Fahrpedal

Abstract

Accelerator pedal for a control of a drive motor of a motor vehicle, with a housing (1), with a pedal lever (2) rotatably mounted in the housing (1), wherein the housing (1) is formed in two parts from a shell (9) and a lid (10) and the lid (10) is designed as a bearing block for the pedal lever (2), and with a sensor (3) for determining an angular position of the pedal lever (2), characterized in that corresponding cams (8, 19) are arranged on the pedal lever (2) and on the cover (10) to generate a force jump.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an accelerator pedal for controlling a drive engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing, a pedal lever rotatably mounted in the housing, the housing being formed in two parts from a shell and a cover and the cover being designed as a bearing block for the pedal lever, and comprising a sensor for determining an angular position of the pedal lever.

[0002] Such accelerator pedals are known per se and are used in motor vehicles to transmit control commands generated by a driver operating the accelerator pedal to a corresponding engine control unit. For this purpose, the position of an accelerator pedal control panel is detected by a sensor and transmitted as a signal to the engine control unit.

[0003] In vehicles with automatic transmissions, additional kickdown functions are implemented on the accelerator pedals. For example, separately installable kickdown elements are integrated into the accelerator pedal to provide the driver with a haptic signal via their foot when the accelerator pedal is depressed, generating a sudden force jump as soon as a kickdown position of the accelerator pedal sensor is reached or exceeded. Kickdown, for example, shifts the transmission into a lower gear. The kickdown element has no electrical function and has no direct influence on the transmission. Transmission shifting is controlled by other electrical / electronic components of the accelerator pedal sensor.

[0004] DE 100 07 743 A1 discloses a pedal in which a special friction element is arranged, which interacts with a friction surface attached to a second end region of the pedal. This is intended to generate a variable friction force that dampens a force applied to one end of the pedal. The pedal as a whole is complex to manufacture.

[0005] DE 102 58 285 A1 discloses an accelerator pedal module in which a pedal lever is rotatably mounted in a bearing block. The bearing block has a bearing area with a bearing bore, in which at least part of a sensor shaft is rotatably mounted. At least part of a radially outer circumferential surface of the bearing area forms a bearing surface for the pedal lever. This is intended to achieve a rigid rotary mounting of the pedal lever, thereby preventing angular errors of the sensor shaft. The design and manufacture of the accelerator pedal module are relatively complex.

[0006] DE 10 2008 003 296 A1 describes an accelerator pedal in which a housing is formed in two parts, consisting of a shell and a cover. The cover is designed as a bearing block for the pedal lever and can be attached to the shell. This allows the accelerator pedal to be constructed from only a few simple components. A kick-down force jump can only be achieved with an additional element.

[0007] Based on DE 10 2008 003 296 A1, the object of the invention is to create an accelerator pedal which, without additional parts, generates a power jump when a kick-down position is exceeded.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Corresponding cams are arranged on the pedal lever and the cover to generate a force jump. This allows the force jump to be achieved by simply modifying the existing components of the accelerator pedal. No further measures or components are required.

[0009] The subclaims relate to the advantageous embodiment of the invention.

[0010] In one embodiment, the cam arranged on the pedal lever is guided in a recess in the cover. This makes the invention particularly easy to implement.

[0011] In a further embodiment, a rotational axis of the pedal lever is parallel to, and spaced from, a rotational axis of the cover. As a result, the pedal lever exerts a torque on the cover, which fixes it in a predetermined position. Therefore, even after the force surge, a spring force, against which the pedal lever is preloaded in the housing, counteracts any force exerted on the pedal lever by a driver.

[0012] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 an exploded view of an accelerator pedal, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a pedal lever bearing as a detail, partially cut away, Fig. 3 a side view of a bearing shell as a detail, Fig. 4 a perspective view of a lid as a detail and Fig. 5 a functional sequence of a kick-down.

[0013] As from the Fig. 1, an accelerator pedal comprises a housing 1 in which a pedal lever 2 is rotatably mounted, and a sensor 3 for detecting a rotational movement of the pedal lever 2 relative to the housing 1.

