Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly

Abstract

Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100), comprising: a shell (120) comprising a plurality of walls (24-32, 122) defining at least one first and second interior cavity (34, 36), wherein one or more of the plurality of walls (24-32, 122) define a first and second opening (35, 123) communicating with the first and second cavity (34, 36), respectively; a first spring (70) which is inserted vertically through the first opening (35) in one or more of the majority of walls (24-32, 122) into the first cavity (34); a piston (50) which is inserted vertically through the first opening (35) in one or more of the plurality of walls (24-32, 122) into the first cavity (34) in such a proportion that it abuts one of the ends of the first spring (70) and the piston (50) defines an external recess (62), wherein the spring biases a proximal end (52) of the piston (50) outwards from the shell (120); a rod (80) which is inserted vertically through a third opening (33) defined in another of the walls (24-32, 122) of the shell (120) into the shell (120) and into the recess (62) defined in a first position of the piston (50) in the piston (50); and a second spring (72), which is inserted longitudinally through the second opening (123) in one or more of the walls (24-32, 122) of the casing (120) into the second cavity (36) of the casing (120) in a ratio in which it abuts the rod (80) and preloads the rod (80) in the recess (62), wherein the piston (50) in the first cavity (34) can be moved from the first position, in which the rod (80) is located in the recess (62), to a second position in which the first and second springs (70, 72) are compressed and the rod (80) is located outside the recess (62), wherein the casing (120) includes a clamp (180) located in the second cavity (36) of the casing (120), wherein the second spring (72) is clamped in the clamp (180), wherein the clamp (180) includes a pair of clamp arms (180a, 180b) projecting outwards from the inner surface of opposite side walls (28, 30) of the majority of walls of the casing (120).

Description

Cross-reference to related and pending applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date and disclosure of the provisional patent application with serial number 61 / 921,958, filed on December 30, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein, as well as all references contained therein. Field of invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to a resistor assembly and in particular to a resistor and kickdown assembly for a vehicle accelerator pedal. Description of the state of the art

[0003] Typical vehicle accelerator pedals used today are electronic rather than mechanical and incorporate a touch sensor or a contactless sensor instead of a mechanical Bowden cable to detect the accelerator pedal's position. Vehicle accelerator pedals are known, for example, from JP 2005-126022A, US 8376098B2, and US 2011 / 0100153A1.

[0004] Replacing the Bowden cable with an electronic sensor initially resulted in poor tactile feedback for the operator due to the absence of the Bowden cable, which previously provided the desired resistance and kickdown feel at the pedal and in the operator's foot. In an effort to replicate the desired tactile resistance and kickdown feel of the Bowden cable, electronic pedals were equipped with various types of resistance and kickdown assemblies, including, for example, the resistance and kickdown assembly disclosed in US 6,418,813 B1, issued to Kaijala and granted to CTS Corporation.

[0005] The present invention relates to a new embodiment of such a resistance or kickdown assembly. Brief description of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly comprising a shell including a plurality of walls defining at least a first and second internal cavity, wherein one or more of the plurality of walls define first and second openings communicating with the first and second cavities respectively, a first spring inserted upright through the first opening in one or more of the plurality of walls into the first cavity, a piston inserted upright through the first opening in one or more of the plurality of walls into the first cavity in a ratio such that it abuts one of the ends of the first spring, and wherein the piston defines an external recess, the spring biasing a proximal end of the piston outwards from the shell, a rod inserted upright through a third opening defined in another of the walls of the shell,a first spring is inserted into the casing and into the recess defined in the piston in a first position of the piston, and a second spring, inserted longitudinally through the second opening in one or more of the walls of the casing into the second cavity of the casing, in a ratio in which it abuts the rod and preloads the rod in the recess, whereby the piston in the first cavity can be moved from the first position, in which the rod is in the recess, to a second position, in which the first and second springs are compressed and the rod is outside the recess.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first and second openings are located in an upper wall of the casing.

[0008] In one embodiment, a clamp is located in the second cavity of the casing, with the second spring being clamped in the clamp.

