp or to suppress stepping on.

As described above, the contact unit 73 not only makes rolling contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30, but also makes rolling contact with the support shaft 72 of the reaction force lever 70 via the rolling element 73c. The frictional resistance of the reaction force adding mechanism 50 can be reduced.
Therefore, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 13, in the pedaling force line AL during active control to which the reaction force by the reaction force lever 70 is applied, the pedaling force between the pedaling force line DAL at the time of stepping on and the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning. The difference ΔFAn can be made smaller than the conventional pedaling force difference ΔFA.

Since the pedaling force difference ΔFAn can be reduced, as shown in FIG. 13, the pedaling force in the control mode in which active control is performed with respect to the pedaling force line DNL at the time of stepping on the pedaling force line NL in the normal mode in which active control is not performed. The pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning in the line AL can be set larger than before, that is, ΔF (= F _RAL −F _DNL ) can be set larger. As a result, during active control in which a reaction force is applied, the driver can clearly feel that the foot is pushed back, and the reaction force feeling can be improved.

Further, by adopting a configuration including an inner ring 73a, an outer ring 73b, and a plurality of rolling elements 73c as the contact unit 73, the configuration can be the same as that of a general-purpose radial bearing.
That is, by using a general-purpose bearing as a contact unit 73 that makes rolling contact instead of using it as an original bearing, cost reduction, mass production, and the like can be achieved.

The position sensor 80 is a non-contact magnetic sensor, and as shown in FIG. 4, the annular armature 81 and armature 81 made of a magnetic material fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the supported portion 31 of the pedal arm 30. It includes a pair of arc-shaped permanent magnets 82 fixed to the inner peripheral surface, two stators 83 made of a magnetic material embedded in the sensor embedded portion 12c of the housing cover 12, and two Hall elements 84.

Then, in the position sensor 80, when the pedal arm 30 rotates, the armature 81 and the permanent magnet 82 rotate relative to the stator 83 and the Hall element 84, and the Hall element 84 detects the change in the magnetic flux density. By outputting as a voltage signal, the angular position of the pedal arm 30 is detected.

The circuit board 90 includes a control unit that emits a control signal, a control circuit that includes various electronic components, a signal processing circuit that processes a signal output from the Hall element 84, a terminal that electrically connects the Hall element 84, and other electrons. Equipped with parts.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 90 is attached to the board mounting portion 12m of the housing cover 12, and the auxiliary cover 14 is attached to the housing cover 12 from the outside so as to cover the circuit board 90. ..

Next, the operation of the accelerator pedal device M will be described.
First, when the driver does not depress the accelerator pedal 33b, the contact portion 32c of the upper arm 32 comes into contact with the rest stopper 11c ₁ of the housing 10 due to the urging force of the return spring 40, and the pedal arm 30 is brought to the rest position Hp. It is stopped.
From this state, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 33b in the normal mode in which the active control for applying the reaction force is not performed, the pedal arm 30 resists the urging force of the return spring 40 and the urging spring 53 while resisting the urging force of the return spring 40 and the urging spring 53. While applying a resistance load along the pedaling force line DNL when stepping on the pedaling force line NL in FIG. 13, the driver's foot is rotated to the maximum stepping position Fp (fully open position), and the contact portion 33a of the lower arm 33 is moved. It comes into contact with the fully open stopper 11n of the housing 10 and stops.

On the contrary, when the driver loosens the pedaling force, the pedal arm 30 exerts a resistance load along the pedaling force line RNL at the time of returning the pedaling force line NL in FIG. 13 on the driver's foot, and the pedal arm 30 causes the return spring 40 and the urging spring 53. Moves toward the resting position Hp by the urging force of the upper arm 32, and the contact portion 32c of the upper arm 32 comes into contact with the resting stopper 11c ₁ of the housing 10 and stops. In this return operation, the lever 70 follows the engaging portion 32d of the upper arm 32 while contacting the engaging portion 32d.

On the other hand, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 33b and it is determined that it is necessary to suppress the depressing operation in order to avoid danger, the reaction force is added so that active control for applying the reaction force is performed. The mechanism (60, 70) is driven.
That is, the reaction force lever 70 is controlled in a direction in which the pedal arm 30 is pushed back toward the rest position Hp against the pedaling force of the driver.

In this control mode, the resistance load (treading force) applied to the driver's foot is from the pedaling force line DNL at the time of stepping on the pedaling force line NL in the normal mode to the pedaling force line AL in the control mode, as shown by the arrow in FIG. It shifts to the treading line RAL at the time of return.
Here, the pedaling force line RAL at the time of stepping on the pedaling force line NL in the normal mode is larger than the conventional pedaling force line RAL at the pedaling force line AL in the control mode, that is, ΔF (= _FRAL −F _DNL ). It is set larger than before.
Therefore, at the time of active control, the driver can clearly receive the sensation of the foot being pushed back and immediately feel the forced return operation.

As described above, the accelerator pedal device having the above configuration improves the feeling that the driver's foot is pushed back during active control in which a reaction force is applied without causing an increase in the size of the drive source and an increase in current consumption. Can be made to.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment as a pedaling force characteristic during active control.
In the accelerator pedal device M of the present invention, by adopting the contact unit 73 that makes rolling contact with the support shaft 72 of the reaction force lever 70 and the pedal arm 30, the pedaling force line DAL at the time of stepping on and the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning are adopted. The pedaling force difference ΔFAn with and can be made smaller than before.
Therefore, for example, the pedaling force difference ΔFAn between the pedaling force line DNL at the time of stepping on the pedaling force line NL in the normal mode and the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning in the pedaling force line AL in the control mode is equal to or slightly larger than the conventional pedaling force difference ΔFA. When it is sufficient, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 14, the pedal effort line AL in the control mode can be shifted downward as a whole, and the pedal effort line DAL at the time of stepping can be set small.
That is, since the maximum reaction force can be reduced, the drive source 60 can be miniaturized, the torque can be reduced, the current consumption can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the components can be simplified.

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the contact unit included in the accelerator pedal device M of the present invention, and the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, the contact unit 173 includes a retainer (not shown) that holds the outer ring 173b, the plurality of rolling elements 173c, the shield plate 173d, and the rolling elements 173c at equal intervals.

The outer ring 173b includes an outer peripheral surface 173b ₁ that rolls into contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30, an inner peripheral surface 173b ₂ that rolls into contact with the rolling element 173c, and fixing portions 173b ₃ that fix the shield plates 173d on both sides thereof. ..
Then, the outer ring 173b rolls into contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30 and also rolls with the rolling element 173c.
The rolling element 173c is formed in a columnar shape, is interposed between the support portion 72b of the support shaft 72 and the outer ring 173b, and rolls along the circumferential direction.
In this embodiment, the support portion 72b of the support shaft 72 directly rolls and contacts the plurality of rolling elements 173c to support the contact unit 173.

Then, in the contact unit 173, the rolling element 173c is directly supported by the support portion 72b of the support shaft 72 so that the rolling element 173c can roll freely, so that the outer ring 73b rolls and contacts the support shaft 72 via the rolling element 173c. At the same time, it rolls into contact with the pedal arm 30.
That is, the contact unit 173 not only makes rolling contact with the contact surface 32d of the pedal arm 30, but also rolls with the support shaft 72 of the reaction force lever 70 via the rolling element 173c, so that a reaction force is applied. The frictional resistance of the mechanism 50 can be reduced.
Therefore, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 13, in the pedaling force line AL during active control to which the reaction force by the reaction force lever 70 is applied, the pedaling force between the pedaling force line DAL at the time of stepping on and the pedaling force line RAL at the time of returning. The difference ΔFAn (hysteresis) can be made smaller than that of the conventional pedaling force difference ΔFA.

According to this embodiment, as described above, it is possible to improve the feeling that the driver's foot is pushed back during active control in which a reaction force is applied, without causing an increase in the size of the drive source and an increase in current consumption. Further, since the inner ring 73a as in the above-described embodiment is not adopted, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified accordingly.

In the above embodiment, the contact unit 73 adopts a bearing including a sphere as a rolling element, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a bearing including a columnar roller may be adopted as the rolling element. .. Further, as the contact unit, a contact unit having another form may be adopted as long as it rolls and contacts both the support shaft of the reaction force lever and the pedal arm.

In the above embodiment, the pedal arm is integrally provided with the accelerator pedal 33b, and the pedal arm 30 linked to the pedaling force of the accelerator pedal 33b is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the accelerator pedal and the pedal are not limited to this. The present invention may be adopted in a configuration in which the arm is formed separately and the pedal arm is interlocked with an accelerator pedal that is swingably supported on the floor surface of a vehicle or the like.

In the above embodiment, the hysteresis generation mechanism 50 including the sliders 51 and 52 and the urging spring 53 is shown as the hysteresis generation mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any one that generates hysteresis in the pedal effort. For example, a hysteresis generation mechanism having another configuration may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the housing 10 is composed of the housing main body 11, the housing cover 12, and the auxiliary covers 13 and 14 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing 10 is integrally formed. , The present invention may be adopted.

As described above, the accelerator pedal device of the present invention improves the feeling that the driver's foot is pushed back during active control in which a reaction force is applied, without causing an increase in the size of the drive source and an increase in current consumption. Therefore, it can be applied not only to automobiles and the like, but also to other vehicles and the like.

S axis 10 Housing 11 Housing body (housing)
A Storage space 12 Housing cover (housing)
13 Auxiliary cover (housing)
30 Pedal arm 31 Supported part 32 Upper arm 32a Spring receiving part 32b Contact part 32d Contact surface 33 Lower arm 33b Accelerator pedal 40 Return spring 50 Hysteresis generation mechanism 51, 52 Slider 53 Bounce spring 60 Drive source (reaction force added) mechanism)
61 Rotor 61a Drive shaft 61a1 First protruding shaft portion 61a2 Second protruding shaft portion 61a3 Fitting portion (end)
61b, 61c Bearing 70 Reaction force lever (reaction force addition mechanism)
71 Lever body 72 Support shaft 73 Contact unit 73a Inner ring 73b Outer ring 73c Rolling body 173 Contact unit 173b Outer ring 173c Rolling body

Claims (10)

A pedal arm that works with the pedal effort of the accelerator pedal,
A housing that swingably supports the pedal arm around a predetermined axis,
A return spring that exerts a urging force to return the pedal arm to the rest position,
A hysteresis generation mechanism that generates hysteresis in the pedaling force during the depression and return operations of the accelerator pedal.
In order to apply a reaction force in the direction of pushing back the accelerator pedal, a reaction force lever that exerts the reaction force on the pedal arm and a reaction force addition mechanism including a drive source that rotationally drives the reaction force lever are provided.
The reaction force lever includes a columnar support shaft and a contact unit supported by the support shaft for rolling contact with the support shaft and the pedal arm.
Accelerator pedal device characterized by that. The contact unit includes an outer ring that makes rolling contact with the pedal arm, and a plurality of rolling elements that are interposed between the support shaft and the outer ring.
The accelerator pedal device according to claim 1. The contact unit includes an inner ring interposed between the support shaft and the rolling element and fitted to the support shaft.
2. The accelerator pedal device according to claim 2. The drive source includes a drive shaft extending parallel to the axis.
The reaction force lever includes a lever body formed in a flat plate shape and fixed to an end portion of the drive shaft.
The support shaft projects from the lever body toward the drive source side in parallel with the shaft line.
The accelerator pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the accelerator pedal device is characterized. The drive source includes a rotor having the drive shaft.
The drive shaft includes a first protruding shaft portion that protrudes from one end of the rotor in a direction parallel to the axis line, and a second protruding shaft portion that protrudes from the other end of the rotor.
The first protruding shaft portion and the second protruding shaft portion are supported by the housing via bearings.
The accelerator pedal device according to claim 4. The housing includes a housing body that defines the housing space, a housing cover that is coupled to the housing body to close the housing space, and an auxiliary cover that covers a part of the drive source outside the housing body.
The housing body and the auxiliary cover rotatably support the drive shaft via the bearing.
The accelerator pedal device according to claim 5. The pedal arm has a supported portion supported by the housing, an upper arm extending vertically upward from the supported portion, and a lower portion extending downward in the vertical direction from the supported portion and having the accelerator pedal. Including side arm
The upper arm has a contact surface with which the contact unit rolls and contacts.
The accelerator pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the accelerator pedal device is characterized. The hysteresis generating mechanism includes a slider that slides on the housing and an urging spring that exerts an urging force that pushes the slider back and presses it against the housing.
The pedal arm is between an abutting portion that abuts the slider in the upper region of the upper arm, a spring receiving portion that receives the return spring in the lower region of the upper arm, and the abutting portion and the spring receiving portion. Has the contact surface in the intermediate region of
The accelerator pedal device according to claim 7. A film is formed on the contact surface.
The accelerator pedal device according to claim 7 or 8. The coating contains any of molybdenum disulfide, graphite or polytetrafluoroethylene.
9. The accelerator pedal device according to claim 9.

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