TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to pedals for motor vehicles.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Pedals for motor vehicles are known to comprise a lever rotating about a shaft, an
actuator element, such as an actuation rod, for example, that transmits an actuation
force applied on the lever to an actuator (preferably a brake booster or clutch cylinder),
and coupling means between the lever of the pedal and the actuator element, comprising
a shaft going through an opening of the lever, said shaft being coupled to the actuator
element, and the shaft allowing pivotally coupling the actuator element and the lever.
The coupling means also comprise elastic means coupled to the shaft, assuring permanent
and elastic transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator
element.
[0003] US5551317 A discloses a pedal for motor vehicles, particularly for a brake system, comprising
a lever, said lever comprising an axis of rotation and an opening going through the
lever; an actuator element transmitting an actuation force applied on the lever to
an actuator (a brake booster), the actuator element comprising engagement means which
allow coupling the actuator element to the lever; and coupling means between the lever
and the engagement means of the actuator element, the coupling means comprising a
shaft arranged such that it goes through the opening of the lever, said shaft being
coupled to the engagement means of the actuator element, and the shaft allowing pivotally
coupling the actuator element and the lever, and elastic pressure means assuring permanent
and rigid transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator element.
The elastic pressure means are arranged on the outside of the opening of the lever,
said elastic pressure means needing fixing means on the outside of the lever which
allow fixing the elastic pressure means to said lever.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a pedal for motor vehicles as defined in
the claims.
[0005] The pedal of the invention, preferably a brake pedal or a clutch pedal, comprises
a lever, an actuator element and coupling means for coupling the lever and the actuator
element. The actuator element transmits an actuation force applied on the lever to
an actuator (preferably a brake booster or a clutch cylinder). Said lever comprises
an axis of rotation and an opening going through the lever, the actuator element comprises
engagement means, and the coupling means comprise a shaft arranged such that it goes
through the opening of the lever, said shaft being coupled to the engagement means
of the actuator element, the shaft allowing pivotally coupling the actuator element
and the lever, and elastic pressure means assuring permanent and rigid transmission
of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator element. The elastic pressure
means are arranged inside the opening of the lever.
[0006] In pedals of the prior art comprising elastic means coupled to the shaft of the coupling
means, the elastic contact obtained between the lever and the actuator element allows
eliminating vibrations and noises produced in the pedal and generated when the vehicle
is travelling on the road or in the vehicle engine. In the pedal described in
US5551317 A, in addition to eliminating vibrations due to the elastic pressure means assuring
permanent and rigid transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the
actuator element of the pedal, the dead travel effect is eliminated. The dead travel
effect occurs when, upon a user applying a force F on the lever of the pedal, the
transmission of said force F to the actuator element is not immediate, but rather
a certain time elapses, and a gap is formed, until said force is transmitted to the
actuator element. When the pedal comprises elastic means assuring permanent and elastic
transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator element, the
dead travel effect occurs. However, with the elastic pressure means assuring permanent
and rigid transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator element,
the dead travel effect is eliminated. This is because when the user applies actuation
force on the pedal, this force is continuously transmitted to the actuator element
because the transmission between all parts is permanent and rigid, not elastic. However,
the elastic pressure means in the pedal described in
US5551317 A are arranged on the outside of the lever of the pedal, so they occupy more room than
what the pedal does, and require more elements in order to be fixed to the pedal.
[0007] In the pedal of the invention, in addition to the existence of permanent and rigid
transmission of the actuation force between the lever and the actuator element, the
elastic pressure means are arranged inside the opening of the lever. Therefore the
advantages of eliminating vibrations, noises and the dead travel effect are combined
with the advantage of achieving a pedal that is better integrated and takes up less
room, as well as fewer elements which allow fixing said elastic pressure means to
the lever of the pedal, because the elastic pressure means are arranged integrated
in the lever of the pedal.
[0008] These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view
of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pedal of the invention,
with the coupling means and the actuator element dismounted.
Figure 2 shows a side view of the pedal of Figure 1, with the coupling means and the
actuator element mounted.
Figure 3a shows a first perspective view of the transmission element of the pedal
of Figure 1.
Figure 3b shows a second perspective view of the transmission element of Figure 3a.
Figure 3c shows a side view of the transmission element of Figure 3a.
Figure 4 shows a detailed side view of the pedal of Figure 1, with the transmission
element mounted.
Figure 5 shows a detailed section view according to line V-V of the pedal of Figure
2.
Figure 6 shows a detailed section view according to line VI-VI of the pedal of Figure
2.
Figure 7 shows a detailed section view according to line VII-VII of the pedal of Figure
2.
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the pedal of the invention,
with the coupling means and the actuator element dismounted.
Figure 9 shows a detailed side view of the pedal of Figure 8, with the coupling means
and the actuator element mounted.
Figure 10a shows a first perspective view of the transmission element of the pedal
of
Figure 8.
Figure 10b shows a second perspective view of the transmission element of Figure 10a.
Figure 10c shows a section view according to line Xc-Xc of the transmission element
of Figure 10a.
Figure 11 shows a detailed section view according to line XI-XI of the pedal of Figure
9.
Figure 12 shows a detailed section view according to line XII-XII of the pedal of
Figure 9.
Figure 13a shows a detailed view of the inlet hole of the opening of the lever of
the pedal of Figure 8.
Figure 13b shows a detailed view of the inlet hole of Figure 13a, with the transmission
element mounted.
Figure 13c shows a detailed view of the outlet hole of the opening of the lever of
the pedal of Figure 8.
Figure 13d shows a detailed view of the outlet hole of Figure 13c, with the transmission
element mounted.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a pedal 100 for motor
vehicles of the invention, being a brake pedal in this embodiment, with coupling means
30 and an actuator element 20 dismounted from the pedal 100. Figure 2 shows a side
view of the pedal 100 of Figure 1, with the coupling means 30 and the actuator element
20 mounted on the pedal 100.
[0011] Said pedal 100 comprises a tubular-shaped lever 10, said lever 10 comprising an axis
of rotation 11 at one end, about which the pedal 100 rotates, and a plate 16 at the
other end on which the user applies a braking force F. The pedal 100 also comprises
an opening 12 going through the lever 10, the actuator element 20, which is an actuator
rod in this embodiment, allowing transmission of the force F to an actuator (not shown
in the drawings), and the coupling means 30 allowing pivotally coupling the lever
10 and the actuator element 20.
[0012] The actuator element 20 comprises engagement means 21 and a rod 23. The engagement
means 21 comprise a fork 22 fixed to the rod 23, the fork 22 comprising two arms 24,
25 comprising respective holes 26, 27 going through the arms 24, 25.
[0013] The coupling means 30 comprise a shaft 31 arranged such that it goes through the
opening 12 of the lever 10, and said shaft 31 being coupled to the engagement means
21 of the actuator element 20, said shaft 31 being fixed to the fork 22 by going through
the holes 26, 27. In the outer portion of the fork 22, the shaft 31 comprises a head
fitting with said fork 22, and the fixing is formed at the other end by means of a
locking element, such as for example a locking washer or nut (not shown in the drawings).
The actuator element 20 is mounted on the pedal 100 by fitting the fork 22 to the
lever 10, the arms 24, 25 of the fork 22 going around the lever 10, aligning the holes
26, 27 of the fork 22 with the ends of the opening 12 of said lever 10, and then introducing
the shaft 31 of the coupling means 30 in the opening 12 going through the holes 26,
27. The pivotal coupling between the lever 10 and the actuator element 20 is thus
obtained.
[0014] The coupling means 30 comprise a transmission element 40 tightly fixed inside the
opening 12 of the lever 10. The transmission element 40 is a bushing comprising an
opening 41 going through it longitudinally, such that when the actuator element 20
is mounted on the pedal 100, the shaft 31 of the coupling means 30 is arranged inside
the opening 41 of the transmission element 40.
[0015] Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the transmission element 40 of the pedal 100
of Figure 1, Figure 3b shows another perspective view of the transmission element
40 of Figure 3a, and Figure 3c shows a side view of the transmission element 40 of
Figure 3a. The transmission element 40 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape
and is preferably made of plastic with a low coefficient of friction, such as a mix
of POM, aramide, and Teflon, for example. The transmission element 40 comprises a
side wall 42 in which elastic means 32 are arranged. Said elastic means 32 are arranged
such that they press on shaft 31 when the actuator element 20 is mounted on the pedal
100 and the shaft 31 is arranged inside the opening 41 of the transmission element
40. The pressure of the elastic means 32 keeps the shaft 31 in contact with an inner
face 43 of the side wall 42 of the transmission element 40, on the side opposite where
the elastic means 32 press on shaft 31. The elastic means 32 therefore maintain permanent
and rigid contact between the lever 10 and the actuator element 20 of the pedal 100,
because the transmission element 40 is fixed to the lever 10 in a tight manner, and
the shaft 31 of the coupling means 30 is fixed to the fork 22 of the actuator element
20. So contact between the transmission element 40 and the shaft 31 allows transmitting
the actuation force F applied on the plate 16 of the lever 10 to the actuator element
20.
