Brake pedal device

Abstract

In a brake pedal device according to the present invention, a support body (10) has a fixed side-receiving part (101), and a pedal unit (20) has a rotation side-receiving part (22). The pedal unit is biased so as to rotate in one circumferential direction (Dpc) about a single axial center and rotates in the other circumferential direction by means of a pedal pad receiving a pedal operation that counters a biasing force (Fb) biasing the pedal unit. An elastic body (32) is fixed to one side-receiving part among the fixed side-receiving part and the rotation side-receiving part. When the pedal operation is released, as the pedal unit rotates, the elastic body abuts against an other side-receiving part among the fixed side-receiving part and the rotation side-receiving part and is compressed by means of the biasing force while in a state interposed between the one side-receiving part and the other side-receiving part. When the pedal operation is performed, as the pedal unit rotates, the elastic body separates from the other side-receiving part. In said elastic body, at least one among protrusions and recesses, holes, and grooves is formed.

Description

Brake pedal device CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-112831, filed on July 12, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a brake pedal device.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a pedal device for a vehicle. The pedal device includes a pedal unit that rotates in response to pedal operation by the driver and a rubber member. The rubber member is pushed by the pedal unit that rotates in response to pedal operation, generating a reaction force that resists the displacement of the pedal unit. In other words, the rubber member functions as a stopper that stops the rotation of the pedal unit caused by pedal operation.

[0004] International Publication No. 2023 / 210808

[0005] The rubber member in Patent Document 1 stops the rotation of the pedal unit when the driver operates the pedal. Conversely, the pedal device also includes an elastic body serving as a stopper rubber that stops the return movement of the pedal unit when the pedal operation is released. This return movement of the pedal unit is achieved by a mechanical biasing force. For example, in a brake-by-wire system, the return movement of the pedal unit is achieved by the restoring force of a spring or the like. Therefore, when the pedal unit returns, for example, a part of the pedal unit collides with the elastic body serving as the stopper rubber, stopping the rotation of the pedal unit and generating a collision noise.

[0006] In response to this, the inventors conducted research to reduce the impact noise and found through experiments that reducing the spring constant of the elastic body, in other words, reducing the rigidity of the elastic body in the compression direction, is effective in reducing the impact noise.

[0007] Here, the spring constant of the elastic body can be reduced by increasing the thickness of the elastic body in the compression direction or by reducing the size of the elastic body in a cross section perpendicular to the compression direction. In other words, if the size of the elastic body can be freely set, it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the elastic body so as to reduce impact noise. However, there are significant design constraints on the size of the elastic body due to factors such as the installation location of the elastic body and ensuring durability. The inventors' detailed investigation led to the above findings. Note that while the above relates to an elastic body that stops the return motion of the pedal unit, it also applies to an elastic body that stops the rotational motion of the pedal unit when the driver operates the pedal by depressing the pedal unit.

[0008] In view of the above, the present disclosure aims to provide a brake pedal device that can reduce the impact noise of the elastic body that may occur when the driver operates the pedal or when the pedal operation is released, while minimizing the impact on the size of the elastic body.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a brake pedal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a brake pedal device provided on a vehicle, comprising: a support body having a fixed-side receiving portion; a pedal unit having a rotating-side receiving portion and a pedal pad, rotatably supported on the support body around one axis, biased to rotate to one side in the circumferential direction around that axis, and rotated to the other side in the circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives pedal operation that counteracts the biasing force; and an elastic body that is fixed to the one-side receiving portion, which is one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, and when the pedal operation is released, abuts against the other-side receiving portion, which is the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, as the pedal unit rotates, and is compressed by the biasing force while sandwiched between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion, and when the pedal is operated, moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and at least one of an uneven shape, a hole, and a groove is formed in the elastic body. In this way, it is possible to reduce the stiffness of the elastic body in the compression direction while minimizing the effect on the size of the elastic body compared to when the elastic body has a simple shape without the above-mentioned unevenness, holes, grooves, etc. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the impact noise caused by the elastic body hitting the other-side receiving portion when the pedal operation is released.

[0010] A brake pedal device according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a brake pedal device provided on a vehicle, comprising: a support body having a fixed-side receiving portion; a pedal unit having a rotating-side receiving portion and a pedal pad, the pedal unit being rotatably supported on the support body about an axis, biased to rotate in one circumferential direction about the axis, and rotating in the other circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives pedal operation by the driver against the biasing force; and an elastic body fixed to the one-side receiving portion, which is one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, and which abuts against the other-side receiving portion, which is the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, as the pedal unit rotates when the pedal operation is performed, and is compressed by the driver's depressing force while sandwiched between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion, and which moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates when the pedal operation is released, the elastic body having at least one of a concave-convex shape, a hole, and a groove formed in the elastic body. In this way, it can be said that the same effects as those obtained by the brake pedal device according to the one aspect can be obtained. That is, it is possible to reduce the impact noise caused by the elastic body hitting against the other-side receiving portion when the driver operates the pedal by stepping on the pedal unit.

[0011] 5 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle on which a pedal device is mounted in a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of the pedal device when the pedal unit is in a non-depressed state in the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view showing the pedal device in a cross section perpendicular to the pedal axis of the pedal device. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the III-III cross section of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of part IV of FIG. 2, which schematically shows the stopper elastic body and the rotation-side receiving portion to which the stopper elastic body is fixed. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the stopper elastic body as seen from the arrow V in FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the stopper elastic body as seen from the arrow VI in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the stopper elastic body of a first comparative example, which corresponds to FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the stopper elastic body of a second comparative example, which corresponds to FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the results of an experiment comparing the volume of the impact sound of the stopper elastic body generated when the driver's depression operation is released among the first embodiment, the first comparative example, and the second comparative example. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the mounting state of the stopper elastic body in an experiment to investigate the relationship between the spring constant of the stopper elastic body and the impact sound of the stopper elastic body. 16 is a diagram showing the results of an experiment investigating the relationship between the spring constant of the elastic stopper body and the impact noise of the elastic stopper body. It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the general configuration of the pedal device when the pedal unit is in a non-depressed state in the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 2. It is a plan view of the elastic stopper body of the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XIV in FIG. 13, and corresponds to FIG. 6. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XV in FIG. 13, and corresponds to FIG. 4. It is a plan view of the elastic stopper body of the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 13. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XVII in FIG. 16, and corresponds to FIG. 14. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XVIII in FIG. 16, and corresponds to FIG. 15. It is a plan view of the elastic stopper body of the fifth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 13. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XX in FIG. 19, and corresponds to FIG. 14. It is a view taken in the direction of an arrow XXI in FIG. 19, and corresponds to FIG. 15. It is a plan view of the elastic stopper body of the sixth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 13. 23 is a view taken along the arrow XXIII in FIG. 22 and corresponds to FIG. 14.22 , a view taken in the direction of an arrow XXIV in FIG. 22 , corresponding to FIG. 15 . A plan view of a stopper elastic body of a seventh embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 13 . A plan view of a stopper elastic body of a seventh embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 25 , a view taken in the direction of an arrow XXVI in FIG. 25 , corresponding to FIG. 14 . A plan view of a stopper elastic body of an eighth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 13 . A plan view of a stopper elastic body of a ninth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 28 . A plan view of a stopper elastic body of a ninth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2 . A plan view of a pedal device of a ninth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2 . A plan view of a pedal device of a tenth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2 .

