Adjustable Vehicle Pedal With Dynamic Lever Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable pedals in motor vehicles often result in unfavorable pedal transmission ratios, which negatively affect the braking feel of the driver due to changes in the position of the pedal during adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The pedal design incorporates a pivotable pedal base body with two translational guiding bearing points and an adjusting unit that allows for targeted changes in lever arm lengths, ensuring a constant or defined pedal transmission ratio, and includes a Bowden cable connection or coupling rod to maintain optimal pedal plate alignment during adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pedal is adjusted to accommodate different driver statures, then the adaptability of the pedal position is improved, but the pedal transmission ratio becomes unfavorable and negatively affects the braking feel
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal base body is designed to be adjustable in position relative to the pedal arm, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the pedal geometry. The adjusting unit enables the pedal base body to be positioned at different locations along the pedal arm, thereby dynamically changing the lever arm lengths and transmission ratio to maintain optimal braking feel across different adjustment positions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the pedal system by adjusting the position of the pedal base body. Specifically, the first lever arm length (L1) and second lever arm length (L2) are adjusted in a coordinated manner through the adjusting unit, maintaining a constant or defined transmission ratio (L1/L2) while accommodating different driver requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pedal base body is made adjustable to improve adaptability, then the position can be customized for different drivers, but the structural complexity of the pedal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal is divided into distinct functional segments: the pedal arm, the adjustable pedal base body, and the adjusting unit. This segmentation allows the complex adjustment function to be isolated in the pedal base body and adjusting unit, while the main pedal arm remains structurally simple. The articulation point between the pedal arm and pedal base body serves as a clear separation point between these functional segments
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting unit serves multiple functions: it adjusts the position of the pedal base body, changes the lever arm lengths (L1 and L2), and maintains the desired transmission ratio. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall structural complexity while achieving the adaptability goal
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable pedal for a motor vehicle. A pedal arm is mounted at a bearing block so as to be able to pivot around a pedal axis and which has an articulation point for coupling to a device that is to be actuated by the pedal. The articulation point is spaced apart from the pedal axis by a first lever arm length; a pedal base body, which is mounted at the pedal arm and can be adjusted in relation to the pedal arm; a pedal plate, which is arranged in a bearing point at the lower end of the pedal base body. The bearing point of the pedal plate is spaced apart from the pedal axis by a second lever arm length; and an adjusting unit.