Brake apparatus for vehicle

A brake apparatus (1) for a vehicle, having: a pedal box (5) which is provided on a partition panel (4) extending in approximately upward and downward directions and which pivotally supports the brake pedal (3). An electric motor (7) of a power steering apparatus is arranged at a position where the electric motor makes contact with the brake pedal (3) moving backward at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, to receive a load from the brake pedal (3) by the electric motor (7).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a brake apparatus for a vehicle, in which a brake pedal is supported by a pedal box provided on a partition panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, an automobile has a structure in which a brake pedal is provided on a partition panel separating the front side of the interior space, through a pedal box. In such a brake apparatus for a vehicle, at a time of front collision of the vehicle, the partition panel is moved backward with being deformed, and accordingly, also the pedal box and the brake pedal follow this to be moved backward.

At this time, the movement of the pedal box and the brake pedal in backward and upward direction may make a pad provided on the lower end of the brake pedal contact with a lower leg of a driver. In order to resolve the problem, a structure in which a guide member for guiding the pedal box in backward and downward direction at a time of front collision of the vehicle is provided on a steering support beam, is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

Although the above-described brake apparatus can suppress upward movement of the pedal box at a time of front collision of the vehicle, the brake pedal may rotate around the pedal box to protrude the lower end side thereof backward. Therefore, the apparatus cannot control backward movement of the brake pedal sufficiently. In particular, in a case of a pedal bracket for supporting the pedal box from above is provided on the partition panel, when the deformation amount of the lower side of the partition panel is large, the pedal box is moved backward for a distance larger than that of the pedal bracket, so that the backward protrusion action of the lower end side of the brake pedal occurs notably.

Since almost load applied to the pedal box and the brake pedal at a time of front collision of the vehicle acts on a guide member, the steering support beam goes back. As a result, such the apparatus has a further problem that the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel becomes large.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances. An object of the invention is to provide a brake apparatus for a vehicle, which can reduce the amount of backward movement of the brake pedal at a time of front collision of the vehicle and can reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim1is a brake apparatus for a vehicle, including: a pedal box which is provided on a partition panel extending in approximately upward and downward directions and which pivotally supports the brake pedal, wherein an electric motor of a power steering apparatus is arranged at a position where the electric motor makes contact with the brake pedal moved backward at a time of a front collision of the vehicle.

According to the invention described in claim1, because the brake pedal gets into contact with the electric motor of the power steering apparatus, a reaction force is given to the brake pedal from the electric motor, so that the backward movement of the brake pedal is controlled. Here, when the brake pedal rotates around the pedal box, because the brake pedal gets into contact with the electric motor at a position apart from the pedal box, it is possible to counter with the moment caused in the brake pedal by a relatively small reaction force.

In the invention, since there are no concentration of load to the steering support beam from the pedal box and the brake pedal, unlike the conventional technique, it is possible to reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering support beam and the steering wheel. Specifically, in a case that the electric motor is mounted to the lower side of the steering column, the electric motor is moved backward by the load from the brake pedal, and then the steering column is rotated around the steering support beam. As a result, the steering wheel which is in the upper side of the steering column moves forward relatively with respect to the steering support beam. Thereby, backward movement of the steering wheel is effectively restrained.

The invention described in claim2is the brake apparatus for a vehicle, as claimed in claim1, wherein the brake pedal includes a protrusion portion formed to protrude toward the electric motor.

According to the invention described in claim2, the same function as that of claim1is given, and since the protrusion portion is formed on the brake pedal, only portion necessary for being contact with the electric motor comes to protrude backward, with leaving the position of the pad of the brake pedal and the like as it is.

In order to bring the brake pedal into contact with the electric motor at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, it is preferable to have a structure in which the brake pedal is close to the electric motor. However, since the brake pedal is operated by an occupant pressing the pad which is at a lower end, it is necessary to ensure a space for operation behind the pad of the brake pedal. Therefore, the brake pedal comes to be provided close to the partition panel.

Accordingly, it is possible to bring the brake pedal into certain contact with the electric motor at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, without necessity of the brake pedal having a whole shape extending backward, and providing increase of production costs and the like due to weight increase or layout change of the brake pedal.

The inventions described in claims3and4are the brake apparatuses for vehicles, as claimed in claims1and2, respectively, wherein a steering support beam is provided with a guide member to control upward movement of the brake pedal at the time of a front collision of the vehicle.

According to the invention described in any one of claims3and4, the same function as that of claim1or2is given, and in a case that the pedal box, the pedal bracket and the like are not only moving backward but also moving upwards at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, these parts make contact with the guide member to correct only backward movement without moving upwards. Thereby, upward and backward movement of the brake pedal3is restrained. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pad which is provided at the lower end of the brake pedal, from becoming contact with the lower leg of the driver.

