JP4946706B2 - Pedal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedal device. In particular, the present invention relates to a pedal device in which an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are integrally formed.

  Accelerator pedals and brake pedals that are provided in conventional vehicles and that are operated when the vehicle is running are separately provided with an accelerator pedal that is provided exclusively for accelerator operation and a brake pedal that is provided exclusively for brake operation. This operation is performed when the driver of the vehicle depresses with a foot. However, when the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are separately provided, it is necessary to change the pedal to be operated when shifting from the accelerator operation to the brake operation or when shifting from the brake operation to the accelerator operation. For this reason, for example, when the accelerator pedal is being operated, if it is necessary to decelerate the vehicle suddenly, it takes time to depress the pedal, so that it is difficult to quickly change the pedal operation. Therefore, some conventional pedal devices are provided integrally with an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

  For example, the accelerator pedal device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 is provided so that an accelerator operation and a brake operation can be performed with one pedal, and the accelerator operation and the brake operation are continuously performed according to the operation amount of the pedal. It is provided so that it can be operated. Specifically, when the pedal operation amount is zero, the throttle opening is set to zero and the brake amount is maximized, and the throttle opening increases as the operation amount increases until the pedal operation amount reaches a predetermined amount. Decrease the brake amount with the set to zero. Further, when the pedal operation amount increases and exceeds a predetermined amount, the brake amount is set to zero and the throttle opening is increased according to the pedal operation amount. Thus, the accelerator operation and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal.

JP 2001-260713 A

  However, when the accelerator operation and the brake operation are performed with one pedal, the operability is often difficult because two operations are performed with one pedal. For example, in the vehicle accelerator pedal device described in Patent Document 1, when the brake operation is performed, the brake amount is increased as the pedal operation amount decreases, but the driver's body moves forward due to inertia during deceleration. On the other hand, in order to operate the brake by returning the pedal, the foot is moved backward. For this reason, the operability is very poor. As described above, when two operations are performed with one pedal, the operability tends to deteriorate, and it is very difficult to perform two operations with one pedal while ensuring the operability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal device capable of improving operability while allowing an accelerator operation and a brake operation to be performed with one pedal. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a pedal device according to the present invention includes a brake rod that can be output to a braking device that a vehicle has, and an accelerator input unit that is provided as an input unit during accelerator operation. And the accelerator operation is enabled by turning around a fulcrum located at the end of the brake rod, and is provided as an input part at the time of brake operation and centered on the fulcrum And an accelerator pedal having a brake input section located on the opposite side of the accelerator input section.

  In the present invention, the accelerator pedal and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal by providing a pivotable accelerator pedal at the end of the brake rod. That is, when the accelerator operation is performed, a force in a direction in which the accelerator pedal rotates around the fulcrum is input to the accelerator input unit, and the accelerator pedal is rotated. Further, when the brake operation is performed, a force in the stroke direction of the brake rod is input to the accelerator pedal connected to the brake rod, and the brake rod is stroked through the accelerator pedal. In addition, since the accelerator pedal is provided with a brake input section on the opposite side of the accelerator input section with the fulcrum in between, the accelerator pedal rotates in a direction to increase the output of the prime mover provided in the vehicle when the brake operation is performed. It can suppress moving. As a result, the operability can be improved while the accelerator operation and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal.

  The pedal device according to the present invention is further characterized in that a rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the accelerator pedal when input to the brake input unit is provided.

  In this invention, since the rotation restricting means is provided, when the brake operation is performed by inputting to the brake input portion, the rotation of the accelerator pedal is restricted by the rotation restricting means and stops. For this reason, the input with respect to a brake input part can be transmitted to a brake rod, without using it for rotation of an accelerator pedal. As a result, the operability when performing a brake operation can be improved more reliably.

  The pedal device according to the present invention has an effect that the operability can be improved while the accelerator operation and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal.

  Embodiments of a pedal device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pedal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pedal device 1 shown in the figure is provided in a driver's seat of a vehicle (not shown), and is provided as an accelerator pedal used when adjusting the speed of the vehicle and a brake pedal used when braking the vehicle. Yes. Specifically, the pedal device 1 has a brake rod 15 formed in a rod-like shape, and an accelerator pedal 5, which is a portion operated by a driver of the vehicle, is connected to an end of the brake rod 15. Has been. As for the connection between the brake rod 15 and the accelerator pedal 5, a pedal shaft 20 is provided at the end of the brake rod 15, and the accelerator pedal 5 is connected to be rotatable around the pedal shaft 20. That is, the central axis of the pedal shaft 20 is a fulcrum 21 when the accelerator pedal 5 rotates, and the accelerator pedal 5 is provided so as to be rotatable around the fulcrum 21 located at the end of the brake rod 15. It has been.

