JPH08150263A - Mock brake device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To correctly detect a pedaling power to a brake pedal without influenced by changes in pedal rotation rate caused by the fatigue of an elastic member or the deterioration with age, by disposing a brake pedal to be operated by the pedaling and a load transducer at a place where a reaction is generated according to the pedaling power. CONSTITUTION: A load transducer 4 to which a pressure according to a pedaling power to a pedal part 2b acts, detects a pressure acting between a push rod 4 and a push rod 5, outputs it to an input signal transducing part 51, transduces it to a digital signal, and inputs it to computing unit 52. The computing unit 52 transduces the digitalsignal to a signal corresponding to the pedaling power to the pedal part 2b, outputs it to an image output computing unit 53, generates an image signal calculated from the pedaling power to the pedal part 2b together with a signal supplied from parts other than the brake and outputs it to an image output device 54. The operator adjusts the degree of his/her pedaling power to the pedal part 2b while watching to the image from the image output device 54.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simulated brake device most suitable for driving simulators and game machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional simulated brake device of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-316082. In both cases, the displacement of the brake pedal due to the pedaling force is detected by a variable resistor or the like to simulate the state of depression of the brake pedal. That is, when a reaction force is applied to the brake pedal by a spring or rubber and the brake pedal is depressed by a predetermined amount (rotational displacement amount), it is assumed that the brake pedal is depressed with a predetermined pedal force that balances the reaction force. The amount of displacement is detected.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional simulated brake device, a deforming member such as a rubber or a spring that produces a reaction force receives a pedaling force applied to the brake pedal, and the displacement amount of the brake pedal is changed by a variable resistor or the like. Since the detection is performed by the rotational displacement amount of, there are the following drawbacks.

In the conventional simulated brake device, it is assumed that when the brake pedal is depressed by a predetermined rotation amount, the brake pedal is depressed with a predetermined pedal force. However, since the elastic force of rubber, spring, etc. changes due to fatigue and changes over time, an error occurs between the treading force detected assuming the amount of rotation and the treading force actually operated by the operator, and the brake is loosely braked. There is a drawback in that the operator feels uncomfortable, such as sudden braking on the image (detection output), even though he is stepping on the pedal.

It is difficult to select the elastic characteristics of rubber, springs, etc., and variations in quality are directly detected as differences in displacement.

Since the installation positions of rubber and springs are limited, the degree of freedom in design is low.

When the displacement of the brake pedal is detected as an analog value, it is necessary to prevent product variations due to complicated assembly and adjustment work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a pedaling force (or a proportional amount) applied to a brake pedal without being affected by a change in pedal rotation amount due to fatigue of an elastic member or a change over time. , Aim to detect accurately.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, a simulated brake device of the present invention is arranged at a position where a brake pedal which is operated by an operator is depressed and a position where a reaction force is generated according to the pedaling force of the brake pedal. And a load converter provided.

[0010]

In the simulated brake device having the above structure, the pedal effort (or proportional amount) applied to the brake pedal is detected by the load converter arranged at a position where a reaction force is generated according to the pedal effort of the brake pedal. Therefore, the pedaling force (or the proportional amount) applied to the brake pedal can be accurately detected without being affected by the fatigue of the elastic member that gives a reaction force or the change over time.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a simulated brake device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a pedal bracket 16 is attached to a dash panel 18, and the pedal bracket 1
A brake pedal 2 is rotatably supported by a shaft 2a. The brake pedal 2 is biased clockwise by the return spring 1, and the pedal stopper switch 14
Is in contact with The pedaling force when the operator depresses the pedal portion 2b is transmitted to the right in FIG. 1 via the push rod 3, the load converter 4, and the push rod 5. The push rod 3, the load converter (also called a strain gauge or load cell) 4, and the push rod 5 are linearly arranged. The right end of the push rod 5 contacts the push piston 11, and the push piston 11 is biased by the piston return spring 8 in the left direction in FIG. As an initial play of the brake pedal 2, the piston return spring 8 always returns the push piston 11 to the left (FIG. 1) and holds it so that an appropriate clearance can be provided between the push piston 11 and the stop rubber 10. ing. The piston return spring 8 is housed in a cylindrical piston guide 7, and the piston guide 7 is housed in a cylindrical stopper casing 9. A stop rubber 10 is fixed to a right end portion of the stopper casing 9 with a mounting nut 12. The stopper casing 9 is attached and fixed to the dash panel 18 via the base plate 6 with an attaching nut 12a.

