Multifunction pedal for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a multifunction pedal (10) for a vehicle (1), with a pedal lever (12) which is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis (DA) on a holding device (18) and has two support areas (14) for a driver's foot on its upper side, wherein a first support area (14A) is assigned to a deceleration function and is arranged at a first end area of ​​the pedal lever (12), and a second support area (14B) is assigned to an acceleration function and is arranged at a second end area of ​​the pedal lever (12) opposite the first end area, wherein when the first support area (14A) is actuated by the driver's foot, the pedal lever (12) can be pivoted from a neutral position in a first direction of rotation (D1) and the deceleration function can be activated.and wherein, when the second support area (14B) is actuated by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever (12) can be pivoted from the neutral position into a second direction of rotation (D2) opposite to the first direction of rotation (D1) and the acceleration function can be activated.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multifunction pedal for a vehicle.

[0002] In vehicles known from the state of the art, the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are mounted separately from one another, which can make installation more difficult. In addition, sporty drivers can use what is known as “two-foot driving” to press the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal at the same time to hold the vehicle at a standstill and increase the engine speed at the same time. This is intended to accelerate the vehicle faster and bridge the “turbo lag” typical of combustion engines. This is no longer necessary in vehicles with electric drive, as the maximum torque of the electric motor is already available at zero revolutions per minute and the ability to reach top speed quickly is much greater than in vehicles with combustion engines. In addition, multifunction pedals for vehicles are known which combine the function of the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal.Accelerator pedal realized.

[0003] DE 100 48 737 A1 discloses a multifunction pedal for vehicles, which has means for implementing the function of a brake pedal and the function of an accelerator pedal in one multifunction pedal. For this purpose, the multifunction pedal has means for generating a brake pedal signal and an accelerator pedal signal. The two functions of the multifunction pedal and / or the two signals of the multifunction pedal are implemented based on at least two different movements of the multifunction pedal. The at least two different movements of the multifunction pedal are assigned to at least two different components of the multifunction pedal. A first movement of the multifunction pedal is a pivoting movement of a tread plate, and a second movement of the multifunction pedal is a lifting movement of an arm of the multifunction pedal.

[0004] DE 101 48 281 A1 discloses a multifunction pedal for vehicles for implementing the function of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal. The multifunction pedal has a sensor device for sensing a movement associated with the accelerator pedal, which generates an electrical accelerator pedal signal. Furthermore, the multifunction pedal has a sensor device for sensing a movement associated with the brake pedal and generating a brake pedal signal. The function of the brake pedal is essentially realized by a lifting movement of an arm of the multifunction pedal, and the function of the accelerator pedal is essentially realized by a pivoting movement of a tread plate of the multifunction pedal. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] The multifunction pedal for a vehicle with the features of independent patent claim 1 has the advantage that a true "drive-by-wire system" can be implemented, which has no mechanical access to a corresponding braking or drive system. Furthermore, the multifunction pedal combines a deceleration function and an acceleration function in a single, rocker-like unit. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented more cost-effectively than currently known solutions. This avoids the need for more expensive vertical lever arms, which are used, for example, for the classic brake pedal.

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a multifunction pedal for a vehicle, comprising a pedal lever which is mounted on a holding device for rotation about a rotation axis and has two support areas for a driver's foot on an upper side. A first support area is assigned to a deceleration function and is arranged at a first end area of ​​the pedal lever. A second support area is assigned to an acceleration function and is arranged at a second end area of ​​the pedal lever opposite the first end area. When the first support area is actuated by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever can be pivoted from a neutral position in a first direction of rotation, and the deceleration function can be activated.When the second support area is actuated by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever can be pivoted from the neutral position into a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation and the acceleration function can be activated.

[0007] The proposed multifunction pedal can be easily mounted on the vehicle floor and features an installation angle that allows the driver's foot to rest comfortably on the floor during acceleration or deceleration, while the driver's front foot activates the acceleration or deceleration function with the same pedal lever. Eliminating the vertical lever arm of the traditional brake pedal allows for space-saving installation of the multifunction pedal in the vehicle. Furthermore, it can prevent "two-foot driving," which always represents a waste of energy and reduces the vehicle's expected range.

[0008] The measures and further developments listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous improvements to the multifunction pedal for a vehicle specified in independent patent claim 1.

[0009] It is particularly advantageous that the holding device can be connected to a vehicle floor in such a way that a longitudinal extension of the pedal lever is aligned parallel to a transverse direction of the vehicle. In this case, a surface of the pedal lever in the neutral position can have an inclination in the range of 10° to 40° relative to the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the multifunction pedal, at least one return device can comprise at least one return spring and can be designed to return the pedal lever to the neutral position when not actuated. The at least one return spring can be designed as a torsion spring or a coil spring.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the multifunction pedal, a first return spring designed as a helical spring can have a first end connected to an underside of the first end region of the pedal lever, and a second return spring designed as a helical spring can have a first end connected to an underside of the second end region of the pedal lever. The second ends of the return springs designed as helical springs, opposite the first end, can be supported on a mounting base plate or on the vehicle floor. This means that the underside of the pedal lever faces the vehicle floor and the top side of the pedal lever faces away from the vehicle floor.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the multifunction pedal, a pivoting movement of the pedal lever about the rotation axis in the first direction of rotation or in the opposite second direction of rotation can be limited by a stop. Due to the at least one stop, the stroke of the two end regions of the pedal lever from the neutral position toward the vehicle floor can be in the range of 5 mm to 50 mm.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the multifunction pedal, the pedal lever can be connected to a shaft, which can be mounted in two bearings of the holding device for rotation about the rotation axis. This enables a particularly simple and cost-effective implementation of the multifunction pedal.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the multifunction pedal, at least one sensor can be configured to detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever and output information about the pivoting movement of the pedal lever. For example, at least one force sensor or at least one displacement sensor can be used at each end of the pedal lever to detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever in the first direction of rotation or in the second direction of rotation. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one sensor is configured as a rotation angle sensor, which can detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever directly in the region of the rotation axis.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate components or elements that perform the same or similar functions. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a multifunction pedal according to the invention for a vehicle. Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective top view of the multifunction pedal according to the invention for a vehicle from Fig. 1. Embodiments of the invention

[0016] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the illustrated embodiment of a multifunction pedal 10 according to the invention for a vehicle 1 comprises a pedal lever 12, which is mounted on a holding device 18 for rotation about a rotation axis DA and has two support areas 14 for a driver's foot on an upper side. A first support area 14A is assigned to a deceleration function and is Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown on the left. A second support area 14B is assigned to an acceleration function and is arranged at a position opposite the first end area in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown on the right. When the first support area 14A is actuated by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever 12 can be pivoted from a neutral position in a first direction of rotation D1, and the deceleration function can be activated. When the second support area 14B is actuated by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever 12 can be pivoted from the neutral position in a second direction of rotation D2 opposite to the first direction of rotation D1, and the acceleration function can be activated. In the illustrated embodiment, the first direction of rotation D1 is counterclockwise, and the second direction of rotation D2 is clockwise.

[0017] As is particularly evident from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the holding device 18 is connected to a vehicle floor 3 such that a longitudinal extent of the pedal lever 12 is aligned parallel to a vehicle transverse direction y. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding device 18 is designed as a stand 18A, which is connected to a mounting plate 5. The mounting plate 5 is in turn connected to the vehicle floor 3. When the first support area 14A is actuated, the first end region of the pedal lever 12 moves from the neutral position along the first direction of rotation D1 towards the vehicle floor 3 or mounting plate 5, and the second end region of the pedal lever 12 moves from the neutral position along the first direction of rotation D1 away from the vehicle floor 3 or away from the mounting plate 5.When the second support area 14B is actuated, the second end area of ​​the pedal lever 12 moves from the neutral position along the second direction of rotation D2 in the direction of the vehicle floor 3 or mounting plate 5 and the first end area of ​​the pedal lever 12 moves from the neutral position along the second direction of rotation D2 away from the vehicle floor 3 or away from the mounting plate 5. As can be seen from . Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 2, the two support areas 14A, 14B of the pedal lever 12 are structured. In the illustrated embodiment, the structure of the first support area 14A differs from the structure of the second support area.

