EP1552995A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ratio pedal assembly
Assignee: Ventra Group Inc
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Filing: 2004-11-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2024-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A brake pedal assembly (10) includes a pedal arm (14) which is pivotally mounted to a mounting structure (16). A pedal foot pad is mounted to the end of the pedal arm (14) opposite to the pivot point. A cam guided linkage assembly (12) is mounted between the mounting structure (16) and the pedal arm (14) to provide a variable pedal ratio. The arrangement is such that as the pedal arm moves in the brake applying direction from an initial position the geometric pedal ratio A/B varies. A is the distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to the brake pedal and B is the distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to the linkage assembly (12). Specifically, the arrangement is such that there is a higher ratio at the beginning of the pedal stroke and a lower ratio at the end of the pedal stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 Jube Leonard
- 👤 Michael Sykes
- 👤 Nick Porco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T11/00; B60T11/04; B60T11/08; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20558; Y10T74/2057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An actuating assembly for operating an input element of a vehicle, the
actuating assembly comprising: a mount for mounting the actuating assembly in a vehicle; an arm pivotally coupled to the mount for movement in an applying
direction from an initial position to a fully stroked position, and in a releasing
direction from the fully stroked position to the initial position; and an input connector arranged to be coupled to the input element and to
the arm for movement relative to the arm, the arrangement being such that as
the arm is moved in the applying direction the ratio A/B varies, where A is the
distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to a distal end portion of the arm,
and B is the distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to the input
connector; the variation of the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction
being such that (a) the ratio increases as the arm is moved from the initial
position and reaches a maximum peak prior to moving 30% of the distance to
the fully stroked position, and (b) then decreases as the arm moves to the fully
stroked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An actuating assembly for operating an input element of a vehicle, the
actuating assembly comprising: a mount for mounting the actuating assembly in a vehicle; an arm pivotally coupled to the mount for movement in an applying
direction from an initial position to a fully stroked position, and in a releasing
direction from the fully stroked position to the initial postion; and an input connector arranged to be connected to the input element and to
the arm for movement relative to the arm, the arrangement being such that as
the arm is moved in the applying direction a ratio of F B /F A varies, where F A is
the force applied to a distal end portion of the arm and F B is the force applied to
the input element by the input connector; the variation of the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction
being such that (a) the ratio increases as the arm is moved from the initial
position and reaches a maximum peak prior to moving 30% of a distance to the
fully stroked position, and (b) then decreases as the arm moves to the fully
stroked position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the
variation of the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction is such that
the ratio reaches the maximum peak prior to moving 25% of the distance to the
fully stroked position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the
arm has a guide slot; the actuating assembly further comprising: a link member pivotally connected to the arm, the link member having
(a) a first guide element spaced apart from the connection of the pivotal link
member and received in the guide slot of the arm, and (b) a second guide
element spaced apart from the first guide element and the pivotal connection of
the link member, the input connector being provided on the link member; a cam guide structure providing a contoured cam surface, the second
guide element on the link member being engaged with the cam surface of the
cam guide structure; the configuration of the contoured cam surface, of the guide slot, and of
the link member being such that, when the actuating assembly is mounted in
the operative position and the input connector is connected to the input element
of the vehicle, the second guide element engages the contoured cam surface
so as to pivot the link member and move the input connector to move the arm
in the applying direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
289 words
An actuating assembly for operating an input element of a vehicle; the
actuating assembly comprising: a mount for mounting the actuating assembly in a vehicle; an arm pivotally coupled to the mount for movement in an applying
direction from an initial position to a fully stroked position, and in a releasing
direction from the fully stroked position to the initial position, the arm having a
guide slot; a link member pivotally connected to the arm, the link member having
(a) a first guide element spaced apart from the pivotal connection of the link
member and received in the guide slot of the arm, and (b) a second guide
element spaced apart from the first guide element and the pivotal connection of
the link member; an input connector arranged to be connected to the input element, the
input connector being provided on the link member; and a cam guide structure providing a contoured cam surface, the second
guide element on the link member being engaged with the cam surface of the
cam guide structure; the configuration of the contoured cam surface, of the guide slot, and of
the link member being such that, when the actuating assembly is mounted in
the operative position and the input connector is connected to the input element
of the vehicle, the second guide element engages the contoured cam surface
so as to pivot the link member and move the input connector, the arrangement
being such that as the arm is moved thereby in the applying direction the ratio
F B /F A varies, where F A is a force applied to a distal end portion of the arm and
