Passive pedal force emulator having coil springs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12346145-B2
Application number	US-202318240652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2023
Priority date	Aug 31, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a pedal assembly that includes a pedal arm configured to move based on a load applied thereon and a housing that includes a first housing member having a first cavity and a pushrod operably connected to the pedal arm and to the first housing member. A first cradle positioned within the first cavity. The first cradle includes a second cavity. A first pair of springs positioned to extend within the second cavity. A second housing member having a third cavity. A second pair of springs positioned to extend within the second cavity and the third cavity. When a first predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the pushrod moves which drives the first cradle against the first pair of springs such that at least a compression energy by the first pair of springs generates a first force feedback onto the pedal arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pedal assembly comprising:
a pedal arm configured to move based on a load applied thereon;
a housing including:
a first housing member having:
a first cavity;
a pushrod operably connected to the pedal arm and to the first housing member;

a first cradle positioned within the first cavity and operably movable in a longitudinal direction, the first cradle including a second cavity;
a first biasing member positioned to extend within the second cavity;
a second housing member having a third cavity, a portion of the first housing member and a portion of the first cradle received within the third cavity of the second housing member to move in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second housing member based on the load;
a second biasing member positioned to extend within the third cavity such that the second biasing member is configured to engage with the first cradle, and
a second cradle positioned within the second cavity,

wherein:
the first biasing member is positioned to extend within the second cavity between the first cradle and the second cradle; and
the second biasing member is positioned to extend within the second cavity and the third cavity and between the second cradle and an interior surface at least initially spaced apart from the second cradle,
wherein when a first predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the pushrod moves a first amount which drives the first cradle against the first biasing member such that at least a compression energy by only the first biasing member generates a first force feedback onto the pedal arm.

2. The pedal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an end cap coupled to the second housing member and having the interior surface,
wherein
the second biasing member is positioned to extend within the second cavity and the third cavity and between the second cradle and the interior surface of the end cap.

3. The pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the end cap includes a receiving recess configured to receive and retain a distal end of the second biasing member.

4. The pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
when a second predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the pushrod further moves a distance in the longitudinal direction which drives the first cradle towards the interior surface of the end cap in the longitudinal direction and the second cradle towards an inner surface of the first cradle at a proximal end of the first cradle in the longitudinal direction.

5. The pedal assembly of claim 4 , wherein when the second predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the first biasing member is at least partially compressed and the second biasing member is at least partially compressed to generate a second force feedback onto the pedal arm.

6. The pedal assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second predetermined load is greater than the first predetermined load and the second force feedback has a greater force than the first force feedback.

7. The pedal assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
when a third predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the pushrod further moves a second distance in the longitudinal direction which further drives the first cradle in the longitudinal direction such that the first cradle abuts the interior surface of the end cap and such that the second biasing member is further compressed to generate a third force feedback onto the pedal arm.

8. The pedal assembly of claim 7 , wherein when the third predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the second cradle is moved to abut the inner surface of the first cradle at the proximal end of the first cradle in the longitudinal direction.

9. The pedal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the third predetermined load is greater than the second predetermined load and the third force feedback has a greater force than the second force feedback.

10. The pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first biasing member is a first pair of springs coaxially aligned such that one of the first pair of springs is positioned within an inner diameter of the other one of the first pair of springs; and
the second biasing member is a second pair of springs coaxially aligned such that one of the second pair of springs is positioned within an inner diameter of the other one of the second pair of springs.

11. A pedal assembly comprising:
a pedal arm configured to move based on a load applied thereon;
a housing operably coupled to the pedal arm, the housing including:
a first cradle having a cavity and operably movable in a longitudinal direction within the housing;
a first biasing member positioned to extend within the cavity;
a housing member having a second cavity, a portion of the first cradle received within the second cavity of the housing member to move in the longitudinal direction with respect to the housing member based on the load;
a second biasing member positioned to extend within the second cavity such that the second biasing member is configured to engage with the first cradle;

an end cap coupled to the housing member and having an interior surface, a portion of the second biasing member configured to engage with the interior surface;
a second cradle positioned within the cavity of the first cradle, the first biasing member positioned to extend within the cavity between the first cradle and the second cradle; and
the second biasing member positioned to extend within the cavity and the second cavity and between the second cradle and the interior surface of the end cap,
wherein when a first predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the first cradle is driven against the first biasing member such that at least a compression energy by only the first biasing member generates a first force feedback onto the pedal arm.

12. The pedal assembly of claim 11 , wherein the interior surface of the end cap includes a receiving recess configured to receive and retain the portion of the second biasing member.

13. The pedal assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
when a second predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the first cradle further moves in the longitudinal direction towards the interior surface of the end cap and the second cradle towards an inner surface of the first cradle at a proximal end of the first cradle in the longitudinal direction.

14. The pedal assembly of claim 13 , wherein when the second predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the first biasing member is at least partially compressed and the second biasing member is at least partially compressed to generate a second force feedback onto the pedal arm.

15. The pedal assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second predetermined load is greater than the first predetermined load and the second force feedback has a greater force than the first force feedback.

16. The pedal assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
when a third predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the first cradle further moves in the longitudinal direction such that the first cradle abuts the interior surface of the end cap, the second pair of springs are further compressed to generate a third force feedback onto the pedal arm;
when the third predetermined load is applied to the pedal arm, the second cradle is moved to abut the inner surface of the first cradle at the proximal end of the first cradle in the longitudinal direction; and
the third predetermined load is greater than the second predetermined load, the third force feedback has a greater force than the second force feedback.

Assignees

• Ksr Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Leem Daniel
• Jaboukji Amir
• Vyskocil Matthew
• Hill Benjamin Scott
• O'Neill Dan

Classifications

• G05G1/44

  pivoting · CPC title

• B60T7/042

  by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• G05G1/38

  comprising means to continuously detect pedal position · CPC title

• G05G5/05

  Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title