[0009] In one embodiment, the clamp includes a pair of clamp arms that project outwards from the inner surface of the respective opposite side walls of the shell.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first and second openings are defined in an upper and lower wall of the shell, respectively.

[0011] In one embodiment, the piston includes a flat front surface and the recess defined in the piston is an elongated recess defined in the flat front surface of the piston.

[0012] In one embodiment, the shell is defined by a plurality of walls and at least one of the walls defines an opening having a length greater than the length of the second spring, wherein the second spring is inserted into the second cavity of the shell through the opening defined in the at least one wall of the shell.

[0013] In one embodiment, the opening is defined in a lower wall of the shell.

[0014] In one embodiment, the opening is defined in an upper wall of the shell.

[0015] In one embodiment, the casing includes a clamp located in the second cavity of the casing, with the second spring being clamped in the clamp.

[0016] Other advantages and features of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment of the invention, the drawings and the accompanying claims. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of the description and in which identical reference numbers are used to identify identical parts throughout the drawings, show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module according to the present invention; Fig. 2 an exploded view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a partially perspective, partially vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a partially perspective, partially vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 3, with the piston depressed; Fig. 5 a perspective view of another embodiment of a vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module according to the present invention; Fig. 6 an exploded view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a partially perspective, partially vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 5; Fig. 8 another vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 a perspective view of the piston of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module Fig. 1 and Fig. 5. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0018] Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly or module 10 according to the present invention, adapted to provide an opposing resistance or kickdown force to the foot of the operator of a vehicle. The vehicle pedal can be an accelerator pedal used in a motor vehicle, such as the vehicle pedal shown in US patent application US 2014 / 0090512A1, wherein the kickdown assembly 10 of the present invention can be mounted and operated therein in the same manner as the kickdown assembly 98 disclosed in US patent application US 2014 / 0090512A1, the contents of which are included herein by reference.

[0019] The assembly or module 10 comprises a housing or shell 20. In one embodiment, the shell 20 is made of machined steel. In another embodiment, the shell 20 is made of molded plastic. The shell or housing 20 includes an upper, generally horizontal wall or surface 22; an opposing lower, generally horizontal partial wall or surface 24 spaced apart and generally parallel to the upper wall 22; a lower, vertically rounded or curved wall or surface 26 extending between the rear edges of the upper and lower walls 22 and 24; a pair of vertical, opposing, and spaced-apart side walls or surfaces 28 and 30 extending between the upper and lower walls 20 and 22 and forward from the opposing vertical edges of the rear wall 26; and a front partial wall or surface 31 extending downward perpendicularly from the front edge of the upper wall or surface 22.

[0020] The shell or casing 20 includes an outer vertical wall 32 ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), which is spaced at a ratio and generally positioned parallel to the rear wall 26 and extends between and generally perpendicular to the upper and lower walls 22 and 24. The walls 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 and 32 together define a vertical and generally cylindrically shaped first borehole or cavity 34 ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) inside the casing or housing 20, which extends between and in a ratio generally perpendicular to the upper and lower walls 22 and 24, respectively. The upper wall 22 additionally defines an opening or bore 35 that opens into and extends into the vertical bore 34. The opening 35 is dimensioned such that the coil spring 70 can be inserted through it vertically. The cavity 34 has a length and width that are at least equal to or greater than the length and width of the coil spring 70. The cavity 34 is located within the housing 20 and is oriented in a ratio adjacent to and parallel with the rear wall 26 of the housing 20, extending over the entire length of the rear wall 26 between the lower wall 24 and the opening 35 defined in the upper wall 22.

[0021] The pair of side walls 28 and 30, the upper wall 22 and the front partial wall or surface 31 together define a second generally horizontal internal borehole or cavity 36 ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), which is defined in the interior of the shell or casing 20 and extends between the inner wall 32 and the front partial wall 31 in a ratio generally parallel to the upper wall 22 and perpendicular to the first vertical borehole or cavity 34.

[0022] The pair of side walls 28 and 30 each include anterior elongated edges extending at an angle between the front edge of the lower partial wall 24 and the lower edge of the lower partial wall 31, together defining an opening or aperture 38 in the front of the shell or housing 20. This opening or aperture opens and extends into, and is in communication with, the second bore or cavity 36 inside the shell or housing 20. The opening 38 is dimensioned such that the coil spring 72 can be inserted longitudinally through it. The cavity 36 and the opening 38 both have a length and width that are at least equal to or greater than the length and width of the coil spring 72. The cavity 36 is arranged and oriented within the housing 20 in a ratio adjacent to and parallel with the upper wall 22 of the housing 20 and extends between the front wall 31 and the cavity 34.

[0023] As in Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the inner vertical wall 32 includes an inner, generally cylindrical surface or spring grid 40, which defines an opening or through-hole 40a in the inner wall 32 that communicates with the first and second inner cavities 34 and 36. In other words, the through-hole 40a is located between the two cavities 34 and 36 and defines an opening between them. The inner cylindrical surface 40 includes and defines an inner, generally horizontal projection or platform 40b.

[0024] The inner surface of the front partial wall 31 includes an inclined cam surface 31a, which defines a generally horizontal projection or platform, or a spring grid or ridge 31b, on which the end of the coil spring 72 can rest. The surface 31a slopes inwards from the inner surface of the front wall 31 into the interior of the housing 20.

[0025] A generally conical sleeve 42 extends from the inner surface of the lower partial wall 24 generally upwards into the interior of the first borehole 34. The sleeve 42 defines an inner through-bore 42a that terminates in respective openings in the lower partial wall 24 and the upper part of the sleeve 42.

[0026] Each of the side walls 28 and 30 defines an opening or through-hole 33 (in Fig. 1 and Fig. (2 shows only the through-hole 33 in the side wall 30). The through-holes 33 are positioned in the side walls 28 and 30 in an opposing and collinear relationship and in communication with and open into the opening or through-hole 40a defined in the inner vertical wall 31 of the shell or housing 20. The through-holes 33 are dimensioned such that the pin or rod 80 can be inserted vertically through them.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 9 The pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 further comprises an elongated die-cast piston 50, which in one embodiment may be made of an unhardened metal and includes a generally D-shaped upper flat surface or proximal end 52 and a lower or distal end defining a lower internal recess or cavity or surround 54. The piston 50 also includes an elongated and vertically extending flat front surface or face 56, a curved rear surface or face 57, and a pair of opposing curved and vertically extending side surfaces 58 and 60 terminating in the front surface 56. The flat front surface or face 56 further defines a horizontally extending slot or recess 62 that extends across the entire width of the front surface 56 and terminates in the opposing side surfaces 58 and 60 of the piston 50.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 2 The slot or recess 62 includes a flat inner bottom surface 62a and a pair of sloping or angled side surfaces 62b and 62c, which diverge from opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom surface 62a and terminate in the outer front surface 56 of the piston 50.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 9 is a plurality of elongated vertical protrusions or grooves 59 formed in and extending into the curved rear surface 57 of the piston 50. The elongated protrusions 59 extend across the width of the rear surface 57 in a spaced and parallel relationship to each other and furthermore in a relationship generally perpendicular to the horizontal upper surface 52 of the piston 50.

[0030] The piston 50 is arranged and mounted in the housing 20 and is in particular arranged and mounted in the bore 34 of the housing 20 in a collinear relationship to the bore 34, wherein the curved rear 57 of the piston 50 abuts the inner surface of the outer vertical curved rear wall 26 of the housing 20, the front flat surface 52 of the piston 50 abuts the inner surface of the inner vertical wall 32 of the housing 20, the upper flat surface or side or proximal end 56 of the piston 50 extends out of the bore 34 and the housing 20 and the distal end of the piston 50 is located in the cavity 34 of the housing 20.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the piston 50 extends in the shell or housing 20 in a ratio and direction generally perpendicular to the upper surface 22 of the housing 20.

