Clutch Pedal Arrangement with Inverted Tension Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clutch pedal arrangements with over-center springs result in a counterforce that increases as the pivoting path of the pedal lever increases, leading to suboptimal actuation forces for the vehicle driver.
Innovation Solution
The tension spring is arranged and supported at both ends to generate a counterforce that decreases as the pedal lever is actuated, ensuring a consistent or reduced counterforce over the entire actuation path, with the connection point of the tension spring adjusting to minimize counterforce while maintaining the restoring effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an over-center spring is used to support the pedal lever actuation, then a supporting force is achieved after the over-center point is overcome, but the counterforce increases as the pivoting path increases, which is not optimal for the vehicle driver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional over-center spring arrangement by positioning the tension spring on the opposite side of the pedal lever's rotation axis. This inversion changes the spring's mechanical advantage ratio throughout the actuation path, causing the spring force to decrease as the pedal is depressed, counteracting the increasing hydraulic resistance force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the spring arrangement, specifically the positions of the spring connection points on the pedal lever and the anchor point. By optimizing these parameters, the spring force profile is adjusted to decrease during actuation, compensating for the increasing hydraulic counterforce and maintaining optimal actuation effort throughout the pedal travel.
2Ease of operation
If the tension spring is arranged to generate decreasing counterforce over the actuation path, then optimal actuation forces are achieved, but the installation space and geometric constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the three-dimensional space around the pedal lever by positioning the spring anchor point and connection points in specific spatial locations. The spring is arranged to pass through or around other components, effectively using unused spatial dimensions to achieve the desired force profile without increasing the footprint of the clutch actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension spring is routed through existing structural elements and components of the clutch mechanism, nesting the spring path within the available space. The spring passes through openings or alongside other components, effectively utilizing the internal volume and interstitial spaces of the existing structure rather than requiring additional external space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design optimizes the forces acting on the vehicle driver by maintaining a consistent or reduced counterforce, improving the overall actuation experience despite increasing hydraulic counterforce, and reduces the installation space required.
Implementation Method 1
a first lever arm of which carries a pedal plate at its free end and a second lever arm for connecting one end of at least one tension spring in the manner of a return spring
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a clutch pedal arrangement for a vehicle, having hydraulic clutch actuation, and having a pedal lever (3) that is supported in a bearing block (1) so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (2), wherein a first lever arm (3a) thereof carries a pedal plate (5) on the free end of the first lever arm and a second lever arm (3b) is used to connect an end of at least one tension spring (7) in the manner of a restoring spring, which is connected at the other end to the bearing block (1) or to another suitable stationary component of the vehicle, wherein a counterforce of the clutch hydraulics to be overcome during actuation of the pedal lever (3) to open the clutch increases with increasing actuation travel of the pedal lever (3), and wherein the at least one tension spring (7) is arranged and supported at both ends in such a way that, in addition to the counterforce of the clutch hydraulics acting on the pedal lever (3), the at least one tension spring produces a counterforce over the entire actuation travel of the pedal lever (3) during actuation of the pedal lever (3) to open the clutch, which counterforce decreases with increasing actuation travel of the pedal lever (3).