WO2008079099A2

WO2008079099A2 - Pedal mechanism for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2008079099A2
Application number: PCT/SI2007/000045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petar Orbanic; Primoz Egart; Alfred Batel; Uros Bucaj; Matija Fajdiga; Bostjan Gustin; Ervin Ilnikar; Miha Janezic; Aljosa Kos; Mavricij Krbavcic; Mitja Mahnic; Primoz Mihelic; Vojko Mihevc; Aljosa Mohorcic; Milan Morato; Anton Mrak; Sergio Okretic; Uros Primozic; Uros Rosa; Albin Sirc
Original assignee: Cimos D.D.; Brstilo, Goran
Priority date: 2006-12-27
Filing date: 2007-12-21
Publication date: 2008-07-03
Also published as: SI22428A; WO2008079099A3

Abstract

A pedal mechanism is proposed according to the invention, which is characterized by small overall dimensions and appropriate behavior during the crash. A very simple mechanism consists of a small number of constituent parts and is adjustable in accordance with each desired ergonomic conditions by means of at least vertical transposition of a pedal, while at the same time a torque and forces are transferred smoothly and gradually. A pedal lever (2) is firmly connected with a slidinig member (13), which is displaceable in a horizontal direction and connected with an intermediate member (12), which is displaceable in a vertical direction and connected with a vertical guide (11), which is on the one hand pivotally connected with a pivot pin (30) of a beam (3) attached to a vehicle body, while on the other hand an operating rod (4) of each desired unit, which is controlled by means of such pedal, is attached to said guide (11).

Description

PEDAL MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

The invention refers to a pedal mechanism for motor vehicles and belongs to physics, more precisely to controlling and regulation, namely to mechanical control assemblies and arrangements thereof, and quite exactly to controlling members for foot-activation, especially to pedals. On the other hand such an invention also belongs to the field of transport, namely to arrangement of braking elements of vehicles, in particular to disposition of braking pedals.

The aim of the invention is to create a pedal mechanism with regular behavior in crash situations, which should excel in a simple construction requiring small quantity of constituent parts and correspondingly small overall dimensions, and which could moreover be adapted to each desired ergonomic requirements related to each particular user, namely at least in the sense of displacing the pedal into each desired position in the horizontal direction, wherein also each required transmission of forces and torque by means of such mechanism would have to be conducted smoothly and uniformly. A brake assembly is described in US 2002/0134190 Al (Bosch Braking Systems Co., Ltd.), which consists of a pair of mutually interconnected levers, where appropriate cinematic proportions then enables changing of the transmission ratio between each pedal forces and corresponding displacements with respect to displacements and forces on the brake cylinder rod. Within the context of the aforementioned purpose of the invention such assembly actually enables a required changing of transferred forces and torques, but the changes are not smooth and uniform. This means that in the origin position each desired force, which is acting towards the pedal, results in certain force pressing towards the brake cylinder, but upon certain displacement of the pedal said pressing force towards the brake cylinder is then either essentially increasing or essentially decreasing. Said assembly as such also does not allow adjusting or predetermining of each desired position of the pedal plate, which is however expected in modern vehicles in order to fulfill each desired ergonomic criteria.

Still further US 2004/0007085 (Willemsen) describes an adjustable pedal assembly of brake and throttle pedal, where each pedal consists of two levers in form of letter V, in ^■ which one of said lever is intended to receive the force from the pedal plate, while the other lever is transmitting and forwarding said force towards the brake cylinder or adequate fuel supply unit in each relevant engine. A screwed bolt is available between both levers, which is embedded within appropriate guide and serves for adjusting each desired distance between said levers. Such an assembly at least in certain extent enables adjusting of position of the pedal plate for the purposes of adjusting each desired position thereof, adapted to each particular user, but is at the same time slightly problematic with respect to huge overall dimensions and also when bearing in mind a relatively comprehensive manufacturing thereof. In particular bulky is also the guide of said screwed bolt, which is moreover extending in the horizontal direction towards the feet of the driver, which is not only requiring some space in the area of the driver's legs, but also to exposing the driver's leg in the crash situation to serious damages.

A still further solution of an adjustable pedal mechanism is described in US 2003/0164058 Al (Sauvonnet et al), where the pedal lever consists of a pair of essentially parallel strips, which are both furnished with a longitudinal passage, by which an arm consisting of a single strip and furnished with a pedal plate is then inserted between said pair of strips, and by which said single strip is equipped with two bolts, which protrude apart from each other and are each per se inserted within the belonging passage on one of both strips of the lever. In general, said bolts are displaceable along said passages, and may also be fixed in each desired position by means of appropriate limitation means connected with a corresponding screw, which extends essentially in a direction of said passage. Such an approach requires manufacturing and assembling of numerous constituent parts, and moreover, the pedal plate is adjustable in the direction, which is inclined both with respect to horizontal and vertical plane. This normally means that each desired displacement in the horizontal direction results in a proportional displacement in the vertical direction, wherein each displacement in the vertical direction is even essentially greater than each corresponding displacement in the horizontal direction, which results from almost vertical global position of the whole assembly as required in order to assure a regular transmission of braking force received from the pedal plate. In addition to that, when adjusting each desired position of the pedal with respect to each particular ergonomic situation, the distance between the pedal plate and the pivot axis of the pedal may then be essentially changed, and may be essentially shortened by adjusting pedal for the purposes of being used from the side of a person having shorter legs. Consequently, if a defined braking force towards the brake cylinder is expected, which is regularly predetermined on the basis of certain parameters like the weight of each vehicle, diameter of brake discs and several other conditions, the drivers with shorter legs would have to press the pedal essentially stronger than the drivers with some longer legs, although said braking force should normally remain unchanged regardless to the length of the driver's legs.

A similar solution is described in WO 01/76924 A2 on the basis of PCT/CAO 1/00494 (ATOMA INTERNATIONAL CORP. in 2000662 ONTARIO INC.), in which said lever also consists of a single strip. Cinematic properties are quite similar to those described in relationship with US 2003/0164058 Al, so that also in this case transfer of forces extends in an undesired manner, by which also all deficiencies remain practically the same, and should therefore not be repeated once again.

The present invention concerns a pedal mechanism for motor vehicles, which comprises a brake pedal with a belonging pedal plate, by which said pedal is pivotally mounted to a pivot joint of a beam, which is attached to a vehicle body or any other part of each vehicle, and is moreover via a transmission assembly interconnected with an operating rod (or with any other approximately translational displaceable transmission element, in particular with an operating rod of a brake cylinder or a clutch or any other driving or control unit of a motor vehicle,. Said pedal lever is thanks to said transmission assembly adjustable to each pre-determined position and may after that be fixed in such a position, wherein consequently in each desired position of said pedal lever each particular rotation of the pedal lever results in a proportional translation of said operating rod.

According to the invention said transmission assembly consists of

- a vertical guide, which is on the one hand pivotally around the axis of the pivot joint interconnected with said beam and on the other hand with said operating rod; - an intermediate transmission member, which is positively interconnected with said vertical guide in such a way that both the rotation thereof together with said guide around the axis of the pivot joint and also the translation thereof along the guide in at least approximately vertical direction is enabled prior to fixation thereof in each desired position with respect to said guide; and

- a sliding member, which is on the one hand firmly interconnected with the pedal lever and on the other hand positively interconnected with said intermediate transmission member, wherein the interconnection between said sliding member and the intermediate transmission member is established in such a way that

- said sliding member is allowed to rotate together with said intermediate transmission member around the axis of said pivot joint, and that

- said sliding member is optionally displaced along said intermediate transmission member in at least approximately horizontal direction, by which appropriate fixation thereof in each desired position with respect to the intermediate transmission member may be established in order to achieve a firmly interconnection between said sliding member and said intermediate member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the intermediate transmission member of the transmission assembly, which is on the one hand interconnected with the vertical guide and on the other hand with the sliding member, is created as an integral part, which is furnished

- with at least one essentially vertical guiding member, which is adapted to cooperate with corresponding guiding member, which extends essentially in a vertical direction along the vertical guide, as well as - with an essentially in a horizontal direction extending guiding member, which is adapted to cooperate with a sliding member, which extends essentially in a horizontal direction and is firmly interconnected with the pedal lever.

Said horizontal guiding member of the horizontal guide may be available as a groove, which extends along the guide, while the vertical guiding member of the intermediate transmission member is then available as a slider, which is adapted to cooperate with said vertical guiding member of the vertical guide.

Moreover, said horizontal guiding member of the horizontal guide may be a groove, which extends along the guide, while the vertical guiding member of the intermediate transmission member is then available as a slider, which is adapted to cooperate with said vertical guiding member of the vertical guide.

Furthermore, said sliding member may also be created as an integral part, by which the horizontal guiding member of the intermediate transmission element is then created as a groove, which is adapted to receive said sliding member, which is firmly interconnected with the pedal lever.