  The accelerator pedal 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and is disposed at the end of the brake rod 15 in such a direction that the width direction of the rectangle is the length direction of the pedal shaft 20. As described above, the accelerator pedal 5 formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape has a rectangular length direction due to the elastic member of the pedal device 1 when no operating force is input to the pedal device 1. The vehicle is disposed in a direction that is close to the vertical direction of the vehicle and in which the thickness direction is close to the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  Further, the brake rod 15 is formed in a direction toward the substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle and protrudes rearward from the vicinity of the front end of the vehicle body 25 that forms the interior of the vehicle. For this reason, as for the brake rod 15, the substantially front-back direction of a vehicle is a stroke direction. The accelerator pedal 5 is located on the rear end side of the brake rod 15 formed in this way. Accordingly, the brake rod 15 with respect to the accelerator pedal 5 is positioned on the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the tread surface 6 that is the input surface of the accelerator pedal 5 is in a state where no operating force is input to the pedal device 1. It is formed substantially rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The accelerator pedal 5 is connected to the brake rod 15 via the pedal shaft 20 at an intermediate portion in the length direction of the accelerator pedal 5, and the length from the end 7 to the fulcrum 21 in the length direction of the accelerator pedal 5. Is different on both sides of the fulcrum 21. Specifically, the accelerator pedal 5 is positioned below the fulcrum 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the length L1 from the end 7 located above the fulcrum 21 to the fulcrum 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The length L2 from the end 7 to the fulcrum 21 is shorter.

  Of the accelerator pedal 5 formed in this way, the portion from the end 7 located above the fulcrum 21 to the fulcrum 21 is an accelerator input part 11 provided as an input part at the time of the accelerator operation. A portion from the end portion 7 located below 21 to the fulcrum 21 is a brake input portion 12 provided as an input portion during brake operation. That is, the brake input unit 12 is located on the opposite side of the accelerator input unit 11 with the fulcrum 21 as the center.

  Further, the brake rod 15 is provided with a rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the accelerator pedal 5 when an operating force is input to the brake input portion 12 in the vicinity of the end portion on the side where the accelerator pedal 5 is provided. A stopper 16 is provided. Specifically, the stopper 16 is provided in the same direction as the direction in which the brake input unit 12 is positioned with respect to the fulcrum 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and is more forward than the brake input unit 12 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Located on the brake rod 15. The stopper 16 provided in this way is configured such that when a force directed from the rear side to the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is input to the brake input unit 12 of the accelerator pedal 5, the brake input unit 12 moves from the rear side of the stopper 16. It is formed so that it can contact.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a driving apparatus and a braking apparatus for a vehicle including the pedal device shown in FIG. The pedal device 1 according to the embodiment is connected to a driving device 30 and a braking device 40 included in a vehicle including the pedal device 1. Specifically, an accelerator opening detection sensor 35 that is an angle detection means capable of detecting the rotation angle of the accelerator pedal 5 is provided in the vicinity of the accelerator pedal 5 of the pedal device 1. Are further connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 31 that controls each part of the vehicle. The ECU 31 is connected to an engine 32 that serves as a prime mover when the vehicle travels. The ECU 31 includes a throttle valve (not shown) that adjusts the intake air amount of the engine 32 and an injector (not shown) that injects fuel. The number of revolutions and output of the engine 32 can be controlled by controlling (omitted) and the like. The accelerator opening detection sensor 35, the ECU 31, and the engine 32 constitute a prime mover 30 that is operated when the vehicle is traveling.

  The brake rod 15 of the pedal device 1 is provided so as to be able to output to a braking device 40 that the vehicle has. Specifically, the brake rod 15 is connected to a brake booster 41 constituting the braking device 40, and the brake booster 41 is further connected to the master cylinder 42 via a push rod 43. The master cylinder 42 is connected to a wheel cylinder 44 provided in the vicinity of a plurality of wheels (not shown) of the vehicle by a hydraulic path 45. The wheel cylinder 44 is provided such that the rotational speed of a brake disk (not shown) that rotates with the wheel when the wheel rotates can be braked by frictional force. The brake booster 41, the master cylinder 42, the push rod 43, the hydraulic path 45, and the wheel cylinder 44 constitute a braking device 40 that is activated when the vehicle is braked.

