Patent ID: 7614320
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: B60T,G01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A brake pedal apparatus comprising: (a) an operating pedal which is to be depressed so as to be pivoted about a first axis; (b) a pivot member which pivots about a second axis parallel to the first axis; (c) a connecting link connected at a first connected position to the operating pedal and at a second connected position to the pivot member respectively such that the pivot member is pivoted about the second axis in response to a depression of the operating pedal via pivot motion of the connecting link, and the first connected position shifts relative to the operating pedal or the second connected position shifts relative to the pivot member; and (d) an output member which receives an output generated upon pivot motion of the pivot member; a relationship between a ratio of the output to a depression force acting on the operating pedal, and an amount of the depression of the operating pedal is configured to be changed depending upon shifting of one of the first and second connected positions of the connecting link; the brake pedal apparatus further comprising: (e) a ratio characteristic changing device which operates when the depression force exceeds a predetermined value, to shift the one of the first and second connected positions of the connecting link, for thereby changing the relationship between the ratio and the amount of the depression of the operating pedal the ratio characteristic changing device including: (e-1) a control lever which is connected to the connecting link, and which is connected to one of the operating pedal and the pivot member at a third axis parallel to the first axis pivotably thereabout, such that the one of the first and second connected positions is shifted by pivot motion of the control lever, for thereby changing the relationship between the ratio and the amount of the depression of the operating pedal; and (e-2) a pivoting device which bridges between the one of the operating pedal and the pivot member and an engaging portion of the control lever that is distant from the one of the first and second connected positions by a distance larger than a distance between the one of the first and second connected positions and the third axis, and which holds the control lever at a reference position when the depression force does not exceed the predetermined value, and causes the control lever to be pivoted away from the reference position so as to shift the one of the first and second connected positions when the depression force exceeds the predetermined value.