Pedal Effort Reduction Apparatus for High Horsepower Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clutch pedal systems for high horsepower vehicles with high engine output suffer from component damage and increased driver fatigue due to the concentration of load on spring bushes and higher initial effort required to prevent sliding between the clutch disk and flywheel.
Innovation Solution
A pedal effort reduction apparatus featuring a housing with a rotatable pedal member, an elastic body, a slider, cover plates, and a lever protrusion, which distributes load uniformly and applies auxiliary force to reduce the effort needed to operate the clutch pedal, using a cylindrical housing and arc-shaped cover plates to guide movement and support the slider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the diameter of the turnover spring is increased to increase spring force and prevent sliding between clutch disk and flywheel, then the spring force increases, but the load is concentrated on the spring bush connecting the turnover spring and pedal member, causing component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single spring bush connection into multiple connection points by introducing a lever mechanism with multiple support points on the pedal member. This segments the concentrated load into distributed loads across multiple locations, preventing any single point from bearing excessive stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lever as an intermediary mechanical element between the turnover spring and the pedal member. This lever acts as a mediator that transforms the direct force transmission path into a distributed force system, where the spring force is converted into moments acting at multiple support points, thereby protecting the spring bush from concentrated load.
2Force
If the diameter of the turnover spring is increased to increase spring force, then the spring force increases, but the initial effort applied to the pedal is also increased, thereby increasing driver fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic lever mechanism that changes its mechanical advantage ratio throughout the pedal's range of motion. The lever is positioned such that during the initial phase of pedal depression, the mechanical advantage is higher, reducing the effort required from the driver. As the pedal travels further, the mechanical advantage adjusts to maintain adequate spring force while minimizing the perceived effort by the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the lever mechanism, specifically the positions of the support points and the attachment point of the turnover spring, to optimize the force distribution. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves a balance where sufficient spring force is generated to prevent clutch disk sliding, while the initial pedal effort remains within acceptable limits for driver comfort.
3Ease of operation
If a turnover spring structure is used to reduce pedal effort and reduce driver fatigue, then driver fatigue is reduced, but component damage is often generated when used in high horsepower vehicles with high engine output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the force transmission path by introducing multiple support points for the lever on the pedal member. This segmentation distributes the high forces generated in high horsepower vehicles across multiple locations, preventing any single component from being overloaded and failing, thereby maintaining both driver comfort and component reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever acts as an intermediary mechanism that protects the turnover spring and spring bush from the extreme forces generated in high horsepower vehicles. By introducing this intermediate element with multiple support points, the system can handle high engine output forces without causing component damage, while still maintaining the fatigue reduction benefits for the driver.
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 apparatus effectively reduces driver fatigue and prevents component damage by distributing load and applying auxiliary force, maintaining stable operation even in high horsepower vehicles without increasing initial effort.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body inserted into the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for reducing a pedal effort for a vehicle may include a housing having a first end that is opened and a second end that is rotatably coupled to a pedal member, an elastic body inserted into the housing, a slider contacting the elastic body and configured to be slid along a length of the housing, cover plates coupled to the slider and contacting an outer peripheral surface of the housing so as to guide movement of the slider, and a lever protrusion rotatably coupled to the pedal member, having an end portion rotatably coupled to the slider, and configured to rotate together with a pedal depending on rotation of the pedal, to slide the slider.