Pedal, in particular accelerator pedal, brake pedal or clutch pedal, for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal, in particular accelerator pedal, brake pedal or clutch pedal, for a motor vehicle • with a base (1), • with a rotary position sensor (3) and • with a pivotable actuating element (4) which is coupled to a rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) in order to be able to rotate the rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) relative to a stator (32) of the rotary position sensor (3), • wherein the actuating element (4) of the accelerator pedal is mounted on the base (1) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the actuating axis of rotation, • wherein the rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) is mounted on the base (1) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the sensor axis of rotation, • where the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation are different from each other, • wherein the actuating element (4) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a first arm (6), • wherein the rotor (31) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a second arm (7), • wherein the first arm (6) and the second arm (7) are each connected to one another via a pivot bearing with a coupling (9) and • wherein the base (1), the first arm (6), the second arm (7) and the coupling (9) form a four-bar chain which converts a rotation of the actuating element (4) into a rotary movement of the rotor (31).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pedal, in particular accelerator pedal, brake pedal or clutch pedal, for a motor vehicle • with a base, • with a rotary position sensor and • with a pivotable actuating element which is coupled to a rotor of the rotary position sensor in order to be able to rotate the rotor of the rotary position sensor relative to a stator of the rotary position sensor, • wherein the actuating element of the accelerator pedal is mounted on the base so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the actuating axis of rotation, • wherein the rotor of the rotary position sensor is mounted on the base so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the sensor axis of rotation, • where the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation are different from each other, • wherein the actuating element is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a first arm, • the rotor being connected to a second arm in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0002] A pedal of this type is known from document DE 10 2022 101 846 A1. The first arm and the second arm are rotatably connected to each other via a bearing, so that rotation of the actuating element is converted into rotation of the rotor.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of proposing a further pedal which offers the possibility of a greater resolution of the actuating movement of the foot into an electrical signal and also makes it possible to absorb forces which act on the actuating element parallel to the direction of extension of the actuating rotation axis and thus laterally on the actuating element, without these forces being transmitted to the rotor of the sensor, which could lead to a false signal because the position of the rotor relative to the stator changes without rotation of the rotor of the sensor relative to the stator of the sensor about the sensor rotation axis.

[0004] These tasks are initially solved by • the first arm and the second arm are each connected to a coupling via a pivot bearing and • the base, the first arm, the second arm and the coupling form a four-bar linkage which converts rotation of the actuating element into rotation of the rotor.

[0005] Four-bar chains are also known as four-bar linkages or four-link kinematic chains. The coupling of the first and second arms via a coupler, thus forming a four-bar linkage, makes it possible to determine the transmission ratio between the actuating element and the rotor, which are non-rotatably connected to the first and second arms, by selecting the lengths of the first arm, the second arm, and the coupler, as well as the distance between the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation. The distance or lengths can be selected such that a rotational movement of the actuating element, and thus of the first arm, through a first angle is translated into a rotational movement of the second arm, and thus of the rotor, through a second angle that is greater than the first angle. The angle covered by the actuating element is thus translated into a larger angle for the rotor.This allows a larger area of the sensor to be used to convert the angle traveled by the actuator into an electrical signal. The resolution of the angle into an electrical signal is thereby increased. At the same time, the bearings between the first arm and the coupling, and between the coupling and the second arm, offer the possibility of eliminating forces acting on the rotor. At least one of the bearings can allow for a clearance, which prevents forces acting on the actuator from the side from being transmitted to the rotor.

[0006] A geometry of the four-bar linkage that is favorable for resolving the actuation angle into an electrical signal can be achieved if the coupling is shorter than the distance between the actuation axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation.

[0007] A geometry of the four-bar chain that is favorable for resolving the actuation angle into an electrical signal can also be achieved if the first arm is longer than the second arm.

[0008] A geometry of the four-bar linkage that is favorable for resolving the actuation angle into an electrical signal can also be achieved if the first arm and the second arm are each longer than the coupling or the distance between the actuation axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation.

[0009] Preferably, the transmission ratio between the rotation of the actuating element and the rotational movement of the rotor is less than 1. In particular, it can be between 0.75 and 0.9.

[0010] The transmission of lateral forces via the bearings on the coupling can be reduced by at least one of the two bearings between the first arm and the coupling or between the coupling and the second arm having an axial play which allows a displacement of the coupling towards the first arm along the axis of rotation of the bearing between the first arm and the coupling or a displacement of the second arm towards the coupling along the axis of rotation of the bearing between the coupling and the second arm. The play can be at least half the thickness of the first arm in the area of the bearing between the first arm and the coupling or the thickness of the coupling in the area of the bearing between the coupling and the second arm. The bearing can be formed by a pin on the one hand and a hole on the other.The pin can have a locking lug at its free end, which prevents the free end of the pin from being easily pulled out of the hole once inserted into the hole. The pin can then be moved along the length of the pin between the locking lug and a non-free end of the pin in the direction of the bearing's rotation axis in the hole to prevent lateral forces acting on the actuator from being transmitted to the sensor.

[0011] An embodiment of a pedal according to the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows Fig. 1 a perspective view of the pedal, Fig. 2 a side view of the pedal, Fig. 3 a representation of a section through the pedal from the direction of view of Fig. 1 chosen perspective, Fig. 4 a representation of the section through the pedal from the Fig. 3 in side view, Fig. 5 a view of the pedal from the front, but with the cover removed and Fig. 6 an enlarged section of Fig. 5.

