Accelerator pedal for a vehicle

Abstract

A pedal assembly for mounting to the floor of a vehicle. The pedal assembly includes a housing and a pedal arm that is coupled to the housing. A friction generating assembly is coupled with the pedal arm. A sensor is coupled to the friction generating assembly. The sensor is responsive to the movement of the pedal arm to provide an electrical signal that is representative of pedal arm displacement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the accelerator pedal assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged assembled cross-sectional view of the accelerator pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the pedal in a non-depressed state.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged assembled cross-sectional view of the accelerator pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the pedal in a depressed state.

FIG. 3 is an assembled isometric view of the accelerator pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a magnet assembly.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a brake pad.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the of the accelerator pedal assembly showing the brake pad engaging the braking surface.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a magnet.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a magnet.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a magnet.

FIG. 10 is another side view of a magnet.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a magnet.

Claims

1. A pedal assembly comprising: a housing;a pedal arm coupled to the housing;a first arm coupled to the pedal arm;a second arm coupled to a magnet assembly;a brake pad coupled between the first arm and the second arm;a position sensor coupled to the housing and positioned in proximity to the magnet assembly, the sensor responsive to the movement of the pedal arm for providing an electrical signal representative of pedal displacement.

2. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the housing has a braking surface and the brake pad has a contact surface that is substantially complementary to the braking surface, the brake pad being adapted to be engaged with the braking surface.

3. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a spring device is situated between the magnet assembly and the housing for urging the pedal arm to a rest position.

4. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the contact surface is substantially v-shaped.

5. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the braking surface is substantially v-shaped.

6. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the brake pad is coupled to at least one of the arms by a ball and socket.

7. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a kickdown device is coupled to the housing.

8. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pedal arm is coupled to the housing by a hinge.

9. A pedal assembly comprising: a housing;a pedal arm coupled to the housing;a friction generating assembly coupled with the pedal arm; anda sensor coupled to the friction generating assembly, the sensor responsive to the movement of the pedal arm to provide an electrical signal that is representative of pedal displacement.

10. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the friction generating assembly includes a brake pad having a contact surface and the housing having a braking surface, the brake pad being adapted to engage the braking surface as the pedal is depressed.

11. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the brake pad is coupled to the pedal arm by a first arm.

12. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the sensor includes a magnet assembly and a hall effect device positioned proximate the magnet assembly.

13. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the sensor includes a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly being coupled to the brake pad.

14. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein a second arm couples the brake pad to the magnet assembly.

15. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein a spring device is situated between the magnet assembly and the housing for urging the pedal arm to a rest position.

16. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the magnet assembly moves in a linear manner as the pedal arm is depressed.

17. A pedal assembly comprising: housing means for containing the pedal assembly;pedal arm means for allowing a user to depress the pedal arm, the pedal arm means coupled to the housing means;brake means for generating friction when the pedal arm means is depressed, the brake means coupled with the pedal arm means; andsensor means for sensing the position of the pedal arm means, the sensor means coupled to the brake means.

18. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein the brake means includes a brake pad having a contact surface and the housing means having a braking surface, the brake pad being adapted to engage the braking surface as the pedal is depressed.

19. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 17 further comprising first arm means coupled between the brake means and the sensor means.

20. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 17 further comprising second arm means coupled between the brake means and the pedal arm means.

21. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein the sensor means includes a magnet assembly and a hall effect device positioned proximate the magnet assembly.

22. A pedal assembly comprising: a housing;a pedal arm having a first end that can be moved and a second end that is rotatably coupled to the housing;a friction generating device mounted in the housing and coupled to the pedal arm for changing the amount of force required to move the first end; anda sensor mounted in housing and coupled to the friction generating device, the sensor being adapted to sense the position of the pedal arm and to provide an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the pedal arm.

23. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 22 wherein the pedal assembly is mounted to the floor of a vehicle.

24. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 22 wherein a spring is situated between the sensor and the housing for urging the pedal arm to a rest position.

25. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 22 wherein the friction generating device includes a brake pad having a contact surface and the housing having a braking surface, the contact surface being adapted to engage the braking surface as the pedal arm is depressed.

26. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 25 wherein as the pedal arm is depressed, the contact surface of the brake pad is urged into increasing frictional engagement with the braking surface.

27. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 22 wherein the sensor includes a magnet assembly and a hall effect device positioned proximate the magnet assembly.