JPH09290663A - Electronic accelerator pedal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedal feeling of two steps like a cable type accelerator pedal structure, by setting a region reducing the initial stepping force of an accelerator pedal, in an electronic accelerator pedal structure. SOLUTION: An accelerator rod 4 mounted in an accelerator pedal 1 is energized in a direction opposite to stepping in of the accelerator pedal by a first return spring 8, and rotation of the accelerator rod 4 is regulated by a first stopper 10. In a sensor rod 13 provided in a rotation detection sensor 14, a prescribed space is provided in a rotational direction of the accelerator rod 4 at stepping time of the accelerator pedal, and, by an impeding means, impeded is transmission of energizing force in a direction opposite to stepping of the accelerator pedal by a second return spring 16 relating to the accelerator rod 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic accelerator that detects a depression amount of an accelerator pedal based on rotation of an accelerator rod, and more particularly to an accelerator pedal structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to achieve an optimum operating condition of an automobile or the like, the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal is detected by using a sensor or the like, and the throttle valve opening or fuel injection amount is controlled based on the detected value. A so-called electronic accelerator is known. Further, according to such an electronic accelerator structure, there is no need to arrange a complicated cable for connecting between the accelerator pedal portion and the throttle valve, and there are advantages such as securing a space in the engine room and improving the assembling property. .

An example of the electronic accelerator structure as described above will be described below. An accelerator rod, which is rotatably supported by the vehicle body at a substantially central portion, is attached to the back surface of the accelerator pedal. Further, the accelerator rod is biased by an accelerator rod return spring in a direction different from a rotation direction when the accelerator pedal is depressed (hereinafter referred to as an accelerator pedal anti-depression direction), and an accelerator rod stopper attached to a vehicle body accelerates the accelerator rod. Is restricted from rotating in the rotation direction. A sensor rod is attached in the rotation direction of the accelerator rod when the accelerator pedal is depressed, through a connecting bar that contacts the accelerator rod, and the rotation detection sensor detects the rotation amount of the sensor rod through the sensor shaft. . Further, a sensor return spring urges the sensor rod in the depressing direction of the accelerator pedal.

Next, the operation of the above-described electronic accelerator when the accelerator pedal is depressed will be described. When the accelerator pedal is depressed, the accelerator rod attached to the back surface rotates about the shaft member at the substantially central portion thereof, the sensor rod is rotated at the same time as the rotation, and the rotation detection sensor detects the rotation amount of the sensor rod. As described above, an accelerator pedal structure in which the rotation detection sensor detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-18280.

[0005]

By the way, in the structure of an accelerator pedal that operates opening and closing of a throttle valve with respect to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal, an accelerator rod having one end attached to the accelerator pedal and the other end connected to a cable has been conventionally used. The mainstream is a cable-type accelerator pedal structure in which the throttle valve opening / closing mechanism is rotated by depressing the accelerator pedal and the cable is pulled to directly operate the opening / closing mechanism of the throttle valve. In this way, in the cable type accelerator pedal structure in which the opening / closing mechanism of the accelerator rod and the throttle valve is connected by the cable,
The cable bends when the accelerator pedal is not depressed, which acts as accelerator pedal play, which makes the accelerator pedal feel (feeling of depressing the accelerator pedal) lighter when the pedal is initially depressed. Then, when the depression amount is further increased beyond the play area, a biasing force for biasing the throttle valve in the closing direction is applied and the accelerator pedal feeling becomes heavy. As described above, the cable-type accelerator pedal structure has a two-stage pedal feeling that changes from a light pedal feeling to a heavy pedal feeling. However, in the electronic accelerator pedal structure as described above, the accelerator rod and the sensor rod always rotate integrally as soon as the accelerator pedal is depressed, and the biasing force of the accelerator rod return spring and the biasing force of the sensor return spring are added. Therefore, a large pedaling force is required at the initial depression, and the accelerator pedal feeling (the feeling of depressing the accelerator pedal) is felt heavy. In addition, since the rate of change in the amount of depression with respect to the subsequent pedaling force is constant and the pedaling characteristic has a one-step pedal feeling, the cable type accelerator pedal is adopted unlike the pedaling characteristic in the conventional cable type accelerator pedal structure. There was a problem in that a strange feeling would occur when changing from a car that uses an electronic accelerator pedal.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an electronic accelerator pedal structure in which a region for reducing the initial pedaling force of the accelerator pedal is set.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain a two-stage accelerator pedal feeling such as a cave type accelerator pedal structure.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 provides an accelerator rod which is attached to an accelerator pedal and is rotated by depressing operation of the accelerator pedal, and an accelerator rod which reverses the accelerator pedal. Accelerator rod urging means for urging in the depression direction, stopper means for restricting rotation of the accelerator rod when the accelerator pedal is not depressed, and depression for detecting the depression amount of the accelerator pedal based on the rotation of the accelerator rod In an electronic accelerator pedal structure including an amount detecting means, the stepping amount detecting means is provided with an urging means for urging the accelerator pedal in the reverse stepping direction, and transmission of the urging force by the urging means to the accelerator rod is transmitted. The feature is that a blocking means for blocking is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an accelerator rod attached to an accelerator pedal and rotated by a depression operation of the accelerator pedal, and an accelerator rod urging means for urging the accelerator rod in a direction opposite to the accelerator pedal depression direction. An electronic accelerator pedal structure including stopper means for restricting rotation of the accelerator rod when the accelerator pedal is not depressed and depression amount detection means for detecting a depression amount of the accelerator pedal based on rotation of the accelerator rod The elastic means is provided between the accelerator pedal and the accelerator rod, the elastic means having an elastic force smaller than the urging force that urges the accelerator rod in the accelerator pedal anti-depressing direction.

[0009]

According to the electronic accelerator pedal structure according to the first aspect of the invention, even if the accelerator rod is rotated by the depression operation of the accelerator pedal, the blocking means urges the depression amount detecting means until it rotates a predetermined amount. The force is not applied to the accelerator pedal, and the additional force is applied by further rotation of the accelerator rod.

According to the electronic accelerator pedal structure according to the second aspect, when the accelerator pedal is depressed,
First, the elastic means provided between the accelerator pedal and the accelerator rod is sufficiently elastically deformed, and then the accelerator rod starts to rotate, whereby the biasing force is applied.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain at least two-stage pedal feeling in which the initial depression is light, and the pedal depression becomes heavier when the depression amount is further increased.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic accelerator pedal structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention when the accelerator pedal is not depressed.

At the lower end of the flat plate-shaped accelerator pedal 1, a first shaft member 2a provided on an accelerator pedal mounting bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body and having a spherical upper end,
By fitting the 2b, the accelerator pedal 1 can be rotated with respect to the vehicle body. Accelerator pedal 1
An accelerator rod mounting member 3 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is attached to the back side of the so that the width direction of the accelerator pedal 1 becomes an opening, and the opening is bent from the opening toward the width direction of the accelerator pedal 1. One end of the accelerator rod 4 is attached. The accelerator rod 4 has a substrate 5 at the substantially central portion.
The first return spring 8 mounted on the second shaft member 7 is rotatably supported by the second shaft member 7 via the accelerator rod mounting bracket 6 formed on the second shaft member 7 (accelerating the accelerator rod in the present embodiment). (Corresponding to the means), the accelerator pedal 1 is urged to rotate in the direction of pressing. A first stopper 10 that restricts rotation of the accelerator rod 4 due to the urging force of the first return spring 8 is provided on the substrate 5 near the end of the accelerator rod 4 opposite to the accelerator pedal attachment portion 9. Also, the first
In the vicinity of the stopper 10, a rotation detecting sensor 14 having a sensor rod 13 having one end attached to the sensor shaft 11 and the other end attached to the connecting bar 12 substantially vertically is provided. The sensor rod 13 is attached to the substrate 5 so that the connecting bar 12 arranged substantially perpendicular to the accelerator rod 4 has a predetermined distance from the accelerator rod 4 when the accelerator rod 4 and the first stopper 10 come into contact with each other. The second
It is regulated by a stopper 15 (corresponding to the blocking means in the present embodiment). Further, the sensor shaft 11 is provided with a second return spring 16 (corresponding to the urging means in the present embodiment) that urges the sensor rod 13 in the direction of pressing the second stopper 15. The second
The stopper 15 prevents the transmission of the urging force from the second return spring 16 to the accelerator pedal 1 when the accelerator pedal 1 is initially depressed.
A rubber member 17 is attached to the contact portion of the accelerator rod 4 with the connecting bar 12 over the predetermined interval.
The elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the rubber member 1
The sum of the elastic coefficients of 7 is set smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, when the pedaling force overcomes the sum of the elastic forces of the first return spring 8 and the rubber member 17, the accelerator rod 4 starts to rotate in the opposite direction from the accelerator pedal 1 around the second shaft member 7. The accelerator rod 4 presses the connecting bar 12 supported by the sensor rod 13 via the rubber member 17. At this time, the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the rubber member 17 is set to be smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16, so that while the rubber member 17 is elastically deformed. The connecting bar 12 does not rotate, and when the rubber member 17 is sufficiently elastically deformed, the connecting bar and the sensor rod 13 rotate due to the pedaling force of the accelerator pedal 1. Then, the rotation detection sensor 14 detects the rotation amount of the sensor rod 13 as the depression amount of the accelerator pedal.

Therefore, since the pedaling force reduction region by the elastic force is provided for the initial pedaling operation of the accelerator pedal, there is no heavy pedal feeling at the initial pedaling, the initial pedaling is light, and when the pedaling amount is further increased, it becomes heavy. It is possible to obtain a two-stage pedal feeling like a cable type accelerator.

Hereinafter, the same parts will be described using the same reference numerals and names.

[Second Embodiment] Next, an electronic accelerator pedal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the upper end portion of the accelerator rod when the accelerator pedal is not depressed,
The accelerator rod 4 is in contact with the first stopper 10, and the sensor rod 13 is in contact with the second stopper 15, respectively.

This embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, and both ends of the accelerator rod 4 are welded along the axial direction at the contact portion of the accelerator rod 4 with the connecting bar 12. A leaf spring member 17a is provided which is fixed by, for example, an arc shape. The sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the leaf spring member 17a is
It is set to be smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16.

The operation and effect of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, the elastic means is provided on the accelerator rod 4, but it may be provided on the connecting bar 12.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the upper end portion of the accelerator rod when the accelerator pedal is not depressed, and the accelerator rod 4 is a first stopper 10.
Further, the sensor rods 13 are shown in contact with the second stoppers 15, respectively. In describing the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted. The sensor rod 13 attached to the sensor shaft 11 of the rotation detection sensor 14 is divided into two, a first sensor rod 13a and a second sensor rod 13b, at a substantially central portion, and both are superposed at the divided portion by a shaft 13c. It is pivotally supported. The shaft 13c is provided with a third return spring 13d that biases the second sensor rod 13b in a direction of pressing the accelerator rod 4. The first stopper 10 regulates the rotation of the accelerator rod 4, and the second stopper 15 regulates the rotation of the first sensor rod 13a. The second sensor rod 1 is attached to the first sensor rod 13a.
When both sensor rods become straight when 3b is pressed by the accelerator rod 4 and rotated, the second sensor rod 1
A ridge portion 13e for restricting the rotation of 3b is formed.
The connecting bar 12 provided at one end of the second sensor rod 13b is in direct contact with the accelerator rod 4. still,
The sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the third return spring 13d is set smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16.

When the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the accelerator rod 4 rotates and presses the connecting bar 12. Therefore, when the pressing force of the accelerator rod 4 exceeds the elastic force of the third return spring 13d, the connecting bar 12 starts to rotate together with the second sensor rod 13b. At this time, the first
Since the sum of the elastic coefficient of the return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the third return spring 13d is set smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16, the first sensor rod 13a does not rotate and contacts the second stopper 15. They are in contact with each other. Then, the second sensor rod 13
When b is engaged with the protruding portion 13e of the first sensor rod 13a to form a straight line and exceeds the elastic force of the second return spring 16 when further rotating, the first sensor rod 13a and the second sensor rod 13b Rotate in synchronization.
As a result, the rotation detection sensor 14 detects the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 1 as the rotation amount of the first sensor rod 13a.

Therefore, since the pedaling force reduction area by the elastic force is provided for the initial pedaling operation of the accelerator pedal, there is no heavy pedal feeling at the initial pedaling, the initial pedaling is light, and when the pedaling amount is further increased, it becomes heavy. It is possible to obtain a two-stage pedal feeling like a cable type accelerator pedal structure.

