JP2002293224A - Brake pedal turning motion control device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the interference of a brake pedal with a driver in a front collision accident with a simple structure by turning a lower end part side of a pedal arm forward. SOLUTION: A vehicle body 1 is provided with a front cowl 2 and a dash panel 4 extending out of the front cowl 3 downward. The pedal arm 8 arranged in a rear adjacent to the dash panel 4 extending in the metrical direction and pivotally supported by the dash panel 4 at a upper end part thereof to allow a lower end part side to freely turn in front and rear directions A, B is provided and the brake pedal 17 is supported at the lower end part of the pedal arm 8. A projection body 19 projecting upward from the upper end part of he pedal arm 8 is provided. An engagement body 24 supported by the dash panel 4 and engaging with the projection body 19 is provided. The engagement body 24 turns the projection body 19 backward associated with a backward displacement C of the dash panel 4 to the front cowl 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a brake pedal which moves toward the passenger compartment when a vehicle collides with an object in front of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving forward. The present invention relates to a brake pedal rotation control device for a vehicle that prevents the vehicle from rotating backward toward the brake pedal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional brake pedal rotation control device for an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-139346.

According to the above publication, the vehicle body is provided with a front cowl and a dash panel extending downward from the front cowl. A pedal arm is disposed near the rear of the dash panel and extends in the up-down direction and has a lower end side pivotally supported by the dash panel so that a lower end thereof is rotatable back and forth. The part supports a brake pedal. A slide plate having a guide surface is disposed behind the pedal arm.

When the dash panel is displaced rearward with respect to the slide plate at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the pedal arm which moves rearward with the displacement slides on the guide surface and slides on the pedal arm. Is pivoted forward, so that the brake pedal is prevented from interfering with the driver.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, a slide plate is provided for sliding and guiding the pedal arm side at the time of a front collision, but it is necessary to form a guide surface for this. For example, the configuration may be complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the lower end of the pedal arm is rotated forward at the time of a front collision to prevent the brake pedal from interfering with the driver. In this case, it is an object to ensure that this is achieved with a simple configuration and that the interference of the brake pedal with the driver is more effectively prevented.

[0007]

A brake pedal rotation control apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle body 1 includes a front cowl 2 and a dash panel 4 extending downward from the front cowl 2, and is disposed near the rear of the dash panel 4 and arranged vertically. A pedal arm 8 whose upper end is pivotally supported by the dash panel 4 is provided so that the lower end of the pedal arm can be freely rotated back and forth A and B, and a brake pedal 17 is provided at the lower end of the pedal arm 8.
In a car that supported

A projection 19 projecting upward from the upper end of the pedal arm 8 is provided.
The engaging body 24 is supported by the engaging member 24 and engages with the protruding body 19. The engaging body 24 pivots the protruding body 19 backward with the rearward displacement C of the dash panel 4 with respect to the front cowl 2. It is intended to be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an axial center 10 serving as a rotation center of the brake pedal 17.
The engaging body 24 is pivotally supported by the dash panel 4 so that the engaging body 24 is rotatable around another axis 25 which is located above and extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 1. While the upper turning portion 33 of the engagement body 24 located above the axis 25 is engaged with the front cowl 2,
The engagement body 24 located below the other shaft center 25
Is engaged with the protruding body 19.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body of an automobile, and an arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle body 1.

The vehicle body 1 is made of sheet metal, and has a front cowl 2 which extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 1 and has a box-shaped closed cross section in the longitudinal direction, and has high strength and rigidity.
A substantially flat dash panel 4 extending in the width direction of the vehicle body 1 and extending downward from the front cowl 2, and extending rearward from a lower edge of the dash panel 4. A floor panel (not shown) is provided, and the rear of the front cowl 2 and the dash panel 4 is a vehicle compartment 5. Also, the front cowl 2 has a front cowl main body 2 having a closed cross section in each of its longitudinal sections.
and a reinforcing member 2b coupled to the rear surface of the front cowl main body 2a and reinforcing the front cowl main body 2a together with the front cowl main body 2a by forming a cross section of each section in the longitudinal direction thereof.

A braking operation device 7 by a driver is provided at a front portion of the vehicle compartment 5, and the braking operation device 7 will be described below.

A vertically extending pedal arm 8 is provided at the front lower portion of the vehicle compartment 5 near the rear of the lower portion of the dash panel 4. The pedal arm 8 has a lower end portion extending in the width direction of the vehicle body 1. The upper end is pivotally supported by the pivot panel 11 on the dash panel 4 so that it can freely rotate A and B back and forth around the center 10.

The pivot support 11 includes the front cowl 2.
And a pedal bracket 15 made of sheet metal, which is mounted on the rear surface of the reinforcing member 2b of the dash panel 4 and the middle part of the dash panel 4 in the vertical direction, and is supported by being fastened to these 2 and 4 by the fasteners 14 respectively. A pivot shaft 16 pivotally supported by the pedal bracket 15 so as to be rotatable about the center 10 and supporting an upper end of the pedal arm 8. A brake pedal 17 is fixed to the lower end of the pedal arm 8. Has been supported.

