ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
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Powerglide 3000... the automotive industry’s first, ultra-light, low-cost adjustable pedal design that provides minimum add-on costs.
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The value a key supplier brings to the automotive industry is multi-dimensional. It starts with the best technology, but it thrives on innovation.
DriveSol, automotive industry pioneer of power adjustable pedals, is one of the world’s leading sources for reliable, safe and ergonomically-superior brake, accelerator and clutch assemblies. One of the unique patented products developed by DriveSol is the “Adjustable Pedal System” Under development since 1988, the adjustable pedal system has gone through a series of iterations which resulted in a successful patented design offered for the first time on a 1999 sport/utility vehicle (SUV). A complete manufacturing and production facility for this product was established in Kendallville, Indiana.
About the Adjustable Pedal System
 The “Adjustable Pedal System” provides quick, powered movement of the brake/accelerator and clutch assembly within a travel distance of 3 in. (76.2mm) between the far forward and far back positions. Custom travel distances can also be provided.
Adjustable Pedal Benefits
- Improves comfort for smaller stature drivers.
- Moves driver away from deploying airbag.
- Meets all current brake/pedal engineering standards.
- Optimizes driver seating position.
- Can reduce seat track travel.
- Memory capability.
- Utilizes designed dash mounting points.
- Easily adaptable to existing dash package.
- Constant variable ratio.
- Fail safe system
- Fully compatible with Electronic Throttle Control
For Short Drivers... Tall Drivers... or for any height in between
 The need for pedal adjustment is primarily driven by: (1) the packaging requirements for the driver including air bag restraints and side impact protection.
Traditionally, seat tracks are designed to accommodate from the 5th percentile female through the 95 percentile male driver. However, actual measurements sometimes do not represent certain individual proportions, such as torsos and short legs, pregnant women, someone with a large abdomen or people with physical handicaps. Also, with the emphasis on world class design, shorter Far-Eastern and South American people must be accommodated along with taller Africans, Euopeans and Americans. Even our aging population presents shorter, less dexterous people. For that reason, leg length variation exceeds arm length variation, compounding the driver packaging issue.
Now, combine this with the addition of air bag restraints and side impact protection requirements, and the attraction of fixing or limiting the axial movement of the driver becomes a very important issue.
Key Adjustable Pedal System characteristics
Constant Ratio-Adjustable pedals can be designed to provide a constant ratio of the distance from the foot contact point to the pivot , divided by the distance from the foot to the actuation hardware attachment point. This distance ratio determines the mechanical advantage of the force necessary to actuate the pedal and is the primary factor in the driver’s perception of the pedal feel.
Actuation Stroke-The adjustable pedal is designed to provide a constant pedal actuation stroke and ankle travel throughout the adjustment range. Maintaining constant pedal actuation stroke angles assures proper application of the brake, clutch or accelerator so that no compensation is required of the applicable control system hardware or software. The driver is assured of comfort and uniform pedal feel and constant foot scrub.
Structural Loading-To assure the structural integrity of the adjustable pedal, the pedal actuation forces are reacted solely through the structural components and are independent of the adjustment drive mechanism. This accomplishes two goals: (1) the integrity of pedal actuation is assured at all pedal adjustment travel positions, even with a failure of the adjustment mechanism. (2) the load on the adjustment mechanism components is minimized and constant, assuring uniform feel for the driver and/or constant motor load.
New Adjustable Pedal Designs Help Customer’s with Specific Requirements
The concept of adjustable pedals has now been embraced by the automotive industry worldwide. However, packaging requirements and specific design and operational preferences have required that a number of different mechanical and electromechanical designs be developed. DriveSol has led the way with a variety of new solutions, each with advantages and disadvantages.
MAJOR CUSTOMERS
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