Acceleration device

An accelerator device having an organ structure includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. The arm has a rectangle shape in a cross section. An entire circumference of the opening is surrounded by a protrusion protruding toward the pad. The protrusion includes an upper surface, and the upper surface has an inclination portion that slopes down rightward or leftward, when viewed from the pad.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an accelerator device of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A known accelerator device which has an organ structure is fixed to a vehicle floor in a vehicle interior. The accelerator device includes a pad and a pedal. The pad is configured to be pressed by the driver, and the pedal is housed in a case. An arm passes through an opening of the case and connects the pad to the pedal.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an accelerator device having an organ structure is provided. The accelerator device includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. An entire circumference of the opening is surrounded by a protrusion protruding toward the pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An accelerator device which has an organ structure may be fixed to a vehicle floor in a vehicle interior and detects a depression amount of an accelerator pedal pressed by a driver. The accelerator device having the organ structure includes a pad and a pedal. The pad is configured to be pressed by the driver, and the pedal is housed in a case. An arm passes through an opening of the case and connects the pad to the pedal.

In the above technique, foreign matter may be easily caught in the opening. In addition, a groove may be formed on a side surface of the arm, and the foreign matter may be easily collected between the groove and the opening. Therefore, at least part of the above issue is desired to be solved.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an accelerator device having an organ structure is provided. The accelerator device includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. An entire circumference of the opening is surrounded by a protrusion protruding toward the pad.

According to the accelerator device in the first aspect, the protrusion is arranged so as to surround the entire circumference of the opening. Therefore, foreign matter is restricted from entering the case through a gap between the opening and the arm.

According to a second aspect of an accelerator device having an organ structure, the accelerator device includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. The outer wall includes an upper peripheral surface that forms an upper part of a periphery of the opening and faces the pad, when the case is viewed from the pad. An angle between the upper peripheral surface and a side surface of the arm is larger than or equal to 90 degrees.

According to the accelerator device in the second aspect, foreign matter approaching the opening is hit and bounced against the upper peripheral surface of the opening and the side surface of the arm. Therefore, the foreign matter is restricted from entering the case through a gap between the opening and the arm.

According to an accelerator device having an organ structure in a third aspect, the accelerator device includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. An inner wall surface of the opening faces a side surface of the arm. A gap between the inner wall surface and the side surface of the arm is expanded toward an inside of the case.

According to the accelerator device in the third aspect, when foreign matter is caught in the opening, the foreign matter is moved into inside of the case through the opening by operating the arm. Therefore, the foreign matter is restricted from being stored in the opening.

According to an accelerator device having an organ structure in a fourth aspect, the accelerator device includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. The arm includes a side surface without a recess at a position facing an inner wall surface of the opening.

According to the accelerator device in the fourth aspect, as the recess is not formed at the side surface of the arm, when foreign matter is caught in the opening, the foreign matter is moved into the case through the opening by operating the arm. Therefore, the foreign matter can be restricted from being stored at the opening.

A. Overall structure of accelerator device:

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, an accelerator device100is attachable to a floor panel FP included in a vehicle body of a vehicle. InFIG. 1, x-axis direction coincides with a direction in which the vehicle moves, y-axis direction coincides with a width direction of the vehicle, and z-axis direction coincides with a vertical direction upward. In other drawings which will be described below, x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction are same as those shown inFIG. 1respectively. Unless otherwise stated, structure or arrangement of the accelerator device100in a situation that is installed in the vehicle body will be described below. For example, “upward” or “above” means that upward or above in a situation that the accelerator device100is installed in the vehicle body. Other terms and descriptions are same as above.

The accelerator device100includes a pad200, a case300, an inside movable mechanism400, and an arm500. The pad200is configured to be pressed by a driver. The case300can be attached to the vehicle body. The inside movable mechanism400is housed in the case300. The arm500passes through an opening312provided in an outer wall of the case300and connects the pad200to the inside movable mechanism400. The opening312may be referred to as through hole312. As described above, in the accelerator device100, the arm500connects the pad200to the inside movable mechanism400housed in the case300. The pad200is arranged on a side of the case300to face the driver. The accelerator device100structured as above is referred to as an organ type accelerator.

The pad200is configured to be pressed by the driver. A side guard210has a plate shape and is arranged on a side surface of the pad200. A lower end of the pad200is supported by a fulcrum member220disposed at a lower end of the case300. The pad200is configured to turn about a contact point with the fulcrum member220. The side guard210closes a gap between the pad200and the case300so as to protect the foot of the driver from getting caught between the pad200and the case300.

