Acceleration device

Abstract

The pedal (400) rotates in the acceleration opening direction under the action of the stepping force on the foot pad (200). The arm (500) connects the pedal (400) and the foot pad (200). The biasing member (600) biases the pedal (400) in the acceleration closing direction via the arm (500). The arm (500) has a shaft portion (510) assembled to the foot pad (200), and the foot pad (200) has a pair of support walls (230). Bearing portions (220) are formed on the opposing wall surfaces (231) of the support walls (230), and protruding portions (240) are provided. The protruding portion (240) includes a rounded surface (241) or an inclined surface (242) whose surface area increases as it moves away from the bearing portion (220).

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-127837, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to an acceleration device. Background Art

[0004] A so-called “bellows pedal structure” acceleration device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The acceleration device is provided on a vehicle body floor portion near a driver's seat and includes a tread plate for a driver to step on. The tread plate is connected to a pedal via an arm. The pedal rotates in the acceleration opening direction under the action of a stepping force on the tread plate, and returns to the acceleration closing direction under the action of a spring force.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: CN201511825U Summary of the Invention

[0008] When assembling the acceleration device, the tread plate is rotatably connected to one end of the arm. At this time, one end of the arm is pressed between a pair of support walls provided on the tread plate side. Although the support walls are elastically deformed, if the rigidity of the support walls is high, there is a risk that the support walls may be damaged due to stress concentration caused by the assembly load. Therefore, the plate thickness of the support walls is set to be thin so that they are easily elastically deformed. However, since an upward load is applied to the tread plate, it is necessary to ensure the assembly strength against this load. However, the prior art does not have a complete countermeasure against the upward load.

[0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an acceleration device that can prevent damage to the support walls due to assembly loads during assembly of the tread plate and the arm, and can improve the assembly strength against the upward load of the tread plate.

[0010] The acceleration device of the present disclosure includes: a tread plate for a driver to step on; a pedal that rotates in the acceleration opening direction under the action of a stepping force on the tread plate; an arm that connects the pedal and the tread plate; and a biasing member that biases the pedal in the acceleration closing direction via the arm.

[0011] The arm has a shaft portion assembled to the tread plate, and the tread plate has a pair of support walls that support the shaft portion so as to be rotatable. A bearing portion for fitting the shaft portion is formed on the opposed wall surfaces of the support walls, and a protruding portion is provided on the wall surface so that the wall thickness of the root side of the support wall is thicker than the wall thickness of the tip side. The protruding portion includes a rounded surface or an inclined surface whose surface area becomes larger as it moves away from the bearing portion.

[0012] The acceleration device of the present disclosure uses the protruding portion to make the root of the support wall thicker than the top end portion, so that the rigidity of the root side can be improved without reducing the elasticity of the top end side. In addition, a rounded surface or an inclined surface is formed on the protruding portion, and its surface area increases as it moves away from the bearing portion. Therefore, corresponding to the expansion of the surface area, the stress during assembly is dispersed to the area away from the bearing portion, thereby being able to relieve the stress concentration near the bearing portion. Thus, when assembling the tread and the arm, it is possible to prevent damage to the support wall caused by the assembly load and improve the assembly strength against the tread lifting load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent by referring to the drawings and the following detailed description. The drawings are as follows.

[0014] Figure 1 It is a side view showing the acceleration device of the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 is Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II-II.

[0016] Figure 3A It is a perspective view of the tread pad viewed from the back side.

[0017] Figure 3B is Figure 3A An enlarged view of part IIIb.

[0018] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing the assembly structure of the tread pad and the arm.

[0019] Figure 5A It is a top view of the support wall of the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5B It is a front view of the support wall of the first embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6A is Figure 5B A cross-sectional view taken along line VIa-VIa.

[0022] Figure 6B is Figure 5B A cross-sectional view taken along line VIb-VIb.

[0023] Figure 6C is Figure 5B A cross-sectional view taken along line VIc-VIc.

[0024] Figure 7A It is a stress distribution diagram of the root of the support wall of the comparative example.

[0025] Figure 7BIt is the stress distribution diagram of the root of the support wall in the first embodiment.

[0026] Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing a deformation example of the support wall.

[0027] Figure 9A It is a top view of the support wall in the second embodiment.

[0028] Figure 9B The front view of the support wall in the second embodiment.

[0029] Figure 10 It is a right side view of the support wall in the second embodiment.

[0030] Figure 11 It is a side view of the tread plate showing the function of the support wall in the second embodiment.

[0031] Figure 12A It is a top view of the support wall in the third embodiment.

[0032] Figure 12B It is the front view of the support wall in the third embodiment.

[0033] Figure 13 It is a right side view of the support wall in the third embodiment. Specific embodiments

[0034] <First Embodiment>

[0035] Based on Figures 1 - 8 To describe the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As Figure 1 Shown, the acceleration device 100 of the first embodiment is provided on the floor panel FP of the vehicle body. In Figure 1 Among them, the x-axis represents the vehicle traveling direction, the y-axis represents the vehicle width direction, and the z-axis represents the vertically upward direction. The x, y, and z axes in other figures described later also represent the same directions as Figure 1 The same direction. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the shape or structure of the acceleration device 100 in the state where it is provided on the vehicle body will be described. For example, "above" or "upper side" means above or upper side in the state where the acceleration device 100 is provided on the vehicle body.

[0036] The acceleration device 100 includes a footrest 200 for the driver to step on, a box body 300 installed on the floor panel FP, a pedal 400 that rotates in the acceleration opening direction under the action of the stepping force on the footrest 200, an arm 500 that connects the pedal 400 and the footrest 200, and a spring 600 as a biasing member that biases the pedal 400 in the acceleration closing direction. The footrest 200 is supported by a fulcrum portion 310 of the box body 300 at the lower end so as to be rotatable. A protective wall 210 for closing the gap between the footrest 200 and the box body 300 is provided on the side surface of the footrest 200 to prevent the driver's foot from being pinched.

[0037] The pedal 400 and the spring 600 are arranged inside the box body 300. The pedal 400 is supported by a support shaft 410 so as to be rotatable, and the spring 600 is clamped between the pedal 400 and the inner wall surface 301 of the box body 300. The box body 300 has a partition portion 303 between the footrest 200 and the pedal 400. An opening 311 through which the arm 500 passes and a fully open limiter 312 for stopping the footrest 200 at the fully open acceleration position are provided on the partition portion 303. In addition, the structure in which the pedal 400 is connected to the footrest 200 via the arm 500 is called an "accordion pedal structure" among those skilled in the art.

[0038] The arm 500 includes a shaft portion 510 assembled to the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the footrest 200 and a locking portion 520 locked to the top end portion of the pedal 400. As Figure 2 shown, the shaft portion 510 is integrally provided at the top end of the resin arm 500 so as to protrude to both sides in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the footrest 200. As Figure 3A 、 Figure 3B shown, a pair of support walls 230 for supporting the shaft portion 510 so as to be rotatable are formed on the footrest 200. Each support wall 230 protrudes integrally from the width direction of the footrest 200 and is provided on the back surface of the resin footrest 200.

[0039] As Figure 4 、 Figure 5A 、 Figure 5B shown, bearing portions 220 into which the shaft portion 510 of the arm 500 is fitted by press-fitting during assembly are formed on the opposing wall surfaces 231 of the support walls 230. The bearing portions 220 are recessed at the center portion in the width direction of the support walls 230, and protruding portions 240 are formed on both sides of the bearing portions 220. The protruding portions 240 are formed in a shape such that the wall thickness of the root portion of the support wall 230 is thicker than that of the top end portion. Thus, the root portion of the support wall 230 has rigidity capable of withstanding the assembly load, and the top end portion of the support wall 230 exhibits elasticity capable of deforming according to the assembly load.

[0040] The protruding portion 240 of the present embodiment has a rounded surface (R surface: concave curved surface) 241, and the rounded surface 241 is formed such that the surface area becomes larger as it moves away from the bearing portion 220 in the width direction of the support wall 230. That is, the protruding portion 240 is formed by chamfering the roots of the opposing wall surfaces 231 of the pair of support walls 230, so that Figures 6A - 6C as shown, the radius of the rounded surface 241 continuously changes (r1 < r2 < r3) such that it is smaller (r1) in the portion closer to the bearing portion 220, larger (r3) in the portion farther from the bearing portion 220, and has an intermediate value (r2) in the intermediate portion. Quantitatively, the radius (r) of the rounded surface 241 preferably continuously changes within the range of 0.5 times to 2.0 times the wall thickness (t) at the intermediate height position of the support wall 230 (r = 0.5t - 2.0t).

[0041] In addition, inclined surfaces 250 for guiding the shaft portion 510 toward the bearing portion 220 during assembly are provided on the opposing wall surfaces 231 of the pair of support walls 230. The inclined surfaces 250 are formed in an inclined shape with an upward slope such that the wall thickness at the upper end of the support wall 230 is minimized as Figures 6A - 6C shown. In addition, the inclined surfaces 250 are not limited to Figures 6A - 6C the flat surfaces shown by the solid line in the figure, and may also be concave curved surfaces shown by the dashed-dotted line in the figure.

[0042] In the acceleration device 100 configured as described above, when assembling the treadle 200 and the arm 500, as Figure 4 shown, the arm 500 is pressed into the space between the pair of support walls 230 from above the treadle 200 (pressing direction 700), causing the support walls 230 to elastically deform (deformation direction 800), and fitting the shaft portion 510 into the bearing portion 220. At this time, since the protruding portion 240 makes the wall thickness on the root side of the support wall 230 thicker than that on the top side, the rigidity of the root side can be increased without affecting the elasticity of the top side. Therefore, breakage of the support wall 230 can be prevented and the shaft portion 510 can be easily assembled into the bearing portion 220.

[0043] In addition, since the rounded surface 241 has a larger surface area as it moves away from the bearing portion 220, stress concentration at the root of the support wall 230 can be alleviated. Figure 7A 、 Figure 7B The stress distribution during assembly is schematically shown using a stress curve ssd. Figure 7A In the support wall 230 of the comparative example shown, the surface area of the protruding portion 240 is fixedly formed at each portion in the width direction of the support wall 230. Therefore, stress is concentrated at the root of the support wall 230 with the portion where the upper edge of the protruding portion 240 intersects the bearing portion 220 as the center. And in Figure 7BIn the case of the present embodiment shown, according to the change in the surface area of the protruding portion 240, the stress is dispersed over a wider range the farther away from the bearing portion 220, and the stress concentration is alleviated.

[0044] Therefore, according to the acceleration device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the breakage of the support wall 230 due to stress concentration, and it is possible to firmly maintain the fitting of the shaft portion 510 and the bearing portion 220 against the pedal lift load generated by the spring 600 for a long time. In addition, on the support wall 230, an inclined surface 250 is provided on the upper side of the bearing portion 220. Therefore, during assembly, the support wall 230 can be gradually deformed to smoothly fit the shaft portion 510 with the bearing portion 220, and the assemblability of the pedal 200 and the arm 500 is improved.

[0045] In addition, the surface area of the protruding portion 240 may be changed by an inclined surface instead of depending on the rounded corner surface 241. In Figure 8 In a modified example of the first embodiment shown, a flat inclined surface 242 is provided on the protruding portion 240. This inclined surface 242 is formed in the same manner as the rounded corner surface 241 such that the surface area becomes larger the farther away from the bearing portion 220. With this shape, it is also possible to alleviate the stress concentration at the root, prevent the breakage of the support wall 230, and improve the assembly strength against the pedal lift load.

[0046] <Second Embodiment>

[0047] The acceleration device 100 of the second embodiment (refer to Figure 1 ) is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the support wall 230. As Figure 9A , Figure 9B , Figure 10 shown, in the second embodiment, both shoulders of the support wall 230 are cut off, and a pointed portion 260 is formed at the center in the width direction of the support wall 230. And, as Figure 11 shown, when the pedal 200 is depressed to the full-acceleration position, the pointed portion 260 is inserted into the opening 311 formed in the partition wall portion 303 of the housing 300. According to this structure, it is possible to obtain a larger depression stroke of the pedal 200 without being hindered by both shoulders of the support wall 230.

[0048] <Third Embodiment>

[0049] In the acceleration device 100 of the third embodiment (refer to Figure 1 ), as Figure 12A , Figure 12B , Figure 13As shown, on the wall surface 232 of the support wall 230 on the side opposite to the protruding portion 240, the rib 270 is formed so as to extend between the support wall 230 and the tread pad 200. According to this structure, the rib 270 can be used to further strengthen the rigidity of the support wall 230, thereby further improving the assembly strength against the load in the direction of the tread pad being lifted. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 270 can also be formed so as to extend between the support wall 230 and the edge portion 201 of the tread pad 200 or the protective wall 210.

[0050] <Other Embodiments>

[0051] In each of the above embodiments, the acceleration device 100 is embodied as an "accordion pedal structure", but in other embodiments, it can also be embodied as an acceleration device other than the "accordion pedal structure". For example, the present disclosure can also be applied to an acceleration device having a structure in which a tread pad suspended under the driver's feet is connected to a pedal via an arm.

[0052] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and the shape or structure of each part can be appropriately changed within the scope not departing from its gist for implementation.

[0053] The present disclosure is described based on embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment and structure. The present disclosure also includes various variations and variations within the equivalent scope. In addition, various combinations and schemes, and further other combinations and schemes including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element among them also fall within the scope and thought range of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An acceleration device, characterized in that, it includes: a footrest for the driver to step on; a pedal that rotates in the acceleration opening direction by the stepping force of the footrest; an arm that connects the pedal to the footrest; and a biasing member that biases the pedal in the acceleration closing direction via the arm, the arm has a shaft portion assembled to the footrest, and the footrest has a pair of support walls that rotatably support the shaft portion, bearing portions for fitting the shaft portion are formed on the opposing wall surfaces of the support walls, and protruding portions are provided on the wall surfaces to make the wall thickness of the root side of the support walls thicker than that of the tip side, the protruding portions include rounded surfaces or inclined surfaces with larger surface areas the farther they are from the bearing portions.

2. The acceleration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, an inclined surface for guiding the shaft portion to the bearing portion during assembly is provided on the wall surface of the support wall.

3. The acceleration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, a partition portion is provided between the footrest and the pedal, an opening portion for the arm to pass through is formed on the partition portion, and the support wall includes a pointed portion that fits into the opening portion when the footrest is stepped on to the full acceleration open position.

4. The acceleration device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the support wall includes ribs protruding from the wall surface opposite to the protruding portion.

Images