Pedal Assembly Impact Release Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During a front-end vehicle impact, the momentum forces the driver's leg and foot into the pedal pad with great force, necessitating a pedal assembly that can release the pedal away from the driver's leg and foot to prevent injury.
Innovation Solution
A pedal assembly with a release mechanism comprising a retaining member and a block, where the block's second angled portion engages with the retaining member's first angled portion upon impact, causing the retaining member to move and release the pedal arm from the housing, allowing it to pivot out of the operational position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pedal arm is firmly retained in the housing during normal operation, then the pedal assembly maintains operational stability and reliability, but during impact the pedal arm cannot release to prevent injury to the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal assembly transitions from a static retained state during normal operation to a dynamic released state during impact. The retaining member is designed to be stable under normal forces but capable of dynamic movement when impact forces exceed a threshold, allowing the pedal arm to pivot out of the housing and away from the driver's leg.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its mechanical retention parameters based on the magnitude of applied force. During normal operation, the retaining member maintains strong engagement with the pedal arm. During impact, the force parameter exceeds the retention threshold, causing the retaining member to slide and release, fundamentally changing the retention state from secure to released.
2Ease of operation
If the pedal arm is designed to pivot freely for normal operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the pedal arm may become unstable or detach during normal use
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member acts as an intermediary between the pedal arm and the housing. It provides controlled retention during normal operation while allowing the pedal arm to pivot freely within the channel. The retaining member mediates between the need for stability and the need for ease of operation, releasing only when impact forces exceed the retention threshold.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a release mechanism is added to allow pedal arm disengagement during impact, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is self-activating and requires no external control systems, sensors, or additional actuators. The impact force itself activates the release through the interaction between the block's angled portion and the retaining member's angled portion, causing automatic disengagement. This self-service approach provides safety functionality while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The release functionality is extracted as a separate, simple mechanical subsystem consisting of the retaining member and block with angled portions. This extracted mechanism operates independently from the main pedal arm structure, providing the release function through a minimal set of components rather than integrating complexity into the entire pedal assembly.
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 pedal assembly effectively disengages the pedal arm from the housing upon impact, moving it from an operational to a disengaged position, potentially positioning it on the vehicle's floorboard, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the driver.
Implementation Method 1
Upon an impact, the second angled portion of the block slidably engages with the first angled portion, which causes the retaining member to move and release the upper end of the pedal arm from the housing
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein are directed to a pedal assembly. The pedal assembly includes a housing, a pedal arm, a retaining member, and a block. The pedal arm has an upper end. The upper end is pivotally coupled to the housing. The retaining member is slidably engaged within the housing. The retaining member has a first angled portion. A portion of the retaining member in communication with the upper end of the pedal arm. The block is slidably mounted within the housing and perpendicular to the first angled portion of the retaining member. The block has a second angled portion that is complimentary to the first angled portion. Upon an impact, the second angled portion slidably engages with the first angled portion, which causes the retaining member to move and release the upper end of the pedal arm from the housing.