Manual control for a self-propelled vehicle

• US 3,896,892 A
• Filed: 09/20/1973
• Issued: 07/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederic W. Campbell, James P. Kohls, Robert J. Borgman
• Original Assignee: Frederic W. Campbell, James P. Kohls, Robert J. Borgman
• Inventors: Kohls, James P., Borgman, Robert J., Campbell, Frederic W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/398,960
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 180/19S,19H,19R 200/157,172R 335/206
• US Class Current: 180/19.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0073 Measuring a force
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/001 characterised by the vehicle control device mechanical features of control devices in general G05G; arrangements of vehicle control devices in general B60K20/00, B60K23/00, B60K26/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/002 comprising safety arrangements safety devices for vehicle propulsion unit control B60K28/00

Abstract

A self-propelled vehicle is equipped with a forwardly extendable tiller having a handgrip which can be held by an operator on foot and moved longitudinally of the tiller to regulate the direction and speed of operation of the vehicle drive motor. The handgrip is biased to a neutral position, which corresponds to a deenergized condition of the drive motor. From the neutral position and relative to the rear and front of the vehicle, rearward handgrip movement energizes the drive motor in reverse; and, forward handgrip movement energizes the drive motor in the forward direction, with a sensible transition being provided in the forward handgrip movement to enable the operator to distinguish a shift from first to second forward speeds. Control over the operation of the drive motor is accomplished by reed switches mounted in the tiller and actuatable by a magnet moved by the handgrip.

Claims

1. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle having a steerable wheel, a driving motor operable in reverse and forward speeds, and a tiller extendable forwardly of the vehicle for manually controlling the steerable wheel, the tiller being provided with a movable handgrip for regulating the operation of the driving motor, wherein the improvement comprises:

means mounting the handgrip on the tiller for movement generally longitudinally thereof in directions which extend rearwardly and forwardly from a neutral position, said mounting means including a cam and a follower, one of which is connected to the handgrip and the other of which is connected to the tiller, said follower engaging said cam which defines said movement of the handgrip and includes a portion extending longitudinally of the tiller and a second portion extending angularly to said longitudinally extending portion to define a sensible transition in said movement of the handgrip between at least one speed of the vehicle driving motor and another speed thereof;

means normally urging the handgrip to said neutral position; and

, control means responsive to said rearward movement of the handgrip for operating the vehicle driving motor in the reverse direction of movement of the vehicle, and responsive to said forward movement of the handgrip for operating the vehicle driving motor in the forward direction of movement of the vehicle.

2. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said cam is connected to the tiller and said follower is connected to the handgrip.

3. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the driving motor is operable in a plurality of forward speeds and said sensible transition in said movement of the handgrip is arranged between one forward and a second forward speed.

4. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said sensible transition in the movement of the handgrip is further defined by an abutment on the cam track located between said longitudinally and angularly extending portions thereof.

5. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said control means includes a plurality of reed switches, means mounting the reed switches on the tiller, and a magnet movable by the handgrip for selectively actuating the reed switches.

6. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the tiller is a tube, and the means mounting the reed switches on the tiller comprises a tubular holder positioned within the tube, said magnet being mounted within the holder, and means provided on the holder for mounting the reed switches thereon in positions corresponding to the positions of the magnet as determined by the forward and rearward movements of the handgrip.

7. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the magnet is mounted on a shaft connected to the handgrip and extending axially within the tiller tube and within the tubular holder, the holder serving to support the shaft.

8. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the means for mounting the reed switches on the holder comprises a plurality of slots formed longitudinally in the holder in circumferentially spaced relation, in which slots the reed switches are mounted.

9. A manual control for a self-Propelled vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the tubular holder is provided with a further slot extending longitudinally of the holder and communicating in a circumferential direction with the reed switch mounting slots, the further slot being adapted to receive electrical connections to the reed switches.

10. A manual control for a self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the tiller is a tube, a shaft connected to the handgrip and extending longitudinally within said tube, a tubular cam connected to the tiller and slidably supporting said shaft, said cam including a cam track engageable by a follower on the shaft;

said sensible transition in the movement of the handgrip is defined by a change in the shape of the cam;

said control means includes a plurality of reed switches, a tubular reed switch holder mounted within the tube in fixed longitudinal relation thereto and slidably supporting said shaft, a magnet connected to said shaft for selectably actuating the reed switches; and

said means normally urging the handgrip to said neutral position comprise spring means mounted on the shaft and positioned between said tubular cam and said tubular reed switch holder.