[0014] In side view, the pedal lever 2 has approximately the shape of a blunt, unequal-sided V and a substantially rectangular cross-section. A longer of the legs has a first end of the pedal lever 2, on the inside of which an area is formed as an operating surface 4. The inside is defined as the mutually facing sides of the legs.

[0015] A second end of the pedal lever 2, which is opposite to the first end and in the Fig. 2, is designed for rotatable mounting in the housing 1. For this purpose, a support profile 5 is formed on each of the two sides that are perpendicular to the operating surface 4. The support profile 5 protrudes from the associated side, has a rectangular cross-section and, when viewed from the front, has the shape of a circular ring section. This extends over an arc of 120° to 180°, with the convex side facing the inside of the pedal lever 2. On the other hand, two spaced-apart semicircular first discs 6 protrude from the outside, which is opposite the inside, only one of which is in the Fig. 2. The circle centers of the first disc 6 and the support profile 5 are located on an axis that is perpendicular to the first discs 6 and, when assembled, simultaneously forms the axis of rotation of the pedal lever 2. A recess is formed between the first discs 6, which extends further into an area at least close to the inner surface of the pedal lever 2 and to the second end. The recess serves to accommodate the sensor 3 and is adapted to its shape.

[0016] On each of the support profiles 5 a bearing shell 7 is arranged, which in the Fig. 3 is particularly clearly visible as a detail. The bearing shell 7 is made of a special material with defined frictional resistance. Each bearing shell 7 is manufactured in one piece as a thin, approximately semicircular plate, from one main surface of which a profile protrudes. The bearing shell 7 has a continuous recess within this profile, the shape and size of which corresponds to the support profile 5 minus a minimal amount of play. In the assembled state, the profile thus surrounds the sides of the support profile with a defined, constant wall thickness. A cam 8 is formed on a concave side of the profile, which has an approximately trapezoidal shape in side view.

[0017] The radius of the first disc 6 corresponds to the inner radius of the support profile 5 minus the wall thickness of the profile.

[0018] Adjacent to the recess, a receptacle 19 for two coil springs 12 is formed on the outside of the pedal lever 2.

[0019] The housing 1 comprises a shell 9 and a lid 10.

[0020] The interior of the shell 9 is largely adapted to the shape of the second end region of the pedal lever 2 in such a way that rotatable mounting is ensured. The shell 9 has a substantially flat base adjacent to the outer side of the pedal lever 2 and into which a first opening the size of the cover 10 is recessed. The base has a stop surface for mechanically limiting the rotational movement of the pedal lever 2 and is intended for fastening in the motor vehicle. The clear inner width of the shell 9 is stepped on both long sides and, starting from the first opening, initially corresponds to the width of the pedal lever 2 including the support profiles 5. The step is located in the half of the shell 9 spaced from the base and, reducing the clear width of the shell 9, corresponds in height to the height of the support profile 5.The shape of the step is essentially adapted to the corresponding shape of the bearing shell 7, i.e., predominantly circular in shape with a corresponding radius. Each broad side of the shell 9 has a further opening, a second opening serving as a passage for the pedal lever 2 and a third opening for the sensor 3.

[0021] The one in the Fig. The cover 10 shown in Figure 4 serves, on the one hand, to close the bottom of the shell 9 and, on the other hand, to support the pedal lever 2. The cover 10 is mounted in the shell 9 so that it can be pivoted over a small angular range.

[0022] Two essentially semicircular second discs 11 are designed as bearing blocks on the long sides of the cover 10. When assembled, they project into the shell 9 and support the pedal lever 2 via the support profiles 5 and the bearing shells 7. A stepped, outwardly open recess 17 is recessed into the semicircular part of the circumference of each of the second discs 11. This recess is concentric to the circular arc-shaped circumference of the second disc 11 and is also circular arc-shaped. At the end of the recess 17, a second cam 18 is formed as a stepped transition from the recess 17 to the circular arc-shaped circumference of the second disc 11. Flanks of the first and second cams 8, 18 are designed such that they are parallel when in contact with one another.