F B is a force applied to the vehicle's input element by the input connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
291 words
An actuating assembly for operating an input element of a vehicle, the
actuating assembly comprising: a mount for mounting the actuating assembly in a vehicle; an arm pivotally coupled to the mount for movement in an applying
direction from an initial position to a fully stroked position, and in a releasing
direction from the fully stroked position to the initial position, the arm having a
guide slot; a link member pivotally connected to the arm, the link member having
(a) a first guide element spaced apart from the pivotal connection of the link
member and received in the guide slot of the arm, and (b) a second guide
element spaced apart from the first guide element and the pivotal connection of
the link member; an input connector arranged to be connected to the input element, the
input connector being provided on the link member; and a cam guide structure providing a contoured cam surface, the second
guide element on the link member being engaged with the cam surface of the
cam guide structure; the configuration of the contoured cam surface, of the guide slot, and of
the link member being such that, when the actuating assembly is mounted in
the operative position and the input connector is connected to the input element
of the vehicle, the second guide element engages the contoured cam surface
so as to pivot the link member and move the input connector, the arrangement
being such that as the arm is moved thereby in the applying direction, the ratio
A/B varies, where A is the distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to a
distal end portion of the arm, and B is the distance from the pivotal mounting of
the arm to the input connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the
variation of the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction is such that
the ratio increases as the arm is moved from the initial position and reaches a
maximum peak prior to moving 30% of the distance to the fully stroked position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the variation of
the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction is such that the ratio
reaches the maximum peak prior to moving 25% of the distance to the fully
stroked position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the
cam guide structure is separate from the mount and is arranged to be mounted
in a vehicle separately from the mount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the contoured
cam surface has an increasing ratio section and a decreasing ratio section, the
configuration of the cam surface being such that, when the arm is mounted in
the operative position and the input connector is connected to the input
element, (a) the second guide element engages the increasing ratio section of
the contoured cam surface so as to pivot the link member and move the input
connector so that the ratio increases as the pedal arm is moved in the applying
direction from the initial position and reaches the maximum peak, and (b) then
engages the decreasing ratio section of the contoured cam surface so as to
pivot the link member and move the input connector so that the ratio decreases
as the arm moves to the fully stroked position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the
input connector is coaxial with the first guide element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the actuating assembly is a pedal assembly, the mount is a pedal mount arranged to mount the pedal assembly in a
vehicle; the arm is a pedal arm; and a distal end portion of the arm carries a pedal pad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the pedal
assembly is a brake pedal assembly for operating a brake booster input
element on the vehicle, and wherein the input connector is arranged to be
connected to the brake booster input element when the pedal assembly is in
the operative position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An actuating assembly as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the cam guide
structure is separate from the mount and is arranged to be mounted in the
vehicle separately from the mount.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
377 words
A method for converting a pedal assembly to a variable ratio
configuration, the method comprising: providing a pedal assembly comprising: (i) a pedal mount constructed to mount the pedal assembly in
the vehicle in an operative position; (ii) a pedal arm pivotally connected to the pedal mount for
movement in an applying direction from an initial position to a fully
depressed position, and in a releasing direction from the fully depressed
position to the initial position; and (iii) a pedal pad provided in a distal end portion of the pedal
arm for engagement by a user's foot to allow the user to push the pedal
arm in the applying direction; forming a guide slot in the pedal arm; pivotally connecting a link member to the pedal arm, the link member
having a first guide element spaced apart from the pivotal connection of the link
member and a second guide element spaced apart from the first guide element
and the pivotal connection of the link member; slidably receiving the first guide element in the guide slot; providing a cam guide structure having a contoured cam surface; slidably engaging the second guide element on the link member with the
cam surface of the cam guide structure; mounting the pedal mount in the vehicle to mount the pedal arm
assembly in the operative position; and mounting the cam guide structure in the vehicle; connecting an input connector provided on the link member to a brake
booster input element on the vehicle; wherein a configuration of the contoured cam surface, a configuration of
the guide slot, and a configuration of the link member is such that, when the
pedal arm is mounted in the operative position and the input connector is
connected to the input element of the vehicle, the second guide element
engages the contoured cam surface so as to pivot the link member and move
the input connector so that a pedal ratio of A/B varies as the pedal arm is
moved in the applying direction from the initial position to the fully depressed
position, wherein A is a distance from the pivotal mounting of the pedal arm to
the pedal pad and B is a distance from the pivotal mounting of the pedal arm to
the input connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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