Car emergency stop device

Abstract

To provide an emergency stop device for a vehicle that can be widely used for existing vehicles. [Solution] A vehicle emergency stop device 10 brings the vehicle to an emergency stop when, for example, the driver accidentally steps on the brake pedal 11 instead of the accelerator pedal 12. The vehicle emergency stop device 10 is equipped with an activation switch 13 that is located below the accelerator pedal 12 and is pressed when the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed, a cylinder 14 that expands and contracts when the activation switch 13 is pressed, and traction means 15 that pulls the brake pedal 11 in the direction that it is depressed as the cylinder 14 is driven. The traction means 15 has a control cable 15C in which an inner cable 15A is inserted into an outer casing 15B.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an emergency stop device for a vehicle that stops the vehicle in an emergency. [Background technology]

[0002] To stop a moving car, it is necessary to shift one's foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. However, if the driver loses composure in an emergency, they may mistake the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal, causing the car to spin out of control. Therefore, various measures have been proposed to prevent the car from spinning out of control.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a braking device in which, in the event of an emergency and the accelerator pedal being accidentally depressed all the way, an accelerator pedal switch is turned on, a solenoid valve is opened, air is sent from an air compressor to a cylinder, actuating a piston and linking a hydraulic piston cylinder to send pressurized oil to a brake cylinder, applying the brakes and stopping the vehicle. However, because this braking device controls the hydraulic pressure of the brake cylinder, it is difficult to install in existing vehicles, making it difficult to widely use.

[0004] To address this issue, an emergency stop device for vehicles has been proposed in which, when a switch is pressed when the accelerator pedal is depressed, a cylinder located near the brake pedal is activated and the brake pedal is pulled in the direction of depression by a wire (see, for example, Patent Document 2). However, there are few cars that have enough space to install a cylinder near the driver's feet, which makes it difficult to install this device in existing cars for widespread use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-213811 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3248402 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an emergency stop device for a vehicle that can be widely used in existing vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The emergency stop device for a vehicle of this invention is equipped with an activation switch that is located under the accelerator pedal and is pressed when the accelerator pedal is depressed, a cylinder that expands and contracts when the activation switch is pressed, and a traction means that pulls the brake pedal in the direction of depression as the cylinder is driven, and the traction means has a control cable with an inner cable inserted into an outer casing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this device, when the accelerator pedal is depressed and the activation switch is pressed, the cylinder is activated and the traction means pulls the brake pedal in the same direction. Even if the accelerator pedal is mistaken for the brake pedal and the driver presses the accelerator pedal hard in an emergency, the brakes are applied, preventing the vehicle from rolling out of control. Furthermore, because the traction means uses a control cable with an inner cable inserted into an outer casing, the cylinder can be installed away from the driver's feet, for example, in an open space such as under the seat. This allows for easy and widespread use in existing vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an emergency stop device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout configuration of emergency stop devices for the vehicle illustrated in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] 1 and 2 show the configuration of an emergency stop device 10 for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. This emergency stop device 10 for a vehicle brings the vehicle to an emergency stop when, for example, the brake pedal 11 is accidentally depressed instead of the accelerator pedal 12.

[0012] The emergency stop device 10 for this vehicle is arranged below the accelerator pedal 12 and includes an operating switch 13 that is pressed when the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed, a cylinder 14 that is driven to expand and contract when the operating switch 13 is depressed, and a traction means 15 that, as the cylinder 14 is driven, pulls the brake pedal 11 in the direction in which it is depressed.

[0013] The brake pedal 11 is operated by stepping on it with the foot, for example, to brake a moving vehicle, and has a brake pedal portion 11A and a brake arm portion 11B connected to the brake pedal portion 11A. The accelerator pedal 12 is operated by stepping on it with the foot, for example, to adjust the speed of the vehicle, and controls the engine speed depending on the amount of pressure applied to the accelerator pedal.

[0014] The activation switch 13 is installed, for example, on the floor below the accelerator pedal 12, and is pressed by the accelerator pedal 12 when the activation switch 13 is depressed deeply, for example, when it is depressed to the end.

[0015] An example of the cylinder 14 is an air cylinder, and the cylinder 14 is connected to a compressor 16, for example. An example of the compressor 16 is an air compressor. The compressor 16 is configured so that, for example, when the activation switch 13 is pressed once, the solenoid valve opens and compressed air is sent to the cylinder tube 14B to drive the cylinder 14 and move the piston rod 14A. The compressor 16 is preferably configured so that, for example, when the activation switch 13 is pressed once more (i.e., pressed twice), the solenoid valve closes and the sending of compressed air to the cylinder tube 14B is stopped.

[0016] Preferably, the cylinder 14 is configured so that, by pressing a release switch, the compressed air sent to the cylinder tube 14B can be discharged to the outside and the piston rod 14A can be returned to its original position. Note that, for example, an air tank (not shown) may be provided between the compressor 16 and the cylinder 14, and compressed air may be sent to the cylinder tube 14B via the air tank.

[0017] The traction means 15 has, for example, a control cable 15C in which an inner cable 15A is inserted into an outer casing 15B. Because the control cable 15C can transmit force and movement to a remote location, the cylinder 14 can be disposed in a location away from the driver's feet, for example, in an empty space such as under the seat. Note that, although FIG. 2 shows an example in which the cylinder 14 is disposed under the rear seat, the cylinder 14 may be disposed anywhere as long as it can be disposed, for example, under the driver's seat or passenger seat, or in the trunk.