[0012] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0013] 1 and 2 , a pedal device 1 of this embodiment is a device mounted on a vehicle 80, and is depressed by a pedal force Fp of a driver 81 who is an occupant of the vehicle 80. The pedal device 1 is provided on the vehicle 80 as a brake pedal device for performing a braking operation to brake the vehicle 80.

[0014] 1 employs a brake-by-wire system 82, and the pedal device 1 is a brake pedal device used in the brake-by-wire system 82. The brake-by-wire system 82 is a system in which, based on an electrical signal output from the pedal device 1, hydraulic pressure is generated in a master cylinder under drive control of an electronic control device 83 mounted on the vehicle 80, and brake pads of each wheel are driven via a brake circuit.

[0015] 1 is configured as an on-board microcomputer equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, non-volatile rewritable memory, etc. (not shown). That is, the electronic control unit 83 reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM or non-volatile rewritable memory, which is a non-transitory physical recording medium. Execution of this computer program results in the execution of a method corresponding to the computer program.

[0016] 1 to 3, the pedal device 1 includes a housing 10, a rotary shaft 16, a pedal unit 20, a reaction force generating mechanism 28, a rotation angle sensor 30, and a stopper elastic body 32. The pedal device 1 is an organ-type pedal device.

[0017] 1 to 3 show the orientation of the vehicle 80 on which the pedal device 1 is mounted. That is, a vehicle longitudinal direction Da, which is the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 80, a vehicle vertical direction Db, which is the up-and-down direction of the vehicle 80, and a vehicle width direction Dc, which is the width direction of the vehicle 80 (in other words, the left-to-right direction of the vehicle 80), are respectively indicated by double-headed arrows. These directions Da, Db, and Dc intersect with each other, or strictly speaking, are perpendicular to each other.

[0018] In the description of this embodiment, the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction Da is also referred to as the vehicle direction front side, the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction Da is also referred to as the vehicle direction rear side, the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction Db is also referred to as the vehicle direction upper side, and the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction Db is also referred to as the vehicle direction lower side.

[0019] The organ-type pedal system 1 refers to a pedal system having a pedal unit 20 whose portion to be stepped on by the driver 81 is disposed above the vehicle direction relative to a pivot center CL of the pedal unit 20. In the organ-type pedal system 1, the pedal unit 20 pivots so that the upper end of the pedal unit 20 in the vehicle direction is displaced downward or forward in the vehicle direction as the pedal force Fp applied to the pedal unit 20 by the driver 81 increases. The pivot center CL of the pedal unit 20 is the center of rotation of the pedal unit 20 during its pivoting motion and corresponds to a single axis in the present disclosure. In the description of this embodiment, the pivot center CL of the pedal unit 20 is also referred to as a pedal axis center CL. The pedal axis direction Dpa, which is the axial direction Dpa of the pedal axis center CL, coincides with the vehicle width direction Dc as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0020] 1 and 2 , when the pedal device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 80, the housing 10 is fixed to a part of the vehicle body 801 (for example, the floor or dash panel). That is, the vehicle mounted state also means a state in which the housing 10 is fixed to the vehicle 80. The housing 10 is a non-rotating member that is fixed to the vehicle body 801 and does not rotate. For example, the housing 10 is fixed to a part of the vehicle body 801 by bolts or the like. The floor, which is a part of the vehicle body 801, constitutes the floor of the vehicle compartment, and the dash panel is a partition wall that separates the interior of the vehicle 80 from the exterior of the vehicle compartment, such as the engine compartment.

[0021] The housing 10 is composed of, for example, one or more components, and functions as a support for the pedal unit 20, the reaction force generating mechanism 28, etc. Because the housing 10 is case-shaped, a housing space 10a is formed inside the housing 10 as an internal space. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 16, the reaction force generating mechanism 28, the stopper elastic body 32, a portion of the pedal unit 20, etc. are arranged within the housing space 10a.

[0022] 2, the rotating shaft 16 is configured as a shaft member that extends in the pedal axis direction Dpa around the pedal axis center CL. Both ends of the rotating shaft 16 are rotatably fitted in, for example, bearings that are parts of the housing 10, so that the rotating shaft 16 is rotatably supported by the housing 10 around the pedal axis center CL. In other words, the rotating shaft 16 is supported so as to be swingable relative to the housing 10. Furthermore, because the rotating shaft 16 is fixed to the pedal unit 20, it rotates integrally with the pedal unit 20 around the pedal axis center CL as the pedal unit 20 swings.

[0023] The rotation angle sensor 30 is a type of sensor that detects a physical quantity related to the pivoting motion of the pedal unit 20, and specifically, is a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 16. That is, the rotation angle sensor 30 detects the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 16 and outputs an electrical signal indicating the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 16 to the electronic control device 83 in FIG. 1. Because the pedal unit 20 and the rotary shaft 16 are fixed to each other and rotate integrally, the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 16 is the same as the rotation angle of the pedal unit 20. The rotation angle sensor 30 is attached to the housing 10, for example. The rotation angle sensor 30 may be a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor that uses a Hall IC, a magnetoresistive element, or the like.

[0024] The pedal unit 20 is a swingable movable part of the pedal device 1, and is supported rotatably about a pedal axis CL relative to the housing 10 via a rotation shaft 16. The pedal unit 20 has a pedal arm portion 21, a rotation-side receiving portion 22, and a pedal pad 23.

[0025] The pedal arm portion 21 and the rotation-side receiving portion 22 are formed, for example, as a single component made of a highly rigid metal or resin. The pedal arm portion 21 has a shaft hole 21a into which the rotation shaft 16 is fitted and one end to which the rotation shaft 16 is fixed, and is formed so as to extend from the one end in a direction perpendicular to the pedal axis direction Dpa.

[0026] The rotation-side receiving portion 22 is disposed within the housing space 10a. The rotation-side receiving portion 22 has a receiving portion fixing surface 22a to which the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed. The receiving portion fixing surface 22a faces one side of the pedal circumferential direction Dpc, which is the circumferential direction Dpc about the pedal axis center CL. For example, the receiving portion fixing surface 22a is formed as the bottom surface of a recess formed in the rotation-side receiving portion 22.

[0027] 2 and 3, the pedal pad 23 is the part of the pedal unit 20 to which the pedal force Fp of the driver 81 is applied, and is made of, for example, rubber or metal. The pedal pad 23 is disposed at a distance from the rotation shaft 16, forward and upward in the vehicle direction. The pedal pad 23 is also disposed on one side of the pedal arm portion 21 in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc and is fixed to the pedal arm portion 21. Therefore, the pedal arm portion 21, the rotation-side receiving portion 22, and the pedal pad 23 swing integrally about the pedal axis center CL.

[0028] The pedal pad 23 also has a pedal tread surface 23a that receives a pedal force Fp from the driver 81 when the driver 81 depresses the pedal. The pedal tread surface 23a faces one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc. Therefore, the pedal force Fp from the driver 81 acts to rotate the pedal unit 20 to the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc.

[0029] In addition, in a non-depressed state (in other words, a released state) where the driver 81 is not depressing the pedal unit 20, the pedal tread surface 23a is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle 80. Specifically, in the non-depressed state, the pedal tread surface 23a is inclined so that the further forward in the vehicle direction the pedal tread surface 23a is, the higher in the vehicle direction it is positioned.

[0030] Note that Figure 2 shows the pedal device 1 when the pedal unit 20 is in a non-depressed state, i.e., when the pedal device 1 is in a released state where no pedal force Fp is being applied by the driver 81 to the pedal unit 20.

[0031] The reaction force generating mechanism 28 generates a reaction force against the pedal force Fp applied to the pedal unit 20 by the driver 81 in accordance with the swinging motion of the pedal unit 20. The reaction force generating mechanism 28 is configured to include one or more spring materials, and in this embodiment is configured by a compression coil spring.

[0032] The reaction force generating mechanism 28 has one end connected to the pedal arm 21 and the other end connected to the housing 10, and is compressed by the pedal arm 21 as the pedal unit 20 rotates toward the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc. In other words, the reaction force generating mechanism 28 biases the pedal unit 20 to rotate toward one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc. The pedal unit 20 rotates toward the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc when the pedal pad 23 receives a pedal depression operation that counteracts the biasing force Fb of the reaction force generating mechanism 28.

[0033] 2 and 4, the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed to the pedal unit 20 and rotates together with the pedal unit 20 around the pedal axis CL. For example, the stopper elastic body 32 in this embodiment is made of ethylene rubber, which is a common rubber material. The stopper elastic body 32 corresponds to the elastic body of the present disclosure that is compressed when the driver 81 releases the pedal operation.

[0034] The stopper elastic body 32 is provided on the receiving portion fixing surface 22a of the rotation-side receiving portion 22 and is fixed to the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20. In detail, the stopper elastic body 32 has a stopper back surface 32a facing the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, and is fixed to the rotation-side receiving portion 22 with the stopper back surface 32a in contact with the receiving portion fixing surface 22a. For example, the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed to the receiving portion fixing surface 22a of the rotation-side receiving portion 22 so as to be fitted into a recess in the rotation-side receiving portion 22.

[0035] The stopper elastic body 32 has a stopper abutment surface 32b that faces one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc, and the stopper abutment surface 32b comes into contact with and separates from a fixed-side receiving portion 101, which is a part of the housing 10, as the pedal unit 20 rotates. Specifically, the fixed-side receiving portion 101 has a fixed-side abutment surface 101a that faces the receiving portion fixed surface 22a of the rotation-side receiving portion 22 across the stopper elastic body 32 when the pedal unit 20 is in a non-depressed state. The stopper abutment surface 32b comes into contact with the fixed-side abutment surface 101a when the pedal unit 20 is in a non-depressed state. Therefore, the stopper elastic body 32 functions as a stopper that stops the return rotation of the pedal unit 20 at a predetermined rotation position when the pedal unit 20 is rotated backward in response to release of the pedal operation on the pedal unit 20, and defines the stroke end of the return rotation.

[0036] In this embodiment, the rotation-side receiving portion 22 corresponds to the one-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed, and the fixed-side receiving portion 101 corresponds to the other-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the stopper elastic body 32 comes into contact and separates. In this embodiment, for example, when the pedal unit 20 is in a non-depressed state, the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, the stopper abutment surface 32b, and the fixed-side abutment surface 101a are all flat, with the vehicle up-down direction Db as their normal direction. In addition, the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, the stopper abutment surface 32b, and the fixed-side abutment surface 101a each extend along the pedal axial direction Dpa.

[0037] For example, when the driver 81 depresses the pedal unit 20 from a non-depressed state, the pedal unit 20 is rotated to the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc by the pedal force Fp of the driver 81. Then, the stopper elastic body 32 moves away from the fixed-side receiving portion 101 as the pedal unit 20 rotates.

[0038] Conversely, when the driver 81 releases the pedal operation from the depressed state of the pedal pad 23, the pedal unit 20 is rotated to one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc by the biasing force Fb of the reaction force generating mechanism 28. Then, as the pedal unit 20 rotates, the stopper abutment surface 32b abuts against the fixed-side abutment surface 101a. At the same time, the stopper elastic body 32 is compressed by the biasing force Fb of the reaction force generating mechanism 28 while being sandwiched between the receiving portion fixed surface 22a and the fixed-side abutment surface 101a.

[0039] Referring now to the shape of the stopper elastic body 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6, the stopper elastic body 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the description of this embodiment, among the outer dimensions h, a, and b of the stopper elastic body 32, the dimension in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh perpendicular to the stopper contact surface 32b is referred to as the height h or height dimension h of the stopper elastic body 32. The dimension in the elastic body width direction Dda perpendicular to the elastic body thickness direction Ddh and the pedal axial direction Dpa is referred to as the width a or width dimension a of the stopper elastic body 32. Furthermore, the dimension in the elastic body length direction Ddb perpendicular to the elastic body thickness direction Ddh and the elastic body width direction Dda is referred to as the length b or length dimension b of the stopper elastic body 32. Although the elastic body thickness direction Ddh does not necessarily coincide with the vehicle up-down direction Db, in this embodiment, the elastic body thickness direction Ddh coincides with the vehicle up-down direction Db when the pedal unit 20 is in a non-depressed state.

[0040] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, in this embodiment, when the outer dimensions h, a, and b of the stopper elastic body 32 are compared with each other, the height dimension h, width dimension a, and length dimension b have a magnitude relationship of "h<a<b."

[0041] The stopper elastic body 32 also has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a plurality of grooves 34a are formed. Because the spaces between the grooves 34a are relatively convex, it can be said that the predetermined shape portion 34 has an uneven shape 34b that includes the convex shape and the grooves 34a. The plurality of grooves 34a of the stopper elastic body 32 are also formed in the stopper abutment surface 32b. That is, the plurality of grooves 34a are formed so as to be cut from the stopper abutment surface 32b in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh.

[0042] As described above, the predetermined shape portion 34 has a plurality of grooves 34a formed therein, and therefore each groove 34a has a pair of groove side surfaces 341 facing the groove 34a and opposing each other across the groove 34a. The groove depth Ht of each of the plurality of grooves 34a is greater than the groove width Wt of the groove 34a.

[0043] The plurality of grooves 34a formed on the stopper abutment surface 32b are arranged in a grid pattern when viewed in the direction along the elastic body thickness direction Ddh. Specifically, the plurality of grooves 34a extend in the elastic body width direction Dda and are aligned at intervals Δt in the elastic body length direction Ddb, while the plurality of grooves 34a extend in the elastic body length direction Ddb and intersect with the plurality of grooves 34a and are aligned at intervals Δt in the elastic body width direction Dda. Both the elastic body width direction Dda and the elastic body length direction Ddb are directions along the stopper back surface 32a and the stopper abutment surface 32b. Furthermore, in both the elastic body width direction Dda and the elastic body length direction Ddb, the interval Δt between the grooves 34a on the stopper abutment surface 32b is greater than the groove width Wt.

