Pedal device for vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal device for a vehicle, comprising a housing (12), a pedal lever (20), which is rotatably mounted on the housing (12) in a sliding manner at a bearing point (LS), a central lever (30), which is coupled to the pedal lever (20) by means of a first coupling point (KS1) and to the housing (12) by means of a second coupling point (KS2), and a force generating unit (40), which is coupled to the pedal lever (20) by means of a second coupling point (KS2), the intermediate lever (30) has a force generation unit (40) for applying a reaction force to the rotatable pedal lever (20), the reaction force acting in opposite directions to an actuation force (BT) applied to the rotatable pedal lever (20), the intermediate lever (30) and the force generation unit (40) being embodied such that a pedal travel-actuation force curve having a hysteresis characteristic is formed when the pedal lever (20) is actuated. The invention further relates to a vehicle with the pedal device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a pedal device for a vehicle, comprising a housing, a pedal lever, which is rotatably slidingly supported on the housing at a bearing point, an intermediate lever, which is coupled to the pedal lever by a first coupling point and to the housing by a second coupling point, such that the intermediate lever is displaced together with the pedal lever upon displacement of the pedal lever, and a force generation unit for exerting a counterforce onto the rotatable pedal lever, which counterforce acts counter to the direction of a steering force exerted onto the rotatable pedal lever. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle having such a pedal device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Such pedal devices are known per se and are applied in motor vehicles, in which a brake force applied by an operator is used for electric and / or electronic steering of an individual brake system (Brake by Wire). A Brake by Wire pedal is a pedal in which there is no longer a direct action connection between the pedal on one side and an actuator on the other side as is the case in a conventional pedal. In a conventional brake pedal, the brake pedal is coupled directly to the brake, for example by means of a hydraulic system. In a Brake by Wire pedal, this direct action connection is no longer present. Instead, for example, a rotational movement of the pedal lever about a rotational axis is detected, converted into an output signal and used for steering the brake system of the vehicle. In order to simulate the haptic experience that is present in a conventional pedal, the pedal device usually has a force generation unit by means of which, upon steering of the pedal lever, such a steering force is simulated, so that the user of the Brake by Wire pedal thereby obtains the experience of a conventional brake pedal, i.e. a brake pedal to which the user is accustomed. This design of the pedal device is also applicable to other pedals, for example a clutch pedal.

[0003] Such a pedal device is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2021 124 879 A1. The pedal device comprises a pedal lever, an intermediate lever and a force generation unit. The force generation unit is embodied such that, upon steering of the pedal lever, a pedal travel- steering force curve with a hysteresis characteristic curve is present. The hysteresis characteristic curve here refers to different force-travel curves upon steering and upon releasing the pedal lever. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a pedal device which, upon steering of the pedal lever, causes a pedal travel- steering force curve with a hysteresis characteristic curve and which is simple, saves installation space and is cost-advantageously embodied.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 or 4. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a vehicle having such a pedal device.

[0006] According to claim 1, the first and the second coupling points are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever, and the force-generating unit has a spring element arranged at the second coupling point, wherein the intermediate lever is braced against the pedal lever or slidingly supported on the housing via the third coupling point, such that the intermediate lever is loaded onto the pedal lever or the housing via the third coupling point during actuation of the pedal lever, thereby forming a pedal travel-actuation force curve having hysteresis characteristics. At the first coupling point, the intermediate lever can be directly or indirectly connected to the pedal lever. The second coupling point is arranged between the first and the third coupling point in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever.

[0007] In the first embodiment, the intermediate lever is rocker- supported at the second coupling point on the housing, wherein, upon actuation of the pedal lever, which here rotates about a rotation axis at the bearing point, the intermediate lever rotates about the rotation axis together with the pedal lever due to the action connection with the pedal lever. During the rotation of the intermediate lever, the spring element arranged at the second coupling point is compressed by the increasing spring force, i.e. the increasing reaction force, wherein a lever action is caused due to the spaced-apart arrangement of the first and the second coupling points. By means of this lever action, the intermediate lever is pressed onto the pedal lever, which in turn is pressed onto the bearing surface of the housing at the bearing point or at the third coupling point, thereby causing an increase in the friction force between the housing and the pedal lever. The amplitude of the change in the friction force upon actuation of the pedal lever can be specifically adjusted by means of the spring factor of the spring element and the lever ratio, i.e. the distance between the first and the second coupling points and the distance between the second and the third coupling points.