[0018] The inner cable 15A is guided by, for example, the outer casing 15B and is movable within the outer casing 15B. The inner cable 15A has a core member formed by bundling a large number of wires or fibers. The core member is made of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel or copper. A covering layer made of, for example, plastic may be provided around the core member.

[0019] The outer casing 15B protects and supports the inner cable 15A from the external environment, and also functions as a guide member that guides the inner cable 15A. The outer casing 15B is, for example, tubular and made of metal or plastic. Specifically, the outer casing 15B preferably has, for example, an intermediate layer in which a metal wire made of stainless steel, steel, or the like is wound in a spiral shape, an inner layer made of resin and provided inside the intermediate layer, and a coating layer made of resin and provided outside the intermediate layer.

[0020] For example, cap members 15D are provided at both ends of the outer casing 15B to secure the ends of the outer casing 15B and allow the inner cable 15A to extend to the outside. Each cap member 15D is preferably fixed to the vehicle body, such as the floor. For example, the outer casing 15B may not be fixed between the cap members 15D, and may be fixed continuously or intermittently.

[0021] One end of the inner cable 15A is provided with, for example, a brake connecting member 15E, which is connected to the brake arm portion 11B of the brake pedal 11. The other end of the inner cable 15A is provided with, for example, a cylinder connecting member 15F, which is connected to the piston rod 14A of the cylinder 14. As a result, when the cylinder 14 is driven, the traction means 15 is configured such that the inner cable 15A is pulled and moves inside the outer casing 15B, thereby moving the brake pedal 11.

[0022] Furthermore, for example, it is preferable that one guide pulley 15G be disposed below the brake pedal 11, specifically below the brake arm portion 11B, to guide the inner cable 15A so as to pull the brake pedal in the direction in which the brake pedal is depressed and to guide the inner cable 15A in the width direction of the vehicle body. This is to ensure that the brake pedal can be pulled more reliably. Specifically, the guide pulley 15G is disposed, for example, below the brake pedal 11, with its rotation axis in the longitudinal direction of the brake pedal 11.

[0023] It is preferable that the vehicle emergency stop device 10 further includes a circuit switch (not shown) that turns the engine drive circuit on and off when the activation switch 13 is pressed, for example. This is because it allows the vehicle to be stopped more effectively in an emergency. The circuit switch is preferably configured so that it is in the on (closed) state during normal operation when the brake pedal 11 is not being pressed by the pressing member 15A, and is turned to the off (open) state when the activation switch 13 is pressed once more (i.e., pressed twice), and returns to the on (closed) state.

[0024] The emergency stop device 10 for this vehicle operates, for example, as follows: First, under normal circumstances when the brake pedal 11 is not being towed by the towing means 15, the vehicle moves when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 12, and when the driver depresses the brake pedal 11, the brakes are applied and the vehicle stops.

[0025] Furthermore, if the brake pedal 11 and the accelerator pedal 12 are accidentally depressed while the vehicle is running, for example, when the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed deeply, the actuation switch 13 is pressed, driving the cylinder 14 and pulling the inner cable 15A. The inner cable 15A pulls the brake pedal 11 in the direction of depression via, for example, the outer casing 15B and the guide pulley 15G. Furthermore, when the actuation switch 13 is pressed, for example, the engine drive circuit is turned off (open) by the circuit switch, and the engine is stopped. This causes the vehicle to stop.

[0026] After the vehicle has stopped, for example, by depressing the accelerator pedal 12 again and pressing the release switch of the cylinder 14, the cylinder 14, the traction means 15 and the brake pedal 11 return to their original positions, the engine drive circuit is turned on (closed) and the vehicle returns to normal operation.

[0027] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed to press the activation switch 13, the cylinder 14 is driven and the traction means 15 is used to pull the brake pedal 11 in the direction of depression. Therefore, even if the accelerator pedal 12 is mistaken for the brake pedal 11 and the accelerator pedal 12 is pressed hard in an emergency, the brakes are applied, preventing the vehicle from running out of control. Furthermore, since the traction means 15 uses a control cable 15C in which an inner cable 15A is inserted into an outer casing 15B, the cylinder 14 can be disposed in a location away from the driver's feet, for example, in an open space such as under the seat. Therefore, this system can be easily and widely used in existing vehicles.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways. For example, although each component has been specifically described in the above embodiments, not all components may be included, and other components may be included. Furthermore, the specific configuration of each component may be different. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 10... Vehicle emergency stop device, 11... Brake pedal, 11A... Brake pedal portion, 11B... Brake arm portion, 12... Accelerator pedal, 13... Operation switch, 14... Cylinder, 14A... Piston rod, 14B... Cylinder tube, 15... Traction means, 15A... Inner cable, 15B... Outer casing, 15C... Control cable, 15D... Cap member, 15E... Brake connecting member, 15F... Cylinder connecting member, 15G... Guide pulley, 16... Compressor

Claims

1. an actuation switch disposed below the accelerator pedal and pressed when the accelerator pedal is depressed; a cylinder that is driven to extend and retract when the actuation switch is pressed; a traction means for traction the brake pedal in a direction in which the brake pedal is depressed in response to the driving of the cylinder, The traction means has a control cable in which an inner cable is inserted into an outer casing. An emergency stop device for a vehicle.

2. 2. The emergency stop device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the traction means is disposed below the brake pedal, and has one guide pulley that guides the inner cable so as to pull the brake pedal in the direction in which the brake pedal is depressed, and that guides the inner cable in the width direction of the vehicle body.

Images