Pedal assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a brake pedal (2) and an accelerator pedal (3), each of the pedals (2, 3) being associated with a sensor arrangement (7) for detecting a pedal travel (6) during actuation. The pedal assembly (1) should require less installation space and thus be easy to produce. This is achieved in that the pedal travel (6) for each of the pedals (2, 3) is short and straight.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a pedal assembly for a motor vehicle, the pedal assembly comprising a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, each of the pedals being provided with a sensor assembly for detecting a pedal travel during operation. Background Art

[0002] Such pedal assemblies are known per se and are used to operate electric vehicles or motor vehicles with automatic transmissions in order to achieve or maintain the speed of the motor vehicle or to brake the motor vehicle. The corresponding pedal of the pedal assembly is fixed along the rotation axis in the footwell of the motor vehicle in such a way that the actuation describes a circular pedal stroke. Such pedals are described, for example, in DE 10 2014 102 758 A1 and DE 10 2020 132 845 A1.

[0003] The known pedal assemblies have the disadvantage that they take up a relatively large amount of installation space and are complex.

[0004] In the field of automobile construction, there is a constant pursuit to design components to be lighter and more compact. This is particularly true for so-called electronic pedals and in the context of automated driving, in which the driver only has to take action in exceptional cases in order to control the motor vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pedal assembly which requires little installation space and is simple to produce.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The pedal stroke for each of the pedals is short and linear. In the context of the invention, "linear" means that the movement of the pedal takes place linearly or with a very small pivot radius, so that deviations from straightness are barely perceptible. The novel features make the pedal assembly very compact and lightweight overall. The pedal stroke of each pedal can be detected with a suitable sensor assembly and thus converted into a signal, which is used for corresponding control of the brakes or for power regulation of the drive motor of the motor vehicle.

[0007] The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0008] Limiting the maximum pedal travel to 1 mm to 15 mm is a refinement of claim 1 .

[0009] In one embodiment, a conversion drive is arranged between each of the pedals and the associated sensor assembly in the sensor assembly, so that the pedal stroke is presented in an extended manner at the sensor assembly. In this way, the measurement accuracy of the pedal stroke is increased, since a larger path is to be distinguished at the sensor assembly than at the pedal. As a result, currently common sensor assemblies can be used.

[0010] In another embodiment, the switching gear is formed by a lever arm. This can be realized simply and in a space-saving manner.

[0011] Alternatively, for example, a gear train may be used.

[0012] In another embodiment, the pedal and the sensor assembly are arranged in a common closable housing. As a result, the pedal assembly can be designed to be particularly compact. The housing protects the mechanical structure and the electrical / electronic components from dirt, liquids and mechanical influences. In addition, the installation of the pedal assembly in the motor vehicle is simplified compared to individual pedals. Naturally, the operating surface of the pedal protrudes from the housing through a corresponding opening.

[0013] In another embodiment, each of the sensor assemblies comprises at least one contactless inductive displacement sensor. This type of sensor is the best proven.

[0014] In another embodiment, the sensor arrangement associated with the brake pedal additionally has a Hall sensor, thereby ensuring operationally reliable redundancy for the fault strategy.

[0015] In another embodiment, the sensor assembly is arranged on a common circuit board. This saves costs and simplifies the compact construction of the pedal assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the accompanying schematic diagram. In the figure:

[0017] The only Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As from Figure 1As can be seen in the figure, the pedal assembly 1 comprises two pedals, namely a brake pedal 2 and an accelerator pedal 3. The pedals 2 and 3 are supported in a common closable housing 4 so that their operating surfaces extend out of the housing and each of the pedals can be moved linearly in a respective corresponding guide 5. In order to provide a predetermined resistance against the movability, each of the pedals 2 and 3 is provided with at least one elastic element (not shown), for example an elastic element in the form of a spiral spring. The elastic element for the brake pedal 2 can be designed differently from the elastic element for the accelerator pedal 3. The pedals 2 and 3 have a prescribed minimum distance in the longitudinal direction of the pedal assembly 1 in order to minimize the risk of confusion during operation. The space thus formed can be used very efficiently for the sensor assembly 7 and the conversion transmission device described further below.

[0019] The housing 4 is formed, for example, by a cuboid trough (Trog), which can be closed by means of a cover which is preferably associated with the operating side.

[0020] Each of the pedals 2, 3 is held in a predetermined rest position (i.e., in the non-actuated state) by means of a locking lug, for example, in a guide 5. The maximum pedal travel 6 (indicated by a double arrow) is limited by a stop, not shown, to a few millimeters, for example 1 to 15 millimeters, in particular 3 to 10 millimeters. The pedal travel 6 is thus the path between the rest position and the actuated position, shown by way of example in dashed lines for the brake pedal 2.

[0021] Each of the pedals 2 and 3 is equipped with a sensor assembly 7. Both sensor assemblies 7 are constructed on a single circuit board 8. Each sensor assembly 7 has a first sensor structure and an electrical and / or electronic component. The sensor assembly 7 is constructed as an inductive displacement sensor. The sensor assembly 7 equipped with the brake pedal 2 additionally has a Hall sensor. The circuit board 8 can be electrically connected to the on-board electronic device of the motor vehicle by means of a socket 12.

[0022] A lever arm 9 in the form of an elongated plate is provided on each of the pedals 2 and 3 for realizing a switching gear. The lever arm 9 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the pedal assembly 1 and is supported on the pedals 2 and 3 at a first end 9a (about the longitudinal axis) in an articulated rotatable manner around a pin 10. The pin 10 and therefore the axis of rotation of the lever arm 9 extend perpendicularly to the main surface of the circuit board 8. A support 11 is arranged between the first end 9a of the lever arm 9 and the center about its longitudinal extension, on which the lever arm 9 is linearly placed transversely to its longitudinal extension. The support 11 is placed as close to the first end 9a as possible and meaningfully in terms of technology, whereby the effect of the switching gear is particularly large. The main surface of the lever arm 9 and the main surface of the circuit board 8 extend as precisely as possible in parallel. In the region of the second end 9b of the lever arm 9 (about the longitudinal axis), the second sensor structure is arranged so that it cooperates with the first sensor structure of the associated sensor assembly 7 during operation. In this case, corresponding to the conversion gear, the second sensor arrangement covers a greater distance over the first sensor arrangement than pedal travel 6 .

[0023] As an alternative to lever arm 9 , a gearbox transmission can also be provided, wherein the second sensor arrangement has to be designed correspondingly in terms of technology.

[0024] Reference numerals list

[0025] 1 Pedal assembly

[0026] 2Brake pedal

[0027] 3 Accelerator pedal

[0028] 4 Shell

[0029] 5. Guidance

[0030] 6 pedal stroke

[0031] 7Sensor Components

[0032] 8 Circuit Board

[0033] 9 Lever Arm

[0034] 10 pins

[0035] 11 Support

[0036] 12 sockets

Claims

1. A pedal assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, the pedal assembly comprising a brake pedal (2) and an accelerator pedal (3), wherein: Each of the pedals (2, 3) is associated with a sensor assembly (7) for detecting a pedal travel (6) during actuation, wherein the pedal travel (6) for each of the pedals (2, 3) is short and linear.

2. The pedal assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The maximum pedal travel (6) is limited to 1 mm to 15 mm.

3. The pedal assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A conversion gear is arranged between each of the pedals (2, 3) and an associated sensor component in the sensor component (7), so that the pedal stroke (6) appears extended on the sensor component (7).

4. The pedal assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The switching gear is formed by a lever arm (9).

5. The pedal assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The pedals (2, 3), the conversion gear and the sensor assembly (7) are arranged in a common closable housing (4).

6. The pedal assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Each sensor assembly in the sensor assembly (7) comprises at least one non-contact inductive displacement sensor.

7. The pedal assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The sensor assembly (7) associated with the brake pedal (2) additionally has a Hall sensor.

8. The pedal assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The sensor assembly (7) is arranged on a common circuit board (8).

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