(19)
(11) EP 0 322 785 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.02.1990 Bulletin 1990/07

(43) Date of publication A2:
05.07.1989 Bulletin 1989/27

(21) Application number: 88121579.2

(22) Date of filing: 23.12.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: F02D 11/10, F02M 19/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR IT SE

(30) Priority: 29.12.1987 GB 8730207

(71) Applicants:
  • SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    80333 München (DE)
  • CRYSTALATE ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Tonbridge Kent TN9 1RE (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Schreiber, Hans, Dipl.-Ing.
    D-8417 Lappersdorf (DE)
  • Joyce, Philip Leslie
    Dagenham Essex RM8 3QS (GB)

(74) Representative: Fuchs, Franz-Josef, Dr.-Ing. et al
Postfach 22 13 17
80503 München
80503 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Pedal return arrangement


    (57) An accelerator pedal return arrangement for an automotive vehicle with an electronic engine management system has a pedal position sensor, suitably in the form of a potentiometer, adapted to be connected to a voltage source (15) and providing an output voltage or current at a terminal (12), dependant upon the position of the pedal, for controlling the speed of the engine. One or more springs (4, 4A) are provided to return the pedal to a predetermined rest position when released after being depressed, the or each spring (4, 4A) being of electrically conducting material and included in a supervisory circuit, an electrical resistor (16, 16A) being provided connected in parallel with the or each spring (4, 4A), the arrangement being such that if a spring (4, 4A) breaks, electric current flowing in the supervisory circuit from the source (15) to the pedal position sensor then flows through the resistor (4, 4A) and the magnitude of the current is thereby reduced, whereby the speed of the engine is reduced to a safe level.







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