Abstract:
A vehicle accelerator pedal apparatus including: a pedal-side arm supported, so as to allow rotation toward the front and rear of the vehicle, by a support shaft in a housing; a pad in the pedal-side arm that can be operated by stepping; and a reaction force application mechanism for applying reaction force to the pedal-side arm. The reaction force application mechanism includes a drive source for generating the reaction force, and a transmission member for transmitting the reaction force generated by the drive source to the pedal-side arm. The reaction force application mechanism is arranged higher than the housing. The pedal-side arm has an extension part that is extended on the opposite side from the pad across the support shaft, and from the pedal-side arm to the transmission member.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an improvement in a vehicle accelerator device provided with a reaction-force-applying mechanism for applying a reaction force to a pedal-side arm that a driver depresses. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Vehicle accelerator devices provided with reaction-force-applying mechanisms have been known, e.g. in Patent Document 1, in which a reaction force is applied to a pedal-side arm from a reaction-force-applying mechanism in accordance with an amount by which the pedal-side arm is depressed or other information. 
         [0003]    The vehicle accelerator device known in Patent Document 1 includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body, a pedal-side arm pivotably supported in the housing, a pad provided on a lower end of the pedal-side arm and used for depressing the pedal-side arm, and a reaction-force-applying mechanism for applying a reaction force to the pedal-side arm. The pedal-side arm extends downward from the housing. The reaction-force-applying mechanism is disposed between the housing positioned above and the pad positioned below, and is incorporated into the housing. The reaction-force-applying mechanism includes a motor for generating the reaction force, a reduction gear for reducing the rotational speed of the motor, and a motor-side arm mounted on an output shaft of the reduction gear. The motor-side arm is a member for applying the reaction force generated by the motor to the pedal-side arm. 
         [0004]    A brake pedal is proximal to the accelerator device. Depending on the type of vehicle, the accelerator device may be disposed near the wheel house of a front wheel. Therefore, the accelerator device needs to be able to be easily disposed in a non-interfering manner even when the device is laterally proximal to the wheel house or the brake pedal. Specifically, a high degree of freedom is required in regard to where the accelerator device is to be disposed. 
         [0005]    However, because the motor and the reduction gear of the reaction-force-applying mechanism are connected in a lateral or vehicle width direction, the size of the reaction-force-applying mechanism is large in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the entire accelerator device has a large size in the vehicle width direction. In addressing this situation, it has been suggested that the lateral size of the reaction-force-applying mechanism be reduced; however, merely reducing the width of the reaction-force-applying mechanism results in complicating the configuration of the reaction-force-applying mechanism. Accordingly, there is scope for improvement. 
       PRIOR ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
       [0006]    Patent Document 1: International Publication (WO-A) No. 2012/029503 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0007]    The present invention seeks to provide a technique which is capable of enhancing the degree of freedom in arranging a vehicle accelerator device provided with a reaction-force-applying mechanism. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle accelerator device comprising a housing mountable on a vehicle body, a pedal-side arm pivotably supported by a support shaft in the housing for undergoing pivotal movement in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a depressible pad provided on the pedal-side arm, and a reaction-force-applying mechanism for applying a reaction force to the pedal-side arm against a depressing force applied to the pad, the reaction-force-applying mechanism comprising a drive source for generating the reaction force and a transmitting member for transmitting the reaction force generated by the drive source to the pedal-side arm, wherein the vehicle accelerator device is characterized in that: the reaction-force-applying mechanism is disposed above the housing; the pedal-side arm has an extension part extending to a side opposite the pad, across the support shaft, and from the pedal-side arm toward the transmitting member; and the extension part comes into contact with the transmitting member when the reaction force is received from the transmitting member. 
         [0009]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, preferably, the reaction-force-applying mechanism is set apart from the housing, and is mounted on the vehicle body so as to be separate from the housing; and only the extension part of the pedal-side arm comes into contact with the transmitting member. 
