Pedal device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a pedal device for a vehicle that suppresses a change in a tread angle in only one direction when a pedal is stroked, and can obtain a tread angle suitable for a pedal operation according to a magnitude of a stroke.SOLUTION: A pedal device 10 for a vehicle comprises: a pedal 11; and a link mechanism S that movably supports the pedal 11 around instantaneous rotation center axes C1, C2 determined by a link arrangement of a first link 12, a second link 13, and a third link 14 when a stepping-down operation is performed on a tread 11A. Then, in the pedal device 10 for the vehicle, if a magnitude of a stroke of the pedal 11 during the stepping-down operation is less than a predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation center axis C1 is determined to be below the tread in a vertical direction, and if the magnitude of the stroke is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation center axis C2 is determined to be above the tread in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pedal device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional vehicle pedal device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. The conventional vehicle pedal device includes a pedal, a link mechanism that supports the pedal movably in a direction perpendicular to a first rotation axis, a motor that generates a reaction torque as a reaction force against an operating force, and a speed reduction mechanism that amplifies the reaction torque. This suppresses an increase in the size of the link in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-095541 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a driver operates the pedal, it is desirable that the tread surface on which the driver steps is nearly perpendicular to the driver's operation direction. In other words, when the driver strokes the pedal with a small stroke, for example, to operate the pedal delicately, the driver tends to operate the pedal with his heel on the floor. Therefore, in this case, in order to obtain good operability, it is desirable that the tread angle that the tread surface makes with the horizontal plane becomes smaller in accordance with the pedal stroke compared to before the pedal operation started. On the other hand, when the driver strokes the pedal with a large stroke, for example, to operate the pedal quickly, the driver tends to operate the pedal with his heel off the floor. Therefore, in this case, in order to obtain good operability, it is desirable that the tread angle becomes larger in accordance with the pedal stroke compared to when the stroke is small.

[0005] However, in a conventional vehicle pedal device mounted on a floor, when the pedal is stroked, the tread angle is small from the beginning to the end of the stroke, i.e., the tread angle changes in only one direction, and the tread angle does not increase when the stroke becomes large. Therefore, the conventional vehicle pedal device has room for improvement in terms of suppressing the change in the tread angle when the pedal is stroked and obtaining a tread angle suitable for pedal operation according to the size of the stroke.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a pedal device for a vehicle that suppresses change in the tread angle in only one direction when the pedal is stroked, and that can obtain a tread angle suitable for pedal operation depending on the size of the stroke. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle power supply device of the present invention includes a pedal having a step surface that is disposed vertically above a vehicle floor and is stepped on; a first link, one end of which is supported rotatably about a first rotation central axis by a first support member that is disposed forward of the pedal and vertically below the step surface along the operation direction in which the stepping operation is performed in an initial state before the stepping operation is performed; a second link, one end of which is supported rotatably about a second rotation central axis that is parallel to the first rotation central axis by a second support member that is disposed vertically below the first support member, or forward of the first support member and vertically above the step surface along the operation direction; and a second link, one end of which is supported rotatably about a second rotation central axis that is parallel to the first rotation central axis by a second support member that is disposed vertically below the first support member, or forward of the first support member and vertically above the step surface along the operation direction. and a third link which is incapably connected to the pedal and which rotatably connects the other end of the first link via a first rotating pin and which rotatably connects the other end of the second link via a second rotating pin arranged forward of the first rotating pin in the operating direction, and a link mechanism which supports the pedal so that it is movable around an instantaneous rotation center axis determined by the link arrangement of the first link, second link and third link when a pedal depression operation is performed, wherein the instantaneous rotation center axis is determined to be below the tread surface in the vertical direction when the magnitude of the pedal stroke due to the pedal depression operation is less than a predetermined amount, and is determined to be above the tread surface in the vertical direction when the magnitude of the stroke is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the vehicle pedal device of the present invention, the change in the tread angle in only one direction when the pedal is stroked is suppressed, and a tread angle suitable for pedal operation can be obtained according to the magnitude of the stroke. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle pedal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining the operation of the vehicle pedal device. [Diagram 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of a vehicle pedal device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a vehicle pedal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition to the embodiment and modifications described below, the present invention can be embodied in various forms that include various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0011] 1, a vehicle pedal device 10 of this embodiment includes a pedal 11, a link mechanism S, and a pedal bracket 15 installed on a floor B of the vehicle. The pedal 11 is disposed vertically above the vehicle floor B. The pedal 11 has a tread surface 11A that is pressed down by the driver's foot.

