Adjustable Vehicle Pedal Assembly with Splined Shaft and Cam Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle pedal assemblies are fixed, preventing ergonomic positioning adjustments without breaking the mechanical linkage between the pedal and valve, which limits operator comfort across varying driver sizes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable vehicle pedal assembly incorporating a tray sub-assembly with a splined shaft and a push rod sub-assembly that allows for position adjustments while maintaining a mechanical linkage, using a cam to ensure continuous engagement with the push rod and valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed components are used in the vehicle pedal assembly, then the mechanical linkage between the pedal and valve is maintained, but the pedal position cannot be adjusted for ergonomic positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal assembly is divided into separate modular components: a pedal arm assembly with tray sub-assembly, a push rod sub-assembly, and a valve assembly. These segments can be independently adjusted and repositioned while maintaining their mechanical connections through splined shafts and cam mechanisms, enabling ergonomic adjustment without breaking the overall linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a static fixed pedal assembly to a dynamic adjustable system. The tray sub-assembly can slide along the splined shaft to adjust pedal position, and the cam mechanism can rotate to maintain engagement with the push rod during adjustment, allowing the system to adapt to different operator needs while preserving mechanical connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If the pedal position is adjusted in fixed assemblies, then ergonomic positioning is achieved, but the mechanical linkage between the pedal and valve is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The splined shaft acts as an intermediary element between the tray sub-assembly and the cam mechanism. It allows the tray to slide for position adjustment while the cam rotates to maintain continuous engagement with the push rod, serving as a mediator that enables adjustment without breaking the mechanical linkage to the valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is designed to maintain engagement with the push rod during the adjustment process. As the tray slides to adjust position, the cam rotates in advance to preserve continuous contact with the push rod, ensuring the mechanical linkage to the valve remains intact throughout the adjustment operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable mechanisms are added to the pedal assembly, then ergonomic positioning is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splined shaft serves multiple functions: it provides a sliding guide for the tray sub-assembly to adjust position, acts as a rotational axis for the cam mechanism, and maintains the mechanical linkage to the push rod. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, enabling adjustment capability while managing overall assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable vehicle pedal assembly is disclosed. The adjustable vehicle pedal assembly may include a tray sub-assembly and a push rod sub-assembly. The tray sub-assembly may include a vehicle pedal, a splined shaft, and a tray that is slidable, relative to the splined shaft, to permit a position of the vehicle pedal to be adjusted. The push rod sub-assembly may engage a valve based on actuation of the vehicle pedal. A mechanical linkage between the tray sub-assembly and the push rod sub-assembly being maintained when the position of the vehicle pedal is adjusted.