[0044] Next, an experiment will be described in which the magnitude of the impact noise generated when the pedal unit 20 rotates to one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc and the stopper elastic body 32 hits the fixed-side receiving portion 101 is compared between this embodiment, a first comparative example, and a second comparative example. The impact noise of the stopper elastic body 32 is also called a hitting sound.

[0045] The first and second comparative examples are comparative examples in which the shape of the stopper elastic body 32 is different from that of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7 , the stopper elastic body 91 of the first comparative example is the stopper elastic body 32 of the present embodiment without the groove 34 a, and the outer dimensions a, b, and h of the stopper elastic body 91 are the same as those of the stopper elastic body 32 of the present embodiment. Also, as shown in FIG. 8 , the stopper elastic body 92 of the second comparative example has the same height dimension h and width dimension a as the stopper elastic body 91 of the first comparative example, but the length dimension b of the stopper elastic body 91 of the first comparative example is half. The rubber material of the stopper elastic bodies 91 and 92 of the first and second comparative examples is the same as that of the stopper elastic body 32 of the present embodiment.

[0046] As a result of this experiment, as shown in Figure 9, the volume of the impact sound generated when the stopper elastic bodies 32, 91, 92 hit the fixed-side receiving portion 101 was 3 dB lower in this embodiment and the second comparative example than in the first comparative example, and was comparable between this embodiment and the second comparative example. This indicates that in this embodiment, the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh is reduced to about half that of the stopper elastic body 91 of the first comparative example, which does not have the groove 34a. The volume of the impact sound, which is the vertical axis of Figure 9, is specifically represented by the overall value of the impact sound, and this is also the case in later-described figures showing the volume of the impact sound.

[0047] In addition, when the rubber elastic body is made of rubber and has a simple rectangular parallelepiped shape as in the first and second comparative examples, the spring constant k of the rubber elastic body in the thickness direction Ddh of the elastic body is calculated from the following formulas F1 to F3. In the following formulas F1 to F3, k is the spring constant of the rubber elastic body, Ep is the apparent Young's modulus of the rubber elastic body, Ar is the pressure-receiving area of ​​the rubber elastic body, G is the shear modulus of the rubber elastic body, and S is the shape factor of the rubber elastic body. Also, a is the width of the rubber elastic body in the width direction Dda of the rubber elastic body, b is the length of the rubber elastic body in the length direction Ddb of the rubber elastic body, and h is the height of the rubber elastic body in the thickness direction Ddh of the rubber elastic body. k = Ep Ar / h ... (F1) Ep = (3 + 6.58 S ２ )・G...(F2) S=a・b / (2(a+b)h)...(F3)

[0048] Next, the effects achieved by this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 4 to 6, when the driver 81 releases the pedal operation from a depressed state of the pedal pad 23, the stopper elastic body 32 abuts against the fixed-side receiving portion 101 as the pedal unit 20 rotates. The stopper elastic body 32 has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a groove 34a is formed.

[0049] As a result, compared to, for example, the first comparative example in which the stopper elastic body 91 has a simple shape without the predetermined shape portion 34, it is possible to reduce the rigidity of the stopper elastic body 32 in the compression direction while minimizing the impact on the size of the stopper elastic body 32. In other words, it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 when the stopper elastic body 32 is compressed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, which is the compression direction of the stopper elastic body 32. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the durability of the stopper elastic body 32 in the pedal device 1 and reduce the impact noise caused by the stopper elastic body 32 hitting against the fixed-side receiving portion 101 when the driver 81 releases the pedal depression operation (in other words, the pedal operation). Note that, unless otherwise specified, the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 used in the following description refers to the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 when the stopper elastic body 32 is compressed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh.

[0050] Here, an experiment to investigate the relationship between the spring constant of the elastic stopper body 32 and the impact sound caused by the elastic stopper body 32 hitting the fixed-side receiving portion 101 (i.e., the impact sound of the elastic stopper body 32) will be described. In this experiment, a simple rectangular parallelepiped stopper body 32x without grooves 34a was prepared for the experiment, as shown in FIG. 10 . The height h and width a of the elastic stopper body 32x were fixed, and the length b of the elastic stopper body 32x in the elastic body length direction Ddb was changed within a range of 3 to 32 mm, thereby changing the spring constant of the elastic stopper body 32x. Corresponding to this change in the length b of the elastic stopper body 32x, the spring constant of the elastic stopper body 32x changed within a range of 30 to 655 N / mm. The height h of the elastic stopper body 32x was "h = 5 mm," the width a of the elastic stopper body 32x was "a = 10 mm," and the material of the elastic stopper body 32x was ethylene rubber.

[0051] 10, in this experiment, the stopper elastic body 32x was fixed to the rotation-side receiving part 22 while being fitted into a recess of the rotation-side receiving part 22, and the protrusion amount H1 of the stopper elastic body 32x from the rotation-side receiving part 22 was 1.5 mm. The rotation-side receiving part 22 was made of resin, the mass of the pedal unit 20 including the rotation-side receiving part 22 was 250 g, and the speed of the stopper elastic body 32x at the time of collision when the stopper elastic body 32 hit the fixed-side receiving part 101 was 1.0 m / s.

[0052] As a result of the above-described experiment, the relationship between the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32x and the impact noise of the stopper elastic body 32x, as shown in FIG. 11 , was obtained. In the experimental results shown in FIG. 11 , for example, when the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32x is less than 50 N / mm, the stopper elastic body 32x is soft, and the portion of the rotation-side receiving portion 22 around the stopper elastic body 32x directly hits the fixed-side receiving portion 101 of the housing 10, resulting in a louder impact noise. Furthermore, when the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32x is 280 N / mm or higher, there is almost no change in the volume of the impact noise relative to changes in the spring constant, so reducing the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32x has almost no effect on reducing the impact noise. Based on these findings, if the use conditions of the stopper elastic body 32 are similar to those of this experiment, it is considered desirable for the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 to be within the numerical range Rk of 50 to 280 N / mm.

[0053] (1) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the groove 34a is formed in the predetermined shape portion 34 of the elastic stopper body 32. Therefore, the groove 34a can also be formed when molding the elastic stopper body 32 using a mold.

[0054] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the groove 34a of the stopper elastic body 32 is formed on the stopper abutment surface 32b. As a result, the contact area between the stopper abutment surface 32b and the fixed-side abutment surface 101a is reduced by the amount of the groove 34a, which acts to reduce the impact noise of the stopper elastic body 32. Therefore, compared to, for example, a case where the groove 34a of the stopper elastic body 32 is provided in a position other than the stopper abutment surface 32b, the impact noise of the stopper elastic body 32 can be more effectively reduced.

[0055] (3) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the groove depth Ht of each of the plurality of grooves 34a is greater than the groove width Wt of the groove 34a. Therefore, it is possible to provide the grooves 34a effectively to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 while ensuring a sufficient contact area between the stopper abutment surface 32b and the fixed-side abutment surface 101a from the viewpoint of preventing wear of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0056] (4) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the spacing Δt between the grooves 34 a on the stopper abutment surface 32 b is larger than the groove width Wt. Therefore, even if the groove depth Ht of the grooves 34 a is increased to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32, the grooves 34 a can be formed so that the portions of the stopper elastic body 32 between the grooves 34 a are less likely to buckle when compressed.

