WO2014193276A1

WO2014193276A1 - Vehicle pedal release arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2014193276A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/050609
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lennart Hallenbert; Erik Rydsmo; Lennart Haglund
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2013-05-29
Filing date: 2013-05-29
Publication date: 2014-12-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle pedal assembly (6) comprising a pedal arm (7) and a swing arm (15) which in turn comprises a first leg part (15a) and a second leg part (15b). The leg parts (15a, 15b) are connected by means of an intermediate part (15c). The pedal arm is arranged to pivot around a first axis (11) that runs through the first leg part (15a), the pedal arm (7) and the second leg part (15b). The pedal assembly (6) further comprises a locking bracket (20) that is arranged to be in a releasable engagement with the intermediate part (15c) of the swing arm (15). In a locked state, the locking bracket (20) is arranged to engage the intermediate part (15c) such that the first axis (11) is retained in a first position. In an unlocked state, the locking bracket (20) is arranged to release the intermediate part (15c) such that the first axis (11) is enabled to move to a second position.

Description

TITLE VEHICLE PEDAL RELEASE ARRANGEMENT

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal arm and a swing arm which in turn comprises a first leg part and a second leg part. The leg parts are connected by means of an intermediate part. The pedal arm is arranged to pivot around a first axis that runs through the first leg part, the pedal arm and the second leg part.

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 and a swing arm which in turn comprises a first leg part and a second leg part. The leg parts are connected by means of an intermediate part. The pedal arm is arranged to pivot around a first axis that runs through the first leg part, the pedal arm and the second leg part. The pedal assembly further comprises a locking bracket that is arranged to be in a releasable engagement with the intermediate part of the swing arm. In a locked state, the locking bracket is arranged to engage the intermediate part such that the first axis is retained in a first position. In an unlocked state, the locking bracket is arranged to release the intermediate part such that the first axis is enabled to move to a second position, a certain distance separating the first position and the second position.

According to an example, the leg parts have main extensions that are mutually parallel and run on each side of the pedal arm, where the intermediate part has a main extension between the leg parts in a direction that is perpendicular to the main extensions of the leg parts. According to another example, the pedal assembly further comprises a second axis that runs through the first leg part, a first side bracket, the second leg part and a second side bracket. The swing arm is arranged to pivot around the second axis in the unlocked state.

According to another example, the locking bracket is comprised in a locking arrangement, the locking arrangement further comprising a pyrotechnical charge. The locking arrangement may additionally further comprise a piston. At the locked state, the piston is at rest within a cylinder cavity which comprises an aperture that faces the intermediate part. According to another example, the pedal assembly may comprise a deformation element that is connected to the swing arm and to another part of the pedal assembly. The deformation element is arranged to be deformed by the swing arm' s movement around the second axis in the unlocked state.

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 in a locked state;

Figure 4 shows a side view of a pedal assembly in a locked state ;

Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the locking arrangement ; Figure 6 shows a partially sectional side view of an upper part of the pedal assembly in a locked state;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly in an unlocked state before movement of a swing arm;

Figure 8 shows a side view of a pedal assembly in an unlocked state before movement of a swing arm;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly in an unlocked state after movement of a swing arm;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly in an unlocked state after movement of a swing arm;

Figure 11 shows a magnified partial side view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 shows a magnified partial perspective view of a pedal assembly according to an alternative embodiment in a locked state; and

Figure 13 shows a magnified partial perspective view of a pedal assembly according to an alternative embodiment in an unlocked state.

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 in a locked state, and Figure 4 shows a corresponding side view. The pedal assembly 6 is 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 axis 11 in order to engage braking.

Between the footplate 10 and the first axis 11, a brake activation arm 12 is attached by means of a bolt 13, running through a break activation arm axis 14. The brake activation arm 12 continues to a brake activation arrangement (not shown) of a previously known kind.

The pedal assembly 6 further comprises a swing arm 15 which in turn comprises a first leg part 15a and a second leg part 15b, the leg parts 15a, 15b being connected by means of an intermediate part 15c. The first axis 11 runs through a first shaft 16 that in turn runs through the first leg part 15a, the pedal arm 7 and the second leg part 15b, the leg parts 15a, 15b having main extensions that are mutually parallel and run on each side of the pedal arm 7. The intermediate part 15c has a main extension between the leg parts 15a, 15b in a direction that is perpendicular to the main extensions of the leg parts 15a, 15b.

