Pedal sensor

Abstract

A pedal sensor is provided with a carrier that can be mounted to a motor vehicle. A housing is formed at the carrier, and a pedal arm is mounted on the carrier so as to be pivotable. A mechanism to transmit movements of the pedal arm relative to the carrier is arranged in the housing, and a sensor for measuring the movements is provided. A damping element is fixed to the carrier in a groove in such a way that any contact between the pedal arm and the carrier is dampened. The damping element is securely held on the carrier. This is achieved by the damping element being secured on both sides against slipping out of the groove.

Claims

1. A pedal sensor comprising: a carrier configured to couple with a motor vehicle; a pedal arm pivotally mounted on the carrier; a housing positioned and located on the carrier; a mechanism arranged in the housing, wherein the mechanism transmits movements of the pedal arm relative to the carrier; a sensor for measuring the movements of the pedal arm relative to the carrier; a groove positioned and located on the carrier, the groove having a first side and second side positioned and located opposite from one another; a damping element positioned and located in the groove, the damping element configured to damp contact between the pedal arm and the carrier; a bar positioned and located proximate to the second side of the groove; and wherein the damping element is retained in the groove by the bar and the first side of the groove.

2. The pedal sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bar is formed as a single-piece together with the carrier.

3. The pedal sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein a long side of the groove positioned proximate to the pedal arm is open such that the pedal arm makes contact with the damping element when the pedal arm rotates toward the carrier.

4. The pedal sensor in accordance with claim 3, further including a stop positioned and located on the pedal arm to make contact with the damping element when the pedal arm rotates toward the carrier.

5. The pedal sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the damping element is oriented parallel to a rotary axis of the pedal arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a pedal sensor.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of a carrier of the accelerator in detail.

(4) FIG. 3 is an isometric view according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) As can be seen from the figures, an upright pedal sensor comprises a carrier 1 and a pedal arm 2.

(6) The carrier 1 is designed to be mounted in the footwell of a motor vehicle. Integrated into the carrier, there is a housing in which a mechanism and a sensor are arranged to determine a relative position of the pedal arm 2. The mechanism serves to transmit relative movements to a transmitter and to generate forces opposing the operation of the pedal arm 2 as well as hysteresis for such forces. In this case, the sensor takes the form of an angular position sensor that registers the movements of the sensor and forwards the same to an evaluation and control device for further processing.

(7) The pedal arm 2 features an essentially flat operating side facing away from the carrier 1 and is mounted in an articulated manner on a lower end section of carrier 1 in accordance with FIG. 1. For this purpose, a film hinge 3 is molded onto the lower end of the pedal arm 2 that is mounted on the carrier 1 such that it is detachable. A rotary axis of pedal arm 2 lies vertically to a longitudinal axis of the pedal sensor in a plane parallel to the operating side. In a lower third, the pedal arm 2 is coupled to the mechanism. In an upper half of the pedal arm 2, the stop 4 is mounted in such a way that it points in the direction of the carrier 1 and protrudes from a plane of the pedal arm 2. A side of the stop 4 facing the carrier 1 is curved when viewed from the side. Optionally, the stop 4 takes the form of a kick-down element.

(8) A damping element 5 is mounted to the carrier 1 in such a way that it comes into contact with the stop 4 when the pedal arm 2 is at full-speed position. It is arranged in parallel to the rotary axis of the pedal arm 2.

(9) The damping element 5 takes the shape of a bar with a circular cross-section and is manufactured from an elastic material such as silicone.

(10) For mounting the damping element 5, there is in the carrier 1 an elongated groove 6, the opening on the long side of which points towards the pedal arm 2. The groove 6 has a cross-section in the shape of a circle segment, where the circle segment is larger than a semi-circle. A diameter of the groove 6 corresponds to a diameter of the damping element 5 with a predetermined play. A first front side of the groove 6, lower according to FIG. 3, is closed whereas a second front side opposite the first one is open. The damping element 5 is held in the groove 6, where one part of the damping element 5 protrudes from the cross-section of the groove 6 and thus out of its open long side.

(11) The second front side of the groove 6 spans a bar 7 that extends parallel to the front side and, for reasons of stability, longitudinally beyond the same. The open cross-section of the second front side is not negatively impacted (made smaller) by the bar 7, such that the molded part for the groove 6 can be pulled out of the same without problems following injection molding. The bar holds the damping element 5 laterally in an area that protrudes from the groove 6 as shown in FIG. 2 by the broken line (arc). A height of the bar 7 is dimensioned in such a way that firstly the required stability and secondly the lateral hold for the damping element 5 are ensured. The bar 7 is molded as a single piece with the carrier 1.

(12) For mounting onto the carrier 1, the damping element 5 is pressed coaxially into the opening of groove 6 on the long side in such a way that in the cross-section a segment-shaped part of the damping element 5 protrudes from the groove 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(13) 1 Carrier 2 Pedal arm 3 Film hinge 4 Stop 5 Damping element 6 Groove 7 Bar