[0016] In the context of the invention, rigid transmission between two elements must be
understood as transmission between non-elastic elements, such that there is a continuous
transmission of pressure force between the first element and the second element, either
directly or through one or more intermediate elements.
[0017] The side wall 42 of the transmission element 40 comprises a gap 44 along the entire
length thereof, the gap 44 forming an angle with the longitudinal axis of the transmission
element 40 in this embodiment of the pedal 100. This gap 44 allows simple mounting
of the transmission element 40 in the opening 12 of the lever 10 by applying a force
either manually or by means of a tool on the side wall 42, causing a reduction of
the diameter of the transmission element 40, and therefore easier introduction in
the opening 12. Said gap 44 also allows absorbing possible expansions or shrinkages
of the transmission element 40 due to thermal changes or moisture absorption.
[0018] In this embodiment, the elastic means 32 comprise two flexible flanges 34 formed
in the side wall 42, each flexible flange 34 being arranged on an edge 45 of the side
wall 42 in the gap 44, at approximately half its length. Each flexible flange 34 comprises
an end 35 projecting towards the inside of the opening 41 of the transmission element
40, in the radial direction, these ends 35 being what press the shaft 31 inside the
transmission element 40, keeping said shaft 31 in contact with the inner face 43 of
the side wall 42.
[0019] The transmission element 40 comprises positioning means 50 fixed to the opening 12
of the lever 10, these positioning means 50 allowing defining a direction D of the
pressure applied by the elastic means 32 on the shaft 31, as shown in Figure 4 which
shows a detailed side view of the pedal 100 of Figure 1, with the transmission element
40 mounted on the lever 10 of said pedal 100.
[0020] The positioning means 50 of the transmission element 40 comprise stop means 51, which
are an outer elevation in the side wall 42. Said stop means 51 run along the perimeter
of the transmission element 40 at a distance d
1 from one end 46 of said transmission element 40. A protuberance 52 projects on the
outside of the transmission element 40 and partially runs longitudinally along the
side wall 42, starting from the stop means 51, being elevated in an inclined ramp,
and ending in a wall 53 perpendicular to the side wall 42, at a distance d
2 from the other end 47 of the transmission element 40. A guiding protuberance 54 projects
on the outside of the transmission element 40 and partially runs longitudinally along
the side wall 42, starting from the stop means 51, being elevated in an inclined ramp,
and ending in a wall 55 perpendicular to the side wall 42, without reaching said side
wall 42, at a distance d
2 from the other end 47 of the transmission element 40. In said wall 55, the guiding
protuberance 54 is prolonged into a guide 56 to the other end 47 of the transmission
element 40. The elastic means 32, specifically the shaft separating the flexible flanges
34, are arranged perimetrically in the transmission element 40 at an angle α with
respect to the guide 56, said angle α defining the direction D of the pressure applied
by the elastic means 32 in the area of contact of the shaft 31 with the inner face
43 of the side wall 42 of the transmission element 40, in the direction of the force
F transmitted by the lever 10 to the actuator element 20.
[0021] Figure 5 shows a detailed section view according to line V-V of the pedal 100 of
Figure 2, Figure 6 shows a detailed section view according to line VI-VI of the pedal
100 of Figure 2, and Figure 7 shows a detailed section view according to line VII-VII
of the pedal 100 of Figure 2.
[0022] In order for the transmission element 40 to be fixed to the lever 10, said lever
10 comprises a groove 13 in the opening 12. The guide 56 of the positioning means
50 is introduced in the groove 13 when the transmission element 40 is introduced in
the opening 12 of the lever 10, the guide 56 performing anti-rotation functions and
assuring the position of contact of the elastic means 32 with the shaft 31. An edge
14 of the profile of the lever 10 forming the opening 12 is coupled with the stop
means 51 of the positioning means 50, and another edge 15 of the profile of the lever
10 is coupled with the wall 53 and with the wall 55 of the protuberance 52 and of
the guiding protuberance 54, respectively, of the positioning means 50, the ends 46,
47 of the transmission element 40 being arranged projecting from the outer walls of
the lever 10 so that if the fork 22 hits the lever 10, it will come into contact with
a plastic material and prevent noises generated by metallic materials.
