Abstract: A pedal assembly for use in association with a vehicle includes a pedal support adapted for mounting to the vehicle. The pedal support includes a pivot shaft extending along a pivot axis and having an outer bearing surface. A pedal arm is rotatably engaged to the pivot shaft to allow pivotal movement of the pedal arm about the pivot axis. A clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the pedal arm and has a compression surface. A biasing member is engaged between the pedal support and the clamp arm and is arranged to apply a biasing force to the clamp arm to pivot the clamp arm relative to the pedal arm and toward the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A pedal assembly that provides a repeatable response force between different pedal assemblies by providing at least one of a wear surface or a pivotal shoe on a brake pad that will contact a portion of the pedal arm. The pedal assembly includes a housing, an elongated pedal arm having a rotatable drum defining a braking surface and rotatably mounted in the housing, the pedal arm being movable between an idle, first position and a second position, a brake pad assembly having a pivoting base and a contact portion pivotally mounted to the base, the contact portion having a contact surface adapted to frictionally engage the braking surface, and a biasing device operably coupled to the pedal arm and the brake pad assembly for urging the contact surface into frictional engagement with the braking surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric bending actuator that is insensitive to temperature changes. The actuator includes a pair of piezoelectric layers. One of the layers bends in response to an applied voltage and the other piezoelectric layer flattens in response to an applied voltage. The piezoelectric layers are mounted adjacent to each other. The piezoelectric layers move opposite to each other in response to a change in temperature such that the piezoelectric bending actuator is stable over a range of temperatures. The piezoelectric layers are held in compression between a ring and a retainer. Compressing the piezoelectric layers allows the bending actuator to have a high stroke with improved durability because the discs are kept in compression.