In general, such an embodiment of the invention may also be foreseen, where the male sliding member is inserted into a female horizontal guiding member of the intermediate transmission member, or alternatively also that the intermediate transmission element is inserted into a female area of the sliding member by means of its male horizontal guiding member.

In order to avoid previously described sliding interactions, the vertical guide may also be furnished with at least two roller bearing members, by means of which the vertical guiding member of the longitudinally displaceable intermediate transmission member is then guided. On the other hand also the vertical guide may be furnished with at least two roller bearing members, by means of which the vertical guiding member of the longitudinally displaceable intermediate transmission member is then guided. In a still further embodiment the intermediate transmission element is furnished with at least two roller bearing members, between which the longitudinally displaceable sliding member is then inserted. In the preferred embodiment the intermediate transmission member is furnished with at least two sequences of roller bearing elements, which are arranged apart from each other and parallel to each other, and between which a longitudinally displaceable sliding member is inserted.

In a still further embodiment of the invention the intermediate transmission member is furnished with two lateral guides, within which the roller bearing members are embedded and between which the sliding member is extending. In this, the sliding member is guided in the area of at least one of its longitudinal edges, preferably along two neighboring edges, by means of at least one of the lateral guides, preferably by two lateral guides.

The invention will be described in more detail on the basis of several embodiments, which are illustrated in the enclosed drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated pedal mechanism for motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a mechanism according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an integrated transmission assembly according to one of the embodiments of the invention; Fig. 4 is an explosion view of a transmission assembly according to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an disintegrated transmission assembly according to a further embodiments of the invention; Fig. 6 represents an explosion view of a transmission assembly according to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an integrated transmission assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is an explosion view of a disintegrated transmission assembly according to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an integrated transmission assembly according to a still further embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 10 is an explosion view of a disintegrated transmission assembly according to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 9.

A mechanism according to the invention consists of a pedal lever 2, which is equipped with a pedal plate (not shown) and pivotally around the transversal axis y—y according to Fig. 1 linked to a beam 3 via appropriate pivot joint, being thereby at the one hand pivotally connected with said beam 3 and on the other hand via appropriate transmission means 1 also with an operating rod 4 of each desired device, which is actually controlled by means of said lever 2, like e.g. with a main brake cylinder or pressure multiplier (also known to those skilled in the art under terms "booster" or "master vac"). Said cylinder and the beam 3, on which said pivot joint 30 of the pedal lever 2 is available, are each per se attached to a vehicle body (not shown), while said operating rod 4 is displaceable in its longitudinal direction x — x according to Fig. 1 in correlation with each rotation of the pedal lever 2 around said pivot joint 30.

Said transmission assembly 1 of the mechanism according to the invention consists of a vertical guide 11, which is on the one hand connected with said rod 4 and on the other hand pivotally hinged on said pivot joint 30 of the beam 3 attached to the vehicle body, as well as of an intermediate transmission member 12, which is equipped with a horizontal guiding member 120, and a sliding member 13, which is adapted to cooperate with said guiding member 120, while a pedal lever 2 together with its pedal plate is firmly connected with said guiding member 13.

In one of the embodiments of said transmission assembly 1 of the mechanism according to the invention, which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said intermediate transmission member 12 is available as an uniform disc, which comprises at the one hand at least approximately in the vertical direction extending guiding member 121, which is in this particular embodiment available as a slider being capable to cooperate with the vertical guide 11 equipped with a vertical guiding member 110, which is in this particular case available in form of a groove, and on the other hand a horizontal guiding member 120, which is adapted to cooperate with a sliding member 13, by which the pedal lever 2 is firmly connected without possibility of relatively pivoting there-between, although said pedal lever 2 is additionally embedded with an additional holder 15 and pivotally connected thereto..

As clearly shown in further embodiments for the purposes of better understanding of those skilled in the art, it should be clearly stated that when bearing in mind operational aspects of the invention it is actually irrelevant, which part in each pair of mutually cooperating parts, namely of said vertical guide 11 and vertical guiding member 121, or said horizontal guiding member 120 and a sliding member 13, is available as a female or male part. From the point of view of said operation aspects of the invention it is only important that said intermediate transmission member 12 is movable on the one hand in the vertical direction along said vertical guide 11 and on the other hand also in the horizontal direction thanks do appropriate displacement of said sliding member 13 along the horizontal guiding member 120 of the intermediate transmission member 12 for each desired distance L (Fig. 2). In this, said vertical and horizontal displacements are quite independent from each other, and upon each desired displacement said members 11, 12, 13 may be then firmly interconnected, namely provisionally fixed in each desired position.

Previously discussed embodiment excels in a really small quantity of constituent parts and also in simple manufacturing thereof. In addition to that, at least two facts may still be exposed, namely that each position of the pedal lever 2 is adjusted bys means of a horizontal and vertical displacement, which are completely independent from each other, and in particular also that the transmission ratio of said lever 2, which results from the distance between the foot plate i.e. the origin of each braking force and the axis of the pivot joint 30, is able to be adjusted beneficially with respect to physical constitution of each driver, wherein a small-constitution driver having shorter legs should normally feel comfortable upon adjusting some larger distance than those adjusted for the purposes of a tall driver having longer legs. Accordingly, the ergonomic requirements in the sense of adjusting a desired position of the foot plate of the pedal lever 2 are met in a beneficial and optimum manner with respect to each particular driver.

In order to avoid said sliding placement of the guiding member 121 into said guiding member 110 of the vertical guide 11, as well as of the slider 13 into said guiding member 120, another embodiment of the assembly 1 of the mechanism according to the invention is foreseen, which is shown in Figs 5 and 6 and in which the sliding interaction between the guide 11 and the intermediate member 12 as well as between this last and the sliding member 13 with the pedal lever 2 is replaced with a rolling interaction, a although the cinematic features including benefits resulting there-from may still remain completely unchanged. To this aim said intermediate transmission member 12 is equipped at the one hand with at least two vertical roller bearing members 121', 121" adapted to interact with the vertical guide 11, and on the other hand with at least two horizontal roller bearing members 120', 120" adapted to interact with a sliding member 13, which is in this particular embodiment according to Figs 5 and 6 available either as an U-profϊle or a C-profile.

A still further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs 7 and 8. Two roller bearing members 111 ', 111 " are foreseen on the vertical guide 11, which is not shown in the drawing, so that by means of these roller bearing members said intermediate transmission member 12 is then guided and displaced in the vertical direction. On the other hand, said intermediate transmission member 12 is equipped with at least two horizontal roller bearing members 120', 120", by means of which then the sliding member 13 together with the pedal lever 2 attached thereto (not shown) is then guided and displaced, when desired.

In a still further embodiment of the assembly 1 of the mechanism according to the invention, which is shown in Figs 9 and 10, said vertical guide 11 also includes roller bearing members 111 ', 111", by means of which the intermediate transmission member 12 is guided and displaced in the vertical direction. However, said intermediate transmission member 12 is equipped with two parallel extending sequences of roller bearing members 120', 120", between which a sliding member 13 is placed together with accompanied pedal lever 2, which is not shown in said drawings. Guiding of said sliding member 13 may still be improved by means of lateral guides 122', 122", which are arranged adjacent to said sequences of roller bearing members 120', 120" in abutment to the longitudinal edges 133', 133" of the sliding member 13. When such mechanism is mounted within each desired vehicle, then said beam 3 together with the pivot joint 30 and also each particular unit controlled by means of the pedal lever 2 via the rod 4, and preferably also the holder 15 of said pedal lever 2 are each per se mounted onto a vehicle body. The vertical guide 11, to which said rod 4 is attached, is on the one hand pivotally attached to the pivot joint 30 of the beam 3 and is moreover at the same time also positively interconnected with the intermediate member 12, which is on the other hand positively interconnected with the sliding member 13, which is firmly interconnected with the pedal lever 2. During the adjustment of each desired position of the pedal plate, said positive interconnection between the guide 11 and the intermediate member 12 is temporarily eliminated e.g. by means of releasing appropriate fixation elements, which are otherwise foreseen to maintain said members in a firmly mutual interconnection, so that said intermediate member 12 is then allowed to move in a desired extent in the direction along the vertical guide 11, upon which said positive interconnection is re-established and secured by means of said fixation elements. In common independently of said step, but if desired also simultaneously, during adjusting of each desired position of the pedal plate also the positive interconnection between the intermediate element 12 and the sliding member 13 is temporarily eliminated, upon which a desired displacement of the pedal lever 2 together with said pedal plate relatively with respect to said intermediate member 12 is allowed, which in earlier described embodiments therefore occurs in the horizontal direction, upon which said positive interconnection is re-established again and secured by means of appropriate fixation elements.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Pedal mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a brake pedal (2) with a belonging pedal plate, said pedal (2) being pivotally mounted to a pivot joint (30) of a beam (3), which is attached to a vehicle body or any other part of each vehicle, and is moreover via a transmission assembly (1) interconnected with an operating rod (4) or with any other approximately translational displaceable transmission element, in particular with an operating rod (4) of a brake cylinder or a clutch or any other driving or control unit of a motor vehicle, by which said pedal lever (2) is thanks to said transmission assembly (1) adjustable to each pre-determined position and may after that be fixed in such position, and by which consequently in each desired position of said pedal lever (2) each particular rotation of the pedal lever (2) results in a proportional translation of said operating rod (4), characterized in that said transmission assembly (1) consists of

- a vertical guide (11), which is on the one hand pivotally around the axis of the pivot joint (30) interconnected with said beam (3) and on the other hand with said operating rod (4);

- an intermediate transmission member (12), which is positively interconnected with said vertical guide (11) in such a way that both the rotation thereof together with said guide (11) around the axis of the pivot joint (30) and also the translation thereof along the guide (11) in at least approximately vertical direction is enabled prior to fixation thereof in each desired position with respect to said guide (11); and

- a sliding member (13), which is on the one hand firmly interconnected with the pedal lever (2) and on the other hand positively interconnected with said intermediate transmission member (12), by which the interconnection between said sliding member (13) and the intermediate transmission member (12) is established in such a way that the sliding member (13) is allowed to rotate together with said intermediate transmission member (12) around the axis of said pivot joint (30), and that said sliding member (13) is optionally displaced along said intermediate transmission member (12) in at least approximately horizontal direction, by which appropriate fixation thereof in each desired position with respect to the intermediate transmission member (12) may be established in order to achieve a firmly interconnection between said sliding member (13) and said intermediate member (12).

2. Mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate transmission member (12) of the transmission assembly (1), which is on the one hand interconnected with the vertical guide (11) and on the other hand with the sliding member (13), is an integral part, which is furnished with at least one essentially vertical guiding member (121), which is adapted to cooperate with corresponding guiding member (110), which extends essentially in a vertical direction along the vertical guide (11), as well as with an essentially in a horizontal direction extending guiding member (120), which is adapted to cooperate with a sliding member (13), which extends essentially in a horizontal direction and is firmly interconnected with the pedal lever (2).

3. Mechanism according to Claim 2, characterized in that the horizontal guiding member (110) of the horizontal guide (11) is available as a groove, which extends along the guide (11), and that the vertical guiding member (121) of the intermediate transmission member (12) is available as a slider, which is adapted to cooperate with said vertical guiding member (11) of the vertical guide (11).

4. Mechanism according to Claim 2 and/or 3, characterized in that the sliding member (13) is an integral part, and that the horizontal guiding member (120) of the intermediate transmission element (12) is a groove, which is adapted to receive said sliding member (13), which is firmly interconnected with the pedal lever (2).

5. Mechanism according to one of Claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the male sliding member (13) is inserted within a female horizontal guiding member (120) of the intermediate transmission member (12).

6. Mechanism according to one of Claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the intermediate transmission element (12) is inserted into a female area of the sliding member (13) by means of its male horizontal guiding member (120).

7. Mechanism according to one of Claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the vertical guide (11) is furnished with at least two roller bearing members (I H ', H l ")_? by means of which the vertical guiding member (121) of the longitudinally displaceable intermediate transmission member (12) is guided.

8. Mechanism according to one of Claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the intermediate transmission element (12) is furnished with at least two roller bearing members (120', 120"), between which the longitudinally displaceable sliding member (13) is inserted.

9. Mechanism according to one of Claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the intermediate transmission member (12) is furnished with at least two sequences of roller bearing elements (120', 120"), which are arranged apart from each other and parallel to each other, and between which a longitudinally displaceable sliding member (13) is inserted.

10. Mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized in that the intermediate transmission member (12) is furnished with two lateral guides (122', 122"), within which the roller bearing members (120', 120") are embedded and between which the sliding member (13) is extending.

11. Mechanism according to Claim 10, characterized in that the sliding member (13) is guided in the area of at least one of its longitudinal edges (133', 133") by means of at least one of the lateral guides (122', 122").

12. Mechanism according to Claim 10, characterized in that two neighboring longitudinal edges (133', 133") of the sliding member (13) are guided by lateral guides (122', 122").