Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
  • G05G5/00—Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member
  • 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
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
  • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
  • G05G1/30—Controlling members actuated by foot
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
  • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
  • G05G1/30—Controlling members actuated by foot
  • G05G1/48—Non-slip pedal treads; Pedal extensions or attachments characterised by mechanical features only
  • G05G1/487—Pedal extensions
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
  • Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
  • Y10T74/20528—Foot operated

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for assisting the actuation of a pivoting clutch pedal for a vehicle, in particular an automobile.
• Such a device must provide several functions. In the first place, it should not annoy, but should instead, preferably, promote the maintenance of the pedal in its natural high clutch position. Ideally this position should be safe, well defined and stable.
• the assistance effort must be correlated with the effort developed by the clutch mechanism, which must overcome the driver during the race clutch.
• the effort developed at the end of the declutching stroke by the assistance device must not be too high, so as not to upset the free, safe and rapid return of the pedal to its initial position of clutch, as soon as the driver has released the pressure on the latter.
• the invention aims to fulfill these various objectives, which are hardly compatible.
• the device which is the subject of the invention comprises a spring device normally exerting on the pedal a moment which keeps it in a stable high engaged position, this spring, said "first spring” being interposed between a first connection point secured to the pedal and a second connection point carried by an element secured to the chassis of the vehicle, the disengagement, by the driver of the vehicle being operated by pivoting the pedal downwards, this, in a first time, against the resistance of said spring then, in a second time, beyond a given angle - said "peeling" - with the help of said spring.
• the spring maintains positively, safely and stably, the pedal in its natural high position.
• connection points are movably mounted relative to the element of which it is integral, and in that the device comprises means for automatically moving this connection point at the end of the race. declutching, so as to substantially reduce the moment exerted by the spring on the pedal, in the direction of disengagement.
• said first spring is a compression spring
• the said movable connection point is carried by a pivoting member urged by another spring, said "second spring"; this second spring is a tension spring;
• said pivoting member is articulated around an axis integral with the chassis of the vehicle and has two angularly offset bearing facets, suitable for one or the other to come into abutment against a stop pin also integral with the chassis of the vehicle.
• the first spring urges the pivoting member in a so-called “armed” position in which one of these facets is in abutment against the stop pin when the pedal occupies its high position and engaged, while the second spring constantly tends to rotate in another position, called “retracted” in which it is the other facet which is in abutment against the stopper;
• the device comprises means for automatic reset with mechanical control
• the upper part of the pedal comprises a protruding portion, possibly provided with a driving pin, while the said pivoting member has an appendage, the trajectory of the said protruding portion being adapted so as not to interfere with the said appendage when the pedal pivots; downwardly, while the pivoting member is in the armed position and, on the contrary, to interfere with said appendage when the pedal pivots upwards towards its natural engaged position and that the pivoting member is in the retracted position, so as to bring back the pivoting member in its armed position;
• Said pivoting member is articulated about an axis integral with the pedal, and is adapted to abut against two bearing surfaces angularly offset, also integral with the pedal, the first spring biasing the pivoting member in a said position.
• "Army” in which it is in abutment against a bearing surface when the pedal occupies its high position and engaged, while the second spring constantly tends to rotate in another position, called “retracted” in which the organ pivoting is in abutment against the other bearing surface
• the device comprises a fixed reset pin, integral with the vehicle chassis, while said pivoting member has a control appendix, the latter being adapted to not interfere with the rearming pin when the pedal pivots downwards, then that the pivoting member is in the armed position and, on the contrary, to interfere with said pin when the pedal pivots upwards towards its natural engaged position and that the pivoting member is in the retracted position, so as to bring back the organ pivoting in its armed position;
• FIG 1 schematically shows a clutch pedal equipped with an assistance device according to the invention, this pedal occupying its normal high position (engaged position).
• Figures 2 and 3 are partial views similar to those of Figure 1 showing the same pedal in the vicinity of its lower end position, respectively before and after moving the pivoting member from its armed position to its retracted position.
• FIG. 4 shows, even more schematically, a clutch pedal equipped with an assistance device according to another possible embodiment of the invention, this pedal occupying its normal high position (engaged position).
• Figures 5 and 6 are partial views similar to those of Figure 4 showing the same pedal in the vicinity of its low end position, respectively before and after passage of the pivoting member from its armed position to its retracted position.
• the reference 1 represents a clutch pedal fitted to a motor vehicle. It has a rectilinear main portion 10, having a slightly inclined disposition relative to the vertical. It is bent at the top to form an oblique arm 11, and is provided in the lower part of a support pad 13 for its actuation foot.
• the arm 11 forms a prominent portion, provided with a pin 12 whose function will be explained later.
• This pedal is articulated in the upper part, at its bent zone, about an axis 100. It is mounted between the two flanges of a yoke 2 secured to a fixed element EF of the vehicle chassis. By pressing with the foot on the shoe 13, the driver can pivot the pedal downward about the axis 100 in the direction symbolized in Figure 1 by the arrow F to the position shown in phantom and referenced 1 .
• the kinematic connection means between the pedal and the clutch mechanism which can be of any known type, any more than this mechanism, are not shown here.
• the position 1 'of the pedal corresponds to the disengagement of this mechanism, which is performed for a gear ratio change.
• the pedal is held in its normal position (engaged) by a prestressed helical compression spring 3, said first spring, which is interposed between two support and retaining parts 30, 31.
• the piece 30 is mounted on a pin 300 carried by the pedal arm 11, which serves as the first point of connection.
• the part 31 is mounted on a pin 310 carried by a pivoting part 4, which serves as a second connection point.
• the piece 4 is articulated about an axis 400 carried by the yoke 2.
• This piece as seen in Figure 1, has a generally triangular shape, one side has a recess with a semicircular edge 40 centered on the 400 axis and delimited by radial facets 41, 42.
• One of its angular zones has an elongated portion forming an appendix 43.
• a rod - or pin - fixed stop 20, carried by the yoke 2 limits the amplitude of pivoting of the part 4 about the axis 400 at an angle corresponding to the sector 40, slightly less than the flat angle.
• a tension spring 5, or second spring is interposed between a fixed attachment point 50 (integral with a flange of the yoke 2) and a fastening point 51 carried by the piece 4.
• the reference ⁇ designates the straight line passing through the axis 100 of the pedal and the second connection point 310.
• Do denotes the line passing through the axis 100 and the first connection point 300.
• the lines Do and ⁇ form between them an acute angle ⁇ o called "angle of ankle”.
• the first spring 3 which works in compression, and is prestressed, acts (through the point of connection 300) on the arm 11 so as to exert on the pedal 1 a moment of recall in high and stable position. This position can be determined by a high end stop (not shown) against which comes to carry an element integral with the pedal. At the same time, this spring 3 also acts (via the point of connection 310) on the part 4, and tends to rotate about its axis 400 so as to apply the facet 41 against the stopper pin 20. This is explained by the fact that the action line of the spring 3 passes above the axes 100 and 400.
• the second spring 5 which works with traction, tends to rotate the part 4 in the opposite direction, because its line of action also passes above the axis 400.
• the sizing and positioning of the various members of the device are such that the moment exerted by the spring 3 on the part 4 is greater than that exerted in the opposite direction by the spring 5.
• Ci is designated by the reference Ci as the circular trajectory of the connection point 300 around the axis 100 and by the reference C 2 as the virtual (theoretical) circular trajectory of this same point around the connection point 310.
• the spring 3 exerts on the pedal 1 a pivoting moment in the direction F, in the same direction as that applied by the driver.
• connection point 310 has moved appreciably towards the outside as a result of the change of orientation of the part 4. This has resulted in a marked increase in the spacing the two connecting points 300, 310.
• the change of orientation of the part 4 has caused a lowering of the connection point 310 which has changed the direction of the line of action of this spring, the lever arm D B has a lower value than D A.
• the moment exerted by the spring 3 on the pedal 1 in the direction F which is the product of the force by the lever arm, is therefore significantly lower than that which preceded the change of orientation of the part 4. Thanks to this lowering of the effort which solicits it in the direction F, the pedal 1 can rotate in a safe and open way in the opposite direction, under the action of the elastic system internal to the clutch mechanism, as soon as the driver has ceased to operate the pedal. It pivots from bottom to top as symbolized by the arrow
• the upper pedal portion 11, and the pin 12 with which it is provided, as well as the appendix 43 of the piece 4 are thus dimensioned and positioned as going up the pin 12 meets the appendage 43 and drives in its movement causing the pivoting of the piece 4 in the opposite direction G 'of G.
• FIGS. 4 to 6 operates globally according to the same principle as that which has just been described. It is distinguished essentially by the fact that the pivoting part that changes the moment exerted on the pedal is articulated on the latter, and not on a fixed element of the frame.
• This pedal has a bent shape comprising a rectilinear arm 6 which forms an angle close to the right angle with its main part 10, the hinge axis 100 being in the angular zone connecting these two elements.
• the arm 6 carries, directed upwards, when moving from the axis 100 towards the outside:
• the pivoting part comprises a bearing 70 by which it is mounted on the arm 6 and articulated around the 620 axis mentioned above.
• This part 7 comprises, on the outer side relative to the bearing 70, an arm 71 which rests against the bearing 63. Its other end is bent approximately at right angles, having a branch 72 directed upwards.
• the part 7 is provided with a pin 74 which constitutes one of the two points of connection of the compression spring s.
• connection point 8 is a pin carried by a fixed element of the frame.
• an appendage 73 which, as will be explained below, controls the rearming of the part 7.
• This appendix is in a position offset transversely to the plane of the drawing relative to the arm 6 and the bearing surfaces 61-63, so that it can not interfere with these elements when the part 7 pivots about the axis 620.
• the device comprises a fixed reset pin 9, which is positioned in the same plane shifted transversely as the appendix 73.
• the first spring 3, interposed between the fixed point 8 and the pin 74 acts on it, both directly to urge the part 7 in rotation about the axis 620, and indirectly (via the arm 71 and the span 63 ) to urge the pedal 1 in rotation about the axis 100.
• the action line of the spring 3 passes below the axis 620 and thus exerts on the piece 7 a moment which maintains it in its armed position, with the arm 71 bearing against the reach 63.
• the tensile force exerted on the branch 72 by the spring 5 is insufficient to counteract this moment.
• This line of action passes over the axis 100 and therefore tends to maintain a stable and safe pedal 1 in its upper position, clutch.
• the pin 9, shifted transversely, does not interfere with the passage of the device.
• the relaxation of the spring 3 is such that the moment it exerts on the part 7 becomes insufficient to counteract the counter moment of the spring 5.
• the change of orientation of the part 7 has caused a rise of the connection point 74 which has changed the direction of the action line of the spring 3, the lever arm D B has a lower value than D A.
• Appendix 73 meets the pin 9, which causes the pivoting of the piece 7 in the direction G 'opposite G.
• the part 7 thus automatically returns to its initial armed position, and the pedal returns to its engaged position of FIG. 4.
• an automatic mechanical arming and / or resetting system both for the first and for the second embodiment, it is possible to implement an electrical control system.
• the moving part 4, 7 is equipped with detectors of its angular position with respect to the yoke 2 or, respectively, to the arm 6, as well as the direction of movement of the pedal 1.
• Signals representative of the situation are sent to a computer capable of controlling an electric actuator, so that it exerts on the moving part at the moment a sufficient torque to arm or bring it back to its initial armed position.
• This actuator can be in particular an electric motor or an electromagnet.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Arrangement And Mounting Of Devices That Control Transmission Of Motive Force (AREA)
• Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
• Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39005387

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2007
  • 2007-06-27 FR FR0704602A patent/FR2918142B1/fr active Active
• 2008
  • 2008-05-28 JP JP2010514048A patent/JP2010531272A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-05-28 KR KR1020107001763A patent/KR20100042630A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2008-05-28 WO PCT/FR2008/050925 patent/WO2009000993A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-05-28 EP EP08805869A patent/EP2158531A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-05-28 US US12/666,553 patent/US20100154582A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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