Retractable Vehicle Pedal With Nested Drive Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automobile pedals in high-chassis models are not optimally designed for space utilization and aesthetics, particularly when transitioning between unfolded and retracted states, which affects vehicle passability, comfort, and appearance.
Innovation Solution
A movable pedal system with a drive device connected through a mounting slot, allowing the pedal to switch between unfolded and retracted states while maintaining a neat and aesthetic appearance by utilizing the pedal surface area fully.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the drive device is connected to the pedal body using traditional mounting methods, then the connection is secure, but the pedal surface area is wasted and the appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device is nested within a mounting slot formed in the pedal body, with the drive arm rotating within the confines of the pedal structure. This nesting approach allows the drive mechanism to be integrated into the pedal body without protruding externally, thereby preserving the pedal surface area and maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting slot is extracted as a separate structural feature from the pedal body, creating a dedicated space for the drive device. This extraction allows the drive mechanism to be positioned optimally within the pedal structure, securing the connection while minimizing impact on the pedal's external appearance and surface area utilization.
2Length of moving object
If the pedal is designed to be fully retractable, then vehicle passability and appearance are improved, but the drive mechanism protection becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The drive arm and drive device are nested within the pedal body structure, specifically within the mounting slot and surrounding housing. This nesting provides inherent protection to the drive mechanism while allowing the pedal to retract fully, as the protected components remain enclosed within the pedal's structural boundaries throughout the retraction motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism is positioned in a dimensional space within the pedal body rather than externally. By utilizing the internal three-dimensional space of the pedal structure, the drive mechanism achieves protection while the pedal maintains full retraction capability, effectively solving the conflict between retraction distance and mechanism protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pedal uses a simple mounting structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the pedal surface area is not fully utilized and aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is segmented into distinct components: the mounting slot, the drive arm, and the drive device. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard processes, maintaining ease of manufacture, while the coordinated arrangement of these segments creates an integrated, aesthetically pleasing structure that fully utilizes the pedal surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting slot serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the drive device, defines the retraction path, and contributes to the overall aesthetic appearance. This multi-functionality allows a relatively simple mounting structure to achieve complex objectives including full surface area utilization and aesthetic appeal without requiring elaborate manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A movable pedal, an electric pedal apparatus and a pedal system are disclosed. The movable pedal is applied to a vehicle, and includes a pedal body. A first surface is provided on an upper side of the pedal body, and the first surface is configured for being trampled by drivers and passengers. A mounting slot is formed in an approaching side of the pedal body, and a notch of the mounting slot faces the vehicle. A drive device can be connected to the pedal body through the mounting slot in a blind assembly, and the drive device can drive the pedal body to switch between an unfolded state and a retracted state.