Accelerator control apparatus

Abstract

An accelerator control apparatus for mounting in a motor vehicle for a "drive-by-wire" system. The apparatus provides a bias spring means to generate the "feel" of an accelerator pedal to the vehicle operator, a compression spring means provides frictional forces preventing extraneous pedal actuation and pedal sensor switch means for indicating the rotation position of the accelerator pedal from a first or normal position to any second position.

I claim: 
     
       1. An accelerator control apparatus for an electronic drive control system for an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: pedal means adapted to be rotated from a first position to another position;   shaft means;   bias spring means normally biasing said pedal means in said first position;   position sensor means rotatively coupled to said shaft means for generating a first electrical signal indicative of the angle of rotation thereof;   pressure switch means coupled to said pedal means and responsive to pressure applied to pivot said pedal means for generating a second electrical signal indicative of said pedal means in said first position; and   friction means at the end of said shaft means, providing friction forces to said shaft means for damping the rotation of said shaft means.   
     
     
       2. An accelerator control apparatus for an electronic drive control system for an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a housing;   accelerator pedal control means;   shaft means journalled in said housing;   coupling means for coupling said accelerator pedal control means to said shaft means .Iadd.such that operation of said accelerator pedal control means rotates said shaft means.Iaddend.;   bias spring means operable to bias said accelerator pedal control means in a first position, one end of said bias spring means coupled to said accelerator pedal control means and the other end of said bias spring means secured to said housing;   pedal sensor switch means responsive to said accelerator pedal control means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal indicative of said pedal control means in said first position; and   position sensor means operable to generate a second electrical signal to indicate a second position of said accelerator pedal control means as said accelerator pedal control means rotates from said first position to said second position, and a friction-creating mechanism that is active on said shaft means for damping rotation of said shaft means.Iadd.;   said friction mechanism comprising a member that rotates with said shaft means and has a planar surface that both faces axially of said shaft means and faces a planar surface of said apparatus that does not rotate with said shaft means, and resilient means for imparting to said member in a direction axial of said shaft means a force that urges said surfaces together, one of said surfaces being a friction surface, thereby developing a desired damping characteristic. .Iaddend. .[.   
     
     
       3.  An accelerator control apparatus connected to an accelerator pedal for an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a housing;   coupling means coupled to said housing and the accelerator pedal and mounted for rotation from a first position to one of a plurality of second positions;   shaft means journalled in said housing and adapted to be rotated by said coupling means;   bias spring means coupled to said shaft means and operable to bias said coupling means in said first position;   sensor means responsive to said coupling means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal and when said coupling means is in said second position for generating a third electrical signal; and   means responsive to the rotation of said shaft means in response to said coupling means for generating a second electrical signal indicating the amount of rotation from said first position to said second position..]. .[.4. An accelerator control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3 additionally including a second bias means for   
     
     
        preloading said shaft means against rotation..]. .Iadd.5.  An accelerator control apparatus connected to an accelerator pedal for an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a housing;   coupling means coupled to said housing and the accelerator pedal and mounted for rotation from a first position to one of a plurality of second positions;   shaft means journaled in said housing and adapted to be rotated by said coupling means;   bias spring means coupled to said shaft means and operable to bias said coupling means in said first position;   sensor means responsive to said coupling means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal and when said coupling means is in said second position for generating a third electrical signal; and   means responsive to the rotation of said shaft means in response to said coupling means for generating a second electrical signal indicating the amount of rotation from said first position to said second position;   including a second bias means for preloading said shaft means against rotation; and   .[.An accelerator control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 4 wherein.].   said second bias means includes friction washer means around said shaft means and bearing against said housing, and a compression spring around said shaft means and bearing against said friction washer means and said   
     
     
        coupling means. .Iadd.6.  An accelerator control apparatus connected to an accelerator pedal for an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a housing;   coupling means coupled to said housing and the accelerator pedal and mounted for rotation from a first position to one of a plurality of second positions;   shaft means journaled in said housing and adapted to be rotated by said coupling means;   bias spring means coupled to said shaft means and operable to bias said coupling means in said first position;   sensor means responsive to said coupling means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal and when said coupling means is in said second position for generating a third electrical signal; and   means responsive to the rotation of said shaft means in response to said coupling means for generating a second electrical signal indicating the amount of rotation from said first position to said second position; and .[.An accelerator control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3.]. wherein sensor means responsive to said coupling means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal and when said coupling means is in said second position for generating a third electrical signal, is a pressure sensor responsive to the pressure on said coupling means rotating said coupling means from said first position for   
     
     
        generating said third electrical signal. .[.7.  An accelerator control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3 wherein said sensor means responsive to said coupling means in said first position for generating a first electrical signal and when said coupling means is in said second position for generating a third electrical signal, is a switch actuated by a sensor actuating means rotating from said first position for generating said third electrical signal..]. .[.8. An accelerator control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said switch means is a normally closed switch actuated by said sensor actuating means in said first position and normalized by 
     
     
        said coupling means in said second position..]. .Iadd.9.  In an accelerator pedal control apparatus that remotely controls a motor that powers an automotive vehicle via electrical signals wherein the apparatus comprises a housing mounted on the vehicle, a shaft journaled on the housing for rotary motion, a foot pedal for imparting rotary motion to the shaft, at least one spring causing the shaft to be rotary biased toward a first position corresponding to the absence of foot actuation of the pedal, and an electrical sensor that is operated by the rotary motion of the shaft to positions away from said first position to signal the amount of rotary motion imparted to the shaft away from said first position by the pedal, the improvement which comprises a friction mechanism that acts on the shaft to dampen rotary motion of the shaft, said friction mechanism including a member that rotates with said shaft and has a planar surface that both faces axially of said shaft and also faces a planar surface of said apparatus that does not rotate with said shaft, and resilient means for imparting to said member in a direction axial of said shaft a force that urges said surfaces together, one of said surfaces being a friction surface, thereby developing a desired damping characteristic. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.10.  The improvement set forth in claim 9 in which said resilient means comprises a coil spring that is disposed coaxial with said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The improvement set forth in claim 10 in which said coil spring is disposed to surround said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The improvement set forth in claim 9 in which said member comprises a washer that is disposed coaxially around said shaft and between said resilient means and said surface that does not rotate with said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The improvement set forth in claim 9 in which said at least one spring is a coiled torsion spring disposed to coaxially surround said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The improvement set forth in claim 9 further including a switch that is disposed on said housing and is effective to distinguish between said shaft occupying said first position and said shaft occupying positions away from said first position. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  An accelerator pedal control apparatus adapted for installation and use in an automotive vehicle in association with a foot pedal to provide remote control of a motor that powers the vehicle via electrical signals wherein the apparatus comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on the vehicle, a shaft that is journaled on the housing for rotary motion and that is adapted to execute rotary motion in response to the operation of such a pedal, at least one spring causing the shaft to be rotary biased toward a first position corresponding to the absence of foot actuation of such a pedal, and an electrical sensor that is disposed on the housing and is operated by the rotary motion of said shaft to positions away from said first position to signal the amount of rotary motion imparted to the shaft away from said first position against said at least one spring, characterized in that a friction mechanism is disposed on the housing to act on the shaft to dampen rotary motion of the shaft, and said friction mechanism includes a member that rotates with said shaft and has a planar surface that both faces axially of said shaft and also faces a planar surface of said apparatus that does not rotate with said shaft, and resilient means for imparting to said member in a direction axial of said shaft a force that urges said surfaces together, one of said surfaces being a friction surface, thereby developing a desired damping 
     
     
        characteristic. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 characterized further in that said at least one spring comprises at least one coiled torsion spring that is disposed to coaxially surround said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 16 characterized further in that said at least one coiled torsion spring is disposed to also coaxially surround a portion of said housing through which said shaft passes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 characterized further in that said member comprises a washer that is disposed coaxially around said shaft and between said resilient means and said surface that does not rotate with said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 characterized further in that said resilient means comprises a coil spring that is 
     
     
        disposed coaxial with said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 19 characterized further in that said coil spring is disposed to surround said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 20 characterized further in that said member comprises a washer that is disposed coaxially around said shaft and between said coil spring and said surface that does not rotate with said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. Accelerator pedal control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 characterized further by the inclusion of a switch that is disposed on said housing and is effective to distinguish between said shaft occupying said first position and said shaft occupying positions away from said first position. .Iaddend.