  The pedal device 1 according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when the accelerator operation is performed with the pedal device shown in FIG. 1. When operating the pedal device 1 according to the embodiment, the driver inputs an operation force that is a substantially forward force in the vehicle front-rear direction to the accelerator pedal 5 from the tread surface 6 of the accelerator pedal 5 with the foot 50. To operate. When the accelerator operation is performed by the pedal device 1 that operates by inputting the operation force to the accelerator pedal 5 in this way, the operation is performed by inputting a large force to the accelerator input unit 11 of the accelerator pedal 5. That is, when operating force is input to the accelerator pedal 5, more force is input to the accelerator input unit 11 by inputting more force from the toe 51 side of the foot 50. Thereby, the accelerator pedal 5 provided so that rotation is possible, the accelerator input part 11 side rotates to the front in the front-back direction of a vehicle centering on the pedal shaft 20 or the fulcrum 21. As shown in FIG.

  When the accelerator pedal 5 rotates in this way, the accelerator opening degree detection sensor 35 detects the rotation angle and transmits it to the ECU 31 by an electrical signal. The ECU 31 to which the rotation opening of the accelerator pedal 5 is transmitted from the accelerator opening detection sensor 35 adjusts the opening of the throttle valve of the engine 32 and the amount of fuel injected from the injector according to the transmitted rotation angle. Thus, the rotational speed and output of the engine 32 are adjusted to the rotational speed and output corresponding to the rotational opening of the accelerator pedal 5.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when the brake operation is performed with the pedal device shown in FIG. 1. Further, when the brake operation is performed by the pedal device 1, it is performed by inputting a large force to the brake input unit 12 of the accelerator pedal 5. That is, when operating force is input to the accelerator pedal 5, more force is input to the brake input unit 12 by inputting more force from the heel 52 side of the foot 50. As a result, the accelerator pedal 5 provided so as to be able to rotate is about to rotate in the direction in which the brake input unit 12 side is forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle around the pedal shaft 20 or the fulcrum 21. A stopper 16 is located in front of the portion 12. Therefore, the front portion of the brake input portion 12 of the accelerator pedal 5 abuts against the stopper 16. Thereby, the rotation of the accelerator pedal 5 is restricted, and the rotation of the accelerator pedal 5 is stopped.

  Further, when the brake input portion 12 abuts against the stopper 16, the stopper 16 is provided on the brake rod 15, so that the operation force input to the accelerator pedal 5 is transmitted to the brake rod 15 via the stopper 16. The When an operating force is input to the brake rod 15, the brake rod 15 moves substantially forward, which is the input direction of the operating force. That is, when the brake operation is performed, the brake pedal 15 strokes substantially forward, so that the entire accelerator pedal 5 moves substantially forward.

  When the brake rod 15 strokes substantially forward, an operating force that is a force pushing the brake rod 15 is transmitted to the brake booster 41 via the brake rod 15, and is increased by the brake booster 41 and transmitted to the push rod 43. . The force transmitted from the brake booster 41 to the push rod 43 is transmitted to the push rod 43 as a force pushing the push rod 43 in the direction of the master cylinder 42, and the push rod 43 to which this force is transmitted is applied to the master cylinder 42. Input to the master cylinder 42 by being pushed in the direction.

  The master cylinder 42 input from the push rod 43 increases the brake pressure in the hydraulic path 45 in response to the input, and the wheel cylinder 44 operates by increasing the brake pressure in the hydraulic path 45 in this way. . When the wheel cylinder 44 is actuated, the wheel cylinder 44 brakes the rotational speed of the brake disc that rotates together with the wheel by the frictional force. As a result, the rotating wheel is also braked, and the running vehicle is braked by braking the wheel.

  The above pedal device 1 is provided so that the accelerator operation and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal by providing the rotatable accelerator pedal 5 at the end of the brake rod 15. That is, when the accelerator operation is performed, a force in a direction in which the accelerator pedal 5 rotates around the fulcrum 21 is input to the accelerator input unit 11 and the accelerator pedal 5 is rotated. Further, when the brake operation is performed, a force in the stroke direction of the brake rod 15 is input to the accelerator pedal 5 connected to the brake rod 15, and the brake rod 15 is stroked via the accelerator pedal 5. . Further, since the accelerator pedal 5 is provided with the brake input portion 12 on the opposite side of the accelerator input portion 11 with the fulcrum 21 interposed therebetween, the accelerator pedal is increased in the direction in which the output of the engine 32 increases when the brake operation is performed. It can suppress that 5 rotates. As a result, the operability can be improved while the accelerator operation and the brake operation can be performed with one pedal.

  Since the brake rod 15 is provided with a stopper 16, the rotation of the accelerator pedal 5 is restricted by the stopper 16 when a brake operation is performed by inputting an operation force to the brake input portion 12. Stop. For this reason, the input with respect to the brake input part 12 can be transmitted to the brake rod 15 without using it for rotation of the accelerator pedal 5. As a result, the operability when performing a brake operation can be improved more reliably.