[0012] The link mechanism S includes a first link 12, a second link 13, and a third link 14. The link mechanism S supports the pedal 11 movably around instantaneous rotation central axes C1, C2 (see FIG. 2) that are determined by the link arrangement of the first link 12, the second link 13, and the third link 14 that operate as described below when the driver depresses the pedal.

[0013] One end of the first link 12 is supported by a first support member 15A to be rotatable around a first rotation central axis 12A. The first support member 15A is provided so as to be immovable with respect to the pedal bracket 15. In an initial state (the state shown in FIG. 1) before the driver depresses the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11, the first support member 15A is disposed forward of the pedal 11 along the operation direction D (leftward in FIG. 1) in which the depressing operation is performed, and vertically below the tread surface 11A.

[0014] The second link 13 is supported by the second support member 15B so that one end of the second link 13 can rotate around the second rotation axis 13A parallel to the first rotation axis 12A. Here, in this embodiment, the second link 13 is provided so as to be longer than the first link 12. The second support member 15B is provided so as not to be displaceable with respect to the pedal bracket 15. Moreover, in this embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the second support member 15B is disposed between the first support member 15A and the pedal 11 along the operation direction D and vertically lower than the first support member 15A in the initial state. Note that the second support member 15B may be disposed forward of the first support member 15A along the operation direction D and vertically lower than the first support member 15A in the initial state.

[0015] One end of the third link 14 is non-rotatably connected to the pedal 11. The third link 14 rotatably supports each of the first link 12 and the second link 13. Specifically, the third link 14 rotatably connects the other end of the first link 12 via a first rotating pin 14A. The third link 14 rotatably connects the other end of the second link 13 via a second rotating pin 14B forward of the first rotating pin 14A (to the left in FIG. 1 ) along the operating direction D. In other words, the third link 14 is rotatably supported by the first link 12 and the second link 13.

[0016] In the vehicle pedal device 10 of this embodiment, the master cylinder 16 is fixed to the pedal bracket 15. The master cylinder 16 is connected to the second link 13 via an operation rod 17 and a clevis pin 18. Since the master cylinder 16 and the second link 13 are connected to each other via the operation rod 17 and the clevis pin 18, the second link 13 amplifies and transmits the operating force input to the pedal 11 to the master cylinder 16. That is, an arm ratio can be provided between the second rotation center shaft 13A of the second link 13 and the clevis pin 18 so that the operation rod 17 pushes the master cylinder 16 in a linear direction. Therefore, the vehicle pedal device 10 does not require a reducer and can be simplified compared to the above-mentioned conventional vehicle pedal device.

[0017] Next, the operation of the vehicle pedal device 10 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, in the initial state of the vehicle pedal device 10, that is, in the initial position (so-called OFF point) of the pedal 11 shown by the long dashed line in the upper part of Fig. 2, the intersection point of the axis lines respectively connecting the first rotation central axis 12A of the first link 12 and the first rotation pin 14A of the third link 14, and the second rotation central axis 13A of the second link 13 and the second rotation pin 14B of the third link 14, that is, the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 of the link mechanism S is determined downward in the vertical direction with respect to the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11. In other words, in the initial state, the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 of the link mechanism S can also be determined to be near the heel position of the driver.