         [0010]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, preferably, the pedal-side arm comprises a first arm part pivotably supported in the housing by the support shaft for undergoing pivotal movement in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and a second arm part positioned outside of the housing and provided on the first arm part; and the pad and the extension part are provided on the second arm part. 
         [0011]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, preferably, the pad is disposed so as to be able to be adjacent to a brake pedal in a vehicle width direction; the second arm part comprises a mounting part mounted to a lateral side surface of the first arm part and a bent part bending from the mounting part to a side laterally opposite the brake pedal; and the pad is provided on the bent part. 
         [0012]    According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, preferably, a gap is present at a position where the housing and the extension part are closest when the pedal-side arm pivots between an initial position at which the pad is not depressed and a maximum-depression position at which the pad is depressed by a maximum amount; and the second arm part is disposed in relation to the housing such that the gap decreases in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm from the initial position toward the maximum-depression position. 
         [0013]    According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, preferably, the position of the pedal-side arm closest to the housing and the extension part when positioned at the initial position is on an upper edge of the housing; and 
         [0014]    the extension part has a slanting part slanting toward the housing while extending above the upper edge of the housing. 
         [0015]    According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, preferably, an arm proximal end part provided on the first arm part and supported by the support shaft is accommodated inside the housing; a distal end part of the first arm part is exposed to the outside through an opening in the housing; the second arm part comprises a mounting part mounted to a lateral side surface of the first arm part and a curved part curving so as to separate laterally from a side edge of the opening; the mounting part is disposed below the opening; and the curved part is disposed across the side edge of the opening. 
         [0016]    According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, preferably, the drive source comprises an electric motor for generating the reaction force and a reduction gear for reducing a rotational speed of the electric motor and outputting the reduced speed; the transmitting member is connected to an output shaft of the reduction gear and is configured by a motor-side arm for transmitting the reaction force to the pedal-side arm; the reaction-force-applying mechanism has a bracket for supporting the electric motor and the reduction gear; and the bracket has a cable guard extending outward and upward of a range in which the motor-side arm can pivot and move. 
         [0017]    According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, preferably, an outer circumference and an upper side of the electric motor are covered by a heat-blocking cover for blocking at least part of heat generated by the electric motor. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0018]    According to the first aspect of the invention, the reaction force-applying mechanism for applying reaction force to the pedal-side arm is disposed above a housing in which the pedal-side arm is supported by the support shaft. Specifically, because a unit composed of the housing and the pedal-side arm supported in the housing does not include the reaction-force-applying mechanism, the unit has a small size in the lateral or vehicle width direction. The unit, being of small width, can be easily disposed in a non-interfering manner even when the unit is laterally proximal to a wheel house or a brake pedal. However, the reaction-force-applying mechanism includes the drive source for generating reaction force and the transmitting member for transmitting the reaction force generated by the drive source to the pedal-side arm, and therefore has larger lateral size than the unit. The reaction-force-applying mechanism, being of large width, is disposed above the housing of the unit, which is of small width. For example, the reaction-force-applying mechanism can be disposed above the wheel house or the pad of the brake pedal, thereby preventing interference therebetween. 
         [0019]    The lateral size of the portion of the vehicle accelerator device closest to the wheel house or the brake pedal in the lateral direction, specifically the lateral size of the unit, can thus be reduced as much as possible. The accelerator device, being of small width, can be easily disposed without any interference with the wheel house, the brake pedal, or other members positioned in the lateral vicinity of the accelerator device. The degree of freedom in arranging the accelerator device in the vehicle is enhanced. 
         [0020]    The pedal-side arm has the extension part extending to a side opposite the pad, across the support shaft, and from the pedal-side arm toward the transmitting member of the reaction-force-applying mechanism. The extension part comes into contact with the transmitting member when the reaction force is received from the transmitting member. Therefore, the configuration of the reaction-force-applying mechanism can be kept simple despite having the reaction-force-applying mechanism disposed above the housing. The accelerator device can therefore be obtained at low cost. 
         [0021]    According to the second aspect of the invention, the transmitting member of the reaction-force-applying mechanism comes into contact with only the extension part, whereby the reaction-force-applying mechanism can apply the reaction force to the pedal-side arm. Moreover, the reaction-force-applying mechanism is set apart from the housing, and is mounted on the vehicle body so as to be separate from the housing. Therefore, each of the housing and the reaction-force-applying mechanism can be mounted on the vehicle body in respectively desired locations. Therefore, an even larger degree of freedom can be used in regard to where to dispose the vehicle accelerator device in the vehicle. 
         [0022]    According to the third aspect of the invention, the pedal-side arm includes the first arm part pivotably supported in the housing by the support shaft for undergoing pivotal movement in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the second arm part positioned outside of the housing and provided on the first arm part. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the second arm part should be present according to, e.g., whether the reaction-force-applying mechanism is present. In a first case in which the vehicle accelerator device is not provided with the reaction-force-applying mechanism, it is possible to use only the first arm part without using the second arm part. In a second case in which the vehicle accelerator device is provided with the reaction-force-applying mechanism, the second arm part provided with the pad and the extension part is made available and is provided on the first, arm part. In both the first case and the second case, the housing and an inner mechanism built into the housing can be jointly used. The accelerator device can therefore be obtained at low cost. 
         [0023]    According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the second arm part is mounted on the lateral side surface of the first arm part. Therefore, the second arm part can be easily mounted on the first arm part without contact being made with the housing. The second arm part also has the bent part bending from the mounting part mounted on the first arm part to the side laterally opposite the brake pedal, the pad being provided to the bent part. Therefore, the vehicle accelerator device can be easily disposed while interference with the brake pedal positioned in the lateral vicinity of the accelerator device is sufficiently avoided. 
         [0024]    According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the gap at the position where the extension part is closest to the housing decreases in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm from the initial position at which the pedal-side arm is not depressed toward the maximum-depression position. Specifically, the gap when the pedal-side arm is in the initial position is larger than the gap when the pad is depressed. Even if some foreign object gets sandwiched between the housing and the extension part, specifically in the gap, while the pad is being depressed, the gap can be increased by releasing the step-on or depressing operation (returning the pedal-side arm to the initial position). As a result, the foreign object falls out of the gap. By thus releasing the depressing operation, the pedal-side arm is allowed to return to the initial position without any adverse effect caused by the foreign object. 
         [0025]    According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the extension part is closest to the upper edge of the housing when the pedal-side arm is positioned at the initial position. The extension part has a slanting part slanting toward the housing while extending above the upper edge of the housing. The slanting part approaches the housing in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm from the initial position toward the maximum-depression position. Therefore, the gap at the position where the extension part is closest to the upper edge of the housing is decreased in size. The slanting part then separates from the housing in correspondence with the returning of the pedal-side arm from the maximum-depression position to the initial position. The gap at the position where the extension part is closest to the upper edge of the housing is increased in size. Therefore, sandwiching of a foreign object in a direction in which the pedal-side arm returns from the maximum-depression position to the initial position can be minimized. 
         [0026]    According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the second arm part has the mounting part mounted to the lateral side surface of the first arm part and the curved part curving so as to separate laterally from the side edge of the opening in the housing. The mounting part is disposed below the opening. The curved part is disposed across the side edge of the opening. Therefore, the gap between the housing and the second arm part can be increased in size at the position where the second arm part is disposed across the side edge of the opening. Sandwiching of the foreign object in the gap in the vicinity of the opening can therefore be minimized. 
         [0027]    According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the reaction-force-applying mechanism includes the bracket for supporting the electric motor and the reduction gear. Harnesses, cables, or other types of wires used for other devices often pass around the reaction-force-applying mechanism mounted on the vehicle. In response, the bracket has the cable guard extending outward and upward of a range in which the motor-side arm can pivot and move. The pivoting motor-side arm can be protected by the cable guard so as not to come into contact with the wires. 
         [0028]    According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the outer circumference and the upper side of the electric motor are covered by the heat-blocking cover for blocking at least part of heat generated by the electric motor. Therefore, it is possible to block the heat using the heat-blocking cover so that the heat generated by the electric motor does not affect the harnesses, cables, or other types of wires. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a view of a configuration in which a vehicle accelerator device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle body, seen from the pad-depressing direction; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the vehicle accelerator device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the vehicle accelerator device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an accelerator pedal unit shown in  FIG. 2 , seen from the upper-left; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the accelerator pedal unit shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a left side view of the accelerator pedal unit shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a reaction-force-applying mechanism shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a left side view of the reaction-force-applying mechanism shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an example of a replacement for the pedal-side arm of the accelerator pedal unit shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0038]      FIGS. 10(   a ) and  10 ( b ) are diagrammatical views illustrating a change in the gap between an upper edge of a housing and an extension part shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    A certain preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings. 
       Embodiment 
       [0040]    A vehicle accelerator device according to the preferred embodiment will now be described. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a vehicle  10  takes the form of, e.g. a passenger vehicle, and is provided with a vehicle braking device  20  and a vehicle accelerator device  30 . The two devices  20 ,  30  are located in a front part of a passenger compartment  11 , and are mounted on a vehicle body  12 , e.g. a lower dashboard panel  13 . 
         [0041]    The vehicle braking device  20  is disposed on a laterally inward side. The vehicle accelerator device  30  is disposed on a laterally outward side and is adjacent to a wheel house  14  for a front wheel. Specifically, the vehicle accelerator device  30  is adjacent to the vehicle braking device  20 . 
         [0042]    The vehicle accelerator device  30  (hereinafter simply referred to as “accelerator device  30 ”) includes an accelerator pedal unit  31  and a reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 . 
         [0043]    First, the basic configuration of the accelerator pedal unit  31  will be described. As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the accelerator pedal unit  31  includes a housing  41  mountable on the vehicle body  12  ( FIG. 1 ), a pedal-side arm  43  pivotably supported by a support shaft  42  in the housing  41  for undergoing pivotal movement in a longitudinal or front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a depressible pad  44  provided on the pedal-side arm  43 , a return spring  45  ( FIG. 6 ) for biasing the pedal-side arm  43  in a direction to release the pedal-depressing operation, and a pivot sensor  46  ( FIG. 6 ) for detecting an amount by which the pedal-side arm  43  pivots. 
         [0044]    The pivot sensor  46  is provided inside the housing  41 . The pad  44  is disposed so as to be able to be laterally adjacent to the brake pedal  21  of the vehicle braking device  20  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0045]    In the accelerator pedal unit  31 , the pedal-side arm  43  pivots forward of the vehicle body  12  as a result of the pad  44  being depressed by a driver; therefore, the amount of pivotal movement of the pedal-side arm  43  is detected by the pivot sensor  46  ( FIG. 6 ), and an electrical detection signal is generated from the pivot sensor  46 . A control device (not shown) receiving the detection signal from the pivot sensor  46  controls a travel drive source, and thereby allows the state of acceleration of the vehicle  10  ( FIG. 1 ) to be controlled. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the accelerator pedal unit  31 , is disposed laterally proximal to (directly next to) the wheel house  14 , and is mounted on the vehicle body  12 . The accelerator pedal unit  31  is described in detail later. 
         [0047]    Next, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is disposed above the housing  41  of the accelerator pedal unit  31 . More specifically, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is disposed at a position above and somewhat laterally outside of the housing  41 , is set apart from the housing  41 , and is mounted on the vehicle body  12  so as to be separate from the housing  41 . Specifically, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is positioned somewhat laterally outside of the housing  41 , but is disposed above the wheel house  14 , and accordingly does not interfere with the wheel house  14 . 
         [0048]    The reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  applies, in accordance with a control signal from a control unit (not shown), a reaction force to the pedal-side arm  43  against the depressing force applied to the pad  44 . Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  includes a drive source  51  for generating the reaction force, a transmitting member  52  for transmitting the reaction force generated by the drive source  51  to the pedal-side arm  43  ( FIG. 2 ), and a bracket  53  for supporting the drive source  51 . 
         [0049]    The drive source  51  includes an electric motor  54  for generating the reaction force and a reduction gear  55  for reducing a rotational speed of the electric motor  54  and outputting the reduced speed. The electric motor  54  is configured by, e.g. a servo motor, and is disposed so that a rotating shaft (not shown) faces in the lateral or vehicle width direction. The reduction gear  55 , similarly to the electric motor  54 , is disposed so that an output shaft  55   a  faces in the lateral direction. The electric motor  54  is incorporated into an upper part of the reduction gear  55 . The output shaft  55   a  of the reduction gear  55  has an output end positioned on the laterally inward side. 
         [0050]    The transmitting member  52  is connected to the output shaft  55   a  of the reduction gear  55 , and is configured by a motor-side arm for transmitting the reaction force to the pedal-side arm  43  ( FIG. 3 ). The term “transmitting member  52 ” may be rephrased as “motor-side arm  52 ” hereinbelow, where appropriate. 
         [0051]    Specifically, a proximal end part  52   a  of the motor-side arm  52  is mounted so as to prevent relative rotation with respect to the output shaft  55   a  of the reduction gear  55 . Furthermore, the motor-side arm  52  extends rearward and downward from the proximal end part  52 , and has a contact arm part  56  on a distal end part  52   b . The contact arm part  56  is parallel with the output shaft  55   a  of the reduction gear  55 , and extends from the distal end part  52   b  of the motor-side arm  52  to the laterally inward side. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 , the bracket  53  is a member mountable on the vehicle body  12  (e.g., the lower dashboard panel  13 ). Specifically, the bracket  53  has a plurality of flanges  53   a , and bolting the plurality of flanges  53   a  to the vehicle body  12  detachably mounts the bracket  53  to the vehicle body  12 . At a minimum, the bracket  53  supports the electric motor  54 , the reduction gear  55 , and a motor drive control unit  57 . As a result, the reaction-force-applying mechanism is mountable on the vehicle body  12 . 
         [0053]    Harnesses, cables, or other wires Wi used for other devices often pass around the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  mounted on the vehicle  10 . In response, the bracket  53  has a cable guard  58  extending outward and upward of a range A 1 , A 2  in which the motor-side arm  52  can pivot and move. The pivoting motor-side arm  52  can be protected by the cable guard  58  so as not to come into contact with the harnesses, cables, or wires Wi. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an outer circumference and an upper side of the electric motor  54  are covered by a heat-blocking cover  59  for blocking at least part of heat generated by the electric motor  54 . Therefore, it is possible for the heat-blocking cover  59  to provide protection so that the heat generated by the electric motor  54  does not affect the harnesses, cables, or other wires Wi. 
         [0055]    Next, the accelerator pedal unit  31  will be described in detail. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  6 , the housing  41  is a member mountable on the vehicle body  12  (e.g., the lower dashboard panel  13 ). Specifically, the housing  41  has a plurality of flanges  41   a , and bolting the plurality of flanges  41   a  to the vehicle body  12  detachably mounts the housing  41  to the vehicle body  12 . As a result, the accelerator pedal unit  31  is mountable on the vehicle body  12 . 
         [0056]    A substantially rectangular opening  41   b  is formed rearward and downward of the housing  41 . The proximal end part of the pedal-side arm  43  is inserted into the housing  41  through the opening  41   b , and is supported by the laterally extending support shaft  42 . 
         [0057]    The pedal-side arm  43  has an extension part  47  extending to a side opposite the pad  44 , across the support shaft  42 , and from the pedal-side arm  43  toward the transmitting member  52  (motor-side arm  52 ) of the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 . The extension part  47  comes into contact with the transmitting member  52  (in particular, the contact arm part  56 ) at least when the reaction force is received from the transmitting member  52 . Only the extension part  47  of the pedal-side arm  43  can come into contact with the transmitting member  52 . Specifically, a rear surface  47   a  in the longitudinal or front-rear direction of the vehicle body  12  on the distal end portion of the extension part  47  is capable of coming into contact with the transmitting member  52 . 
         [0058]    More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the pedal-side arm  43  includes a first arm part  61  pivotably supported in the housing  41  by the support shaft  42  for undergoing pivotal movement in the longitudinal or front-rear direction of the vehicle body and a second arm part  62  positioned outside of the housing  41  and provided on the first arm part  61 . The pad  44  and the extension part  47  are provided on the second arm part  62 . The extension part  47  is positioned above the second arm part  62 . Thus, because the pedal-side arm  43  is constituted by the first arm part  61  and the second arm part  62 , it is possible to determine whether or not the second arm part  62  should be present according to, e.g., whether the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is present. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , in a “first case” in which the accelerator device  30  is not provided with the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  ( FIG. 2 ), it is possible to use only the first arm part  61  without using the second arm part  62 . In this case, the pad  44  is provided on the first arm part  61 . 
         [0060]    However, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in a “second case” in which the accelerator device  30  is provided with the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 , the second arm part  62  provided with the pad  44  and the extension part  47  is made available and is provided on the first arm part  61 . 
         [0061]    In both the first case and the second case, the housing and an inner mechanism built into the housing (e.g., the pivot sensor  46  shown in  FIG. 6 ) can be jointly used. The accelerator device  30  can therefore be obtained at low cost. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , an arm proximal end part  61   a  of the first arm part  61  is integrally provided on the first arm part, accommodated inside the housing  41 , and pivotably supported by the support shaft  42  for undergoing pivotal movement in the longitudinal or front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A distal end  61   b  of the first arm part  61  is exposed to the outside through the opening  41   b  in the housing  41 . 
         [0063]    The second arm part  62  is a vertically long and narrow member, and has a mounting part  63  mounted to a lateral side surface  61   c  of the first arm part  61 , a bent part  64  provided below the mounting part  63 , and a curved part  65  provided above the mounting part  63 . The mounting part  63  is disposed below the opening  41   b.    
         [0064]    Thus, the pedal-side arm  43  is configured so that the second arm part  62  is mounted to the lateral side surface  61   c  of the first arm part  61 . Therefore, the second arm part  62  can be easily mounted on the first arm part  61  without contact being made with the housing  41 . 
         [0065]    The bent part  64  bends from the mounting part  63  to the side laterally opposite the brake pedal  21  (to the laterally outward side). The pad  44  is provided to the bent part  64 ; i.e., to a lower end part of the second arm part  62 . Therefore, the accelerator device  30  can be easily disposed while interference with the brake pedal  21  positioned in the lateral vicinity of the accelerator device  30  is sufficiently avoided. 
         [0066]    The curved part  65  curves in a substantially sideways V-shape or sideways U-shape as seen from the rear, curving so as to separate laterally from a side edge  41   c  of the opening  41   b . The curved part  65  is disposed across the side edge  41   c  of the opening  41   b . Therefore, the gap C 1  between the housing  41  and the second arm part  62  ( FIG. 5 ) can be increased in size at a position where the second arm part  62  is disposed across the side edge  41   c  of the opening  41   b . Sandwiching of a foreign object in the gap C 1  in the vicinity of the opening  41   b  can therefore be minimized. 
