U.S. patent application number 11/980674 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for operating pedal device having load sensor for vehicle, and operating device having load sensor.
Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Amano, Noboru Fujiwara.
Application Number | 20080223171 11/980674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39387401 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080223171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujiwara; Noboru ; et
al. |
September 18, 2008 |
Operating pedal device having load sensor for vehicle, and
operating device having load sensor
Abstract
A clevis pin (connecting pin) (26) is inserted into a clearance
hole (72), and is displaceable relative to an operating pedal (16).
A pivotal moving link (68) is disposed between the clevis pin (26)
and a sensor pin (64) of a load sensor (30). A reaction force
applied from the clevis pin (26) to the load sensor (30) always
acts in a substantially constant direction (substantially leftward
in FIG. 1A) even if the operating pedal (16) and an operating rod
(22) are pivoted relatively around the axis of the clevis pin (26)
in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal
(16). Thus, the detecting accuracy of the load sensor (30) is
heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented,
rendering the high reliability.
Inventors: |
Fujiwara; Noboru;
(Toyota-shi, JP) ; Amano; Hiroyuki; (Toyota-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Family ID: |
39387401 |
Appl. No.: |
11/980674 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/512 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01L 1/2237 20130101;
Y10T 74/20888 20150115; G01L 5/225 20130101; B60T 7/06 20130101;
G05G 1/38 20130101; G05G 1/487 20130101; Y10T 74/20528
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
74/512 |
International
Class: |
G05G 1/30 20080401
G05G001/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2007 |
JP |
2007-067943 |
Jun 5, 2007 |
JP |
2007-149198 |
Claims
1. A vehicular operating pedal device with a load sensor,
comprising: an operating pedal movably disposed on a pedal support
fixed to a vehicle and depressed by a driver; a reaction force
member to which an operating force of the operating pedal is
transmitted and on which a reaction force corresponding to the
operating force is acted; a link type depressing-force transmitting
mechanism placed between the operating pedal and the reaction force
member and has a pair of members connected through a connecting pin
relatively pivotably, and constituting a pivotal movement
connecting portion transmitting the operating force through the
connecting pin; and a load sensor, disposed in the pivotal movement
connecting portion to receive the load in a predetermined direction
for electrically detecting the operating force, regardless of
variation of the direction of a reaction force relative to the
operating pedal input from the reaction force member in accordance
with a depression of the operating pedal.
2. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 1, wherein the load sensor includes a shaft-like member, a
main body member disposed to be relatively displaced to the
shaft-like member in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof,
a deforming member spanned over the shaft-like member and the main
body member, and strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming
member, the strain detecting elements detecting a deformation
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the shaft-like member and the main body member in the
direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft-like member based
on the reaction force; the load sensor is disposed such that one of
the shaft-like member and the main body member is fixed to one of
the sensor arranging member of the pair of members connected
through the connecting pin in the pivotal movement connecting
portion; the connecting pin is displaceable relative to the sensor
arranging member; and an orientation converting mechanism, disposed
between the connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member
and the main body member, to mechanically change a direction of the
operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reaction
force so that the load acts on the load sensor in a constant
direction.
3. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the orientation converting mechanism is at lease
one pivotal moving link which is disposed on the sensor arranging
member pivotably around the supporting pin parallel to the
connecting pin, and to which the connecting pin and the other of
the shaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor
are connected to be pivoted around the supporting pin based on the
operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reaction
force thereto.
4. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the orientation converting mechanism includes: a
connecting pin guide disposed on the sensor arranging member to
regulate a movement path of the connecting pin; and an interlocking
member displacing the other of the shaft-like member and the main
body member of the load sensor in the predetermined direction in
accordance with a movement of the connecting pin.
5. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 4, wherein the connecting pin guide is disposed to move the
connecting pin in the constant direction; and the interlocking
member is a linearly moving link connecting the connecting pin and
the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member of the
load sensor.
6. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 4, wherein the connecting pin guide is disposed to move the
connecting pin in the predetermined direction; and the interlocking
member is a sliding member moved in the predetermined direction
together with the connecting pin.
7. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 4, wherein the interlocking member includes an intermediate
sliding member moved in the predetermined direction by an
intermediate guide disposed on the sensor arranging member, and an
interlocking link connecting the intermediate sliding member and
the connecting pin.
8. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the sensor arranging member is a plate-like member
to be connected to the reaction force member relatively pivotably
around the connecting pin, and provided with a sensor attaching
hole passing therethrough; the load sensor is disposed in the
sensor attaching hole such that the main body member is integrally
fixed to the sensor attaching hole, and a sensor pin provided on
the axis of the shaft-like member projects from both axial sides of
the sensor attaching hole; and the orientation converting mechanism
is disposed between both axial ends of the sensor pin and the
connecting pin.
9. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the operating pedal is disposed on the pedal
support pivotably around a support axis, and the operating pedal
serves as the sensor arranging member.
10. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, further comprising an intermediate lever, disposed on the
pedal support, to be pivotably connected to the operating pedal
through a connecting link and to be connected to the reaction force
member through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and the
intermediate lever serves as the sensor arranging member.
11. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the deforming member has a hollow cylindrical
shape, one axial end and other axial end of which are integrally
fixed to the main body member and the shaft-like member,
respectively; and the shaft-like member detects a shear strain
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the main body member and based on the reaction force.
12. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 2, wherein the deforming member has a hollow cylindrical
shape; the main body member integrally holds a part of the
deforming member around a center line thereof, and the shaft-like
member is inserted into a cylindrical inner part of the deforming
member; and the strain detecting element detects a tensile strain
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the main body member and the shaft-like member based on the
reaction force.
13. An operating device with a load sensor, comprising: an
operating member moved to be operated; a reaction force member to
which an operating force of the operating member is transmitted and
on which a reaction force corresponding to the operating force is
acted; at least one pivotal movement connecting portion, placed
between the operating member and the reaction force member, to
connect a pair of members relatively pivotably around a connecting
pin, to thereby transmit the operating force through the connecting
pin; and a load sensor electrically detecting the operating force;
wherein the load sensor includes a shaft-like member, a main body
member disposed to be relatively displaced to the shaft-like member
in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member
spanned over the shaft-like member and the main body member, and
strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the strain
detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deforming
member by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member in the direction perpendicular to
the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reaction force; the
load sensor is disposed such that one of the shaft-like member and
the main body member is fixed to one of the sensor arranging member
of the pair of members connected through the connecting pin in the
pivotal movement connecting portion; the connecting pin is
displaceable relative to the sensor arranging member; and an
orientation converting mechanism, disposed between the connecting
pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member
of the load sensor, to mechanically change a direction of the
operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reaction
force so that the load acts on the load sensor in a constant
direction.
14. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 1, wherein: the load sensor includes a shaft-like member, a
main body member disposed to be relatively displaced to the
shaft-like member in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof,
a deforming member spanned over the shaft-like member and the main
body member, and strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming
member, the strain detecting elements detecting a deformation
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the shaft-like member and the main body member in the
direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft-like member based
on the reaction force; at least one pivotal moving link which is
disposed in the pivotal movement connecting portion on one of
sensor arranging members of the pair of members pivotably connected
through the connecting pin around a first supporting pin parallel
to the connecting pin, and to which the connecting pin displaceable
relative to the sensor arranging member is connected relatively
pivotably around the first supporting pin by the operating force
applied from the connecting pin or by the reaction force; a
swinging lever disposed on the sensor arranging member swingably
around a second supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin; and
one of the shaft-like member and the main body member of the load
sensor is connected to the pivotal moving link, and the other of
the shaft-like member and the main body member is connected to the
swinging lever.
15. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, wherein, when viewed from a direction of the axis of the
first supporting pin, the second supporting pin is disposed such
that a straight line connecting an axis of the second supporting
pin and an axis of the other of the main body member and the
shaft-like member connected to the swinging lever, intersects with
a straight line connecting an axis of the first supporting pin and
an axis of one of the main body member and the shaft-like member
connected to the pivotal moving link at substantially right
angle.
16. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, wherein the second supporting pin is disposed at a
position where, with the pivotal moving link pivoted around the
first supporting pin in accordance with a depression of the
operating pedal, a tensile force is acted on the swinging
lever.
17. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, wherein the sensor arranging member is a plate-like
member pivotably connected relative to the reaction force member
through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and is provided
with a sensor housing hole passing therethrough; the load sensor is
disposed in the sensor housing hole with a predetermined clearance,
the main body member projects from both axial sides of the sensor
attaching hole, and a sensor pin passing through the axis of the
shaft-like member is disposed to project from both axial sides of
the main body member; and a pair of the pivotal moving links and a
pair of the swinging levers are disposed at both axial sides of the
plate-like sensor arranging member, respectively, and are connected
to both axial ends of the main body member or the sensor pin,
respectively.
18. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, wherein the operating pedal is disposed on the pedal
support pivotably around a supporting axis, and the operating pedal
serves as the sensor arranging member.
19. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, further comprising an intermediate lever disposed
pivotably on the pedal support, connected to the operating pedal
through the connecting link, and connected to the reaction force
member through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and the
intermediate lever serves as the sensor arranging member.
20. The vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor of
claim 14, wherein the deforming member has a cylindrical shape; one
axial end and the other axial end of the cylindrical deforming
member are integrally fixed to the main body member and the
shaft-like member, respectively; and the strain detecting elements
detect a shear strain caused in the deforming member based on the
relative displacement between and the main body member and the
shaft-like member by the reaction force.
21. An operating device with a load sensor, comprising: an
operating member that is moved to be operated; a reaction force
member to which an operating force of the operating member is
transmitted and on which a reaction force corresponding to the
operating force is acted; at least one pivotal movement connecting
portion, placed between the operating member and the reaction force
member, to connect a pair of members relatively pivotably around a
connecting pin, and to transmit the operating force through the
connecting pin; and a load sensor electrically detecting the
operating force, and including a shaft-like member, a main body
member disposed to be relatively displaced to the shaft-like member
in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member
spanned over the shaft-like member and the main body member, and
strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the strain
detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deforming
member by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member in the direction perpendicular to
the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reaction force; at
least one pivotal moving link which is disposed in the pivotal
movement connecting portion on one of sensor arranging members of
the pair of members pivotably connected through the connecting pin
around a first supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin, and
to which the connecting pin displaceable relative to the sensor
arranging member is connected relatively pivotably around the first
supporting pin by the operating force applied from the connecting
pin or by the reaction force; a swinging lever disposed on the
sensor arranging member swingably around a second supporting pin
parallel to the connecting pin; and one of the shaft-like member
and the main body member of the load sensor is connected to the
pivotal moving link, and the other of the shaft-like member and the
main body member is connected to the swinging lever.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims Paris Convention priority of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-067943 filed on Mar. 16, 2007
and that of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-149198 filed on
Jun. 5, 2007, the complete disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to an operating device, such as an
operating pedal device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an
improvement in the operating device with a load sensor electrically
detecting an operating force.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A following device is known as an operating device provided
with or equipped with a load sensor. This operating device with
load sensor includes (a) an operating member operated to be moved,
(b) a reaction force member to which an operating force of the
operating member is transmitted, to which a reaction force
corresponding to the operating force is acted, (c) at least one
pivotal movement connecting portion that is disposed between the
operating member and the reaction force member, to connect a pair
of members to be relatively pivotable around a connecting pin, and
to transmit an operating force through the connecting pin, and (d)
a load sensor electrically detecting an operating force.
[0006] A brake pedal device for a vehicle disclosed in a following
Patent Document 1 is an example of such the operating device with a
load sensor. A push rod (i.e., a reaction force member) protruding
from a master cylinder is connected to a connecting pin projected
on a side portion of an operating pedal to be relatively movable in
an axial direction. A displacing amount of the push rod displacing
relative to the connecting pin resisting the urging force of a
spring is detected by a sensor.
[0007] Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,355
[0008] However, in the device disclosed by Patent Document 1,
because the push rod is required to have a slotted opening for the
relatively movable connection, a general push rod cannot be used
for this device without being changed. Additionally, in accordance
with the depressing operation of the operating pedal, the push rod
pivots relative to the connecting pin. Therefore, a spring that
biases or urges the push rod and a sensor that detects the
displaced amount are also required to be arranged to pivot relative
to the connecting pin, thus making the structure of the device
complex. Still additionally, because the push rod, the spring and
the sensor are disposed beside the operating pedal, especially a
brake pedal is required to have a sturdy structure to secure a
stable operating state, thus resulting in increase in both size and
cost as a whole.
[0009] In contrast, a technique, though not yet well known, for
compactly arranging a load sensor at a connecting position of a
clevis pin has been proposed as shown in FIG. 25. FIGS. 25A and 25B
show an operating pedal device 200 used in a service brake for a
vehicle, of which FIG. 25A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 25B is
an enlarged view along line XXVA-XXVA of FIG. 25A. A pedal support
12 fixed integrally to a vehicle body has a plate-like operating
pedal 16 disposed pivotably around the axis of a substantially
horizontal support shaft 14. The operating pedal 16 is depressed
with the foot of a driver in accordance with braking instructions.
A pad 18 is disposed at a lower end of the operating pedal 16, and
an operating rod 22 of a brake booster is connected to a middle
portion of the operating pedal 16 by a pivotal movement connecting
portion 20.
[0010] The pivotal movement connecting portion 20 is composed of a
U-shaped clevis 24 fixed integrally to an end of the operating rod
22 by a screw for example, and a clevis pin 26 disposed on the
operating pedal 16 to be parallel to the support shaft 14. The
operating rod 22 and the operating pedal 16 are connected to be
relatively pivotable around the axis of the clevis pin 26. The
clevis pin 26, corresponding to a claimed connecting pin, has axial
ends projecting sideways from the operating pedal 16, and is held
not to slip off from the U-shaped clevis 24 by a snap ring or a
retaining pin.
