Patent Application
20150107402
The present invention relates to pedals, more particularly to an adjustable vehicle pedal assembly having hysteresis.
Adjustable pedal assemblies for adjusting the position of a pedal arm to accommodate a driver of a vehicle are well known in the prior art. These adjustable pedal assemblies are typically conventional pedal assemblies providing for adjustability of the pedal arm independent of the main pivot point. Examples of these adjustable pedal assemblies are illustrated in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,584,871; 6,862,950; 7,114,411; 6,918,318; 5,771,752; 6,389,972; and 6,178,847. None of the known prior art, however, provides for an adjustable pedal assembly also providing for hysteresis, or feedback felt by the driver of the vehicle. This hysteresis feedback is especially important for brake-by-wire systems where the traditional brake rod is not used. Further, providing hysteresis in conventional braking systems provides additional feedback to the driver of the vehicle when braking. As such, there exists a need in the art to provide an adjustable pedal assembly also having a hysteresis feature.
An adjustable pedal assembly for use in a vehicle is provided having, a housing having a main pivot point, a pedal arm pivotally connected to the main pivot point of the housing, an actuator connected to the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the pedal arm with respect to the main pivot point and a hysteresis mechanism connected to the pedal arm, the hysteresis mechanism adapted to provide feedback to the user of the pedal when the pedal assembly is depresses wherein resistance is increased as the pedal is depressed further.
In one embodiment, the pedal arm may include an upper portion and a lower portion where the upper portion is pivotally connected to the lower portion, the upper portion pivotally connected to the main pivot point. The upper portion of the pedal arm is stationary. Further, an upper link and a lower link are provided directly connected to the actuator, the upper link and the lower link both pivotally connected to the pedal arm and adapted to adjust the pedal arm. The hysteresis mechanism is a spring or damper having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user.
In a second embodiment, an A-frame bracket connects the pedal arm to the actuator, the A-frame bracket supporting the actuator. In this embodiment, the actuator is spaced apart from the pedal arm.
In the first embodiment, the pedal assembly includes a main pivot point, a pedal arm having an upper portion pivotally connected to a lower portion, the upper portion of the pedal arm pivotally connected to the main pivot point, an upper link and a lower link pivotally interconnected, the upper link connected to the upper portion of the pedal arm, the lower link pivotally connected to the lower portion of the pedal arm wherein the upper portion of the pedal arm being stationary, the lower portion of the pedal arm, the upper link and the lower link each movable with respect to the stationary upper portion of the pedal arm by means of an actuator connected to the upper link and the lower link, the actuator adapted to move the upper link, the lower link and the lower portion of the pedal arm thereby adjusting the lower portion of the pedal arm.
A hysteresis generating mechanism is connected to the pedal assembly to provide feedback to the driver. The hysteresis generating mechanism is a spring or damper having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user. An actuator is provided connected to the upper link and the lower link, the actuator in communication with the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the lower portion of the pedal min with respect to the stationary upper portion of the pedal arm. The cam is spaced apart from the pedal arm.
In the second embodiment, the pedal arm includes a housing having a main pivot point, a pedal arm pivotally connected to the housing, an A-frame bracket connected to the housing, the pedal arm positioned to pivot within the A-frame bracket, an actuator connected to the A-frame bracket and the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the pedal arm with respect to the main pivot point and a hysteresis generating mechanism connected to the pedal arm, the hysteresis generating mechanism having a spring or damper, the hysteresis generating mechanism having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user. The pedal arm is adjustable up to 100 millimeters. The actuator is spaced apart from the pedal arm.
The present invention provides for an adjustable pedal assembly further including a hysteresis generating mechanism to provide increased feedback to the driver of the vehicle when the brake pedal is depressed. The assembly includes an actuator for adjusting the pedal arm mounted to either an A-frame or a multi-link design. The actuator is operable to adjust the pedal arm according to the height of the driver of the vehicle. A spring assembly is mounted to the lower portion of the pedal arm and includes a roller at an upper end. A cam having a cam surface is provided connected to the pedal arm. The roller of the spring assembly connects to the cam surface of the cam and rolls along the cam surface of the cam to provide hysteresis when the user depresses the pedal. Feedback increases as the roller rolls along the more inclined surfaces of the cam surface.
The “pedal assembly” is defined as either the multi-link assembly as shown in
A first embodiment of an A-frame pedal assembly 10 having a pedal arm 12 and a pedal pad 14 is generally illustrated in
An A-frame adjustment bracket 20 extends over and around the pedal arm 12. The adjustment bracket 20 connects to the main pivot point 16 at an upper end. The adjustment bracket 20 further includes apertures 22, 24 and side wall 26. The A-frame adjustment bracket 20 supports an actuator 42. The actuator 42 is provided connected to the lower end of the adjustment bracket 20. The actuator 42 includes a push rod 44 connected to the pedal arm 12. The actuator 42 rotates the push rod 44 to move the pedal arm 12 to an adjusted position.
Movement of the pedal arm 12 from a first position to a fully adjusted pedal location A is illustrated in
The pedal assembly 10 further includes a hysteresis generating assembly 50. The assembly 50 includes a spring 51 and a roller 52. The assembly 50 connects to the adjustment bracket 20 at a lower end by a bracket 56. The hysteresis assembly 50 connects to the adjustment bracket 20 at an upper end by means of a bracket 53. The bracket 53 is pivotally connected to the adjustment housing 20 and to the roller 52. A cam 54 having a curved cam surface 58 is further provided either connected to the vehicle or further connected to the pedal assembly 10. As the user depresses the pedal arm 12 of the assembly, a roller 52 contacts the cam surface 58 and travels along the cam surface 58 thereby making depression of the pedal arm 12 more difficult (providing more feedback) as the roller reaches the curved portions of the cam surface. Further, the spring 51 may be compressed as the user depresses the pedal arm 12.
The incorporation of a hysteresis generating assembly in an adjustable pedal assembly is not known in the prior art. The hysteresis generating assembly used in combination with an adjustable pedal, such as the present embodiment of the A-frame adjustment bracket assembly, may be used in a conventional brake pedal assembly, such as shown in the present invention by using the brake rod 40, or may be used in a brake-by-wire system where sensors are utilized to determine the amount of depression of the brake pedal assembly. In a brake-by-wire assembly, a sensor 80 is provided mounted to the main pivot point 16 of the pedal assembly. An electronic control unit 82 or other suitable computer is further connected to the sensor to determine the amount of depression of the pedal assembly. The hysteresis generating assembly 50 becomes more applicable in a brake-by-wire system to provide the conventional feel of a conventional pedal assembly to the user of a brake-by-wire system.
The multi-link embodiment as illustrated in
The actuator 142 includes a yoke or push rod 144 having threading operable to move the links and adjust the pedal arm 112. The pedal arm is movable between a distance of 15 millimeters and 100 millimeters to accommodate the needs of the driver. This distance is illustrated at reference X in
A hysteresis assembly 150 is provided connected to the link system 120 of the assembly 110. The hysteresis assembly 150 may contain either a damper or a spring to absorb depression of the pedal 112. The hysteresis assembly 150 is connected by means of a plurality of brackets 156 to the links of the link system 120. A pivot rod 155 connects the link 128 to a roller 152 at a free end of the hysteresis assembly 150. The rod 155 is pivotable at the roller 152 and at pivot point.
A cam 154 is provided having a cam surface 158. The roller 152 of the hysteresis mechanism 150 abuts the cam surface 158. As the user depresses the pedal 112, the roller 152 rolls along the curved surface of the cam surface 158. As the roller 152 reaches the inclined portion of the curved cam surface, depression of the pedal arm 112 becomes more difficult. Further, as the pedal arm 112 is depressed, a damper or spring contained within the hysteresis mechanism 150 may be depressed to provide feedback to the user 112 to simulate the feel of a conventional pedal assembly or to provide additional feedback in a conventional pedal assembly.
The cam surfaces 58, 158 may be modified to provide increased resistance felt by the driver of the vehicle. By way of example, the driver may feel minimal resistance as he first begins to depress the pedal, but resistance may increase as the driver depresses the pedal further. This resistance is customized by the curvature of the cam surfaces 58, 158.
An adjustable pedal assembly for use in a vehicle is provided having, a housing having a main pivot point, a pedal arm pivotally connected to the main pivot point of the housing, an actuator connected to the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the pedal arm with respect to the main pivot point and a hysteresis mechanism connected to the pedal arm, the hysteresis mechanism adapted to provide feedback to the user of the pedal when the pedal assembly is depresses wherein resistance is increased as the pedal is depressed further.
In one embodiment, the pedal arm may include an upper portion and a lower portion where the upper portion is pivotally connected to the lower portion, the upper portion pivotally connected to the main pivot point. The upper portion of the pedal arm is stationary. Further, an upper link and a lower link are provided directly connected to the actuator, the upper link and the lower link both pivotally connected to the pedal arm and adapted to adjust the pedal arm. The hysteresis mechanism is a spring or damper having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user.
In a second embodiment, an A-frame bracket connects the pedal arm to the actuator, the A-frame bracket supporting the actuator. In this embodiment, the actuator is spaced apart from the pedal arm.
In the first embodiment, the pedal assembly includes a main pivot point, a pedal arm having an upper portion pivotally connected to a lower portion, the upper portion of the pedal arm pivotally connected to the main pivot point, an upper link and a lower link pivotally interconnected, the upper link connected to the upper portion of the pedal arm, the lower link pivotally connected to the lower portion of the pedal arm wherein the upper portion of the pedal arm being stationary, the lower portion of the pedal arm, the upper link and the lower link each movable with respect to the stationary upper portion of the pedal arm by means of an actuator connected to the upper link and the lower link, the actuator adapted to move the upper link, the lower link and the lower portion of the pedal arm thereby adjusting the lower portion of the pedal arm. A hysteresis generating mechanism is connected to the pedal assembly to provide feedback to the driver. The hysteresis generating mechanism is a spring or damper having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user. An actuator is provided connected to the upper link and the lower link, the actuator in communication with the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the lower portion of the pedal arm with respect to the stationary upper portion of the pedal arm.
In the second embodiment, the pedal arm includes a housing having a main pivot point, a pedal arm pivotally connected to the housing, an A-frame bracket connected to the housing, the pedal arm positioned to pivot within the A-frame bracket, an actuator connected to the A-frame bracket and the pedal arm, the actuator adapted to adjust the positioning of the pedal arm with respect to the main pivot point and a hysteresis generating mechanism connected to the pedal arm, the hysteresis generating mechanism having a spring or damper, the hysteresis generating mechanism having a cam roller, the cam roller connected a cam surface, the cam roller adapted to roll on the cam surface to provide feedback to the user. The pedal arm is adjustable up to 100 millimeters. The actuator is spaced apart from the pedal arm.
In both embodiments, the cam is spaced apart from the pedal arm. The cam is connected either to the vehicle or to the housing. In the multi-link assembly as shown in
The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The methods are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art.
This utility patent application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/892,634, filed Oct. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61892634 | Oct 2013 | US |
