GB631288A - Improvements in and relating to accelerator pedals for use in motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

631,288. Controlling pedals for motor vehicles. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd. Aug. 21, 1947, No. 23171. Convention date. Oct. 25, 1946. [Classes 79 (v) and 136 (ii)] An accelerator pedal assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a support, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support, a return spring biasing the lever towards its inoperative position, and a pedal pad supported only by the actuating lever, the means for connecting the pad to the lever being arranged so that the pad may be attached to the lever or detached therefrom without the aid of tools, while being secure against accidental displacement when it is connected. An accelerator pedal pad 14, Fig. 4, is detachably connected by a spring clip 31 to an actuating lever 16 pivotally secured to a supporting bracket 17 fixed on the vehicle toeboard and biased by a spring connecting' with one of a series of holes 53 in the lever. As shown in an exploded view of the assembly, Fig. 3, the pedal pad 14 comprises a plate 23 having a pair of longitudinal ribs 39 on its underside and apertures 24, 26 through which pass fingers of the spring clip 31. The plate and clip are then enclosed within a rubber pad 37, Figs. 4 and 6, which is moulded or vulcanised thereto so that rubber flows through the apertures 24, 26 and apertures 27 in the plate and thus securely fixes the clip to the plate. The upper surface of the rubber pad 37 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 38, Fig. 6, while the lower surface is of insufficient thickness to cover the longitudinal ribs 39 of the plate. The actuating lever 16 comprises an upper surface 56, having longitudinal grooves 57 which cooperate with the ribs 39, and notches 58, 59 to receive the fingers of the spring clip. -Holes 48 in the side members 49, 51, receive a pivot pin 41 for connecting the lever to the supporting bracket 17. A hole 61 is provided in the upper surface of the lever 16 so that, prior to fitting the pedal pad to the lever a suitable tool may be inserted therethrough to enable the supporting bracket 17 to be bolted to the toeboard by a bolt passing through a hole 44 in the bracket. In a modification, Fig. 8, a pedal plate 69 has two lugs 68 and a rectangular projection 73 stamped therefrom while the upper surface of an actuating lever 67 has a square aperture 74 and an opening 71 with opposed notches 72. The lugs 68 are passed through the notches 72 and the plate turned through 90 degrees is secured to the lever by the projection 73 engaging the aperture 74 and lugs 68 engaging the underside edges of the opening 71.