[0018] In the vehicle pedal device 10, when the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11 is depressed from the initial state, the pedal 11 strokes along the operation direction D. When the stroke of the pedal 11 is smaller than a predetermined amount L1, the third link 14 in the link mechanism S rotates (tilts) relatively counterclockwise around the first rotation pin 14A and the second rotation pin 14B, mainly restrained by the first link 12, in accordance with the stroke of the pedal 11. That is, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is smaller than the predetermined amount L1, the third link 14 rotates (tilts) as described above, and the pedal 11 moves around the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 that is determined vertically downward from the pedal 11.

[0019] Incidentally, when the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 is determined vertically below the pedal 11, as the stroke of the pedal 11 increases below the predetermined amount L1, the tread angle A1 that the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11 makes with the horizontal plane becomes smaller than the tread angle A in the initial state. That is, in the vehicle pedal device 10, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is less than the predetermined amount L1, that is, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is small, the tread angle A1 can be made smaller according to the stroke. Therefore, the vehicle pedal device 10 can match the direction in which the driver presses the pedal 11 with his heel on the floor B (the direction of the stroke) with the movement (change) of the tread surface 11A, resulting in natural operability and improved operating feeling.

[0020] On the other hand, when the vehicle pedal device 10 is depressed and the magnitude of the stroke of the pedal 11 is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1 (amount of movement L1+L2), as shown in the lower part of Fig. 2, in the link mechanism S, the third link 14 is mainly constrained by the second link 13 and relatively rotates (tilts) clockwise around the first rotating pin 14A and the second rotating pin 14B in accordance with the stroke of the pedal 11. In this state, the intersection of the axes respectively connecting the first rotating central axis 12A of the first link 12 and the first rotating pin 14A of the third link 14 with the second rotating central axis 13A of the second link 13 and the second rotating pin 14B of the third link 14, i.e., the instantaneous rotation central axis C2 of the link mechanism S, is determined to be vertically upward with respect to the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11.

[0021] Incidentally, when the instantaneous rotation central axis C2 is determined vertically above the pedal 11, as the stroke of the pedal 11 becomes greater than or equal to the predetermined amount L1, the tread angle A2 that the tread surface 11A of the pedal 11 makes with the horizontal plane becomes greater than the tread angle A1 when the stroke is less than the predetermined amount L1. That is, in the vehicle pedal device 10, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount L1, that is, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is large, such as a full stroke, the tread angle A2 can be increased according to the stroke. Therefore, the vehicle pedal device 10 can match the direction (stroke direction) in which the driver lifts his heel off the floor B and depresses the pedal 11 with the movement (change) of the tread surface 11A, and as a result, the tread surface 11A can be stably depressed, improving the feeling of operation.

[0022] In addition, in the vehicle pedal device 10, the link mechanism S can be modified as shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, in a vehicle, the master cylinder 16 may be provided on an upper portion of the vehicle (e.g., a cowl or a dash). In this case, in the vehicle pedal device 10, the second rotation central axis 13A of the second link 13 in the link mechanism S, which is a so-called pendant type, is always located vertically above the tread surface 11A. In this case, as in the above-described embodiment, when the stroke size is less than the predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 can be determined vertically below the tread surface 11A, and when the stroke size is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation central axis C2 can be determined vertically above the tread surface 11A.

[0023] Specifically, in this modified example, the first link 12 has one end rotatably supported about the first rotation central axis 12A by a first support member 19A provided directly on the floor B so as to be located forward of the pedal 11 and vertically lower than the tread surface 11A along the operation direction D. Also, the second link 13 has one end rotatably supported about a second rotation central axis 13A parallel to the first rotation central axis 12A by a second support member 19B provided directly on the cowl or dash so as to be located forward of the first support member 19A and vertically higher than the tread surface 11A along the operation direction D. Note that, although the modified example illustrates a case in which the first link 12 and the second link 13 are set to have the same length, the lengths of the first link member 12 and the second link member 13 do not have to be the same.

[0024] In the link mechanism S modified in this manner, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the pedal 11 is moved around the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 when the magnitude of the stroke of the pedal 11 is less than the predetermined amount L1, and is moved around the instantaneous rotation central axis C2 when the magnitude of the stroke of the pedal 11 is a movement amount L1+L2 that is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1. Therefore, even in the modified embodiment, the vehicle pedal device 10 can match the direction in which the driver depresses the pedal 11 (stroke direction) with the movement (change) of the tread surface 11A, thereby improving the operating feeling.