[0032] Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the cavity 34, the spring 70, the piston 50 and the inner housing wall 32 are all aligned and positioned in a generally perpendicular relationship to the cavity 36 and the spring 72.

[0033] The pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 further comprises a pair of elongated preload elements in the form of corresponding elongated helical coil springs 70 and 72 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

[0034] As in Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the coil spring 70 is arranged and mounted in the first bore 34 of the housing 20 in a vertical orientation and in a specific ratio, with a first end 70a of the spring 70 bearing against the inner surface of the lower wall 24 of the housing 20 in a ratio that surrounds the sleeve 42, and the second opposite end 70b of the spring 70 extending into and located in the recess or cavity 54 defined in the distal end of the piston 50. Thus, the spring 70 is clamped in the bore 34 between the piston 50 and the lower wall 24 of the housing 20 and is arranged in a ratio and orientation collinear with the piston 50.

[0035] The coil spring 72 is arranged and mounted in the first bore 36 of the housing 20 in a horizontal orientation and in a specific ratio, wherein a first end 72a of the spring 72 abuts the spring notch 31b on the inner surface of the front wall 31 of the housing 20, and the opposite second end 72b of the spring 72 abuts the spring notch 40 on the inner vertical wall 32 of the housing 20 and is positioned in the through-bore 40a defined between the two cavities 34 and 36. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the coil springs 70 and 72 are arranged and aligned perpendicularly to each other, and the coil spring 72 is arranged and aligned perpendicular to the piston 50.

[0036] The pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 further comprises an elongated and generally cylindrical metal pin or rod 80, which is also arranged and mounted inside the housing 20, and more precisely a rod 80 which extends horizontally in the slot 62 of the piston 50 and is positioned in the rest, hold, stop, or inactive position and state of the piston 50 ( Fig. 3) In the rest position or state of rest of the piston 50, the end 72b of the coil spring 72 extends through the opening 40a, which is defined in the inner wall 32 of the housing 20, and abuts the rod 80 in the piston recess 62 and pre-tensions it.

[0037] In other words, the rod 80 in the embodiment is made of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is clamped between the end 72b of the coil spring 72 and the front surface 56 of the piston 50. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the rod 80 extends in a direction in relation to the direction of movement of the piston 50 and the coil springs 70 and 72.

[0038] The various elements or parts of the pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 described above are arranged and mounted inside the housing 20 during the production and assembly of the pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10, as described in more detail below.

[0039] First, the spring 70 is inserted upright or end first through the opening 35 defined in the upper wall 22 of the housing 20 into the cavity 34, i.e., the end 70a of the spring 70 is inserted vertically through the opening 35 defined in the upper wall 22 of the housing 20 and extends into the interior of the borehole 34. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 ratio shown, in which the first end 70a of the spring 70 abuts the inner surface of the lower wall 24 of the housing 20 and surrounds the sleeve 42, which extends upwards from the lower wall 24 of the housing 20.

[0040] Then the distal end of the piston 50 is inserted upright or with the rim first vertically through the opening 35 defined in the upper wall 22 of the housing 20 and downwards and linearly into the interior of the borehole 34 in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 ratio shown introduced, wherein the second end 70b of the spring 70 is located inside the recess or rim 54 defined in the distal end of the piston 50, and the slot or recess 62 defined in the front surface 56 of the piston 50 is located opposite the opening 40a defined in the inner wall 32 of the housing 20, and in a ratio collinear with the openings 33 defined in the respective side walls 28 and 30 of the housing 20.

[0041] Then one of the opposite ends of the pin or rod 80 is inserted horizontally and upright or end first into and through one of the openings 33 defined in the respective housing side walls 28 and 30, and the rod 80 is inserted horizontally through the interior of the housing 20 and into the ratio as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shown, wherein the body of the pin 80 sits horizontally in the slot 62 of the piston 50, and the opposite ends of the pin 80 are located in the respective openings 33 defined in the respective side walls 28 and 30 of the housing 20.

[0042] To complete the assembly of the pedal resistance / kickdown assembly 10, the spring 72 is then inserted either longitudinally or vertically into the interior of the housing 20 through and over the opening 38 defined in the base of the housing 20, and extends through the interior of the housing 20 and is held in place therein. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is positioned in the ratio shown, wherein the spring 72 is positioned horizontally in the bore 36 of the housing 20, wherein the first end 72a of the spring 72 abuts and adjoins the spring notch 31b on the inner surface of the front partial wall 31 of the housing 20, and the opposite end 72b of the spring 72 abuts the spring notch 40 on the inner housing wall 32 and extends through the opening 40a in the inner housing wall 32 into adjacent contact with the outer surface of the rod 80.

[0043] The piston 50 is adapted to move linearly up and down in the bore 34 of the housing 20 in response to the application of an external compression force against the flat proximal end face or surface 52 of the piston 50, including, for example, in response to the application of a compression force thereon by the lever arm 68d of the pedal arm 22 of the pedal 10, published in U.S. Patent Application No. US 2014 / 0090512 A1. The spring 70 is inherently biased to push or move the piston 50 out of the housing 20, and the spring 72 is inherently biased to push the pin or rod 80 into the slot or recess 62 of the piston 50 and hold it there when no external compression force is applied to the proximal end face 52 of the piston 50.The use of a straight recess 62 in the piston 50, extending across the entire width of the flat front surface 56 of the piston 50, provides a larger line contact, load and load distribution area between the corresponding outer surfaces of the piston and the rod and eliminates the need to harden the piston recess 62.

[0044] When a sufficiently large external compression force is applied to the proximal end face 52 of the piston 50 to overcome the natural preload force of the springs 70 and 72, the spring 70 is compressed, causing the piston 50 to be pushed in (i.e., causing the vertical linear movement of the piston 50 inwards or downwards into the cavity 34 of the housing 20 in the orientation of the figures), which in turn moves the pin 80 out of the slot 62 and compresses the spring 72.

[0045] In other words, a compressive force greater than the combination of the predetermined forces exerted by the springs 70 and 72 against the piston 50 and the friction between the outer surfaces of the piston 50 and the inner surfaces of the respective walls of the housing 20 must be exerted on the proximal end 52 of the piston 50 to push the pin or rod 80 out of the piston slot 62. This is referred to as the initial detent force or initial detent resistance that must be exerted to initiate the inward movement of the piston 50 into the housing 20.

[0046] Furthermore, if force is applied to the proximal end 52 of the piston 50, the spring 70 is compressed further. Once the initial detent force or resistance has been overcome, less force is required to move the piston 50 into the housing 20.

[0047] The use of the sleeve 42 with a through-opening 42a eliminates the risk of resistance to the compression of the piston 50 due to air pressure build-up in the cavity 34. This is achieved by allowing air in the cavity 34 to escape through the opening 42a defined in the sleeve 42 to the outside of the assembly 10 when the piston 50 is compressed. The ribs 59 are designed to collect wear debris and retain grease, enabling smooth movement of the piston 50 between the two housing walls 26 and 32.

[0048] Releasing the compression force exerted on the piston 70 causes the spring 70 to decompress and the piston 50 to move back into its detent position, and causes the pin 80 to be pushed back into the slot 62 in the piston 50 by means of the force exerted on the pin 80 by the spring 72.

[0049] With reference to US patent application no. US 2014 / 0090512 A1, it is understood that the pedal resistance mechanism 10 generates an opposing force which is transmitted via the pedal arm 22 to the foot of the user or operator of the vehicle. The opposing force is perceived by the user or operator as increased resistance when pressing down on the pedal. This increased resistance can indicate to the vehicle operator that the vehicle transmission is near a shift point at which the transmission shifts into a lower gear (also referred to as the kickdown point or position of the vehicle pedal).

[0050] Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100, which is identical in structure and function to the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10, except as otherwise described below, and according to this, the elements of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100 which are identical to the elements of the vehicle pedal resistance assembly 10 have been designated with the same numerals, and the preceding description of the structure, orientation, position and function of such elements in relation to the vehicle pedal resistance assembly 10 is included herein with respect to the vehicle pedal resistance assembly 100.

