JP2023140567A - Pedal device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress rearward displacement of a pedal at a time of a frontal collision of a vehicle without fastening a pedal bracket and an instrument panel reinforcement to each other.SOLUTION: A pedal device for a vehicle comprises: a pedal; a pedal bracket whose lower end is fixed to a dash panel of the vehicle; and a bracket support fixed to the dash panel and to which an upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The bracket support comprises: a first member fixed to the dash panel; and a second member supported by the first member and to which the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The second member has a facing portion facing the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from a forward position, and moves forward with respect to the first member when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from a rear to an opposing portion. When the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a pedal device for a vehicle.

Patent Document 1 describes a pedal device for a vehicle. This pedal device includes a pedal operated by a user's foot, and a pedal bracket that swingably supports the pedal. The lower end of the pedal bracket is fixed to the dash panel of the vehicle, and the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened to the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle. When a frontal collision occurs in a vehicle, the dash panel moves toward the instrument panel reinforcement. At this time, the pedal bracket fixed to the dash panel is disengaged from the instrument panel reinforcement by being displaced relative to the instrument panel reinforcement. This suppresses displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-254821

In the above-described pedal device, it is necessary to fasten the upper end of the pedal bracket to the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle. However, the instrument panel reinforcement is located inside the instrument panel, and when a work space for fastening the pedal bracket is secured around it, the arrangement of parts within the instrument panel and the There is a risk that unintended restrictions may be placed on the design.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present specification provides a technique for suppressing rearward displacement of the pedal in the event of a frontal collision of a vehicle without fastening the pedal bracket and the instrument panel reinforcement to each other. .

The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a pedal device for a vehicle. This pedal device includes a pedal operated by a user's foot, a pedal bracket that swingably supports the pedal and whose lower end is fixed to the dash panel of the vehicle, and a pedal bracket fixed to the dash panel. and a bracket support to which an upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The bracket support includes a first member fixed to the dash panel, and a second member supported by the first member and to which the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The second member has a facing part that faces the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from the front, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from the rear to the facing part, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member. Moving. When the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, the connection between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released.

The above-described pedal device for a vehicle is provided with a bracket support. The bracket support includes a first member fixed to the dash panel and a second member supported by the first member. Like the first member, the lower end of the pedal bracket is fixed to the dash panel, and the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened to the second member. Therefore, when a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle, the pedal bracket and bracket support fixed to the dash panel move rearward toward the instrument panel reinforcement together with the dash panel. Here, the second member of the bracket support is provided with a facing portion that faces the instrument panel reinforcement from the front. When a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the facing portion, the second member moves forward relative to the first member, and the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released. This suppresses displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle.

1 schematically shows the configuration of a pedal device 10 according to an embodiment and a vehicle 100 in which it is mounted. A diagram for explaining the configuration of a bracket support 16. FIGS. 3A and 3B show that the second member 26 moves forward relative to the first member 24 when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26. A diagram showing the situation. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a long hole 14c provided in an upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14. FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing the behavior of the pedal device 10 over time when a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a stopper member 34. FIG.

In one embodiment of the present technology, the vehicle may further include a guide member that is fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement and has a guide surface that faces the upper end of the pedal bracket from the rear. In this case, the guide surface may guide the upper end of the pedal bracket, which is disengaged from the second member, downward. According to such a configuration, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from the rear to the opposing portion of the second member, and the connection between the second member and the upper end of the pedal bracket is released, the pedal bracket is guided downward along the guide surface together with the pedal. This further suppresses displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle.

In one embodiment of the present technology, the bracket support may further include a stopper member that prohibits relative displacement between the first member and the second member. In this case, the stopper member may be disabled when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the opposing portion of the second member. According to such a configuration, while it is possible to prohibit relative displacement between the first member and the second member in normal times, it is possible to prevent a load of more than a predetermined value from being applied from the rear to the facing portion of the second member. When the stopper member moves, falls off, or is damaged, the second member can move forward with respect to the first member. In addition, by changing the arrangement, number, material, etc. of the stopper members, a predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing part of the second member in order for the second member to move forward relative to the first member can be adjusted. Can be changed.

In an embodiment of the present technology, the bracket support further includes a friction member that is attached to one of the first member and the second member and applies a predetermined friction force to the other of the first member and the second member. May have. According to such a configuration, in order for the second member to move forward with respect to the first member, it is possible to adjust the predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion of the second member.

In the embodiments described above, the friction member may be pressed against the other of the first member and the second member by a fastener that fastens the first member and the second member to each other. According to such a configuration, for example, by changing the thickness or material of the friction member, the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion of the second member in order for the second member to move forward with respect to the first member can be reduced. The predetermined value can be adjusted. Although not particularly limited, the friction member may be, for example, a washer or a member having a similar structure.

In one embodiment of the present technology, the upper end of the pedal bracket may have an elongated hole or slit in which a fastener for fastening the upper end and the second member to each other is disposed. In this case, the elongated hole or slit extends in the front-rear direction, and may be widened in a portion located in front of the fastener so that the fastening by the fastener is released. According to such a configuration, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from the rear to the facing portion of the second member, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member. By moving, the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member can be released.

In this specification, the expressions such as "front", "back", and "front-back direction" refer to the front, rear, and front-rear direction of the vehicle, respectively. Similarly, descriptions such as simply left, right, and left-right direction mean left, right, and left-right directions in the vehicle, and descriptions such as simply upward, downward, and up-down directions refer to upper, lower, and height directions in the vehicle. means direction. Note that the left-right direction in a vehicle is also the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and may be expressed as the vehicle width direction in this specification. For example, when the vehicle is placed on a horizontal plane, the vertical direction of the vehicle coincides with the vertical direction. Further, the left-right direction of the vehicle is parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the axle of the vehicle, and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the axle of the vehicle.

Referring to the drawings, a pedal device 10 according to an embodiment and a vehicle 100 in which it is mounted will be described. The vehicle 100 here is a so-called automobile, and is a vehicle that runs on a road surface. The vehicle 100 is, for example, an engine car, a hybrid car, a fuel cell car, an electric car, a solar car, or the like. Note that part or all of the technology described in this embodiment can be similarly applied to electric vehicles that run on tracks.

Here, the direction FR in the drawings indicates the front of the vehicle 100 in the longitudinal direction, and the direction RR indicates the rear of the vehicle 100 in the longitudinal direction. Further, the direction LH indicates the left side of the vehicle 100 in the left-right direction, and the direction RH indicates the right side of the vehicle 100 in the left-right direction. Further, the direction UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle 100 in the vertical direction, and the direction DW indicates the lower side of the vehicle 100 in the vertical direction. Further, each direction of the pedal device 10 in the drawings corresponds to the direction when the pedal device 10 is mounted on the vehicle 100, that is, the direction of the vehicle 100.

First, vehicle 100 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle 100 includes a dash panel 102. As shown in FIG. The dash panel 102 is a plate-like member that partitions the front compartment 104 and the vehicle interior 106, and forms part of the frame of the vehicle body. Thereby, a front compartment 104 is provided in front of the dash panel 102, and a vehicle compartment 106 is provided in the rear of the dash panel 102. Although not particularly limited, the dash panel 102 is made of metal.

As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle 100 further includes instrument panel reinforcement 108. The instrument panel reinforcement 108 is mainly composed of a pipe member 108a, and constitutes a part of the frame of the vehicle body. The pipe member 108a is a hollow member having a constant circular cross section along the left-right direction. The instrument panel reinforcement 108 is disposed behind the dash panel 102 and extends in the left-right direction. A steering device (not shown), an instrument panel (not shown), and the like are fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 108. Although not particularly limited, the instrument panel reinforcement 108 is made of metal.

Next, the pedal device 10 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, the pedal device 10 is arranged in the vehicle compartment 106. The pedal device 10 includes a pedal 12, a pedal bracket 14, and a bracket support 16. The pedal 12 is an operating member operated by a user's foot. The pedal bracket 14 is a member that swingably supports the pedal 12. The upper end of the pedal 12 is swingably supported by a pedal bracket 14, and the lower end of the pedal 12 is provided with a pedal pad 12a. Thereby, when the pedal pad 12a is operated by the user's foot, the pedal 12 can swing around the support point of the pedal bracket 14. A lower end 14a of the pedal bracket 14 is fixed to a dash panel 102 of the vehicle 100, and an upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14 is fastened to a bracket support 16. The bracket support 16 is located above the pedal bracket 14, and its front end is fixed to the dash panel 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pedal device 10 further includes a guide member 18 and a pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 that fix the guide member 18 to the instrument panel reinforcement 108. The pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 are fastened to each other across the instrument panel reinforcement 108 from above and below, and the guide member 18 is fixed to one of the guide brackets 22 located on the lower side. The guide member 18 has a guide surface 18a that faces the upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14 from behind. The guide surface 18a is inclined downward from the front toward the rear. Thereby, the guide surface 18a can guide the upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14 downward when the upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 are disengaged. The pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 are provided with opposing portions 20a and 22a. The opposing parts 20a, 22a are located at the front ends of the pair of guide brackets 20, 22, and face the bracket support 16 from the rear.

Next, the configuration of the bracket support 16 will be explained in detail. The bracket support 16 is a member that supports the pedal bracket 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket support 16 includes a first member 24 and a second member 26. As shown in FIGS. The first member 24 is fixed to the dash panel 102. The second member 26 is supported by the first member 24. The first member 24 and the second member 26 each have a channel shape, and the second member 26 is supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the first member 24. The second member 26 projects rearward from the first member 24 and has a facing portion 26a at its rear end. The opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 faces from the front the opposing portions 20a, 22a of the guide brackets 20, 22 fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 108.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket support 16 further includes fasteners 28. As shown in FIGS. Fastener 28 fastens first member 24 and second member 26 to each other. Although not particularly limited, the first member 24 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of long holes 24a extending in the front-rear direction. The second member 26 is fixed to the first member 24 via a fastener 28 passing through a pair of elongated holes 24a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, during normal times, relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 is prohibited. On the other hand, when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26, the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24. As an example, the fasteners 28 are metal bolts and nuts.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 28 is provided with a washer 30. Washer 30 is supported by fastener 28 and is displaced with second member 26 relative to first member 24 . At this time, if the washer 30 is also in contact with the first member 24, a frictional force can be applied to the first member 24. In this way, the bracket support 16 includes a friction member that is attached to one of the first member 24 and the second member 26 and applies a predetermined frictional force to the other of the first member 24 and the second member 26. May have. According to such a configuration, in order for the second member 26 to move forward with respect to the first member 24, for example, by changing the thickness or material of the friction member, it is necessary to add it to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26. A predetermined value of the load can be adjusted.

The upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 is fastened to the second member 26 by a fastener 32. However, this fastening is configured to be released when the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24. Although it is an example, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 has an elongated hole 14c in which a fastener 32 for fastening the upper end portion 14b and the second member 26 to each other is disposed. In this case, the elongated hole 14c extends in the front-rear direction, and is widened in a portion located in front of the fastener 32 so that the fastening by the fastener 32 is released. According to such a configuration, when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26, the second member 26 is transferred to the first member 24 without requiring any additional configuration. On the other hand, by moving forward, the fastening between the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 can be released. However, in other embodiments, a slit may be provided in the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 instead of the elongated hole 14c. In this case, the slit may extend in the front-rear direction and may be widened in a portion located in front of the fastener 32 so that the fastening by the fastener 32 is released.

With the above configuration, in the pedal device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle 100, the pedal bracket 14 and the bracket support 16 fixed to the dash panel 102 102 toward the instrument panel reinforcement 108. Here, the second member 26 of the bracket support 16 is provided with a facing portion 26a that faces the instrument panel reinforcement 108 from the front. When a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the facing portion 26a, the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24, and the connection between the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 is stopped. It will be canceled. Thereby, displacement of the pedal 12 toward the rear, that is, toward the inside of the vehicle interior 106 is suppressed.

In addition, a guide surface 18a of the guide member 18 faces the upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14 from behind. The upper end 14b of the pedal bracket 14, which is unfastened from the second member 26 of the bracket support 16, comes into contact with the guide surface 18a and is guided downward along the guide surface 18a. Thereby, the pedal bracket 14 is displaced downward together with the pedal 12, and displacement toward the interior of the vehicle compartment 106 is further suppressed.

Note that it is not necessary to apply the load to the opposing portions 26a of the second member 26 on both of the opposing portions 20a and 22a of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22, but rather on the opposing portions 20a and 22a of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22. 22a may be used. Further, an opposing portion that applies a load to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 may be provided on the guide member 18 in addition to or in place of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22.

Although this is an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the bracket support 16 further includes a stopper member 34 that prohibits relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26. The stopper member 34 is disabled when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26. Here, the stopper member 34 being disabled means that relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 becomes possible due to the stopper member 34 moving, falling off, being damaged, etc. do. For example, the stopper member 34 is disposed to extend in the front-rear direction within each elongated hole 24a, and is in contact with the front end of the second member 26. Further, although not particularly limited, the stopper member 34 has a weakened portion 34a in the center thereof. According to such a configuration, in normal times, relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 can be prohibited, while a load of more than a predetermined value is applied to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26. When applied from the rear, the second member 26 can move forward relative to the first member 24. In particular, when the stopper member 34 is provided with the fragile portion 34a, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from the rear to the facing portion 26a of the second member 26, the stopper member 34 starts from the fragile portion 34a. can be damaged. Note that the shape, number, material, etc. of the stopper member 34 are not particularly limited.

Although several specific examples have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in combination.

10 : Pedal device 12 : Pedal 12a : Pedal pad 14 : Pedal bracket 14a : Lower end part 14b : Upper end part 14c : Elongated hole 16 : Bracket support 18 : Guide member 18a : Guide surface 20 : Guide bracket 20a : Opposing part 22 : Guide Bracket 22a : Opposing part 24 : First member 24a : Elongated hole 26 : Second member 26a : Opposing part 28 : Fastener 30 : Washer 32 : Fastener 34 : Stopper member 34a : Weak part 100 : Vehicle 102 : Dash panel 104 : Front compartment 106 : Vehicle compartment 108 : Instrument panel reinforcement 108a : Pipe member

Claims (6)

A pedal device for a vehicle,
a pedal operated by a user's foot;
a pedal bracket that swingably supports the pedal and has a lower end fixed to a dash panel of the vehicle;
a bracket support fixed to the dash panel and to which the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened;
Equipped with
The bracket support is
a first member fixed to the dash panel;
a second member supported by the first member and to which the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened;
The second member has a facing part that faces the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from the front, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from the rear to the facing part, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member. move,
When the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member are unfastened;
pedal device. further comprising a guide member fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement and having a guide surface facing the upper end of the pedal bracket from the rear;
The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein the guide surface guides the upper end portion of the pedal bracket, which is disengaged from the second member, downward. The bracket support further includes a stopper member that prohibits relative displacement between the first member and the second member,
The pedal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper member is disabled when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from behind to the facing portion of the second member. The bracket support further includes a friction member attached to one of the first member and the second member and applying a predetermined frictional force to the other of the first member and the second member. The pedal device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The pedal device according to claim 4, wherein the friction member is pressed against the other of the first member and the second member by a fastener that fastens the first member and the second member to each other. . The upper end of the pedal bracket has an elongated hole or slit in which a fastener for fastening the upper end and the second member to each other is disposed,
Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the long hole or slit extends in the front-rear direction and is widened in a portion located forward of the fastener so that the fastening by the fastener is released. The pedal device according to item 1.

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