[0023] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pedal 100 for motor
vehicles of the invention, being a clutch pedal in this embodiment, with coupling
means 30 and an actuator element 20 dismounted from the pedal 100. Figure 9 shows
a side view of the pedal 100 of Figure 8, with the coupling means 30 and the actuator
element 20 mounted on the pedal 100.
[0024] Said pedal 100 comprises a substantially U-shaped lever 10, said lever 10 comprising
an axis of rotation 11 at one end about which the pedal 100 rotates, and a plate 16
at the other end on which the user applies force F. The pedal 100 also comprises an
opening 12 going through the lever 10, the actuator element 20, which is an actuator
rod in this embodiment, allowing transmission of the force F to an actuator (not shown
in the drawings), and the coupling means 30 allowing pivotally coupling the lever
10 and the actuator element 20.
[0025] The actuator element 20 comprises engagement means 21 and a rod 23. The engagement
means 21 comprise a hollow circular bearing 28 fixed to the rod 23 of said actuator
element 20.
[0026] The coupling means 30 comprise a transmission element 60 fixed in a tight manner
inside the opening 12 of the lever 10, the transmission element 60 being a pin in
this embodiment.
[0027] Figure 10a shows a perspective view of the transmission element 60 of the pedal 100
of Figure 8, Figure 10b shows another perspective view of the transmission element
60 of Figure 10a, and Figure 10c shows a section view according to line Xc-Xc of the
transmission element 60 of Figure 10a. The transmission element 60 is a substantially
cylindrical and hollow body, comprising a central body 61, a head 62 extending continuously
from the central body 61 in one direction and being arranged outside the opening 12
of the lever 10, and an end 63 extending continuously from the central body 61, in
the direction opposite the head 62, and being arranged outside the opening 12 of the
lever 10.
[0028] The central body 61 of the transmission element 60 comprises a central portion which
is a shaft 31, a side portion 61a extending continuously from the shaft 31 in one
direction and being attached to the head 62, and a side portion 61 b extending continuously
from the shaft 31 in the direction opposite the side portion 61a and being attached
to the end 63. In this embodiment, the side portions 61a, 61b of the central body
61 are partially coated by strips or fluting projecting from the central body 61,
four in number in this embodiment, and forming a coating 64. The transmission element
60 is preferably made of plastic with a low coefficient of friction, such as a mix
of POM, aramide, and Teflon, for example. The fluting forming the coating 64 is made
in the same plastic injection process in which the transmission element 60 is made.
[0029] Figure 11 shows a detailed section view according to line XI-XI of the pedal 100
of Figure 9, and Figure 12 shows a detailed section view according to line XII-XII
of the pedal 100 of Figure 9. The opening 12 of the lever 10 is substantially cylindrical
and comprises two side segments 12a, 12b offering an outlet for the side walls of
the outside of the lever 10. The opening 12 also comprises a central segment 12c,
having a larger diameter than the side segments 12a, 12b, and where the shaft 31 of
the central body 61 of the transmission element 60 is arranged. This central segment
12c comprises an orthogonal opening 12d that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis
of the opening 12, allowing introduction of the actuator element 20 when it is mounted
on the pedal 100. When the transmission element 60 is mounted in the opening 12, the
side portions 61 a, 61 b of the transmission element 60 are arranged in the side segments
12a, 12b of the opening 12, respectively. The coating 64 of the side portions 61 a,
61 b therefore interferes with the diameter of the side segments 12a, 12b, this interference
allowing making the transmission element 60 and lever 10 integral with one another.
[0030] The shaft 31 of the transmission element 60 comprises elastic means 32, said elastic
means 32 being arranged in a wall 65 of the shaft 31, projecting partially towards
the outside of said shaft 31. When the actuator element 20 is mounted on the pedal
100, the circular bearing 28 of the engagement means 21 of said actuator element 20
is arranged inside the orthogonal opening 12d of the opening 12, and the transmission
element 60 is then introduced in the opening 12, going through the hole of the circular
bearing 28. In this assembly situation, said circular bearing 28 surrounds the shaft
31, the inner wall of the circular bearing 28 being arranged on the elastic means
32. Said elastic means 32 press the circular bearing 28 in one direction and keep
the inner wall of the circular bearing 28 in contact with the wall 65 of the shaft
31 on the side opposite where the elastic means 32 press against circular bearing
28. The elastic means 32 therefore maintain permanent and rigid contact between the
lever 10 and the actuator element 20 of the pedal 100 because the transmission element
60 is fixed in a tight manner to the lever 10, and the circular bearing 28 of the
actuator element 20 is in backlash-free contact with the shaft 31 of the transmission
element 60. So contact between the shaft 31 and the circular bearing 28 allows transmitting
the actuation force F applied on the plate 16 of the lever 10 to the actuator element
20.
[0031] In this embodiment, the elastic means 32 comprise a flexible flange 34 cut and formed
in the wall 65 of the shaft 31, said flexible flange 34 comprising an end 35 projecting
towards the outside of said wall 65. This end 35 is what pushes against the inner
wall of the circular bearing 28, keeping said circular bearing 28 in contact with
the shaft 31 of the transmission element 60.
[0032] The transmission element 60 comprises positioning means 50 fixed to the opening 12
of the lever 10, these positioning means 50 allowing defining a direction D of the
pressure applied by the elastic means 32 on the circular bearing 28 of the actuator
element 20, as shown in Figure 10a. In this embodiment, the positioning means 50 of
the transmission element 60 comprise two projections 71 extending radially from the
end 63 and locking means 72 arranged in the head 62.
[0033] Figure 13a shows a detailed view of the inlet hole 18 of the opening 12 of the lever
10 of the pedal 100 of Figure 8, Figure 13b shows a detailed view of the inlet hole
18 of Figure 13a, with the transmission element 60 mounted, Figure 13c shows a detailed
view of the outlet hole 19 of the opening 12 of the lever 10 of the pedal 100 of Figure
8, and Figure 13d shows a detailed view of the outlet hole 19 of Figure 13c, with
the transmission element 60 mounted. The opening 12 of the lever 10 comprises an inlet
hole 18 and an outlet hole 19. When the transmission element 60 is mounted in the
opening 12, the inlet hole 18 allows passage of the projections 71 of the end 63 and
of the central body 61 of said transmission element 60. On the other hand, the outlet
hole 19 in this embodiment comprises a recess 71a, having such a shape that it only
allows passage of the two projections 71 of the end 63 in a certain position of the
transmission element 60. So upon introducing the transmission element 60 in the opening
12 and passing the two projections 71 through the recess 71 a, the head 62 abuts against
the wall of the lever 10 in the inlet hole 18 and the locking means 72 allow locking
rotation of the transmission element 60. The elastic means 32 of the transmission
element 60 are arranged in said locking position perimetrically at an angle α with
respect to the locking position of the locking means 72. Said angle α defines the
direction D of the pressure applied by the elastic means 32 in the area of contact
of the wall 65 of the shaft 31 with the circular bearing 28, in the direction of the
force F transmitted by the lever 10 to the actuator element 20.
[0034] For the transmission element 60 to be locked with respect to the lever 10 in a certain
position, the wall of the lever 10 which is next to the inlet hole 18 of the opening
12 comprises two stops 72a, 72b having different thicknesses and shapes. The locking
means 72 comprise two flexible fins 72c, 72d extending radially from the head 62,
with two openings 73, 74 having different widths separating them. So upon introducing
the transmission element 60 in the opening 12 and passing the two projections 71 through
the recess 71 a, the transmission element 60 stops and rotates 45° until the openings
73, 74 of the fins 72c, 72d fit with the stops 72a, 72b, respectively, preventing
rotation of the transmission element 60 in the opposite direction. The connection
between the transmission element 60 and the lever 10 is a bayonet-type, such that
in order to release said transmission element 60 from its positioning, the user would
have to apply pressure to release the fins 72c, 72d from the stops 72a, 72b and then
rotate same in the opposite direction to release the two projections 71 from the recess
71 a.
1. Pedal for motor vehicles comprising a lever (10), an actuator element (20) and coupling
means (30) for coupling the lever (10) and the actuator element (20), the actuator
element (20) transmitting an actuation force (F) applied on the lever (10) to an actuator,
said lever (10) comprising an axis of rotation (11) and an opening (12) going through
the lever (10), the actuator element (20) comprising engagement means (21), and the
coupling means (30) comprising a shaft (31) arranged such that it goes through the
opening (12) of the lever (10), said shaft (31) being coupled to the engagement means
(21) of the actuator element (20), the shaft (31) allowing pivotally coupling the
actuator element (20) and the lever (10), and elastic pressure means (32) assuring
permanent and rigid transmission of the actuation force (F) between the lever (10)
and the actuator element (20), characterized in that the elastic pressure means (32) are arranged inside the opening (12) of the lever
(10).
2. Pedal according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means (30) comprise a transmission
element (40; 60) fixed in the opening (12) of the lever (10), the transmission element
(40; 60) comprising the elastic pressure means (32).
3. Pedal according to claim 2, wherein the transmission element (40; 60) of the coupling
means (30) comprises positioning means (50) fixed to the opening (12) of the lever
(10), the positioning means (50) allowing orienting the elastic pressure means (32)
to apply pressure in a certain direction (D).
4. Pedal according to claim 3, wherein the positioning means (50) are fixed to the opening
(12) by form-fit.
5. Pedal according to any of claims 3 or 4, wherein the transmission element (40; 60)
comprises a main body, the elastic pressure means (32) comprising at least one flexible
element (34), preferably a flexible flange, projecting from the main body of the transmission
element (40; 60) and being compressed when the pedal (100) is mounted.
6. Pedal according to claim 5, wherein the transmission element (40; 60) is formed by
a single part.
7. Pedal according to claim 6, wherein the main body of the transmission element (40)
is a bushing fixed in the opening (12) of the lever (10), comprising an opening (41)
going through it longitudinally, which allows arranging the shaft (31) therein, the
at least one flexible element (34) of the transmission element (40) projecting towards
the inside of said opening (41), such that said at least one flexible element (34)
presses the shaft (31) against an inner face (43) of said opening (41), thus maintaining
permanent and rigid contact between the lever (10) and the actuator element (20) through
the transmission element (40).
8. Pedal according to claim 7, wherein the positioning means (50) of the transmission
element (40) comprise a guide (56) projecting from the bushing and being housed in
a groove (13) of the opening (12) of the lever.
9. Pedal according to claim 8, wherein the positioning means (50) comprise stop means
(51), which are an outer elevation in a side wall (42) of the transmission element
(40), running along the entire perimeter at a distance d1 from one end (46) of said transmission element (40); a protuberance (52) partially
running longitudinally along the side wall (42), starting from the stop means (51),
being elevated in an inclined ramp, and ending in a wall (53) perpendicular to the
side wall (42), at a distance d2 from the other end (47) of the transmission element (40); and a guiding protuberance
(54) partially running longitudinally along the side wall (42), starting from the
stop means (51), being elevated in an inclined ramp, and ending in a wall (55), perpendicular
to the side wall (42), without reaching said side wall (42), at distance d2 from the other end (47) of the transmission element (40), the guiding protuberance
(54) being prolonged into the guide (56) to the other end (47) of the transmission
element (40), the elastic pressure means (32) being arranged in the transmission element
(40) perimetrically at an angle α with respect to the guide (56), said angle α defining
the direction (D) of the pressure applied by the elastic pressure means (32) in the
area of contact of the shaft (31) with the inner face (43) of the transmission element
(40), an edge (14) of the profile of the lever (10) forming the opening (12) being
coupled with the stop means (51) of the positioning means (50), and another edge (15)
of the profile of the lever (10) being coupled with the wall (53) and the wall (55)
of the protuberance (52) and of the guiding protuberance (54), respectively, of the
positioning means (50), the ends (46, 47) of the transmission element (40) being arranged
projecting from the lever (10).
10. Pedal according to claim 9, wherein the side wall (42) of the transmission element
(40) comprises along the entire length thereof a gap (44), the gap (44) preferably
forming an angle with the longitudinal axis of the transmission element (40), the
flexible element (34) of the elastic pressure means (32) being arranged on an edge
(45) of the side wall (42) in the gap (44), and one end (35) of the flexible element
(34) being inside the opening (41) of the transmission element (40).
11. Pedal according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the engagement means (21) of the
actuator element (20) comprise a fork (22) fixed to a rod (23) of said actuator element
(20), the fork (22) comprising two arms (24, 25) comprising respective holes (26,
27) going through the arms (24, 25), the arms (24, 25) of the fork (22) externally
going around the lever (10) in the opening (12), the shaft (31) being fixed to the
arms (24, 25) of the fork (22) in the holes (26, 27), the shaft (31) of the coupling
means (30) being fixed to the engagement means (21) by going through the holes (26,
27).
12. Pedal according to claim 6, wherein the engagement means (21) comprise a circular
bearing (28) that the shaft (31) goes through, the circular bearing (28) being housed
in the opening (12) of the lever (10), said shaft (31) being integrated in the main
body of the transmission element (60), the transmission element (60) forming a pin
fixed in the opening (12) of the lever (10), wherein the at least one flexible element
(34) of the elastic pressure means (32) projects towards the outside of the main body
of the transmission element (60), such that said at least one flexible element (34)
is compressed against the inner face of the circular bearing (28), pressing the shaft
(31) against said circular bearing (28), thus maintaining permanent and rigid contact
between the lever (10) and the actuator element (20) through the transmission element
(60).
13. Pedal according to claim 12, wherein the transmission element (60), which is preferably
a substantially cylindrical and hollow pin, comprises a central body (61) corresponding
to the main body, a head (62) extending continuously from the central body (61), being
arranged at least partially outside the opening (12) of the lever (10), and an end
(63) extending continuously from the central body (61), opposite the head (62), being
arranged at least partially outside the opening (12) of the lever (10), and the positioning
means (50) of the transmission element (60) comprise at least one projection (71)
extending radially from the end (63), and locking means (72) arranged in the head
(62), the opening (12) of the lever (10) comprising an inlet hole (18) and an outlet
hole (19), the inlet hole (18) allowing passage of the projection (71) of the end
(63) and of the central body (61) of the transmission element (60), and the outlet
hole (19) comprising at least one recess (71 a) only allowing passage of the projection
(71) in one position, such that upon introducing the transmission element (60) in
the opening (12), and passing the projection (71) through the recess (71 a), the head
(62) abuts against the wall of the lever (10) in the inlet hole (18), and the locking
means (72) cooperate with the lever (10) in a locking position, locking rotation of
the transmission element (60), the elastic pressure means (32) being arranged in the
transmission element (60) perimetrically at an angle α with respect to the locking
position of the locking means (72), said angle α defining the direction (D) of the
pressure applied by the elastic pressure means (32).
14. Pedal according to claim 13, wherein the central body (61) of the transmission element
(60) comprises a central portion which is the shaft (31) of the coupling means (30),
a side portion (61 a) extending continuously from the shaft (31) and attached to the
head (62), and a side portion (61 b) extending continuously from the shaft (31) and
attached to the end (63), the side portions (61 a, 61 b) of the central body (61)
being completely or partially coated by a coating (64), the opening (12) comprising
two side segments (12a, 12b) offering an outlet to the outside of the lever (10),
and a central segment (12c), having a larger diameter than the side segments (12a,
12b) and where the shaft (31) is arranged, with an orthogonal opening (12d) that is
orthogonal to the axis of the opening (12), allowing introduction of the circular
bearing (28), the side portions (61a, 61b) of the transmission element (60) being
arranged in the side segments (12a, 12b) of the opening (12), the coating (64) of
the transmission element (60) interfering with the diameter of the side segments (12a,
12b), the circular bearing (28) being fixed to a rod (23) of the actuator element
(20), and arranged inside the orthogonal opening (12d) of the opening (12) surrounding
the shaft (31) on the elastic means (32) when the transmission element (60) is coupled
to the opening (12), the at least one flexible element (34) of the elastic means (32)
being arranged in a wall (65) of said shaft (31), said flexible element (34) comprising
an end (35) projecting from said wall (65) towards the outside of the shaft (31).
15. Pedal according to claim 14, wherein the wall of the lever (10) which is next to the
inlet hole (18) of the opening (12) comprises two stops (72a, 72b) having different
thicknesses, and the locking means (72) comprise two flexible fins (72c, 72d) extending
radially from the head (62), with two openings (73, 74) having different widths separating
them, such that upon introducing the transmission element (60) in the opening (12)
and passing the projection (71) through the recess (71 a), the transmission element
(60) rotates until the openings (73, 74) of the fins (72c, 72d) fit with the stops
(72a, 72b), respectively, preventing rotation of the transmission element (60).