  Further, when the brake is operated, the operation force for the accelerator pedal 5 is directly transmitted to the brake rod 15 through the stopper 16 as described above, so that the brake operability with a more direct feeling can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to improve the operational feeling during brake operation.

  In addition, since the accelerator operation and the brake operation are performed by one accelerator pedal 5, when switching from the accelerator operation to the brake operation, the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are changed from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal as in a vehicle in which the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are separately provided. No need to change pedals. For this reason, when switching from the accelerator operation to the brake operation, there is no need to depress the pedal, so even when the vehicle is suddenly braked, for example, the time required to switch the operation from the accelerator operation to the brake operation. Can be greatly shortened. As a result, safety during vehicle travel can be improved.

  Further, since the accelerator operation and the brake operation are performed by one accelerator pedal 5, the number of pedals provided in the driver's seat of the vehicle can be reduced, and the space at the foot of the driver's seat is widened. Further, the degree of freedom in pedal layout is increased by reducing the number of pedals. As a result, it is possible to effectively use the feet of the driver's seat.

  FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of a force applied to a foot when a human runs. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the force applied to the foot when a running human stops. Further, in the pedal device 1 according to the embodiment, when an accelerator operation is performed, a large amount of force is input from the toe 51 side of the foot 50, and when a brake operation is performed, a large amount of force is applied from the heel 52 side of the foot 50. Although input is performed, such input is suitable for ergonomics. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, when running, the human 55 runs by kicking the ground backward with the toe 51, and therefore runs with force near the toe 51 of the foot. On the other hand, when the running human 55 stops, as shown in FIG. 5B, when running near the heel 52 that can receive a large force by being located near the ankle joint. Since it stops by receiving the inertial force at, it stops by putting a force near the heel 52 of the foot 50.

  As described above, when the human 55 runs, a large force acts near the toe 51 of the foot 50, and when the human 55 stops, a large force acts near the heel 52 of the foot 50, but the pedal device 1 according to the embodiment. Then, when the vehicle is accelerated, that is, when the accelerator operation is performed, a large amount of force is input from the vicinity of the toe 51 of the foot 50 to brake the vehicle, that is, when the brake operation is performed, Many forces are input from around 52. For this reason, the part where the force is applied during acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle is at the same position as during the movement of the human 55, and the operation feeling during the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle becomes a sense in line with the movement sense of the human 55. As a result, the operational feeling during the acceleration / deceleration operation of the vehicle becomes a natural operational feeling, and the operation can be performed without being aware of the pedal operation. Therefore, the safety can be improved more reliably.

  In addition, the vehicle provided with the pedal device 1 described above includes the engine 32, and when the accelerator pedal 5 is rotated, the output of the engine 32 and the number of rotations can be controlled. The prime mover included in the vehicle including the engine 32 may be other than the engine 32. For example, a motor (not shown) may be provided as a prime mover when the vehicle travels, or the engine 32 and the motor may be used in combination. The prime mover that is controlled when the accelerator pedal 5 is rotated is not limited as long as it can control the output and the number of rotations according to the rotation of the accelerator pedal 5.

  As described above, the pedal device according to the present invention is useful for a pedal device that performs pedal operation with a foot, and is particularly suitable when an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are provided integrally.

It is the schematic of the pedal apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a driving device and a braking device for a vehicle including the pedal device shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing at the time of operating an accelerator with the pedal apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of brake operation with the pedal apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the force applied to a leg when a human runs. It is explanatory drawing of the force applied to a leg when the person who is running stops.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pedal apparatus 5 Accelerator pedal 6 Tread surface 7 End part 11 Accelerator input part 12 Brake input part 15 Brake rod 16 Stopper 20 Pedal shaft 21 Support point 25 Car body 30 Motor | power device 31 ECU
32 Engine 35 Accelerator opening detection sensor 40 Braking device 41 Brake booster 42 Master cylinder 43 Push rod 44 Wheel cylinder 45 Hydraulic path 50 Foot 51 Toe 52 踵 55 Human

Claims (2)

A brake rod capable of outputting to the braking device by being connected to a brake booster constituting the braking device of the vehicle , wherein the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is a stroke direction, and
It is located at the rear end side of the brake rod, and further has an accelerator input portion provided as an input portion at the time of accelerator operation , and is rotated around a fulcrum located at the end portion of the brake rod. An accelerator pedal having a brake input portion that is provided as an input portion at the time of brake operation and that is provided on the opposite side of the accelerator input portion with the fulcrum as a center,
A pedal device comprising:   The pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restricting unit that restricts rotation of the accelerator pedal when input to the brake input unit.

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