Device for the control of the traveling speed of a motor vehicle

• US 4,352,404 A
• Filed: 10/09/1979
• Issued: 10/05/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Stier, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/082,826
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 180/179, 180/177, 180/178, 180/170, 123/361, 123/352, 123/351, 123/350, 123/349, 192/3 M
• US Class Current: 180/179
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/002 controlling air supply

Abstract

A device for the control of the traveling speed of a motor vehicle with an electrical controller applied by an actual speed signal and a desired speed signal, an output stage which contains a servo-motor being in operative connection with an element, preferably the throttle valve, which element influences the ratio of the fuel-air mixture that is supplied to the vehicle engine, and the output stage being electrically connected to a first switch which is coupled to the foot brake to switch the output stage into an inoperative condition if the foot brake is actuated. An additional switch which is actuatable by output stage, which switches are disposed in an electrical control circuit (which circuit influences the rotational speed of the engine) are embodied such that if the brake is actuated and if the output stage is outside the idling position the control circuit is controlled in the sense of a reduction of the rotational speed.

Claims

1. In a device for the control of the traveling speed of a motor vehicle with an electrical controller having a first input connected to an actual speed signal generator, a second input connected to a settable desired speed signal generator, and an output stage which contains a servomotor in operative connection with an element, preferably the throttle valve, which element influences the ratio of the fuel-air mixture that is supplied to the vehicle engine, the output stage being electrically connected to a first switch which is coupled to the foot brake to switch into an inoperative condition if the foot brake is actuated, the improvement comprising

a second switch actuatable by means of the foot brake,

a third switch in operative connection with said element,

an electrical control means for influencing the rotational speed of the vehicle engine, said electrical control means being electrically actuatable by said second switch and said third switch in the sense of a reduction of the rotational speed of the engine if the brake is actuated and the element is outside of the idling position.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said second switch is formed as a normally closed contact,

said third switch is formed as an other contact, said other contact is closed in the idling position of the element, and

both said second switch and said third switch are connected in parallel to one another disposed in said electrical control means.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

said second switch and said third switch are disposed in an ignition circuit of the motor vehicle, said electrical control means includes said ignition circuit.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

said second switch and said third switch are disposed in a fuel pump relay circuit of the motor vehicle, said electrical control means includes said fuel pump relay circuit.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein

said first switch and said second switch are ganged together, one of said first and second switches is a normally opened switch and the other is a normally closed switch.

6. The device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising

means for operatively connecting said third switch to said element such that said third switch is open when said element is outside of the idling position and is closed when said element is in the idling position.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein

said second switch is operatively connected to the foot brake such that it is open when said foot brake is stepped down on.