Pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal unit (7) for controlling a vehicle function, comprising a modularly constructed pedal head (10) which comprises a pad carrier (14) and a replaceable pedal pad (12) detachably connected to the pad carrier (14) for absorbing an actuating force of a driver's foot, a housing cover (17) which is movable with a small stroke along a vertical direction (z) of the pedal unit (7), and a fastening arrangement (20), wherein the movable housing cover (17) has a hat-shaped connecting cap (18) on its end face facing the pedal head (10), and the pad carrier (14) has a receiving opening (16) on its end face facing the movable housing cover (17), the contour of which receiving opening being adapted to the hat-shaped connecting cap (18), wherein the fastening arrangement (20) comprises at least one undercut (19) introduced into the hat-shaped connecting cap (18) and at least one holding element (22) arranged on the pad carrier (14). has,which are designed to form a detachable locking connection between the lining carrier (14) and the movable housing cover (7) in the assembled state, which prevents or at least complicates a movement of the lining carrier (14) in the disassembly direction.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function. The present invention also relates to a method for assembling such a pedal unit and a method for disassembling a pedal head from such a pedal unit.

[0002] Drive-by-wire systems with pedal arrangements are known from the prior art, transmitting driver commands electrically or electronically. Such drive-by-wire systems include, for example, a pedal arrangement with an electronic accelerator pedal for drive control or acceleration, and a brake pedal for a brake-by-wire system. Another known drive-by-wire system is a steer-by-wire system for steering control. Drive-by-wire refers to driving or controlling a vehicle without mechanical force transmission from the vehicle's operating elements, such as the accelerator pedal, brake pedal, or steering wheel, to the corresponding actuators of the vehicle, such as the throttle valve, brakes, and / or steering system.This means that in such drive-by-wire systems, the corresponding pedal unit is decoupled from the power flow, and the control of the aforementioned functions is instead achieved via electrical wiring and servomotors or electromechanical actuators. Typically, sensor devices in drive-by-wire systems detect driver input using force-based sensors to determine the desired intensity of braking or acceleration and adjust it accordingly via the drivetrain and braking system. The elimination of the mechanical connection allows for new pedal designs, as a large pedal travel is no longer necessary to achieve vehicle deceleration or acceleration.

[0003] From DE 103 12 547 A1, a device for accelerating or decelerating a motor vehicle is known, comprising two actuating elements. A first actuating element serves to accelerate and a second actuating element serves to decelerate the motor vehicle. The actuating elements are actuated by applying hand or foot force. The two actuating elements operate with virtually no displacement, and the speed of the motor vehicle is kept constant after the hand or foot force is released from the first or second actuating element, depending on the force last applied, until the first or second actuating element is actuated again.

[0004] From the subsequently published DE 10 2023 204 205 A1 of the applicant, a pedal arrangement with two pedal units, a pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function, as well as a method for assembling such a pedal unit and a method for disassembling a pedal head from such a pedal unit are known. The pedal unit comprises a modular pedal head, which includes a pad carrier and a replaceable pedal pad for receiving an actuating force from a driver's foot and is connected to a housing cover movable with a small stroke along a vertical direction of the pedal unit. The pedal pad is detachably connected to the pad carrier. A fastening arrangement is provided for detachably and positively locking and / or force-locking connecting the pad carrier to the movable housing cover. The pedal arrangement comprises a first pedal unit designed as a brake pedal and a second pedal unit designed as an accelerator pedal.