[0057] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Furthermore, parts that are the same as or equivalent to the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0058] 12, in this embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 is disposed inverted in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh and is fixed to the fixed-side receiving portion 101 of the housing 10 rather than to the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20. In this respect, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment. Therefore, when the pedal unit 20 is not depressed, the stopper abutment surface 32b is disposed below the stopper back surface 32a in the vehicle direction. Note that, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of grooves 34a are formed in the stopper abutment surface 32b.

[0059] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fixed-side receiving portion 101 of the housing 10 has a receiving portion fixing surface 101b that faces the stopper back surface 32a, and the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed to the fixed-side receiving portion 101 with the stopper back surface 32a in contact with the receiving portion fixing surface 101b. For example, the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed to the receiving portion fixing surface 101b of the fixed-side receiving portion 101 by fitting into a recess in the fixed-side receiving portion 101.

[0060] Furthermore, the stopper abutment surface 32b in this embodiment faces the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc and comes into contact with and separates from the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20 as the pedal unit 20 rotates. Specifically, the rotation-side receiving portion 22 has a pedal-side abutment surface 22b that faces the stopper abutment surface 32b when the pedal unit 20 is not depressed. The stopper abutment surface 32b comes into contact with the pedal-side abutment surface 22b when the pedal unit 20 is not depressed. In this embodiment, the fixed-side receiving portion 101 corresponds to the one-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the stopper elastic body 32 is fixed, and the rotation-side receiving portion 22 corresponds to the other-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the stopper elastic body 32 comes into contact and separates.

[0061] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0062] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0063] 13 to 15, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the elastic stopper body 32 in this embodiment has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a groove 34a is formed. However, in this embodiment, the portion of the elastic stopper body 32 in which the groove 34a is formed is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0064] Specifically, the stopper elastic body 32 has an outer peripheral side surface 32c that is formed between the stopper back surface 32a and the stopper abutment surface 32b in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh and extends in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh. The grooves 34a are not provided on the stopper abutment surface 32b but are formed on the outer peripheral side surface 32c. For example, in this embodiment, the grooves 34a are provided in a pair at one end and the other end of the stopper elastic body 32 in the elastic body length direction Ddb. The pair of grooves 34a are formed so as to be cut from the outer peripheral side surface 32c in the elastic body length direction Ddb and extend in the elastic body width direction Dda.

[0065] Even when the groove 34a is formed in this manner, as in the first embodiment, the groove 34a makes it easier for the stopper elastic body 32 to be crushed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, and it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0066] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Note that this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, but it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the second embodiment described above.

[0067] Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

[0068] 16 to 18, unlike the first embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 in this embodiment has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a plurality of holes 34c are formed, rather than the grooves 34a shown in Fig. 5. The plurality of holes 34c are formed in the stopper abutment surface 32b.

[0069] For example, the plurality of holes 34c of the stopper elastic body 32 have a circular cross section and penetrate from the stopper abutment surface 32b to the stopper back surface 32a. The plurality of holes 34c are arranged side by side in the elastic body length direction Ddb.

[0070] Even if a hole 34c is formed instead of a groove 34a in this way, as in the first embodiment, the hole 34c makes it easier for the stopper elastic body 32 to be crushed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, and it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0071] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, each of the multiple holes 34c of the stopper elastic body 32 penetrates the stopper elastic body 32. Therefore, compared to when the holes 34c are blind holes, for example, it is easier to manufacture the stopper elastic body 32 by molding the stopper elastic body 32. Furthermore, since there is no need to control the depth of the holes 34c during mass production of the stopper elastic body 32, it is possible to reduce the effort required to control the dimensions of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0072] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Note that although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the second or third embodiment described above.

[0073] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0074] 19 to 21, unlike the first embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 in this embodiment has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a hole 34c is formed instead of the groove 34a in Fig. 5. This hole 34c is not formed in the stopper abutment surface 32b but is formed in the outer peripheral side surface 32c of the stopper elastic body 32. For example, the hole 34c of the stopper elastic body 32 has a circular cross-sectional shape, extends in the elastic body length direction Ddb, and penetrates the stopper elastic body 32.

[0075] Even if a hole 34c is formed instead of a groove 34a in this way, as in the first embodiment, the hole 34c makes it easier for the stopper elastic body 32 to be crushed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, and it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0076] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Note that this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, but it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the second embodiment described above.

[0077] Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0078] 22 to 24, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the elastic stopper body 32 in this embodiment has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a groove 34a is formed. However, in this embodiment, the portion of the elastic stopper body 32 in which the groove 34a is formed is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0079] Specifically, the stopper elastic body 32 is provided with a plurality of grooves 34a, which are not provided on the stopper abutment surface 32b but are formed on the stopper back surface 32a. For example, in this embodiment, the plurality of grooves 34a extend in the elastic body length direction Ddb and are aligned in the elastic body width direction Dda. Note that, as in the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the spaces between the grooves 34a are relatively convex, so it can be said that an uneven shape 34b in which the grooves 34a and their convex shapes are alternately aligned is formed in the predetermined shape portion 34 of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0080] Even when the groove 34a is formed as in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the groove 34a makes it easier for the stopper elastic body 32 to be crushed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, thereby making it possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32. Note that in the present embodiment, for example, the stopper back surface 32a of the stopper elastic body 32 is adhered and fixed to the receiving portion fixing surface 22a of the rotation-side receiving portion 22 with an adhesive that is softer than the stopper elastic body 32.

[0081] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to fifth embodiments described above.

[0082] Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0083] 2 and 25 to 27, in the present embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a groove 34a is formed. However, unlike the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 is divided by the groove 34a into a plurality of elastic portions 321, 322, and the plurality of elastic portions 321, 322 are separately fixed to the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20.

[0084] Here, in a compressed state in which the driver 81 releases the pedal depression operation and the stopper elastic body 32 is sandwiched and compressed between the rotating-side receiving portion 22 and the fixed-side receiving portion 101, the stopper elastic body 32 is elastically deformed so that the groove width Wt of the groove 34a is narrowed. In this embodiment, the groove width Wt of the groove 34a is set to a size such that a pair of groove side surfaces 341 facing each other across the groove 34a are maintained spaced apart from each other even in the compressed state of the stopper elastic body 32. In other words, whether the pedal unit 20 is in a depressed state or a non-depressed state, the pair of groove side surfaces 341 of the stopper elastic body 32 are maintained spaced apart from each other.

[0085] Even if the groove 34a is formed as in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the groove 34a makes it easier for the stopper elastic body 32 to be crushed in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, and it is possible to reduce the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0086] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the stopper elastic body 32 is divided into multiple elastic portions 321, 322 by the grooves 34a, and the multiple elastic portions 321, 322 are separately fixed to the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20. Therefore, for example, by preparing rubber members having a simple rectangular parallelepiped shape as the elastic portions 321, 322, it is possible to configure the stopper elastic body 32 having the grooves 34a formed therein.