[0051] The vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100 differs from the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 in that the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100 includes a housing or casing 120 which includes an upper wall 122 that defines an upper opening 123. The opening 123 has a length and width that are greater than the length and width of the coil spring 72.

[0052] The housing or casing 120 of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100 also differs from the housing or casing 20 of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 10 in that the housing or casing 120 includes a spiral-receiving clamp or retainer 180 inside the housing 120, which consists of a pair of elongated spaced-apart flexible and diametrically opposed clamp or retainer arms or prongs 180a and 180b, which extend outwards and upwards through the cavity 36 of the housing 120 from an inner surface of the opposing housing side walls 30 and 28 respectively, and terminate in distal clamp fingers 180a and 180b, which extend outwards through the opening 123 defined in the upper wall 122 of the housing 120.

[0053] The 120 case also includes an internal elongated horizontal platform 190 ( Fig. 7 and Fig. 8), which is located in the cavity 36 of the housing 120 between and spaced apart from the pair of clamping arms 180a and 180b. The platform 190 is arranged and aligned in a ratio generally perpendicular to the inner wall 32 and in a ratio and parallel to the upper wall 122 of the housing 120. In other words, and as in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, platform 190 is located between the two clamp arms 180a and 180b.

[0054] The spring 72 is arranged in the housing 120 in a proportion that abuts the curved outer surface of the platform 120, which is shaped to follow the outline of the spring 72. The clamping arms 180a and 180b are also shaped to follow the outline of the spring 72 and are located on opposite sides of the spring 72. They are adapted to exert a compressive force against the length of the spring 72 in order to hold the spring 72 firmly and securely in the clamp 180 and the housing 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping arms 180a and 180b extend over the entire length of the opposite sides of the spring 72 and abut it.

[0055] The housing 120 also includes a front wall 31 with an inner surface that defines a cam surface 31b which slopes from the opening 123 into the cavity 36 and converges inwards.

[0056] The piston 50 from Fig. The 7 also differs from the piston 50 in that Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, that the head of the piston 50 in Fig. 7 also defines a hollow interior 50a which communicates with the interior of the enclosing 54 of the piston 50.

[0057] According to embodiment 100 of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly, the coil spring 72 is adapted to be generally inserted horizontally in the longitudinal direction through the opening 123, which is defined in the upper wall 122 of the housing, into the housing 120 and into the clamp 180, and in particular into a ratio in which the spring 72 is located in the cavity 36 of the housing 120, is located on top of the platform 190 in the cavity 36 of the housing 120 and is clamped and secured between the clamp arms 180a and 180b as described above.

[0058] The end 72a of the coil spring 72 is adapted to abut and slide down the cam surface 31b as the coil spring 72 is inserted through the opening 123, and is adapted to position the coil spring 72 in the cavity 36 between the two clamp arms 180a and 180b. In the illustrated embodiments, the clamp arms 180a and 180b are adapted to push or pull apart when the spring 72 is inserted between them, and to push or pull back together and engage compressively with the opposite sides of the spring 72 when the spring 72 is fully extended and pressed downwards into the cavity 36 and the clamp 180.

[0059] The vehicle resistance and kickdown assembly 100 and its elements otherwise function in the same way as the elements of the vehicle pedal resistance assembly 10, and therefore the previous description of the function of the elements of and of the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100 is included herein by reference to the vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly 100.