[0005] From the subsequently published DE 10 2024 201 376 A1 of the applicant, a sensor module for an actuating device of a motor vehicle and such an actuating device for a motor vehicle are known. The sensor module comprises a plate-shaped sensor element that can be assigned to or is associated with an actuating element of the actuating device and a sensor housing, which has at least a first cylindrical housing part in which the sensor element is mounted for longitudinal displacement. Furthermore, the sensor module comprises at least one force sensor element associated with the sensor element for detecting a force exerted on the sensor element by means of the actuating element and / or at least one displacement sensor element associated with the sensor element for detecting a displacement of the sensor element. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function, with the features of independent claim 1, has the advantage that a modular pedal head can be mounted on a movable housing cover without tools using a click mechanism. Such tool-free mounting is particularly useful when, for example, a carpet is to be placed over the movable housing cover so that only the tip of the housing cover protrudes. Due to the modular design of the pedal head and its detachable mounting on the movable housing cover, the pedal pad can be easily replaced after removing the pedal head without damaging the movable housing cover or a sensor housing containing a sensor assembly. Since replacing the pedal pad requires force, for example, to spread rubber lips in order to detach the pedal pad from the pad carrier, the pedal unit offers a convenient and safer solution.To fix the pedal assembly to the pad carrier, it is advantageous to first detach the pedal head from the movable housing cover. Since pedal units for controlling vehicle functions in drive-by-wire systems include sensor assemblies that should not be subjected to undefined leverage forces, such as those from large screwdrivers (unusual misuse), the ability to detach the pad carrier from the movable housing cover of the pedal unit is highly beneficial. This allows all work on the pedal pad or the pad carrier to be carried out in the disassembled state without exerting force on the movable housing cover or on the sensor housing with the sensor assembly.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide a pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function, comprising a modular pedal head which includes a pad carrier and a replaceable pedal pad detachably connected to the pad carrier for receiving an actuating force from a driver's foot, a housing cover movable with a small stroke along a vertical direction of the pedal unit, and a mounting arrangement. The movable housing cover has a hat-shaped connecting cap on its end face facing the pedal head, and the pad carrier has a receiving opening on its end face facing the movable housing cover, the contour of which is adapted to the hat-shaped connecting cap.The fastening arrangement has at least one undercut provided on the hat-shaped connecting cap and at least one retaining element arranged on the pad carrier, which are designed to form a releasable snap connection between the pad carrier and the movable housing cover in the assembled state, which prevents or at least makes it more difficult to move the pad carrier in the disassembly direction.

[0008] Embodiments of the pedal unit according to the invention can ensure that the pedal head is securely seated on the movable housing when actuation force is applied. Accordingly, in embodiments of the pedal unit, a counter-contour to the hat-shaped connecting cap can be provided in the pad carrier to achieve a positive-locking and / or force-locking close coupling between the pedal head or pad carrier and the movable housing cover. This allows actuation forces to be transmitted directly from the driver's foot via the pedal pad and the pad carrier to the movable housing cover. At the same time, as described above, it can be advantageous to mount the pedal head only after the carpet has been laid in the vehicle. After installation, the pedal head must not detach itself from the movable housing cover. Therefore, the fastening arrangement is designed in such a way that movement of the pad carrier in the disassembly direction is prevented or at least made more difficult.

[0009] Furthermore, a method for mounting such a pedal unit is proposed. In this method, the pedal unit is mounted in the vehicle without the pedal head, and then the pedal head, which comprises a pedal pad detachably attached to a pad carrier, is attached without tools to a movable housing cover of the pedal unit in such a way that the pad carrier of the pedal head is connected to the movable housing cover of the pedal unit via a detachable snap connection.

[0010] Embodiments of the invention enable rapid mounting of the pedal head onto the movable housing cover, with short cycle times and without tools. Tool-free pedal head mounting can be achieved, for example, by placing the pedal head onto the movable housing cover and applying an axial force from above to the pedal pad. The pedal head is then pushed onto the movable housing cover until the locking mechanism engages. Once the locking position is reached, the pedal head, or rather the pad carrier, is fixed to the movable housing cover, thus preventing or at least hindering movement of the pad carrier in the disassembly direction.

[0011] Furthermore, a method for disassembling a pedal head from such a pedal unit is proposed. In this method, a snap-fit ​​connection between a pad carrier of the pedal head and a movable housing cover of the pedal unit is released, and then the pedal head is lifted off the movable housing cover.

[0012] The force required to release the locking mechanism depends on the design of the fastening system and can be achieved without tools or with a simple auxiliary tool. For this purpose, access points for the insertion of the auxiliary tool can be provided at suitable locations in the pad carrier. The auxiliary tool can be designed so that, when pressed into the pad carrier, it releases the locking mechanism, allowing the pedal head to be easily removed. After removing the auxiliary tool, the pedal head can be reinstalled. This disassembly method is particularly useful, for example, when the pedal pad needs to be replaced due to wear.

