# US 2014/0150599 A1 · Pedal actuation detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150599 A1 - Document ID: US20140150599A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,398 - Filed: 2012-06-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03 - Assignees: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Noboru Fujiwara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150599A1 ## CPC - G05G 1/38: comprising means to continuously detect pedal position - B60T 7/042: {by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors} - G01L 5/225: {to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals} - Y10T 74/20528: Foot operated - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A pedal operation amount detection apparatus comprises: a transmitting member that transmits a pedal operating force; a pivot lever provided on the transmitting member so as to be pivotable relative to the transmitting member; and a deformable body that is interposed between the transmitting member and the pivot lever, and that deforms based on the pedal operating force, the pedal operation amount detection apparatus electrically detecting a pedal operation amount based on a deformation of the deformable body, the deformable body is fixed to the transmitting member, a sensor rod is fixedly fitted to the deformable body so as to extend upright relative to the deformable body, an elastic member is provided across the sensor rod and the pivot lever so as to be connected to each other, so that the pedal operating force or a reaction force corresponding to the pedal operating force is transmitted from the pivot lever to the sensor rod via the elastic member, and the sensor rod is passed, with a play, through the pivot lever so that the play allows the pivot lever to pivot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pedal operation amount detection apparatus comprising: a transmitting member that transmits a pedal operating force; a pivot lever provided on the transmitting member so as to be pivotable relative to the transmitting member; and a deformable body that is interposed between the transmitting member and the pivot lever, and that deforms based on the pedal operating force, the pedal operation amount detection apparatus electrically detecting a pedal operation amount based on a deformation of the deformable body, and the deformable body being fixed to the transmitting member, the pedal operation amount detection apparatus further comprising a sensor rod fixedly fitted to the deformable body so as to extend upright relative to the deformable body, an elastic member provided across the sensor rod and the pivot lever so as to be connected to each other, so that the pedal operating force or a reaction force corresponding to the pedal operating force is transmitted from the pivot lever to the sensor rod via the elastic member, and the sensor rod being passed, with a play, through the pivot lever so that the play allows the pivot lever to pivot. ### Claim 2 A pedal operation amount detection apparatus comprising: a transmitting member that is provided so as to be pivotable about a support axis, and that transmits a pedal operating force; a pivot lever provided on the transmitting member so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the support axis; an output member to which the pedal operating force is transmitted from the transmitting member via the pivot lever, and which applies a reaction force corresponding to the pedal operating force, to the pivot lever; and a deformable body that is interposed between the transmitting member and the pivot lever, and that deforms based on the reaction force, the pedal operation amount detection apparatus electrically detecting a pedal operation amount based on a deformation of the deformable body, and the deformable body being fixed to the transmitting member, the pedal operation amount detection apparatus further comprising a sensor rod fixedly fitted to the deformable body so as to extend upright relative to the deformable body, an elastic member provided across the sensor rod and the pivot lever so as to be connected to each other, so that the reaction force is transmitted from the pivot lever to the sensor rod via the elastic member, and the sensor rod being passed, with a play, through the pivot lever so that the play allows the pivot lever to pivot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 2, having a pedal stroke region including: an elasticity transmission region in which, in a case where the transmitting member is pivoted about the support axis based on the pedal operating force, the pivot lever pivots relative to the transmitting member while elastically deforming the elastic member based on the reaction force, so that the reaction force is transmitted from the pivot lever to the sensor rod; and a transmission restricted region in which, when a pivot amount of the transmitting member exceeds a prescribed stopper stroke, the pivot lever comes into contact with a stopper provided in the transmitting member to prevent the pivot lever from further pivoting, so that the reaction force that is transmitted from the pivot lever to the sensor rod is maintained constant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the output member is connected to the pivot lever via a connecting pin that is parallel to the pivot axis; the pivot lever is provided with a collar, and the connecting pin is passed through an inside of the collar; the transmitting member has a stopper hole which serves as the stopper and through which the collar is passed with a prescribed gap formed around the pivot axis, the gap allows the pivot lever to pivot, and when the pivot amount of the transmitting member reaches the prescribed stopper stroke, the collar comes into contact with an inner wall face of the stopper hole to prevent the pivot lever from further pivoting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the deformable body is an elongate plate deformable in a flexure manner; both longitudinal end portions of the elongate plate are fixed to the transmitting member; and the sensor rod is arranged at a longitudinal center portion of the elongate plate so as to extend perpendicularly to the elongate plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the pivot lever has a through-hole; and the sensor rod is passed, with a play, through the through-hole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is a compression coil spring, provided so as to be concentric with the sensor rod, and interposed between the sensor rod and the pivot lever. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The pedal operation amount detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is a tensile coil spring, provided parallel to the sensor rod, provided across the sensor rod and the pivot lever, and hooked on the sensor rod and the pivot lever.