Abstract: An electronic throttle control pedal pivotally couples a lever arm to a pedal beam and biases the beam for resisting an applying force to the pedal beam and for biasing sliding surfaces together in frictional contact. A compression spring carried between a mounting bracket and the lever arm biases the pedal beam toward an idle position while at the same time causing a frictional force between the frictional surfaces, such that displacing the pedal beam with an applying force compresses the spring which increases a frictional force between the friction surfaces with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam distal end, and reducing the displacement through a retracting force on the pedal beam distal end expands the compression spring and returns the pedal beam to the idle position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement. The hysteresis may be tuned by modifying element dimensions of the pedal.

Abstract: A position sensor for an electronic control pedal is carried by the pedal mounting bracket and includes a linear potentiometer having a slider operable along a substrate in only a linear direction for providing an output voltage representative of slider displacement. A drive arm is connected to the pedal shaft for rotation during pedal movement. A coupler connected to the slider is slidable within a slot in the drive arm for providing the linear displacement through a rotational movement of the shaft. The drive arm has an inner arm in a telescoping connection with an outer arm for setting the drive arm at a desired length after potentiometer calibration. The longitudinal axis of the slot is at an non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive arm for desensitizing the sensor calibration and adjustment process.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control pedal pivotally couples a lever arm to a pedal beam and biases the beam for resisting an applying force to the pedal beam and for biasing sliding surfaces together in frictional contact. A compression spring carried between a mounting bracket and the lever arm biases the pedal beam toward an idle position while at the same time causing a frictional force between the frictional surfaces, such that displacing the pedal beam with an applying force compresses the spring which increases a frictional force between the friction surfaces with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam distal end, and reducing the displacement through a retracting force on the pedal beam distal end expands the compression spring and returns the pedal beam to the idle position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement. The hysteresis may be tuned by modifying element dimensions of the pedal.

Abstract: A pedal construction includes an adjustable pedal subassembly having a lower pedal member adjustably supported on an upper pedal member by an adjustment device. The lower pedal member includes a pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint. The mounting section of the lever mount has a channel with sharp edges and the mounting section of the lever has a ridge interference fit into the channel. The sharp edges shave marginal material from sides of the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the ridge has depressions adjacent its bottom that receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel. Fasteners extend through the ridge and channel to hold the assembly together, with the ridge and channel interface forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint.

Abstract: A position sensor for an electronic control pedal is carried by the pedal mounting bracket and includes a linear potentiometer having a slider operable along a substrate in only a linear direction for providing an output voltage representative of slider displacement. A drive arm is connected to the pedal shaft for rotation during pedal movement. A coupler connected to the slider is slidable within a slot in the drive arm for providing the linear displacement through a rotational movement of the shaft. The drive arm has an inner arm in a telescoping connection with an outer arm for setting the drive arm at a desired length after potentiometer calibration. The longitudinal axis of the slot is at an non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive arm for desensitizing the sensor calibration and adjustment process.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control pedal pivotally couples a lever arm to a pedal beam and biases the beam for resisting an applying force to the pedal beam and for biasing sliding surfaces together in frictional contact. A compression spring carried between a mounting bracket and the lever arm biases the pedal beam toward an idle position while at the same time causing a frictional force between the frictional surfaces, such that displacing the pedal beam with an applying force compresses the spring which increases a frictional force between the friction surfaces with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam distal end, and reducing the displacement through a retracting force on the pedal beam distal end expands the compression spring and returns the pedal beam to the idle position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement. The hysteresis can be tuned by modifying element dimensions of the pedal.

Abstract: A position sensor for an electronic control pedal is carried by the pedal mounting bracket and includes a linear potentiometer having a slider operable along a substrate in only a linear direction for providing an output voltage representative of slider displacement. A drive arm is connected to the pedal shaft for rotation during pedal movement. A coupler connected to the slider is slidable within a slot in the drive arm for providing the linear displacement through a rotational movement of the shaft. The drive arm has an inner arm in a telescoping connection with an outer arm for setting the drive arm at a desired length after potentiometer calibration. The longitudinal axis of the slot is at an non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive arm for desensitizing the sensor calibration and adjustment process.

Abstract: A pedal construction includes an adjustable pedal subassembly having a lower pedal member adjustably supported on an upper pedal member by an adjustment device. The lower pedal member includes a pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint. The mounting section of the lever mount has a channel with sharp edges and the mounting section of the lever has a ridge interference fit into the channel. The sharp edges shave marginal material from sides of the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the ridge has depressions adjacent its bottom that receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel. Fasteners extend through the ridge and channel to hold the assembly together, with the ridge and channel interface forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint.

Abstract: A windshield wiper control system improves vehicle windshield wiper operation by selectively controlling the motor speed of a dc motor that drives the wiper blade across the windshield. The motor speed is reduced for a portion of the wiper pattern adjacent the reversal points at each end of the wiper pattern. The motor speed is changed as a function of blade position by varying the duty cycle of an excitation voltage signal provided to a variable speed dc motor. The disclosed embodiment is useful for variable and continuous speed control in a vehicle wiper system.

Abstract: A remote actuator for an automobile power door lock application has a housing, a first gear reduction stage in a first tier in the housing, a second gear reduction stage in a second tier in the housing, a reversible pancake-type electric motor in the second tier in the housing operative to drive the second gear means through the first gears with two stages of gear reduction between respective ones of a pair of parked positions, a linear actuator in the housing in a third tier thereof movable in extending and retracting directions between positively defined limits, and a rotary detent clutch between the second gear means and the linear actuator operative to move the latter in the one of the extending and retracting directions corresponding to the direction of rotation of the second gear means and to release the linear actuator at either of the limits thereby to permit overdrive of the second gear means to the corresponding one of the parked positions.

Abstract: An improved power actuated antenna installation, particularly for automotive vehicles, of the type including a mast jacket rigidly attached to body structure of the vehicle, a telescoping antenna disposed on the mast jacket, a power actuator disposed on an L-shaped housing with a first leg parallel to the mast jacket and a second leg below the mast jacket, and a flexible drive element projecting into the mast jacket through a guide bushing at the lower end thereof for attachment to the antenna and into the second leg of the housing for attachment to the actuator, the improvement residing in the provision of elastomeric grommets between a pair of pins on the mast jacket and a pair of rigid arms on the first leg of the housing and in the provision of a combination seal and grommet between the drive element and housing generally immediately below the mast jacket, the grommets and the combination seal and grommet effecting resilient support of the actuator on the mast jacket in a manner discouraging transmission

Abstract: The electric drive motor of an internal combustion engine radiator cooling fan that is arranged to be energized by the output potential of a dynamoelectric generator driven by the engine is supplied with operating potential in such a manner that the average supplied drive motor power is directly proportional to engine speed while engine temperature is within the range between a predetermined first temperature and a predetermined higher second temperature and the engine is operating within a selected speed range.

Abstract: The terminal ends of a center tapped primary transformer winding are connected to the positive polarity direct current input terminal through the anode-cathode electrodes of respective power silicone controlled rectifiers which are alternately triggered conductive and the center tap is connected to the negative polarity direct current input terminal. Simultaneously with each power silicon controlled rectifier, a corresponding commutating capacitor charge circuit silicon controlled rectifier is triggered conductive to establish a charge circuit for the corresponding commutating capacitor across the direct current input terminals. Each power silicon controlled rectifier is commutated not conductive by the charge upon the corresponding commutating capacitor applied in an inverse polarity relationship across the anode-cathode electrodes thereof through a commutating silicon controlled rectifier.