Kick-down element for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Kick-down element for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (1), an actuating element (2) which is guided and fixed axially displaceable in the housing (1) and a force-shift element (7) which is guided axially displaceably in the actuating member (2) and is axially loaded by an elastic element (10), wherein a plate-shaped projection (6) is formed on at least one housing wall (1c) which extends perpendicular to a direction of displaceability and obliquely downwards at its upper end, wherein the force-shift element (7) interacts with at least one roller (11) which is mounted in a rest position between the projection (6) and a wedge-shaped extension (9) of the force-shift element (7), wherein the roller (11) is further mounted at a lower end of the actuating member (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a kick-down element for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing, an actuating member which is guided and fastened in the housing so as to be axially displaceable, and a force jump element which is guided in the actuating member so as to be axially displaceable and is axially loaded by an elastic element, wherein a plate-shaped projection is formed on at least one housing wall, which projection runs perpendicular to a direction of displaceability and obliquely downwards at its upper end, and wherein the force jump element interacts with at least one roller which is mounted in a rest position between the projection and a wedge-shaped extension of the force jump element. The plate-shaped projection is formed in one piece with a corresponding housing wall, with the plate running parallel to it. Thus, the projection projects diagonally inward into the housing.

[0002] Such kickdown elements are well known. They are used in vehicles with automatic transmissions to provide the driver with a haptic signal via their foot when an accelerator pedal sensor is actuated, generating a sudden force jump as soon as the kickdown position of the accelerator pedal sensor is reached or exceeded. The kickdown element has no electrical function and has no direct influence on the transmission. The transmission shifting is controlled by other electrical / electronic components of the accelerator pedal sensor.

[0003] For certain applications, the kick-down element requires a long overtravel. This means that after the initial power surge, a relatively long pedal travel (shift travel) toward full throttle is still possible. To achieve this, the actuator must be able to move a relatively long distance within the housing.

[0004] EP 1 917 153 B1 discloses a kick-down device arranged in a lever arm of a pedal. The device comprises an actuating member that is slidably mounted in a recess of the pedal. A wedge member with a wedge surface is guided in the actuating member, which is preloaded by a spring and interacts with the actuating member via rollers. The rollers are mounted in transverse grooves in the pedal and in radial through-holes recessed in the walls of the actuating member. When the actuating member is actuated, the rollers are pressed out of the transverse grooves against the wedge surfaces, thus generating a desired force jump. The actuating member allows only a short displacement path within the recess.

[0005] The object of the invention is to create a kick-down element which allows a relatively long displacement path of the actuating element while being as compact as possible.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. The roller is additionally mounted at a lower end of the actuating element. As a result, the actuating element protrudes only slightly into the housing in the rest position, so that upon actuation, after the force jump, a relatively large displacement path is still available until a stop is reached or the lower end hits the bottom of the housing. This allows the kick-down element to be used in a variety of ways for different displacement paths, for example, by being inserted into a pedal.

[0007] The subclaims relate to the advantageous embodiment of the invention.

[0008] In one embodiment, two rollers are arranged, each assigned to opposite housing walls. This ensures that the loads on the kick-down element are symmetrical, preventing jamming of the parts and increasing service life.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the wedge-shaped extension of the force-jump element has two different pitches. This increases the operational reliability of the kick-down element and reduces friction during actuation.

[0010] In another embodiment, the elastic element is a coil spring. These are available with different spring constants, allowing the magnitude of the force jump to be determined. Furthermore, the elasticity of coil springs remains constant over long periods of time.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the kick-down element is designed as a separate component. This allows for universal use. By using different elastic elements, the kick-down elements can be manufactured with different force jumps and thus be used for different vehicles.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the actuator's displacement range is 0 mm to 12 mm. This allows the accelerator pedal to continue to be depressed even after the force jump. If a short displacement range is required, a corresponding mechanical lock can be installed in the housing.

[0013] In a further embodiment, a mandrel is arranged on the bottom of the housing, along which the elastic element is guided. This ensures that the elastic element always remains precisely aligned and cannot, for example, bend. This ensures that the predetermined elastic force and thus the magnitude of the force jump are maintained.

[0014] In a further embodiment, ribs or corresponding guide grooves are arranged on the housing or on the actuating element. This ensures that the actuating element is securely guided within the housing. Tilting of the actuating element within the housing is prevented; this is particularly important when using two rollers to prevent a double force jump.

[0015] In a further embodiment, an outward-facing, pot-shaped protrusion is embedded in the base. This allows the use of springs that have a relatively large length when compressed without limiting the displacement path.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a vertical section through a kick-down element, unactuated, Fig. 2 a vertical section through the kick-down element, actuated and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the kick-down element.

[0017] As can be seen from the Fig. As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, a kick-down element comprises a housing 1 in which an actuating member 2 is mounted so as to be axially displaceable.

[0018] In the context of this disclosure, axial means parallel to a longitudinal axis of the kick-down element.