[0011] An output corresponding to the operating force of the
operating pedal 16 is transmitted to the operating rod 22 through
the pivotal movement connecting portion 20, and a reaction force
corresponding to the output is acted i.e., allowed to act by a
brake booster. The operating rod 22 corresponds to a claimed
reaction force member. If the operating pedal device is of a
by-wire type which electrically controls a wheel brake, a reaction
force member in which a predetermined reaction force is acted by a
reaction force mechanism for example, is connected instead of the
operating rod 22.
[0012] The operating pedal 16 has a sensor attaching hole 202
greater in diameter than the clevis pin 26 at a connecting position
with the clevis pin 26. A load sensor 30 is disposed in an annular
space formed between the sensor attaching hole 202 and the clevis
pin 26. The load sensor 30 is composed of a cylindrical deforming
member 32, an annular member 34 disposed radially outside, i.e., on
an outer periphery surface of the deforming member 32, and a
shaft-like member 36 disposed radially inside of, i.e., on an inner
periphery surface of the deforming member 32. The load sensor 30 is
used to detect a load applied to the deforming member 32 in the
radial direction thereof. The annular member 34, corresponding to a
claimed main body member, is integrally attached to a sensor
attaching hole 202 with a predetermined posture (phase) by a press
fitting or by use of a bolt or a leaf spring, and integrally holds
one axial end (i.e., an upper end in FIG. 25B) of the deforming
member 32 by welding for example.
[0013] The shaft-like member 36 integrally holds other axial end
(i.e., a lower end in FIG. 25B) of the deforming member 32 by
welding for example, and has a through-hole 38 formed in an axis
part through which the clevis pin 26 passes. The clevis pin 26, the
through-hole 38 and the clevis 24 are constructed to be relatively
rotatable, so that the member having less friction is relatively
pivoted in accordance with the depressing operation of the
operating pedal 16. However, to reduce friction, bearings or the
like may be disposed therebetween, if necessary.
[0014] Thus, the annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are
mutually connected through the deforming member 32. If the load is
externally applied in the radial direction, i.e., in the direction
perpendicular to the axis is nearly zero, the members 32, 34 and 36
are held to be substantially concentric, i.e., coaxially with the
axis of the clevis pin 26. On the other hand, if the load is
radially applied between the annular member 34 and the shaft-like
member 36 by the reaction force of the operating rod 22 in
accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16,
the deforming member 32 undergoes a shear strain. As a result, the
annular member 34 fitted to the operating pedal 16 displaces in a
direction approaching the operating rod 22 (i.e., leftward in FIG.
25) relatively with respect to the shaft-like member 36.
[0015] An annular space is provided between the annular member 34
and the shaft-like member 36 to allow the annular member 34 and the
shaft-like member 36 to radially displace relative to each other,
or to allow the deforming member 32 to undergo the shear strain.
The deforming member 32 made of a metallic material such as
ferritic stainless steel, can be elastically deformed by receiving
a radial load, and it undergoes the shear strain in accordance with
the operating force generated by depressing the operating pedal
16.
[0016] To detect the shear strain of the deforming member 32,
strain detecting elements such as strain resistive elements are
attached to an outer or inner circumferential surface of the
deforming member 32, and they are connected to a control circuit
section of a vehicle through a wire harness 56. The operating force
of the depressing operation can be detected based on an electric
signal output from the strain detecting elements.
[0017] In the vehicular operating pedal device 200 thus
constructed, in the pivotal movement connecting portion 20 which
transmits an operating force applied onto the operating pedal 16 to
the operating rod 22, a sensor attaching hole 202 is formed on the
operating pedal 16 pivotably connected relative to the operating
rod 22 via the clevis pin 26. The hollow cylindrical load sensor 30
is disposed in an annular space formed between the sensor attaching
hole 202 and the clevis pin 26. Therefore, with the rotating moment
such as twist which may be applied to the load detecting element 30
suppressed, the whole of the operating pedal device 200 can be
formed in simple and compact structure. Additionally, relating
members such as the operating rod 22 and the clevis 24 which are
the same as those used in the conventional pedal device can be
used, so that the operating pedal device 200 can be produced at low
cost.
[0018] However, even in the thus structured operating pedal device
200, when the operating pedal 16 is pivoted around the supporting
shaft 14 in accordance with the depressing operation thereof, the
operating rod 22 and the operating pedal 16 are also relatively
pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26. As a result, an
acting position of the load applied to the deforming member 32,
i.e., a deforming direction of the deforming member 32 varies, so
that a detected value may be varied in response to variation in the
load acting position. Size and a setting position of the strain
detecting element are determined to detect such deformation,
regardless of variation i.e., shift of the varying position of the
deforming member 32. However, due to continuous movement of the
detecting position in the circumferential direction, there is a
problem that the deforming form of the deforming member 32 is
complex and easily varies. For this reason, securing a high
detecting accuracy may be difficult depending on the relative
positional relationship between the operating rod 22 and the
operating pedal 16.
[0019] The present invention has been made in consideration of
these circumstances. Therefore, an object of the present invention
is, in an operating device that has a load sensor disposed in a
pivotal movement connecting portion and that is capable of
detecting an operating force transmitted via a connecting pin, to
improve the detecting accuracy of the load sensor. In the operating
device, a shaft-like member and a main body member (i.e., an
annular member 34 of FIG. 25B) are relatively changed in the
position to each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis
of the shaft-like member, and the load sensor electrically detects
an operating force based on this change.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] To achieve the above object, a vehicular operating pedal
device with a load sensor according to a first aspect of the
present invention is comprised of (a) an operating pedal movably
disposed on a pedal support fixed to a vehicle and depressed by a
driver; (b) a reaction force member to which an operating force of
the operating pedal is transmitted and on which a reaction force
corresponding to the operating force is acted; (c) a link type
depressing-force transmitting mechanism placed between the
operating pedal and the reaction force member and has a pair of
members connected through a connecting pin relatively pivotably
i.e. to be relatively rotatable, and constituting a pivotal
movement connecting portion transmitting the operating force
through the connecting pin; and (d) a load sensor, disposed in the
pivotal movement connecting portion to receive the load in a
predetermined direction for electrically detecting the operating
force, regardless of variation of the direction of a reaction force
relative to the operating pedal input from the reaction force
member in accordance with a depression of the operating pedal.
[0021] A second aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of the first aspect, is comprised of (a) an
operating pedal movably disposed on a pedal support fixed to a
vehicle and depressed by a driver; (b) a reaction force member to
which an operating force of the operating pedal is transmitted and
on which a reaction force corresponding to the operating force is
acted; (c) at least one pivotal movement connecting portion, placed
between the operating member and the reaction force member, to
connect a pair of members relatively pivotably i.e. to be
relatively rotatable around a connecting pin, and to transmit the
operating force through the connecting pin; and (d) a load sensor
electrically detecting the operating force; wherein (e) the load
sensor includes a shaft-like member, a main body member disposed to
be relatively displaced to the shaft-like member in a direction
perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over
the shaft-like member and the main body member, and strain
detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the strain
detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deforming
member by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member in the direction perpendicular to
the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reaction force; (f)
the load sensor is disposed such that one of the shaft-like member
and the main body member is fixed to one of the sensor arranging
member of the pair of members connected through the connecting pin
in the pivotal movement connecting portion; (g) the connecting pin
is displaceable relative to the sensor arranging member; and (h) an
orientation converting mechanism, disposed between the connecting
pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the main body
member, to mechanically change a direction of the operating force
applied from the connecting pin or the reaction force so that the
load acts on the load sensor in a constant direction.
[0022] A third aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of the second aspect, featured by that the
orientation converting mechanism is at least one pivotal moving
link which is disposed on the sensor arranging member pivotably
around the supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin, and to
which the connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member and
the main body member of the load sensor are connected to be pivoted
around the supporting pin based on the operating force applied from
the connecting pin or the reaction force thereto.
[0023] A fourth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of the second aspect, featured by that the
orientation converting mechanism includes (a) a connecting pin
guide disposed on the sensor arranging member to regulate a
movement path of the connecting pin; and (b) an interlocking member
displacing the other of the shaft-like member and the main body
member of the load sensor in the predetermined direction in
accordance with a movement of the connecting pin.
[0024] A fifth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of the fourth aspect, featured by that (a) the
connecting pin guide is disposed to move the connecting pin in the
predetermined direction, and (b) the interlocking member is a
linearly moving link connecting the connecting pin and the other of
the shaft-like member and the main body member of the load
sensor.
[0025] A sixth aspect is in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of the fourth aspect, featured by that (a) the
connecting pin guide is disposed to move the connecting pin in the
predetermined direction, and (b) the interlocking member is a
sliding member moved in the predetermined direction together with
the connecting pin.
[0026] A seventh aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of fourth aspect, featured by that the
interlocking member includes (a) an intermediate sliding member
moved in the constant direction by an intermediate guide disposed
on the sensor arranging member, and (b) an interlocking link
connecting the intermediate sliding member and the connecting
pin.
[0027] A eighth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of any one of the second to seventh aspects,
featured by that (a) the sensor arranging member is a plate-like
member to be connected to the reaction force member relatively
pivotably around the connecting pin, and provided with a sensor
attaching hole passing therethrough; (b) the load sensor is
disposed in the sensor attaching hole such that the main body
member is integrally fixed to the sensor attaching hole, and a
sensor pin provided on the axis of the shaft-like member projects
from both axial sides of the sensor attaching hole; and (c) the
orientation converting mechanism is disposed between both axial
ends of the sensor pin and the connecting pin.
[0028] A ninth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of any one of the second to eighth aspects,
featured by that (a) the operating pedal is disposed on the pedal
support pivotably around a support axis, and (b) the operating
pedal serves as the sensor arranging member.
[0029] A tenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of any one of the second to eighth aspects,
featured by that (a) an intermediate lever, disposed on the pedal
support, to be pivotably connected to the operating pedal through
the connecting link and to be connected to the reaction force
member through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and (b) the
intermediate lever serves as the sensor arranging member.
[0030] A eleventh aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of any one of the second to tenth
aspects, featured by that the deforming member has a hollow
cylindrical shape, one axial end and other axial end of which are
integrally fixed to the main body member and the shaft-like member,
respectively; and the shaft-like member detects a shear strain
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the main body member and based on the reaction force.
[0031] A twelfth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device
with the load sensor of any one of the second to tenth aspects,
featured by that the deforming member has a hollow cylindrical
shape; the main body member integrally holds a part of the
deforming member around a center line thereof, and the shaft-like
member is inserted into a cylindrical inner part of the deforming
member; and the strain detecting element detects a tensile strain
caused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacement
between the main body member and the shaft-like member based on the
reaction force.
[0032] An operating device with a load sensor according to a
thirteenth aspect of the present invention is comprised of (a) an
operating member moved to be operated; (b) a reaction force member
to which an operating force of the operating member is transmitted
and on which a reaction force corresponding to the operating force
is acted; (c) at least one pivotal movement connecting portion,
placed between the operating member and the reaction force member,
to connect a pair of members relatively pivotably i.e. to be
relatively rotatable around a connecting pin, to thereby transmit
the operating force through the connecting pin; and (d) a load
sensor electrically detecting the operating force; wherein (e) the
load sensor includes a shaft-like member, a main body member
disposed to be relatively displaced to the shaft-like member in a
direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member
spanned over the shaft-like member and the main body member, and
strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the strain
detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deforming
member by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member in the direction perpendicular to
the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reaction force; (f)
the load sensor is disposed such that one of the shaft-like member
and the main body member is fixed to one of the sensor arranging
member of the pair of members connected through the connecting pin
in the pivotal movement connecting portion; (g) the connecting pin
is displaceable relative to the sensor arranging member; and (h) an
orientation converting mechanism, disposed between the connecting
pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member
of the load sensor, to mechanically change a direction of the
operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reaction
force so that the load acts on the load sensor in a constant
direction.
[0033] A fourteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of the first aspect, featured by that
featured by that (a) an operating pedal movably disposed on a pedal
support fixed to a vehicle and depressed by a driver; (b) a
reaction force member to which an operating force of the operating
pedal is transmitted and on which a reaction force corresponding to
the operating force is acted; (c) at least one pivotal movement
connecting portion, placed between the operating member and the
reaction force member, to connect a pair of members relatively
pivotably i.e. to be relatively rotatable around a connecting pin
to thereby transmit the operating force through the connecting pin;
and (d) a load sensor electrically detecting the operating; wherein
(e) the load sensor includes a shaft-like member, a main body
member disposed to be relatively displaced to the shaft-like member
in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member
spanned over the shaft-like member and the main body member, and
strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the strain
detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deforming
member by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member in the direction perpendicular to
the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reaction force; (f)
at least one pivotal moving link which is disposed in the pivotal
movement connecting portion on one of sensor arranging members of
the pair of members pivotably connected through the connecting pin
around a first supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin, and
to which the connecting pin displaceable relative to the sensor
arranging member is connected relatively pivotably around the first
supporting pin by the operating force applied from the connecting
pin or by the reaction force; (g) a swinging lever disposed on the
sensor arranging member swingably around a second supporting pin
parallel to the connecting pin; and (h) one of the shaft-like
member and the main body member of the load sensor is connected to
the pivotal moving link, and the other of the shaft-like member and
the main body member is connected to the swinging lever.
[0034] A fifteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of the fourteenth aspect, featured by
that, when viewed from a direction of the axis of the first
supporting pin, the second supporting pin is disposed such that a
straight line connecting an axis of the second supporting pin and
an axis of other of the main body member and the shaft-like member
connected to the swinging lever, intersects with a straight line
connecting an axis of the first supporting pin and an axis of the
one of the main body member and the shaft-like member connected to
the swinging lever at substantially right angle.
[0035] A sixteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect,
featured by that the second supporting pin is disposed at a
position where, with the pivotal moving link pivoted around the
first supporting pin in accordance with a depression of the
operating pedal, a tensile force is acted on the swinging
lever.
[0036] A seventeenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of any one of the fourteenth to
sixteenth aspects, featured by that (a) the sensor arranging member
is a plate-like member pivotably connected relative to the reaction
force member through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and
is provided with a sensor attaching hole passing therethrough; (b)
the load sensor is disposed in the sensor housing hole with a
predetermined clearance, the main body member projects from both
axial sides of the sensor housing hole, and a sensor pin passing
through the axis of the shaft-like member is disposed to project
from both axial sides of the main body member; and (c) a pair of
the pivotal moving links and a pair of the swinging levers are
disposed at both axial sides of the plate-like sensor arranging
member, respectively, and are connected to both axial ends of the
main body member or the sensor pin, respectively.
[0037] A eighteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of any one of the fourteenth to
seventeenth aspects, featured by that (a) the operating pedal is
disposed on the pedal support pivotably around a supporting axis,
and (b) the operating pedal serves as the sensor arranging
member.
[0038] A nineteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of any one of the fourteenth to
seventeenth aspects, featured by that (a) an intermediate lever
disposed pivotably on the pedal support, connected to the operating
pedal through the connecting link, and connected to the reaction
force member through the pivotal movement connecting portion, and
(b) the intermediate lever serves as the sensor arranging
member.
[0039] A twentieth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal
device with the load sensor of any one of the fourteenth to
nineteenth aspects, featured by that the deforming member has a
hollow cylindrical shape; one axial end and the other axial end of
the cylindrical deforming member are integrally fixed to the main
body member and the shaft-like member, respectively; and the strain
detecting elements detect a shear strain caused in the deforming
member based on the relative displacement between and the main body
member and the shaft-like member by the reaction force.
[0040] An operating device with a load sensor according to a
twenty-first aspect of the present invention is comprised of (a) an
operating member that is moved to be operated; (b) a reaction force
member to which an operating force of the operating member is
transmitted and on which a reaction force corresponding to the
operating force is acted; (c) at least one pivotal movement
connecting portion, placed between the operating member and the
reaction force member, to connect a pair of members relatively
pivotably around a connecting pin, and to transmit the operating
force through the connecting pin; and (d) a load sensor
electrically detecting the operating force, and including a
shaft-like member, a main body member disposed to be relatively
displaced to the shaft-like member in a direction perpendicular to
an axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over the shaft-like
member and the main body member, and strain detecting elements
fixed to the deforming member, the strain detecting elements
detecting a deformation caused in the deforming member by allowing
a relative displacement between the shaft-like member and the main
body member in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the
shaft-like member based on the reaction force; (e) at least one
pivotal moving link which is disposed in the pivotal movement
connecting portion on one of sensor arranging members of the pair
of members pivotably connected through the connecting pin around a
first supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin, and to which
the connecting pin displaceable relative to the sensor arranging
member is connected relatively pivotably i.e. to be relatively
rotatable around the first supporting pin by the operating force
applied from the connecting pin or by the reaction force; (f) a
swinging lever disposed on the sensor arranging member swingably
around a second supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin; and
(g) one of the shaft-like member and the main body member of the
load sensor is connected to the pivotal moving link, and the other
of the shaft-like member and the main body member is connected to
the swinging lever.
[0041] In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor
according to the first aspect of the present invention, the link
type depressing-force transmitting mechanism is placed between the
operating pedal and the reaction force member, which has the pair
of members relatively rotatably connected together through the
connecting pin and constituting a pivotal movement connecting
portion used to transmit the operating force through the connecting
pin. Additionally, the load sensor electrically detecting the
operating force is disposed on the pivotal movement connecting
portion of the link type depressing-force transmitting mechanism to
receive the load in the predetermined direction, despite the
direction of the reaction force input from the reaction force
member in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating
pedal varies with respect to the operating pedal. Therefore, a
deformed part of the deforming member is constantly or fixedly
maintained, that is the deforming member deforms at the constant or
fixed part. As a result, the detecting accuracy of the operating
force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is
prevented, thus the high reliability being obtained.
[0042] In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor
according to the second aspect of the present invention, the load
sensor electrically detecting the operating force based on the
relative displacement of the main body member and the shaft-like
member is disposed on the pivotal movement connecting portion of
the predetermined sensor arranging member, and detects the
operating force transmitted through the connecting pin of the
pivotal movement connecting portion. Therefore, the whole device
can be constructed simple and compact, for example, by disposing
the load sensor in the sensor attaching hole formed in the sensor
arranging member. Additionally, the relating members such as the
rod and the clevis used here are the same as those of the
conventional pedal device, so that the pedal device of the present
invention can be constructed at low cost.
[0043] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the
connecting pin is displaceable relative to the sensor arranging
member, and the orientation converting mechanism is disposed
between the connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member
and the main body member of the load sensor. Even if the sensor
arranging member is relatively pivoted around the connecting pin in
accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal,
the operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reaction
force acts on the load sensor from a predetermined direction.
Therefore, the deformed part of the deforming member is constantly
or fixedly maintained. As a result, the detecting accuracy of the
operating force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy
is prevented, thus the high reliability being obtained.
[0044] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the
pivotal moving link serving as the orientation converting mechanism
is sufficiently disposed pivotably around the supporting pin, and
the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member of the
load sensor and the connecting pin are sufficiently connected to
the pivotal moving links, respectively. For this reason, the device
can be constructed simple in structure and low in cost, and can be
constructed compact in the forward and backward directions of the
vehicle in which the operating pedal is depressed.
[0045] Likewise, in the fifth and sixth aspects of the present
invention, all that is required are, with the connecting pin guide
moving the connecting pin in the constant direction provided; to
connect the connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member
and the main body member of the load sensor by the linearly moving
link, or to provide the sliding member moved together with the
connecting pin in the constant direction. Therefore, the device can
be constructed simple in structure and low in cost as that in the
third aspect of the present invention.
[0046] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
the intermediate sliding member moved in the constant direction by
the intermediate guide and the connecting pin are connected by the
interlocking link. The load is transmitted from the intermediate
sliding member to the other of the shaft-like member and the main
body member of the load sensor directly, or indirectly via the
linearly moving link or the sliding member, etc. Therefore, the
design freedom increases in the connecting position of the
connecting pin or the disposing position of the load sensor.
[0047] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the
load sensor is disposed in the member pivotably connected relative
to the reaction force member around the connecting pin serves as
the sensor arranging member. Therefore, the load sensor detects the
final operating force (output) transmitted from the connecting pin
to the reaction force member. For example, the braking force
generated when the hydraulic brake or the like is mechanically
operated through the reaction force member can be detected with
high accuracy. Additionally, the main body member is integrally
fixed to the sensor attaching hole formed in the sensor arranging
member, and the orientation converting mechanism is disposed
between the connecting pin and both axial ends of the sensor pin
being disposed on the axis of the shaft-like member and projecting
from both axial sides of the sensor attaching hole. Therefore, the
device can be constructed simple and compact. In addition, with the
load (reaction force) of the connecting pin substantially evenly
applied to the shaft-like member of the load sensor, the detecting
accuracy is further heightened.
[0048] The operating device with the load sensor according to the
thirteenth aspect of the present invention is not limited to a
vehicular operating pedal device, but can be applied to various
operating devices such as operating pedal devices or manual
operation devices other than the vehicular operating pedal device.
However, owing to similarity of the structure or the arrangement of
the load sensor or the orientation converting mechanism to that of
the vehicular operating pedal device according to the first aspect
of the present invention, substantially the same operation and
effect as that in the first aspect of the present invention can be
obtained. In other words, the first aspect of the present invention
can be regarded as one embodiment according to the thirteenth
aspect of the present invention. The operating pedal corresponds to
the claimed operating member.
[0049] In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor
according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the
load sensor electrically detecting the operating force based on the
relative displacement between the main body member and the
shaft-like member, is disposed at the pivotal movement connecting
portion of the predetermined sensor arranging member. The operating
force transmitted through the connecting pin of the pivotal
movement connecting portion is detected. Therefore, the whole
device can be constructed simple and compact, for example, by
disposing the load sensor in the sensor housing hole formed in the
sensor arranging member. Additionally, the relating members such as
the rod and the clevis used here are the same as those of the
conventional pedal device, so that the pedal device of the present
invention can be constructed at low cost.
[0050] According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention,
the pivotal moving link is disposed on the sensor arranging member
pivotably around the first supporting pin, to which the connecting
pin is connected relatively pivotably. With the swinging lever
disposed swingably around the second supporting pin, one of the
shaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor is
connected to the pivotal moving link, whereas the other of the
shaft-like member and the main body member is connected to the
swinging lever.
[0051] For this reason, even if the sensor arranging member is
relatively pivoted around the connecting pin in accordance with the
depressing operation of the operating pedal, the reaction force
applied from the connecting pin to the load sensor through the
pivotal moving link or the operating force applied from the second
connecting to the load sensor through the swinging lever is acted
on the substantially constant or fixed direction. Thus, the
deformed part of the deforming member is constantly or fixedly
maintained. As a result, the detecting accuracy of the operating
force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is
prevented, thus the high reliability being obtained.
[0052] Connecting the other of the shaft-like member and the main
body member to the swinging lever can absorb dimensional errors or
assembling errors of these members to ease the desired dimensional
precision. Thus, the device can be constructed at lower cost,
compared with the case in which the elements are integrally fixed
to the sensor arranging member.
[0053] According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention,
when viewed from a direction of the axis of the first supporting
pin, the second supporting pin is disposed such that a straight
line connecting an axis of the second supporting pin and an axis of
one of the main body member and the shaft-like member connected to
the swinging lever, intersects with a straight line connecting an
axis of the second supporting pin and an axis of the other of the
main body member and the shaft-like member connected to the
swinging lever at substantially right angle. In other words, the
second supporting pin is disposed on or near the acting line of the
load (reaction force) applied from the connecting pin to the load
sensor through the pivotal moving link. Therefore, with the
efficient receipt of the load by the second supporting pin, the
device can be constructed simple, compact, and low in cost.
[0054] According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention,
the second supporting pin is disposed at a position where, with the
pivotal moving link pivoted around the first supporting pin in
accordance with a depression of the operating pedal, a tensile
force acts on the swinging lever. Therefore, there is no fear of an
excessive load acting on the swinging lever or the second
supporting pin, so that the device can be constructed simple,
compact, and low in cost. In other words, if the second supporting
pin is disposed such that the compressive load acts on the swinging
lever, an excessive load may act on the swinging lever or on the
second supporting pin by a servo action of, for example, a toggle
link mechanism, depending on the positional relationship of the
second pin with the pivotal moving link.
[0055] According to the seventeenth aspect of the present
invention, the load sensor is disposed in the member serving as the
sensor arranging member which is pivotably connected relative to
the reaction force member through the pivotal movement connecting
portion. Therefore, the load sensor can detects the final operating
force (output) transmitted from the connecting pin to the reaction
force member. For example, the braking force generated when the
hydraulic brake or the like is mechanically operated through the
reaction force member can be detected with high accuracy. The load
sensor is disposed in the sensor housing hole formed in the sensor
arranging member with the predetermined clearance. The pair of
pivotal moving links and the pair of swinging levers are disposed
at both axial sides of the plate-like sensor arranging member,
respectively, and are connected to both axial ends of the main body
member or axial both axial ends of the sensor pin is inserted along
the axis of the shaft-like member, respectively. Therefore, not
only the device can be constructed compact, but the rotating moment
such as twist is prevented. Thus, the load sensor operates stably,
thus further heighten the detecting accuracy.
[0056] The operating device with the load sensor according to the
twenty-first aspect of the present invention is not limited to the
vehicular operating pedal device, but can be applied to various
operating devices such as operating pedal devices or manual
operation devices other than the vehicular operating pedal device.
However, owing to similarity of the structure of the load sensor or
the arrangement using the pivotal moving link and the swinging
lever to that of the vehicular operating pedal device according to
the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, substantially the
same operation and effect as that in the first aspect of the
present invention can be obtained. The fourteenth aspect of the
present invention can be regarded as one embodiment according to
the twenty-first aspect of the present invention. The operating
pedal corresponds to the claimed operating member.
[0057] The present invention is advantageously applied to a brake
pedal device for a service brake, but it can also be applied to an
operating pedal device for an accelerator or for a parking brake.
The thirteenth and twenty-first aspects of the present invention
can be applied to the various operating devices such as operating
pedal devices other than a vehicle or manual operation devices. The
reaction force member is, for example, an operating rod of a brake
booster or a push rod of a brake master cylinder, and is structured
to mechanically operate a wheel brake or the like. However, the
present invention can also be applied to an electric (by-wire type)
operation braking device that electrically controls a wheel brake
or a driving unit in accordance with an operating force detected by
a load sensor. In this case, a stroke simulator or a reaction force
mechanism can be connected to the reaction force member to apply a
predetermined reaction force thereto.
[0058] For example, a connecting part connecting the operating
pedal and the reaction force member and a connecting part
connecting the intermediate lever and the reaction force member are
suitable as the pivotal movement connecting portion on which the
load sensor is disposed. However, if a connecting link connecting
the operating pedal and the intermediate lever is provided, a
connecting part between the connecting link and the operating pedal
or a connecting part between the connecting link and the
intermediate lever may be used. The disposing position of the load
sensor is appropriately selected.
[0059] Although the load sensors according to the eleventh, twelfth
and twentieth aspects of the present invention include the hollow
cylindrical deforming member, the shape of the deforming member can
be appropriately selected when the present invention is embodied
according to other aspects. For example, the deforming member may
be formed in an elliptical shape in which at least a deformed part
based on the relative displacement of the shaft-like member and the
main body member is circularly arced. The load sensor is disposed
such that the circularly arced part undergoes extensional
deformation or flexural deformation when a tensile load or a
compressive load is applied onto both ends of the circularly arced
part. Additionally, a deforming member can be used, which assumes a
doughnut shape corresponding to an annular space between the
shaft-like member and the main body member and undergoes tensile
deformation, compressional deformation, or flexural deformation
based on the relative displacement between the shaft-like member
and the main body member. Since the load (the operating force or
the reaction force) is applied in the constant or fixed direction
around the axis of the load sensor in the present invention, the
direction of the relative displacement between the shaft-like
member and the main body member is constant. Thus, the deforming
members having various forms deformed by the relative displacement
thereof can be employed.