[0023] The outer radius of the second discs 11 corresponds to the associated radius of the bearing shells 7. The radius of the recess 17 corresponds to the associated radius of the bearing shells 7 minus a height of the second cam 18. The cover 10 is coaxially hollowed out in a semi-circular shape between the second discs 11 and thus serves as a bearing for the first discs 6. A radial recess is recessed centrally within the cavity and the cover. The cover 10 is designed at a predetermined location to hold the two coil springs 12. In the assembled state, these are located between the cover 10 and the receptacle 19 of the pedal lever 2. The coil springs 12 effect, on the one hand, a defined counterpressure of the pedal lever 2 against an operating foot and, on the other hand, a return to an initial position.

[0024] Means for mutual locking are arranged on the shell 9 and the cover 10. These means, the shell 9, and the cover 10 are designed such that the cover 10 can be pivoted within the shell 9 about an axis parallel to and offset from the rotational axis of the pedal lever 2 within a small angular range. This pivot axis is located between the rotational axis and the bearing point of the coil springs 12 in the cover 10, so that the bearing point and the second discs 11 are positioned on opposite rotational arms from the pivot axis.

[0025] The coil springs 12 have different diameters and can therefore be inserted into one another. A U-shaped spacer can be arranged between the nested coil springs 12 to prevent them from interlocking. The spacer is made of foam, for example.

[0026] The sensor 3 is surrounded by a sensor housing 13, which has a socket 14 at one end. A rotor 15 associated with the sensor 3 is designed for mounting by locking into the second end region of the pedal lever 2.

[0027] The function of the kick-down power jump is based on the Fig. 5. At normal acceleration ( Fig. 5a), i.e. in a position of the pedal lever 2 before a kick-down position, the pedal lever 2 is guided on the outer circular arc of the discs 11 of the cover 10; the first cam 8 is located in the recess 17. The cover 10 is in a first angular position.

[0028] As soon as the kick-down position ( Fig. 5b) is reached, the adjacent flanks of the first and second cams 8, 18 touch each other and the driver feels a predetermined resistance.

[0029] If the driver wishes to accelerate the vehicle further, e.g., when overtaking, he presses the pedal lever 2 further beyond the kick-down position. Upon exceeding the kick-down position, the first and second cams 8, 18 slide over each other, and the cover 10 jumps around its axis of rotation into a second (shown exaggerated) angular position ( Fig. 5c). Here, the cover 10 is held in place by the force applied to the pedal lever 2, which is now eccentrically applied to the cover 10 via the first cam 8. The force of the coil springs 12 remains fully effective because the cover 10 is fixed by the eccentrically applied force exerted via the pedal lever 2. The pedal lever 2 can be moved up to a stop in the kick-down position.

[0030] When the driver reduces the pressure on the accelerator pedal 2, it returns to the normal position; that is, the first cam 8 slides into the recess 17 and the cover 10 rotates back to the first angular position. List of reference symbols 1 housing 2 pedal levers 3 Sensor 4 Control surface 5 Support profile 6 first disc 7 bearing shell 8 first cam 9 bowl 10 lids 11 second disc 12 coil spring 13 Sensor housing 14 socket 15 Rotor 16 spacers 17 Recess 18 second cam 19 recording

Claims

[1] Accelerator pedal for controlling a drive engine of a motor vehicle, with a housing (1), with a pedal lever (2) rotatably mounted in the housing (1), wherein the housing (1) is formed in two parts from a shell (9) and a cover (10) and the cover (10) is designed as a bearing block for the pedal lever (2), and with a sensor (3) for determining an angular position of the pedal lever (2), characterized by that corresponding cams (8, 19) are arranged on the pedal lever (2) and on the cover (10) to generate a force jump. [2] Accelerator pedal according to claim 1, characterized by that the first cam (8) arranged on the pedal lever (2) is guided in a recess (17) of the cover (10). [3] Accelerator pedal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that an axis of rotation of the pedal lever (2) is parallel and spaced from an axis of rotation of the cover (10).

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