Patent ID: 6591927
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: B60K,B60T,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A driver control module for mounting as an assembled unit within a first driver control module opening in a dash panel of a cab of a vehicle which has a longitudinal axis, brake lights, a starter interlock circuit, tubing inside the cab and tubing outside the cab, comprising:(a) a first dash engagement piece; (b) wherein said first dash engagement piece is shaped to span the first driver control module opening in the dash panel of the vehicle; (c) wherein said first dash engagement piece has engagement means for engaging said first dash engagement piece to the dash panel of the vehicle, (d) a brake pedal mounted directly or indirectly to said first dash engagement piece in a manner such that said brake pedal is fully supported directly or indirectly by said first dash engagement piece; (e) one or more steering column components mounted directly or indirectly to said first dash engagement piece in a manner such that a steering column assembly is primarily supported directly or indirectly by said first dash engagement piece when said driver control module is assembled; (f) one or more brake valves mounted directly or indirectly to said first dash engagement piece; (g) brake valve operating components which operatively connect said brake pedal to one or more of said one or more brake valves so that movement of said brake pedal causes actuation of said one or more of said one or more brake valves; (h) wherein said one or more steering column components include a steering column housing which supports a steering column steering shaft; (i) wherein said first dash engagement piece defines a steering column opening through itself; (j) wherein said steering column steering shaft extends through said steering column opening defined in said first dash engagement piece such that when said driver control module is assembled in the vehicle said steering column steering shaft extends beyond said first dash engagement piece to an outboard side of said first dash engagement piece; (k) a pedestal stamping mounted to said first dash engagement piece; (l) wherein at least one of said brake pedal, said steering column assembly, and said one or more brake valves directly or indirectly derive support from said pedestal stamping; (m) wherein said pedestal stamping has at least two upstanding vertical mounting surfaces which are essentially parallel and are oriented such that, when said driver control module is installed within the vehicle, said upstanding vertical mounting surfaces are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; (n) each of said at least two upstanding vertical mounting surfaces defines a mounting hole for a tube; (o) a brake pedal tube is engaged to said brake pedal at a point of said brake pedal some distance from a foot contact surface of said brake pedal and is oriented with an axis of said brake pedal tube parallel to said foot contact surface of said brake pedal; (p) wherein when said driver control module is assembled said brake pedal tube is located within said mounting holes defined by said upstanding vertical mounting surfaces and is thus supported perpendicularly between said upstanding vertical mounting surfaces with said axis of said brake pedal tube substantially coincident with an axis which intersects each of said mounting holes; (q) wherein said brake pedal is free to rotate about said axis of said brake pedal tube and therefore also about said axis which intersects each of said mounting holes defined by said upstanding vertical supports; (r) wherein said brake valve operating components connect said brake pedal and one or more of said one or more brake valves; (s) wherein when said brake pedal is rotated about said axis of said brake pedal tube said brake valve operating components are driven by said brake pedal and in turn drive one or more components of said one or more of said one or more brake valves and thus cause actuation of respective ones of said one or more brake valves; (t) steering column engagement arms which are engaged to said upstanding vertical mounting surfaces and which are oriented substantially parallel to one another, (u) wherein said steering column assembly has engagement means for engaging said steering column assembly to said steering column engagement arms; and (v) wherein said steering column assembly is engaged to said steering column engagement arms and said steering column assembly is primarily supported by said steering column engagement arms.