Abstract:
Pedal assemblies for motor vehicles. In one implementation a pedal is pivotable around a shaft that is releasably fixed in a housing of a support piece by a retention member. The retention member is moveable between a first position corresponding to a normal operating condition and a second position corresponding to a head-on collision condition. In the first position a first part of the retention member rests against and holds the rotating shaft in the fixed position within the housing of the support piece and a first surface of the retention member rests against a guide surface of the support piece. The retention member is releasable from the support piece upon a force being applied to it in the event of the head-on collision, the first surface of the retention member adapted to ride along the guide surface of the support piece to cause the retention member to move from the first position to the second position in a manner that causes the first part of the retention member to be moved away from the rotating shaft so that the rotating shaft is moveable within the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims the benefit and priority to Spanish Patent Application No. P201131318, filed Nov. 17, 2011. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a pedal assembly of a motor vehicle that comprises a safety mechanism protecting the driver in the event of a head-on collision of the vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are known pedals for motor vehicles that comprise safety mechanisms that are only activated in the event of a head-on collision. These safety mechanisms have the objective of preventing injury to the vehicle driver&#39;s limbs when a head-on collision occurs, preventing for that purpose the pedal from suddenly moving towards the driver. 
         [0004]    In a potentially harmful head-on collision, with regard to the pedals, the wall to which the pedals are connected is deformed, pushing the support structure of the pedals and the pedals themselves against the driver. In response to this situation, the safety mechanism is activated to prevent the pedals from impacting against the driver&#39;s lower limbs. 
         [0005]    European Publication EP1557333A1 describes a pedal with a safety mechanism that pivots around a rotation shaft connected to a support piece, said support piece being connected to a wall that separates the inside of the motor vehicle. The safety mechanism comprises a lever fitted in a pivoting manner on the support piece, which is operated, in the event of a head-on collision, by the substantially deformation-resistant part of the vehicle. When said lever rotates, one end of said lever causes a movement of the rotation shaft that forces said rotation shaft to come away from the support piece. 
         [0006]    In European Publication EP1787873A1 the support piece comprises a hole in which is fitted the shaft of the pedal and a support area arranged beneath the hole and adapted to support the pedal in the hole. The safety mechanism comprises a cam fitted in a pivoting manner on the support piece, which in the event of a head-on collision deforms the support area of the support piece, allowing the shaft to be released from the hole. 
         [0007]    In International Publication WO2010116092A1 the rotation shaft of the pedal described is housed in parallel grooves arranged in two vertical walls of the support of the pedal. The safety mechanism also comprises a cam fixed in a pivoting manner to the support, which in the event of a collision rotates in relation to the support, allowing the rotation shaft to move along the grooves. The cam comprises grooves, arranged respectively in the walls of the cam, substantially parallel to the grooves of the support, the grooves of the cam being passed through by the rotation shaft of the pedal. The grooves of the cam have the shape of the arc of a circle centred at a point close to the rotation shaft of the cam. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    According to one implementation a pedal is arranged articulated to a support piece of the motor vehicle by a rotation shaft. In the event of a head-on collision, activation means activates the safety mechanism, releasing the rotation shaft in relation to the support piece. 
         [0009]    In one implementation the safety mechanism comprises release means that comprises a retention member and on the support piece at least one guide surface. In normal operating conditions of the pedal, the retention member is arranged inserted at least partly in the support piece, retaining the rotation shaft in said support piece. 
         [0010]    In the event of a collision, when the activation means acts on the retention member, said retention member moves in a guided manner on the guide surface of the support piece, releasing the rotation shaft. 
         [0011]    It is not necessary that the retention member has a rotation point with a shaft inserted in the support piece, as the movement of said retention member is defined by the guide surface of the support piece, on which it is supported. This allows the retention member to be small in size and simple, and also ensures that the movement of the retention member during the activation of the activation means does not have to be circular. 
         [0012]    As a result, a pedal with an improved safety mechanism is obtained, one requiring a minimum number of pieces. In addition, with this configuration, the requirements in relation to tolerances are minimal as the support piece does not have to have a housing tight to the shaft with minimal tolerances, nor, likewise, to the retention member, as retention is achieved by fitting the shaft between retention member and the support piece. As a rotation shaft between the retention member and the support piece is not necessary, adjustments associated with said rotation shaft are not necessary. 
         [0013]    These and other advantages and characteristics will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a first implementation of a pedal with a safety mechanism in normal operating conditions. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the pedal shown in  FIG. 1 , with the safety mechanism partly sectioned. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a partial view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 , with the safety mechanism activated. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  released from a support piece. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a view of a retention member of the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows another view of a retention member of the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a section view of a support piece included in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows a view of a second implementation of the pedal with a safety mechanism in normal operating conditions. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of the pedal shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows a view of a retention member of the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  shows another view of a retention member of the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  shows a view of a support piece shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  shows a partial section view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 10  in a normal operating position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  shows a partial section view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 10  during a head-on collision. 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  shows a partial section view of the pedal with the safety mechanism shown in  FIG. 10  after a head-on collision. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The figures show a pedal  1 ; 1 ′ for motor vehicles with a safety mechanism for head-on collisions according to the invention. The pedal  1 ; 1 ′ pivots around a rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ attached to a support piece  10 ; 10 ′. 