[0060] The load sensor electrically detects a strain of the
deforming member undergoing an elastic deformation by use of the
strain detecting element, and converts this strain into the load,
i.e., the operating force according to a predetermined map or
operational equation. Although thin-film or thick-film
semiconductor strain gauges or generally-used strain gauges are
used as desirable examples of the strain resistive elements,
piezoelectric elements or piezoelectric-crystal elements can also
be used.
[0061] Preferably, in the load sensor, for example, the main body
member is integrally fixed to the inside of the sensor attaching
hole formed to pass through i.e., penetrate the plate-like sensor
arranging member, the shaft-like member or the sensor pin provided
on the axis thereof is disposed to project from both axial sides of
the sensor attaching hole, and the orientation converting mechanism
is disposed between the connecting pin and both axial ends of the
shaft-like member or both axial ends of the sensor pin. However,
other various modes can be employed. For example, the load sensor
may be disposed on one side surface of the sensor arranging member,
or the shaft-like member may be fixed to the sensor arranging
member and the orientation converting mechanism may be disposed
between the main body member and the connecting pin. There is a
case where the sensor arranging member is composed of a pair of
parallel plate-like members spaced by a predetermined distance and
integrally connected together. In this case, following structure
can be employed. For example, with the load sensor disposed between
the pair of plate-like members, both axial ends of the shaft-like
member are fixed to the plate-like member (the sensor arranging
member), and the orientation converting mechanism is disposed
between the main body member and the connecting pin.
[0062] For example, the pivotal moving link according to the third
aspect of the present invention is disposed on the sensor arranging
member pivotably around the supporting pin in its intermediate
position, and the other member of the load sensor and the
connecting pin are relatively pivotably connected thereto at both
axial sides with intervening the supporting pin therebetween.
However, the other member of the load sensor may be connected
between the supporting pin and the connecting pin, or the
connecting pin may be connected between the other member of the
load sensor and the supporting pin. If the distance therebetween
(the lever ratio) is properly set, the amplified or attenuated
operating force can be detected.
[0063] For example, the connecting pin guide according to the
fourth aspect of the present invention is constructed to pass
through the sensor arranging member for allowing insertion of the
connecting pin, and it can be comprised of an elongate hole
linearly extended in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the
center line of the load sensor. However, a guide rail or a guide
rod which guides a sliding member in a predetermined direction may
be used, to which the connecting pin is relatively rotatably
connected.
[0064] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention,
both axial ends of the sensor pin disposed on the axis of the
shaft-like member project from the sensor attaching hole. For
example, the sensor pin is constructed as an independent element
i.e., a separated element, is allowed to pass through the
through-hole formed in the shaft-like member. However, other
various forms can be employed. For example, both axial ends of the
shaft-like member functioning as the sensor pin project from the
sensor attaching hole, and the solid cylindrical pin portions are
projected on both end surfaces of the shaft-like member integrally
therewith, respectively. If the sensor pin is constructed as the
member independent from the shaft-like member, it may be disposed
pivotably relative to the shaft-like member, or, alternatively, may
be fixed integrally therewith.
[0065] For example, the load sensors according to the fourteenth to
twenty-first aspects of the present invention are preferably
disposed in the sensor housing hole formed in the plate-like sensor
arranging member to pass therethrough with a clearance. However,
the load sensor can be disposed on one side face of the sensor
arranging member. Besides, other various modes can be employed. For
example, if the sensor arranging member is composed of a pair of
parallel plate-like members spaced by a predetermined distance and
are integrally connected together, the load sensor may be disposed
between the pair of plate-like members.
[0066] For example, the pivotal moving links according to the
fourteenth to twenty-first aspects of the present invention are
disposed on the sensor arranging member pivotably around the first
supporting pin in its intermediate position, and one member of the
load sensor and the connecting pin are relatively pivotably
connected thereto at both sides with intervening the first
supporting pin therebetween. However, the one member of the load
sensor may be connected between the first supporting pin and the
connecting pin, and the connecting pin may be connected between the
one member of the load sensor and the first supporting pin. If the
distance therebetween (the lever ratio) is properly set, the
amplified or attenuated operating force can be detected.
[0067] The shaft-like member and the main body member of the load
sensor according to the fourteenth to twenty-first aspects of the
present invention are connected to one and other of the pivotal
moving link and the swinging lever. However, other various modes
can be employed. For example, the main body member may be
integrally fixed to the pivotal moving link, and the shaft-like
member may be connected to the swinging lever pivotably around the
axis thereof. Alternatively, the main body member may be integrally
fixed to the swinging lever, and the shaft-like member may be
connected to the pivotal moving link rotatably around the axis
thereof. The main body member may be disposed on the pivotal moving
link pivotably around the axis thereof, and the shaft-like member
may be integrally fixed to the swinging lever. Preferably, to
absorb dimensional errors or assembling errors of the members or
portions, one of them is preferably connected pivotably around the
axis.
[0068] For example, according to the fifteenth aspect of the
present invention, when viewed from a direction of the axis of the
first supporting pin, the second supporting pin is disposed such
that a straight line connecting an axis of the second supporting
pin and an axis of one of the main body member and the shaft-like
member connected to the swinging lever, intersects with a straight
line connecting an axis of the second supporting pin and an axis of
the other of the main body member and the shaft-like member
connected to the swinging lever at substantially right angle.
However, the disposing position of the second pin can be
appropriately selected when the present invention is embodied
according to the other aspects. When embodying the present
invention according to the fifteenth aspect, the straight lines are
not necessarily required to intersect at exactly right angle with
each other. As long as these straight lines intersect with each
other in the range of .+-.20 degrees with respect to right angle
i.e., in the range from 70 degrees to 110 degrees, a sufficient
effect can be obtained.
[0069] Although the second supporting pin is disposed at the
position where the tensile force acts on the swinging lever
according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it can
be disposed at a position where a pressing force acts on the
swinging lever when the present invention is embodied according to
the other aspects. In such a case, there is a possibility of an
excessive load acting on the swinging lever and the second
supporting pin in the same way as that in a toggle link mechanism.
In view of this, preferably, the second supporting pin is disposed
such that a straight line connecting the second supporting pin and
one of the main body member and the shaft-like member connected to
the swinging lever, intersects at substantially right angle with a
straight line connecting the first supporting pin and the other of
the main body member and the shaft-like member connected to the
pivotal moving link, as that in the fifteenth aspect.
[0070] According to the seventeenth aspect of the present
invention, both axial ends of the sensor pin disposed on the axis
of the shaft-like member project from the main body member. For
example, the sensor pin is constructed as an independent element
i.e., a separated element, and is allowed to pass through the
through-hole formed in the shaft-like member. However, other
various forms can be employed. For example, both axial ends of the
shaft-like member functioning as the sensor pin project from the
main body member, and solid cylindrical pin portions are projected
on both axial end surfaces of the shaft-like member integrally
therewith, respectively. If the sensor pin is constructed as an
element independent from the shaft-like member, it may be disposed
pivotably relative to the shaft-like member, or, alternatively, may
be formed integrally therewith.
[0071] According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention,
the deforming member having a hollow cylindrical shape is
integrally fixed to the main body member and the shaft-like member
at one axial end and other axial end thereof, respectively, and
undergoes the shear deformation in accordance with the relative
displacement thereof. However, with a part of the cylindrical
deforming member around the center line integrally fixed to the
main body member, the shaft-like member may be disposed to pass
through the inner cylindrical part of the deforming member. A
tensile strain caused in the deforming member resulting from the
relative displacement between the main body member and the
shaft-like member based on the reaction force may be detected by
the strain detecting element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0072] FIG. 1 is a set of views showing one example of a vehicular
operating pedal device for a service brake to which the present
invention is applied, of which FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B
is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line IA-IA of FIG.
1A.
[0073] FIG. 2 is a set of views showing a load sensor according to
the embodiment of FIG. 1, of which FIG. 2A is a longitudinal
sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 2B is a
cross-sectional view along line IIA-IIA of FIG. 2A.
[0074] FIG. 3 is a set of views showing a state in which with
depression of an operating pedal with a foot from the state of
FIGS. 2A and 2B, a deforming member undergoes a shear strain by the
reaction force of an operating rod, of which FIG. 3A is a
longitudinal sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG.
3B is a cross-sectional view along line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 3A.
[0075] FIG. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the deforming
member of FIG. 3A, FIG. 4B is a plan view seen from above in FIG.
4A, and FIG. 4C is a development view of the deforming member,
explaining a strain resistive element disposed on an outer
circumferential surface thereof.
[0076] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a bridge circuit formed
by connecting the strain resistive element shown in FIG. 4C by an
electro-conductive circuit pattern.
[0077] FIG. 6, corresponding to FIG. 1A, is a front view, showing
another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a
vehicular operating pedal device including an intermediate lever
and a load sensor and an orientation converting mechanism shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B are disposed at a pivotal movement connecting
portion between the intermediate lever and the operating rod.
[0078] FIG. 7 is a set of views showing still another embodiment,
of which FIG. 7A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG.
7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line VIIA-VIIA of FIG.
7A.
[0079] FIG. 8, corresponding to FIG. 7A, is a front view showing
still another embodiment in which the present invention is applied
to a vehicular operating pedal device including an intermediate
lever, and the load sensor and the orientation converting mechanism
shown in FIG. 7 are disposed at the pivotal movement connecting
portion between the intermediate lever and the operating rod.
[0080] FIG. 9 is a set of views showing still another embodiment,
of which FIG. 9A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG.
9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line IXA-IXA of FIG.
9A.
[0081] FIG. 10, corresponding to FIG. 9A, is a front view showing
still another embodiment in which the present invention is applied
to a vehicular operating pedal device including an intermediate
lever, and the load sensor and the orientation converting mechanism
shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B are disposed at a pivotal movement
connecting portion between the intermediate lever and the operating
rod.
[0082] FIG. 11 is a set of views showing still another embodiment,
of which FIG. 11A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and
FIG. 11B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line XIA-XIA of
FIG. 11A.
[0083] FIG. 12, corresponding to FIG. 11A, is a front view showing
still another embodiment in which the present invention is applied
to a vehicular operating pedal device including an intermediate
lever, and the load sensor and the orientation converting mechanism
shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B are disposed at a pivotal movement
connecting portion between the intermediate lever and the operating
rod.
[0084] FIG. 13 is a set of views showing still another embodiment
in which the present invention is applied to a vehicular operating
pedal device including an intermediate lever, and the load sensor
and the orientation converting mechanism shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B
are disposed at a pivotal movement connecting portion between the
intermediate lever and the connecting link. FIG. 13A is a front
view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged
cross-sectional view along line XIIIA-XIIIA of FIG. 13A.
[0085] FIG. 14 is a set of views, corresponding to FIG. 2,
explaining another example of the load sensor, of which FIG. 14A is
a longitudinal sectional view parallel to the center line O, and
FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view along line XIVA-XIVA of FIG.
14A.
[0086] FIG. 15 is a set of views showing a state with depression of
the operating pedal by a foot from the state of FIG. 14, the
deforming member is stretched and deformed into an oval by the
reaction force of the operating rod. FIG. 15A is a longitudinal
sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 15B is a
cross-sectional view along line XVA-XVA of FIG. 15A.
[0087] FIG. 16 is a set of views showing an example of a vehicular
operating pedal device for a service brake according to still
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16A is a front
view, and FIG. 16B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line
XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 16A.
[0088] FIG. 17 is a set of views showing the load sensor of the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, of which FIG. 17A is a
longitudinal sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG.
17B is a cross-sectional view along line XVIIA-XVIIA of FIG.
17A.
[0089] FIG. 18 is a set of views showing a state with depression of
the operating pedal by a foot from the state of FIG. 17, the
deforming member is subjected to shear strain by the reaction force
of the operating rod. FIG. 18A is a longitudinal sectional view
parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional
view along line XVIIIA-XVIIIA of FIG. 18A.
[0090] FIG. 19A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
deforming member of FIG. 18A, FIG. 19B is a plan view seen from
above in FIG. 19A, and FIG. 19C is a development view of the
deforming member, explaining a strain resistive element disposed on
the outer circumferential surface thereof.
[0091] FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram showing a bridge circuit formed
by connecting the strain resistive element shown in FIG. 19C by an
electro-conductive circuit pattern.
[0092] FIG. 21 is a front view, corresponding to FIG. 16A, showing
another embodiment with no the intermediate lever being
provided.
[0093] FIG. 22 is a set of views showing still another embodiment
in which a load sensor is disposed at a pivotal movement connecting
portion between an intermediate lever and a connecting link. FIG.
22A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 16A, and FIG. 22B is an
enlarged cross-sectional view along line XXIIA-XXIIA of FIG.
22A.
[0094] FIG. 23 is a set of views, correspond to FIG. 17, explaining
another example of the load sensor, of which FIG. 23A is a
longitudinal sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG.
23B is a cross-sectional view along line XXIIIA-XXIIIA of FIG.
23A.
[0095] FIG. 24 is a set of views showing a state with depression of
the operating pedal from the state of FIGS. 23A and 23B, the
deforming member is stretched and deformed into an oval by the
reaction force of the operating rod. FIG. 24A is a longitudinal
sectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 24B is a
cross-sectional view along line XXIVA-XXIVA of FIG. 24A.
