Vehicle Pedal Support Structure for Collision Rearward Escape
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle operation pedal devices require a large number of parts and significant mounting space to prevent the depressing part from moving rearward during a collision, which is inefficient and space-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle operation pedal device is designed with a reduced number of parts by fixing it to a first vehicle component on the front side, utilizing a pair of upper and lower support members with weakened and reinforced sections to pivot the operation pedal rearward, and an upper center support member with a sliding receiving part to guide movement during a collision, minimizing vertical mounting space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pedal bracket and lever bracket structures are used to prevent rearward movement during collision, then safety is improved, but the number of parts and mounting space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pedal bracket and lever bracket into a single integrated pedal assembly. The pedal body directly integrates the functions of both the pedal bracket (supporting the depressing part) and the lever bracket (connecting to the operating rod), eliminating the need for separate brackets while maintaining collision protection functionality through the integrated structure's controlled deformation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pedal assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports normal pedal operation, provides collision protection by preventing rearward movement, and requires minimal mounting space. The single structure performs what previously required multiple separate components, reducing part count while maintaining safety performance.
2Reliability
If conventional pedal bracket and lever bracket structures are used to prevent rearward movement during collision, then safety is improved, but mounting space in vertical direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the pedal bracket and lever bracket functions into a single integrated pedal assembly, the vertical space requirement is reduced. The integrated structure eliminates the need for separate mounting spaces for multiple brackets, achieving collision protection with compact vertical footprint.
3Reliability
If multiple parts are used to prevent rearward movement, then safety is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces weight by combining multiple parts (pedal bracket, lever bracket, and associated fastening components) into a single integrated pedal assembly. This consolidation eliminates redundant materials and fastening hardware while maintaining the safety function of preventing rearward movement during collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the traditional multi-part structure. By removing the separate lever bracket and its associated mounting hardware, the design achieves weight reduction while retaining the essential collision protection functionality through the integrated pedal body design.
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
The solution effectively prevents the depressing part from moving rearward during a collision with fewer parts and less vertical mounting space, reducing weight and cost while maintaining pedal functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a first weakened part provided between the boss of the operation pedal and the welding spot, where tensile deformation is easily generated within the pair of lower support members
Implementation Method 2
a second weakened part provided adjacent to the welding spot on the vehicle front side, where buckling deformation is easily generated within the pair of lower support members
Implementation Method 3
the sliding receiving part is configured to face a sliding surface of a second vehicle component member disposed on the vehicle rear side relative to the first vehicle component member, the sliding surface extending in a direction toward the vehicle rear side so as to be inclined toward the vehicle lower side
Implementation Method 4
the pair of lower support members fixed to the first vehicle component member and further fixed to the pair of upper support members at a welding spot on a vehicle lower side relative to the boss of the operation pedal at the both sides of the operation pedal in the vehicle width direction by spot welding
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle operation pedal device, wherein mounting to a vehicle is completed by being fixed to a first vehicle component member disposed on a vehicle front side relative to an operation pedal, and wherein the number of parts needful to prevent a depressing part of the operation pedal from moving rearward at a time of vehicle collision are small, and a mounting space in a vehicle vertical direction is small. A vehicle operation pedal device 10 comprises: an operation pedal 80 which includes a depressing part 84 provided thereto; a pair of upper support members 20 which are fixed to a dash panel 100; a pair of lower support members 40 which are fixed to the dash panel 100 and also fixed to the pair of upper support members 20; an upper center support member 60 which is laid between the pair of upper support members 20; and a connection hole 86 which supports an operating rod R protruding from the dash panel 100 towards a vehicle rear side, such that the operating rod R is rotatable with respect to the operation pedal 80. The upper center support member 60 comprises a sliding receiving part 76. The pair of upper support members 20 comprise an escape hole 30.