The pedal assembly 6 further comprises a second axis 17 that runs through a first pin 29a and a second pin 29b (the first pin only shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12) where the first pin 29a runs between the first leg part 15a, and a first side bracket 18a, and the second pin 29b runs between the second leg part 15b and a second side bracket 18b. The side brackets 18a, 18b are positioned outside the leg parts 15a, 15b and are interconnected by a connecting bracket 18c, the side brackets 18a, 18b and the connecting bracket 18c together forming a holding bracket 18 which is fixedly mounted to the vehicle. The first axis 11 is positioned between the second axis 17 and the intermediate part 15c, the first axis 11 and the second axis 17 running parallel to each other, being separated by a certain distance.

According to the present invention, the pedal assembly 6 comprises a locking arrangement 19 that in turn comprises a locking bracket 20 that is connected to the holding bracket 18 via pins 30a, 30b that enable a pivoting movement of the locking bracket relative the holding bracket, around a third axis 31. The locking bracket 20 is arranged to be in a releasable engagement with the intermediate part 15c of the swing arm 15, such that in a locked state the intermediate part 15c of the swing arm is locked to the holding bracket 18 via the locking bracket 20.

In the locked state, the pedal arm 7 pivots around the first axis 11 when the footplate 10 is pushed, the first axis being in a first position. There is no pivoting movement around the second axis 17 in the locked state. The locking arrangement 19 further comprises a pyrotechnical charge 21 and a piston 22, the piston 22 normally being at rest within a cylinder cavity 23 (shown in cross-section) . The cylinder cavity 23 comprises an aperture 24 that faces the intermediate part 15c.

Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the locking arrangement 19 with the locking bracket 20, the pyrotechnical charge 21 and the piston 22. In this detailed view, a fixing bracket 34 is shown, being comprised in the locking arrangement 19. The fixing bracket 34 is mounted to the locking bracket 20 by means of a bolt 35 and retained in a fixed position by means of a guiding pin 36 in the locking bracket 20 that is arranged to engage a corresponding guiding aperture 37 in the fixing bracket 34.

With reference also to Figure 6, showing a partially sectional side view of an upper part of the pedal assembly in the locked state, the mounted fixing bracket 34 comprises a first part 34a that is mounted to, and resting against, the locking bracket 20, and a second part 34b that is kept in a fixed position, in this example by resting against the connecting bracket 18c. The parts 34a, 34b of the fixing bracket 34 are arranged in relation to each other such that an acute angle β is formed between them, the fixing bracket 34 having been bent such that the two parts 34a, 34b have been formed. The angle β does not have to be acute, although shown acute in this example .

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the pedal assembly 6 in an unlocked state, and Figure 8 shows a corresponding side view. Here, the pyrotechnical charge 21 has been detonated and acted on the piston 22 such that the piston 22 has moved against the intermediate part 15c of the swing arm 15 via the aperture 24. The movement of the piston 22 has then caused a movement of the locking bracket 20 away from swing arm 15, the movement of the locking bracket 20 being directed more or less opposite the movement of the piston 22. The movement of the locking bracket 20 has acted against the fixing bracket 34 which then has been deformed, having become more bent such that the acute angle β between the parts 34a, 34b of the fixing bracket 34 has been reduced. Now, the locking bracket 20 has performed a pivoting movement around the third axis 31 and has been raised to an unlocked state, the swing arm 15 now being free to pivot around the second axis 17. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a pedal assembly 6 in the unlocked state a certain time later than in Figure 7, Figure 10 shows a corresponding side view and Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of the upper part of the pedal assembly in Figure 10. Here, the released swing arm 15 has pivoted around the second axis 17, such that the first axis 11 has been displaced to a second position along an arcuate path towards the driver. By means of this displacement, the footplate 10 is moved away from the driver's feet. Figure 12 shows a perspective detail view of an upper part of an alternative embodiment example of the pedal assembly 6' in the locked state, and Figure 13 shows a corresponding view in the unlocked state. In this example, the pedal assembly 6' comprises a U-shaped deformation element 25 that comprises a first arm 25a and a second arm 25b. The first arm 25a is attached to the locking bracket 20' by means of a pin 32, allowing a pivoting movement around a corresponding axis 33. The second arm 25b in turn comprises a first indent 26 and a second indent 27.

In the locked state, the first indent 26 is hooked into a corresponding rod 28 protruding from the locking bracket 20' , and the second indent 27 is hooked around the swing arm 15. In the unlocked state, the first indent 26 has first been raised together with the locking bracket 20' and then been released from the rod 28 since the movement of the swing arm 20' has deformed the deformation element 25 by bending the second arm 25b away from the first arm 25a, the second indent 27 all the time being hooked around the swing arm 15.

By means of the deformation element 25, a more controlled movement of the swing arm 15 is accomplished.

The present invention is not limited to the examples above, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the holding bracket 18 may have any suitable shape and attachment arrangements. It is even possible that the holding bracket only comprises one side bracket, holding one of the pins 29a, 29b.

Instead of a pyrotechnical charge 21, other arrangements such as different types of loaded springs are conceivable.

The deformation element 25 may have any suitable shape, but should be connected to the swing arm 15 and to any other suitable part of the pedal assembly 6' , suitably any other part of the locking arrangement 19, and be deformed by the swing arm's movement around the second axis 17. Although the example has been described for a brake pedal, th present invention is applicable for any type of pedal in th pedal arrangement 5.

Claims

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

(7) and a swing arm (15) which in turn comprises a first leg part (15a) and a second leg part (15b), the leg parts (15a, 15b) being connected by means of an intermediate part (15c), the pedal arm being arranged to pivot around a first axis (11) that runs through the first leg part (15a), the pedal arm (7) and the second leg part (15b), characterized in that the pedal assembly (6) further comprises a locking bracket (20) that is arranged to be in a releasable engagement with the intermediate part (15c) of the swing arm (15), where, in a locked state, the locking bracket (20) is arranged to engage the intermediate part (15c) such that the first axis (11) is retained in a first position, and where, in an unlocked state, the locking bracket (20) is arranged to release the intermediate part (15c) such that the first axis (11) is enabled to move to a second position, a certain distance separating the first position and the second position.

2. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the leg parts (15a, 15b) have main extensions that are mutually parallel and run on each side of the pedal arm (7), where the intermediate part (15c) has a main extension between the leg parts (15a, 15b) in a direction that is perpendicular to the main extensions of the leg parts (15a, 15b) .

3. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pedal assembly (6) further comprises a second axis (17) that runs through the first leg part (15a), a first side bracket (18a), the second leg part (15b) and a second side bracket (18b), the swing arm (15) being arranged to pivot around the second axis (17) in the unlocked state.

4. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first axis (11) is positioned between the second axis (17) and the intermediate part (15c), the first axis (11) and the second axis (17) running parallel to each other, being separated by a certain distance.

5. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to any one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the side brackets (18a, 18b) are positioned outside the leg parts (15a, 15b) and are interconnected by a connecting bracket (18c), the side brackets (18a, 18b) and the connecting bracket (18c) together forming a holding bracket 18 which is fixedly mounted to the vehicle .

6. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the locking bracket

(20) is comprised in a locking arrangement (19), the locking arrangement (19) further comprising a pyrotechnical charge

(21) .

7. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking arrangement (19) further comprises a piston (22), where, at the locked state, the piston 22 is at rest within a cylinder cavity (23), which cylinder cavity (23) comprises an aperture (24) that faces the intermediate part (15c) .

8. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to claim 7, characterized in that when the locked state is changed to the unlocked state, the pyrotechnical charge (21) is arranged to be detonated and acting on the piston (22), the piston (22) being arranged to then be moved against the locking bracket (20) via the aperture (24), the movement of the piston (22) being arranged to raise the locking bracket (20) to the unlocked state.

9. A vehicle pedal assembly (6') according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pedal assembly (6') comprises a deformation element (25) that is connected to the swing arm (15) and to any other part of the locking arrangement (19), where the deformation element (25) is arranged to be deformed by the swing arm' s movement around the second axis (17) in the unlocked state.

10. A vehicle pedal assembly (6') according to claim 9, characterized in that the deformation element (25) is U-shaped and comprises a first arm 25a and a second arm 25b, where the first arm (25a) is attached to the locking bracket (20' ) , and where the second arm (25b) comprises a first indent (26) and a second indent (27), where furthermore, in the locked state, the first indent (26) is hooked into a corresponding rod (28) protruding from the locking bracket (20' ) , and the second indent (27) is hooked around the swing arm (15) and where, in the unlocked state, the first indent (26) is arranged to be raised together with the locking bracket (20' ) , the deformation element (25) being arranged to be deformed by the movement of the swing arm (20' ) .

11. A vehicle pedal assembly (6) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pedal assembly (6) comprises a fixing bracket (34) that in turn comprises a first part (34a) that is mounted to the locking bracket (20) and a second part (34b) that is kept in a fixed position, where the parts (34a, 34b) of the fixing bracket (34) are arranged in relation to each other such that an angle (β) is formed between them, the fixing bracket (34) being arranged to be deformed such that the angle (β) is reduced when there is a change from the locked state to the unlocked state.