[0096] FIG. 25 is a set of views explaining the background art of
the present invention. FIG. 25A is a front view of a vehicular
operating pedal device with a load sensor having the same structure
as that of FIG. 1, and FIG. 25B is an enlarged cross-sectional view
along line XXVA-XXVA of FIG. 25A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0097] Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter
described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0098] FIG. 1 is a set of views showing a vehicular operating pedal
device 10 for a service brake, which is an embodiment of the
present invention, of which FIG. 1A is a front view thereof, and
FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line IA-IA of
FIG. 1A. This vehicular operating pedal device 10 is constructed by
applying the present invention to the above-mentioned operating
pedal device 200 of FIG. 25, and includes an orientation converting
mechanism 60 disposed between a load sensor 30 and a clevis pin 26
disposed on the operating pedal 16. In the operating pedal 16, a
sensor attaching hole 28 is formed to be spaced by a predetermined
distance from the clevis pin 26 toward a pad 18. The load sensor 30
is integrally fixed to the operating pedal 16 by use of an annular
member 34 inserted into sensor attaching hole 28 and a fixing bolt
62, to thereby assume a predetermined posture (phase).
[0099] A sensor pin 64 is passing through a through-hole 38 of a
shaft-like member 36 disposed in a hole of the annular member 34,
has both axial ends that are projected laterally from the annular
member 34 and the operating pedal 16, respectively, and that are
connected to the clevis pin 26 via the orientation converting
mechanism 60. In this embodiment, the sensor pin 64 is provided as
an element constructionally independent of the shaft-like member
36, and is inserted into the through-hole 38 relatively rotatable
thereto. However, the sensor pin 64 may be formed integrally with
the shaft-like member 36. A wire harness 56 having its end provided
with a connector 58, is connected to a control circuit unit of a
vehicle via the connector 58. The annular member 34 corresponds to
a claimed main body member, and the clevis pin 26 corresponds to a
claimed connecting pin of the pivotal movement connecting portion
20.
[0100] The orientation converting mechanism 60 mechanically changes
a direction of the reaction force applied from the clevis pin 26 so
that the load can act from a predetermined direction around the
center line O of the load sensor 30. The orientation converting
mechanism 60 includes a pair of pivotal moving links 68 disposed on
the operating pedal 16 pivotably around a supporting pin 66
parallel to the clevis pin 26. The supporting pin 66 is disposed on
the operating pedal 16 via a bearing to be relatively pivoted
around the axis thereof, and has both axial ends projected
laterally from the operating pedal 16.
[0101] The pair of pivotal moving links 68 both having the same
shape and being symmetrically disposed on both sides of the
operating pedal 16, are pivotably disposed at both axial ends of
the supporting pin 66, respectively. The pair of pivotal moving
links 68 are supported by the supporting pin 66 at their
longitudinally intermediate positions. One longitudinal end of each
of the pivotal moving links 68 is connected to the clevis pin 26 to
be pivoted relative thereto, whereas other longitudinal end is
connected to the sensor pin 64 to be pivoted relative thereto. The
pair of pivotal moving links 68 are integrally fixed to a bush 70
disposed around the clevis pin 26, and are connected mutually via
the bush 70.
[0102] In a plan view seen from the axial direction of the
supporting pin 66, i.e., in the state of FIG. 1A, a connected
position between the pivotal moving link 68 and the clevis pin 26
is set so that a line segment connecting these two elements
intersects at substantially right angle with the center line of the
operating rod 22 serving as the claimed reaction force member. The
reason is that the reaction force is acted from a direction
substantially perpendicular to the line segment connecting the
supporting pin 66 and the clevis pin 26. The clevis pin 26 is
inserted into a clearance hole 72 formed in the operating pedal 16
together with the bush 70, and has both axial ends projected
outwardly from the bush 70 to be connected to the clevis 24 to be
pivotable relative thereto. The reason is that the pivotal movement
of the pivotal moving link 68 necessary to detect the operating
force is allowed based on the deformation of the deforming member
32 of the load sensor 30. Here, the clearance hole 72 is formed in
a circular arc shape centering on the supporting pin 66 or in a
linear shape, but a notch extending to an end of the operating
pedal 16 may be provided as an example instead of the clearance
hole 72.
[0103] With this structure, the reaction force is transmitted from
the clevis pin 26 to the sensor pin 64 through the pivotal moving
link 68. Even if the operating rod 22 and the operating pedal 16
are relatively pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 in
accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16,
the load always acts from the predetermined direction on the
shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor 30, maintaining a deformed
part of the deforming member 32 substantially constant, that is the
deforming member 32 deforms at the constant i.e., fixed part. The
"predetermined direction" denotes a direction substantially
perpendicular to a line segment connecting the sensor pin 64 and
the supporting pin 66 in a plan view seen from the axial direction
of the sensor pin 64 (i.e., in the state of FIG. 1A).
[0104] FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the load sensor 30 in a
direction perpendicular to the line segment connecting the sensor
pin 64 and the supporting pin 66 in the plan view (i.e., in the
state of FIG. 1A), and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view along line
IIA-IIA of FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2, the sensor pin 64 is pivotable
relative to both the shaft-like member 36 and the pivotal moving
link 68. When the deforming member 32 deforms as shown in FIG. 3 by
depressing the operating pedal 16, a member having less friction,
e.g., the pivotal moving link 68 is relatively pivoted, though the
pivotal movement angle is extremely small. To reduce friction, a
bearing or the like can be provided if necessary. FIG. 3A and FIG.
3B correspond to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, respectively, and FIG. 3B is
a cross-sectional view along line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 3A.
[0105] The annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are
connected mutually via the deforming member 32 in this way. When
the load externally applied in the radial direction, i.e., in a
direction perpendicular to the center line O is approximately zero,
the axis S of the shaft-like member 36 or that of the sensor pin 64
is kept in a state of substantially coinciding with the center line
O of the load sensor 30 as shown in FIG. 2. The deforming member 32
is also kept in a cylindrical shape centering on the center line O
over the entire length thereof. The center line O of the load
sensor 30 is the center line of the annular member 34 integrally
fixed to the operating pedal 16.
[0106] On the other hand, when the reaction force of the operating
rod 22 acts on the sensor pin 64 via the orientation converting
mechanism 60 in accordance with the depressing operation of the
operating pedal 16, a load in the radial direction, more
specifically, the load which relatively moves the shaft-like member
36 leftward in FIG. 2 (substantially leftward also in FIG. 1A) is
acted between the annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36.
As a result, the deforming member 32 disposed therebetween
undergoes shear deformation as shown in FIG. 3. An annular space is
provided between the annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36
to allow the relative movement therebetween in the radial
direction, or a shear deformation of the deforming member 32.
[0107] The deforming member 32 is made of a metallic material such
as ferritic stainless steel to be elastically deformed by receiving
the load in the radial direction, and it can undergo shear strain
according to an operating force generated by the depressing
operation of the operating pedal 16. Actual deforming amount the
deforming member 32 is extremely small, not influencing on a
depressing stroke of the operating pedal. However, for an easy
understanding, the amount of deformation thereof is exaggerated in
the drawing. The same applies to the other similar drawings.
[0108] For detecting the shear strain of the deforming member 32,
as shown in FIG. 4, four strain resistive elements 40a to 40d are
attached on the outer peripheral surface of the deformation member
32 as the claimed strain detecting elements. Advantageous examples
of the strain resistive elements 40a to 40d can be provided by
thin-film and thick-film type semiconductor strain gages, a normal
strain gage and the like. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view
corresponding to FIG. 3, and shows the state where the deforming
member 32 is shear-deformed. FIG. 4B is a plan view of the
deforming member 32 as viewed from the top side in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C
is a developed view of the outer peripheral surface of the
deforming member 32. The four strain resistive elements 40a to 40d
are arranged at two locations that are symmetric with respect to
the center line O (S), in a direction in which the deforming member
32 will be subjected to the shear strain by the external load. Two
of the strain resistive elements are arranged at each of the two
locations to be spaced away from each other in the axial direction.
At each of the two locations, the two strain resistive elements are
arranged at parts that will be deformed to be stretched or
compressed by the shear strain.
[0109] In this embodiment, the acting direction of the load applied
to the load sensor 30 by the orientation converting mechanism 60 is
maintained substantially constant. That is, the acting direction of
the load is maintained constant in the right-and-left direction in
FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. For this reason, the strain
resistive elements 40a to 40d are not required to be particularly
large. However, in view of the assembling working of the deforming
member 32 and the like, each of the strain resistive elements 40a
to 40d has length that covers an angle range of approximately
90.degree. in the circumferential direction of the deforming member
32.
[0110] The strain resistive elements 40a to 40d are connected by a
conductive circuit pattern 50 (see FIG. 4C) to form a bridge
circuit shown in FIG. 5. A power supply E is connected between a
power supply terminal 42 of the conductive circuit pattern 50, and
the GND (grounding) terminal 44 to provide an electrical signal in
accordance with the strain between a pair of output terminals 46
and 48. For connecting the power supply E to the power supply
terminal 42 or for taking out the electrical signal provided from
the output terminals 46 and 48, a wire harness 56 (see to FIG. 1)
connected to the terminals extends from the load sensor 30 to be
connected to a vehicle control circuit portion via a connector
58.
[0111] An insulating film 52 (see FIG. 4C) such as glass paste is
previously formed on the outer peripheral surface of the deforming
member 32, on which the conductive circuit pattern 50 made of a
conductive material such as silver is formed. The strain resistive
elements 40a to 40d are integrally formed by firing or burning or
the like to be in partial contact with the conductive circuit
pattern 50. Note that a control circuit portion may be disposed
inside the load sensor 30. Different from the full bridge circuit
used in this embodiment, a half bridge circuit can be used, for
example, when using deforming member which has a partial arc shape
only in a part receiving the load of the operation force of the
operation pedal 16.
[0112] In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 10,
the load sensor 30 electrically detecting the operating force based
on the relative displacement between the annular member 34 and the
shaft-like member 36 is disposed at the pivotal movement connecting
portion 20 connecting the operating pedal 16 and the operating rod
22 to be relatively pivotable. The load sensor 30 detects the
operating force transmitted through the clevis pin 26. Disposing
the load sensor 30 within the sensor attaching hole 28 formed in
the operating pedal 16 can make the whole operating pedal device 10
simple and compact, and does not influence on the installing
conditions of conventional pedal devices. Additionally, using the
relating members such as the operating rod 22, the clevis 24 and
the clevis pin 26 which are the same as that in the conventional
art, can achieve to production of the pedal device according to
this embodiment at low cost.
[0113] On the other hand, the clevis pin 26 is inserted into the
clearance hole 72, can displace relative to the operating pedal 16
in the longitudinal direction thereof. The orientation converting
mechanism 60 is disposed between the clevis pin 26 and the sensor
pin 64 of the load sensor 30. Accordingly, even if the operating
pedal 16 and the operating rod 22 are relatively pivoted around the
axis of the clevis pin 26 in accordance with the depressing
operation of the operating pedal 16, the reaction force is always
applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor 30 in the
substantially constant direction (i.e., substantially leftwardly in
FIG. 1A). Owing to the constantly maintained deformed part of the
deforming member 32, the detecting accuracy of the operating force
is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented,
thus the high reliability being obtained.
[0114] In this embodiment, the pivotal moving link 68 serving the
orientation converting mechanism 60 is sufficiently disposed around
the axis of the supporting pin 66 to be pivotable. The sensor pin
64 of the load sensor 30 and the clevis pin 26 are sufficiently
connected to both longitudinal ends of the pivotal moving link 68
to be relatively pivotable. Therefore, the device can be simply
structured at low cost. Additionally, the device can be constructed
compact in the forward and backward direction of the vehicle, which
is a direction corresponding to the depressing direction of the
operating pedal 16, or a pushing direction of the operating rod 22.
By properly setting a lever ratio of the pivotal moving link 68,
i.e., a ratio between length from the supporting pin 66 to the
sensor pin 64 and length from the supporting pin 66 to the clevis
pin 26, the operating force (reaction force) amplified or
attenuated by the pivotal moving link 68 can be detected.
[0115] In this embodiment, the operating pedal 16 connected
pivatably around the axis of the clevis pin 26 relative to the
operating rod 22, is provided as the claimed sensor arranging
member to dispose the load sensor 30 therein. Therefore, by
detecting the final operating force (output) transmitted from the
clevis pin 26 to the operating rod 22 by the load sensor 30, a
braking force generated according to the output of the operating
rod 22 can be detected with high accuracy.
[0116] The annular member 34 is fixed integrally in the sensor
attaching hole 28 formed in the operating pedal 16. Additionally,
one and other of the paired pivotal moving links 68 is respectively
spanned between one and other of the both axial ends of the sensor
pin 64 disposed on the axis S of the shaft-like member 36 and
projecting from both sides of the sensor attaching hole 28, and one
and other of the both axial ends of the clevis pin 26 inserted into
the clearance hole 72 and projecting from both sides of the
operating pedal 16. Therefore, the vehicular operating pedal device
10 can be constructed simple and compact. Additionally, owing to
the substantially evenly applied load (reaction force) from the
clevis pin 26 to the shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor 30,
and the pivotal movement such as twist is prevented from acting on
the load sensor 30, thus further heightening the detecting accuracy
by the load sensor 30.
[0117] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be
described. In the following embodiments, the same reference
numerals are given to elements substantially common in the
embodiment, and a detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0118] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a vehicular operating
pedal device 80 includes an intermediate lever 82 transmitting an
operating force from the operating pedal 16 to the operating rod
22. The intermediate lever 82 is pivotably disposed on the pedal
support 12 by a supporting pin 84 parallel to the support shaft 14,
and is connected to the operating pedal 16 through a connecting
link 86. Therefore, the intermediate lever 82 is mechanically
pivoted around the supporting pin 84 in accordance with the
depressing operation of the operating pedal 16. The connecting link
86 has both longitudinal ends respectively connected to the
operating pedal 16 and to the intermediate lever 82 through a pair
of linking pins 88 and 90 both parallel to the support shaft 14, to
be pivotable relative thereto.
[0119] The operating rod 22 is connected to one longitudinal end
i.e., top end of the intermediate lever 82 through a pivotal
movement connecting portion 92. This pivotal movement connecting
portion 92 has the same structure as the pivotal movement
connecting portion 20. In more detail, the load sensor 30 is
disposed in the sensor attaching hole formed in the intermediate
lever 82, and the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30 is connected
to the clevis pin 26 through the orientation converting mechanism
60. The clevis pin 26 corresponds to a claimed connecting pin of
the pivotal movement connecting portion 92.
