Pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function
A pedal unit for controlling a vehicle function has a modularly constructed pedal head which includes a pad support and a replaceable pedal pad for receiving an actuation force of a driver's foot and connected to a small stroke movable housing cover along a vertical direction of the pedal unit. The pedal pad is releasably connected to the pad support. A fastening arrangement is configured to connect the pad support to the movable housing cover in a releasable and form-fit and/or friction-fit manner as well. A method for assembling such a pedal unit and a method for disassembling a pedal head from such a pedal unit is also disclosed.
1 . A pedal unit for controlling a controllable vehicle function, the pedal unit having a modularly constructed pedal head, comprising:
a pad support;
a movable housing cover;
a replaceable pedal pad configured to receive an actuation force of a driver's foot, wherein the pad support and the replaceable pedal pad are configured to releasably connect the pedal pad and the pad support; and
a fastening arrangement configured to connect the pad support to the movable housing cover in at least one releasable form-fit connection and/or at least one releasable friction-fit connection.
2 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening arrangement comprises at least one latching element and at least one latching element receptacle which are configured to form a latching connection between the pad support and the movable housing cover when mounted and to prevent or at least inhibit removal of the pad support in a disassembly direction.
3 . The pedal unit according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one latching element is configured as a spring-elastic retaining clip with at least one latching lug.
4 . The pedal unit according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one latching element receptacle is configured as at least one latching opening into which the at least one latching lug of the at least one latching element is inserted when mounted and engages behind a wall of the at least one latching opening.
5 . The pedal unit according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one latching element receptacle is configured as a latching groove which at least partially encompasses the at least one latching element when mounted.
6 . The pedal unit according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one latching element is configured as a resilient pressure piece with at least one latching bolt.
7 . The pedal unit according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one latching element receptacle is configured as a latching bore into which the at least one latching bolt is at least partially inserted when mounted.
8 . The pedal unit according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one latching element or at least one bolt element is arranged on the pad support and at least one latching element receptacle or at least one bolt element receptacle is arranged on the movable housing cover.
9 . The pedal unit according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one latching element or at least one bolt element is arranged on the movable housing cover and at least one latching element receptacle or at least one bolt element receptacle is arranged on the pad support.
10 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening arrangement comprises at least one bolt element and at least one bolt element receptacle which are configured to block movement of the pad support in a disassembly direction when mounted.
11 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein:
the movable housing cover is operably connected to a sensor housing, and
at least one sensor arrangement is arranged in the sensor housing and is configured to detect and evaluate up and down movement of the movable housing cover.
12 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the controllable vehicle function is a braking function or an acceleration function.
13 . A method for assembling the pedal unit according to claim 1 , comprising:
(a) mounting the pedal unit in a vehicle without the pedal head of the pedal unit attached; and
(b) after step (a), releasably attaching the pedal head, which comprises the pedal pad, to the pad support which is attached to the movable housing cover of the pedal unit such that the pad support of the pedal head is connected to the movable housing cover of the pedal unit in the at least one releasable form-fit connection and/or the at least one releasable friction-fit connection.
14 . A method for disassembling the pedal head from the pedal unit according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
(a) releasing the at least one releasable form-fit connection and/or the at least one releasable friction-fit connection between the pad support of the pedal head and the movable housing cover of the pedal unit; and
(b) lifting off the pedal head from the movable housing cover after step (a).
15 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the movable housing cover is a small stroke movable housing cover.
16 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable pedal pad is connected to the movable housing cover along a vertical direction of the pedal unit.
17 . The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein:
the replaceable pedal pad is configured to receive the actuation force of the driver's foot downwardly along a first axis;
the fastening arrangement is configured to releasably connect the pad support to the movable housing cover;
the fastening arrangement includes a fastening component which, by movement of at least a portion of the fastening component along a second axis, at least one of releasably connects the pad support to the movable housing cover, and releases the pad support from the movable housing cover; and
the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.