[0013] The movable housing cover can preferably be connected to a sensor housing in which at least one sensor array can be arranged. This sensor array can be configured to detect and evaluate the stroke of the movable housing cover. The controllable vehicle function can be, for example, a braking or acceleration function. In pedal units with a short actuation stroke, the sensor housing is generally fixed. The pedal head with the replaceable pedal pad has a relatively fixed position and, in conjunction with the movable housing cover, exhibits only a small stroke of a few millimeters along the vertical direction of the pedal unit. Furthermore, the pedal pad can have a textured surface to provide better grip for the driver's foot.One advantage of pedal units with a short stroke is the ability to position the unit, except for the movable housing cover and the pedal head, within the vehicle's interior trim or under a carpet, so that only the pedal head is visible. The carpet can then be positioned on a backing plate or a manufacturer-supplied support. This means that the carpet cutout is limited to the size of the movable cover. If the carpet also had to accommodate the larger contour of the pedal head, the cutout would have to be larger, which would detract from the overall appearance. With retrofittable pedal heads, the cutouts in the carpet are reduced to the minimum necessary size and are almost completely covered by the subsequently installed pedal heads.The carpet cutout can be made even smaller if the carpet rests on top of a fixed outer housing of a modified pedal unit, in which the movable housing cover is movably mounted between the fixed sensor housing and the fixed outer housing, leaving only the cutout for mounting the pedal head or the pad carrier or the size of the hat-shaped connecting cap of the movable housing cover.

[0014] The at least one sensor arrangement can comprise a movable transducer and sensor electronics. Preferably, the at least one sensor arrangement can be configured to detect the small stroke of the movable housing cover without contact. The term "sensor electronics" can be understood as an electrical circuit or component with at least one sensor element that can detect and process or evaluate magnetic, inductive, and / or capacitive signals from the transducer without contact. A Hall sensor based on a magnetic principle can preferably be used for the contactless detection of the small stroke. Alternatively, a force sensor coupled to the movable housing cover via a spring element can also be used to detect the stroke.Here, the changing spring force can be converted into voltage changes, for example, in a sensor element designed as a strain gauge. These voltage changes can then be amplified and evaluated. Of course, other suitable measurement methods known from the prior art, such as optical, inductive, or capacitive methods, can also be used to detect and evaluate the small stroke of the movable housing cover.

[0015] The measures and further developments listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous improvements to the pedal unit specified in independent claim 1 for controlling a vehicle function.

[0016] A particularly advantageous feature is that at least one plastically deformable rib can be arranged on an inner wall of the receiving opening in the base body of the pad carrier, which can compensate for radial tolerances with respect to the hat-shaped connecting cap of the movable housing cover. Preferably, several ribs can be arranged distributed around the inner circumference of the receiving opening, which are plastically deformed during assembly in a plastic pad carrier and thus, with appropriate design, can ensure tight contact between the pedal head or pad carrier and the movable housing cover, without the risk of a "wobbly" pedal head. In addition to the snap-fit ​​connection and radial tolerance compensation, the ribs can therefore also achieve a force-fit connection between the pad carrier and the movable housing cover.This allows forces to be transferred directly from the driver's foot via the pedal pad, the pad carrier to the movable housing cover.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal unit, a recess for the at least one retaining element can be provided in a base body of the pad carrier. This recess can have at least one through-opening to the receiving opening and can form a support rib for the at least one retaining element. This allows the at least one retaining element to be easily connected to the pad carrier.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal unit, the at least one undercut can be incorporated into the hat-shaped connecting cap as a section-by-section indentation or as a circumferential indentation. The indentation can preferably have a semicircular contour, which can be used for a positive-locking or force-locking fixation of the pedal pad carrier. Depending on the material and the manufacturing process of the movable housing cover, the indentation can also have other suitable contours instead of a semicircular one, for example, angular ones.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal unit, the at least one retaining element can be designed as a spring-loaded retaining clip with at least one locking element. This locking element can be designed as a locking hook or a round hook. The design of the locking element advantageously influences the removal force, which depends in particular on the contour of the end region of the locking element. With a locking element designed as a locking hook, relatively high removal forces or an auxiliary tool may be required, whereas with a locking element designed as a round hook, removal is easier and can be carried out without an auxiliary tool.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the pedal unit, the spring-loaded retaining clip can be U-shaped with two legs connected by a connecting web, each with a locking element at its free end. The connecting web of the U-shaped spring-loaded retaining clip can rest on the support web in such a way that the two legs of the U-shaped spring-loaded retaining clip each pass through a through-hole, and the locking elements can engage in a corresponding undercut. The retaining clip can be attached to the support web, for example, by hot stamping plastic through central holes in the connecting web of the retaining clip. Alternatively, it can be fixed, for example, at the edge of the retaining clip by hot stamping plastic; screws, rivets, or adhesive bonds can also be used for fixing.Preferably, the connection is attached in such a way that, during assembly, force is applied to the pedal covering, which also presses on the retaining clip, thus providing additional mechanical stability.