[0120] Therefore, this embodiment can render the same operation and
effect as that in the above-mentioned embodiment. The cross-section
along line VI-VI of FIG. 6 has a structure in which the operating
pedal 16 in FIG. 1B is replaced with the intermediate lever 82
corresponding to a sensor arranging member.
[0121] A vehicular operating pedal device 100 shown in FIG. 7
differs in an orientation converting mechanism 102 from the
vehicular operating pedal device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7A and
FIG. 7B correspond to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 7A is
a front view, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along
line VIIA-VIIA of FIG. 7A. An orientation converting mechanism 102
includes a connecting pin guide 104 disposed on the operating pedal
16 to regulate a movement path for the clevis pin 26, and a
linearly moving link 106 which connects the clevis pin 26 and the
sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30. The orientation converting
mechanism 102 displaces the sensor pin 64 in a predetermined
direction in accordance with the movement of the clevis pin 26.
[0122] The clevis pin 26 is inserted into the connecting pin guide
104 which is an elongated hole linearly formed in a direction
perpendicular to the center line O (i.e., constant direction) of
the load sensor 30, and is moved in a predetermined direction with
guided by the connecting pin guide 104. A pair of linearly moving
links 106, corresponds to a claimed interlocking member, are
provided symmetrically with respect to the operating pedal 16
intervened therebetween. The linearly moving link 106 has one
longitudinal end connected to the clevis pin 26 to be pivotable
relative thereto, and other longitudinal end connected to the
sensor pin 64 to be pivotable relative thereto.
[0123] In the vehicular operating pedal device 100 structured in
this way, the clevis pin 26 is linearly moved in a predetermined
direction perpendicular to the center line O of the load sensor 30
with guided by the connecting pin guide 104. Likewise, the sensor
pin 64 connected to the clevis pin 26 through the linearly moving
link 106 is moved linearly in the predetermined direction.
Therefore, even if the operating pedal 16 and the operating rod 22
are pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 relative to each
other in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating
pedal 16, a reaction force from the clevis pin 26 is always applied
to the load sensor 30 through the linearly moving link 106 in a
constant i.e., fixed direction. As a result, owing to the
constantly maintained deformed part of the deforming member 32; the
detecting accuracy of the operating force is heightened, and
variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, thus the high
reliability being rendered.
[0124] In the present invention, all that is required is to provide
the connecting pin guide 104 which moves the clevis pin 26 in a
predetermined direction and which connects the clevis pin 26 and
the sensor pin 64 by the linearly moving link 106. Therefore, the
device can be simply structured at low cost and can be structured
compact.
[0125] Additionally, disposing the load sensor 30 in the sensor
attaching hole 28 of the operating pedal 16 can makes the vehicular
operating pedal device 100 compact. Thus, the vehicular operating
pedal device 100 can render the same operation and effect as the
vehicular operating pedal device 10 mentioned above.
[0126] A vehicular operating pedal device 110 shown in FIG. 8
includes the intermediate lever 82 similar to the vehicular
operating pedal device 80 shown in FIG. 6. The load sensor 30 is
disposed at a pivotal movement connecting portion 92 serving as the
connecting portion between the intermediate lever 82 and the
operating rod 22. The load sensor 30 is disposed in a sensor
attaching hole formed in the intermediate lever 82, and its sensor
pin 64 is connected to the clevis pin 26 through the orientation
converting mechanism 102 of FIG. 7A. Therefore, also in this
embodiment, the same operation and effect as that in the vehicular
operating pedal device 100 of FIG. 7A can be rendered as well. The
cross-section along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 8 has a structure in
which the operating pedal 16 in FIG. 7B is replaced with the
intermediate lever 82.
[0127] A vehicular operating pedal device 120 shown in FIG. 9
differs from the vehicular operating pedal device 100 shown in FIG.
7 in structure and arrangement of the load sensor 121, and in an
orientation converting mechanism 122. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B
correspond to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, respectively. FIG. 9A is a front
view, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line
IXA-IXA of FIG. 9A. In the load sensor 121, a stepped cylindrical
main body member 134 is integrally fixed to a case 124, and a
shaft-like member 136 is disposed concentrically with the main body
member 134 via the cylindrical deforming member 138. The load
sensor 121 is integrally fixed to the operating pedal 16 by a
fixing bolt 126 through the case 124. The shaft-like member 136
projecting into a housing hole 128 formed in the operating pedal
16, is allowed to displace relative to the main body member 134 by
the shear deformation of the deforming member 138 in a direction
perpendicular to the axis. The deforming member 138, formed
likewise the deforming member 32 mentioned above, has an outer
circumferential surface to which the strain resistive elements 40a
to 40d are attached.
[0128] The orientation converting mechanism 122 includes a
connecting pin guide 130 disposed on the operating pedal 16 to
regulate a movement path for the clevis pin 26, and a sliding
member 132 disposed between the clevis pin 26 and the shaft-like
member 136. The orientation converting mechanism 122 displaces the
shaft-like member 136 in a constant direction in accordance with
the movement of the clevis pin 26. The clevis pin 26 is inserted
into the connecting pin guide 130 which is an elongated hole
linearly formed in a direction perpendicular to the center line O
(i.e., constant direction) of the load sensor 121, and is moved in
a constant direction with guided by the connecting pin guide 130. A
sliding member 132 corresponds to a claimed connection member.
Between the connecting pin guide 130 and the housing hole 128, a
linear guide groove is formed, which connects them and which guide
the sliding member 132 in the constant direction likewise. The
sliding member 132 is disposed in the guide groove with intervening
or interposing between the clevis pin 26 and the shaft-like member
136.
[0129] Also, in the vehicular operating pedal device 120, the
clevis pin 26 linearly moves in a constant direction perpendicular
to the center line O of the load sensor 121 with guided by the
connecting pin guide 130. The shaft-like member 136 also moves in
this constant direction via the sliding member 132. Therefore, even
if the operating pedal 16 and the operating rod 22 are relatively
pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 in accordance with the
depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, the reaction force
applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor 121 through the
sliding member 132 is maintained in the constant direction. As a
result, the constantly maintained deformed part of the deforming
member 138 heighten the detecting accuracy of an operating force,
and prevents the variation in detecting accuracy, thus rendering
the high reliability.
[0130] In this embodiment, all that is required is to provide the
connecting pin guide 130 which moves the clevis pin 26 in the
constant direction and to dispose the sliding member 132 between
the clevis pin 26 and the shaft-like member 136. Therefore, the
device can be simply structured at low cost and can be structured
compact. Thus, this embodiment can render the same operation and
effect as the vehicular operating pedal device 100 of FIG. 7A.
[0131] A vehicular operating pedal device 140 shown in FIG. 10
includes the intermediate lever 82 similar to the vehicular
operating pedal device 80 shown in FIG. 6. A load sensor 121 is
disposed at the pivotal movement connecting portion 92 serving as
the connecting portion between the intermediate lever 82 and the
operating rod 22. The load sensor 121 is disposed on one side of
the intermediate lever 82 by use of the case 124, and the reaction
force of the clevis pin 26 is acted on the shaft-like member 136 of
the load sensor 121 by the orientation converting mechanism 122 of
FIG. 9A. Therefore, this embodiment can render the same operation
and effect as that in the vehicular operating pedal device 120 of
FIG. 9A. The cross-section along line X-X of FIG. 10 has a
structure in which the operating pedal 16 in FIG. 9B is replaced
with the intermediate lever 82.
[0132] A vehicular operating pedal device 150 shown in FIG. 11
differs in an orientation converting mechanism 152 from the
vehicular operating pedal device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11A and
FIG. 11B correspond to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 11A
is a front view, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged cross-sectional view
along line XIA-XIA of FIG. 11A. The operating pedal 16 serving as
the claimed sensor arranging member has an elongated guide hole 154
contiguous to the sensor attaching hole 28. In the guide hole 154,
a first guide member 156 and a second guide member 158 both
constructing the orientation converting mechanism 152 are disposed,
and the clevis pin 26 and the intermediate pin 160 are inserted in
the first guide member 156 and the second guide member 158.
[0133] A pair of first guide member 156 serving as a connecting pin
guide regulating a movement path of the clevis pin 26 are disposed
at both axial sides of the clevis pin 26 in the direction
perpendicular to the axis thereof. The first guide members 156 are
engaged with a pulley 162 rotatably mounted on the clevis pin 26 to
guide the clevis pin 26 in a linear direction corresponding to the
substantially rightward and leftward direction in FIG. 11A.
[0134] A second guide member 158 serves as the claimed intermediate
guide which linearly moves the intermediate pin 160 serving as the
claimed intermediate sliding member in a direction perpendicular to
the center line O (predetermined direction) of the load sensor 30.
The second guide member 158 is engaged with a pulley 164 rotatably
mounted on the intermediate pin 160. With this structure, the
second guide member 158 guides the intermediate pin 160 in the
linear direction corresponding to substantially rightward and
leftward direction in FIG. 11A.
[0135] The clevis pin 26 and the intermediate pin 160 are connected
relatively pivotable to the pair of interlocking links 166
symmetrically disposed on both sides of the operating pedal 16 with
intervening it therebetween, so that the intermediate pin 160
displaces in a constant direction in accordance with the movement
of the clevis pin 26. Additionally, the intermediate pin 160 and
the sensor pin 64 are respectively connected to the pair of
linearly moving links 168 symmetrically disposed on both sides of
the operating pedal 16 with intervening it therebetween. Therefore,
the intermediate pin 160 and the sensor pin 64 in turn displace in
the constant direction in accordance with the movement of the
clevis pin 26. In this embodiment, the intermediate pin 160, the
interlocking link 166, and the linearly moving link 168 construct
the interlocking members. The linearly moving link 168 is
integrally fixed to the intermediate pin 160, and is pivotably
connected relative to the sensor pin 64.
[0136] Also in this vehicular operating pedal device 150, by the
movement in the linear direction of the clevis pin 26 guided by the
first guide member 156, the sensor pin 64 displaces in the constant
direction perpendicular to the center line O of the load sensor 30
by the interlocking link 166, the intermediate pin 160, and the
linearly moving link 168. Therefore, even if the operating pedal 16
and the operating rod 22 are relatively pivoted around the axis of
the clevis pin 26 in accordance with the depressing operation of
the operating pedal 16, the reaction force applied from the clevis
pin 26 to the load sensor 30 is always maintained in the constant
direction. As a result, the constantly maintained deformed part of
the deforming member can heighten the detecting accuracy of an
operating force, and prevents variation in detecting accuracy, thus
rendering the high reliability.
[0137] The movement path of the clevis pin 26 is regulated by the
first guide member 156. The intermediate pin 160 moves in the
predetermined direction by the second guide member 158, and the
clevis pin 26 are connected by the interlocking link 166. The
reaction force applied to the clevis 24 is transmitted from the
intermediate pin 160 to the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30
through the linearly moving link 168. Therefore, the design freedom
of the connecting position of the clevis pin 26 and the disposing
position of the load sensor 30 can be increased.
[0138] In addition, disposing the load sensor 30 in the sensor
attaching hole 28 of the operating pedal 16 can construct the
vehicular operating pedal device 150 compact. The same operation
and effect as the vehicular operating pedal device 10 can be
obtained in the vehicular operating pedal device 150.
[0139] FIG. 12 shows the vehicular operating pedal device 170 in
which the intermediate lever 82 is provided in the same way as the
vehicular operating pedal device 80 of FIG. 6. At the pivotal
movement connecting portion 92 serving as the connecting portion
between the intermediate lever 82 and the operating rod 22, the
load sensor 30 is disposed. The intermediate lever 82 is provided
with a guide hole 154, a first guide member 156, a second guide
member 158, and the like. The orientation converting mechanism 152
of FIG. 11 is disposed on this intermediate lever 82. Thus, the
vehicular operating pedal device 170 is constructed so that the
reaction force from the clevis pin 26 is always applied to the load
sensor 30 in the constant direction. Therefore, this embodiment can
renders the same operation and effect as that in the vehicular
operating pedal device 150 of FIG. 11A. The cross-section along
line XII-XII of FIG. 12 corresponds to the structure in which the
operating pedal 16 in FIG. 11B is replaced with the intermediate
lever 82.
[0140] A vehicular operating pedal device 180 shown in FIG. 13
differs in the disposing position of the load sensor 30 from the
vehicular operating pedal device 80 shown in FIG. 6. In a pivotal
movement connecting portion 182 which connects the connecting links
86 to the intermediate lever 82 through the linking pin 90, the
load sensor 30 and the orientation converting mechanism 60 are
disposed in the intermediate lever 82 to detect an operating force
transmitted from the linking pin 90 to the intermediate lever 82.
More specifically, the load sensor 30 is disposed in a sensor
attaching hole 184 formed in the intermediate lever 82, and the
sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30 is connected to the linking pin
90 through the orientation converting mechanism 60.
[0141] The intermediate lever 82 has a clearance hole 186 allowing
the linking pin 90 to pivot around the axis of the supporting pin
66, so that the operating force is always applied from the linking
pin 90 to the load sensor 30 in the constant direction. The linking
pin 90 corresponds to a claimed connecting pin of the pivotal
movement connecting portion 182. Therefore, this embodiment can
render the same operation and effect as that in the embodiments
shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 6. FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B
correspond to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 13A is a
front view, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along
line XIIIA-XIIIA of FIG. 13A.
[0142] The present invention can be applied to a pivotal movement
connecting portion which connects the connecting link 86 to the
operating pedal 16 through the linking pin 88 to be pivotable
relative thereto, or to a pivotal movement connecting portion in
which the intermediate lever 82 is pivotably attached to the pedal
support 12 by the supporting pin 84. In these pivotal movement
connecting portions, the load applied to the linking pin 88 or to
the supporting pin 84 is detected as the operating force.
