Brake Pedal Pad Layout for Aligned Reaction Force Loading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional brake pedal devices, there is a significant separation between the position where the stepping force acts on the pedal operation portion and the position where the reaction force acts on the pedal pad, leading to undesired stress on the pedal pad due to the rotating shaft being positioned closer to the driver.
Innovation Solution
A brake pedal device with a pedal pad that rotates about a predetermined axis and incorporates a reaction force generation mechanism generating a reaction force in a direction piercing the plane portion where the stepping force is applied, reducing the divergence between the positions of the stepping and reaction forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the rotating shaft is positioned closer to the driver, then the pedal pad can be designed with a compact structure, but the separation between the stepping force position and reaction force position increases causing bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by making the pedal operation portion protrude in the rotation direction (depth dimension) rather than only in the radial direction. This creates a three-dimensional configuration where the plane portion is positioned depth-wise between the stepping force application point and the reaction force generation point, effectively reducing the moment arm and bending stress without increasing the radial footprint of the pedal pad structure.
2Ease of operation
If the reaction force acts at a position separated from the stepping force position, then the pedal pad can rotate more freely, but undesired bending stress occurs on the pedal pad
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the rotation direction as a third dimension to position the plane portion. This allows the reaction force to act through the plane portion at a location that is depth-wise between the stepping force and the rotation axis, maintaining rotational freedom while minimizing the bending moment and resulting stress on the pedal pad structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake pedal device includes a pedal pad rotatable about an axis when stepped on by a driver, and a reaction force generation mechanism generating a reaction force to the pedal pad according to a stepping amount of the pedal pad. The pedal pad includes a pedal base portion extending away from an axis side end to another end, and a pedal operation portion attached to the pedal base portion and stepped on by the driver. The pedal operation portion protrudes toward a pedal return side in a rotation direction about the axis with respect to the pedal base portion, and a surface of the pedal operation portion has a plane portion that is configured as a flat surface and is stepped on by the driver, so that the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation mechanism acts on the pedal pad in a direction piercing the plane portion.