In the above-described embodiments, the elastic means is provided by providing a predetermined interval between the rotation restricting position of the accelerator rod 4 and the rotation restricting position of the connecting bar 12 for transmitting the rotation of the accelerator rod 4 to the rotation detecting sensor 14. The setting of may be unnecessary. Further, by providing the elastic means within the predetermined interval, a smooth pedal feeling can be obtained without feeling the impact reaction force of the accelerator rod contacting the sensor rod. Here, by making the elastic means described above detachable and attaching various elastic means having different elastic coefficients, it is possible to adjust the initial pedaling force according to preference.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of an electronic accelerator pedal according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing the accelerator pedal in a non-depressed state.

In the present embodiment, the rotation of the accelerator rod 4 by the urging force of the first return spring 8 is restricted by the first stopper 10, and the connection provided on the sensor rod 13 by the urging force of the second return spring 16. Since the rotation of the bar 12 is restricted by the accelerator rod 4, the above-mentioned second stopper is not attached. A leaf spring member 18 whose one end is supported by the accelerator pedal 1 is attached to the accelerator rod attachment portion 3 on the rear surface side of the accelerator pedal 1 with a predetermined gap provided between the accelerator pedal 1 and the accelerator rod 4. The leaf spring member 18
Is smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16.

When the accelerator pedal 1 is stepped on, the elastic coefficient of the leaf spring member 18 is set to be smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16. The pedal force is absorbed by being elastically deformed by being pressed by the accelerator rod 4.
At this time, the accelerator rod 4 is immobile. When the pedaling force is further applied to exceed the sum of the elastic forces of the accelerator rod 4 and the sensor rod 13, the sensor rod 13 starts to rotate together with the accelerator rod 4.

Therefore, since the pedaling force reduction area by the elastic force is provided for the initial pedaling operation of the accelerator pedal, there is no heavy pedal feeling at the initial pedaling, the initial pedaling is light, and when the pedaling amount is further increased, it becomes heavy. It is possible to obtain a two-stage pedal feeling like a cable type accelerator pedal structure.

Further, in the present embodiment, various members can be used as long as they are elastic means having an elastic coefficient smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficients of the first return spring 8 and the second return spring 16. Further, by making the elastic coefficients different, it is possible to easily change the accelerator pedal feeling in the initial pedaling force reduction region to suit the taste.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an accelerator pedal according to a fifth embodiment.
It consists of an accelerator pedal and a second accelerator pedal. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the accelerator pedal. Basically the same as the fourth embodiment, in the process of transmitting the pedaling force from the accelerator pedal to the accelerator rod,
An elastic means is interposed. Accelerator pedal 1
Is composed of a first accelerator pedal 1a on the side that gives a pedaling force and a second accelerator pedal 1b on the side where the accelerator rod 4 is attached. The first accelerator pedal 1a is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped having an opening on the side on which the second accelerator pedal 1b is attached. Formed in a box shape,
A shaft hole 20a for mounting the connecting shaft 19 with the second accelerator pedal 1b is provided at the lower end. The second accelerator pedal 1b is formed in a rectangular plate shape with a size to be accommodated in the first accelerator pedal 1a, and has a shaft hole 20b for mounting a connecting shaft 19 with the first accelerator pedal 1a at a lower end thereof. There is. Further, a leaf spring member 21 having a U-shaped cross section and having one end fixed to the second accelerator pedal 1b is provided on the surface on the first accelerator pedal 1a side. An accelerator rod attachment portion 3 having a U-shaped cross section is provided on the back surface with openings at both ends. The leaf spring member 2
The elastic coefficient of 1 is set to be smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16.

When the first accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the elastic coefficient of the leaf spring member 21 is set to be smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16, so that the accelerator rod 4 The leaf spring member 21 bends and absorbs the pedaling force before it starts to rotate.
At this time, the accelerator rod 4 is immobile. When the pedaling force is further applied to exceed the sum of the elastic forces of the accelerator rod 4 and the sensor rod 13, the sensor rod 13 starts to rotate together with the accelerator rod 4.

Therefore, since the pedaling force reduction region by the elastic force is provided for the initial pedaling operation of the accelerator pedal, there is no heavy pedal feeling at the initial pedaling, the initial pedaling is light, and when the pedaling amount is further increased, it becomes heavy. It is possible to obtain a two-stage pedal feeling like a cable type accelerator pedal structure. further,
Similar to the fourth embodiment, by removing the accelerator pedal installed in a relatively easy-to-handle location and changing the leaf spring member to various ones, it is possible to easily set the desired initial pedal effort reduction region. be able to.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an accelerator pedal according to a sixth embodiment. In the figure, the solid line shows the state of the accelerator pedal when the pedal is not depressed, and the dotted line shows the flexed state of the accelerator pedal when the pedal is depressed.

An accelerator pedal elastic portion 1c is provided at the upper end edge of the accelerator pedal 1 toward the accelerator rod 4 side and further curved downward to form a semi-U-shaped cross section. Further, an accelerator rod mounting portion 3 for mounting the accelerator rod 4 is provided on the accelerator rod 4 side of the accelerator pedal elastic portion 1c. The elastic coefficient of the accelerator pedal elastic portion 1c is set smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16. Other than that, the configurations of the upper end portion of the accelerator rod 4, the rotation detection sensor setting unit, and the like are the same as the configurations described in the above-described fourth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the elastic coefficient of the accelerator pedal elastic portion 1c is set to be smaller than the sum of the elastic coefficient of the first return spring 8 and the elastic coefficient of the second return spring 16. 1c is pressed by the accelerator rod 4 and elastically deformed to absorb the pedaling force. At this time, the accelerator rod 4 is immobile. When the pedaling force is further applied to exceed the sum of the elastic forces of the accelerator rod 4 and the sensor rod 13, the sensor rod 13 starts to rotate together with the accelerator rod 4.

Therefore, since the pedaling force reduction area by the elastic force is provided for the initial pedaling operation of the accelerator pedal, there is no heavy pedal feeling at the initial pedaling, the initial pedaling is light, and when the pedaling amount is further increased, the pedaling becomes heavy. It is possible to obtain a two-stage pedal feeling like a cable type accelerator pedal structure. Further, the effect of providing the elastic means on the easily removable accelerator pedal portion is the same as that described above.

Further, in the fourth to sixth embodiments, the accelerator rod urging means for urging the accelerator rod in the anti-depressing direction of the accelerator pedal is provided by fixing and integrating the accelerator rod and the connecting bar. 1 or 2
It can be either one of the return springs.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the pedal feeling in two steps is obtained, but by combining various structures in each part, the pedal feeling in which the pedaling force reduction region is multi-stepped can be obtained. Is also possible.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention according to claims 1 and 2, even in the electronic accelerator pedal structure which does not use a cable, the pedaling force reduction region for the initial depression operation of the accelerator pedal can be reduced. Since it is provided, it is possible to obtain at least two-stage pedal feeling such as a cable-type accelerator pedal structure in which the initial depression is light and the weight is heavy afterward with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic accelerator pedal structure showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an upper end portion of an accelerator rod showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an upper end portion of an accelerator rod showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an electronic accelerator pedal structure showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an accelerator pedal showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an accelerator pedal showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an accelerator pedal showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Accelerator pedal 4 ... Accelerator rod 8 ... First return spring 10 ... First stopper 13 ... Sensor rod 14 ... Rotation detection sensor 16 ... Second return spring 17 ... ..Rubber members

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An accelerator rod which is attached to an accelerator pedal and is rotated by depressing operation of the accelerator pedal, accelerator rod urging means for urging the accelerator rod in a direction of depressing the accelerator pedal, and when the accelerator pedal is not depressed. In the electronic accelerator pedal structure including stopper means for restricting rotation of the accelerator rod and depression amount detecting means for detecting the depression amount of the accelerator pedal based on rotation of the accelerator rod, the depression amount detecting means An electronic accelerator pedal structure comprising: an urging means for urging the accelerator pedal in the opposite direction of depression, and a blocking means for blocking the transmission of the urging force by the urging means to the accelerator rod. 2. An accelerator rod which is attached to an accelerator pedal and is rotated by depressing operation of the accelerator pedal, accelerator rod urging means for urging the accelerator rod in a direction opposite to the depression direction of the accelerator pedal, and when the accelerator pedal is not depressed. In the electronic accelerator pedal structure including stopper means for restricting rotation of the accelerator rod, and depression amount detection means for detecting the depression amount of the accelerator pedal based on the rotation of the accelerator rod, the accelerator pedal and the An electronic accelerator pedal structure characterized in that an elastic means having an elastic force smaller than an urging force for urging the accelerator rod in the depressing direction of the accelerator pedal is provided between the elastic accelerator rod and the accelerator rod.