[0143] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are views showing a load sensor 190 used
instead of the load sensor 30 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. These
are sectional views corresponding to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,
respectively. FIG. 14A and FIG. 15A are longitudinal sectional
views parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 14B and FIG. 15B are
cross-sectional views along line XIVA-XIVA of FIG. 14A and line
XVA-XVA of FIG. 15A, respectively. The load sensor 190 includes a
cylindrical deforming member 192 which detects the load applied
thereto in the radial direction thereof. An annular member 194 is
disposed on the outer peripheral side of the deforming member 192.
The annular member 194 is integrally attached to the sensor
attaching hole 28 with a predetermined posture (phase) by press
fitting or by use of a bolt or a leaf spring, and it integrally
holds a part of the deforming member 192 around the center line
(i.e., a right sidewall part shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15) by
welding, for example. A shaft-like member 196 is inserted into a
cylindrical inner hole of the deforming member 192, to which the
pivotal moving link 68 of the orientation converting mechanism 60
is connected. The sensor pin 64 can be used as the shaft-like
member 196. The annular member 194 corresponds to a claimed main
body member.
[0144] In the load sensor 190, when the value of the externally
applied load is approximately zero, the annular member 194 is kept
to be substantially concentric with the axis S of the shaft-like
member 196 as shown in FIG. 14. The deforming member 192 is kept to
be eccentric with respect to the axis S so that an inner
circumferential surface of a sidewall part thereof on a side
opposite to a side fixed to the annular member 194, that is, on the
left side in FIG. 14 substantially comes into contact with the
shaft-like member 196. This state is regulated by pressing the
operating rod 22 rightward in FIG. 1A by the action of a return
spring (not shown) for example, and by causing the operating pedal
16 to abut to a stopper (not shown) to be located in an initial
position. In this state, the deforming member 192 has a cylindrical
shape of a substantially true circle.
[0145] On the other hand, when the load is radially applied between
the annular member 194 and the shaft-like member 196 by a reaction
force of the operating rod 22 in accordance with the depressing
operation of the operating pedal 16, the shaft-like member 196
displaces leftward elative to the annular member 194 in FIG. 14 and
FIG. 15. As a result, the deforming member 192 is stretched and
deformed into an oval as shown in FIG. 15. The annular member 194
has an annular internal space large enough to allow relative
displacement with respect to the shaft-like member 196 or allow the
tensile deformation of the deforming member 192. The deforming
member 192 being made of a metallic material such as ferritic
stainless steel, and capable of elastically deforming by receiving
the radial load, undergoes tensile deformation according to the
operating force generated by the depressing operation of the
operating pedal 16.
[0146] To detect the tensile strain of the deforming member 192,
strain resistive elements serving as the strain detecting element
are fixed, on the outer circumferential surface of the deforming
member 192, at an upper sidewall part and a lower sidewall part in
FIG. 15B, i.e., to parts at which tensile strain is caused on the
outer circumferential surface of the deforming member 192. Similar
to the above embodiments, the insulation film such as the glass
paste is disposed in advance on the outer circumferential surface
of the deforming member 192, and the electro-conductive circuit
pattern is formed on the insulation film by the conductive material
such as silver. The strain resistive elements are formed integrally
by firing for example so that a part thereof can come into contact
with the electro-conductive circuit pattern.
[0147] The size and the disposing position of the strain resistive
element are appropriately set in consideration of assembly
workability for example. In the present invention, the load always
acts in the constant direction, regardless of the operating amount
of the depressed operating pedal 16, so that the deforming member
192 deforms at the constant part. Therefore, high detecting
accuracy can be stably obtained even when the strain resistive
element is comparatively small.
[0148] Even in the other embodiments shown in the drawings
subsequent to FIG. 6, the load sensor 190 can be used instead of
the load sensor 30 as well.
[0149] FIG. 16 shows an operating pedal device 210 for a service
brake of a vehicle. FIG. 16A is a front view (corresponding to a
lateral view of the vehicle in the installed state of the device),
and FIG. 16B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line
XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 16A. This vehicular operating pedal device 210
includes, different from the operating pedal device 200 shown in
FIG. 25, an intermediate lever 260 which transmits the operating
force from the operating pedal 16 to the operating rod 22. The
intermediate lever 260 is pivotably disposed on the pedal support
12 by a supporting pin 262 parallel to the support shaft 14, and it
is mechanically pivoted around the supporting pin 262 in accordance
with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16 connected
thereto through a connecting link 264. The connecting link 264 has
both longitudinal ends respectively connected relatively pivotably,
that is pivotably connected relative, to the operating pedal 16 and
to the intermediate lever 260 through a pair of linking pins 266
and 268 both being parallel to the support shaft 14.
[0150] To a top end of the intermediate lever 260, the operating
rod 22 is connected relatively pivotably, that is pivotably
connected relative through the pivotal movement connecting portion
270. In this embodiment, the intermediate lever 260 serving as the
claimed sensor arranging member is provided with a sensor housing
hole 272 extending therethrough in the axial direction, and the
load sensor 274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole 272 with a
predetermined clearance. The load sensor 274 structured
substantially in the same way as the load sensor 30 mentioned
above, includes the cylindrical deforming member 32, the annular
member 34 serving as the claimed main body member, and the
shaft-like member 36. Note that the annular member 34 projects at
both axial ends thereof from both axial sides of the sensor housing
hole 272, and the sensor pin 276 passing through the axis of the
shaft-like member 36 is disposed to project at both axial ends
thereof from both axial sides of the annular member 34. In this
embodiment, the sensor pin 276 is formed independent from or
separated from the shaft-like member 36, and is inserted into the
through-hole 38 to be relatively pivotable. However, the sensor pin
276 may be constructed integrally with the shaft-like member
36.
[0151] The intermediate lever 260 is additionally provided with
both a pivotal moving link 282 pivotably around a first supporting
pin 280 parallel to the clevis pin 26, and a swinging lever 286
swingably on a second supporting pin 284 parallel to the clevis pin
26. The pivotal moving link 282 is pivotably supported in its
intermediate position by the first supporting pin 280. The pivotal
moving link 282 has both longitudinal ends, to one of which the
operating rod 22 is connected relatively pivotably through the
clevis pin 26, and to the other of which the annular member 34 of
the load sensor 274 is integrally fixed by welding, for
example.
[0152] The first supporting pin 280 and the clevis pin 26 are
disposed, likewise the annular member 34, to pass through the
intermediate lever 260 and to thereby project at both axial end
from the both axial sides. A pair of pivotal moving links 282
respectively disposed on both sides of the intermediate lever 260
with intervening it therebetween, are connected to both axial ends
of the first supporting pin 280 and to both axial ends of the
clevis pin 26, and are integrally fixed to both axial ends of the
annular member 34. The intermediate lever 260 has an arc or linear
elongate hole 288 centering on the first supporting pin 280 in the
disposed position of the clevis pin 26, which allows the pivotal
moving link 282 to relatively pivot around the first supporting pin
280 by the reaction force of the operating rod 22. The clevis pin
26 corresponds to the claimed connecting pin of the pivotal
movement connecting portion 270.
[0153] The swinging lever 286 has both longitudinal ends, one of
which is pivotably supported by the second supporting pin 284, and
to the other one of which the sensor pin 276 is connected
relatively rotatable. The second supporting pin 284 has the
following structure. In a front view seen from the direction of the
center line O of the load sensor 274 (corresponding to a state of
FIG. 16A), a straight line connecting the axis S of the shaft-like
member 36 connected to the swinging lever 286 and the axis of the
second supporting pin 284, and a straight line connecting the
center of the annular member 34 fixed to the pivotal moving link
282 (corresponding to the center line O of the load sensor 274) and
the axis of the first supporting pin 280, intersects at
approximately right angle with each other. Additionally, the second
supporting pin 284 is disposed at a position where the tensile
force acts on the swinging lever 286 by relatively pivoting the
pivotal moving link 282 around the first supporting pin 280 (i.e.,
clockwise in FIG. 16A) by the reaction force of the operating rod
22.
[0154] Therefore, the sensor pin 276 connected to the swinging
lever 286 and the shaft-like member 36 in turn are kept at the
substantially constant position of the intermediate lever 260
regardless of the reaction force of the operating rod 22. They
displace relative to the annular member 34 that is pivoted around
the first supporting pin 280 and displaced together with the
pivotal moving link 282 by the reaction force of the operating rod
22. Using the shear deformation of the deforming member 32 by this
relative displacement, the operating force of the operating pedal
16 is detected. The clearance of the sensor housing hole 272 and
dimension of the elongated hole 288 are determined to allow the
displacement of the annular member 34 resulting from the shear
deformation of the deforming member 32, and the pivotal movement of
the pivotal moving link 282. The second supporting pin 284 is
disposed to pass through the intermediate lever 260 and to thereby
project at both axial ends thereof from the both axial sides of the
intermediate lever 260 similar to the sensor pin 276. A pair of
swinging levers 286 disposed on both sides of the intermediate
lever 260 with intervening it therebetween are connected to both
axial ends of the second supporting pin 284 and to both axial ends
of the sensor pin 276, respectively.
[0155] In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 210,
the reaction force transmitted from the clevis pin 26 to the
annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 through the pivotal moving
link 282 is received by the second supporting pin 284 through the
swinging lever 286. Therefore, with the depressing operation of the
operating pedal 16, the pivotal moving link 282 is pivoted around
the supporting pin 262 substantially integral with the intermediate
lever 260. At this time, although the operating rod 22 and the
intermediate lever 260 are pivoted around the axis of the clevis
pin 26, the load always acts on the load sensor 274 in the
substantially constant direction. The constant direction can be
otherwise expressed as the direction perpendicular to a line
segment connecting the sensor center line O and the axis of the
first supporting pin 280 in the front view shown in FIG. 16A (i.e.,
substantially leftward in FIG. 16A). Therefore, the deformed part
of the deforming member 32 is kept substantially constant.
[0156] FIG. 17A is a sectional view of the load sensor 274, in the
front view (i.e., in the state of FIG. 16A) described above, in a
direction perpendicular to a line segment connecting the sensor
center line O and the axis of the first supporting pin 280, that
is, in the longitudinal direction of the swinging lever 286. FIG.
17B is a cross-sectional view along line XVIIA-XVIIA of FIG. 17A.
In FIG. 17, the sensor pin 276 is rotatable relative to both the
shaft-like member 36 and the swinging lever 286. The deforming
member 32 deforms as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B in accordance with
the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16. As a result,
relative rotation occurs on the member having less friction, e.g.,
on the swinging lever 286, resulting in an extremely small rotation
angle. To reduce friction, a bearing or the like can be provided if
necessary. FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B correspond to FIG. 17A and FIG.
17B, respectively. FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view along line
XVIIIA-XVIIIA of FIG. 18A.
[0157] The annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are
connected together via the deforming member 32 in this way. If the
radial load applied externally, i.e., in the direction
perpendicular to the center line O is approximately zero, both the
shaft-like member 36 and the sensor pin 276 are kept in a state
where the axis S substantially coincides with the center line O of
the load sensor 274 as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. The deforming
member 32 is also kept in the cylindrical shape centering on the
center line O over the entire length thereof. The center line O of
the load sensor 274 corresponds to the center line of the annular
member 34 which is the main body member.
[0158] On the other hand, if the reaction force of the operating
rod 22 is applied to the annular member 34 via the pivotal moving
link 82 in accordance with the depressing operation of the
operating pedal 16, the radial load is applied between the annular
member 34 and the shaft-like member 36. The radial load can be
otherwise expressed as the load which relatively moves the annular
member 34 leftward in FIGS. 17A and 17B (substantially leftward
also in FIG. 16A). As a result, the deforming member 32 disposed
therebetween undergoes the shear strain as shown in FIG. 18. An
annular space is provided between the annular member 34 and the
shaft-like member 36 to allow the relative movement therebetween
and the shear deformation of the deforming member 32. The deforming
member 32 is made of a metallic material such as ferritic stainless
steel to be elastically deformed by receiving the load in the
radial direction. Accordingly, the deforming member 32 undergoes
the shear deformation according to the operating force generated by
the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16. The deforming
amount of the deforming member 32 is extremely small, not
influencing on the depressing stroke of the operating pedal 16.
However, for an easy understanding, the deforming amount thereof is
exaggerated in the drawing as described above.
[0159] To detect the shear strain of the deforming member 32 as
shown in FIG. 19, four strain resistive elements 240a to 240d
serving as the claimed strain detecting elements are attached to
the outer circumferential surface of the deforming member 32. For
example, thin-film or thick-film semiconductor strain gauges or
generally-used strain gauges are used as desirable examples for the
strain resistive elements 240a to 240d. FIG. 19A, corresponding to
FIG. 18A, shows a state where the deforming member 32 has undergone
the shear deformation. FIG. 19B is a plan view seen from above in
FIG. 19A, and FIG. 19C is a development view of the outer
circumferential surface of the deforming member 32.
[0160] The four strain resistive elements 240a to 240d are located
at two symmetrically positions on the deforming member 32 with
intervening the center line O (S) therebetween, in a direction
where the deforming member 32 causes the shear strain by the
externally applied load. At each of the two symmetrical positions,
one strain resistive element is located at a part to be undergone
an axial tensile deformation by the shear strain, other strain
resistive element is located at a part to be undergone an axial
compression deformation by the shear strain. One and the other
strain resistive elements are spaced.
[0161] In this embodiment, the direction of the load acting on the
load sensor 274 via the pivotal moving link 282 is set to be
substantially constant. Specifically, the direction thereof is set
to be rightward and leftward in FIG. 16A, and to be rightward and
leftward in FIGS. 17A and 17B, FIGS. 18A and 18B, and FIGS. 19A and
19B. Therefore, the strain resistive elements 240a to 240d are not
required to be large in size. However, in consideration of an
assembling workability of the deforming member 32 for example, each
of the strain resistive elements 240a to 240d is long enough to
cover an angular range of 90 degrees or so in the circumferential
direction of the deforming member 32.