[0018] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the pedal lever 12 is connected to a shaft 16 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is mounted in the center of the pedal lever 12 for rotation about the axis of rotation DA in two bearings 20 of the holding device 18. In addition, at least one sensor (not shown in detail) is designed to detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever 12 and to output information about the pivoting movement of the pedal lever 12. Preferably, a rotation angle sensor is arranged in the region of one of the two bearings 20 in order to detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever. Alternatively, a force sensor or displacement sensor can be arranged at each of the two end regions of the pedal lever 12 in order to detect the pivoting movement of the first end region of the pedal lever 12 in the first direction of rotation D1 or the pivoting movement of the second end region of the pedal lever 12 in the second direction of rotation D2.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, a surface of the pedal lever 12 in the neutral position runs parallel to the vehicle floor 3 or to the mounting plate 5. To facilitate actuation, the multifunction pedal 10 can be mounted in alternative embodiments not shown such that the surface of the pedal lever 12 in the neutral position has an inclination in the range of 10° to 40° to the vehicle longitudinal direction x.

[0020] As from Fig. 2, a return device 22 in the illustrated embodiment comprises two return springs 22A, 22B, which are designed to return the pedal lever 12 to the neutral position when not actuated. The return springs 22A are designed here as helical springs. A first return spring 22A, designed as a helical spring, has a first end connected to an underside of the first end region of the pedal lever 12. A second return spring 22B, designed as a helical spring, has a first end connected to an underside of the second end region of the pedal lever 12. The second ends of the return springs 22A, 22B, designed as helical springs, opposite the first end, are supported on the mounting base plate. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the second ends of the return springs 22A, 22B, designed as helical springs, are supported on the vehicle floor 3.In a further alternative embodiment not shown, the two return springs 22A, 22B can each be designed as torsion springs.

[0021] As is particularly evident from Fig. 1, the pivoting movement of the pedal lever 12 about the rotation axis DA in the first direction of rotation D1 or in the opposite second direction of rotation D2 is limited in each case by a stop 24. A first stop 24A, which is arranged within the first return spring 22A designed as a helical spring, limits a stroke of the first end region of the pedal lever 12 from the neutral position towards the vehicle floor 3 in the range from 5 mm to 50 mm. A second stop 24B, which is arranged within the second return spring 22B designed as a helical spring, limits a stroke of the second end region of the pedal lever 12 from the neutral position towards the vehicle floor 3 in the range from 5 mm to 50 mm. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 100 48 737 A1

[0003] DE 101 48 281 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Multifunctional pedal (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising a pedal lever (12) which is mounted on a holding device (18) for rotation about an axis of rotation (DA) and has two support areas (14) for a driver's foot on an upper side, wherein a first support area (14A) is assigned to a deceleration function and is arranged at a first end area of ​​the pedal lever (12), and a second support area (14B) is assigned to an acceleration function and is arranged at a second end area of ​​the pedal lever (12) opposite the first end area, wherein upon actuation of the first support area (14A) by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever (12) can be pivoted from a neutral position in a first direction of rotation (D1) and the deceleration function can be activated,and wherein, upon actuation of the second support area (14B) by the vehicle foot, the pedal lever (12) can be pivoted from the neutral position into a second direction of rotation (D2) opposite to the first direction of rotation (D1) and the acceleration function can be activated. [2] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding device (18) is connected to a vehicle floor (3) in such a way that a longitudinal extension of the pedal lever (12) is aligned parallel to a vehicle transverse direction (y). [3] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to claim 2, characterized by that a surface of the pedal lever (12) in the neutral position has an inclination in the range of 10° to 40° to the vehicle longitudinal direction (x). [4] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat at least one return device (22) comprises at least one return spring (22A, 22B) and is designed to return the pedal lever (12) to the neutral position when not actuated. [5] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to claim 4, characterized by that the at least one return spring (22A) is designed as a torsion spring or as a helical spring. [6] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that a first return spring (22A) designed as a helical spring is connected at a first end to an underside of the first end region of the pedal lever (12), and a second return spring (22B) designed as a helical spring is connected at a first end to an underside of the second end region of the pedal lever (12). [7] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat a pivoting movement of the pedal lever (12) about the axis of rotation (DA) in the first direction of rotation (D1) or in the opposite second direction of rotation (D2) is limited by a stop (24). [8] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to claim 7, characterized by that a stroke of the two end areas of the pedal lever (12) from the neutral position towards the vehicle floor (3) is in the range of 5mm to 50mm. [9] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the pedal lever (12) is connected to a shaft (16) which is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation (DA) in two bearings (20) of the holding device (18). [10] Multifunctional pedal (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that at least one sensor is designed to detect the pivoting movement of the pedal lever (12) and to output information about the pivoting movement of the pedal lever (12).

Images