WO2014092621A1

WO2014092621A1 - Vehicle pedal release arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2014092621A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/051394
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lennart Haglund
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2012-12-14
Filing date: 2012-12-14
Publication date: 2014-06-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle pedal assembly (6) comprising a pedal arm (7), a cylindrical housing (12) and a shaft (13). The pedal arm (7) is arranged to pivot around a first pivot axis (11) running through the shaft (13), which in turn is arranged to run through the housing (12)which is attached to the pedal arm (7) and extends parallel to the first pivot axis (11). A third pivot axis (28) runs through the center of the housing (12). The pedal assembly (6) further comprises an insert guide part (22) with a guiding means (23) for receiving the shaft and a second locking aperture (26). In a first position,a locking clutch (24) runs through a first locking aperture (25) in the housing (12) and the second locking aperture (26). In a second position,the locking clutch (24) has cleared at least one locking aperture (25, 26), allowing the insert guide part to move around the third pivot axis (28) in the housing (12) such that the first pivot axis (11) is displaced.

Description

TITLE

Vehicle pedal release arrangement DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal arm, a cylindrical housing and a shaft. The pedal arm is arranged to pivot around a first pivot axis running through the shaft, which shaft in turn is arranged to run through the housing. The housing is attached to the pedal arm and extends parallel to the first pivot axis, where a third pivot axis runs through the center of the cylindrical housing, and where the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis run separated from, and parallel to, each other.

In modern motor cars, collision safety has become an increasingly important feature. The passenger compartment lies on the inside of a so-called bulkhead. The bulkhead is a substantially vertical definition between the passenger compartment and the front area of the vehicle. On the driver's compartment side of the bulkhead, there is a pedal support in which the pedals that are used by the driver when driving the vehicle are supported. In order to increase safety, it is desired to prevent pedals, suspended in pedal supports, to move towards the feet of the driver in the case of a collision or similar, since this may result in serious injury to the driver. The pedals may be moved towards the feet of the driver in such a situation due to the bulkhead, and/or arms connected to pedal functions, being displaced towards the driver. Previous pedal safety arrangements may for example comprise the triggering of a mechanism that disengages the pedal function. A disadvantage with this kind of arrangement is that the driver totally loses the ability to control the vehicle with the aid of the pedals when the mechanism has been triggered. For example, it is then not possible to brake the vehicle, which could aggravate the consequences of a road accident . It is thus desirable to have a pedal safety arrangement that admits at least some level of functionality of a pedal when the safety arrangement has been activated, for example due to the detection of a collision situation. Such a pedal safety arrangement is disclosed in EP 1709505 where an axle, around which a pedal is pivoted, is released such that the pedal may move away from the driver. The release is made possible by means of the movement of a locking device. The locking device comprises a horizontal plate that normally locks the axle in a running position during normal conditions. In the event of a collision, the horizontal plate is lifted away from the axle, releasing the axle such that it may swing in its holding brackets .

However, there is a desire to obtain a pedal safety arrangement that is small and more robust than previous such arrangements, where the risk of malfunction due to, for example, release mechanism jamming is reduced. Such jamming may be caused by different force impact directions that can occur in a vehicle impact scenario.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and robust pedal safety arrangement that more reliable than previously known arrangements of this kind. Said object is achieved by means of a vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal arm, a cylindrical housing and a shaft. The pedal arm is arranged to pivot around a first pivot axis running through the shaft, which shaft in turn is arranged to run through the housing. The housing is attached to the pedal arm and extends parallel to the first pivot axis, where a third pivot axis runs through the center of the cylindrical housing, and where the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis run separated from, and parallel to, each other. The pedal assembly further comprises an insert guide part which in turn comprises a guiding means and a second locking aperture. The guiding means is arranged for receiving the shaft when the insert guide at least partly is positioned in the housing. A locking clutch is arranged to be displaced from a first position to a second position, where in the first position the locking clutch runs through a first locking aperture in the housing and the second locking aperture in a locking engagement such that the insert guide part is held fixed to the housing. In the second position, the locking clutch has cleared at least one of the first locking aperture and the second locking aperture, allowing the insert guide part to move around the third pivot axis in the housing such that the first pivot axis is displaced.

According to an example, when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis in the housing, the pedal arm pivots around a second pivot axis such that a foot plate attached to the pedal arm is moved in a direction opposite a displacement direction of the first pivot axis.

According to another example, when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis in the housing, the first pivot axis is displaced along an arcuate circumference, circumventing the third pivot axis.

According to another example, the pedal assembly comprises an unlocking assembly that is arranged to be attached to the housing. The unlocking assembly comprises a pyrotechnic charge and is arranged to remove the locking clutch from at least one of the first locking aperture and the second locking aperture when the pyrotechnic charge is detonated.

Other examples are evident from the dependent claims.

A number of advantages are obtained by means of the present invention. For example:

- A small and robust pedal safety arrangement is provided.

- The risk of malfunction is reduced.

- At least a part of the braking functionality is maintained . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle;

Figure 2 shows a schematic partial top view of a vehicle;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly; Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a pedal assembly; Figure 5 shows a side view of a pedal assembly with a partial section in a first position;

Figure 6 shows a magnified partial side view of a pedal assembly with a partial section in a first position;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a pedal assembly with a partial section in a second position; Figure 8 shows a magnified partial side view of a pedal assembly with a partial section in a second position; and

Figure 9 shows a magnified partial exploded perspective view of a pedal assembly according to an alternative embodiment .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a vehicle 1 comprises a bulkhead 2 that separates a vehicle compartment 3 from an engine compartment 4. In the vehicle compartment 3, at the side where a driver is intended to be positioned, a pedal arrangement 5 is arranged such that it is easily reached by a driver's feet during normal running conditions, and is in mechanical connection with the bulkhead 2. A vehicle forward running direction D is indicated.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly 6, and Figure 4 shows an exploded view of said pedal assembly 6, the pedal assembly 6 being a part of the previously mentioned pedal arrangement 5. In this example, the pedal assembly 6 is a brake pedal assembly. The main parts of the pedal assembly 6 are the same for any type of pedal in the pedal arrangement 5, although each pedal has specific parts arranged to affect different functions of the vehicle, and may have certain different sizes of parts as well as different pivot and attachments arrangements.

The pedal assembly 6 comprises a pedal arm 7 having a first end 8 and a second end 9. At the first end 8, the pedal arm 7 is attached to a footplate 10 intended to be pushed by a foot such that the pedal arm 7 pivots around a first pivot axis 11. A cylindrical housing 12 is attached to the pedal arm 7 at the vicinity of the second end and extends parallel to the first pivot axis 11. The first pivot axis 11 runs through a shaft 13 that in turn runs through the housing 12, the shaft 13 having a first end 14 and a second end 15. The shaft's first end 14 is attached to a first side bracket 16 and the shaft's second end 15 is attached to a second side bracket 17, the side brackets 16, 17 running parallel to each other with the shaft 13 running between them. Between the footplate 10 and the first pivot axis 11 there is brake activation arm attachment aperture 18 where a brake activation arm 19 is attached by means of a bolt 20, running through a second pivot axis 21. The brake activation arm 19 continues to a brake activation arrangement (not shown) of a previously known kind.

According to the present invention, the housing comprises an insert guide part 22 that is arranged with guiding means 23, arranged to receive the shaft 13 when running through the housing 12. In this example, the guiding means is in the form of a guiding slot 23 that is cylindrically shaped, mainly following the shape of the shaft 13. This is also shown in Figure 5, showing a side view of the pedal assembly 6 with a partial section at the housing 12 and surrounding parts without showing the second side bracket 17 for reasons of clarity, and Figure 6, showing a magnification of the partial section of Figure 5. In the following, reference is also made to Figure 5 and Figure 6. The partial section shows the inner parts of the housing 12, and these parts are essential to the present invention, as will be described in the following.

When mounted, the insert guide part 22 is held in a fixed position in relation to the housing 12 by means of a locking clutch 24, here in the form of a pin, which runs through a first locking aperture 25 in the housing 12 and a second locking aperture 26 in the insert guide part 22 along a second locking aperture axis 27. When the locking clutch 24 is mounted, the first locking aperture 25 and the second locking aperture 26 are coaxially positioned along the second locking aperture axis 27, and the insert guide part 22 is held fixed in the housing 12. The insert guide part 22 is at least partly in contact with the housing 12 such that it is prevented from moving between parts of the housing's inner wall. The insert guide part 22 and the housing 12 are coaxially arranged along a third pivot axis 28 running through the center of the cylindrical housing 12. In this example, the insert guide part 22 follows the curvature of the inner wall of the housing 12.

When the shaft 13 and the insert guide part 22 are mounted in the housing 12, the insert guide part 22 will then hold the shaft 13 and thus the first pivot axis 11 in a fixed relation to the third pivot axis 28.

The first pivot axis 11 and the third pivot axis 28 are running parallel to each other, being laterally offset. In this example, the guiding slot 23 is running such that the shaft 13 abuts the housing 12 when the shaft 13 and the insert guide 22 part are mounted in the housing 12. In this way, the first pivot axis 11 is eccentric in relation to the third pivot axis 28. Under normal running conditions, the pedal arm 7 pivots around the first pivot axis 11, and the brake activation arm 19 pivots around the second pivot axis 21. The second pivot axis 21 and the third pivot axis 28 are moved in relation to the fixed first pivot axis 11 when the pedal arm 7 pivots around the first pivot axis 11.

The pedal assembly 6 further comprises an unlocking assembly 29 that is attached to the housing 12 and the locking clutch 24. The unlocking assembly 29 further comprises a pyrotechnic charge 30, where the unlocking assembly 29 is arranged in such a way that the locking clutch 24 is removed from at least one of the first locking aperture 25 and the second locking aperture 26 when the pyrotechnic charge 30 is detonated. In that case, the insert guide part 22 is released and is allowed to move in the housing, the possible movement being in the form of a rotation around the third pivot axis 28.

This is illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 8, where Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 5 and Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 6. In the event of a collision of such a kind that that the pedal arm 7 is moved towards the driver, in particular towards the lower part of the driver's legs and feet, the pyrotechnic charge 30 is detonated. Then, in this example, the locking clutch 24 is pressed into a receiving space 34 in the insert guide part 22 by means of said detonation, the receiving space 34 being a continuation of the second locking aperture 26. By means of this displacement, the locking clutch 24 releases its locking engagement with the housing 12. The movement that the pedal arm 7 then is allowed to make is apparent when comparing Figure 5 with Figure 7 and Figure 6 with Figure 8. This movement will be described in the following.

The first pivot axis 11 is displaced a certain distance away from the bulkhead 2, towards the driver along an arcuate path as the second locking aperture axis 27, and in this example also the insert guide part 22, rotates an angular interval φ in the housing around the third pivot axis 28. An example of such an angular interval is φ about 100°-120°. The displacement distance is indicated in Figure 6 and Figure 8, where a distance between the third pivot axis and a corner of the first side bracket is increased form a first value di to a second, larger, value d₂. Thus, when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis 28 in the housing 12, the first pivot axis 22 is displaced along an arcuate circumference, circumventing the third pivot axis 28.

As a result of the above, the pedal arm 7 pivots around the second pivot axis 21 such that the foot plate 10 is moved towards the bulkhead 2, away from the driver. The foot plate displacement distance L is indicated in Figure 8, and provides an increased driver protection at the event of a collision by means of an additional clearance. Thus, when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis 28 in the housing 12, the pedal arm 7 pivots around the second pivot axis 21 such that the foot plate 10 is moved in a direction Di opposite a displacement direction D₂ of the first pivot axis 11. The displacement direction D₂ of the first pivot axis 11 results from the arcuate path that is followed by the pivot axis 11. Even in this position, it is still possible to press the foot plate 10 such that a pivoting movement around the first axis 11 is achieved and the brake activation arm 19 may activate the braking system.

The invention is not limited to the examples above, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, as shown in Figure 9, showing an enlarged part of en exploded view of the housing 12, the guiding means 23 are in the form of a first guiding aperture 23a and a second guiding aperture 23b, the guiding apertures 23a, 23b running through corresponding end parts 31, 32 of the insert guide part 22' . These end parts 31, 32 are cylindrically shaped, mainly following the curvature of the inner wall of the housing. The first guiding aperture 23a and the second guiding aperture 23b are running such that the shaft 13 abuts the housing 12 when the shaft 13 and the insert guide part 22' are mounted in the housing 12, as in the previous example. The insert guide part 22, 22' could have many suitable shapes, for example of tubular design.

The unlocking assembly 29 may be in treaded engagement with the housing 12; other types of attachments are also conceivable. The housing 12 comprises a attachment section 33, which may comprise such threads and the first locking aperture 25. The unlocking assembly may be attached to the housing at any stage of production, making it possible to avoid having pyrotechnic material inserted in the construction until convenient. The unlocking assembly may, as a part, either comprise the locking clutch, or not comprise the locking clutch. The locking clutch can be added to the housing at any stage of production, either as a part of the unlocking assembly, or as a separate part.

The insert guide part may be made in any convenient material, for example plastic.

It is not necessary that the shaft 13 abuts the housing 12 when the shaft 13 and the insert guide part 22, 22' are mounted in the housing 12. However, to accomplish the present invention, the first axis 11 and the third axis 28 should run parallel to, and separate from, each other. The presented design where the shaft 13 abuts the housing 12 is advantageous regarding provided possible clearance in the form of foot plate displacement distance L.

The side brackets 16, 17 may have any suitable shape and attachment arrangements for the shaft 13. It is even possible that only the first side bracket 16 is used, holding the shaft 13 at the first end 14.

The insert guide part 22 may be totally confined by the inner space of the housing 12, or may be protruding outside the housing 12, when mounted. When the pyrotechnic charge 30 is detonated, the locking clutch 24 is removed from the locking engagement of the first locking aperture 25 and the second locking aperture 26 in any suitable way. For example, the locking clutch 24 may be displaced into the unlocking assembly 29. The unlocking assembly 29 with the pyrotechnic charge 30 is designed in any suitable way, such pyrotechnic devices being previously known.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) comprising a pedal arm

(7), a cylindrical housing (12) and a shaft (13), the pedal arm (7) being arranged to pivot around a first pivot axis (11) running through the shaft (13), which shaft (13) in turn is arranged to run through the housing (12), the housing (12) being attached to the pedal arm (7) and extending parallel to the first pivot axis (11), where a third pivot axis (28) is running through the center of the housing (12), and where the first pivot axis (11) and the third pivot axis (28) are running separated from, and parallel to, each other, characterized in that the pedal assembly (6) further comprises an insert guide part (22) which in turn comprises a guiding means (23) and a second locking aperture (26), the guiding means (23) being arranged for receiving the shaft (23) when the insert guide part (22) at least partly is positioned in the housing (12), a locking clutch (24) being arranged to be displaced from a first position to a second position, where in the first position the locking clutch (24) runs through a first locking aperture (25) in the housing (12) and the second locking aperture (26) in a locking engagement such that the insert guide part (22) is held fixed to the housing (12), and where in the second position the locking clutch (24) has cleared at least one of the first locking aperture (25) and the second locking aperture (26), allowing the insert guide part to move around the third pivot axis (28) in the housing (12) such that the first pivot axis (11) is displaced.

2. A vehicle pedal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis in the housing (12), the pedal arm (7) pivots around a second pivot axis (21) such that a foot plate (10) attached to the pedal arm (7) is moved in a direction (Di) opposite the displacement direction (D2) of the first pivot axis (11) .

3. A vehicle pedal assembly according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that when the insert guide part moves around the third pivot axis (28) in the housing (12), the first pivot axis (22) is displaced along an arcuate circumference, circumventing the third pivot axis (28) .

4. A vehicle pedal assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pedal assembly (6) comprises an unlocking assembly (29) that is arranged to be attached to the housing (12), the unlocking assembly (29) comprising a pyrotechnic charge (30), where the unlocking assembly (29) is arranged to remove the locking clutch (24) from at least one of the first locking aperture (25) and the second locking aperture (26) when the pyrotechnic charge (30) is detonated.

5. A vehicle pedal assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the when the first pivot axis (11) is displaced a certain distance, a second locking aperture axis (27), running through the second locking aperture (26), rotates an angular interval (cp) in the housing (12) around the third pivot axis (28) .

6. A vehicle pedal assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that when the pyrotechnic charge (30) is detonated, the locking clutch (24) is pressed into a receiving space (34) in the insert guide part (22), the receiving space (34) being a continuation of the second locking aperture (26) .

7. A vehicle pedal assembly according to any one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that when the pyrotechnic charge (30) is detonated, the locking clutch (24) is displaced into the unlocking assembly (29) .