Claims

[1] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100), comprising: a shell (120) comprising a plurality of walls (24-32, 122) defining at least one first and second interior cavity (34, 36), wherein one or more of the plurality of walls (24-32, 122) define a first and second opening (35, 123) communicating with the first and second cavity (34, 36), respectively; a first spring (70) which is inserted vertically through the first opening (35) in one or more of the majority of walls (24-32, 122) into the first cavity (34); a piston (50) which is inserted vertically through the first opening (35) in one or more of the plurality of walls (24-32, 122) into the first cavity (34) in such a proportion that it abuts one of the ends of the first spring (70) and the piston (50) defines an external recess (62), wherein the spring biases a proximal end (52) of the piston (50) outwards from the shell (120); a rod (80) which is inserted vertically through a third opening (33) defined in another of the walls (24-32, 122) of the shell (120) into the shell (120) and into the recess (62) defined in a first position of the piston (50) in the piston (50); and a second spring (72), which is inserted longitudinally through the second opening (123) in one or more of the walls (24-32, 122) of the casing (120) into the second cavity (36) of the casing (120) in a ratio in which it abuts the rod (80) and preloads the rod (80) in the recess (62), wherein the piston (50) in the first cavity (34) can be moved from the first position, in which the rod (80) is located in the recess (62), to a second position in which the first and second springs (70, 72) are compressed and the rod (80) is located outside the recess (62), wherein the casing (120) includes a clamp (180) located in the second cavity (36) of the casing (120), wherein the second spring (72) is clamped in the clamp (180), wherein the clamp (180) includes a pair of clamp arms (180a, 180b) projecting outwards from the inner surface of opposite side walls (28, 30) of the majority of walls of the casing (120). [2] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second openings (35, 123) are located in an upper wall (122) of the casing (120). [3] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the clamp (180) includes a pair of clamp arms (180a, 180b) which extend outwards from the inner surface of the respective opposite side walls (28, 30) of the casing (120). [4] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second openings (35, 123) are defined in an upper and lower wall (122, 24) of the casing (120), respectively. [5] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the piston (50) includes a flat front surface (56) and the recess (62) defined in the piston (50) is an elongated recess defined in the flat front surface (56) of the piston (50). [6] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the casing (120) includes a lower wall (24) and an elongated sleeve (42) extends from the inner surface of the lower wall (24) outwards into the first cavity (34) in the casing (120), a first end of the spring (70) surrounds the sleeve (42) and the sleeve (42) also defines a through-hole (42a) which terminates in respective openings in the top of the sleeve (42) and the lower wall (24) respectively, to vent air from the first cavity (34). [7] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100), comprising: a shell (120) that defines a first inner cavity (34) and a second inner cavity (36); a piston (50) comprising a distal end located in the shell (120) and a proximal end (52) extending from the shell (120), wherein the piston (50) is inserted vertically into the first cavity (34) and includes a flat front surface (56) defining an external recess (62); a first spring (70) which is inserted longitudinally into the first cavity (34) in the casing (120) and which biases the piston (50) outwards from the casing (120); at least one rod (80) which is inserted vertically into the casing (120) and is located in a first position of the piston (50) in the recess (62) of the piston (50); and a second spring (72) which is inserted longitudinally into the second cavity (36) of the casing (120) and preloads the piston (50) in the recess (62), wherein the piston (50) in the first cavity (34) can be moved from the first position, in which the rod (80) is located in the recess (62), to a second position, in which the rod (80) is located outside the recess (62), wherein the casing (120) includes a clamp (180) located in the second cavity (36) of the casing (120), wherein the second spring (72) is clamped in the clamp (180), wherein the clamp (180) includes a pair of clamp arms (180a, 180b) projecting outwards from the inner surface of opposite side walls (28, 30) of the majority of walls of the casing (120). [8] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 7, wherein the external recess (62) defined in the piston (50) is an elongated recess defined in a flat front surface (56) of the piston (50) and extending over its width, and the external recess (62) is defined by a flat bottom wall (62a) and a pair of opposing side walls (62b, 62c) extending apart from the flat bottom wall (62a). [9] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 7, wherein the shell (120) is defined by a plurality of walls (24-32, 122) and at least one of the walls (24-32, 122) defines an opening (38, 123) having a length that corresponds at least to the length of the second spring (72), wherein the second spring (72) is inserted into the second cavity (36) of the shell (120) through the opening (38, 123) defined in the at least one wall of the shell (120). [10] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 9, wherein the opening (38) is defined in a lower wall (24, 31) of the casing (120). [11] Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly (100) according to claim 9, wherein the opening (123) is defined in an upper wall (122) of the casing (120).

Images