Pedal module

Abstract

A pedal is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force applied from a driver and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by a restoring force exerted from a double coil spring arrangement. A friction member generates friction between the pedal and the friction member. The friction member includes a sliding part, a holding part and a resiliently deformable part. The sliding part slidably engages the pedal, and the holding part is held by a housing. The resiliently deformable part is resiliently deformable between the sliding part and the holding part to permit displacement of the sliding part relative to the holding part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with additional objectives, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a main feature of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a structure of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the structure of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing characteristics of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a main feature of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing a main feature of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing a main feature of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing characteristics of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a structural component of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a structural component of a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing characteristics of a prior art technique.

Claims

1. A pedal module comprising: a restoring force exerting means for exerting a restoring force;a pedal that is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by the restoring force;a supporting body that supports the pedal; anda friction means for generating friction between the pedal and the friction means, wherein the friction means includes: a sliding part that slidably engages the pedal;a holding part that is held by the supporting body; anda resiliently deformable part that is resiliently deformable between the sliding part and the holding part to permit displacement of the sliding part relative to the holding part.

2. The pedal module according to claim 1, wherein the friction means is a friction member, in which the resiliently deformable part has a width that is smaller than a width of the sliding part and a width of the holding part.

3. The pedal module according to claim 1, wherein: the sliding part is a first rigid member;the holding part is a second rigid member; andthe resiliently deformable part is a resilient member, which is held between the first rigid member and the second rigid member and has a rigidity that is smaller than a rigidity of the first rigid member and a rigidity of the second rigid member.

4. The pedal module according to claim 1, wherein the pedal module is a vehicle accelerator apparatus, and the pedal is an accelerator pedal.

5. A pedal module comprising: a restoring force exerting means for exerting a restoring force;a pedal that is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by the restoring force;a supporting body that supports the pedal; anda friction means for generating friction between the pedal and the friction means, wherein the friction means includes: a sliding part that slidably engages the pedal; anda resiliently deformable part that is held by the supporting body and is resiliently deformable between the supporting body and the sliding part to permit displacement of the sliding part relative to the supporting body.

6. The pedal module according claim 5, wherein: the sliding part is a rigid member; andthe resiliently deformable member is a resilient member, which has a rigidity lower than a rigidity of the supporting body and a rigidity of the rigid member and is held between the supporting body and the rigid member.

7. The pedal module according to claim 5, wherein the pedal module is a vehicle accelerator apparatus, and the pedal is an accelerator pedal.

8. A pedal module comprising: a restoring force exerting means for exerting a restoring force;a pedal that is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by the restoring force;a supporting body that supports the pedal; anda friction means for generating friction between the supporting body and the friction means, wherein the friction means is rotated together with the pedal and includes: a sliding part that slidably engages the supporting body; anda holding part that is held by the pedal; anda resiliently deformable part that is resiliently deformable between the sliding part and the holding part to permit displacement of the holding part relative to the sliding part.

9. The pedal module according to claim 8, wherein the friction means is a friction member, in which the resiliently deformable part has a width that is smaller than a width of the sliding part and a width of the holding part.

10. The pedal module according to claim 8, wherein: the sliding part is a first rigid member;the holding part is a second rigid member; andthe resiliently deformable part is a resilient member, which is held between the first rigid member and the second rigid member and has a rigidity that is smaller than a rigidity of the first rigid member and a rigidity of the second rigid member.

11. The pedal module according to claim 8, wherein the pedal module is a vehicle accelerator apparatus, and the pedal is an accelerator pedal.

12. A pedal module comprising: a restoring force exerting means for exerting a restoring force;a pedal that is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by the restoring force;a supporting body that supports the pedal; anda friction means for generating friction between the supporting body and the friction means, wherein the friction means is rotated together with the pedal and includes: a sliding part that slidably engages the supporting body; anda resiliently deformable part that is held by the pedal and is resiliently deformable between the pedal and the sliding part to permit displacement of the pedal relative to the sliding part.

13. The pedal module according claim 12, wherein: the sliding part is a rigid member; andthe resiliently deformable part is a resilient member, which has a rigidity lower than a rigidity of the pedal and a rigidity of the rigid member and is held between the pedal and the rigid member.

14. The pedal module according to claim 12, wherein the pedal module is a vehicle accelerator apparatus, and the pedal is an accelerator pedal.

15. A pedal module comprising: a restoring force exerting means for exerting a restoring force;a pedal that is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by the restoring force;a supporting body that supports the pedal; anda friction member that is rotated together with the pedal and generates friction between the supporting body and the friction member, wherein:the pedal includes: a rotatable part that is supported by the supporting body and is rotated by the pedal force and the restoring force; anda conducting means for conducting the pedal force and the restoring force from the rotatable part to the friction member; andthe conducting means includes: an engaging part that engages the friction member;a holding part that is held by the rotatable part; anda resiliently deformable part that is resiliently deformable between the engaging part and the holding part to permit displacement of the holding part relative to the engaging part.

16. The pedal module according to claim 15, wherein the conducting means is a conducting member, in which the resiliently deformable part has a width that is smaller than a width of the engaging part and a width of the holding part.

17. The pedal module according to claim 15, wherein: the engaging part is a first rigid member;the holding part is a second rigid member; andthe resiliently deformable part is a resilient member, which is held between the first rigid member and the second rigid member and has a rigidity that is smaller than a rigidity of the first rigid member and a rigidity of the second rigid member.

18. The pedal module according to claim 15, further comprising a rotational position sensor, which senses a rotational position of the rotatable part.

19. The pedal module according to claim 15, wherein the pedal module is a vehicle accelerator apparatus, and the pedal is an accelerator pedal.