US3678779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ratio brake pedal
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1970-11-12
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A variable ratio brake pedal assembly including a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying means and an intermediate crescentshaped lever interposed between the pedal lever and the brake applying device. The intermediate lever has cam surfaces that engage both the brake applying device and the foot operated pedal lever whereby a change in effective mechanical advantage ratio occurs as force is transmitted from the pedal lever through the intermediate lever to the brake applying device when the pedal lever pivots and the intermediate lever is angularly displaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis L Janosi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:50
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G7/00; G05G7/02; G05G7/04; B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20558; Y10T74/2057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator spaced from said lever, crescentshaped cam means interposed between said pedal lever and said actuator, said crescent-shaped cam means being constructed for translating angular displacement of said lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said crescent-shaped cam means having first and second contOured surfaces, said pedal lever having a portion engaging said first surface, said actuator having a portion engaging said second surface, said pedal lever portion being linearly displaced with respect to said first surface and said actuator portion being linearly displaced with respect to said second surface upon angular displacement of said pedal lever, said crescent-shaped cam means being constructed to provide a progressive change in the effective mechanical advantage ratio of said brake pedal assembly by changing the spacing between said lever and said actuator in response to the angular displacement of said lever as said pedal lever is displaced from its retracted position to its brake applied position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator spaced from said lever, crescentshaped cam means interposed between said pedal lever and said actuator, said crescent-shaped cam means being constructed for translating angular displacement of said lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said crescent-shaped cam means having first and second contOured surfaces, said pedal lever having a portion engaging said first surface, said actuator having a portion engaging said second surface, said pedal lever portion being linearly displaced with respect to said first surface and said actuator portion being linearly displaced with respect to said second surface upon angular displacement of said pedal lever, said crescent-shaped cam means being constructed to provide a progressive change in the effective mechanical advantage ratio of said brake pedal assembly by changing the spacing between said lever and said actuator in response to the angular displacement of said lever as said pedal lever is displaced from its retracted position to its brake applied position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly according to claim 1 and including: said crescent-shaped cam means being pivotally supported by one of its ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly according to claim 1 and including: said crescent-shaped cam means being constructed to provide a decrease in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from a brakes-released position to an intermediate position, said cam means being further constructed to provide an increase in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from said intermediate position to a brakes-applied position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
174 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator spaced from said pedal, an elongated cam operatively interposed between said pedal lever and said actuator, said cam being pivotally supported and having a first contoured cam surface engaging said lever and a second contoured cam surface engaging said actuator, said cam being constructed for translating angular displacement of said lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said cam being constructed to provide a progressive change in the spacing between said actuator and said pedal lever in response to the angular displacement of said lever as said pedal lever is displaced from its retracted position to its brake applying position, said cam being constructed to increase the spacing between said pedal lever and said actuator during the initial movement of said pedal lever from its retracted position and thereby decrease the effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever during said initial movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator spaced from said pedal, an elongated cam operatively interposed between said pedal lever and said actuator, said cam being pivotally supported and having a first contoured cam surface engaging said lever and a second contoured cam surface engaging said actuator, said cam being constructed for translating angular displacement of said lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said cam being constructed to provide a progressive change in the spacing between said actuator and said pedal lever in response to the angular displacement of said lever as said pedal lever is displaced from its retracted position to its brake applying position, said cam being constructed to increase the spacing between said pedal lever and said actuator during the initial movement of said pedal lever from its retracted position and thereby decrease the effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever during said initial movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly according to claim 4 and including: said cam being further constructed to decrease the spacing between said pedal lever and said actuator during the final phase of the movement of said pedal lever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator, an elongated intermediate cam means pivotally supported at one end, said intermediate lever means having a first cam surface engaging said pedal lever and a second cam surface engaging said actuator, said intermediate cam means being constructed for translating angular displacement of said pedal lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said intermediate cam means being constructed to provide a decrease in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from a brake-released position to an intermediate position, said cam means being further constructed to provide an increase in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from said intermediate position to a brake applied position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly comprising a foot operated pedal lever, a brake applying device, said lever being pivotally supported for angular displacement, said device having a linearly movable actuator, an elongated intermediate cam means pivotally supported at one end, said intermediate lever means having a first cam surface engaging said pedal lever and a second cam surface engaging said actuator, said intermediate cam means being constructed for translating angular displacement of said pedal lever to linear displacement of said actuator, said intermediate cam means being constructed to provide a decrease in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from a brake-released position to an intermediate position, said cam means being further constructed to provide an increase in effective mechanical advantage ratio of said pedal lever upon displacement of said pedal lever from said intermediate position to a brake applied position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A variable ratio brake pedal assembly according to claim 6 and including: said pedal lever having cam follower means engaging said first cam surface, said actuator having cam follower means engaging said second cam surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |