That post on footwells reminded me of an idea I had about pedals.

Like many little kit cars the footwells are often unbelievably tiny and if you have large feet it can be a right fumble to drive them. So I had the idea of a combined brake/accelerator pedal rather like the dual function rudder/brake pedals used on aeroplanes. Basically the one pedal would be split, the top pressing with your toes would work the throttle and the bottom half using your stronger heal operating the brakes. The hinged centre section would naturally rest in the arch of your foot and I recon it wouldn’t feel much different to an ordinary pedal. This means of course you only need two pedals and never need to take your feet off them when driving since normally you would not press both the throttle and brakes together. Here’s a not very good diagram of Frankenstein’s monster demonstrating the pedal wearing a pair of slippers



[Edited on 3/2/09 by Mr Whippy]
Rescued attachment 01pedal.JPG

fit an auto...

Or flappy paddle box & no clutch...

[Edited on 3/2/09 by stevebubs]

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Originally posted by stevebubs
fit an auto...

Or flappy paddle box & no clutch...

[Edited on 3/2/09 by stevebubs]

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what about heel toeing though...thats the only thing i can think of...could be quite snazzy though!

That's an interesting idea..

I was toying with the idea of a hand throttle to try and free up foot well space.
being an x biker and all that..

David

[Edited on 3/2/09 by dogwood]

what happens in a "ARRGHHH!! SLAM ON!" type situation?

Clever idea - the trick would be to stop any chance of you putting a small pressure on the brake whilst accelerating and overheating them. Or alternatively accelerating as you brake.

I wonder what the Granny State and it's inspectors would make of the idea.

The accelerating as you brake thing gives rise to an interesting problem I have in my Cobra - on gravel with the shift lever in Drive, when you park or stop, the torque at idle is enough to overcome the back brakes whilst the front lock sending you ploughing into whatever is in front of you - the same happens in reverse so you have to slot the box into neutral to come to a stop or brake hard enough to overcome the torque with your back brakes or use the hand brake as well.

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Originally posted by Dangle_kt
what happens in a "ARRGHHH!! SLAM ON!" type situation?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ivan
The accelerating as you brake thing gives rise to an interesting problem I have in my Cobra - on gravel with the shift lever in Drive, when you park or stop, the torque at idle is enough to overcome the back brakes whilst the front lock sending you ploughing into whatever is in front of you - the same happens in reverse so you have to slot the box into neutral to come to a stop or brake hard enough to overcome the torque with your back brakes or use the hand brake as well.

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The pedal might be better rigid - i.e. a long plate with a pivot in the middle. That way you can't apply brake and throttle at the same time. You see this on some ride on mowing machines for forward backward control, but they use hydraulic (?) drive, not conventional transmission.

seem to recall SAAB? came up with this system a couple years ago.
Doesn't seem to have made it into production though.

i knew it

[Edited on 3/2/09 by Rod Ends]

Sorry mate, Saab and Volvo beat you to it 7 years ago!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/ne ws/swedes-press-on-with-allinone-car-pedal-660965.html

Would be ace for the track, not sure if it'd be safe for road use though. You only need a few middle aged women driving it before one of them fails to find the brake in an emergency and wraps it.

Oh, afterthought - how could you then heel-and-toe without an articulated foot?

[Edited on 3/2/09 by jlparsons]

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Originally posted by Marcus
Sorry mate, Saab and Volvo beat you to it 7 years ago!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/ne ws/swedes-press-on-with-allinone-car-pedal-660965.html

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Lots of information and studies about combined pedals

Pressing with your heel would require you to bend you foot upwards quite severely. Not sure that would be so comfy for so long..... It'd trigger off some wicked plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis (had both, not nice ).....

I've been thinking about this idea on and off all day.

Just seen a major benefit...

If a thieving scum bag tries to steel the car .
Looks down and only sees 2 pedals.
A clutch and a brake....

Thinks "How the hell do you drive that ?????"

David

Most airplanes I have flown, the brakes are on top, ei; push forward with the toe, push the whole pedal for rudder. Makes some old taildraggers VERY INTERESTING in a crosswind landing. Don't think I would like it in a car, just put in a slushbox.