Cts Corporation

Cts Corproation

Murray Kaijala

Patrick B Blakesley

Robert R Rainey

William Shelby Stewart

John Roger Gietzen

Dale Teeters

John Zdanys

William G Osmer

Gary L Buss

John T Lewis

James E Haugh

Robert F Oldenburg

William Walter Wheeler

Randall Broome

Daniel Wertman

Michael L Wurn

Michael R Wills

Joseph Kip Bahr

Ryan P Garver

Nicholas L Ladocsi

John Jay Gumkowski

A vehicle pedal with a pedal base defining a sensor housing and a pedal arm overlying and spaced from and pivotally coupled to the pedal base. A sensor in the sensor housing includes a sensor element that moves in the direction of the pedal base in response to the movement of the pedal arm to generate an electrical signal used to determine to position of the pedal arm. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a strain gage and the sensor element is an actuator that flexes the strain gage. In another embodiment, the sensor includes a Hall Effect sensor and the sensor element is a magnet whose movement results in a magnetic field change sensed by the Hall Effect sensor. In a further embodiment, the sensor element is a cap with wipers that slide against a resistive element.

Compact vehicle pedal

A vehicle pedal with a contacting sensor that comprises a pedal arm coupled to and rotatable relative to a pedal housing. A rotor includes a first end coupled to the pedal arm and an opposed end with contactors abutting and adapted to slide against a resistive element in response to the rotation of the pedal arm. A head on the rotor includes means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors. In one embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises an extension on the head of the rotor that defines a stop limiting the deflection of the contactors. In another embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises the combination of a tab on the head of the rotor and a wall in the interior of the pedal housing. The tab abuts against the wall and prevents the movement of the rotor in the direction of the resistive element.

Rotor for vehicle pedal with contacting sensor

A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contractor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.

Vehicle pedal with index assembly for contacting sensor

A vehicle pedal with a contacting position sensor. The pedal includes a housing with an interior housing wall that divides the housing into first and second interior housing chambers. The drum of the pedal arm is located in the first interior housing chamber and the sensor rotor is located in the second interior housing chamber. First and second housing side covers cover the first and second interior housing chambers respectively. The drum is mounted on and supported by the interior housing wall and the first housing cover for rotation of the drum in the first interior housing chamber relative to the pedal housing. A retainer with a pin and a clip extend through respective through-holes in the rotor and into respective slots in the drum and the clip engages against an interior shoulder in the drum for locking the rotor on the drum.

Shaftless vehicle pedal with contacting position sensor

A vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly including a plunger moveable in a housing between first and second positions. The plunger defines a recess for a rod, A first spring in the housing biases the plunger in the first position. A second spring retains the rod in the plunger recess in the first position. In one embodiment, the recess in the plunger is an elongate recess in a flat front face of the plunger. In one embodiment, the housing defines an aperture in a to or bottom wall of the housing that has a length greater than the length of the second spring and the second spring is inserted lengthwise into the housing through the aperture. In one embodiment, the second spring is retained in a clip in the housing.

Vehicle pedal resistance and kickdown assembly

A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contactor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.

A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Vehicle pedal assembly with hysteresis assembly

A mounting assembly which, in one embodiment, is for a pedal assembly including a plate with at least a first mounting bracket including an interior wall which, in one embodiment, defines an aperture and a pair of slots. A sleeve is fitted in the opening and, in one embodiment, is generally U-shaped and includes both an arcuate base and a pair of arms. The base is fitted in the aperture and at least the distal end of the pair of arms is fitted in the pair of slots respectively. The interior wall is configured so that, in one embodiment, a generally circular aperture is defined in the bracket when the sleeve is fitted therein; and, in another embodiment, a generally oval-shaped aperture is defined in the bracket when the sleeve is fitted therein.

Mounting assembly and insert for a pedal or the like

A resistance mechanism and module for generating and applying a resistance force to a pedal. The resistance module includes a plunger adapted for movement in the interior of the module between rest and depressed positions in response to the application by the pedal of a compression force against the plunger. The plunger includes an exterior camming surface. An actuator is also located in the interior of the module and includes an exterior camming surface which abuts and is adapted to slide against the camming surface on the plunger in response to the movement of the plunger. A spring in the module abuts and is adapted to apply a biasing force against the actuator. The interaction between the camming surfaces on the plunger and the actuator generates a resistance force which is applied to the pedal.

Resistance mechanism for a pedal assembly

A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly. The sensor includes a housing that has a slot and a plate coupled with the housing. The plate has another slot and a cutout. The slots are connected with a seat belt. A sensor is retained by the housing and extends into the cutout. A portion of the plate is adapted to be engaged by the sensor as tension is increased on the seat belt. The sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of seat belt tension.

Seat belt tension sensor

A seat belt tension sensor is attached to a seat belt assembly in a vehicle. The seat belt tensor sensor is secured to the vehicle by a bolt. The sensor includes a housing that is secured by the bolt. An anchor plate is mounted to the housing. The anchor plate has a hole for the bolt and an opening. A strain gage is secured to the housing and extends into the opening. The strain gage has an aperture. A spring is located between the anchor plate and the strain gage. An actuator support is located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage. The actuator has a projection extending through the aperture that contacts the anchor plate. The projection prevents a shift in the output of the strain gage when the sensor is subjected to mechanical shock.

Seat belt tension sensor having shock isolation

A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is held by the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is affixed to the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted between the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

Seat belt tension sensor having an integral connector

A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate. A lever is mounted in the housing. The lever holds a magnet. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the magnet and the sensor. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate.

Growing community of inventors

Elkhart, IN, United States of America

Murray Kaijala