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. 1 A) 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.

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.