Pedal Device Auxiliary Pivot Axis Collision Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pedal devices for vehicles lose functionality after a collision, as the pedal lever becomes displaced and cannot transmit power to components like the brake or clutch cylinder due to the shearing of the bearing element.

Innovation Solution

A pedal device with a collecting device that allows the pedal lever to be swiveled and stored around an auxiliary swivel axis, ensuring it remains in a defined location and can still operate after the bearing element is sheared, using a separation element that moves relative to the warehouse element to maintain pedal lever functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separation element is used to shear the bearing element in a collision, then the pedal lever can be prevented from penetrating into the passenger cell, but the pedal function is lost and the pedal lever becomes displaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration of pedal lever into passenger cellVSAvoidpedal function availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element is segmented into a first bearing element and a second bearing element, allowing the first to be sheared by the separation element while the second remains intact to maintain pedal functionality. This segmentation enables the system to simultaneously achieve safety (preventing penetration) and reliability (maintaining pedal function) by dividing the bearing function across two separate elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the bearing element is sheared to activate the separation element, then the warehouse element can be deployed to prevent penetration, but the pedal lever is left in an undefined location and cannot transmit power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedestruction of camp elementVSAvoidpower transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element is divided into two segments where the first bearing element is designed to be sheared for safety activation, while the second bearing element remains intact to maintain the mechanical connection for power transmission. This allows the system to achieve both protection (by shearing the first element) and operational capability (by preserving the second element).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second bearing element acts as an intermediary that maintains the connection between the pedal lever and the warehouse element after the first bearing element is sheared. This intermediary element ensures that power transmission capability is preserved even after the safety activation event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the pedal lever is allowed to move freely after shearing, then the separation element can be activated, but the pedal lever cannot be positioned in a defined location for functional operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety activationVSAvoidpedal lever position definition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the bearing element into two distinct parts with different functions, the system allows the first element to be sheared for safety activation while the second element maintains a defined position for the pedal lever, ensuring both safety and positional precision are achieved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the bearing element have different qualities: the first bearing element is designed for shearing (safety function) while the second bearing element is designed to maintain structural integrity and define position (functional operation). This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of safety activation and positional definition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3435194B1Pedal device for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 MANNESMANN BOGE
  • EP3435194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3435194B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3435194B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Pedal device for a vehicle, comprising a bearing block (2), a pedal lever (3) which is pivotably mounted on the bearing block (2) by means of a bearing element (4) about a pedal pivot axis (5), a separating element (9) by means of which the bearing element (4) can be sheared off, and a receiving device by means of which the pedal lever (3) can be received when the bearing element (4) has sheared off and can be mounted pivotably about an auxiliary pivot axis (25).