Electronic throttle control pedal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9671815-B2
Application number	US-201414505572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2014
Priority date	Oct 3, 2013
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A pedal assembly having a hysteresis creating configuration in communication with a sensor of a pedal assembly. The assembly includes a housing and a pedal arm wherein the pedal arm is pivotally mounted by bushings to the housing. A connector and sensor assembly is provided connected through the pivot point (hub) where the pedal arm connects to the housing of the pedal assembly. A spring connects to a spring carrier wherein the spring is depressed upon depression of the pedal arm of the pedal assembly. As the spring applies a force to the spring carrier, the spring carrier slides down an inclined wall and applies a force to a friction shoe. The friction shoe is in contact with the generally circular hub of the pedal arm thus providing a hysteresis effect as the friction shoe contacts the hub of the pedal arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic throttle pedal assembly for use with a vehicle producing hysteresis, the assembly comprising:
a housing having a first surface with an angled wall portion and a second surface having a generally planner portion;
a pedal arm pivotally connected to the housing, the pedal arm having an outer surface, the outer surface having a generally circumferential shape;
a hysteresis subassembly mounted to the housing, the hysteresis subassembly having a friction shoe and a spring carrier both mounted to the housing, the spring carrier having a rounded protrusion extending towards a free end of the pedal arm, the friction shoe having an arcuate indentation configured to receive the spring carrier rounded protrusion, the spring carrier configured to slide along the angled wall portion, the outer surface of the pedal arm in contact with an outer surface of the friction shoe, together the friction shoe and the spring carrier move as a single unit to prevent relative rotation of the spring carrier with respect to the movement of one another, the hysteresis subassembly having at least one spring mounted between the spring carrier and the pedal arm;
wherein as the pedal arm is depressed, the at least one spring displaces the spring carrier along the along the angled wall portion which in turn pushes the friction shoe against the pedal arm as the pedal arm continues to rotate thereby creating friction and thus creating hysteresis between the angled wall portion and the spring carrier and between the friction shoe and the pedal arm.

2. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the pedal arm includes an indentation portion to contain the at least one spring.

3. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the pedal arm further includes a kick down button adapted to contact the second surface of the housing, the kick down button configured to send a signal to an electronic control unit when the kick down button contacts the second surface of the housing to indicate that the pedal has been fully depressed.

4. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 3 wherein the kick down button includes a spring.

5. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 having a sensor wherein the sensor is a rotational sensor having a coupler insert mounted to the free end of the pedal arm.

6. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein the coupler insert includes a spin weld engagement.

7. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein the sensor includes a spin weld ring configured to connect to the housing.

8. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 having a sensor wherein the sensor includes a printed circuit board mounted within the pedal ann.

9. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is comprised of two total springs mounted between the spring carrier and the housing.

10. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein a spring dampener is positioned between the two springs to prevent the two springs from touching thereby preventing noise.

11. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring carrier includes a generally circular indentation adapted to connect with the at least one spring.

12. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 11 wherein the generally circular indentation of the spring carrier includes a protrusion extending upwards towards the at least one spring configured to assist in mounting of the at least one spring to the spring carrier.

13. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the friction shoe is arcuate and adapted to connect with the circumferential outer surface of the pedal arm.

14. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring carrier moves downwards and forward towards a hub of the pedal arm as the pedal arm is depressed, the spring carrier forces the friction shoe against the pedal arm thereby producing hysteresis.

15. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein a first end of the pedal arm includes a generally circular connector adapted to connect to the housing.

16. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 having a sensor wherein the sensor includes a connector adapted to connect to an electronic control unit.

17. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 16 wherein the sensor is provided connected through a pivot point of the pedal arm where the pedal arm connects to the housing of the pedal assembly.

18. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a sensor mounted between an end of the pedal arm and the housing configured to measure rotational movement of the pedal arm during depression of the pedal arm.

19. An electronic throttle control pedal assembly comprising:
a housing;
a pedal arm rotationally connected to the housing, the pedal arm having a hub at a distal end of the pedal arm where the pedal arm connects to the housing; and
a sensor incorporated within the hub of the pedal arm wherein the sensor is configured to measure rotational movement of the pedal arm,
wherein the sensor includes a coupler insert mounted to a free end of the pedal arm and a spin weld ring configured to connect to the housing.

20. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 19 wherein the housing further includes a hysteresis subassembly in communication with the hub of the pedal arm.

21. The electronic throttle control pedal assembly of claim 20 wherein the housing includes an indentation configured to accept a portion of the hysteresis subassembly.

Assignees

• Ksr Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Fuller Shaun Matthew
• O'Neill Dan

Classifications

• Y10T74/20534

  Accelerator · CPC title

• G05G1/44 Primary

  pivoting · CPC title

• G05G5/03

  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