[0087] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the groove width Wt of the groove 34a is sized so that the pair of groove side surfaces 341 are kept apart from each other even in the compressed state of the stopper elastic body 32. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32 is unlikely to decrease due to the pair of groove side surfaces 341 coming into contact with and pressing against each other in the compressed state.

[0088] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to sixth embodiments described above.

[0089] Eighth Embodiment Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0090] 28 to 30, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the elastic stopper body 32 in this embodiment has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a plurality of grooves 34a are formed. However, in this embodiment, the shape and number of the grooves 34a and the outer shape of the elastic stopper body 32 are different from those in the first embodiment.

[0091] Specifically, the stopper elastic body 32 is formed with one groove 34a extending in the elastic body width direction Dda and one groove 34a intersecting the groove 34a and extending in the elastic body length direction Ddb. Furthermore, groove side surfaces 341 on both sides of the groove 34a are inclined with respect to the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, which is the depth direction of the groove 34a, so that the groove width Wt narrows toward the bottom of the groove 34a. For example, in each groove 34a, the taper angle Atp formed between the groove side surfaces 341 on both sides is 1 degree or more.

[0092] Each groove 34a has an end portion 34d at each end in the groove extension direction Dts along which the groove 34a extends. When viewed in the direction along the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, each end portion 34d has a corner R, for example, with a radius of 1 mm or more. Furthermore, when viewed in the direction along the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, corner R, for example, with a radius of 1 mm or more, is also formed at the four corners of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0093] In this embodiment, the stopper contact surface 32b is divided into a plurality of partial contact surfaces 32d by the plurality of grooves 34a. In other words, the stopper contact surface 32b is made up of a plurality of rectangular partial contact surfaces 32d that are adjacent to each other with the grooves 34a in between.

[0094] In each of the plurality of partial contact surfaces 32d, the width dimension a1 of the partial contact surface 32d in the elastic body width direction Dda and the length dimension b1 of the partial contact surface 32d in the elastic body length direction Ddb are the same. In other words, each partial contact surface 32d is formed in a square shape with rounded corners at its four corners. In other words, each partial contact surface 32d is formed so that its aspect ratio is 1:1.

[0095] Regarding the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b is rectangular. However, in this embodiment, the width dimension of the stopper abutment surface 32b, which corresponds to the width dimension a of the stopper elastic body 32, and the length dimension of the stopper abutment surface 32b, which corresponds to the length dimension b of the stopper elastic body 32, are the same. In other words, the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b is formed in a square shape with rounded corners at the four corners. In other words, the stopper abutment surface 32b is formed so that the aspect ratio of the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b is 1:1.

[0096] As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, in this embodiment, the groove depth Ht of each of the plurality of grooves 34a is greater than the distance ΔH between the bottom 34e of the groove 34a and the stopper back surface 32a.

[0097] (1) As shown in Figures 28 to 30, according to this embodiment, for example, in each groove 34a, the taper angle Atp formed between the groove side surfaces 341 on both sides forming the groove 34a is 1 degree or greater. When viewed in the direction along the elastic body thickness direction Ddh, which is the depth direction of the groove 34a, the end 34d of the groove 34a in the groove extension direction Dts has a corner R with a radius of, for example, 1 mm or greater. This has the advantage that the mold for molding the stopper elastic body 32 can be easily manufactured using a cutting tool such as an end mill. Another advantage is that the stopper elastic body 32 can be easily released from the mold after it has been molded.

[0098] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b is rectangular, and the stopper abutment surface 32b is formed so that the aspect ratio of the outer shape of the stopper abutment surface 32b is 1:1. Here, when the volume of the impact sound generated when the stopper elastic body 32 hits the fixed-side receiving portion 101 was measured while changing the aspect ratio in various ways, it was confirmed that the impact sound was smallest when the aspect ratio was 1:1. Therefore, by setting the aspect ratio of the stopper abutment surface 32b to 1:1 as described above, it is possible to greatly enjoy the effect of reducing the impact sound of the stopper elastic body 32.

[0099] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the groove depth Ht of each of the plurality of grooves 34a is greater than the distance ΔH between the bottom 34e of the groove 34a and the stopper back surface 32a. Therefore, the groove depth Ht of the groove 34a can be set to a size that is effective for reducing the spring constant of the stopper elastic body 32. At the same time, since the stopper elastic body 32 can be used as a single component without being divided into multiple components by the grooves 34a, the grooves 34a can be provided in a manner that does not impair workability when manufacturing the pedal device 1.

[0100] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment. Note that although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to seventh embodiments described above.

[0101] Ninth Embodiment Next, a ninth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0102] 31 , the pedal device 1 of this embodiment includes the stopper elastic body 32 of the first embodiment as the first stopper elastic body 32, and also includes a second stopper elastic body 36. In this embodiment, the fixed-side receiving portion 101 of the housing 10 is referred to as the first fixed-side receiving portion 101, and the rotation-side receiving portion 22 of the pedal unit 20 is referred to as the first rotation-side receiving portion 22.

[0103] Specifically, in this embodiment, the pedal unit 20 has a second rotation-side receiving portion 24 as part of the pedal arm portion 21. This second rotation-side receiving portion 24 is provided on the side of the pedal arm portion 21 opposite to the side to which the pedal pad 23 is fixed, i.e., on the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc.

[0104] The second rotation-side receiving portion 24 has a receiving portion fixing surface 24a to which the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed. The receiving portion fixing surface 24a faces the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc. For example, the receiving portion fixing surface 24a is formed as the bottom surface of a recess formed in the second rotation-side receiving portion 24.

[0105] The second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed to the pedal unit 20 and rotates around the pedal axis CL together with the pedal unit 20. For example, the second stopper elastic body 36 in this embodiment is made of the same rubber material as the first stopper elastic body 32. The second stopper elastic body 36 corresponds to the elastic body of the present disclosure that is compressed when the driver 81 operates the pedal.

[0106] The second stopper elastic body 36 is provided on the receiving portion fixing surface 24a of the second rotation-side receiving portion 24, and is fixed to the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 of the pedal unit 20. In detail, the second stopper elastic body 36 has a stopper back surface 36a facing the receiving portion fixing surface 24a, and is fixed to the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 with the stopper back surface 36a in contact with the receiving portion fixing surface 24a. For example, the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed to the receiving portion fixing surface 24a of the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 so as to be fitted into a recess in the second rotation-side receiving portion 24.

[0107] The second stopper elastic body 36 has a stopper abutment surface 36b that faces the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc, and the stopper abutment surface 36b moves toward and away from a second fixed-side receiving portion 102 that is a part of the housing 10 as the pedal unit 20 rotates. Specifically, the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 has a fixed-side abutment surface 102a that faces the receiving portion fixed surface 24a of the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 across the second stopper elastic body 36 when the pedal pad 23 is fully depressed. The stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 comes into contact with the fixed-side abutment surface 102a when the pedal unit 20 is fully depressed. Therefore, the second stopper elastic body 36 functions as a stopper that stops the rotational movement of the pedal unit 20 at a predetermined rotational position when the pedal unit 20 is depressed, and defines the stroke end of the rotational movement of the pedal unit 20.

