Vehicle accelerator pedal having dual hysteresis generating structure

Disclosed is a vehicle accelerator pedal that may include a cylindrical hinge unit, a lever unit having one side configured to operate in a first direction and another side formed to correspond to an inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit and configured to operate in a second direction opposite the first direction. An outer circumferential edge may be configured to come into close contact with an upper inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit such that a moment of force is applied in a first rotation direction by the hinge unit. An elastic unit having one side may be configured to elastically support one side of the lever unit, the other side formed to correspond to the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit. An outer circumferential edge may be configured to come into close contact with a lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0014830 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 8, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle accelerator pedal, and more particularly, to a vehicle accelerator pedal having a dual hysteresis generating structure.

BACKGROUND ART

An accelerator pedal is used to accelerate an operation of an engine. A driver pushes the accelerator pedal to increase a rotational speed of the engine and accelerate a vehicle, and the driver releases the accelerator pedal to decrease the rotational speed. The accelerator pedal is connected to a throttle valve through a wire and a linkage. When the accelerator pedal is pushed, the throttle valve is opened, air is drawn into cylinders, and an electronically controlled fuel injection device detects the amount of air and supplies gasoline suitable for an engine operating state.

As the accelerator pedal, there are a mechanical accelerator pedal and an electronic accelerator pedal. The mechanical accelerator pedal is mechanically connected, by a cable, to the throttle valve of the engine. A position of the electronic accelerator pedal is detected by a sensor, and the operation of the throttle valve is controlled based on a detected position signal.

The mechanical accelerator pedal has an operational problem due to an ambient environment, a change in temperature, a degradation of the cable, and the like. Therefore, the mechanical accelerator pedal is being currently substituted with the electronic accelerator pedal. Because the electronic accelerator pedal requires no cable, an enough installation space is ensured, a driver's fatigue is reduced, and fuel economy is improved.

However, the driver prefers a tactile response that the driver feels from the mechanical accelerator pedal in the related art. In addition, hysteresis needs to be generated to reduce the driver's fatigue caused by the operation of the electronic accelerator pedal.

The hysteresis generating technologies, which are applied to the electronic accelerator pedals in the related art, include a structural friction method, a housing friction method, and the like, but have problems of having complicated structures and requiring many components.

Even in a case in which the accelerator pedal has a hysteresis generating structure, a load is concentrated on a particular site having a narrow area and causes abrasion. As a result, there is a problem such as a return defect in which the pedal does not return to its original position after the pedal is released.

DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART

Patent Documents

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a vehicle accelerator pedal capable of reducing a driver's ankle fatigue when an accelerator pedal repeatedly operates.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a vehicle accelerator pedal capable of easily changing a magnitude of hysteresis and providing the hysteresis by using a comparatively simple configuration.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a vehicle accelerator pedal capable of solving a return defect of a pedal by reducing abrasion by dispersing a load which is concentratedly applied to a particular site because of characteristics of a hysteresis generating structure using hinge friction.

However, the object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned objects but may be variously expanded without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle accelerator pedal including: a cylindrical hinge unit; a lever unit having one side configured to operate in a first direction in conjunction with a pedal unit, the other side formed to correspond to an inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit and configured to operate in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and an outer circumferential edge configured to come into close contact with an upper inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit such that a moment of force is applied in a first rotation direction by the hinge unit; and an elastic unit having one side configured to elastically support one side of the lever unit, the other side formed to correspond to the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit, and an outer circumferential edge configured to come into close contact with a lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit such that a moment of force is applied in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by the hinge unit.

By a force applied to the pedal unit, one side of the lever unit may be moved downward and the other side of the lever unit may be moved upward, such that moment of force may be applied counterclockwise by the hinge unit.

The elastic unit may be disposed below the lever unit, and one side of the elastic unit may be moved upward and the other side of the elastic unit may be moved downward by an elastic force, such that a moment of force may be applied clockwise by the hinge unit.

The moment of force in the first rotation direction may be gradually increased as the close contact surface area between the outer circumferential edge of the other side of the lever unit and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit is gradually increased as the force is applied to the pedal unit, and the moment of force in the second rotation direction may be gradually increased as the close contact surface area between the outer circumferential edge of the other side of the elastic unit and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit is gradually increased as the force is eliminated from the pedal unit.

The lever unit may include a first load point at which a force is applied to one side by the pedal unit, a first action point at which the other side is brought into contact with the upper inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit by the force applied to the pedal unit, and a first central axis disposed between the first load point and the first action point and configured to serve as a rotation center axis of the lever unit.

The elastic unit may include a second load point at which an elastic force is applied to one side, a second action point at which the other side is brought into contact with the lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit by the elastic force, and a second central axis disposed between the second load point and the second action point and configured to serve as a rotation center axis of the elastic unit.

The lever unit and the elastic unit may be coupled such that the first central axis and the second central axis are axially coincident with each other.

The elastic unit may include an elastic member disposed below one side and configured to provide an elastic force.

The lever unit may include a stopper disposed at an upper side of one side of the lever unit and configured to maintain a spacing distance between one side of the lever unit and an internal space of a housing configured to accommodate the elastic unit and the lever unit.

The pedal unit may include a pedal arm having one side fixed to a vehicle body so as to be rotatable at a predetermined angle, and a push portion protruding downward from the pedal arm and configured to press one side of the lever unit.

According to the present invention, with the application of the first principle of the lever, the hysteresis may be generated by generating a high frictional force even with a small load, and as a result, it is possible to reduce a driver's ankle fatigue caused by repeatedly pressing of the vehicle accelerator pedal.

It is possible to provide the vehicle accelerator pedal capable of easily changing a magnitude of the hysteresis and generating the hysteresis by using a comparatively simple configuration.

It is possible to solve a return defect of the pedal by reducing abrasion of the hinge unit by dispersing, to a broad range, a load which is concentratedly applied to a particular site because of the characteristics of the hysteresis generating structure using friction of the hinge unit.

However, the effect of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned effects but may be variously expanded without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the present invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating specific exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention. These exemplary embodiments will be described in detail enough to carry out the present invention by those skilled in the art. It should be understood that various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are different from one another but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, particular shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein in respect to one exemplary embodiment may be implemented in other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the position or arrangement of each constituent element in the respective disclosed exemplary embodiments may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not considered as having limited meanings, and the scope of the present invention, if adequately explained, is limited only by the appended claims as well as all the scopes equivalent to the features claimed in the appended claims. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar function throughout several aspects.

Hereinafter, a vehicle accelerator pedal having a dual hysteresis generating structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In particular, in the present invention, when a driver pushes a pedal unit400, the other side210B of a lever unit comes into close contact with an upper inner circumferential edge of a hinge unit100, such that a moment of force is applied in a first rotation direction M1(counterclockwise) to generate frictional force. When the driver releases the pedal unit400, the other side310B of an elastic unit comes into close contact with a lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, such that a moment of force is applied in a second rotation direction M2(clockwise) to generate frictional force. That is, the present invention provides the vehicle accelerator pedal that uses the two hysteresis generating members, thereby dispersing a concentrated load which is a problem with a frictional force generating structure using a hinge.

FIG. 1is a view illustrating a vehicle accelerator pedal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2is a side view of the vehicle accelerator pedal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a housing cover520is not illustrated in order to show an internal configuration in the housing body510.

FIG. 3is a partially cross-sectional view inFIG. 2and illustrates an operational principle when the pedal is in a free state.FIG. 4is a view illustrating an operational principle when the pedal is in a pressed state (first control state).FIG. 5is a view illustrating an operational principle when the pedal is released and becomes in a released state (second control state).

FIG. 6is an exploded view ofFIG. 2, in which a housing unit500and the pedal unit400are not illustrated.

FIG. 7is a view illustrating a lever unit200according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a stopper230is not illustrated.FIG. 8is a view illustrating a cross section taken along line A-A inFIG. 6.

FIG. 9is a view illustrating an elastic unit300according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which an elastic member320and a protector330are not illustrated.FIG. 10is a view illustrating a cross section taken along line B-B inFIG. 9.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle accelerator pedal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the pedal unit400, the hinge unit100, the lever unit200, the elastic unit300, and the housing unit500.

The housing unit500may include the housing body510having therein an accommodation space, and a housing cover520configured to seal the accommodation space.

The hinge unit100, the lever unit200, and the elastic unit300may be accommodated in the accommodation space.

The pedal unit400may include a pedal arm410having one side fixed to a vehicle body so as to be rotatable at a predetermined angle, and a push portion420protruding downward from the pedal arm410to press one side210A of the lever unit.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, a connection structure between the pedal unit400and the lever unit200may be a hinge structure in which an end of the push portion420and one side210A of the lever unit are hingedly connected to each other. The connection structure and configuration between the pedal unit400and the lever unit200are limited as long as the pedal unit400may stably press one side210A of the lever unit.

The hinge unit100is formed in a cylindrical shape, and one side of the hinge unit100may be fixed in the accommodation space of the housing body510.