         [0067]    Here, a position P 1  of the pedal-side arm  43  when the pad  44  is not depressed will be called the “initial position P 1 .” Another position P 2  of the pedal-side arm  43  when the pad  44  is depressed by a maximum amount will be called the “maximum-depression position P 2 .” The angle by which the pedal-side arm  43  pivots from the initial position P 1  to the maximum-depression position P 2  is θ. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the second arm part  62  is disposed on a laterally inward side of the housing  41 . The extension part  47  has a slanting part  47   b  above the curved part  65 . The slanting part  47   b  slants toward the housing  41  while extending above an upper edge  41   d  of the laterally inward side of the housing  41 . The upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41  slants, e.g., rearwards and downwards. A gap C 2  is present between the upper edge  41   d  and the slanting part  47   b . Specifically, when the pedal-side arm  43  pivots between the initial position P 1  and the maximum-depression position P 2 , a gap C 2  is present at the position closest to the housing  41  and the extension part  47 . The gap C 2  will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 . 
         [0069]      FIGS. 10(   a ) and  10 ( b ) schematically show the relationship between the upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41  and the slanting part  47  of the second arm part  62 , with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0070]    When, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second arm part  62  of the pedal-side arm  43  is positioned at the initial position P 1 , as shown in  FIG. 10  ( a ) the size of the gap C 2  (the size at the initial time) equals L 1 , which is relatively large. 
         [0071]    However, when, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second arm part  62  of the pedal-side arm  43  is positioned at the maximum-depression position P 2 , as shown in  FIG. 10  ( b ) the size of the gap C 2  (the size when the pedal is depressed) equals L 2 , which is smaller than the size at the initial time. 
         [0072]    Thus, the second arm part  62  is disposed in relation to the housing  41  so that the gap C 2  decreases in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm  43  from the initial position P 1  toward the maximum-depression position P 2 . Therefore, the gap C 2  at the position where the extension part  47  is closest to the housing  41  decreases in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm  43  from the initial position P 1  toward the maximum-depression position P 2 . Specifically, the gap C 2  when the pedal-side arm  43  is in the initial position P 1  is larger than the gap C 2  when the pad  44  is depressed. 
         [0073]    Even if some foreign object Mt gets sandwiched between the housing  41  and the extension part  47 , specifically in the gap C 2 , while the pad  44  is being depressed, the gap C 2  can be increased by releasing the pedal-depressing operation (returning the pedal-side arm  43  to the initial position P 1 ). As a result, the foreign object Mt falls out of the gap C 2 . Thus, releasing the pedal-depressing operation allows the pedal-side arm  43  to be returned to the initial position P 1  without any adverse effect caused by the foreign object Mt. 
         [0074]    Furthermore, the position of the pedal-side arm  43  closest to the housing  41  and the extension part  47  when positioned at the initial position P 1  is on an upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41 . Specifically, the extension part  47  is closest to the upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41  when the pedal-side arm  43  is positioned at the initial position P 1 . 
         [0075]    Therefore, the slanting part  47   b  approaches the housing  41  in correspondence with the pivoting of the pedal-side arm  43  from the initial position P 1  toward the maximum-depression position P 2 . The gap C 2  at the position where the extension part  47  is closest to the upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41  is therefore decreased in size. 
         [0076]    The slanting part  47   b  then separates from the housing  41  in correspondence with the returning of the pedal-side arm  43  from the maximum-depression position P 2  to the initial position P 2 . The gap C 2  at the position where the extension part  47  is closest to the upper edge  41   d  of the housing  41  is increased in size. Therefore, sandwiching of a foreign object in a direction in which the pedal-side arm  43  returns from the maximum-depression position P 2  to the initial position P 1  can be minimized. 
         [0077]    The description of the foregoing embodiment can be summarized as follows. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  for applying a reaction force to the pedal-side arm  43  is disposed above the housing  41  in which the pedal-side arm  43  is supported by the support shaft  42 . 