[0025] As can be understood from the above description, the vehicle pedal device 10 includes a pedal 11 having a tread surface 11A that is disposed vertically above a floor B of the vehicle and is to be stepped on, a first link 12 having one end rotatably supported about a first rotation central axis 12A by first support members 15A, 19A that are disposed forward of the pedal 11 and vertically below the tread surface 11A along an operation direction D in which the stepping operation is performed in an initial state before the stepping operation is performed, and a second link 13 having one end rotatably supported about a second rotation central axis 13A that is parallel to the first rotation central axis 12A by second support members 15B, 19B that are disposed vertically below the first support member 15A, or forward of the first support member 19A along the operation direction D and vertically above the tread surface 11A. and a third link 14, one end of which is non-rotatably connected to the pedal 11 and which rotatably connects the other end of the first link 12 via a first rotating pin 14A and which rotatably connects the other end of the second link 13 via a second rotating pin 14B arranged forward of the first rotating pin 14A along the operating direction D. The link mechanism S supports the pedal 11 movably around instantaneous rotation central axes C1, C2 determined by the link arrangement of the first link 12, the second link 13 and the third link 14 when a pedal depression operation is performed. When the magnitude of the stroke of the pedal 11 due to the pedal depression operation is less than a predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation central axis C1 is determined to be below the tread surface in the vertical direction, and when the magnitude of the stroke is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1, the instantaneous rotation central axis C2 is determined to be above the tread surface in the vertical direction.

[0026] According to the vehicle pedal device 10, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is less than a predetermined amount L1, the link mechanism S can move the pedal 11 around an instantaneous rotation center axis C1 determined vertically below the tread surface 11A. Also, according to the vehicle pedal device 10, when the stroke of the pedal 11 is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount L1, the link mechanism S can move the pedal 11 around an instantaneous rotation center axis C2 determined vertically above the tread surface 11A. As a result, the vehicle pedal device 10 suppresses a change in the tread angle A in only one direction when the pedal 11 is stroked, and can obtain tread angles A1 and A2 suitable for pedal operation according to the stroke size. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10...vehicle pedal device, 11...pedal, 11A...tread, 12...first link, 12A...first rotation axis, 13...second link, 13A...second rotation axis, 14...third link, 14A...first rotation pin, 14B...second rotation pin, 15...pedal bracket, 15A, 19A...first support member, 15B, 19B...second support member, 16...master cylinder, 17...operation rod, 18...clevis pin, S...link mechanism, D...operation direction, B...floor, A, A1, A2...tread angle

Claims

[Claim 1] A pedal having a step surface that is disposed vertically above a floor of the vehicle and is stepped on; a first link, one end of which is rotatably supported about a first rotation central axis by a first support member disposed forward of the pedal and vertically below the tread surface along an operation direction in which the stepping operation is performed in an initial state before a stepping operation is performed to step on the tread surface; a second link, one end of which is rotatably supported about a second rotation central axis parallel to the first rotation central axis by a second support member disposed vertically below the first support member, or forward of the first support member and vertically above the tread surface along the operation direction; and a third link, one end of which is non-rotatably connected to the pedal, and which rotatably connects the other end of the first link via a first rotation pin and rotatably connects the other end of the second link via a second rotation pin disposed forward of the first rotation pin along the operation direction, and which movably supports the pedal about an instantaneous rotation central axis determined by a link arrangement of the first link, the second link, and the third link when the stepping operation is performed, The instantaneous rotation central axis is When the magnitude of the stroke of the pedal due to the depression operation is less than a predetermined amount, the stroke is determined to be lower than the tread surface in the vertical direction, A pedal device for a vehicle, wherein when the magnitude of the stroke is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the stroke is determined to be higher than the tread surface in the vertical direction.

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