Reactive force pedal device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229469-B2
Application number	US-201214368613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2012
Priority date	Dec 27, 2011
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

In a reactive force pedal device, between a motor-side output shaft and a pedal member, a one-way clutch is provided which allows transmittance of rotational force when performing a depressing operation of the pedal member and disables transmittance of the rotational force when performing a revert operation of the pedal member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reaction force pedal device comprising:
a pedal member configured to be depressed by a driver of a vehicle;
a motor for applying a reaction force in a direction to return the pedal member toward an initial position thereof after the driver depresses the pedal member;
a motor-side output shaft disposed on the motor for transmitting rotation of the motor toward the pedal member; and
a speed reducer disposed between the pedal member and the motor, for transmitting a drive force from the motor to the pedal member,
wherein a one-way clutch is disposed between the motor-side output shaft and the pedal member, for allowing a rotational force to be transmitted when the pedal member is depressed and preventing a rotational force from being transmitted when the pedal member is returned,
wherein the speed reducer includes a speed-reducer-side output shaft for transmitting rotation of the motor-side output shaft to the pedal member,
wherein the pedal member comprises:
a pad to be operated by the driver; and
a pedal-side arm having an end coupled to the pad and another end angularly movably supported on a vehicle body of the vehicle:

and wherein the reaction force pedal device further comprises:
a motor-side arm coupled to the speed-reducer-side output shaft and held in displaceable contact with the pedal-side arm, for transmitting the drive force from the motor to the pedal-side arm; and
an urging unit for urging the motor-side arm into contact with the pedal-side arm.

2. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 1 , the one-way clutch is disposed between the motor-side output shaft and the speed-reducer-side output shaft.

3. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the speed reducer has a plurality of pairs of speed reducer gears; and
the one-way clutch is disposed between one of the speed reducer gears that is closest to the speed-reducer-side output shaft and the speed-reducer-side output shaft.

4. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a torque limiter disposed between one of at least one pair of speed reducer gears that is closest to the speed-reducer-side output shaft and the speed-reducer-side output shaft, for preventing a torque in excess of a predetermined value from being transmitted.

5. A reaction force pedal device comprising:
a pedal member configured to be depressed by a driver of a vehicle, the pedal member comprising a pad configured to be contacted by a foot of the driver, and a pedal-side arm attached to an upper end of the pad;
an urging force generator operatively connected to the pedal-side arm, the urging force generator comprising a return spring and an operation amount sensor for sensing an amount of travel of the pedal member;
a reaction force generator comprising a motor for applying a reaction force in a direction to return the pedal member toward an initial position thereof after the driver depresses the pedal member, the motor comprising a motor-side output shaft;
a speed reducer disposed between the pedal member and the motor, for transmitting a drive force from the motor to the pedal member; and
a motor-side arm for contacting the pedal-side arm and urging the pedal member toward its initial position in response to rotary movement of the motor-side output shaft;
wherein a one-way clutch is disposed between the motor-side output shaft and the pedal member, for allowing a rotational force to be transmitted when the pedal member is depressed and preventing a rotational force from being transmitted when the pedal member is returned.

6. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 5 , wherein the one-way clutch is disposed between the motor-side output shaft and the speed-reducer-side output shaft.

7. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the speed reducer comprises a plurality of pairs of speed reducer gears; and
the one-way clutch is disposed between one gear of a pair of the speed reducer gears that is closest to the speed-reducer-side output shaft, and the speed-reducer-side output shaft.

8. The reaction force pedal device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a torque limiter disposed between one of at least one pair of the speed reducer gears that is closest to the speed-reducer-side output shaft and the speed-reducer-side output shaft, for preventing a torque in excess of a predetermined value from being transmitted.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd
• Mitsuba Corp

Inventors

• Maruyama Kohei
• Nebuya Hideto
• Sen Naoto
• Hoshino Terumasa
• Maruyama Tsuyoshi
• Noro Yasunori

Classifications

• G05G1/30 Primary

  Controlling members actuated by foot · CPC title

• Y10T74/20534

  Accelerator · CPC title

• G05G5/03 Primary

  Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) · CPC title

• G05G1/40 Primary

  adjustable · CPC title