JP3524769B2 - Accelerator operation amount detection device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an accelerator operation amount detecting device suitable for detecting an operation amount of an accelerator pedal provided in a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a vehicle such as an automobile, an accelerator operation amount detection device is provided in the vicinity of an accelerator pedal, etc., and the operation amount of the accelerator pedal is detected by the accelerator operation amount detection device, and in response to this detection signal. A configuration is known in which a throttle valve device on the engine side is electrically driven.

An accelerator operation amount detecting device according to this type of prior art includes a casing fixed to a vehicle body side of an automobile, a rotating shaft rotatably provided in the casing through a bearing, and the rotating shaft. A wire drum as a rotating means provided on the shaft, a return spring provided between the casing and the rotating shaft for urging the rotating shaft in the return direction of the accelerator pedal, and a return spring provided on the casing for rotating the rotating shaft. It is composed of a rotation angle sensor that detects a rotation angle of the moving shaft as an accelerator operation amount, a hysteresis generating mechanism, and the like.

Here, the wire drum is connected to an accelerator pedal of a vehicle by using a wire or the like. In addition, the hysteresis generating mechanism includes an annular rotating plate that is provided on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft in a rotation-stopped state, and an annular fixing plate that is slidably in contact with the rotation plate and is provided on the casing side in the rotation-stopping state. And a disc spring or the like which is provided between the fixed plate and the casing side and presses the fixed plate against the rotating plate. The rotating plate and the fixed plate are, for example, a metal material or a hard resin material. Etc.

When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal and the wire drum is pulled through the wire, the rotation shaft rotates together with the wire drum against the return spring. Is the size corresponding to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal. Further, the rotation angle sensor detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft as an accelerator operation amount, and outputs a detection signal to a control unit or the like for engine control.

As a result, the control unit drives the electric motor or the like of the throttle valve device by using the detection signal from the rotation angle sensor or the like, and adjusts the intake air amount of the engine according to the accelerator operation amount. When the driver releases the operation of the accelerator pedal, the rotating shaft is rotated in the returning direction of the accelerator pedal by the urging force of the return spring, and the accelerator pedal returns to the initial position.

On the other hand, when the accelerator pedal is depressed or released, the rotating plate and the fixed plate of the hysteresis generating mechanism slide while being pressed by the disc springs,
These give a frictional resistance force to the rotation of the rotating shaft. As a result, hysteresis occurs between the operation force when the accelerator pedal is depressed and the operation force when the accelerator pedal is released (reaction force received from the pedal side), and the operation feeling of the accelerator pedal is changed to the hysteresis generation mechanism. Can be stabilized by.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the rotating plate and the fixed plate of the hysteresis generating mechanism are provided on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft, and when the accelerator pedal is operated, these rotating plates are provided. The fixed plate and the fixed plate are slid on each other by using the biasing force of the disc spring to give a frictional resistance force to the rotation of the rotary shaft.

However, when, for example, vibrations from the engine and the road surface are transmitted to the rotating shaft during driving of the vehicle, vibration and rattling may occur on the rotating shaft. The rotating plate may be momentarily tilted with respect to the casing together with the rotating shaft. As a result, in the hysteresis generating mechanism, the contact pressure between the rotating plate and the fixed plate may become uneven in the circumferential direction, or a single contact or the like may occur between them.

For this reason, in the prior art, when the accelerator pedal is operated, the rotating plate and the fixed plate of the hysteresis generating mechanism are likely to slide in the state of eccentric contact, so that they are eccentrically worn and act against the accelerator operation. There is a problem in that the hysteresis characteristic becomes unstable and it is necessary to replace the parts at an early stage, and durability and reliability are deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reliably prevent uneven wear and the like from being applied to the hysteresis generating mechanism by one side due to vibration or the like applied to the rotating shaft. Another object of the present invention is to provide an accelerator operation amount detection device capable of providing stable hysteresis characteristics for accelerator operation by the hysteresis generation mechanism and improving durability and reliability.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a casing, a rotary shaft rotatably provided on the casing via a bearing, and a rotary shaft provided on the rotary shaft. Rotating means for rotating the rotating shaft according to the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal; and a return spring provided between the casing and the rotating shaft for urging the rotating shaft in the return direction of the accelerator pedal. A rotation angle sensor provided in the casing for detecting a rotation angle of the rotation shaft as an accelerator operation amount,
The present invention is applied to an accelerator operation amount detection device including a hysteresis generation mechanism that generates hysteresis in the operation force of the accelerator pedal.

A feature of the configuration adopted by the invention of claim 1 is that the bearing is housed in the casing.
A housing and a front for holding the bearing in the bearing housing
Removably attached to the casing and rotated to the inner peripheral side
Provide an annular retainer through which the shaft is inserted with a gap,
The hysteresis generating mechanism is solid to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft
An annular rotating plate which rotates the pivoting shaft integral provided by a constant, an elastic member is formed as an annular plate facing the the pivoting plate is secured to the retainer by a resilient resin material, by the elastic force of the elastic member provided on the elastic member is located between the elastic member and the rotating plate lies in the construction of the sliding contact friction member to the rotating plate.

With such a configuration, the hysteresis
The elastic body of the cis generation mechanism is integrated with the retainer for the bearing.
Can be assembled to the casing in this condition, and the elastic body
The attaching member and the like can be shared with the retainer. That
Then, the hysteresis generating mechanism can press the friction member against the rotating plate by using the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic body, and by sliding the rotating plate with the friction member in this state, A frictional resistance force can be given to rotation. Also,
Even if the rotation axis is inclined relative to the casing with the rotation plate due to vibration or the like, for elastic body is elastically deformed, friction portion
To follow the timber to the rotating plate can kick tilt, the friction member and the times
With the elastic body, make sure that the moving plate is evenly slid over the entire circumference .
Ri can be held.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 2, wherein the cable <br/> thin grayed includes a mounting portion to the vehicle body side, the left attachment portion, right sides
Left and right arms that are erected on the arm and through which the pivots are inserted
And a rotation angle sensor of the left and right arms
Provided on one arm side, the hysteresis generation mechanism is the other
It has a configuration in which Ru is provided on the arm portion.

Thus, for example, in the vicinity of the accelerator pedal
With the casing can be attached to the car body side with,
Rotate to one of the left and right arms of the casing
An angle sensor can be attached, and a hiss on the other arm side.
Hysteresis generating mechanism can Rukoto provided.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, the friction member is formed in a ring shape and is fixed to the elastic body at the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft.

Thus, the friction member and the elastic body can be assembled to the casing side in an integrated state. Further, the friction member and the rotary plate can be evenly slidably contacted with each other over the entire circumference by the elastic body.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an accelerator operation amount detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an electric throttle valve device provided in a vehicle such as an automobile.
The throttle chamber 2 is connected to an intake passage (not shown) of the engine, and the valve body 3 is provided therein so that it can be opened and closed. The valve body 3 is driven by the electric motor 4, and increases or decreases the intake air amount of the engine according to the opening degree of the valve body 3.

5 is an accelerator pedal provided on the vehicle,
The accelerator pedal 5 is connected to an accelerator operation amount detection device 11, which will be described later, via a wire 6 and the like, and when a driver depresses the accelerator pedal 5, a control unit 7 provided on the vehicle operates a valve by an electric motor 4. The body 3 is opened and closed according to the accelerator operation amount.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an accelerator operation amount detecting device according to this embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the accelerator operation amount detecting device 11 includes a casing 12 and a rotary shaft 1 which will be described later.
6, wire drum 19, return spring 21, rotation angle sensor 2
2. The hysteresis generating mechanism 23 and the like.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a casing mounted on the vehicle body side near the accelerator pedal 5 or the like. The casing 12 has a mounting portion 13 on the vehicle body side and the mounting portion 13 as shown in FIG.
Is formed in a substantially U-shape from the arm portions 14 and 15 and the like, which are erected on both the left and right sides. Further, the arm portion 14 is provided with a shaft insertion hole 14A, a bearing accommodating portion 14B, a retainer fitting portion 14C, a His mechanism accommodating portion 14D, and the like.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a rotary shaft rotatably provided in the casing 12 by using each bearing 17, and the rotary shaft 16 is a large diameter portion 16A arranged in the arm portion 14 of the casing 12.
And a small diameter portion 16B extending from one end side of the large diameter portion 16A toward the rotation angle sensor 22, and a small diameter portion 16B axially protruding from the other end side of the large diameter portion 16A, and a rotation plate 24 described later on the outer peripheral side. It is composed of a small-diameter mounting portion 16C and the like to be mounted.

Here, one of the bearings 17 is one of the bearings 17.
Is accommodated in the bearing accommodating portion 14B of the arm portion 14 and is retained in the bearing accommodating portion 14B by using the retainer 18.
Further, the retainer 18 is made of an annular metal plate or the like, the rotary shaft 16 is inserted into the inner peripheral side with a gap, and the outer peripheral side is detachably fitted in the retainer fitting portion 14C of the arm portion 14. .

Reference numeral 19 denotes a wire drum as a rotating means for rotating the rotating shaft 16 in accordance with the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 5. The wire drum 19 together with the retainer plate 20 has a small diameter portion 16B of the rotating shaft 16. A drum portion 19A having a substantially arc shape around which the wire 6 is wound is provided on the outer peripheral side of the rotary shaft 16 so as to surround the rotary shaft 16.
Further, the retainer plate 20 is in contact with the casing 12 side when the rotating shaft 16 is rotated, so that the rotating angle thereof is restricted within a certain range.

Reference numeral 21 is a return spring mounted on the outer peripheral side of the rotary shaft 16 via a cylindrical spring holder or the like. One end of the return spring 21 is hooked on the casing 12 and the other end thereof is connected to the wire drum 19. Have been hooked on. Then, the return spring 21 biases the rotating shaft 16 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the rotating shaft 16 rotates when the accelerator pedal 5 is depressed (returning direction of the accelerator pedal 5), so that the driver When the operation of the accelerator pedal 5 is released, the rotating shaft 16
Etc. are returned to the initial position.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a rotation angle sensor for detecting the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 16 as an accelerator operation amount.
Is provided on the sensor body 22A attached to the arm portion 15 of the casing 12, a resistor (not shown) provided on the sensor body 22A, and the small diameter portion 16B of the rotating shaft 16 in a non-rotating state. It is configured as a potentiometer from the brush 22B which slidably contacts the resistor, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the accelerator operation amount to the control unit 7.

Reference numeral 23 denotes the His mechanism accommodating portion 1 of the casing 12.
As shown in FIG. 4, the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 is provided in 4D. The hysteresis generating mechanism 23 includes a rotating plate 24, an elastic plate 25, a sliding ring 26, etc., which will be described later.
By using the frictional resistance force generated between the rotating plate 24 and the sliding ring 26, the operation force when the accelerator pedal 5 is depressed,
Hysteresis is generated with the operation force (reaction force received from the pedal side) when returning this.

Reference numeral 24 is a rotating plate fixed to the outer peripheral side of the mounting portion 16C of the rotating shaft 16 by a nut or the like in a rotation-stopped state.
The rotating plate 24 is formed of, for example, a metal material, a hard resin material, or the like as an annular plate, and is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 16.

25 is a casing 1 using the retainer 18.
An elastic plate serving as an elastic body fixed to the second side. The elastic plate 25 is made of an elastic resin material having flexibility such as urethane resin or urethane foam resin, and is inserted into the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 16. It is formed as an annular plate and has an outer diameter dimension corresponding to the rotating plate 24. Further, the sliding ring 2 is provided on the outer peripheral side portion of the elastic plate 25.
A fixing portion 25A for fixing 6 is integrally formed as a ring-shaped convex portion.

The elastic plate 25 is fixed to the outer surface of the retainer 18 facing the rotating plate 24 over the entire circumference by using, for example, an adhesive, and the sliding ring 26 and the retainer 1 are attached.
8 and 8 in an elastically deformable state.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a sliding ring as a friction member provided between the rotating plate 24 and the elastic plate 25. The sliding ring 26 is made of, for example, polyamide resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, or natural rubber. It is made of a hard resin material having abrasion resistance such as, and one end side in the axial direction is fixed to the fixing portion 25A of the elastic plate 25 by means such as adhesion.

The sliding ring 26 is pressed against the rotating plate 24 by the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic plate 25, and the other end of the sliding ring 26 makes sliding contact with the rotating plate 24 over the entire circumference and rotates. When the moving shaft 16 rotates, the sliding ring 26
A frictional resistance force is generated between the rotary plate 24 and the rotary plate 24. Reference numeral 27 is a cover detachably attached to the arm portion 14 of the casing 12, and the cover 27 closes the His mechanism accommodating portion 14D and protects the hysteresis generating mechanism 23.

The accelerator operation amount detecting device 11 according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be described below.

First, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 5, the wire drum 19 is passed through the wire 6.
When is pulled, the rotation shaft 16 rotates by an angle corresponding to the accelerator operation amount against the return spring 21, and the rotation angle sensor 22 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the accelerator operation amount to the control unit 7. To do. As a result, the control unit 7 drives the electric motor 4 of the throttle valve device 1 using this detection signal or the like, and adjusts the intake air amount of the engine according to the accelerator operation amount.

When the driver releases the operation of the accelerator pedal 5, the rotating shaft 16 is rotated in the returning direction of the accelerator pedal 5 by the urging force of the return spring 21, and the rotating shaft 16 moves together with the accelerator pedal 5. Return to the initial position.

Then, depress the accelerator pedal 5,
When it is returned, the rotating plate 24 and the sliding ring 26 of the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 slide in a state of being pressed against each other by the elastic force of the elastic plate 25, and these friction against the rotation of the rotating shaft 16. Give resistance. Thereby, hysteresis can be generated between the operation force when the accelerator pedal 5 is depressed and the operation force when the accelerator pedal 5 is returned, and the operation feeling of the accelerator pedal 5 can be stabilized by the hysteresis generation mechanism 23.

Here, during driving of the vehicle, for example, vibrations from the road surface are easily transmitted to the rotary shaft 16, so the rotary shaft 16
As shown in FIG. 5, the rotating plate 24 of the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 may momentarily tilt with respect to the casing 12 together with the rotating shaft 16 due to the vibration, rattling, etc. of the rotating plate 2
There is a case where the sliding contact state between the No. 4 and the sliding ring 26 becomes unstable.

However, in this embodiment, since the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 is composed of the rotating plate 24, the elastic plate 25, the sliding ring 26, etc., the rotating plate 24 is caused by rattling of the rotating shaft 16. It is possible to prevent the contact pressure between the sliding ring 26 and the sliding ring 26 from becoming uneven in the circumferential direction, or causing one-sided contact or the like between them.

That is, since the elastic plate 25 is formed of a flexible elastic resin material, for example, the rotating shaft 16
When the rotary plate 24 and the rotary plate 24 are slightly tilted by the angle θ in FIG. 5, the elastic plate 25 is provided to compensate for the tilt.
Can be elastically deformed with flexibility, which allows the sliding ring 26 to follow the rotating plate 24.

As a result, the sliding ring 26 can keep sliding contact with the rotating plate 24 over the entire circumference by the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic plate 25, and this elastic force causes the contact pressure between the two in the circumferential direction. Even if the accelerator pedal 5 is operated to rotate the rotating shaft 16 in this state, a constant frictional resistance force is exerted between the rotating plate 24 and the sliding ring 26. Can be generated.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when vibration, rattling or the like occurs in the rotating shaft 16, the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 can generate a stable hysteresis against the operating force of the accelerator pedal 5. The operation feeling can be kept good for a long time, and the rotating plate 2
4. It is possible to prevent uneven wear of the sliding ring 26 and the like, and reliably improve durability and reliability.

Since the elastic plate 25 is fixed to the retainer 18 and the sliding ring 26 is fixed to the fixing portion 25A of the elastic plate, the elastic plate 25 and the sliding ring 26 of the hysteresis generating mechanism 23 are , Bearing 17
Can be integrated with the retainer 18 for holding the.

As a result, the accelerator operation amount detecting device 11
When assembling, the elastic plate 25 and the sliding ring 2
By simply fixing 6 together with the retainer 18 to the retainer fitting portion 14C of the casing 12, these assembling operations can be easily performed. Further, even when the flexible elastic plate 25 is assembled to the casing 12 side, it is not necessary to specially provide a mounting member or the like for the elastic plate 25, and this mounting member or the like is shared with the retainer 18 to reduce the number of parts. can do.

[0046]

Further, in the embodiment, the wire drum 19 is provided as the rotating means on the rotating shaft 16, and the accelerator pedal 5 is provided.
Although the rotating shaft 16 is rotated via the wire 6 and the wire drum 19 when is operated, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rotating lever, a link mechanism or the like may be used as the rotating means. 16 and through which the accelerator pedal 5
The operation amount may be transmitted to the rotary shaft 16.

[0048]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the casing holds the bearing in the bearing accommodating portion.
A tenor is provided, and the hysteresis generating mechanism is composed of a rotating plate, an elastic body, and a friction member.
Is fixed to the retainer, so hysteresis
The elastic body of the raw mechanism and the retainer for holding the bearing
Can be integrated and easily assembled to the casing
In addition to having flexibility, for example, an elastic body having flexibility
Even if it is made of elastic resin material,
Eliminates the need for special attachments and reduces the number of parts
Can be reduced. Further, even when the rotating plate is slightly tilted with respect to the friction member due to rattling of the rotating shaft, the elastic body can be elastically deformed so as to compensate for the tilt, and the friction member is elastically deformed by the elastic body. It can be kept in sliding contact with the rotating plate over the entire circumference. The elastic body can evenly maintain the contact pressure between the two in the circumferential direction, and a constant frictional resistance force can be generated between the rotating plate and the friction member. Therefore, the hysteresis generation mechanism can generate a stable hysteresis against the operation force of the accelerator pedal,
The operation feeling can be maintained satisfactorily for a long period of time, uneven contact between the rotating plate and the friction member and uneven wear can be reliably prevented, and durability and reliability are surely improved. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the casing is provided with a mounting portion on the vehicle body side and on both left and right sides of the mounting portion.
With left and right arms that are installed and through which the pivots are inserted.
However, the rotation angle sensor is on the side of one of the left and right arm portions.
Provided, since the hysteresis generating mechanism and configured to Ru provided on the other arm portion side, for example, the vehicle body side in the vicinity of the accelerator pedal
A casing can be attached to the casing and
Angle sensor on one of the left and right arms
Can be attached and the other arm side has hysteresis
The generation mechanism is provided can Rukoto.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the friction member is located on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft and fixed to the elastic body, the friction member is formed around the rotating plate and the entire circumference by the elastic body. The sliding contact can be made evenly over the entire area. Further, the elastic member of the hysteresis generating mechanism and the friction member can be integrated, and the workability when assembling the hysteresis generating mechanism can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an accelerator operation amount detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with an accelerator pedal and the like.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an accelerator operation amount detection device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the direction of arrows III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG. 3 showing a hysteresis generating mechanism.

5 is an enlarged view of an essential part seen from the same position as FIG. 4, showing a state in which the rotating shaft is tilted.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 accelerator pedal 11 Accelerator manipulated variable detector 12 casing 14 Arm 14B bearing housing 16 rotation axis 17 Bearing 18 retainer 19 Wire drum (rotating means) 21 Return spring 22 Rotation angle sensor 23 Hysteresis generation mechanism 24 Rotating plate 25 Elastic plate (elastic body) 26 Sliding ring (friction member)

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A casing, a rotary shaft rotatably provided on the casing via a bearing, and a rotary shaft provided on the rotary shaft and rotated according to an operation amount of an accelerator pedal. A rotating means, a return spring provided between the casing and the rotating shaft for urging the rotating shaft in the returning direction of the accelerator pedal, and a rotating angle of the rotating shaft provided on the casing for controlling the accelerator. In an accelerator operation amount detection device including a rotation angle sensor that detects an operation amount and a hysteresis generation mechanism that generates hysteresis in the operation force of the accelerator pedal, a bearing accommodating portion in which the bearing is accommodated in the casing.
And the case for holding the bearing in the bearing housing.
It is removably attached to the thing and the rotating shaft has a gap on the inner peripheral side.
Provided an annular retainer is inserted with between the hysteresis generation mechanism, the solid on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft
An annular rotating plate which rotates the pivoting shaft integral provided by a constant, an elastic member is formed as an annular plate facing the the pivoting plate is secured to the retainer by a resilient resin material, Accelerator operation amount detection, comprising: a friction member provided between the elastic body and the rotating plate, the friction member being provided on the elastic body and slidingly contacting the rotating plate by the elastic force of the elastic body. apparatus. Wherein said casings grayed the attachment to the vehicle body side
And the rotating shaft is installed upright on both left and right sides of the mounting part.
The left and right arms are respectively inserted, and the rotation angle sensor is provided.
The support is provided on the side of one of the left and right arms and
Hysteresis generating mechanism accelerator operation amount detecting apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a structure in which Ru is provided on the other arm portion. 3. The accelerator operation amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the friction member is formed in a ring shape, and is located on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft and fixed to the elastic body.