[0162] By connecting these strain resistive elements 240a to 240d
with an electro-conductive circuit pattern 250 (see FIG. 19C), a
bridge circuit shown in FIG. 20 is constructed. A power source E is
connected between a power source electrode 242 and a GND (ground)
electrode 244 of the electro-conductive circuit pattern 250, so
that an electric signal corresponding to the strain is output from
between a pair of output electrodes 246 and 248. To connect the
power source E to the power source electrode 242, or to take out an
electric signal output from the output electrodes 246 and 248, the
wire harness 256 (see FIG. 16A) is connected to these electrodes.
This wire harness 256 extended from the load sensor 274, is
connected through the connector 258 to a control circuit unit of
the vehicle. On the outer circumferential surface of the deforming
member 32, an insulation film 252 (see FIG. 19C) such as a glass
paste is disposed in advance. The electro-conductive circuit
pattern 250 is formed on the insulation film 252 by using a
conductive material such as silver. Further, the strain resistive
elements 240a to 240d are integrally formed by firing for example,
to be come into contact, at a part thereof, with the
electro-conductive circuit pattern 250. A control circuit unit may
be provided in the load sensor 274. Instead of the full bridge
circuit used in this embodiment, a half bridge circuit may be used
for example, when using a deforming member in which only a part
receiving the load based on the operating force of the operating
pedal 16 is formed in an arc shape.
[0163] In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 210,
the load sensor 274 electrically detecting the operating force
based on the relative displacement between the annular member 34
and the shaft-like member 36 is disposed at the pivotal movement
connecting portion 270 relatively pivotably connecting the
intermediate lever 260 and the operating rod 22 relatively. The
load sensor 274 detects the operating force transmitted through the
clevis pin 26 of the pivotal connecting portion 270. Disposing the
load sensor 274 within the sensor housing hole 272 formed in the
intermediate lever 260, can make the whole of the operating pedal
device 210 simple and compact, does not influence on the installing
conditions of conventional pedal devices. Additionally, the
relating members such as the operating rod 22, the clevis 24 and
the clevis pin 26, which are the same as that in the prior art can
be used in this embodiment, resulting in the device structure which
can be constructed at low cost.
[0164] On the other hand, to the pivotal moving link 282 disposed
pivotably relative to the intermediate lever 260 around the first
supporting pin 280 the clevis pin 26 is pivotably connected, and
the swinging lever 286 is disposed swingably around the second
supporting pin 284. The annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 is
integrally fixed to the pivotal moving link 282, and the shaft-like
member 36 is connected pivotably relative to the swinging lever 286
through the sensor pin 276. Therefore, even if the intermediate
lever 260 and the operating rod 22 are relatively pivoted around
the axis of the clevis pin 26 in accordance with the depressing
operation of the operating pedal 16, the reaction force from the
clevis pin 26 always acts on the load sensor 274 in the
substantially constant direction by the pivotal moving link 282. As
a result, the deformed part of the deforming member 32 is
maintained constant, so that the detecting accuracy of the
operating force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy
is prevented, thus rendering the high reliability.
[0165] Connecting the shaft-like member 36 rotatably connected
relatively to the swinging lever 286 through the sensor pin 276 can
absorb dimensional errors or assembling errors, and can ease the
required dimensional precision etc., so that the device can be
produced at lower cost, compared with a case where the shaft-like
member 36 is integrally fixed to the intermediate lever 260.
[0166] In this embodiment, the second supporting pin 284 is
arranged as follows. It is arranged so that a straight line
connecting the axis S of the shaft-like member 36 connected to the
swinging lever 286 and the axis of the second supporting pin 284,
and a straight line connecting the center (center line O) of the
annular member 34 fixed to the pivotal moving link 282 and the axis
of the first supporting pin 280, are intersected with each other at
approximately right angle. That is, the second supporting pin 284
is disposed on or near the action line of the load (reaction force)
applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor 274 through the
pivotal moving link 282. Therefore, the load is efficiently
received by the second supporting pin 284, which results in the
device having simple and compact structure, and being produced at
low cost. The straight lines are not necessarily required to
intersect at exactly right angle with each other. As long as both
straight lines intersect with each other in the range of .+-.20
degrees with respect to the right angle, i.e., in the range from 70
degrees to 110 degrees, a sufficient effect can be obtained.
[0167] In this embodiment, the second supporting pin 284 is
disposed so that the pivotal moving link 282 pivots clockwise
around the first supporting pin 280 in accordance with the
depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, based on which the
tensile force acts on the swinging lever 286. Therefore, there is
no fear that an excessive load acts on the swinging lever 286 or
the second supporting pin 284, which results in the device having
simple and compact structure, and being produced at low cost. In
detail, if the second supporting pin 284 is disposed so that the
compressive load acts on the swinging lever 286, that is, if the
second supporting pin 284 is disposed on the left side of the load
sensor 274 in FIG. 16A, following problem may be caused. That is,
an excessive load may act on the swinging lever 286 or the second
supporting pin 284 by a servo action of, for example, a toggle link
mechanism, depending on the positional relationship of the second
supporting pin 284 with the pivotal moving link 282.
[0168] In this embodiment, the intermediate lever 260 connected to
the operating rod 22 relatively pivotably around the axis of the
clevis pin 26 is used as the claimed sensor arranging member, and
is provided with the load sensor 274 thereon. Therefore, the load
sensor 274 can detect the final operating force (output)
transmitted from the clevis pin 26 to the operating rod 22, and
thus can detect the braking force generated according to an output
from the operating rod 22 with high accuracy.
[0169] The load sensor 274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole
272 formed in the intermediate lever 260 with a predetermined
clearance. Additionally, both the pair of pivotal moving links 282
and the pair of swinging levers 286 are respectively disposed on
both axial sides of the plate-like intermediate lever 260, and are
respectively connected to both axial ends of the sensor pin 276
passing through the axis of the annular member 34 or the axis of
the shaft-like member 36. Therefore, with the rotational moment
such as twist suppressed, the load sensor 274 operates stably, thus
the detecting accuracy being further heightened.
[0170] FIG. 21 shows a vehicular operating pedal device 300
according to another embodiment in which the present invention is
applied to the operating pedal device 200 of FIG. 25. In this
embodiment, the pivotal movement connecting portion 20 is
structured likewise the pivotal movement connecting portion 270. In
detail, the operating pedal 16 has the sensor housing hole 272 and
the elongated hole 288. The load sensor 274 is disposed in the
sensor housing hole 272 with a clearance, and the clevis pin 26 is
inserted into the elongated hole 288. On the operating pedal 16,
the pivotal moving link 282 disposed pivotably around the first
supporting pin 280 and the swinging lever 286 is disposed pivotably
around the second supporting pin 284.
[0171] The pivotal moving link 282 has one longitudinal end to
which the clevis pin 26 is connected relatively rotatably, and the
other longitudinal end to which the annular member 34 of the load
sensor 274 is integrally fixed. The sensor pin 276 inserted along
the axis of the shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor 274 is
pivotably connected relative to the swinging lever 286. Therefore,
this embodiment can render the same operation and effect as that in
the above-mentioned embodiments. The cross-section along line
XXIA-XXIA of FIG. 21 corresponding to a structure in which the
intermediate lever 260 is replaced with the operating pedal 16, in
FIG. 16B. The operating pedal 16 corresponds to the claimed sensor
arranging member.
[0172] A vehicular operating pedal device 310 shown in FIG. 22
differs in the disposing position of the load sensor 274 from the
vehicular operating pedal device 210. In a pivotal movement
connecting portion 312 in which the connecting link 264 is
connected to the intermediate lever 260 through the linking pin
268, the intermediate lever 260 is provided with the load sensor
274 to detect an operating force transmitted from the linking pin
268 to the intermediate lever 260. In more detail, the intermediate
lever 260 has a sensor housing hole 314 and an elongated hole 316.
The load sensor 274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole 314 with
a predetermined clearance, and the linking pin 268 is inserted into
the elongated hole 316.
[0173] On the intermediate lever 260, the pivotal moving link 282
is disposed pivotably around the first supporting pin 280 and the
swinging lever 286 is disposed pivotably around the second
supporting pin 284. The pivotal moving link 282 has one
longitudinal end to which the linking pin 268 is relatively
pivotably connected, and the other longitudinal end to which the
annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 is integrally fixed. The
linking pin 268 corresponds to the claimed connecting pin of the
pivotal movement connecting portion 312. The sensor pin 276
inserted along the axis of the shaft-like member 36 of the load
sensor 274 is relatively rotatably connected to the swinging lever
286. FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B correspond to FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B,
respectively. FIG. 22A is a front view, and FIG. 22B is an enlarged
cross-sectional view along line XXIIA-XXIIA of FIG. 22A.
[0174] This embodiment can render the same operation and effect as
that in the embodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B, except the following
point. The different feature is that, with the operating pedal 16
depressed, the pivotal moving link 282 pivots clockwise around the
first supporting pin 280 by the reaction force of the operating rod
22, so that the compressive load acts on the swinging lever
286.
[0175] As described above, the compressive load acts on the
swinging lever 286. Herein, the second supporting pin 284 is
disposed so that a straight line connecting the axis S of the
shaft-like member 36 connected to the swinging lever 286 and the
axis of the second supporting pin 284, and a straight line
connecting the center (center line O) of the annular member 34
fixed to the pivotal moving link 282 and the axis of the first
supporting pin 280 in the front view of FIG. 22A, intersect with
each other at approximately right angle. In detail, the second
supporting pin 284 is disposed on or near the action line of a load
(operating force) applied from the linking pin 268 to the load
sensor 274 through the pivotal moving link 282. Therefore, there is
no fear that an excessive load acts on the swinging lever 286 or
the second supporting pin 284 by a servo action of a toggle link
mechanism for example, and the device can be structured simple,
compact, and low in cost. If the second supporting pin 284 is
disposed on the left side of the load sensor 274 in FIG. 22A, the
tensile force can act on the swinging lever 286 as that in the
above-mentioned embodiments.
[0176] The present invention can be applied to the pivotal movement
connecting portion in which the connecting link 264 is pivotably
connected relative to the operating pedal 16 through the linking
pin 266, or to the pivotal movement connecting portion in which the
intermediate lever 260 is pivotably attached to the pedal support
12 through the supporting pin 262. In these examples, the load
acting on the linking pin 266 or on the supporting pin 262 is
detected as the operating force.
[0177] FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are sectional views corresponding to
those of FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, respectively, showing a load sensor
320 used instead of the load sensor 274 in the embodiment of FIG.
16. FIG. 23A and FIG. 24A are longitudinal sectional views parallel
to the center line O. FIG. 23B and FIG. 24B are cross-sectional
views along line XXIIIA-XXIIIA of FIG. 23A and line XXIVA-XXIVA of
FIG. 24A, respectively. The load sensor 320 includes a cylindrical
deforming member 322 that detects a load applied in the radial
direction thereof. An annular member 324 disposed radially
outwardly of the deforming member 322, in the sensor housing hole
272 with a clearance, is integrally fixed to the pivotal moving
link 282. The annular member 324 integrally holds a part of the
deforming member 322 around the center line (i.e., a left sidewall
part shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24) by welding for example. The
shaft-like member 326 inserted into the cylindrical hole of the
deforming member 322, is rotatably connected relative to the
swinging levers 286. The sensor pin 276 can be used as the
shaft-like member 326. The annular member 324 corresponds to the
claimed main body member.
[0178] When the externally applied load is approximately zero, the
load sensor 320 is held so that the annular member 324 is
substantially concentric with the axis S of the shaft-like member
326 as shown in FIG. 23. The deforming member 322 is held to be
eccentric with respect to the axis S so that the sidewall part
thereof on the side opposite to the side fixed to the annular
member 324, i.e., on the right side in FIG. 23 substantially
contacts with the shaft-like member 126 on the inner
circumferential surface thereof. This state is provided by pressing
the operating rod 22 rightward in FIG. 16A by the action of a
return spring (not shown) for example, and by causing the operating
pedal 16 to contact with the stopper (not shown) to be located in
the initial position. In this state, the deforming member 322
assumes a cylindrical shape having a substantially true circle.
[0179] On the other hand, when the radial load is applied between
the annular member 324 and the shaft-like member 326 by the
reaction force of the operating rod 22 in accordance with the
depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, the annular member
324 displaces relative to the shaft-like member 326 leftward in
FIG. 23 and FIG. 24. As a result, the deforming member 322 is
stretched and deformed into an oval as shown in FIG. 24. The
annular member 324 has the annular internal space of size to allow
the relative displacement to the shaft-like member 326 or the
tensile deformation of the deforming member 322. The deforming
member 322 made of a metallic material such as ferritic stainless
steel, which can be elastically deformed by receiving the radial
load, undergoes tensile deformation according to an operating force
generated by the depressing operation of the operating pedal
16.
[0180] To detect the tensile strain of the deforming member 322,
strain resistive elements serving as the strain detecting element
are fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the deforming member
322 to upper and lower sidewall parts in FIG. 24B, i.e., to parts
at which tensile deformation is caused. As that in the above
embodiments, the insulation film such as a glass paste, is in
advance disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the
deforming member 322. The electro-conductive circuit pattern is
formed on the insulation film by using the conductive material such
as silver. The strain resistive elements are further formed
integrally with the electro-conductive circuit pattern by firing
for example to be partially contacted with the electro-conductive
circuit pattern.
[0181] The size and the disposing position of the strain resistive
element are appropriately selected in consideration of, for
example, assembling workability. In the present invention, the load
always acting in the substantially constant direction deforms a
substantially given part of the deforming member 322, regardless of
the depressed amount of operating pedal 16. Therefore, the high
detecting accuracy can be stably obtained even when comparatively
small deformation is caused.
[0182] Even in the embodiments shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 22A, and FIG.
22B, the load sensor 320 can be likewise used instead of the load
sensor 274.
[0183] The embodiments of the present invention have been described
in detail as above with reference to the attached drawings. Noted
that the present invention is never limited to these embodiments,
but can be embodied in variously modified or improved mode based on
ordinary knowledge of a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *