Automatic speed control system for motorcycles

• US 4,796,716 A
• Filed: 11/13/1986
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Masuda, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS JR, ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/930,231
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 180/176, 180/177, 180/171, 340/658, 340/54, 340/978
• US Class Current: 180/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/06 including fluid pressure actuated servomechanism in which the vehicle velocity affecting element is actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/102 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters

Abstract

An automatic speed control mechanism for a motorcycle that embodies a separately driven vacuum pump for controlling the throttle valve of the motorcycle independently of its induction system vacuum. In addition, an indicator system is provided that indicates when the automatic speed control is operative and further which indicates the preset speed and the actual speed of travel. A manual arrangement is provided for manually overriding the automatic speed control so as to reduce vehicle speed without disabling the automatic speed control device.

Claims

1. In an automatic speed control for a vehicle comprising throttle means for controlling vehicle speed, operator control means for selectively positioning said throttle means, and automatic speed control means operable between an off condition for operator controlled vehicle speed and on condition for operating said throttle means to operate the vehicle at a preset speed, the improvement comprising means for indicating actual speed of vehicle travel when the automatic speed control means is in its off condition and for indicating the preset speed when the automatic speed control means is in its on condition.

2. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 1 further including means for permitting the operator control means to manually override the automatic speed control means for decreasing the speed of the vehicle from the preset speed without disabling the automatic speed control means.

3. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 1 wherein the speed indicating device indicates a speed band range over which the automatic speed control is operative.

4. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 3 further including an indicator light for indicating when the automatic speed control means is operative.

5. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 1 further including means for indicating the actual speed of vehicle travel at all times.

6. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for indicating speed comprise separate indicators.

7. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 6 wherein the separate indicators comprise separate needles cooperable with an indicator dial.

8. In an automatic speed control for a vehicle comprising throttle means for controlling vehicle speed, operator control means for selectively positioning said throttle means, and automatic speed control means for operating said throttle means to operate the vehicle at a preset speed, the improvement comprising means for indicating actual speed of vehicle travel and means for indicating the preset speed, said speed indicating means further including an indicator light for indicating when said automatic speed control means is operative and means indicating a speed band range over which said automatic speed control means is operative, said speed control band and said indicator light having the same color.

9. In an automatic speed control as set forth in claim 8 further including means for permitting the operator control means to manually override the automatic speed control means for decreasing the speed of the vehicle from the preset speed without disabling the automatic speed control means.