There is provided a projecting body 19 integrally projecting upward from the upper end of the pedal arm 8. A stopper 20 is fixed to the pedal bracket 15, and a spring 21 (not shown) for urging the lower end of the pedal arm 8 to rotate backward B is provided. The above-mentioned pedal arm 8
When the lower end of the is rotated backward B to a predetermined position, further backward rotation B is prevented by engaging the protrusion 19 with the stopper 20 (FIG. 1).
Solid line).

The above state is a normal state for enabling the brake pedal 17 to be depressed. When a vehicle is driven, a driver located behind the pedal arm 8 applies the brake pedal 17 in the normal state. Operate on the other hand.

An engaging body 24 supported by the dash panel 4 and engaged with the projecting body 19 is provided. A portion of the dash panel 4 supporting the engaging body 24 is displaced rearward with respect to the front cowl 2 by a displacement C. In response to the displacement C, the engaging body 24 pushes the projecting body 19 backward to rotate the projecting body 19 backward about the axis 10 (the dashed line in FIG. 1). ).

Here, the front cowl 2 has greater strength and rigidity than the dash panel 4. Therefore, when the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is plastically deformed rearward at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the front cowl 2
In contrast, the dash panel 4 tends to be displaced C relatively rearward.

At the time of a front collision, the front cowl 2
On the other hand, if the dash panel 4 is displaced rearward C, the engaging body 24 rotates the protruding body 19 rearward as described above. As a reaction to this, the lower end of the pedal arm 8 rotates forward. A (dotted line in FIG. 1), and the brake pedal 1 supported at the lower end of the pedal arm 8
Reference numeral 7 indicates that the driver moves forward from a driver located behind the pedal arm 8.

Therefore, at the time of a front collision, the brake pedal 1
7 is prevented from interfering with the driver. And
In this case, to prevent the interference, the projecting body 19 projecting upward from the upper end of the pedal arm 8 can be used.
Furthermore, this is achieved with a simple configuration in which the engaging body 24 supported by the dash panel 4 is simply engaged.

In the above case, the other shaft center 2 which is located above and above the shaft center 10 and extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 1.
The engaging body 24 is pivotally supported by the other pivotal support 26 on the dash panel 4 so that the engaging body 24 can rotate about five turns.

The engaging body 24 includes a pivot shaft 28 located on the other shaft center 25, an upper arm 29 protruding rearward and upward from the pivot shaft 28, and a rearward shaft from the pivot shaft 28. And a lower arm 30 protruding downward.
On the other hand, the other pivotal support 26 is directly fixed to the dash panel 4 by a fastener (not shown), and
And a pair of left and right bearing bodies 31, 31 for rotatably supporting the pivot shaft 28 around the other axis 25.

The upper turning portion 33, which is the turning end of the upper arm 29 of the engaging body 24, is positioned above the other axis 25, and the upper turning portion 33 is Engagement hole 3 formed in reinforcing member 2b of cowl 2
4, whereby the upper turning portion 33 is engaged with the front cowl 2.

The lower turning portion 35, which is the turning end of the lower arm 30 of the engaging body 24, is connected to the other shaft center 25.
Lower pivot portion 3
5 is engaged with the projecting body 19. in this case,
An engagement groove 36 that opens rearward is provided in the lower rotating portion 35.
Are formed, and the engaging groove 36 and the protruding body 19 are fitted to each other, so that the lower turning portion 35 is more securely engaged with the protruding body 19.

For this reason, if the dash panel 4 is displaced rearward C with the engagement member 24 with respect to the front cowl 2 at the time of a front collision, the engagement member 24 engages with the front cowl 2. The lower rotating portion 35 is rotated backward about the upper rotating portion 33 as a center (a dashed line in FIG. 1).

In the above case, in the engagement body 24, in the up-down direction, the upper rotation part is larger than the dimension from the upper rotation part 33 to the other axis 25 which is the center of rotation of the engagement body 24. The dimension from 33 to the lower turning portion 35 is longer. Therefore, if the other axis 25 is displaced by the displacement C of the dash panel 4 with respect to the front cowl 2 as described above, the other axis 2 is displaced.
5 is larger than the displacement C of the other shaft center 25 because the size of the displacement in which the lower pivoting portion 35 moves backward is longer than the size of the displacement C of FIG. The lower rotating portion 35 causes the protruding body 19 to move more backward. Then, as a reaction to this, the lower end side of the pedal arm 8 rotates more forward A, and the brake pedal 17 supported by the lower end of the pedal arm 8 is driven by a driver located behind the pedal arm 8. From the front.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the brake pedal 17 supported by the lower end of the pedal arm 8 from interfering with the driver during a front collision.

In the above case, the front cowl 2 and the engaging body 2
4 have sufficient strength and rigidity, the displacement C of the dash panel 4 with respect to the front cowl 2 is reliably transmitted to the pedal arm 8 by the engaging body 24 via the projecting body 19, The lower end portion is configured to be turned A forward.

In the normal state of the brake pedal 17, the lower turning portion 35, which is a part of the engagement body 24, is elastically moved between the stopper 20 and the projection 19 by the urging force of the spring 21. Thus, in the normal state, the engagement body 24 is prevented from freely rotating around the other axis 25 and rattling.

Although the above description is based on the illustrated example, the stopper 20 may be directly supported by the dash panel 4. Further, the engaging body 24 may be fixed to the dash panel 4 and engage with the protruding body 19 without engaging with the front cowl 2.

[0033]

The effects of the present invention are as follows.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle body includes a front cowl and a dash panel extending downward from the front cowl, and is disposed near the rear of the dash panel and extends vertically and has a lower end portion. In an automobile having a pedal arm whose upper end is pivotally supported by the dash panel so that the side is rotatable back and forth and a brake pedal is supported at the lower end of the pedal arm,

[0035] A projecting body projecting upward from the upper end of the pedal arm is provided, an engaging body supported by the dash panel and engaged with the projecting body is provided, and a rearward of the dash panel with respect to the front cowl is provided. With the displacement, the engaging body rotates the protruding body backward.

Here, the front cowl has greater strength and rigidity than the dash panel. For this reason, when the front part of the vehicle body is plastically deformed rearward during a front collision of the vehicle, the dash panel tends to be displaced rearward relative to the front cowl.

If the dash panel is displaced rearward with respect to the front cowl at the time of a front collision, the engaging body rotates the protruding body rearward as described above.
As a reaction to this, the lower end of the pedal arm pivots forward, and the brake pedal supported by the lower end of the pedal arm moves forward from the driver located behind the pedal arm.

Therefore, at the time of a front collision, the brake pedal is prevented from interfering with the driver. In this case, the interference can be prevented by a simple structure in which the engaging body supported by the dash panel is simply engaged with the projecting body projecting upward from the upper end of the pedal arm. Achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the engaging body is rotatable about another axis which is located above an axis serving as a center of rotation of the brake pedal and extends in the width direction of the vehicle body. The engaging body is pivotally supported by the dash panel, and an upper rotating portion of the engaging body located above the other axis is engaged with the front cowl, while being lower than the other axis. Is engaged with the protruding body.

For this reason, if the dash panel is displaced rearward with the engaging member with respect to the front cowl at the time of a front collision, the engaging member rotates upward as an engaging portion with the front cowl. The lower pivot portion pivots rearward about the portion.

In the above case, in the above-mentioned engaging body, in the up-down direction, it is the center of rotation of the above-mentioned engaging body from the above-mentioned upper turning part. The dimension from the upper turning part to the lower turning part is longer than the dimension from the other axis. Therefore, if the other axis is displaced along with the displacement of the dash panel with respect to the front cowl as described above, the lower pivot portion is larger than the displacement of the other axis. Since the size of the displacement that moves backward is longer,
The lower pivot portion allows the protruding body to be moved backward more by a size larger than the displacement of the other axis. As a reaction to this, the lower end of the pedal arm pivots forward more, and the brake pedal supported by the lower end of the pedal arm moves farther forward from the driver located behind the pedal arm. It will be.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the brake pedal supported by the lower end of the pedal arm from interfering with the driver during a front collision.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a braking operation device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an engaging body and other pivotal supports.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 2 Front cowl 4 Dash panel 5 Cabin 7 Braking operation device 8 Pedal arm 10 Axis 11 Axis support 17 Brake pedal 19 Projection body 20 Stopper 24 Engagement body 25 Other axis 26 Other Axis support 33 Upper rotation Moving part 35 Lower rotating part 36 Engagement groove A Forward rotating B Backward rotating C Displacement

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle body comprising: a front cowl; and a dash panel extending downward from the front cowl. The dash panel is disposed near the rear of the dash panel, extends vertically, and its lower end pivots back and forth. An automobile having an upper end provided with a pedal arm pivotally supported by the dash panel so as to be freely movable and having a brake pedal supported at a lower end of the pedal arm, projects upward from the upper end of the pedal arm. An engaging body supported by the dash panel and engaged with the projecting body is provided, and the engaging body moves the projecting body rearward with the rearward displacement of the dash panel with respect to the front cowl. A brake pedal rotation control device for a vehicle that is rotated. 2. The engaging body is positioned so as to be rotatable about another axis located above an axis serving as a rotation center of the brake pedal and extending in the width direction of the vehicle body. The upper pivot portion of the engagement body, which is pivotally supported by the dash panel and is located above the other axis, is engaged with the front cowl, while the lower portion is located below the other axis. 2. The brake pedal rotation control device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a lower rotation portion of the engagement body is engaged with the protrusion.