As shown inFIG. 2, the case300includes a front wall310, a rear wall320, an opened side330, a side wall340, a top wall350, and a bottom wall360, as walls which surround an internal housing space SP. The front wall310faces the pad200. The rear wall320is opposed to the front wall310. The opened side330forms one of side surfaces of a space between the front wall310and the rear wall320. The side wall340is opposed to the opened side330. The top wall350is an upper end of the internal housing space SP. The bottom wall360is opposed to the top wall350. As the opened side330is not a wall, the front wall310, the rear wall320, the side wall340, the top wall350, and the bottom wall360, except for the opened side330, function as housing walls which surround the internal housing space SP. As shown inFIG. 1, the opened side330is covered and closed by a cover600. The cover600includes a first cover610and a second cover620. In the present embodiment, the first cover610and the second cover620are separately structured. However, the first cover610and the second cover620may be combined. As the cover600is one of walls forming the internal housing space SP of the case300, the cover600may be considered as a part of the case300. In this description, “case” in a broad sense includes the case300corresponding to a case main body and the cover600.

The outer wall of the case300facing the pad200has an opening312and a full open stopper390. The arm500passes through the opening312. The full open stopper390is configured to regulate an accelerator full-throttle position by being brought into contact with the pad200when the pad200is fully pressed. The accelerator full-throttle position is a position at which an accelerator throttle opening is 100%. A position or a structure of the full open stopper390will be further described below.

A kick-down switch120is arranged on the outer wall of the case300above the full open stopper390. The kick-down switch120is configured to detect a kick-down. The kick-down is an operation pressing the pad200strongly by the driver to change the gear down at once. A housing chamber370is formed at a top of the case300and houses the kick-down switch120. InFIG. 3, the kick-down switch120is removed from the housing chamber370.

As shown inFIG. 2, a screen324is arranged on an inner surface of the rear wall320in the case300and extends obliquely upward from the rear wall320toward the front wall310. When water enters the case300from the opening312, the screen324is configured to guide the water to flow through a route avoiding a bias member430. That is, if the water falls in a vertical direction, the screen324restricts the water from directly reaching the bias member430.

As shown inFIG. 2, the inside movable mechanism400includes a shaft410, a pedal420, and the bias member430. The shaft410is supported by the case300and configured to rotate. The pedal420extends obliquely upward from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft410. The bias member430is arranged below the pedal420and configured to bias the pedal420toward a throttle fully closed state. In the present embodiment, the bias member430is a compression spring, however, the other type of a bias member such as a tension spring, a torsion spring, or the like, may be employed to apply force to bias the pedal420toward the throttle fully closed state. When the tension spring is employed as the bias member, the bias member is arranged above the pedal420. When the torsion spring is employed as the bias member, the bias member is arranged to surround a central axis of the pedal420. As shown inFIG. 1, the first cover610covers a lower portion of the opened side330in the case300corresponding to a side of the shaft410. The second cover620covers an upper portion of the opened side330above the first cover610.

As shown inFIG. 1, an accelerator opening sensor110is arranged outside the shaft410and configured to generate an accelerator opening signal corresponding to a rotation angle of the shaft410. In the present embodiment, the accelerator opening sensor110includes a detection circuit which includes a Hall element detecting an orientation of a permanent magnet embedded in the shaft410. However, various types of the accelerator opening sensor other than that explained above are applicable.

As shown inFIG. 4, the pedal420includes a cylinder424and a pedal extension part426. The shaft410is inserted into the cylinder424. The pedal extension part426extends obliquely upward from the cylinder424. A position on which the pedal extension part426branches from the cylinder424is referred to as root of the pedal420. An engagement hole428is provided around an end of the pedal extension part426and is engaged with an end of the arm500. A full close stopper422is arranged on an upper surface of the pedal extension part426and protrudes from the upper surface of the pedal extension part426. The full close stopper422is configured to regulate an accelerator idle position by being brought into contact with an inner surface of the front wall310of the case300.

As shown inFIG. 5, in an idle state, the full close stopper422of the pedal420is in contact with the inner surface of the front wall310of the case300. As shown inFIG. 6, in a full throttle state, the full open stopper390on an outer surface of the front wall310in the case300is in contact with the pad200.

Components of the accelerator device100except for the shaft410and a spring of the bias member430may be made of resin. An overall structure of the accelerator device100described above is one example and a part of them may be arbitrarily omitted. For example, the side guard210or the screen324may be omitted.

B. Various structural examples around opening:

As shown inFIGS. 7 to 9, the case300has a protrusion314surrounding an entire circumference of the opening312and protruding toward the pad200. As shown inFIG. 7, the protrusion314of the case300is formed along three sides, among four sides surrounding the opening312, and the second cover620has a protrusion624formed along the remaining side. As described above, the case in the broad sense includes the cover600including the second cover620. That is, the entire circumference of the opening312is surrounded by the protrusions314,624of the case in the broad sense. As shown inFIG. 8, the protrusion314protrudes from the outer surface of the front wall310by a height H314. As shown inFIG. 9, the protrusion624has a height H624from the outer surface of the front wall310. The height H314and the height H624are preferable to be same as each other. Because of the protrusions314,624surrounding the opening312as described above, foreign matter is restricted from entering the case through a gap between the opening312and the arm500.

FIG. 7shows the protrusion314,624viewed from a pad200side. The protrusion314of the case300includes an upper surface314usforming an upper surface of the protrusion314. InFIG. 7, the upper surface314usslopes down leftward. However, the upper surface314usmay slope down rightward, or may not slope rightward or leftward.

InFIG. 10A, the upper surface314usof the protrusion314includes both an inclination portion which slopes down leftward and an inclination portion which slopes down rightward. InFIG. 10B, the upper surface314usof the protrusion314has a curved surface protruding upward. The upper surface314usformed in the curved shape is also considered to include both the inclination portion which slopes down leftward and the inclination portion which slopes down rightward, similarly toFIG. 10A.

As described with examples shown inFIGS. 7, 10A and 10B, the upper surface314usof the protrusion314preferably includes the inclination portion which slopes down rightward or leftward. In this case, the foreign matter can be guided downward along the inclination of the upper surface314usaround the opening312. That is, the foreign matter is restricted from entering the gap between the opening312and the arm500.

As shown inFIG. 8, when the case300is viewed from the pad200side, the outer wall of the case300includes a periphery portion surrounding the opening312. An upper peripheral surface314upthat is an upper part of the periphery portion faces the pad200. In the example shown inFIG. 8, the upper peripheral surface314upcorresponds to a surface of the protrusion314provided around the opening312. The upper peripheral surface may be the outer surface of the front wall310without the protrusion314.

The upper peripheral surface314upis preferred to be formed such that an angle80between the upper peripheral surface314upand a side surface520of the arm500is larger than or equal to 90 degrees. Thereby, the foreign matter approaching the opening312is hit and bounced against the upper peripheral surface314upof the opening312and the side surface520of the arm500. Therefore, the foreign matter is restricted from entering the case300through the gap between the opening312and the arm500. Here, the angle80is preferred to be larger than or equal to 90 degrees within an entire movable range of the arm500from the idle state to the full throttle state. The angle80is further preferred to be larger than 90 degrees and is most preferred to be in a range larger than or equal to 100 degrees and smaller than or equal to 140 degrees.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, an inner wall surface312iof the outer wall surrounding the opening312faces the side surface520of the arm500. The inner wall surface312iis preferred to be formed such that a gap between the inner wall surface312iand the side surface520of the arm500is expanded toward an inside of the case300. InFIGS. 8 and 9, each of angles81to84between the inner wall surface312iand the side surface520of the arm500is larger than 0 degree. In addition, the gap between the inner wall surface312iand the side surface520of the arm500is expanded toward the inside of the case300. By employing the above structure, when the foreign matter is caught in the opening312, the foreign matter is moved toward the inside of the case300through the opening312by operating the arm. As a result, the foreign matter is restricted from being stored at the opening312.

The gap between the inner wall surface312iand the side surface520of the arm500is preferred to be expanded toward the inside of the case300within the entire movable range from the idle state to the full throttle state.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the side surface520of the arm500is preferred not to include a recess at a position facing the inner wall surface312i. By employing the arm500without the recess at the side surface520, the foreign matter is not stored at the side surface520of the arm500. Therefore, when the arm500is operated to move toward the inside of the case300, the foreign matter is restricted from entering the case300.

As shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, a cavity530may be formed in the arm500. In this case, the cavity530is preferred to be formed not to reach the side surface520of the arm500facing the inner wall surface312iand preferred to be formed only inside the arm500. Because of this, formability of the arm500is enhanced, and the foreign matter is restricted from entering the case300.

As shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B, the cavity530of the arm500may be divided into multiple cavities in the arm500. Because of this, strength and the formability of the arm500are enhanced, and the foreign matter is restricted from entering the case300.

The various structural examples described above can be arbitrarily adopted independently and can also be adopted in any combination thereof.

The present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and various other embodiments may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in order to solve some or all of issues in the present disclosure, or to achieve some or all effects in the present disclosure, the technical features in the embodiments can be replaced or combined as appropriate. In addition, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, the technical feature may be omitted as appropriate.