[0008] In the second embodiment, the intermediate lever is rocker- supported at the first coupling point on the pedal lever, wherein, upon actuation of the pedal lever, which here rotates about a rotation axis at the bearing point, the intermediate lever rotates about the rotation axis together with the pedal lever due to the pedal lever being coupled to the intermediate lever at the first coupling point of the intermediate lever and the pedal lever. During the rotation of the intermediate lever, the spring element arranged at the second coupling point is compressed by the increasing spring force, i.e. the increasing reaction force, wherein a lever action is caused due to the spaced-apart arrangement of the first and the second coupling points. By means of this lever action, the intermediate lever is pressed onto the bearing surface of the housing assigned thereto at the third coupling point, thereby causing an increase in the friction force between the housing and the intermediate lever. Here, too, the amplitude of the change in the friction force upon actuation of the pedal lever can be specifically adjusted by means of the spring factor of the spring element and the lever ratio, i.e. the distances between the coupling points. The first coupling point is arranged between the second and the third coupling point in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever.

[0009] According to claim 4, the force-generating unit has a spring element at the second coupling point, wherein the intermediate lever is supported on the housing in a sliding frictional manner by the third coupling point in a manner loaded by the spring element, such that the intermediate lever is loaded by the spring element, thereby forming a pedal travel-actuating force curve having a hysteresis characteristic. The intermediate lever can be connected to the pedal lever directly or indirectly at the first coupling point.

[0010] Due to the rotatable support of the intermediate lever on the housing by the third coupling point, the action connection of the intermediate lever to the pedal lever, and due to the spring element at the second coupling point, the intermediate lever rotates together with the pedal lever when the pedal lever is actuated, wherein the intermediate lever moves relative to the housing on the support surface of the housing in a sliding frictional manner by the third coupling point. By the spring force of the spring element pressing the intermediate lever at the third coupling point against the housing, a friction is induced between the intermediate lever and the housing or a frictional force acting when the pedal lever and thus the intermediate lever rotate. The friction induced between the intermediate lever and the housing by the spring element can be adjusted in a targeted manner by the spring coefficient of the spring element. Furthermore, the intermediate lever can have a friction element at the third coupling point, against which the intermediate lever rests on the housing. By the friction element, the friction coefficient between the friction element and the housing when the intermediate lever rotates and thus the friction can be adjusted.

[0011] In all embodiments, i.e. according to claims 1 and 4, the frictional force is always opposite to the direction of movement. Thus, when the pedal lever is pressed by the actuating force, in addition to the spring force of the spring element arranged at the second coupling point, the frictional force must also be overcome. When the pedal lever and thus the pedal lever and the intermediate lever are moved to the initial state by the spring force of the spring element at the second coupling point when the pedal lever is released, the movement of the pedal lever and the intermediate lever is reversed, wherein the frictional force acts opposite to the spring force direction of the spring element. Thereby, a pedal travel-actuating force curve having a hysteresis characteristic is formed. Here, the actuating force acting on the pedal lever when the pedal lever is pressed in a certain travel is greater than the actuating force when the pedal is rotated.

[0012] In this way, a pedal device can be provided which induces a pedal travel-actuating force curve having a hysteresis characteristic curve when the pedal lever is actuated, and which is simple, saves installation space and is implemented cost-advantageously, wherein no or almost no additional components are required to provide the hysteresis characteristic curve when the pedal lever is displaced.

[0013] In a preferred design of the first embodiment according to claim 1, an additional loading unit is provided, which is arranged in the region of the third coupling point, wherein the additional loading unit has a loading element and a spring element arranged between the housing and the loading element, wherein the loading element is in sliding frictional and spring-preloaded abutment on the intermediate lever, thereby loading the intermediate lever in the direction of the pedal lever. Preferably, the loading element is rocker- supported on the housing, wherein the loading element is in abutment on the intermediate lever at a first end at a bearing point and acts on the spring element at a second end. Thereby, the friction between the pedal lever and the housing at the bearing point can be increased.

[0014] Preferably, the force generation unit has a first spring element and a second spring element, wherein the first spring element is arranged at the first coupling point and the second spring element is arranged at the second coupling point, wherein the spring constant of the second spring element is smaller than the spring constant of the first spring element, and wherein the intermediate lever abuts on a predefined stop of the housing from a predefined spring travel of the second spring element. With these two spring elements, a non-linear pedal travel-manipulation force curve can be provided when manipulating the pedal lever, which corresponds to the haptics of a conventional pedal. Due to the different spring constants, a pedal travel-manipulation force curve is formed which has two segments with different slopes.

[0015] Due to the spring constant of the first spring element being greater than the spring constant of the second spring element, in the first travel segment the first spring element can be regarded as almost rigid, wherein only the second spring element is compressed and the pedal lever is displaced together with the intermediate lever. As soon as the intermediate lever abuts on the stop, the second travel segment begins and only the first spring element is compressed.

[0016] In a preferred design of the pedal device according to claim 4, the first spring element and the second spring element are arranged coaxially to each other. Thereby, a lever action is not intentionally induced at the intermediate lever.

[0017] Alternatively, the force generation unit has a first spring element and a second spring element, wherein both spring elements are arranged at the second coupling point and are arranged in series, wherein the spring constant of the second spring element is smaller than the spring constant of the first spring element, wherein the intermediate lever is stopped on a stop of the housing from a predefined spring travel of the second spring element. With these two spring elements, a non-linear pedal travel-manipulation force curve can also be provided when manipulating the pedal lever, which corresponds to the haptics of a conventional pedal. Due to the different spring constants of the spring elements, a pedal travel-manipulation force curve is formed which has two segments with different slopes, wherein both spring elements are arranged at the second coupling point with a saving of installation space. The coupling between the pedal lever and the intermediate lever is in particular realized in that the pedal lever directly abuts on the intermediate lever with a protrusion at the first coupling point.

[0018] Preferably, the stop is arranged between the intermediate lever and the housing in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever at a distance from the first coupling point. Thereby, the load generated by the intermediate lever at the third coupling point can be increased by leverage even when the intermediate lever is resting against the stop of the housing, thereby in turn increasing the friction between the intermediate lever and the housing or between the pedal lever and the housing.

[0019] Preferably, the pedal lever has a cylindrical bearing surface at the bearing point, by which the pedal lever rests locally against a plurality of bearing surfaces of the housing which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction. By varying the slope of the bearing surfaces of the housing, the friction between the pedal lever and the housing can be adjusted purposefully. Here, the friction force acting between the friction surfaces increases with increasing slope of the friction surfaces of the housing.

[0020] Preferably, the force generation unit has a return spring by which the pedal lever is loaded in the direction of the initial position, i.e. the unactuated state. In a preferred design, the spring element of the additional loading unit or the third spring element is the return spring. Thereby, the return spring can be used for different functions, so that the pedal device can be implemented cost-effectively and with a saving in installation space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] The application is explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawings. Here,

[0022] Figure 1 a first cut plane of a first embodiment of a pedal device is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 a first cut plane of a second embodiment of a pedal device is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 a first cut plane of a third embodiment of a pedal device is shown;

[0025] Figure 4 a second cut plane of a part of a pedal device according to Figure 1 , 2 , 3 is shown;

[0026] Figure 5 a pedal travel-actuation force diagram of a pedal device according to Figure 1 , 2 , 3 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In Figure 1 and Figure 2A pedal device 10 for a vehicle, for example a brake pedal, is shown in

[0028] The pedal device 10 has a housing 12 with a first housing element 14 and a second housing element 16 connected to the first housing element 14. The housing 12 constitutes the basic component of the pedal device 10, wherein the pedal device 10 is fixed to other vehicle components by means of the housing 12.

[0029] The pedal device 10 further comprises a pedal lever 20, an intermediate lever 30 and a force generation unit 40.

[0030] The pedal lever 20 is a component on which a driver can exert a control force FB, thereby rotating the pedal lever 20 about a rotational axis Dl. The pedal lever 20 is rotatably slidingly supported on the housing 12, wherein the housing 12 has two inclined bearing surfaces 24, 26 at a bearing point LS, on which a cylindrical bearing surface 28 of the pedal lever 20 is resting. The bearing point LS is shown in Figure 3 The bearing surfaces 24, 26 each form an angle al, a2 with a plane.

[0031] The intermediate lever 30 and the force generation unit 40 are used in particular to simulate the haptic experience of a conventional pedal. The intermediate lever 30 is arranged between the pedal lever 20 and the housing 12 or the second housing element 16.

