Safety pedal system
View Patent ↗A safety pedal system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a pedal mounted in a pedal mounting arrangement arrangeable to at least partly release the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement in event of a collision. The safety pedal system further includes, but is not limited to a triggering device arranged to receive a collision event signal and in response thereto trigger release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement. The triggering device may also include, but is not necessarily limited to a pyrotechnical device arranged to exert a force on the pedal mounting arrangement thereby triggering release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement.
1. A safety pedal system for a vehicle, comprising:
a pedal mounting arrangement;
a pedal mounted in the pedal mounting arrangement; the safety pedal system configured to allow for the at least partial release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement in event of a collision; and
a triggering device arranged to receive a collision event signal and in response to the collision event signal triggers the at least partly release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement, the triggering device comprising:
a pyrotechnical device arranged to exert a force on the pedal mounting arrangement; and
an actuator element responsive to the pyrotechnical device for exerting the force on the pedal mounting arrangement, the actuator element comprising a piston arranged in a sleeve.
2. The safety pedal system according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor arranged to detect a collision event resulting in a generation of the collision event signal.
3. The safety pedal system according to claim 2 , further comprising a control unit arranged in a signal path from the sensor to the triggering device, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive the collision event signal; calculate a severity of the collision based on information contained in the collision event signal; and, in the event of a severe collision, transmitting the collision event signal to the triggering device.
4. The safety pedal system according to claim 1 , further comprising an air bag control unit that generates the collision event signal.
5. A method for at least partly releasing a pedal from a pedal mounting arrangement in event of a collision, comprising the steps of:
receiving a collision event signal; and
triggering release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement in response the collision event signal, the triggering comprising:
pyrotechnically exerting a force on the pedal mounting arrangement with a piston arranged in a sleeve to release the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
detecting a collision event with a sensor; and
generating the collision event signal in response to the detecting of the collision event with the sensor.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving the collision event signal caused by the sensor;
calculating a severity of the collision based on information contained in the collision event signal;
determining whether to release the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement based on a result of the severity; and
transmitting the collision event signal if a severe collision exists.
8. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of releasing the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement as a consequence of air bag deployment.
9. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of detecting an imminent collision.