[0012] The pedal shown in the figures has a base 1. The base 1, which has fastening elements 11 for attachment to a floor or wall or the like in a vehicle, and a cover 2 form a housing 1, 2 in which a sensor 3 of the pedal is arranged. The pedal has an actuating element 4 with a footplate 41 and a pedal arm 42. This actuating element 4 is mounted on the base 1 for rotation about an actuating axis. A rotational movement of the actuating element 4 is transmitted to a rotor 31 of the sensor 3, which converts the angle of movement into an electrical signal that can be picked up from the outside via contacts of a device plug or socket 5. For this purpose, the contacts are electrically connected to contacts of an output of the sensor. The rotor 31 is mounted for rotation about an actuating axis.

[0013] To transmit the movement of the actuating element 4 to the sensor 3, a four-bar linkage is formed in the pedal. A first linkage of the four-bar linkage is formed by a bearing, via which the actuating element 4 is mounted on the base 1 for rotation about the actuating axis of rotation. A second linkage of the four-bar linkage is formed by a bearing, via which the rotor 31 of the sensor 3 is mounted for rotation about the sensor axis of rotation. The rotor 31 is mounted on a stator 32 of the sensor, which is attached to the base 1. The base 1 forms the so-called frame or the so-called web of the four-bar linkage. A first arm 6 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating element 4, and a second arm 7 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor 31. The first and second arms 6, 7 form arms of the four-bar linkage.

[0014] A third joint of the four-bar linkage is provided on the first arm 6, and a fourth joint of the four-bar linkage is provided on the second arm 7. A coupling 9 is rotatably mounted on the first arm 6 and the second arm 7 via these joints, forming the coupling 9 of the four-bar linkage. A movement of the actuating element 4 is transmitted to the rotor 31 of the sensor 3 via this four-bar linkage. The movement of the rotor 31 induces a current in the stator 32, since the sensor in this example is an inductive sensor. However, the sensor could also be based on a different measuring principle.

[0015] The distance between the first joint and the second joint, i.e. the actuating axis of rotation from the sensor axis of rotation, which forms the length of the web or frame that is relevant for the movement of the four-bar chain, is longer than the coupler 9. At the same time, the first arm 6 is longer than the second arm 7. Furthermore, the first and second arms 6, 7 are each longer than the relevant length of the web or frame or the coupler 9. This results in a transmission ratio between the rotary movement of the actuating element 4 and the rotary movement of the rotor 31 that is less than 1. The lengths can be selected such that a rotary movement of the actuating element 4 by 23.29° is converted into a rotary movement of the rotor 31 of 28.3°. The movement of the actuating element 4 is therefore converted into a greater movement of the rotor 31.In comparison to a pedal in which the movement of the actuating element is converted one-to-one into a movement of the rotor, with the pedal according to the invention, when using the same sensor 3, a greater resolution of the movement into a sensor signal is possible without the need for a sensor with a higher resolution.

[0016] The third and fourth joints or pivot bearings, via which the arms 6, 7 and the coupling 9 are connected to one another, are formed by pins 91, 71 and, as counterparts to the pins, by holes 61, 92. The pins 91, 71 are provided on the coupling 9 and on the second arm 7, respectively. The holes 61, 92, on the other hand, are provided on the first arm 6 and the coupling 9. The pin 91 of the coupling 9 engages in the hole 61 of the first arm, and the pin 71 of the second arm 7 engages in the hole 92 of the coupling 9. The pin 91 of the coupling 9 has axial play relative to the first arm 6, so that the coupling 9 and the first arm 6 can move relative to one another in the direction of the axis of rotation of the third joint.This makes it possible for the first arm 6 to move along the axis of rotation of the third joint, for example due to a movement of the first arm 6 caused by a lateral force on the actuating element 4, not to be converted into movement of the coupling 9, since the area of the first arm 6 having the hole 61 slides along the pin 91 of the coupling 9. List of reference symbols 1 base 11 Fastening element 2 hood 3 Sensor 31 Rotor 32 Stator 4 Actuating element 41 Base plate 42 Pedal arm 5 socket 6 first arm 61 Hole of the first arm for the third joint 7 second arm 71 Pin of the second arm for the fourth joint 9 paddock 91 Pin of the coupling for the third joint 92 Hole of the coupling for the fourth joint 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 10 2022 101 846 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Pedal, in particular accelerator pedal, brake pedal or clutch pedal, for a motor vehicle • with a base (1), • with a rotary position sensor (3) and • with a pivotable actuating element (4) which is coupled to a rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) in order to be able to rotate the rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) relative to a stator (32) of the rotary position sensor (3), • wherein the actuating element (4) of the accelerator pedal is mounted on the base (1) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the actuating axis of rotation, • wherein the rotor (31) of the rotary position sensor (3) is mounted on the base (1) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, hereinafter referred to as the sensor axis of rotation, • where the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation are different from each other, • wherein the actuating element (4) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a first arm (6), • wherein the rotor (31) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a second arm (7), characterized by , that • the first arm (6) and the second arm (7) are each connected to a coupling (9) via a pivot bearing and • the base (1), the first arm (6), the second arm (7) and the coupling (9) form a four-bar chain which converts a rotation of the actuating element (4) into a rotary movement of the rotor (31). [2] Pedal according to claim 1, characterized by that the coupling (9) is shorter than the distance between the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation. [3] Pedal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the first arm (6) is longer than the second arm (7). [4] Pedal according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the first arm (6) and the second arm (7) are each longer than the coupling (9) or the distance between the actuating axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation. [5] Pedal according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the transmission ratio between the rotation of the actuating element (4) and the rotational movement of the rotor (31) is less than 1, in particular between 0.75 and 0.

9. [6] Pedal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one of the two bearings between the first arm (6) and the coupling (9) or between the coupling (9) and the second arm (7) has an axial play which enables a displacement of the coupling (9) towards the first arm (6) along the axis of rotation of the bearing between the first arm (6) and the coupling (9) or a displacement of the second arm (7) towards the coupling (9) along the axis of rotation of the bearing between the coupling (9) and the second arm (7).

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