[0032] In Figure 1In a first embodiment of the intermediate lever 30, the intermediate lever 30 is coupled with the pedal lever 20 via a first coupling site KS1, with the housing 12 or with the second housing element 16 via a second coupling site KS2 and, via a third coupling site KS3, again with the pedal lever 20, wherein the third coupling site KS3 is arranged at a bearing site at which the pedal lever 20 is supported on the housing 12 and the intermediate lever 30 bears against a side of the mating bearing face 28 of the pedal lever 20 which is remote from the bearing faces 24, 26. The coupling sites KS1, KS2, KS3 are arranged such that the first coupling site KS1 and the third coupling site KS3 are arranged on a side of the intermediate lever 30 which faces the pedal lever 20 and the second coupling site KS2 is arranged on a side of the intermediate lever 30 which faces away from the pedal lever 20. Furthermore, all coupling sites KS1, KS2, KS3 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever 30.

[0033] The force generation unit 40 has a first spring element 42 and a second spring element 44. The first spring element 42 is arranged at the first coupling site KS1 and thus between the intermediate lever 30 and the pedal lever 20. The second spring element 44 is arranged at the second coupling site KS2 and thus between the intermediate lever 30 and the housing 12. The spring constant of the first spring element 42 is greater than the spring constant of the second spring element 44. Furthermore, the force generation unit 40 has a third spring element 46 which is arranged between the housing 12 and the pedal lever 20. The third spring element 46 serves as a fail-safe spring or a return spring 48, such that, in the event of a breakage of the first spring element 42, the second spring element 44 and / or the intermediate lever 30, the pedal lever 20 is displaced into an initial position, i.e. an unactuated state, by the third spring element 46 and an unintended displacement of the pedal lever 20 as a result of a breakage of the first spring element 42, the second spring element 44 and / or the intermediate lever 30 and thus an undesired actuation of the brake is reliably avoided.

[0034] In the event of an actuation of the pedal lever 20 as a result of an application of an actuation force FB to the pedal lever 20, the pedal lever 20 is displaced according to Figure 5The illustrated pedal stroke - control force curve is rotated about the rotation axis Dl. Due to the coupling of the pedal lever 20 to the intermediate lever 30 by means of the first spring element 42 arranged at the first coupling point KS1, in the first stroke section tl the intermediate lever 30 is first displaced together with the pedal lever 20. Due to the spring constant of the first spring element 42 being greater than the spring constant of the second spring element 44, in the first stroke section tl the first spring element 42 is hardly compressed, wherein the second spring element 44 is continuously compressed until the intermediate lever 30 is stopped on the housing 12 by means of the damping element 32. With the displacement of the intermediate lever 30 and the compression of the second spring element 44, the spring force exerted by the spring element 44 onto the intermediate lever 30 continuously increases, wherein the loading of the pedal lever 20 by the intermediate lever 30, which occurs at the third coupling point KS3, is increased by means of the lever action due to the coupling points KS1, KS2, KS3 being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever 30. By means of this loading, the frictional force between the bearing surfaces 24, 26 and the bearing surface 28 is increased, in turn increasing the friction between the housing 12 and the pedal lever 20 at the bearing point LS. In the second stroke section t2, the intermediate lever 30 does not move together, wherein the first spring element 42 is compressed with increasing pedal stroke until the pedal lever 20 is stopped on the housing 12 by means of the damping element 21. In the second stroke section t2, the above-mentioned generated friction also acts. Figure 5 The illustrated third stroke section t3 maps the deformation of the damping element 21, which is made of an elastomer and deforms when compressed.

[0035] In order to increase the frictional force between the bearing surfaces 24, 26 and the mating bearing surface 28, an additional loading unit 50 is provided, which has a loading element 52 and a spring element 54, which are supported in a rocker-like manner on the housing 12. The loading element 52 is coupled with one end to the spring element 54, which is formed by the third spring element 46, and is in sliding frictional abutment with the second end on the intermediate lever 30. By means of the pre-tensioned spring element 54, the second end of the loading element 52 is pressed onto the intermediate lever 30, thereby increasing the loading of the pedal lever 20 by the intermediate lever 30 at the third coupling point KS3, in turn increasing the frictional force between the bearing surfaces 24, 26 of the housing 12 and the bearing surface 28 of the pedal lever 20. Furthermore, the angles al, a2 can be selected in a targeted manner in order to adjust the frictional force present between the bearing surfaces 24, 26 and the mating bearing surface 28.

[0036] By means of the loading of the pedal lever 20 by the intermediate lever 30 and by the additional loading unit 50, a frictional force is generated or increased between the bearing surfaces 24, 26 and the mating bearing surface 28, thereby forming a pedal stroke - control force curve having hysteresis properties, which is illustrated in Figure 5 Fig. 4.

[0037] Figure 2The second embodiment shown differs from the first embodiment according to Figure 1 the main difference being that the intermediate lever 30 is slidingly supported on the housing 12 via a third coupling point KS3, wherein a third spring element 46, which also serves as a failure protection spring in the second embodiment, presses the intermediate lever 30 onto the housing 12. The third spring element 46 is arranged between the pedal lever 20 and the intermediate lever 30. On the side of the intermediate lever 30 facing the housing 12, a friction element 60 is provided, by means of which the intermediate lever 30 is pressed against the housing 12. Furthermore, the first spring element 42 and the second spring element 44 are arranged coaxially to one another, whereby a lever action does not occur when the pedal lever 20 is actuated.

[0038] When the pedal lever 20 is actuated as a result of an actuating force FB being applied to the pedal lever 20, the pedal lever 20 rotates about the rotation axis D1 according to the pedal travel-actuating force diagram shown in Figure 5 . Here, as in the first embodiment according to Figure 1 , the spring elements 42, 44 are compressed in succession, thereby forming the force curve with different travel segments t1, t2 shown in Figure 5 . The corresponding difference is that, in the first travel segment t1, the intermediate lever 30 moves together with the pedal lever 20 and slidingly frictionally relative to the housing 12 at the third coupling point KS3. During the displacement, a pedal travel-actuating force curve with hysteresis characteristics is likewise formed by the friction present between the friction element 60 of the intermediate lever 30 and the housing 12. Furthermore, the third spring element 46 serves as a failure protection spring or as a return spring 48.

[0039] Figure 3 The third embodiment shown constitutes a combination of the embodiments shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 . As in the second embodiment according to Figure 2 , the intermediate lever 30 is slidingly supported on the housing 12 via a third coupling point KS3, wherein the pedal lever 20 is pressed against the intermediate lever 30 at a first coupling point KS1 and the first spring element 42 and the second spring element 44 are each arranged at a second coupling point. The coupling points KS1, KS2 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate lever 30, thereby producing a lever action on the intermediate lever 30 when the pedal lever 20 is actuated, so that the loading at the third coupling point KS3 increases and causes a loading associated with the friction present between the housing 12 and the intermediate lever 30. The third spring element 46, which also serves as a return spring 48 as in the two other embodiments, additionally presses the intermediate lever 30 onto the housing 12, thereby additionally causing friction between the friction element 60 and the housing 12.

[0040] When the pedal lever 20 is actuated as a result of the application of the actuating force FB to the pedal lever 20, the pedal lever 20 rotates about the rotational axis Dl. Here, as in the two other embodiments according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 the spring elements 42, 44 are successively compressed. Here, too, a pedal stroke-actuating force curve having a hysteresis characteristic is likewise formed by the pedal lever 20 being pressed with the friction element 60 onto the housing 12 by means of the lever action on the intermediate lever 30 and the resulting loading by the third spring element 46 and thus the resulting friction.