The hinge unit100may include an opening portion110that may accommodate therein the lever unit200to be described below and the other side310B of the elastic unit. The opening portion110is opened in a radial direction such that the connection portions for connecting one side210A and the other side210B of the lever unit200and one side310A and the other side310B of the elastic unit300penetrate the opening portion110.

According to the present invention, hysteresis is generated as moments of force are applied in opposite rotation directions by friction between the hinge unit100and the lever unit200or between the hinge unit100and the elastic unit300.

Therefore, in the present invention, a spacing distance of the opening portion110is not limited, but an area of an inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100needs to generate friction with the lever unit200or the elastic unit300and generate hysteresis characteristics.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 8, the lever unit200may include a lever body210(hereinafter, referred to as the lever unit200) coupled to the elastic unit300and configured to operate in conjunction with the pedal unit400, a lever cover220fastened to a lateral surface of the other side210B of the lever unit, and the stopper230.

The lever unit200may include one side210A configured to operate in conjunction with the pedal unit400, the other side210B formed to correspond to the hinge unit100, and the connecting portion configured to connect one side210A and the other side210B.

One side210A of the lever unit is operated in a first direction F1by the pedal unit400, the other side210B of the lever unit is operated in a second direction F2opposite to the first direction F1, and an outer circumferential edge of the lever unit comes into close contact with the upper inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, such that the moment of force may be applied in the first rotation direction M1by the hinge unit100.

By a force applied to the pedal unit400, one side210A of the lever unit200is moved downward, and the other side210B of the lever unit200is moved upward, such that the moment of force may be applied counterclockwise by the hinge unit100.

The stopper230may maintain a spacing distance between an internal space of the housing body510and an upper surface of one side210A of the lever unit.

The stopper230may be made of an elastic material in order to absorb a shock when the housing body510and one side210A of the lever unit come into contact with each other.

The lever unit200may include a separate configuration to fasten the lever unit200and the stopper230, and the separate configuration may be a through hole.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6, 9, and 10, the elastic unit300may include an elastic unit body300(hereinafter, referred to as the elastic unit300) coupled to the lever unit200, the elastic members320disposed below one side310A of the elastic unit and configured to provide an elastic force, and the protector330configured to prevent an interference and a trap between the elastic members320.

The elastic unit300may include one side310A configured to elastically support one side210A of the lever unit, the other side310B formed to correspond to the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, and the connecting portion configured to connect one side310A and the other side310B.

Due to the elastic force of the elastic members320, one side310A of the elastic unit is operated in the second direction F2, the other side310B of the elastic unit is operated in the first direction F1, and the outer circumferential edge of the elastic unit comes into close contact with the lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, such that the moment of force may be applied in the second rotation direction M2by the hinge unit100.

The elastic unit300is disposed below the lever unit200. In conjunction with the downward movement of one side210A of the lever unit200caused by the force applied to the pedal unit400, an elastic restoring force is generated as the force applied to the pedal unit400is cancelled out in a state in which the elastic unit300is elastically compressed by the elastic force. As the force applied to the pedal unit400is eliminated, one side310A is moved upward and the other side310B is moved downward by the elastic restoring force (in the present invention, the elastic force and the elastic restoring force may be collectively referred to as an elastic force), such that the moment of force may be applied clockwise by the hinge unit100.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 6, the elastic members320may include a second elastic member320bdisposed inside the protector330, and a first elastic member320adisposed outside the protector330.

The number of elastic members320is proposed as an exemplary embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the number of elastic members320. That is, the number of elastic members320may be changed and applied based on an elastic modulus of the elastic member320.

FIG. 11is a view illustrating an operational principle of the vehicle accelerator pedal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, and 11, the lever unit200may include a first load point FP1at which the force is applied to one side210A by the pedal unit400, a first action point FP2at which the other side210B is brought into contact with the upper inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100by the force applied to the pedal unit400, and a first central axis SP1disposed between the first load point FP1and the first action point FP2and configured to serve as a rotation center axis of the lever unit200.

In addition, the elastic unit300may include a second load point FS1at which the elastic force is applied to one side310A, a second action point FS2at which the other side310B is brought into contact with the lower inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100by the elastic force, and a second central axis SP2disposed between the second load point FS1and the second action point FS2and configured to serve as a rotation center axis of the elastic unit300.

The lever unit200and the elastic unit300may be coupled to each other and then accommodated in the housing body510. The lever unit200and the elastic unit300may be coupled to each other so that the first central axis SP1and the second central axis SP2are axially coincident with each other.

Referring toFIG. 3, when the pedal unit400is in the free state, the spacing distance between the outer circumferential edge of the other side210B of the lever unit and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100is equal to the spacing distance between the outer circumferential edge of the other side310B of the elastic unit and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100.

Referring toFIG. 4, when the pedal unit400is in the pressed state (first control state), the outer circumferential edge of the other side210B of the lever unit is in close contact with the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100.

In other words, by the force applied from the pedal unit400, one side210A of the lever unit, that is, the first load point FP1is moved in the first direction F1(downward) and the other side210B of the lever unit is moved in the second direction F2(upward), such that the close contact portion between the outer circumferential edge of the lever unit200and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, that is, the area of the first action point FP2is gradually increased, and thus the moment of force in the first rotation direction M1(counterclockwise) is gradually increased, thereby generating the hysteresis.

In this case, one side310A of the elastic unit may be moved in the first direction F1and may compress the elastic members320, and the other side310B of the elastic unit may be spaced apart from a lower side of the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100at a predetermined distance.

Referring toFIG. 5, in a state (second control state) in which the force is eliminated from the pedal unit400, the outer circumferential edge of the other side310B of the elastic unit is in close contact with the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100.

In other words, by the elastic force of the elastic member320, the other side310B of the elastic unit, that is, the second load point FS1is moved in the second direction F2(upward) and the other side310B of the elastic unit is moved in the first direction F1(downward), such that the close contact portion between the outer circumferential edge of the other side310B of the elastic unit and the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100, that is, the area of the second action point FS2is gradually increased, and thus the moment of force in the second rotation direction M2(clockwise) is gradually increased, thereby generating the hysteresis.

In this case, one side210A of the lever unit is moved in the second direction F2to move the push portion420of the pedal unit400in the second direction F2, thereby returning the pedal arm410to the original position. The other side210B of the lever unit may be spaced apart from an upper side of the inner circumferential edge of the hinge unit100at a predetermined distance.

That is, the vehicle accelerator pedal according to the present invention may generate the hysteresis both in the first control state in which the lever unit200is pressed by the pedal unit400and the second control state in which the pressing operation of the pedal unit400is released and the elastic unit300is pressed by the elastic member320.

The contact area between the hinge unit100and the lever unit200is gradually increased as the pedal unit400is pressed, and the contact area between the hinge unit100and the elastic unit300is also gradually increased as the elastic force is applied by the elastic member320, such that the concentrated load, which is a problem with a hinge friction structure, may be dispersed, thereby preventing abrasion of the hinge unit100and a return defect of the pedal.

FIG. 11is a view illustrating an operational principle of the vehicle accelerator pedal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 11, the present invention may adopt the first principle of the lever in which the lever unit200includes the first load point FP1and the first action point FP2, the elastic unit300includes the second load point FS1and the second action point FS2, and the first central axis SP1and the second central axis SP2, which are axially coupled as the lever unit200and the elastic unit300are coupled, serve as support points.

According to the present invention, by the force applied to the pedal unit400, the first load point FP1of the lever unit200is moved in the first direction F1and the first action point FP2is moved in the second direction F2, such that the moment of force in the first rotation direction M1is generated as a range in which the first action point FP2and the hinge unit100are in close contact with each other is increased.

By the elastic force of the elastic member320, the second load point FS1of the elastic unit300is moved in the second direction F2and the second action point FS2is moved in the first direction F1, such that the moment of force in the second rotation direction M2is generated as a range in which the second action point FS2and the hinge unit100are in close contact with each other is increased.

According to the present invention as described above, no separate friction member is required to generate the hysteresis, and the hysteresis may be generated by friction at the action point between the lever unit200and the hinge unit100and the action point between the elastic unit300and the hinge unit100, that is, at the two action points.

As a result, the hysteresis is generated as a frictional force is increased at the first action point FP2between the lever unit200and the hinge unit100as the driver applies a pedal effort to the pedal unit400, and the hysteresis is generated as a frictional force is increased at the second action point FS2between the elastic unit300and the hinge unit100even though the driver eliminates the pedal effort from a pedal pad.

The features, structures, effects, and the like described above in the exemplary embodiments are included in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to one exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, and the like described in the respective exemplary embodiments may be combined or modified and then carried out by those skilled in the art as another exemplary embodiment. It should be interpreted that the combination and modification are included in the scope of the present invention.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described above, but the exemplary embodiments are just illustrative and not intended to limit the present invention. It can be appreciated that various modifications and alterations, which are not described above, may be made to the present exemplary embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the intrinsic features of the present invention. For example, the respective constituent elements specifically described in the exemplary embodiments may be modified and then carried out. Further, it should be interpreted that the differences related to the modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.