         [0078]    Specifically, because the accelerator pedal unit  31  including the housing  41  and the pedal-side arm  43  supported in the housing  41  does not include the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 , the unit  31  has a small size in the lateral or vehicle width direction. The accelerator pedal unit  31 , being of small width, can be easily disposed in a non-interfering manner even when the unit  31  is laterally proximal to the wheel house  14  or the brake pedal  21 . 
         [0079]    However, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  includes the drive source  51  for generating reaction force and the transmitting member  52  for transmitting the reaction force generated by the drive source  51  to the pedal-side arm  43 , and therefore has a larger lateral size than the accelerator pedal unit  31 . 
         [0080]    The reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 , being of large width, is disposed above the housing  41  of the accelerator pedal unit  31 , which is of small width. Specifically, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is disposed above the wheel house  14  or the pad  22  of the brake pedal  21 . Therefore, interference between the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  and the wheel house  14  or the pad  22  of the brake pedal  21  can be prevented. 
         [0081]    The lateral size of the portion of the accelerator device  30  closest to the wheel house  14  or the brake pedal  21  in the lateral direction, specifically the lateral size of the accelerator pedal unit  31 , can thus be reduced as much as possible. The accelerator device  30 , being of small width, can be easily disposed without any interference with the wheel house  14 , the brake pedal  21 , or other members positioned in the lateral vicinity of the accelerator device  30 . The degree of freedom in arranging the accelerator device  30  in the vehicle  10  is enhanced. 
         [0082]    The pedal-side arm  43  has the extension part  47  extending to a side opposite the pad  44 , across the support shaft  42 , and from the pedal-side arm  43  toward the transmitting member  52  of the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32 . The extension part  47  comes into contact with the transmitting member  52  when the reaction force is received from the transmitting member  52 . Therefore, the configuration of the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  can be kept simple despite having the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  disposed above the housing  41 . The accelerator device  30  can therefore be obtained at low cost. 
         [0083]    Furthermore, the transmitting member  52  of the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  comes into contact with only the extension part  47 , whereby the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  can apply the reaction force to the pedal-side arm  43 . Moreover, the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  is set apart from the housing  41 , and is mounted on the vehicle body  12  so as to be separate from the housing  41 . Therefore, each of the housing  41  and the reaction-force-applying mechanism  32  can be mounted on the vehicle body  12  in respectively desired locations. Therefore, an even larger degree of freedom can be used in regard to where to dispose the accelerator device  30  in the vehicle  10 . 
         [0084]    In the present invention, the second arm part  62  may have any configuration as long as the second arm part  62  is provided on the first arm part  61 , including a configuration integral with the first arm part in addition to a configuration in which the second arm part is a member that is separate from the first arm part. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0085]    The vehicle accelerator device  30  according to the present invention is suitable for use in compact passenger vehicles. 
       REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  Vehicle 
               11  Passenger compartment 
               12  Vehicle body 
               21  Brake pedal 
               30  Vehicle accelerator device 
               32  Reaction-force-applying mechanism 
               41  Housing 
               41   b  Opening in housing 
               41   c  Side edge of opening 
               42  Support shaft 
               43  Pedal-side arm 
               44  Pad 
               47  Extension part 
               47   b  Slanting part 
               51  Drive source 
               52  Transmitting member (motor-side arm) 
               53  Bracket 
               54  Electric motor 
               55  Reduction gear 
               58  Cable guard 
               59  Heat-blocking cover 
               61  First arm part 
               61   a  Arm proximal end part 
               61   b  Distal end part 
               61   c  Lateral side surface 
               62  Second arm part 
               63  Mounting part 
               64  Bent part 
               65  Curved part 
             A 1  Range in which motor-side arm can pivot 
             A 2  Range in which motor-side arm can pivot 
             C 1  Gap 
             C 2  Gap 
             P 1  Initial position 
             P 2  Maximum-depression position