Accelerator assembly for automotive vehicle
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsJames A. Fairbairn, Daniel H. Lauring, Ronald A. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An accelerator pedal assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a pedal member pivotably attached to the floor area of the vehicle and a combination pedal travel limiter and position indicating unit mounted above the pedal member. The combination unit includes a rotary position indicator having a driveshaft extending therefrom to a roller follower, which is mounted upon the driveshaft and which tracks movement of the pedal member. The driveshaft and follower are mounted in a bracket which has integral idle and wide-open throttle stops incorporated therein, such that over-travel of the pedal member will not cause over-travel of the rotary position indicator.
Claims12
An accelerator pedal assembly for automotive vehicle equipped with an electronically controlled internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a pedal member adapted to be pivotably attached to a floor area of the vehicle;
- and
- a combination pedal travel limiter and position indicating unit mounted above the pedal member, with said unit comprising:
- a rotary position indicator having a driveshaft extending therefrom;
- a follower, mounted upon said driveshaft, for tracking movement of the pedal member, with said follower being compliantly urged into contact with the pedal member;
- a bracket for rotatably mounting said driveshaft to a wall of a passenger compartment above the pedal member, with said bracket having an idle stop and a wide open throttle stop incorporated therein, such that the idle stop contacts the follower so as to limit travel of the follower and the pedal member when the rotary position indicator has reached an idle position, and the wide open throttle stop contacts the follower so as to limit travel of the follower and the pedal member when the rotary position indicator has reached a wide open throttle position.
An accelerator pedal assembly for an automotive vehicle equipped with an electronically controlled internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a pedal member adapted to be pivotably attached to a floor area of vehicle;
- and
- a combination pedal travel limiter and position indicating unit mounted above the pedal member, with said unit comprising:
- a rotary position indicator having a driveshaft extending therefrom;
- a follower, mounted upon said driveshaft, for tracking movement of the pedal member, with said follower being compliantly urged into contact with the pedal member by means of redundant torsion springs mounted about the driveshaft, and with a roller mounted on said follower said roller comprising the sole operative contact between the pedal member and the follower;
- and
- a bracket for rotatably mounting said driveshaft, with said bracket having an integral, nonadjustable idle stop and an integral, nonadjustable wide open throttle stop incorporated therein, such that the idle stop contacts the follower, so as to limit travel of the follower and the pedal member when the rotary position indicator has reached an idle position, and the wide open throttle stop contacts a portion of the follower so as to limit travel of the follower and the pedal member when the rotary position indicator has reached a wide open throttle position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.