When the operator steps on the pedal portion 2b, the brake pedal 2 rotates counterclockwise against the return spring 1 and pushes the push rod 3 to the right (FIG. 1). At this time, the push rod 5 is the push piston 1
The piston return spring 8 for holding is compressed via 1 to move the play of the brake pedal.

When the operator further depresses the pedal portion 2b and then further depresses the pedal portion 2b, the push piston 11
Moves further to the right and contacts the stop rubber 10. The stop rubber 10 is an elastic body and is deformed even after the push piston 11 abuts on the stop rubber 10. Therefore, the operator can further depress the pedal portion 2b slightly. The treading force after the push piston 11 comes into contact with the stop rubber 10 simulates the feel when the brake pad of the actual vehicle comes into contact with the brake disc (neither is shown).

A pressure corresponding to the pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b acts on the load converter 4 sandwiched between the push rod 3 and the push rod 5. The load converter 4 is the push rod 3
The pressure acting between the push rod 5 and the push rod 5 is detected and output to the input signal converter 51.

Since the output of the weight converter 4 is generally an analog voltage signal, the input signal converter 51 converts it into a digital signal and supplies it to the calculation processor 52. Calculation processing unit 52
Converts the digital signal converted by the input signal conversion unit 51 into a signal corresponding to the pedaling force of the pedal unit 2b, and outputs the signal to the video output calculation processing unit 53. Video output calculation processing unit 53
Generates a video signal calculated from the pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b together with a signal supplied from a device other than the brake device, and outputs the video signal to the video output device (display device) 54. The operator looks at the image on the image output device 54 and looks at the pedal portion 2b.
Adjust the amount of stepping. The first embodiment described above is used as a braking device of a driving simulator for driving training. This driving simulator is configured to faithfully reproduce the driver's seat of the actual vehicle, and to obtain the operation feeling as if you were driving the actual vehicle while watching the image on the display installed in the front window. There is.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the simulated brake device according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the load converter 4 is provided at the intermediate portion between the push rod 3 and the push rod 5, but in the second embodiment, the load converter 4 is provided inside the right end portion of the stopper casing 9. Has been. That is, the stop rubber 10 is fixed to the mounting portion 10a by the male screw portion,
Stopper casing 9 by bolt 17 through 0b
It is fixed to. A load converter portion is provided between the mounting portions 10a and 10b.

When the operator depresses the pedal portion 2b, the push piston 11 moves to the right and the stop rubber 1
0, and the stop rubber 10 (mounting portion 10a) is biased to the right (FIG. 2). Since the mounting portion 10b is fixed to the stopper casing 9, a pressure corresponding to the pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b acts on the mounting portion 10b. Mounting part 10
The load converter 4a including a and 10b has a mounting portion 10a.
And the pressure applied between 10b and 10b are detected and output to the input signal converter 51.

Since the stop rubber 10 is an elastic body and the stop rubber 10 slides in the right direction (FIG. 2) and is compressed, the operator can further depress the pedal portion 2b slightly. The treading force of the pedal portion 2b when the stop rubber 10 is compressed to the right (FIG. 2) simulates the feel of the brake pad of the actual vehicle when it comes into contact with the brake disc (neither is shown). There is.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the simulated brake device according to the present invention. In the figure, FIG. 1 or FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those and the duplicated description will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the load converter 4 is provided in the intermediate portion between the push rod 3 and the push rod 5. Further, in the second embodiment, the load converter 4a has the mounting portion 10
It was provided in the middle of a and 10b. In the third embodiment, the load converter 4b is provided outside the right end portion of the stopper casing 9. That is, stop rubber 10
Is capable of transmitting force and is slidably held by the stopper casing 9 by the power rod 10c. The load converter 4b is arranged outside the right end portion of the stopper casing 9 and is pressed by the power rod 10c. The load converter 4b is a load converter called a beam type load cell.

When the operator depresses the pedal portion 2b, the push piston 11 moves to the right and the stop rubber 1
Abutting 0, stop rubber 10 and power rod 1
0c is urged to the right (FIG. 3). Power rod 10c
The pressure corresponding to the pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b is applied to the load converter 4
It is obtained as a reaction force from b. At this time, pressure corresponding to the pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b is applied to the load converter 4b, and the load converter 4b detects this pressure and outputs it to the input signal converter 51.

The stop rubber 10 is an elastic body, and the operator can further depress the pedal portion 2b, though slightly. The pedaling force of the pedal portion 2b simulates the feel of a brake pad of an actual vehicle when it comes into contact with a brake disc (neither of which is shown).

According to the embodiment described above, the detected brake signal linearly responds to the pedaling force to faithfully represent the braking state of the driving vehicle in the display in a form close to the actual vehicle. The load converter 4 can be freely laid out as long as it is on the path through which the pedaling force is transmitted, and can be modified as in the second and third embodiments. Moreover, in the first to third embodiments,
As an initial play of the brake pedal 2, a clearance is provided between the push piston 11 and the stop rubber 10, but the push piston 11 and the stop rubber 10
It may be arranged in a state in which and are in contact with each other. Further, in the first embodiment, the urging force of the return spring 8 can be detected by the load converter 4 before the push piston 11 contacts the stop rubber 10. In this case, the dragging state of the brake due to the foot resting on the brake pedal can be detected. Since the pedal effort of the brake pedal is directly detected as a brake signal, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the amount of change of the brake pedal has nothing to do with the brake signal, it is possible to freely set the feeling of stepping on, and it is easy to make arrangements depending on the type of vehicle to be simulated. There is no change in the brake signal due to the decrease in elasticity of the brake pedal depression feeling member (rubber or spring etc.),
If the pedaling force is the same, it does not affect the image. Since the displacement amount of the brake pedal in the actual vehicle is originally small, the detection accuracy of the pedaling force as the brake signal is the same as the detection accuracy of the pedaling force load change, so the detection accuracy is very good. Since the structure is much simpler than the method that detects displacement, it is suitable for mass production.
And maintenance becomes easy.

[0028]

As described above, according to the simulated brake device of the present invention, the pedal force (or the proportional amount) applied to the brake pedal is applied by the load converter arranged at the position where the reaction force of the reaction force portion is detected. Since the detection is performed, the pedaling force (or the proportional amount) applied to the brake pedal can be accurately detected without being affected by the fatigue of the elastic member that gives a reaction force or the change over time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a simulated brake device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the simulated brake device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the simulated brake device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Return Spring 2 Brake Pedal 2a Shaft 2b Pedal Part 3 Push Rod 4 Load Converter 4a Load Converter 4b Load Converter 5 Push Rod 6 Base Plate 7 Piston Guide 8 Piston Return Spring 8a Spring 9 Stopper Casing 10 Stop Rubber 10a Mounting Part 10b Mounting part 10c Power rod 11 Push piston 12 Mounting nut 12a Mounting nut 13 Stop ring 14 Pedal stopper switch 15 Harness 16 Pedal bracket 17 Bolt 18 Dash panel 51 Input signal conversion part 52 Calculation processing part 53 Video output calculation processing part 54 Video output device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A simulated brake device comprising: a brake pedal operated by an operator; and a load converter arranged at a position where a reaction force is generated in accordance with a pedaling force of the brake pedal.