[0041] List of reference signs

[0042] 10 pedal device

[0043] 12 housing

[0044] 14 first housing element

[0045] 16 second housing element

[0046] 20 pedal lever

[0047] 21 damping element

[0048] 30 intermediate lever

[0049] 32 damping element

[0050] 40 force generation unit

[0051] 42 first spring element

[0052] 44 second spring element

[0053] 46 third spring element

[0054] 48 return spring

[0055] 50 additional loading unit

[0056] 52 loading element

[0057] 54 spring element

[0058] 60 friction element

[0059] Dl rotational axis

[0060] FB actuating force

[0061] KSl first coupling point

[0062] KS2 second coupling point

[0063] KS3 third coupling point

[0064] LS bearing point

[0065] t1 first stroke section

[0066] t2 second stroke section

[0067] t3 third stroke section

Claims

1. A pedal device for a vehicle, comprising: Shell (12); The pedal lever (20) is rotatably and slidably supported on the housing (12) at the support portion (LS); The intermediate rod (30) is connected to the pedal rod (20) via a first connecting part (KS1) and to the housing (12) via a second connecting part (KS2); as well as A force generating unit (40) for applying a reaction force to the rotatable pedal lever (20), wherein the reaction force acts in the opposite direction to the operating force (BT) applied to the rotatable pedal lever (20). The first connecting portion (KS1) and the second connecting portion (KS2) are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rod (30), and the force generating unit (40) has a spring element (44) arranged at the second connecting portion (KS2), wherein the intermediate rod (30) is abutted against the pedal rod (20) or slidably supported on the housing (12) in the area of ​​the support portion (LS) of the pedal rod (20) via the third connecting portion (KS3), such that during operation of the pedal rod (20), the intermediate rod (30) acts on the pedal rod (20) or the housing (12) through the third connecting portion (KS3), thereby forming a pedal travel-operating force curve with hysteresis characteristics.

2. The pedal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, An additional loading unit (50) is provided, which is arranged in the area of ​​the support portion (LS). The additional loading unit (50) has a loading element (52) and a spring element (54) arranged between the housing (12) and the loading element (52). The loading element (52) is spring-preloaded against the intermediate rod (30) to load the intermediate rod (30) in the direction of the pedal rod (20).

3. The pedal device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The loading element (52) is rocker-shaped supported on the housing (12), wherein the loading element (52) abuts against the intermediate rod (30) at the first end in the region of the third connection (KS3) and acts on the spring element (54) at the second end.

4. A pedal device for a vehicle, comprising: Shell (12); The pedal lever (20) is rotatably supported on the housing (12) at the support portion (LS); The intermediate rod (30) is connected to the pedal rod (20) via a first connecting part (KS1) and to the housing (12) via a second connecting part (KS2); as well as A force generating unit (40) for applying a reaction force to the rotatable pedal lever (20), wherein the reaction force acts in the opposite direction to the operating force (BT) applied to the rotatable pedal lever (20). The force generating unit (40) is characterized in that it has a spring element (44) arranged at the second connecting part (KS2), wherein the intermediate rod (30) is slidably and frictionally supported on the housing (12) by the third connecting part (KS3) in such a way that it is loaded by the spring element (46) arranged between the third connecting part (KS3) and the pedal rod (20), such that the intermediate rod (30) is loaded by the spring element (46) arranged at the third connecting part (KS3), thereby forming a pedal travel-operating force curve with hysteresis characteristics.

5. The pedal device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The intermediate rod (30) has a friction element (60) at the third connection part (KS3), and the intermediate rod (30) abuts against the housing (12) through the friction element.

6. The pedal device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The force generating unit (40) has a first spring element (42) and a second spring element (44), wherein the first spring element (42) is arranged at the first connecting part (KS1) and the second spring element (44) is arranged at the second connecting part (KS2), wherein the spring coefficient of the second spring element (44) is less than the spring coefficient of the first spring element (42), and wherein, from the predefined spring stroke of the second spring element (44), the intermediate rod (30) stops on the stop of the housing (12).

7. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The force generating unit (40) has a first spring element (42) and a second spring element (44), wherein both spring elements (42, 44) are arranged at the second connection part (KS2) and are arranged in series, wherein the spring coefficient of the second spring element (44) is less than the spring coefficient of the first spring element (42), wherein the intermediate rod (30) stops on the stop member of the housing (12) from the predefined spring stroke of the second spring element (44).

8. The pedal device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The stop member is arranged between the intermediate rod (30) and the housing (12) at a distance from the first connecting part (KS1) in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rod (30).

9. The pedal device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first spring element (42) and the second spring element (44) are arranged coaxially with each other.

10. The pedal device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pedal rod (20) has a cylindrical support surface (28) at the support portion (LS), through which the pedal rod (20) partially abuts against a plurality of circumferentially spaced support surfaces (24, 26) of the housing (12) with a predefined slope (a1, a2).

11. The pedal device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The force generating unit (40) has a return spring (48) through which the pedal rod (20) is loaded toward the initial position.

12. The pedal device according to claims 3 and 11, characterized in that, The spring element (54) of the additional loading unit (50) is the reset spring (48).

13. The pedal device according to claims 4 and 11, characterized in that, The third spring element (46) arranged at the third connection part (KS3) is the return spring (48).

14. A vehicle, particularly an automobile, characterized in that, The vehicle has a pedal device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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