         [0032]    The pedal  1 ; 1 ′ has a shoe  6 ; 6 ′, shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  6 ,  10  and  11 , and is connected to a corresponding brake actuator, clutch cylinder, or the like, by means of a rod not shown in the figures. 
         [0033]    The safety mechanism comprises means that releases the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ in the event of a head-on collision as a result of the action of activation means  40 ; 40 ′. In one implementation the release means comprises a retention member  20 ; 20 ′ that, in normal operating conditions of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′ is arranged inserted at least partly in the support piece  10 ; 10 ′ that is fixed to a deformable part of the motor vehicle, the retention member  20 ; 20 ′ retaining the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ in the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. 
         [0034]    In one implementation the retention member  20 ; 20 ′ comprises at least one arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ and a segment  21 ; 21 ′, continuous to said arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′, on which the activation means  40 ; 40 ′ (e.g., deformation-resistant part of the motor vehicle, pyrotechnic actuator, etc.) acts. In the implementations shown in the figures, the retention member  20 ; 20 ′, shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  12  and  13 , comprises two arms  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ connected through the segment  21 ; 21 ′ on which the activation means  40 ; 40 ′ acts. The arms  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ are substantially parallel to each other. The segment  21 ; 21 ′ has a substantially flat surface  21   a ; 21   a ′ on which said activation means  40 ; 40 ′ act. In one implementation the activation means  40 ; 40 ′ acts substantially orthogonal to the substantially flat surface  21   a ; 21   a ′ of the segment  21 ; 21 ′. 
         [0035]    In one implementation the support piece  10 , 10 ′, shown in detail in  FIGS. 9 and 14 , comprises two walls  10   a , 10   b ; 10   a ′, 10   b ′ substantially parallel to each other, each one of which comprises a housing  11 ; 11 ′ in which is arranged attached one end of the rotation shaft  2 , 2 ′. The housings  11 ; 11 ′ are arranged substantially parallel to each other, each one of them including a closed end  11   b ; 11   b ′ with a shape adapted to the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the housing  11 ; 11 ′ has an open end  11   a ; 11   a′.    
         [0036]    In one implementation each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′ is arranged inserted tightly in a corresponding cavity  12 ; 12 ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. Each cavity  12 ; 12 ′ is comprised in the corresponding wall  10   a , 10   b ; 10   a ′, 10   b ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′, each cavity  12 ; 12 ′ being arranged connected to the corresponding housing  11 ; 11 ′. Each cavity  12 ; 12 ′ is delimited at least by a guide surface  14 ; 14 ′, the function of which is detailed below, and by a limiting surface  12   a ; 12   a ′, both guide surfaces  14 ; 14 ′ and limiting surfaces  12   a ; 12   a ′ being arranged facing each other. 
         [0037]    In one implementation each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ comprises a retention surface  22   a , 23   a ;  22   a ′, 23   a ′, shown in detail in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  12 ,  13 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 , which retains the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ against the closed end  11   b ; 11   b ′ of the housing  11 ; 11 ′. In one implementation the retention surface  22   a , 23   a ; 22   a ′, 23   a ′ has the shape substantially of the arc of a circle, adapted to the shape of the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′. 
         [0038]    The retention member  20 ; 20 ′ also comprises a contact surface  22   b , 23   b ; 22   b ′, 23   b ′ on each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′, shown in detail in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  12 ,  13 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 , adapted to the corresponding guide surface  14 ; 14 ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′, both surfaces  22   b , 23   b , 14 ;  22   b ′, 23   b ′, 14 ′ being arranged in contact in normal operating conditions of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 15 . In the implementation shown in the figures, both the guide surface  14 ; 14 ′ and the contact surface  22   b , 23   b ; 22   b ′, 23   b ′ are curved surfaces. Each contact surface  22   b , 23   b ; 22   b ′, 23   b ′ extends continuous to the respective retention surface  22   a , 23   a ;  22   a ′, 23   a ′. In other implementations not shown, the guide surface  14 ; 14 ′ and the contact surface  22   b , 23   b ; 22   b ′, 23   b ′ may not be curved surfaces. The contact surface  22   b , 23   b ; 22   b ′, 23   b ′ may not extend continuous to the respective retention surface  22   a , 23   a ;  22   a ′, 23   a′.    