[0108] In this embodiment, the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 corresponds to the one-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed, and the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 corresponds to the other-side receiving portion of the present disclosure with which the second stopper elastic body 36 comes into contact and separates. Also, the receiving portion fixing surface 24a of the second rotation-side receiving portion 24, the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36, and the fixed-side abutment surface 102a of the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 are each formed in a flat shape that extends along the pedal axial direction Dpa.

[0109] For example, when the driver 81 depresses the pedal unit 20 from a non-depressed state, the pedal unit 20 is rotated toward the other side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc by the pedal force Fp of the driver 81. As the pedal unit 20 rotates, the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 abuts against the fixed-side abutment surface 102a of the second fixed-side receiving portion 102. At the same time, the second stopper elastic body 36 is compressed by the pedal force Fp of the driver 81 while being sandwiched between the receiving portion fixed surface 24a of the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 and the fixed-side abutment surface 102a of the second fixed-side receiving portion 102. In Figure 31 , a part of the pedal arm portion 21 and the second stopper elastic body 36 in a state in which the second stopper elastic body 36 abuts against the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0110] Conversely, when the driver 81 releases the pedal operation from the maximum depression state of the pedal unit 20, the pedal unit 20 is rotated to one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc by the biasing force Fb of the reaction force generating mechanism 28. Then, the second stopper elastic body 36 moves away from the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 as the pedal unit 20 rotates.

[0111] As described above, the attachment location and attachment posture of the second stopper elastic body 36 are different from those of the first stopper elastic body 32, but the shape of the second stopper elastic body 36 alone is the same as that of the first stopper elastic body 32. That is, like the first stopper elastic body 32 shown in Figures 4 to 6, the second stopper elastic body 36 also has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a predetermined shape portion 34 in which a plurality of grooves 34a arranged in a grid pattern are formed, as shown in Figures 4 to 6. For example, it can be said that, like the first stopper elastic body 32, the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 also has an uneven shape 34b formed therein that includes a plurality of grooves 34a and convex shapes between the grooves 34a. In addition, the stopper back surface 36a of the second stopper elastic body 36 corresponds to the stopper back surface 32a of the first stopper elastic body 32 in Figures 4 to 6, and the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 corresponds to the stopper abutment surface 32b of the first stopper elastic body 32 in Figures 4 to 6.

[0112] According to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 31, when the driver 81 depresses the pedal unit 20 from a non-depressed state, the second stopper elastic body 36 abuts against the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 as the pedal unit 20 rotates. The second stopper elastic body 36 has a groove 34a formed therein. As a result, similar to the first stopper elastic body 32 described above in the first embodiment, the second stopper elastic body 36 can also achieve the effect of reducing collision noise. In other words, it is possible to reduce collision noise caused by the second stopper elastic body 36 abutting against the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 when the driver 81 depresses the pedal unit 20.

[0113] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0114] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to eighth embodiments. Furthermore, the second stopper elastic body 36 may be formed with the grooves 34a or holes 34c shown in Figures 13 to 30 in addition to or instead of the grooves 34a shown in Figures 4 to 6.

[0115] Tenth Embodiment Next, a tenth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the ninth embodiment will be mainly described.

[0116] As shown in Figure 32, in this embodiment, the second stopper elastic body 36 is disposed inverted in the elastic body thickness direction Ddh (see Figure 4) and is fixed to the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 of the housing 10 rather than to the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 of the pedal unit 20. In this respect, this embodiment differs from the ninth embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, contrary to the ninth embodiment, the stopper back surface 36a of the second stopper elastic body 36 faces the other side of the pedal circumferential direction Dpc, and the stopper abutment surface 36b faces one side of the pedal circumferential direction Dpc. Note that, in this embodiment, as in the ninth embodiment, a plurality of grooves 34a are formed in the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36.

[0117] Specifically, in this embodiment, the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 of the housing 10 has a receiving portion fixing surface 102b that faces the stopper back surface 36a of the second stopper elastic body 36, and the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed to the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 with the stopper back surface 36a in contact with the receiving portion fixing surface 102b. For example, the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed to the receiving portion fixing surface 102b of the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 by being fitted into a recess in the second fixed-side receiving portion 102.

[0118] As described above, the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 faces one side in the pedal circumferential direction Dpc, and moves toward and away from the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 of the pedal unit 20 as the pedal unit 20 rotates. Specifically, the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 has a pedal-side abutment surface 24b that faces the stopper abutment surface 36b of the second stopper elastic body 36 when the pedal unit 20 is fully depressed. When the pedal unit 20 is fully depressed, the stopper abutment surface 36b comes into contact with the pedal-side abutment surface 24b.

[0119] In this embodiment, the second fixed-side receiving portion 102 corresponds to the one-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the second stopper elastic body 36 is fixed, and the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 corresponds to the other-side receiving portion of the present disclosure to which the second stopper elastic body 36 comes into contact and separates. In addition, in Figure 32, a part of the pedal arm portion 21 in a state in which the second stopper elastic body 36 abuts against the second rotation-side receiving portion 24 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0120] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is the same as the ninth embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the ninth embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the ninth embodiment.

[0121] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the first embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 2, when the pedal unit 20 is in the non-depressed state, the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, the stopper contact surface 32b, and the fixed-side contact surface 101a are all flat, with the vehicle up-down direction Db as their normal direction. However, this is just one example. The orientations of the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, the stopper contact surface 32b, and the fixed-side contact surface 101a do not need to be limited by the orientation of the vehicle 80. For example, the receiving portion fixing surface 22a, the stopper contact surface 32b, and the fixed-side contact surface 101a may be inclined with respect to the vehicle up-down direction Db when the pedal unit 20 is in the non-depressed state.

[0122] (2) In the above-described embodiments, the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36 shown in Figures 2 and 31 are made of ethylene rubber, but various materials are conceivable for the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36. For example, the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36 may be made of natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, chloroprene, nitrile rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, or foamed resin. Even when the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36 are made of such materials, the effect of reducing the impact noise of the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36 can be obtained, similar to when the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36 are made of ethylene rubber.

[0123] (3) In the above-described embodiments, examples are not given in which both the groove 34 a and the hole 34 c are formed in the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36, as shown in, for example, Figures 4 and 16, but it is acceptable for both the groove 34 a and the hole 34 c to be formed in the stopper elastic bodies 32, 36.

[0124] (4) In the above-described embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the pedal device 1 is an organ-type pedal device, but it may also be a hanging-type pedal device.

[0125] (5) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are not unrelated to each other and can be combined as appropriate, except in cases where the combination is clearly impossible.

[0126] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly considered essential in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, etc. of the components of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly limited to a specific number in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the components are mentioned, they are not limited to the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. unless they are particularly explicitly stated or are clearly limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0127] (Aspects of the present disclosure) The above-described present disclosure can be understood from the following aspects, for example: [First aspect] A brake pedal device provided on a vehicle (80), comprising: a support (10) having a fixed-side receiving portion (101), a pedal unit (20) having a rotating-side receiving portion (22) and a pedal pad (23), the pedal unit (20) being rotatably supported on the support about an axis (CL), biased to rotate to one side in a circumferential direction (Dpc) about the axis, and rotated to the other side in the circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives a pedal operation counter to the biasing force (Fb), a brake pedal device comprising: an elastic body (32) that is fixed to one-side receiving portion that is one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, and that, when the pedal operation is released, abuts against the other-side receiving portion that is the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and is compressed by the biasing force while being sandwiched between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion, and, when the pedal is operated, moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and at least one of a concave-convex shape (34b), a hole (34c), and a groove (34a) is formed in the elastic body.[Second Aspect] A brake pedal device provided on a vehicle (80), comprising: a support (10) having a fixed-side receiving portion (102); a pedal unit (20) having a rotating-side receiving portion (24) and a pedal pad (23), the pedal unit (20) being rotatably supported on the support about a single axis (CL), biased to rotate toward one side in a circumferential direction (Dpc) about the single axis, and rotated toward the other side in the circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives pedal operation by a driver (81) that opposes the biasing force (Fb); a brake pedal device comprising: an elastic body (36) fixed to one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, which, when the pedal is operated, comes into contact with the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and is compressed by the pedal force (Fp) applied by the driver while being sandwiched between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion, and which, when the pedal operation is released, moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, wherein the elastic body has at least one of a concave-convex shape (34b), a hole (34c), and a groove (34a) formed therein. [Third Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body. [Fourth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the third aspect, wherein the elastic body is made of rubber, a taper angle (Atp) formed between groove side surfaces (341) on both sides forming the groove is 1 degree or more, and a corner R having a radius of 1 mm or more is formed at an end (34d) of the groove in a groove extension direction (Dts) in which the groove extends, as viewed in a direction along the depth direction (Ddh) of the groove. [Fifth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the elastic body has an abutment surface (32b, 36b) that comes into contact with and separates from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and the groove is formed on the abutment surface. [Sixth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the elastic body is divided by the groove into a plurality of elastic portions (321, 322), and the plurality of elastic portions are separately fixed to the one-side receiving portion.[Seventh Aspect] The brake pedal device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the elastic body has a contact surface (32b, 36b) that comes into contact with and moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and the contact surface is rectangular and formed so that the aspect ratio of the outer shape of the contact surface is 1:1. [Eighth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the hole is formed in the elastic body, and the hole passes through the elastic body. [Ninth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body, the elastic body is made of rubber, and has a contact surface (32b, 36b) that comes into contact with and moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, the groove is formed on the contact surface of the elastic body, and a groove depth (Ht) of the groove is greater than a groove width (Wt) of the groove. [Tenth Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the first aspect, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body, the elastic body is made of rubber, and has an abutment surface (32b) that moves toward and away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and a pair of groove side surfaces (341) that face the groove and face each other across the groove, the groove is formed on the abutment surface of the elastic body, and a groove depth (Ht) of the groove is greater than a groove width (Wt) of the groove, and the groove width is large enough to maintain the pair of groove side surfaces spaced apart from each other even when the pedal operation is released and the elastic body is sandwiched and compressed between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion. [Eleventh Aspect] The brake pedal device according to the ninth or tenth aspect, wherein a plurality of the grooves are provided, the plurality of grooves are aligned at intervals (Δt) in a direction (Dda, Ddb) along the abutment surface, and the interval between the grooves on the abutment surface is greater than the groove width.

Claims

1. A brake pedal device provided on a vehicle (80), comprising: a support (10) having a fixed-side receiving portion (101); a pedal unit (20) having a rotating-side receiving portion (22) and a pedal pad (23), rotatably supported on the support around a single axis (CL), biased to rotate to one side in a circumferential direction (Dpc) around the single axis, and rotated to the other side in the circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives pedal operation counteracting the biasing force (Fb); and an elastic body (32) fixed to one side receiving portion, which is one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, and which, when the pedal operation is released, abuts against the other side receiving portion, which is the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, as the pedal unit rotates, and is compressed by the biasing force while sandwiched between the one side receiving portion and the other side receiving portion, and, when the pedal is operated, moves away from the other side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates. The brake pedal device, wherein the elastic body is formed with at least one of a concave-convex shape (34b), a hole (34c), and a groove (34a).

2. A brake pedal device provided on a vehicle (80), comprising: a support (10) having a fixed-side receiving portion (102); a pedal unit (20) having a rotating-side receiving portion (24) and a pedal pad (23), rotatably supported on the support about a single axis (CL), biased to rotate to one side in a circumferential direction (Dpc) about the single axis, and rotated to the other side in the circumferential direction when the pedal pad receives pedal operation by the driver (81) against the biasing force (Fb); a brake pedal device comprising: an elastic body (36) that is fixed to one-side receiving portion that is one of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion, and that, when the pedal is operated, comes into contact with the other-side receiving portion that is the other of the fixed-side receiving portion and the rotating-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and that is compressed by the pedal force (Fp) of the driver while being sandwiched between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion, and that, when the pedal operation is released, moves away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and at least one of a concave-convex shape (34b), a hole (34c), and a groove (34a) is formed in the elastic body.

3. A brake pedal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body.

4. A brake pedal device as described in claim 3, wherein the elastic body is made of rubber, the taper angle (Atp) formed between the groove side surfaces (341) on both sides forming the groove is 1 degree or more, and a corner R having a radius of 1 mm or more is formed at an end (34d) of the groove in the groove extension direction (Dts) in which the groove extends, when viewed in a direction along the depth direction (Ddh) of the groove.

5. A brake pedal device as described in claim 3, wherein the elastic body has a contact surface (32b, 36b) that moves toward and away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and the groove is formed on the contact surface.

6. A brake pedal device according to claim 3, wherein the elastic body is divided into a plurality of elastic portions (321, 322) by the groove, and the plurality of elastic portions are separately fixed to the one-side receiving portion.

7. A brake pedal device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic body has a contact surface (32b, 36b) that moves toward and away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and the contact surface is rectangular and is formed so that the aspect ratio of the outer shape of the contact surface is 1:

1.

8. A brake pedal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hole is formed in the elastic body, and the hole passes through the elastic body.

9. A brake pedal device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body, the elastic body is made of rubber and has a contact surface (32b, 36b) that moves towards and away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, the groove is formed on the contact surface of the elastic body, and the groove depth (Ht) of the groove is greater than the groove width (Wt) of the groove.

10. A brake pedal device as described in claim 1, wherein the groove is formed in the elastic body, the elastic body is made of rubber, and has a contact surface (32b) that moves toward and away from the other-side receiving portion as the pedal unit rotates, and a pair of groove side surfaces (341) that face the groove and face each other across the groove, the groove is formed on the contact surface of the elastic body, the groove depth (Ht) of the groove is greater than the groove width (Wt) of the groove, and the groove width is sized to maintain the pair of groove side surfaces apart from each other even when the pedal operation is released and the elastic body is sandwiched and compressed between the one-side receiving portion and the other-side receiving portion.

11. A brake pedal device as described in claim 9, wherein a plurality of the grooves are provided, the plurality of grooves are arranged at intervals (Δt) in a direction (Dda, Ddb) along the contact surface, and the intervals between the grooves on the contact surface are greater than the groove width.

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