Low speed cruise control for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A cruise control system for a truck having an engine and a main throttle capable of controlling a speed of the engine, the system comprising:
- a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the truck and a power take-off throttle control capable of overriding the main throttle control for controlling a speed of the engine, the power take-off throttle control comprising a switch configured to control the speed of the engine at a set RPM, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for;
receiving a user selection of a set ground speed of 20 mph or less;
determining a current ground speed of the truck, via communication with the speedometer;
comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed; and
taking further action based on the comparison between the current ground speed and the set ground speed, in order to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed, comprising;
transmitting an acceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase the speed of the engine by increasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be lower than the set ground speed; and
transmitting a deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to decrease the speed of the engine by decreasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be higher than the set ground speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cruise control system for a vehicle having an engine and a power take-off throttle control capable of controlling the speed of the engine includes a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the vehicle and the power take-off throttle control. The cruise control device includes a processor configured for receiving a user selection of a set ground speed, determining a current ground speed of the vehicle, via communication with the speedometer, comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed, and taking further action to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed. The further action taken by the processor may include transmitting an acceleration signal or deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase or decrease a speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be lower or higher than the set ground speed.
47 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A cruise control system for a truck having an engine and a main throttle capable of controlling a speed of the engine, the system comprising:
a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the truck and a power take-off throttle control capable of overriding the main throttle control for controlling a speed of the engine, the power take-off throttle control comprising a switch configured to control the speed of the engine at a set RPM, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for; receiving a user selection of a set ground speed of 20 mph or less; determining a current ground speed of the truck, via communication with the speedometer; comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed; and taking further action based on the comparison between the current ground speed and the set ground speed, in order to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed, comprising; transmitting an acceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase the speed of the engine by increasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be lower than the set ground speed; and transmitting a deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to decrease the speed of the engine by decreasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be higher than the set ground speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A cruise control system for a vehicle having an engine and a power take-off throttle control capable of controlling the speed of the engine, comprising:
-
a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the vehicle and the power take-off throttle control, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for; receiving a user selection of a set ground speed; determining a current ground speed of the vehicle, via communication with the speedometer; comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed; and taking further action based on the comparison between the current ground speed and the set ground speed, in order to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed, comprising; transmitting an acceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase a speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be lower than the set ground speed; and transmitting a deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to decrease the speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be higher than the set ground speed, wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured for utilizing a response time, such that the processor is configured for transmitting the acceleration signal or the deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase or decrease a speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be lower or higher than the set ground speed for a time exceeding the response time, wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured such that the response time varies based on operating conditions of the vehicle, and wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured for calculating the response time based on the operating conditions of the vehicle.
-
-
10. A truck comprising:
-
a truck chassis supported by a plurality of wheels; an engine operably coupled to supply power to at least one of the wheels, the engine having a main throttle configured to be controlled by the operator to control a speed of the engine and a power take-off throttle control capable of overriding the main throttle control for controlling the speed of the engine, wherein the power take-off throttle control comprises a switch configured to control the speed of the engine at a set RPM; and a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the truck and the power take-off throttle control, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for; receiving a user selection of a set ground speed of 20 mph or less; determining a current ground speed of the truck, via communication with the speedometer; comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed; and taking further action based on the comparison between the current ground speed and the set ground speed, in order to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed, comprising; transmitting an acceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase the speed of the engine by increasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be lower than the set ground speed; and transmitting a deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to decrease the speed of the engine by decreasing the set RPM if the current ground speed is determined to be higher than the set ground speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A vehicle comprising:
-
a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels; an engine operably coupled to supply power to at least one of the wheels, the engine having a main throttle configured to be controlled by the operator to control the speed of the engine; a power take-off throttle control configured for controlling the speed of the engine; and a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the vehicle and the power take-off throttle control, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for; receiving a user selection of a set ground speed; determining a current ground speed of the vehicle, via communication with the speedometer; comparing the current ground speed with the set ground speed; and taking further action based on the comparison between the current ground speed and the set ground speed, in order to maintain the current ground speed close to the set ground speed, comprising; transmitting an acceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase a speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be lower than the set ground speed; and transmitting a deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to decrease the speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be higher than the set ground speed, wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured for utilizing a response time, such that the processor is configured for transmitting the acceleration signal or the deceleration signal to the power take-off throttle control to increase or decrease a speed of the engine if the current ground speed is determined to be lower or higher than the set ground speed for a time exceeding the response time, wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured such that the response time varies based on operating conditions of the vehicle, and wherein the processor of the cruise control device is further configured for calculating the response time based on the operating conditions of the vehicle.
-
-
22. A truck comprising:
-
a truck chassis supported by a plurality of wheels; an engine operably coupled to supply power to at least one of the wheels, the engine having a main throttle configured to be controlled by the operator to control a speed of the engine and a power take-off throttle control capable of overriding the main throttle control for controlling the speed of the engine, wherein the power take-off throttle control comprises a switch configured to control the speed of the engine at a set RPM; a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the truck and the power take-off throttle control, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for determining a current ground speed of the truck via communication with the speedometer and for transmitting instructions to the power take-off throttle control for maintaining the current ground speed of the truck close to a set ground speed of 20 mph or less selected by a user by increasing or decreasing the set RPM, wherein the power take-off throttle control is configured for overriding the main throttle when the cruise control is activated.
-
-
23. A truck comprising:
-
a truck chassis supported by a plurality of wheels; an operator cab supported by the chassis; a body supported by the chassis and having an operator area thereon, located outside the operator cab of the truck, wherein the body is configured for a low-speed operation involving an operator positioned in the operator area; an engine operably coupled to supply power to at least one of the wheels, the engine having a main throttle configured to be controlled by the operator to control the speed of the engine and a power take-off throttle control capable of overriding the main throttle control for controlling the speed of the engine, wherein the power take-off throttle control comprises a switch configured to control the speed of the engine at a set RPM; a cruise control device in communication with a speedometer of the truck and the power take-off throttle control, wherein the cruise control device comprises a processor configured for transmitting instructions to the power take-off throttle control for maintaining a current ground speed of the truck close to a set ground speed selected by the operator that is 20 mph or less by increasing or decreasing the set RPM; and an interface accessible from the operator area of the body and configured to receive operator input for controlling the cruise control system.
-
Specification