[0021] In this embodiment, the legs of the U-shaped, spring-loaded retaining clip can be spread apart by the applied axial force from above during tool-free pedal assembly. Upon reaching the stop of the pad carrier on the hat-shaped connecting cap of the movable housing cover, the legs of the retaining clip and the corresponding locking elements spring into the recesses of the hat-shaped connecting cap of the movable housing cover, thus establishing the locking connection between the pedal head or the pad carrier and the recesses of the hat-shaped connecting cap of the housing.

[0022] To facilitate the spreading of the legs of the U-shaped, spring-elastic retaining clip, the legs may have an outward inclination away from the connecting rib. Additionally or alternatively, the hat-shaped connecting cap may have a chamfer above the indentation. The required assembly force may depend on the thickness and width of the retaining clip, its preload, and its contour. The required disassembly force may, in addition to the contour of the end region of the at least one locking element, also depend on the thickness, width, and preload of the retaining clip.

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote components or elements that perform the same or analogous functions. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a section of a footwell of a vehicle with a pedal arrangement, which includes two embodiments of a pedal unit according to the invention for controlling a vehicle function. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective sectional view of a section of the pedal unit. Fig. 1 with a first embodiment of a fastening arrangement for fastening the pedal head to the movable housing cover. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of components of the fastening arrangement. Fig. 2. Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the pedal head. Fig. 1 to 3 from the bottom. Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment of the fastening arrangement for the pedal unit according to the invention. Fig. 1 to 4. Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the fastening arrangement for a pedal unit according to the invention. Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective sectional view of a section of the pedal unit. Fig. 1 to 5 during the disassembly of the pedal head. Embodiments of the invention

[0024] As from Fig. As can be seen from Figures 1 to 7, the illustrated embodiments of a pedal unit 7 according to the invention for controlling a vehicle function each comprise a modular pedal head 10, which includes a pad carrier 14 and a replaceable pedal pad 12 for receiving an actuating force of a driver's foot, a housing cover 17 movable with a small stroke along a vertical direction z of the pedal unit 7, and a fastening arrangement 20. The movable housing cover 17 has a hat-shaped connecting cap 18 on its end face facing the pedal head 10, and the pad carrier 14 has a receiving opening 16 on its end face facing the movable housing cover 17, the contour of which is adapted to the hat-shaped connecting cap 18.The fastening arrangement 20 has at least one undercut 19 provided on the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 and at least one retaining element 22 arranged on the lining carrier 14, which are designed to form a releasable snap connection between the lining carrier 14 and the movable housing cover 7 in the assembled state, which prevents or at least makes it more difficult to move the lining carrier 14 in the disassembly direction.

[0025] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, a pedal assembly 1 with two embodiments of the pedal unit 7 according to the invention for controlling a vehicle function is arranged on a body 3 of the corresponding vehicle in the depicted section of the driver's side footwell of a vehicle. Here, the two pedal units 7 are each arranged and attached to a partition 3A between the vehicle interior and an engine compartment. The pedal unit 7 on the left in the illustration is designed as a brake pedal 7A for performing a braking function, and the pedal unit 7 on the right in the illustration is designed as an accelerator pedal 7B for performing an acceleration function. In both embodiments of the pedal unit 7, the short stroke of the movable housing 17 is in the range of a few millimeters. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the two pedal units 7 are arranged and attached to a vehicle floor 3B. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pedal unit 7 is designed as a brake pedal 7A for performing a braking function, and the pedal unit 7 on the right in the illustration is designed as an accelerator pedal 7B for performing an acceleration function. Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, the partition wall 3A and the vehicle floor 3B are covered with a carpet 5.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiments of the pedal unit 7, the pedal head 10 has a modular design and comprises a pad carrier 14 and a replaceable pedal pad 12. In the illustrated embodiments, the pedal pad 12 of the pedal head 10 has a curved, deep-drawn shell 12.1 made of stainless steel, which is combined with a curved rubber component 12.2 such that a strip-shaped support structure 12.3 is formed on the upper side of the deep-drawn shell 12.1, projecting from the shell. This support structure 12.3 prevents or at least makes it more difficult for the driver's foot to slip. The pedal pad 12 is firmly mounted on the pad carrier 14. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 3, the rubber component 12.2 has a circumferential receiving groove 12.4 into which a circumferential projecting edge 15.5 of a hat-shaped base body 15 of the pad carrier 14 is inserted such that a wall of the receiving groove 12.4, designed as a flexible lip 12.5, engages the edge 15.5 of the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14. In the illustrated embodiments, the hat-shaped base body 15 is designed as a plastic injection-molded part.

[0027] The following section uses the example of pedal unit 7 designed as brake pedal 7A, with reference to Fig. 2 to 6 different embodiments of the fastening arrangement 20 are described, which can also be used for the pedal unit 7 designed as accelerator pedal 7B.

[0028] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figures 2 to 6, the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 has two essentially cylindrical areas with different cross-sectional areas and diameters. The upper cylindrical area of ​​the hat-shaped connecting cap 18, facing the pedal head 10, has a smaller cross-section and a smaller diameter than the lower area of ​​the hat-shaped connecting cap 18. Two undercuts 19, designed as partial indentations 19A, are provided in the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 on opposite sides of the upper cylindrical area. In the illustrated embodiments, the indentations 19A preferably have a semicircular contour.

[0029] In alternative embodiments of the pedal unit 7 not shown, the at least one undercut 19 is provided as a circumferential indentation in the hat-shaped connecting cap 18. Instead of the semicircular contour, the indentation 19A can also have other suitable contours, for example, angular ones.

[0030] Analogous to the different cross-sections and diameters of the hat-shaped connecting cap 18, the receiving opening 16 in the base body 15 of the deck support 14 is also stepped with two different cross-sectional areas and diameters. Here, an upper region of the receiving opening 16 with the smaller cross-section and smaller diameter receives the upper region of the hat-shaped connecting cap 18, and a lower region of the receiving opening 16 with the larger cross-section and larger diameter receives the lower region of the hat-shaped connecting cap 18. As shown from Fig. As can be seen further in Figures 2 to 6, a recess 15.1 for at least one retaining element 22 is provided in the base body 15 of the covering carrier 14 on the end face facing the pedal covering 12, which has at least one through opening 15.2 to the receiving opening 16 and forms a support web 15.3 for the at least one retaining element 22.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiments, at least one plastically deformable rib 16.1 is arranged on an inner wall of the receiving opening 16 in the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14, which provides radial tolerance compensation with respect to the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 of the movable housing cover 17. As can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 4, the receiving opening 16 on the inner wall of the lower cylindrical area has several ribs 16.1 evenly distributed around the inner circumference. These ribs 16.1 are plastically deformed during assembly and, in the illustrated embodiments, in addition to radial tolerance compensation, ensure close contact and a force-fit connection between the pedal head 10 or the pad carrier 14 and the movable housing cover 17 or the hat-shaped connecting cap 18.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiments of the pedal unit 7, the at least one retaining element 22 is designed as a spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B with at least one locking element 26. As shown in Fig. As can be seen further in Figures 2 to 6, the spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B is U-shaped with two legs 24 connected to each other by a connecting web 23, at the free ends of which a locking element 26 is arranged. The connecting web 23 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B rests on the support web 15.3 such that the two legs 24 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B each extend through a through-opening 15.2 and the locking elements 26 are engaged in a corresponding undercut 19. The fixation of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B on the support web 15.3 in the recess 15.1 in the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14 is effected in the illustrated embodiment by forming or hot stamping the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14 made of plastic such that the resulting plastic fixings 15.1. Reach through corresponding unspecified openings in the connecting web 23 and secure the connecting web 23 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B to the support web 15.3 of the base body 15 of the decking carrier 14. Alternatively, the connecting web 23 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B can also be fixed to the support web 23 by screws, rivets, or adhesive.

[0033] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figures 2 to 5, the locking elements 26 in the illustrated first embodiment of the fastening arrangement 20A are designed as locking hooks 26A. In the illustrated locked state, the open ends of the locking hooks 26 engage behind an upper edge of the undercuts 19, which are designed as indentations 19A. As can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 5, the two legs 24 in the depicted resting state each have an inclination greater than 90 degrees pointing outwards from the connecting web 23.

