-2-
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to accelerator pedal reinforcement of a
vehicle. It is particularly applicable to electronic accelerator pedal,
which can be provided at LHS/RHS of vehicle.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART OF INVENTION
Accelerator pedal of vehicle can be classified as electronic and
manual pedal. Accelerator pedal (1), which is specifically electronic
pedal, connected to reinforcement (3) through a bracket (2) as
illustrated in fig. 1 for the load transfer to dash panel.
Presently available reinforcement is not meeting design
requirements to bear sufficient load. That's why it fails after a
certain stress value, thereby developing cracks leading to its
failure.
The reinforcement constituting a structure is having a plurality of
sides (1-4). All the sides besides the RHS (4) as in fig.lA are spot
welded at several locations to the underlying dash panel. The
reinforcement is connected on the flat surface of dash panel. It
comprises a flat part (F) sloping towards the dash panel and
moving upward to be spot welded to the panel at the top side (1)
with an embossed part (E) adjacent to the slop (S) and just above
it.
Two bracket mounting locations (Li, L2) are positioned on the flat
part (F) and another bracket mounting location (L3) is on the
embossed part. Said bracket mounting location is the point of
connectivity of bracket.
Thus, the reinforcement is connected to the dash panel on three
sides (1, 2 85 3) with spot welds and one side (4) does not have spot
weld connection with dash panel. The Side (4) has two accelerator
-3-
pedal bracket mounting Locations (L2 and L3) on it due to which
the load transferred to Side (4) of the reinforcement is more. Thus,
it has to withstand almost entire load and is unable to transfer the
load to dash panel because it is not in contact with the dash panel
thereunder.
Due to high stress, there can be high deformation in the
accelerator pedal reinforcement. This leads to the change in the
layout of apcelerator pedal i.e. change in actual position of pedal
ball point. Thus, the functionality of the accelerator pedal is
affected, which causes discomfort to the driver while driving.
Therefore, known reinforcement can't serve the purpose.
Further, the evaluation is also not good.
• Now reference may be made to the following: -
There is a disclosure of a pedal bracket firmly mounted on a dash
panel with the relatively small number of bolts. Reinforcement with
a pair of upper and lower projecting parts to be projected toward
the inside of an automobile compartment is mounted on the dash
panel, respective parts with closed cross section are formed by the
projecting parts and the dash panel, the pedal bracket with a Ushaped
cross section is tightened and fixed to the reinforcement via
stud bolts provided at the projected parts and the pedal shaft to
rotatably support a pedal arm is arranged at a pair of upright chip
parts consisting of a pair of opposite chips provided at the pedal
bracket.
It is applicable to a manual accelerator pedal requiring spot
welding at two locations.
Another known art provides a structure of an accelerator pedal
mounting part capable of securing rigidity of the accelerator pedal
mounting part. In the structure of the accelerator pedal mounting
part, a flat plate part of the accelerator pedal mounting part is
-4-
separated to a cabin side in relation to a dash panel, each leg part
erected from the flat plate part is fixed to the dash panel, and a
tunnel reinforcement integrated with the flat plate part is fixed to a
tunnel part.
It teacrjes an electronic accelerator pedal mounting part
comprising large number of parts, which makes it heavy in weight
and therefore expensive. It is also complicated comparatively.
In view of the above, there is requirement of a reinforcement
structure, which can sustain sufficient load and transfer to the
dash panel effectively.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Primary object of the present invention is to provide accelerator
pedal reinforcement of a vehicle to obviate drawbacks associated
with the prior art(s).
Another object of the invention is to stiffen the reinforcement, so
that it can bear sufficient load and transfer more amount of load to
the dash panel.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide
accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle which can meet the
layout constraints of the vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide accelerator
pedal reinforcement of a vehicle which is reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided accelerator pedal
reinforcement of a vehicle comprising a single structure, three
sides of which are spot welded to underlying dash panel and fourth
side maintains a gap from the dash panel with a plurality of
bracket mounting locations on the reinforcement wherein a
-5-
connection is provided in the surface area between said bracket
mounting locations to stiffen the fourth side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more
apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments of
invention and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows:
FIG. 1A shows:
FIG. 2A shows:
FIG. 2B shows:
FIG.3A shows:
FIG. 3B shows:
FIG. 3C shows:
Connectivity between accelerator pedal,
reinforcement and bracket;
Conventional accelerator pedal
reinforcement;
Original position of the reinforcement with
respect to dash panel according to prior
art;
Position of the reinforcement with respect
to dash panel under deformation
according to prior art;
Accelerator pedal reinforcement according
to the present invention;
Position of known reinforcement and novel
reinforcement with respect to dash panel;
Enlarged view of slope area of
reinforcement in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE
TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention proposes a novel accelerator pedal reinforcement in
a vehicle.
As illustrated in fig. 1A, the accelerator pedal reinforcement is not
extendable in the marked direction (K). Therefore reinforcement of
-6-
the invention has been devised to meet the layout constraints of
the reinforcement.
Accelerator pedal reinforcement is provided to withstand
accelerator pedal operational load. To prevent deformation of the
reinforcement due to high stress, it is required to strengthen
particularly the side (4) of reinforcement (R) which is not in contact
with the underlying dash panel (D) presently as in fig. 2A, which
indicates original position of accelerator pedal (Pi) and fig.2B
indicates position of the pedal under deformation (P2).
There is high stress in the accelerator pedal reinforcement because
the load does not get transferred to the dash panel completely. As
a counter measure, the accelerator pedal reinforcement is designed
with new profile such that the load can be transferred to the dash
panel effectively.
The novel accelerator pedal reinforcement is as shown in fig.3A. In
order to stiffen the free side (4) a multitude of spot welds (W) are
provided in the surface area between the bracket mounting
locations (Li, L2 and L3) wherein position of the bracket mounting
locations are same as before.
So that the reinforcement (Ri) will be in contact with the dash
panel (D) as illustrated in fig. 3B, thereby causing distribution and
transfer of load to the dash panel, which was not possible due to
gap between, said conventional reinforcement (R) and panel (D)
that can be clearly observed from the fig. 3B.
Now reference may be made to fig. 3C. To accommodate the spot
welds on a flat surface at the desired location, there is provision of
several fillets (Fl) along the slope area (S) with the flat surface (F)
-7-
therebetween. The lower side (3) of reinforcement is curtailed with
some surface material, so that the same can be utilized to stiffen
top side (1) of reinforcement for further spot welding it with the
dash panel-by a plurality of spot welds (Wi) as shown in fig. 3A.
Further, the lower side surface is integrated with an embossed
design feature (C) so as to increase local strength.
The accelerator pedal reinforcement of invention is stable and
ensures proper functioning of accelerator pedal throughout the
design life of the vehicle, thus solving problem in the existing
design of reinforcement.
Advantageous Features
- High load carrying capacity of reinforcement.
- Stable by avoiding deformation throughout the design life
cycle.
- Effective transfer of load to the dash panel.
- Compact as compared to prior art.
- Reduction of stress in reinforcement.
- Meets the space and layout constraints.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to
modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art.
Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of
this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present
invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:-

WE CLAIM: < ** *~ \% M$
1. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle comprising a
single structure, three sides of which are spot welded to
underlying dash panel and fourth side maintains a gap from
the dash panel with a plurality of bracket mounting locations
on the reinforcement wherein a connecting means is
provided in the surface area between said bracket mounting
locations to stiffen the fourth side.
2. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
0131111! 1, wherein said connecting means comprises multitude
of spot welds.
3. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
claim 1 or 2, wherein the spot welds are located on a flat
surface along the slope area of said reinforcement.
4. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims, wherein the slope area
comprises a plurality of fillets with a flat surface
therebetween.
5. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower side of
reinforcement is curtailed with some section, which is
additionally provided to stiffen top side of the reinforcement
for further welding it with the dash panel by means of a
plurality of spot welds.
6. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower side surface
of reinforcement is integrated with an embossed design
feature so as to increase local strength.
-9-
> 1 *
:.;> t> 28 MJ6 tfkt
7. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims is associated with the
advantageous features such as herein described.
8. Accelerator pedal reinforcement of a vehicle substantially as
herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 27thday of August, 2014
(SOMA RANI MISHRA)
OF L.S.DAVAR & CO.,
APPLICANT'S AGENT