         [0039]    In addition, during the normal operating of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′, the retention member  20 ; 20  is arranged fixed to the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. In the implementations shown, each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ comprises a substantially flat surface  22   d , 23   d ; 22   d ′, 23   d ′ that is arranged facing the limiting surface  12   a ; 12   a ′ of the cavity  12 ; 12 ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′, in a normal operating position of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′. In one implementation the surfaces  22   d , 23   d ; 22   d ′, 23   d ′ of each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ and the surface  21   a ; 21   a ′ of the segment  21 ; 21 ′ on which the activation means  40 ; 40 ′ act are substantially parallel to each other. In other implementations not shown in the figures, the surface  22   d , 23   d ; 22   d ′, 23   d ′ of each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ may not be flat. Similarly, the surfaces  22   d , 23   d ; 22   d ′, 23   d ′ of each arm  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′ of each arm and the surface  21   a ; 21   a ′ of the segment  21 ; 21 ′ may not be parallel to each other. 
         [0040]    In some implementations one end  24 , 25 ; 24 ′, 25 ′ of the arm  22 , 23 ; 22 , 23 ′ is arranged housed in a recess  15 ; 15 ′ comprised in each wall  10   a , 10   b ; 10   a ′, 10   b ′ of the support piece  10 ; 10 ′, passing at least partly through said recess  15 ; 15 ′. The recess  15 ; 15 ′ shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  9 ,  11 ,  14 ,  16  and  17  is connected to the corresponding housing  11 ; 11 ′ in the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. Said recess  15 ; 15 ′ has a substantially rectangular section. During the normal operating of the pedal, shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  10  and  15 , when the shoe  6 ; 6 ′ is operated by the user, the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ presses against the retention member  20 ; 20 ′, pushing said retention member  20 ; 20 ′ against the limiting surface  12   a ; 12   a ′ of the cavity  12 ; 12 ′ and against a delimiting surface  15   a ; 15   a ′ of the corresponding recess  15 ; 15 ′. The retention member  20 ; 20 ′ retains the rotation shaft  2 ; 2 ′ inside the support piece  10 ; 10 ′, directly transmitting the force of the shaft  2 ; 2 ′ to the support piece  10 ; 10 ′ in an efficient manner. 
         [0041]    In one implementation, in order to keep the retention member  20 ; 20 ′ fixed to the support piece  10 ; 10 ′ during the normal operating of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′, the support piece  10 ; 10 ′ comprises a tab  16 ; 16 ′ on each wall  10   a ; 10   a ′, shown in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , oriented towards the inside of the corresponding recess  15 ; 15 ′, which cooperates with a hole  24   a , 25   a ; 24   a ′, 25   a ′ comprised in the end  24 , 25 ; 24 ′, 25 ′ of the arm  22 , 23 ; 22 , 23 ′, fixing the retention member  20 ; 20 ′ to the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. 
         [0042]    In the normal operating position of the pedal  1 ; 1 ′, the retention member  20 ; 20 ′, in particular the segment  21 ; 21 ′ of the retention member  20 ; 20 ′, projects out in relation to the support piece  10 ; 10 ′. In one implementation the segment  21 , 21 ′, shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , projects out in relation to the arms  22 , 23 ; 22 ′, 23 ′. 
         [0043]    With the pedal  1  with the safety mechanism, shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 , the activation means  40  comprises a substantially deformation-resistant part of the vehicle, said substantially deformation-resistant part being represented in  FIGS. 3 and 4  by means of an arrow that indicates the direction of activation of the substantially deformation-resistant part of the retention member  20 . 
         [0044]    When a head-on collision occurs, the substantially deformation-resistant part of the motor vehicle exerts a force on the flat surface  21   a  of the segment  21  of the retention member  20 , moving the retention member  20  in relation to the support piece  10 . The movement is guided by the guide surfaces  14  of the support piece  10 , the contact surface  22   b , 23   b  of each arm  22 , 23  cooperating with the guide surface  14  to a position in which the retention member  20  does not retain the shaft  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotation shaft  2  being capable of moving along the respective housings  11  and releasing itself from the support piece  10 . 
         [0045]    In the implementation shown in  FIGS. 10 to 17 , the activation means  40 ′ comprise a pyrotechnic actuator  41 ′ that is arranged housed in the support piece  10 ′, in particular in a housing  42 ′ comprised in the support piece  10 ′. The housing  42 ′ is arranged substantially centred in relation to the arms  22 , 23 ; 22 , 23 ′, the pyrotechnic actuator  41 ′ acting against the segment  21 ′ of the retention member  20 ′ in a direction substantially orthogonal to the substantially flat surface  21   a ′ of the segment  21 , the rotation shaft  2 ′ being capable of moving along the respective housing  11 ′ of the support piece  10 ′ and releasing itself from the support piece  10 ′. 
         [0046]    When a head-on collision occurs, the movable part of the pyrotechnic actuator exerts a force on the flat surface  21   a ′ of the segment  21 ′ of the retention member  20 ′ that moves the retention member  20 ′ in relation to the support piece  10 ′. The movement is guided by the guide surfaces  14 ′ of the support piece  10 ′, the contact surface  22   b ′, 23   b ′ of each arm  22 ′, 23 ′ cooperating with the guide surface  14 ′ as shown in  FIG. 16 , to a position in which the retention member  20 ′ does not retain the shaft  2 ′, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the shaft  2 ′ being capable of moving along the respective housings  11 ′ and releasing itself from the support piece  10 ′.