[0034] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 6, the locking elements 26 in the illustrated second embodiment of the fastening arrangement 20B are designed as round hooks 26B. In the illustrated locking state, the rounded ends of the round hooks 26 engage behind an upper edge of the undercuts 19, which are designed as indentations 19A. As can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 5, the two legs 24 in the depicted resting state each have an inclination of 90 degrees to the connecting web 23.

[0035] In a method according to the invention for mounting such a pedal unit 7 as described above, the pedal unit 7 is mounted in the vehicle without the pedal head 10. The pedal head 10, which comprises a pedal pad 12 detachably attached to a pad carrier 14, is then attached without tools to a movable housing cover 17 of the pedal unit 7 such that the pad carrier 14 of the pedal head 10 is connected to the movable housing cover 17 of the pedal unit 7 via a detachable snap-fit ​​connection. This means that during the tool-free assembly, an axial force is applied from above to the pedal head 10, which spreads the legs 24 of the U-shaped, spring-elastic retaining clips 22A, 22B.Upon reaching the stop of the pad carrier 14 on the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 of the movable housing cover 17, the legs 24 of the retaining clip 22A, 22B and the corresponding detent elements 26 spring into the recesses 19A of the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 of the movable housing cover 17, thus establishing the detent connection between the pedal head 10 or the pad carrier 14 and the recesses 19A of the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 of the movable housing 17. The transition to the detent position is usually accompanied by a click, which serves as an indicator of successful engagement of the pedal head 10 or the pad carrier 14.

[0036] As especially from Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 5, the hat-shaped connecting cap 18 in the illustrated embodiments of the fastening arrangement 20 has a draft angle 18.1 above the indentation 19A, which facilitates the expansion of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clips 22A, 22B. The assembly force to be applied depends on the thickness and width of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clips 22A, 22B, their preload, and their contour.

[0037] In a method according to the invention for disassembling a pedal head 10 from such a pedal unit 7 as described above, a snap-fit ​​connection between a pad carrier 14 of the pedal head 10 and a movable housing cover 17 of the pedal unit 7 is released. Subsequently, the pedal head 10 is lifted off the movable housing cover 17.

[0038] The required disassembly force depends primarily on the contour of the end region of the at least one locking element 26. Additionally, the disassembly force also depends on the thickness, width, and preload of the U-shaped, spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, 22B. Depending on the required actuation force, the locking connection between the pad carrier 14 of the pedal head 10 and the movable housing cover 17 of the pedal unit 7 can be released without tools or with a simple auxiliary tool 30.

[0039] At the in Fig. In the first embodiment of the fastening arrangement 20A shown in Figures 2 to 5, in which the open ends of the locking hooks 26A engage behind the upper edge of the undercuts 19 designed as indentations 19A, relatively high disassembly forces or an auxiliary tool 30 are required to release the locking connection. In the embodiment shown in Fig. In the second embodiment of the fastening arrangement 20B shown in Figure 6, in which the rounded ends of the round hooks 26B engage behind the upper edge of the undercuts 19 designed as indentations 19A, lower disassembly forces are required, so that the snap connection can be released without tools. In the second embodiment, disassembly is further facilitated by the thinner sheet metal thickness of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22B.

[0040] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 7, the pedal head 10 is disassembled in the illustrated first embodiment of the fastening arrangement 20A using the simple auxiliary tool 30. The auxiliary tool 30 for disassembling the pedal head 10 comprises a handle 32 on which two parallel guide pins 34 are held. At their free ends, the guide pins 34 each have an insertion chamfer 36, which interacts with the locking elements 26 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A, designed as locking hooks 26A, to release the detent connection between the pad carrier 14 and the movable housing cover 17. As shown in Figure 7, the pedal head 10 is disassembled using a simple auxiliary tool 30. Fig. As can be seen further in Figures 5 to 7, openings 28, designed as through holes 28A, are provided at suitable locations in the pad carrier 14 for the insertion of the auxiliary tool 30 for disassembling the pedal head 10, such that they lead to the locking elements 28 and to the undercuts 19 designed as recesses 19A. The dimensions of the openings 28 and the auxiliary tool 30 are designed such that the auxiliary tool 30 can bear against the walls of the openings 28 when the locking connection is released, in order to transfer the forces of the spring-loaded U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A to the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14 when it spreads open. Preferably, the openings 28 for the accessibility of the auxiliary tool 30 to the locking elements 28 of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip 22A are provided on two opposite sides of the base body 15 of the lining carrier.This allows the easier access option to the U-shaped spring-loaded retaining clip 22A to be selected for disassembling the pedal head 10 when the pedal head is installed in the vehicle. The auxiliary tool 30 is designed so that it can be used in the... Fig.The auxiliary tool 30, as shown in Figure 7, engages the locking hooks 26A of the U-shaped, spring-loaded retaining clip 22A in the openings 28 in the base body 15 of the pad carrier 14 and increasingly presses the legs 24 of the U-shaped, spring-loaded retaining clip 22A open until the locking connection is released and the pedal head 10 can be easily pulled off. In the final position of the auxiliary tool 30, the two locking hooks 25A no longer engage behind the upper edge of the undercuts 19, which are designed as indentations 19A, so that the pedal head 10 with the pad carrier 14 can be removed from the movable housing cover 17 in the upward direction z of the pedal unit 5. After removing the auxiliary tool 30, the pedal head 10 can be reassembled. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 103 12 547 A1

[0003] DE 10 2023 204 205 A1

[0004] DE 10 2024 201 376 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Pedal unit (7) for controlling a vehicle function, comprising a modular pedal head (10) which includes a pad carrier (14) and a replaceable pedal pad (12) detachably connected to the pad carrier (14) for receiving an actuating force of a driver's foot, a housing cover (17) movable with a small stroke along a vertical direction (z) of the pedal unit (7) and a fastening arrangement (20), wherein the movable housing cover (17) has a hat-shaped connecting cap (18) on its end face facing the pedal head (10) and the pad carrier (14) has a receiving opening (16) on its end face facing the movable housing cover (17), the contour of which is adapted to the hat-shaped connecting cap (18), wherein the fastening arrangement (20) has at least one undercut (19) provided in the hat-shaped connecting cap (18) and at least one retaining element (22) arranged on the pad carrier (14), which are designed are,In the assembled state, a releasable locking connection is formed between the pad carrier (14) and the movable housing cover (7), which prevents or at least hinders movement of the pad carrier (14) in the disassembly direction. [2] Pedal unit (7) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one plastically deformable rib (16.1) is arranged on an inner wall of the receiving opening (16) in the base body (15) of the lining carrier (14), which provides radial tolerance compensation with respect to the hat-shaped connecting cap (18) of the movable housing cover (17). [3] Pedal unit (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that a recess (15.1) for the at least one retaining element (22) is provided in a base body (15) of the deck support (14), which has at least one through opening (15.2) to the receiving opening (16) and forms a support web (15.3) for the at least one retaining element (22). [4] Pedal unit (7) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the at least one undercut (19) is provided as a section-wise indentation (22A) or as a circumferential indentation in the hat-shaped connecting cap (18). [5] Pedal unit (7) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the at least one retaining element (22) is designed as a spring-elastic retaining clip (22A, 22B) with at least one locking element (26). [6] Pedal unit (7) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the at least one locking element (26) is designed as a locking hook (26A) or as a round hook (26B). [7] Pedal unit (7) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the spring-elastic retaining clip (22A, 22B) is U-shaped with two legs (24) connected to each other via a connecting web (23), at the free ends of which a locking element (26) is arranged. [8] Pedal unit (7) according to claim 3 and 7, characterized by, that the connecting web (23) of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip (22A, 22B) rests on the support web (15.3) in such a way that the two legs (24) of the U-shaped spring-elastic retaining clip (22A, 22B) each extend through a through-opening (15.2) and the locking elements (26) are locked in a corresponding undercut (19). [9] Method for assembling a pedal unit (7) which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pedal unit (7) is mounted in the vehicle without a pedal head (10) and then the pedal head (10), which comprises a pedal pad (12) detachably attached to a pad carrier (14), is placed tool-free onto a movable housing cover (17) of the pedal unit (7) such that the pad carrier (14) of the pedal head (10) is connected to the movable housing cover (17) of the pedal unit (7) via a detachable snap connection. [10] Method for disassembling a pedal head (10) from a pedal unit (7) which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a snap connection between a pad carrier (14) of the pedal head (10) and a movable housing cover (17) of the pedal unit (7) is released and then the pedal head (10) is lifted off the movable housing cover (17).

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