[0019] The housing 1 is essentially cuboid-shaped and consists of a base 1a and four housing walls 1b, 1c, and is open on one upper side. A pin 3 is formed centrally on the inside of the base 1a and extends vertically, i.e. axially, over approximately half the height of the housing 1. Openings are formed in the housing walls 1b, 1c and extend from the base 1a over a predetermined length parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 1. The openings not only save material and weight, but also serve to accommodate locking elements 8 of the actuating member 2 on at least two of the housing walls 1b, 1c. Two axially extending ribs 4 are formed on the inside of at least two opposite, here longitudinal, housing walls 1b. On each wide-side housing wall 1c of the housing 1, a projection 6 is arranged inside in an upper region, running parallel to the base 1a. The projection extends over a predetermined length between the long-side housing walls 1b and parallel to the upper end of the wide-side housing wall 1c. The projection 6 is inclined downwards, i.e., toward the base 1a, and is formed in the form of a plate that is molded onto the inside of the wide-side housing wall 1c and extends parallel to it down to the base 1a. The corresponding opening also penetrates the plate and thus the projection 6.

[0020] On the outside of the housing 1, for example, locking lugs are arranged to fasten the kick-down element in an accelerator pedal or, in the same way, to a body of a motor vehicle.

[0021] The actuating member 2 is also essentially cuboid-shaped and dimensioned such that it is mounted axially displaceably within the housing 1 with minimal play. An upper end of the actuating member 2, opposite the base 1a, is curved. Guide grooves 5 corresponding to the ribs 4 are recessed into the side walls, here in the longitudinal sides 2a of the actuating member 2. The locking elements 8 are formed in a lower end region of both longitudinal sides 2a between the guide grooves 5.

[0022] Alternatively, the ribs 4 are formed on the actuating member 2 and the guide grooves 5 on the housing 1.

[0023] A force jump element 7 is mounted in the actuating member 2 so as to be axially displaceable with slight play. The force jump element 7 has a shaft 7a with a rectangular cross-section, which is guided in the actuating member 2 with slight play. At a lower end of the force jump element 7, a wedge-shaped extension 9 is formed on two opposite sides, each of which points towards an associated one of the projections 6. The extension 9 is formed with two different pitches, with a wedge surface directly adjoining the shaft 7a being less steep than the remaining wedge surface; an angle between the shaft 7a and the less steep wedge surface is, for example, 125°, and that between the shaft 7a and the remaining wedge surface is, for example, 135°. A blind bore with a circular cross-section and open at the bottom is let into the force jump element 7 for receiving an elastic element, in this case a helical spring 10.

[0024] The coil spring 10 is still guided on the mandrel 3 in the housing 1.

[0025] Two rollers 11 (cylinders with a circular cross-section) are arranged in the kickdown element. In the rest position, each of the rollers 11 is clamped and preloaded by the coil spring 10 between the remaining wedge surface, the projection 6, the wide housing wall 1c, and the lower end of the actuating member 2. The rollers 11 are opposite each other and the force jump element 7 is arranged between the two rollers 11.

[0026] The entire kick-down element is made of plastic, with the exception of the coil spring 10.

[0027] When the kick-down element is actuated, the actuating member 2 is pressed into the housing 1. Because the rollers 11 are clamped as described above, they must be displaced inward away from the projections 6 at the initial moment of actuation. This is made possible by the rollers 11 pressing the force jump element 7 relative to the actuating member 2 downwards towards the floor 1a via the wedge surfaces of the extensions 9. This sudden movement of the rollers 11 generates the desired force jump. After the force jump is triggered, the actuating member 2 can be pressed a predetermined displacement path, i.e., a predetermined distance, further into the housing 1, whereby the force of the coil spring 10 must be overcome in addition to the usual pedal force.

[0028] When the kick-down element is released, the coil spring 10 pushes the force-step element 7 and thus, via the rollers 11, also the actuating element 2 upwards until the force-step element 7, the actuating element 2, and the rollers 11 each reach their rest position. This position is determined by the actuating element 2 via the locking elements 8. List of reference symbols 1 housing 1a floor 1b longitudinal housing wall 1c wide housing wall 2 Actuator 2a Long side 3 Thorn 4 ribs 5 Guide groove 6 lead 7 Power Jump Element 7a shaft 8 locking element 9 Expansion 10 coil springs 11 roller

Claims

[1] Kick-down element for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (1), an actuating member (2) which is guided and fixed in the housing (1) so as to be axially displaceable and a force jump element (7) which is guided axially displaceably in the actuating member (2) and is axially loaded by an elastic element (10), wherein a plate-shaped projection (6) is formed on at least one housing wall (1c), which projection extends perpendicular to a direction of displaceability and obliquely downwards at its upper end, wherein the force jump element (7) cooperates with at least one roller (11) which is mounted in a rest position between the projection (6) and a wedge-shaped extension (9) of the force jump element (7), wherein the roller (11) is further mounted at a lower end of the actuating member (2). [2] Kick-down element according to claim 1, characterized bythat two rollers (11) are arranged which are assigned to opposite housing walls (1c). [3] Kick-down element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the wedge-shaped extension (9) of the force jump element (7) has two different gradients. [4] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the elastic element is a helical spring (10). [5] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that it is designed as a separate component. [6] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the displacement of the actuating element (2) is 0 mm to 12 mm. [7] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that a mandrel (3) is arranged on a bottom (1a) of the housing (1), on which the elastic element (10) is guided. [8] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that ribs (4) or corresponding guide grooves (5) are arranged on the housing (1) or on the actuating member (2). [9] Kick-down element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that an outward-facing pot-like protrusion is embedded in the base (1a).

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