US1343378A - Foot-throttle controlling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

F. C. SMITH.

FOOT THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-I13, 1917.

1,343,378. PatentedJune 15, 1920.

. F. C. SMITH. FOOT THROTTLE CONTROL-LING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I3 19 1,343,378. Y PatentedJune15,1920. 35H; EEEEEEEEE 2.

F. C. SMITH.

FOOT THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE13, 1911.

1,343,37 I v Patented June 15,1920.

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. 52 22227! W ail-2i FREDERICK G. SMITH, OF MARION, OHIO.

FOOT-THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1920.

Application filed June is, 1917. Serial no. 174,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, FREDERICK C. SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Throttle Controlling Mechanism, of ,which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foot pedal mechanism for automobiles. The object of my invention is the provision of a pedal which forms a suitable rest or bearing for the foot of the operator of an automobile. The foot pedal operates in conjunction with the'ac-' celerator and serves to regulate the supply of fuel to insure a uniform feed or supply to the engine. Under ordinary conditions the pressure upon the accelerator by the foot of the operator varies when driving over uneven surfaces.-

The device comprises a foot plate having aheel portion and a toe portion. The toe portion is arranged to engage the accelerator and is hinged to the heel portion and is capable of independent movement.

The heel portion is fastened to a rocking support which lin turn is attached to .a bracket fastened to the floor of the automobile. ,The bearing between the support due to the friction device the heel portion remains in its set position when the foot of the driver is removed from the plate. When pressure is removed from the plate the toe portion of the plate is forced upward by the ordinary spring accelerator so as to automatically cut supply of fuel.

The friction 03 the bearing which is centrally.

located between the heel and toe portion preplate.

support is tilted forward or backward and tension of the Fig. 3 is a plan "view of the toe portion of the plate.

Fig. 4' is a plan view of the heel portion of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the plate with the rocker support.

Fig. 6 is a bottom showin the friction device attached.

Fig. is a modification of Fig. 1. Referring'to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the device as a whole is mounted to the floor 13 of an automobile through which the accelerator 20 passes. The bracket 11 is fastened to-the floor by means of the bolts 12. The rocking support 9 is fastened to the bracket by means of the bolt 16 and lock-nut 17 as shown in Fig. 6. Interposed .between the nut 17 and the support 9 is a tension spring 15 for regulating the friction between the support 9 and the held in place by means of the flanges 5. The

heel plate is provided with a tongue 21 through which passes a hinge bolt 22. This hinge bolt when the device is assembledalso passes through the ears 3 of the toe section 1 of the plate. This toe section is also pro vided with the flanges 2 to prevent the foot sli ping from the plate.

s shown in Fig. 5, the rocking support 9 is provided with the" slots 14L through which the bolts 7 and 8 pass. These slots provide means for readily adjusting the support in relation to the foot plate.

When the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the foot of the operator, is supposed to be resting upon and depressing the entire plate so that the toe portion 1 engages the accelerator 20.: In this position the pressure of the foot of the operator is equally balanced between the heel and toe portions, the main pressure being upon the central. bearing itself. This manner of balancing the pressure and the provision of the friction device shown in Fig. 6 prevents any variation in the operation of the accelerator when driving over uneven surfaces.

view of the foot plate Fig. 2 shows the position of the device when the foot of the operator is removed from the plate. In such an event the tension spring of the accelerator forcesthe toe portion of the plate in an upward direction so-as to automatically cut off the supply of fuel.

Referring to .Fig'. 6, it will be noted that a washer 26 is interposed between the spring 15 and the support 9, whilea similar washer 26 is interposed between the support 9 and the bracket 11..- These washers are preferably of fiber so as to increase the friction between the support and the bracket,

From the foregoing it will be seen that the footplate as a whole is adjustable in relation to its position upon the bearing'by means of the longitudinal slots 14: in the rocker support 9.

In the o eration of the device the operator places is foot upon the plate and exerts plate. After the pressure is removed from pressure ina downward and forward direction to cause the toe portion 1 to engage the accelerator 20. The pressure exerted naturally causes the rocker su port 9 to turn upon. the bearing and to ric tionally hold the heel portion 41 in position. By increasing the forward pressure the supply of fuel can be increased as desired and as the support of the foot is mainly upon-the central bearing it follows that. no variation of movement of the accelerator 20 occurs.- The operator in order to decrease the supply of fuel exerts pressure upon the heel portion,

thuslifting the toe portion 1 and allowing the-accelerator 20 to move upward under its own spring tension and decrease the supply of fuel.

When the foot of the operator is removed from theplate the toe portion 1 is immediately lifted in an upward direction by means of the accelerator, 20, thus cutting off the supply of fuel controlled thereby.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 has the entire plate hin ed at the extreme rear or' heel portion.

he foo't plate assumes the position shown in dotted lines when pressure is exerted upon the plate and as soon as the pressure is removed. the plate assumes the position shown in full lines.

With either form of device shown and described the foot plate as a whole is frictionally operated when pressure is exerted by the foot of the operator thus avoiding any lrregularlty of the accelerator as long as the foot of the operator rests upon the the plate the accelerator is free torestore to its normal position. v

, Having thus described my invention'what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a foot throttle controlling device,-

the combination of a foot plate provided with a hinged heel and toe portion, a bearmg for supporting the heel portion, said bearing provided with a friction device for maintaining the heel portion in any desired position independent of the toe portion.

2. In a foot throttle controlling device,.

the combination of a foot plate provided with a heel and toe portion, said portions being hinged together, and means for holdthe-foot of the operator, said toe operation being controlled by the foot throttle independent of the foot of the operator.

4. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a foot plate" provided with heel and toeportions, a common bearing for supporting said foot plate and upon which it .rocks means for holding theheel portion in any desired position independent of the position of the toe portion.

5. In a foot throttlecontrolling device, the combination "of a foot plate provided with hinged heel and toe portions, a comm0n support for said plate, means associated with said support for holding the heel'portion in any desired'position, said toe portion being capable of movementindependent of the heel portion. 4

6. Ina foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a foot plate roviding a heel and a toe portion, and a earing for supporting said plate upon which it is adapted to move, the heel and toe portion of said plate being arranged to move independent of one another upon said bearing;

7. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a foot plate provided with a heel and the toe portion, .each of said plates being arranged to operateinde- .pendently of one another.

8. In a foot throttlev controlling device, the combination of a foot plate provided with a heel and the toe portion for supporting the foot of an automobile operator, the toe portion being arranged to engage the foot throttle, said plate to be arranged to be placed in any position by the foot of the operator,

means associated with the heel portion for maintaining it in any position independent of the toe portion.

- 9. In a foot throttle controlling device,

the combination of a foot plate comprising hinged heel and toe portionaa support for said plate attached to the heel portion, said support attached to a bearing arranged to be attached tothe floor of an automobile, said bearing serving to maintain the heel portion of said plate in any desired position independent of the position of the toe porion.

10. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a foot plate comprising a plurality of independently movable secin any desired position independent of the" remaining section. I

12. The combination of a foot throttle controlling device comprising a foot plate.

provided with hinged heel and toe portions, a floor bracket arranged to be attached to the floor of an automobile, a rocking support attached to said floor bracket, means for fastening'said support tothe hee1 portion of said footplate, and means assoclated with said support for holding the heel portion of said plate in any desired position independent of the toe portion. c 13. Ina foot throttle controlling device the combination of a foot plate provide with a heel and toe portion and meansfor,

holding the heel portion in a position independent of the position of the toe portion. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature "in the presence of two witnesses.

. FREDERICK 0. SMITH. I Witnesses:

MARY OoHs, Hno'roa S. Yomve.

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