accelerator pedal

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accelerator pedal comprising: a support (1) fastenable to a motor vehicle, wherein a housing is constructed on the support (1); a pedal arm (2) rotatably supported on the support (1), provided with a mechanical mechanism for transmitting movement of the pedal arm (2) relative to the support (1) to the housing and a sensor for measuring the movement; and a buffer element (5) fastened to the support (1) in a groove (6) to buffer impacts of the pedal arm (2) onto the support (1). The accelerator pedal should be improved such that the buffer element (5) is reliably held on the support (1). This is achieved by fixing the buffer element (5) on both sides to prevent it from slipping out of the groove (6).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an accelerator pedal comprising: a support member that can be fastened to a motor vehicle and forming a housing on the support member; a pedal arm that is rotatably supported on the support member and provided with a mechanical mechanism for transmitting movement of the pedal arm relative to the support member to the housing and a sensor for measuring the movement; and a buffer element that is fastened in a groove on the support member such that it buffers collisions between the pedal arm and the support member. Background Technology

[0002] Such accelerator pedals are known and described, for example, in WO 2019 / 210945 A1. The accelerator pedal is used in a motor vehicle to control engine power via driver operation and control devices. The maximum operating position (full throttle) is limited by the driver moving the pedal arm from a zero position to an operating position according to acceleration demand, with the maximum operating position being limited by impact with a support member.

[0003] This invention can be used in motor vehicles with manual or automatic transmissions, wherein the latter is provided with a kick-down element.

[0004] The function of the accelerator pedal is generally known and therefore does not need to be explained in more detail here.

[0005] To achieve a comfortable tactile feedback for the driver at full throttle position, and simultaneously to prevent excessive noise generation caused by the pedal arm colliding with the support, a damping element is provided, as is known. This damping element is correspondingly secured to the support. Here, the securing must be continuous and not restrict the function of the accelerator pedal.

[0006] For fastening, a buffer element is known to be placed in a groove introduced into the support member. Here, the buffer element has a circular cross-section and is elongated. The groove, open towards the pedal arm, has a cross-section in an arc shape, the arc of which is larger than the arc of a semicircle. According to the prior art, the groove is closed at a first end and open at the opposite second end. The radii of the cross-sections of the buffer element and the groove are substantially the same. For assembly, the resilient buffer element is pressed into the open longitudinal side of the groove and held therein in a form-locking manner. Here, the arc-shaped portion of the buffer element protrudes from the groove towards the pedal arm, thus this portion serves as a damper for impact in the full throttle position.

[0007] A disadvantage of known accelerator pedals is that the damping element may gradually slide out of the slot during operation due to the open end side. Technically, this end side cannot be closed because it must remain open in order to pull out the corresponding molded part from the injection mold. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to realize an accelerator pedal in which a buffer element is reliably held on a support.

[0009] This objective is achieved by fixing the cushioning element on both sides to prevent it from sliding out of the groove. The open end of the groove is provided with a mechanism to prevent sliding out; this mechanism is configured such that the groove itself is open at the configured end, and therefore can be demolded after the support is manufactured by injection molding. The fixing of the cushioning element is achieved externally, particularly on the end sides and therefore outside the groove, and at the lateral ends of the cushioning element protruding from the groove. Thus, the cushioning element is fixed to prevent it from sliding out of the groove laterally without affecting the injection molding of the support.

[0010] In one design, slats are provided on the end sides of the groove for fixation. These slats require a small amount of material and correspondingly introduce a small additional weight. The function of the cushioning element is not affected.

[0011] In a further design, the slats are integrally formed with the support members. This facilitates the manufacturing of support members with fixed fixtures. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The invention is illustrated in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 A side view of the accelerator pedal is shown;

[0014] Figure 2 A side view showing a portion of the accelerator pedal support is provided for detail; and

[0015] Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 2 An equal-sized view. Detailed Implementation

[0016] As can be seen from the figures, the upright accelerator pedal includes a support 1 and a pedal arm 2.

[0017] The support member 1 is configured for fastening within the footwell of the motor vehicle. A housing is integrated into the support member, and within the housing are sensors and mechanical mechanisms for determining the relative position of the pedal arms 2. The mechanical mechanism is used to transmit the relative position to a sensor and to generate a force opposite to the operation of the pedal arms 2, as well as a hysteresis of these forces. The sensor is configured here as an angle sensor, which detects the movement of the pedal arms and forwards it to an analysis and control mechanism for further processing.

[0018] The pedal arm 2 has a substantially smooth operating side facing away from the support member 1 and is hinged to the support member 1 according to... Figure 1 On the lower end region of the pedal arm 2. For this purpose, a thin-film hinge 3 is molded on the lower end of the pedal arm 2, which is releasably fastened to the support member 1. The axis of rotation of the pedal arm 2 is located in a plane parallel to the operating side, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the accelerator pedal. The pedal arm 2 is coupled to the mechanical mechanism in the lower third. In the upper half of the pedal arm 2, a stop 4 is fastened such that the stop 4 points toward the support member 1 and protrudes from the plane of the pedal arm 2. The side of the stop 4 facing the support member 1 is curved in the side view. Alternatively, the stop 4 may be configured as a forced downshifting element.

[0019] The buffer element 5 is fastened to the support member 1 such that it contacts the stop 4 when the pedal arm 2 is in the full throttle position. The buffer element is configured to be parallel to the rotation axis of the pedal arm 2.

[0020] The buffer element 5 is manufactured in a rod shape with a circular cross-section and is made of an elastic material, such as silicon.

[0021] To secure the cushioning element 5, an elongated groove 6 is introduced into the support 1, the opening of which on its longitudinal side points toward the pedal arm 2. The groove 6 has an arc-shaped cross-section, wherein the arc is larger than a semicircle. The diameter of the groove 6 corresponds to the diameter of the cushioning element 5 with a predetermined gap. The first end side of the groove 6 (according to...) Figure 3 The lower end side is closed, while the second end side, opposite the first end side, is open. The buffer element 5 is held in the groove 6, and a portion of the buffer element 5 protrudes from the cross-section of the groove 6 and therefore from its open longitudinal side.

[0022] A slat 7 spans across the second end of the groove 6, the slat extending parallel to the end and further along the longitudinal direction for stability. Thus, the open cross-section of the second end is unaffected (reduced) by the slat 7, allowing the molded part for the groove 6 to be easily pulled out of the groove after injection molding. The slat laterally holds the cushioning element 5 in the area protruding from the groove 6, as in... Figure 2The slats 7 are shown in the diagram via dashed lines (arcs). This dimensional design of the slat height ensures both the necessary stability and the lateral support of the cushioning element 5. The slats 7 are integrally formed with the support member 1.

[0023] The buffer element 5 is pressed coaxially into the opening on the longitudinal side of the groove 6 so that the arcuate portion of the buffer element 5 protrudes from the groove 6 in cross-section in order to be assembled onto the support 1.

[0024] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0025] 1 support component

[0026] 2 pedal arms

[0027] 3. Membrane hinge

[0028] 4 stops

[0029] 5 buffer elements

[0030] 6 slots

[0031] 7 strips

Claims

1. Accelerator pedal, including: Support member (1), which can be fastened to a motor vehicle, and a shell is constructed on the support member (1); The pedal arm (2) is rotatably supported on the support (1) and is provided with a mechanical mechanism for transmitting the movement of the pedal arm (2) relative to the support (1) to the housing and a sensor for measuring the movement. The groove (6) is disposed in the support (1) and has a first end side and a second end side opposite to the first end side; A buffer element (5), which is fastened to the support (1) in a groove (6), the buffer element being configured to buffer the impact of the pedal arm (2) onto the support (1); and A slat (7) is provided at the second end side of the groove (6). The feature is that the buffer element (5) is fixed in the groove (6) on both sides to prevent it from sliding out of the groove (6) in such a way that the buffer element (5) is held by the strip (7) and the first end side of the groove (6).

2. Accelerator pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats (7) and the support (1) are integrally formed.

Images