The inventions described in claims5-8are the brake apparatuses for vehicles, as claimed in claims1-4, respectively, wherein the apparatus further includes a pedal bracket which is provided on the partition panel, to support the pedal box from above; the pedal box is secured to the pedal bracket by a bolt; and a bolt hole is formed to have an opening which opens approximately backward, in the pedal bracket.

According to the invention described in any one of claims5-8, the same function as that of claims1-4is given, and in such a manner, support for the pedal box by the pedal bracket improves the stiffness and strength of the pedal box, and therefore enhances the operational feeling and reliability of the brake pedal.

Since the bolt hole of the pedal bracket is opened approximately backward, when the pedal box relatively moves backward with respect to the pedal bracket at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, the bolt get out of the bolt hole of the pedal bracket through the opening, the attachment thereof is released, and the pedal bracket moves backward independent of the pedal box. Accordingly, it is possible to keep enhancement of the operational feeling and reliability of the brake pedal, and a stable backward movement of the brake pedal, at a time of a front collision of the vehicle. Therefore, it has a great practical advantage

The inventions described in claims9-12are the brake apparatuses for vehicles, as claimed in claims5-8, respectively, wherein the opening of the bolt hole is formed in the pedal bracket so that the pedal bracket does not interfere with the bolt moving backward at the time of front collision of the vehicle.

According to the invention described in any one of claims9-12, the same function as that of claims5-8is given, and further, it is possible to leave the bolt smoothly out of the bolt holes at the time of front collision of the vehicle because the pedal bracket does not interfere with the bolt moving backward at the time of front collision. Thereby backward movement behavior of the brake pedal can be stabilized effectively.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

As described above, according to the invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of backward movement of the brake pedal at a time of front collision of the vehicle and to reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel. As a result, safety of occupants at a time of front collision of the vehicle can be enhanced remarkably.

BEST MODE TO PERFORM THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3show the first embodiment of the invention, whereinFIG. 1is a side view for explaining the periphery of the brake pedal of the brake apparatus for vehicle,FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of the brake pedal of the brake apparatus for vehicle, andFIG. 3is an explanation view for illustrating a behavior of the brake apparatus for vehicle at a time of a front collision of the vehicle. InFIG. 3, arrow A shows a movement of a pedal box, arrow B shows a movement of a toe board, arrow C shows a movement of an electric motor, arrow D shows a reaction force, arrow E shows a movement of a pad of the brake pedal, and arrow F shows a movement of a steering wheel.

As shown inFIG. 1, the brake apparatus for vehicle1is provided with a pad2to be pressed by an occupant in a lower end side, and a brake pedal3to be rotatable around a point in an upper end side. The brake apparatus for vehicle1pivotally supports the brake pedal3and has a pedal box5provided on a partition panel4extending in approximate upward and downward directions. Further, the brake apparatus1has a pedal bracket6which is provided on the partition panel4, to support the pedal box5from above.

In the rear side of the brake pedal3, an electric motor7of a power steering apparatus is arranged. The electric motor7is disposed in a lower end side of a steering column9which is supported by a steering support beam8. At an upper end side of a steering column9, a steering wheel10is provided.

As shown inFIG. 2, the brake pedal3extends in approximate upward and downward directions and has a plate-like shape the surface normal of which is in a horizontal direction. The upper side of the brake pedal3is pivotally supported by the pedal box5through a support pin11, to be constituted so that the pad2in the lower end side thereof can rotationally move in a front and rear direction. As shown inFIG. 1, the brake pedal3has a protrusion portion12formed to protrude rearward toward the electric motor7. In the embodiment, the protrusion portion12is formed around the central portion of the brake pedal3in the vertical direction. A push-pull rod13to transmit a stepping force to a master cylinder (not shown) is connected to an upper side portion of the protrusion portion12.

In the embodiment, the partition panel4is made by welding a lower toeboard14with an upper bulkhead15. As shown inFIG. 1, the pedal box5is provided on the toeboard14and the pedal bracket6is provided on the bulkhead15.

The pedal box5has front and lower portions which are opened and has a box-shaped portion in which the inner space becomes gradually up and narrower rearward. On the right and left peripheral sides in the front side of the pedal box5, flanges5awhich extend in the right and left outward direction and are attached firmly to the toeboard14of the partition panel4, are provided (refer toFIG. 2). In the right and left side surfaces of the pedal box5, shaft holes5bfor passing the above described support pin11therethrough, are formed. At upper rear side corner portions in the right and left side surfaces of the pedal box5, bolt holes5cfor passing bolts16therethrough, are formed. The bolts16attach the pedal box5to the pedal bracket6. In such a manner, support for the pedal box5by the pedal bracket6improves the stiffness and strength of the pedal box5, and therefore enhances the operational feeling and reliability of the brake pedal3.

As shown inFIG. 2, the pedal bracket6has front, lower and rear portions which are opened and has a box-shaped portion in which the inner space becomes gradually down rearward. On the right and left peripheral sides in the front side of the pedal bracket6, flanges6awhich extend in the right and left outward direction and are attached firmly to the bulkhead15of the partition panel4, are provided. At lower rear side corner portions in the right and left side surfaces of the pedal bracket6, bolt holes6bfor passing the above described bolts16therethrough, are formed. Each of the bolt holes6bhas a cutout having an opening approximately rearward. In the embodiment, the bolt holes6bare formed to have openings to slope gradually down rearward. Therefore, because treatment for the bolts16can be performed from the right and left outward sides, it is possible to work for attachment or detachment of the pedal box5to or from the pedal bracket6without removing an instrument panel from the vehicle body side. Therefore, workability is dramatically improved in comparison with the case of bolt holes formed in the upper surface.

The electric motor7has an approximately cylindrical column shape extending in the right and left direction, to assist and control for rotational operation of the steering wheel10. The electric motor7is arranged at the rear of the brake pedal3so that it makes contact with the brake pedal3moving back at a time of a front collision of the vehicle.

The steering support beam8is provided with a guide member17to control upward movement of the brake pedal3at the time of a front collision of the vehicle. In the embodiment, the guide member17is formed to slope gradually up frontward from the front side of the steering support beam8.

In the brake apparatus for vehicle1having a structure described above, at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, the partition panel4moves backward and the brake pedal3moving backward together with the partition panel4gets into contact with the electric motor7of the power steering apparatus. As a result, a reaction force is given to the brake pedal3from the electric motor7, so that the backward movement of the brake pedal3is controlled (refer toFIG. 3). As shown inFIG. 3, the amount of backward movement of the toeboard14is larger than that of the bulkhead15. Therefore, when the brake pedal3rotates around the pedal box5, because the brake pedal3gets into contact with the electric motor7at a position apart from the pedal box5, it is possible to counter with the moment caused in the brake pedal3by a relatively small reaction force.

Since each of the bolt holes6bof the pedal bracket6has a cutout opened approximately rearward, when the pedal box5relatively moves backward with respect to the pedal bracket6at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, as shown inFIG. 3, the bolts16get out of the bolt holes6bof the pedal bracket6through the openings, the attachment thereof is released, and the pedal bracket6moves backward independent of the pedal box5. In the embodiment, the upper end of the brake pedal3is guided rearward without moving upwards because the bolt holes6bare formed to slope gradually down rearwards.

According to the embodiment, provision of the pedal bracket6enables to keep enhancement of the operational feeling and reliability of the brake pedal3, and a stable backward movement of the brake pedal3, at a time of a front collision of the vehicle. Therefore, it has a great practical advantage.

In a case that the pedal box5, the pedal bracket6and the like are not only moving backward but also moving upwards at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, these parts make contact with the guide member17to correct such a behavior to only moving backward without moving upwards. In the embodiment, because the upper end of the brake pedal3moves backward by the guide member17in the state of the brake pedal3held by the electric motor7, the brake pedal3shows a behavior of rotation around the electric motor7. Accordingly, the pad2which is provided at the lower end of the brake pedal3comes to move forward relatively. Thereby, movement of the brake pedal3toward the upper rear side is restrained. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pad2which is provided at the lower end of the brake pedal3, from becoming contact with the lower leg of the driver.

Further, in the embodiment, since the protrusion portion12is formed on the brake pedal3, only portion necessary for being contact with the electric motor7comes to protrude rearwards, with leaving the position of the pad2of the brake pedal3and the like as it is.

In order to bring the brake pedal into contact with the electric motor7at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, it is preferable to have a structure in which the brake pedal3is close to the electric motor7. However, since the brake pedal3is operated by an occupant pressing the pad2which is at a lower end, it is necessary to ensure a space for operation behind the pad2of the brake pedal3. Therefore, the brake pedal3comes to be provided close to the partition panel4.

Accordingly, it is possible to realize bringing the brake pedal into certain contact with the electric motor7at a time of a front collision of the vehicle, without necessity of the brake pedal3having a whole shape extending rearwards, and providing increase of production costs and the like due to weight increase or layout change of the brake pedal3.

Since the apparatus has a structure in which the load from the brake pedal3is received by the electric motor7, it is possible to prevent concentration of load to the steering support beam8from the pedal box5and the brake pedal3, which is a problem of the conventional technique, and to reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering support beam8and the steering wheel10. Specifically, in a case that the electric motor7is mounted to the lower side of the steering column9, the electric motor7is moved backward by the load from the brake pedal3, and then the steering column9is rotated around the steering support beam8. As a result, the steering wheel10which is in the upper side of the steering column9moves forward relatively with respect to the steering support beam8. Thereby, rearward movement of the steering wheel10is effectively restrained.

As described above, according to the brake apparatus for vehicle1of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of backward movement of the brake pedal3at a time of front collision of the vehicle and to reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel10. As a result, safety of occupants at a time of front collision of the vehicle can be enhanced remarkably.

In the above-described embodiment, although only the brake pedal3having a protrusion portion12formed thereon is shown, of course, the brake pedal may have no protrusion portion12as long as the brake pedal gets into contact with the electric motor7at a time of front collision of the vehicle.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of the guide member17provided is shown. However, in a case of type of vehicle in which the amount of backward movement of the brake pedal3at a time of front collision of the vehicle is basically small, or the behavior of the brake pedal3is stable, provision of the guide member17can be omitted. Similarly, in a case of a structure in which stiffness, strength and the like of the pedal box5are ensured, in a case of type of vehicle in which operability of the brake pedal3is not emphasized, or the like, provision of the pedal bracket6can be omitted.

FIGS. 4-6show the second embodiment of the invention, whereinFIG. 4is a side view for explaining the periphery of the brake pedal of the brake apparatus for vehicle,FIG. 5is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of the brake pedal of the brake apparatus for vehicle, andFIG. 6is an explanation view for illustrating a behavior of the brake apparatus for vehicle at a time of a front collision of the vehicle. The brake apparatus for vehicle101of the second embodiment is different from the brake apparatus for vehicle1of the first embodiment in the shape of bolt holes106bof the pedal bracket106. InFIG. 6, arrow A shows a movement of a pedal box, arrow B shows a movement of a toe board, arrow C shows a movement of an electric motor, arrow D shows a reaction force, arrow E shows a movement of a pad of the brake pedal, and arrow G shows a movement of a bolt.

As shown inFIG. 4, in the brake apparatus for vehicle101, the bolt holes106bof the pedal bracket106is widely opened rearward in comparison with that of the first embodiment of the invention. According to the opening of the bolt holes106b, the pedal bracket6does not interfere with the bolt16. Since the constituents such as the flange6aof the pedal bracket106and the like except the bolt holes106b, are the same as that of the first embodiment, explanation of such the constituents is omitted.

As shown inFIG. 5, concretely, the opening upper side of the bolt holes106bis formed to have a linearly cut shape in upward and oblique-rearward direction. In the embodiment, at a time of front collision of the vehicle, the brake pedal3is moved in upward and rearward direction. That is, the opening of the bolt holes106bis formed so that the pedal bracket106does not interfere with the bolt moving backward16at the time of front collision of the vehicle.

Therefore, according to the brake apparatus for vehicle101of the present embodiment, it is possible to release the bolt16smoothly out of the bolt holes106bat the time of front collision of the vehicle because the pedal bracket106does not interfere with the bolt moving backward16at the time of front collision. Thereby backward movement behavior of the brake pedal3can be stabilized effectively. As described above, the principal feature of the brake apparatus for vehicle101of the second embodiment is on releasing the bolt16smoothly out of the bolt holes106b. The second embodiment provides approximately the same function and effects as that of the first embodiment, except the function and effects regarding releasing the bolt16smoothly out of the bolt holes106b.

It is preferable that the pedal bracket106has a structure to follow backward movement of the brake pedal3due to deformation of the partition panel4because it is possible to encourage releasing the bolt16smoothly out of the bolt holes106b. For example, it is preferable to set the rigidity of the pedal bracket106, which is a relatively low one so that the pedal bracket106follows backward movement of the brake pedal3but which does not interfere with operation of the brake pedal3by the driver.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the brake apparatus for vehicle101in which at a time of front collision of the vehicle, the pedal box5and the brake pedal3are moved in upward and rearward direction, and the bolt holes106bis widely opened rearward, is shown. However, it is possible to prevent the interference between the bolt moving backward16and the pedal bracket106by at least opening the bolt holes in upward and rearward direction. The opening shape of the bolt holes106bmay be changed according to the movement direction of the pedal box5and the like, and also practical detail structure and the like may be changed appropriately.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. Tokugan 2004-287740 filed on Sep. 30, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the brake apparatus for vehicle according to the invention is useful as a brake apparatus for various types of vehicles, e.g., passenger automobile, bus, truck, trailer and the like. In particular, the brake apparatus is suitable to be used for a brake structure in which a brake pedal and a steering wheel move backward at a time of a front collision of the vehicle.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

1brake apparatus for vehicle

8steering support beam

101brake apparatus for vehicle