Patent
Load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device and load-sensor-equipped operating device
| العنوان: | Load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device and load-sensor-equipped operating device |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 8,707,820 |
| تاريخ النشر: | April 29, 2014 |
| Appl. No: | 12/071623 |
| Application Filed: | February 25, 2008 |
| مستخلص: | A load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device includes a load sensor (30) having a case member (34) formed with a pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) converged in a convex shape at a predetermined apex angle α. The pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) are held in surface contact with a pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b), formed in a sensor-mounting hole (28) in a fixed and positioned state. Thus, even if a direction of an input load (reactive force), applied to a clevis pin (26) varies with an operating pedal 16 being progressively depressed, the pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b) always bear the input load via the pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b). This suppresses the case member (34) from flexure deforming due to stress concentration. As a result, positional displacement of a sensor is prevented regardless of a variation in the direction of the input load, improving detecting precision. |
| Inventors: | Fujiwara, Noboru (Toyota, JP) |
| Assignees: | Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. (Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken, JP) |
| Claim: | 1. A load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device, comprising: an operating pedal mounted on a pedal support fixedly secured to a vehicle, to be pivotable about an axis of a support shaft and depressable by an operator; a reactive member receiving an operating force of the operating pedal and generating a reactive force corresponding to the operating force; at least one pivotably connecting section, interposed between the operating pedal and the reactive member, having a pair of component members pivotably connected relative to each other about a connecting pin, and transmitting the operating force through the connecting pin; and a load sensor electrically detecting the operating force; wherein the load sensor includes (i) a shaft member, (ii) an annular case member being disposed radially outside the shaft member to be relatively displaced in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft member and radially surrounding the shaft member, (iii) a strain body disposed between the shaft member and the case member to straddle the shaft member and the case member, and (iv) strain detecting elements fixed to the strain body, wherein the reactive force causes the shaft member and the case member to relatively move in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft member to deform the strain body such that the strain detecting elements detect a deformation of the strain body; the case member is fitted to a sensor-mounting hole formed in a sensor mounting member comprised of either one of the component members connected to each other via the connecting pin in the pivotably connecting section, and the shaft member is connected to the other one of the component members via the connecting pin; the case member has a plurality of mounting portions engaged with a plurality of load receiving portions formed in the sensor-mounting hole respectively, and is positionally disposed in the sensor-mounting member in a fixed posture; even when a direction of an input load F transmitted from the shaft member to the case member via the strain body relatively varies due to relatively pivotal movement of the pivotably connecting section in accordance with depression of the operating pedal, the plurality of load receiving portions always bear the input load F via the plurality of mounting portions; the plurality of mounting portions include a pair of flat mounting surfaces formed into a V-shaped profile on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft member with a predetermined apex angle α, and the plurality of load receiving portions include a pair of flat rest surfaces formed into a V-shaped profile in the sensor-mounting hole in conjunction with the flat mounting surfaces; and the case member is positioned in the fixed posture such that, with the pair of flat mounting surfaces being brought into surface contact with the pair of flat rest surfaces respectively, the pair of flat mounting surfaces are pressed against the pair of flat rest surfaces by the input load F. |
| Claim: | 2. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein orientations of the flat rest surfaces and the apex angle α are determined such that even when the direction of the input load F relatively varies due to the relatively pivotal movement of the pivotably connecting section in accordance with depression of the operating pedal, the pair of flat mounting surfaces are always pressed against the pair of flat rest surfaces respectively based on the input load F. |
| Claim: | 3. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 2 , wherein the orientations of the flat rest surfaces and the apex angle α are determined such that even when the direction of the input load F relatively varies due to the relatively pivotal movement of the pivotably connecting section in accordance with depression of the operating pedal, the pair of flat mounting surfaces always generate component forces oriented toward an apex point of the V-shaped profile due to reactive forces arising from the flat rest surfaces. |
| Claim: | 4. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the apex angle α is selected smaller than an angle (180°-β) for a variable angle β in a direction of the varying input load F varying due to the relatively pivotal movement of the pivotably connecting section in accordance with depression of the operating pedal, wherein the variable angle β is preferably set to be in a range of (β≦120°). |
| Claim: | 5. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of flat mounting surfaces are formed symmetrically with respect to a neutral plane S involving the apex point of the V-shaped profile converged with the pair of flat mounting surfaces, and the axis of the shaft member in an unloaded state. |
| Claim: | 6. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 5 , wherein the case member has an inner circumferential connecting portion to which the strain body is integrally connected, a cylindrical outer circumferential wall formed outside the connecting portion to surround the connecting portion, and a planar connecting flange connecting the outer circumferential wall and the connecting portion integrally to each other; and the outer circumferential wall has a pair of planar mounting wall portions of which outer side surfaces form the pair of flat mounting surfaces, a pair of flat planar parallel wall portions formed continuously to the pair of mounting wall portions in parallel to the neutral plane S and in symmetrical with the neutral plane S, and a clearance is provided between the sensor-mounting hole and the outer circumferential wall except for the mounting wall portions. |
| Claim: | 7. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 5 , wherein the strain body has a hollow cylindrical shape and is disposed concentrical with the shaft member; and the strain detecting elements are provided on an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface of the strain body over a predetermined angular range which is symmetrical with respect to the neutral plane S. |
| Claim: | 8. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 7 , wherein four strain detecting elements are provided at four positions demarcated with the neutral plane S and a plane passing through the axis of the strain body to be perpendicular to the neutral plane S, which are symmetrical with respect to the neutral plane S. |
| Claim: | 9. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor-mounting member includes a planar member being pivotably connected to the reactive member about the connecting pin, and having the sensor-mounting hole penetratingly formed with the pair of flat rest surfaces; the load sensor allows the case member to be disposed in the sensor-mounting hole such that the pair of flat mounting surfaces are surface contacted with the pair of flat rest surfaces, respectively; the connecting pin is inserted along the axis of the shaft member to protrude from both axial ends of the sensor-mounting hole; and the connecting pin has both axial ends retained with a U-shaped clevis integrally fixed to the reactive member. |
| Claim: | 10. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the strain body has a hollow cylindrical configuration of which one end and other end are integrally fixed to the case member and the shaft member respectively, so that a shear strain occurring in the strain body by a relative displacement between the case member and the shaft member in response to the reactive force is detected by the strain detecting elements. |
| Claim: | 11. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the strain body includes a plurality of flat plate members placed on the shaft member around the axis of the shaft member at intervals spaced from each other in parallel to the axis of the shaft member, each of which has both axial ends integrally fixed to the shaft member and the case member respectively, so that a shear strain occurring in the plate members by a relative displacement between the case member and the shaft member in response to the reactive force is detected by the strain detecting elements. |
| Claim: | 12. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting portions include two fixing-mount portions provided on a mounting flange integrally formed with the case member to extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft member, to be separated from each other by a predetermined opening angle γ about the axis of the shaft member, and the load receiving portions include fixed-mount portions in which the fixing-mount portions are integrally fixed by predetermined fixing means; and the opening angle γ is greater than a variable angle β of a direction of the input load F varying due to relatively pivotal movement of the pivotably connecting section in accordance with depression of the operating pedal, so that the two fixing-mount portions are determined to allow the direction of the input load F to lie in an area therebetween. |
| Claim: | 13. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 12 , wherein the fixing means include screw members. |
| Claim: | 14. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 12 , wherein the two fixing-mount portions are set in symmetric positions interposing a symmetric plane G determined to involve the axis of the shaft member, on an intermediate position within a range of the variable angle β of the direction of the input load F. |
| Claim: | 15. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 12 , wherein the case member includes an inner circumferential connecting portion to which the strain body is integrally connected, a cylindrical outer circumferential wall disposed radially outside the connecting portion to surround the connecting portion, a plate connecting flange integrally interconnecting the outer circumferential wall and the connecting portion to each other, and the mounting flange is extended outwardly from one end portion of the outer circumferential wall at an approximately right angle. |
| Claim: | 16. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 14 , wherein the strain body has a hollow cylindrical shape and is disposed concentrical with the shaft member; and the plurality of strain detecting elements are provided on the strain body at the outer circumferential surface or inner circumferential surface of the strain body over a predetermined angular range which is symmetrical with respect to the symmetric plane G. |
| Claim: | 17. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 16 , wherein four strain detecting elements are provided at four positions demarcated with the symmetric plane G and a plane passing through the axis of the strain body to be perpendicular to the symmetric plane G which is symmetrical with respect to the symmetric plane G. |
| Claim: | 18. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 15 , wherein the sensor-mounting member includes a plate member which is pivotably connected to the reactive member about the connecting pin, and through which a sensor-mounting hole is penetratingly formed; the load sensor is disposed in the sensor-mounting member such that the outer circumferential wall of the case member is inserted into the sensor-mounting hole to provide a play over an entire circumference of the outer circumferential wall, in a condition in which the mounting flange is contacted with a side surface of the sensor-mounting member; the connecting pin is inserted along the axis of the shaft member to protrude toward both axial ends of the sensor-mounting hole; and the connecting pin has both axial ends retained with a U-shaped clevis integrally fixed to the reactive member. |
| Claim: | 19. The load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device according to claim 12 , wherein the strain body has a hollow cylindrical configuration of which one end and other end are integrally fixed to the case member and the shaft member respectively, so that a shear strain occurring in the strain body by a relative displacement between the case member and the shaft member in response to the reactive force is detected by the strain detecting elements. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 74/512 |
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| Other References: | U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,045, filed Mar. 14, 2013. cited by applicant U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,282, filed Mar. 14, 2013. cited by applicant U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,428, filed Mar. 14, 2013. cited by applicant Preliminary Amendment filed Mar. 14, 2013 in U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,045. cited by applicant Preliminary Amendment filed Mar. 14, 2013 in U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,282. cited by applicant Preliminary Amendment filed Mar. 14, 2013 in U.S. Appl. No. 13/828,428. cited by applicant “hollow,” Collins English Dictionary—Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. May 24, 2011. Office Action in Chinese Patent Appln. No. 200810086068.0, dated Jul. 29, 2010. cited by applicant |
| Primary Examiner: | Yabut, Daniel |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.08707820 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |