Remote control system for go kart track and go kart conversion kit

• US 5,184,694 A
• Filed: 05/08/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Firm Incorporated, Pace Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Micro Firm Incorporated, Pace Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Foster, Billy K., Magrath, Earl K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US07/697,246
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 340/901, 340/435, 318/587
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/00 Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions for electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/00; drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle

Abstract

A system for controlling at least one go kart in an operation area includes a general transmitter, an area transmitter, a receiver unit on each go kart and an idling device. The operation area includes a track and a pit area. The general transmitter is either a radio transmitter or a loop which encircles the entire operation area. Upon activation of the general transmitter, a signal is emitted such that go karts anywhere in the operation area are idled by the idling device. Activation of the area transmitter, on the other hand, will cause the idle device to idle go karts in at least one of the pit area and an approach area to the pit. This area transmitter includes a loop which encircles the pit area and/or the approach area. A control device with a timer is provided to automatically activate the area transmiter when a predetermined time has elapsed. The control device will also permit an operator to activate the general transmitter when an emergency situation arises. This general transmitter can idle all go karts in the operation area or can idle only one selected go kart. A kit can also be provided to adapt go karts to this system. The kit includes the receiver unit and idling device as well as a governor arm. The governor arm is connectable between the governor of the go kart engine and the idle device which includes a solenoid.

Claims

1. A system for controlling at least one go kart in an operation area, the at least one go kart having an engine and the operation area including a track and a pit area, the system comprising:

a general transmitter for sending a general signal to the entire operation area;

an area transmitter for sending an area signal to one portion of the operation area, the one portion being less than the entire area of the operation area;

at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart, the receiver unit receiving the general signal and the area signal;

means on each of the at least one go kart operatively connected to the at least one receiver unit for idling the engine of the go kart when the at least one receiver receives one of the general signal and area signal, the means for idling being mounted on each of the at least one go kart; and

control means for selectively activating and deactivating the general transmitter and the area transmitter, the control means being operatively connected to both the general transmitter and the area transmitter, the control means comprises a first control unit and a second control unit, the first control unit being generally located in the pit area, both the first and second control units having a first switch and a second switch, each of the first switches being operatively connected to first means for activating the general transmitter and each of the second switches being connected to second means for deactivating at least a portion of the area transmitter, the first control unit further having timer means for counting time and determining when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the predetermined period of time corresponding to one ride cycle and the timer means issuing a signal to the area transmitter when the predetermined period has elapsed thereby idling the at least one go kart when the at least one go kart is in the one portion of the operation area.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the general transmitter idles the at least one go kart in the operation area upon actuation of the first means and wherein upon activation of the first means counting by the timer means is temporarily stopped, the second means further overrides the timer means to stop the area transmitter from sending the signal at least to a portion of the area transmitter to thereby stop idling of the at least one go kart in the one portion of the operation area.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the area transmitter is divided into an approach loop and a pit loop, the pit loop generally enclosing the pit area and the approach loop generally enclosing a portion of the track before the pit area, both the approach loop and the pit loop generally defining the one portion of the operation area, the second means only overrides the timer means for the approach loop such that upon actuation of both the timer means and the second means, the at least one go kart will be idled only in the area defined by the approach loop but when only the timer means is activated and the second means fails to be activated, the at least one go kart will be idled in both areas defined by the approach loop and the pit loop.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first means overrides both the second means and the timer means to idle the at least one go kart in both the pit area and the track, the general transmitter which is activated by the first means being one of a radio signal transmitter and an audio frequency signal transmitter.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the general transmitter is a radio signal transmitter which broadcasts a radio signal to each of the at least one go kart in both the pit area and the track upon activation of the first means and the at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart having an antenna and a loop pickup detector, the antenna receiving the radio signal from the general transmitter upon activation of the first means and the means for idling in response thereto idles the at least one go kart.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the general transmitter is a general loop which encircles the pit area and track, the general loop issues an audio frequency signal to each of the at least one go kart in both the pit area and the track upon activation of the first means, the at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart being a loop pickup detector which receives the audio frequency signal from the general transmitter upon activation of the first means and the means for idling in response thereto idles the at least one go kart.

7. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the area transmitter is defined by an area loop generally encircling the pit area and a section of the track before the pit area such that the area transmitter generally encloses the one portion of the operation area, whereby the timer means upon issuing the signal to the area transmitter idles the at least one go kart in the pit area and the section of the track before the pit area and whereby upon activation of the second means, the at least one go kart is free to travel through the pit area and the track regardless of whether the timer means issues a signal to the area transmitter, and wherein the first means overrides both the second means and timer means to idle the at least one go kart in both the pit area and the track.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the general transmitter is a radio signal transmitter which broadcasts a radio signal to each of the at least one go kart in both the pit area and the track upon activation of the first means and the at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart having an antenna and a loop pickup detector, the antenna receiving the radio signal from the general transmitter upon activation of the first means and the means for idling in response thereto idles the at least one go kart.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the general transmitter is a general loop which encircles the pit area and track, the general loop issues an audio frequency signal to each of the at least one go kart in both the pit area and track upon activation of the first means, the at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart being a loop pickup detector which receives the audio frequency signal from the general transmitter upon activation of the first means and the means for idling in response thereto idles the at least one go kart.

10. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second means are located within the first control unit.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first control unit further includes a power switch for turning the first control unit on and off, a pit loop indicator for showing activation of the area transmitter and at least one switch operatively connected to the timer means for changing the predetermined period of time to thereby lengthen or shorten time for the one ride cycle.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the area transmitter is divided into an approach loop and a pit loop, the pit generally enclosing the pit area and the approach loop generally enclosing a portion of the track before the pit area, both the approach loop and pit loop generally defining the one portion of the operation area, the approach loop issuing an approach loop signal and the pit loop issuing a pit loop signal upon activation thereof, both the approach loop signal and pit loop signal being the area signal, and the first control unit further includes a pit loop frequency switch and an approach loop frequency switch, the pit loop frequency switch varying strength of the pit loop signal and the approach loop frequency switch varying strength of the approach loop signal.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the area transmitter is divided into an approach loop and a pit loop, the pit loop generally enclosing the pit area and the approach loop generally enclosing a portion of the track before the pit area, both the approach loop and pit loop generally defining the one portion of the operation area, the approach loop issuing an approach loop signal and the pit loop issuing a pit loop signal upon activation thereof, both the approach loop and pit loop signal being the area signal, and the first control unit further includes;

a pit loop control switch movable between on, normal and off positions, the pit loop failing to issue a pit loop signal when the pit loop control switch is in the off position, the pit loop constantly issuing a pit loop signal when the pit loop control switch is in the on position, and the pit loop issuing a pit loop signal when the pit loop control switch is in the normal position and when the timer means issues the signal indicating elapse of the predetermined period of time; and

an approach loop control switch movable between on, normal and off positions, the approach loop failing to issue an approach loop signal when the approach loop control switch is in the off position, the approach loop constantly issuing an approach loop signal when the approach loop control switch is in the on position, and the approach loop issuing an approach loop signal when the approach loop control switch is in the normal position, when the timer means issues the signal indicating elapse of the predetermined period of time and when second means fails to be activated.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver unit comprises a loop pickup detector and a kart antenna and wherein the general transmitter is a radio signal transmitter and the area transmitter is an area loop encircling the one portion of the operation area, the radio signal transmitter issues a radio signal upon activation thereof and the area loop issues an audio frequency signal upon activation thereof, the means for idling on each of the at least one go kart idling the at least one go kart regardless of the location of the go kart in the pit area and track upon the kart antenna receiving the radio signal from the general transmitter and the means for idling further idling the at least one go kart only when the go kart is in the one portion of the operation area upon the loop pickup detector receiving the audio frequency signal from the area transmitter.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver unit comprises a loop pickup detector and wherein the general transmitter is a general loop encircling both the pit area and track and the area transmitter is one area loop encircling the one portion of the operation area, both the general loop and area loop issuing an audio frequency signal upon activation thereof, the means for idling on each of the at least one go kart idling the at least one go kart regardless of the location of the go kart in the pit area and track upon the loop pickup detector receiving the audio frequency signal from the general transmitter and the means for idling further idling the at least one go kart only when the go kart is in the one portion of the operation area upon the loop pickup detector receiving the audio frequency signal from the area transmitter.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for idling comprises a solenoid and governor arm, the solenoid being operatively connected to the at least one receiver unit and being energized upon the receiver unit receiving one of the general signal and the area signal, the governor arm being operatively connected between the solenoid and the engine of the go kart and being movable upon energization of the solenoid, the governor arm moving so as to idle the engine of the go kart.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of go karts are used and further comprising control means for selectively activating and deactivating the general transmitter and the area transmitter, all of the plurality of go karts being idled upon activation of the general transmitter regardless of the location of the go karts in the operation area and all of the go karts within the one portion of the operation area being idled upon activation of the area transmitter.

18. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of go karts are used and further comprising control means for selectively activating and deactivating the general transmitter and the area transmitter, a selected one of the go karts being idled upon activation of the general transmitter regardless of the location of the selected go kart in the operation area and all of the go karts within the one portion of the operation area being idled upon activation of the area transmitter.

19. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first control unit is a generally stationary control unit and wherein the second control unit is a hand-held control unit.

20. A kit for a go kart having an engine, the engine being mounted on a frame of the go kart and the go kart being used in an operation area, the operation area including a track and a pit, the operation area further including one portion thereof which one portion is less than the entire area of the operation area, the kit comprising:

a receiver unit mountable on the go kart, the receiver unit including a kart antenna and a loop pickup detector, the antenna receiving a selectively transmitted general signal and the loop pickup detector receiving a selectively transmitted area signal;

a governor arm operatively connectable to the engine, the governor arm being movable between a first position and a second position, the governor arm in the first position causing the engine to idle and the governor arm in the second position being noninterfering with the engine; and

activation means for moving the governor arm between the first and second positions, the activation means being positionable between the receiver unit and the governor arm and being activated by the receiver unit upon receipt of at least one of the general signal and the area signal,

upon receipt of the general signal by the receiver unit, the activation means moves the governor arm to the first position regardless of the location of the go kart in the operation area and upon receipt of the area signal by the receiver unit, the activation means moves the governor arm to the first position when the go kart is located in the one portion of the operation area, otherwise the activation means positions the governor arm in the second position.

21. The kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the general signal is a radio signal which is received by the kart antenna and wherein the area signal is an audio frequency signal which is received by the loop pickup detector.

22. The kit as recited in claim 21, further comprising a loop pickup detector bracket, the loop pickup detector being mountable to the frame of the go kart with the loop pickup detector bracket.

23. The kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the receiver unit has the loop pickup detector and wherein the general signal and the area signal are both audio frequency signals received by the loop pickup detector.

24. The kit as recited in claim 20, further comprising a loop pickup detector bracket, the loop pickup detector being mountable to the frame of the go kart with the loop pickup detector bracket.

25. The kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the activation means comprises a solenoid having a reciprocable plunger and wherein the kit further comprises a governor link mounted to the plunger of the solenoid, one end of the governor arm being pivotally attached to the plunger and the other end of the governor arm being operatively attached to the engine.

26. The kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the engine of the go kart has a clutch an drive and wherein the kit further comprises a mounting bracket, the receiver unit and activation means being mountable on the bracket and the bracket being mountable to the engine of the go kart generally above the clutch and the belt drive.

27. The kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the engine of the go kart has a flywheel and wherein the kit further comprises a power source operatively connected to the receiver unit, the power source including a coil mountable adjacent the flywheel of the engine, the coil receiving energy from movement of the flywheel and the energy being used to power the kit when installed in the go kart.

28. The kit as recited in claim 20, further comprising battery operatively connected to the receiver unit, the battery supplying power to the kit when installed in the go kart.

29. A system for controlling at least one go kart in an operation area, the at least one go kart having an engine and the operation area including a track and pit area, the system comprising:

a general transmitter for sending a general signal to the entire operation area;

an area transmitter for sending an area signal to one portion of the operation area, the one portion being less than the entire area of the operation area;

at least one receiver unit on each of the at least one go kart, the receiver unit receiving the general signal and the area signal; and

means on each of the at least one go kart operatively connected to the at least one receiver unit for idling the engine of the go kart when the at least one receiver receives one of the general signal and area signal, the means for idling being mounted on each of the at least one go kart;

wherein the means for idling comprises a solenoid and governor arm, the solenoid being operatively connected to the at least one receiver unit and being energized upon the receiver unit receiving one of the general signal and the area signal, the governor arm being operatively connected between the solenoid and the engine of the go kart and being movable upon energization of the solenoid, the governor arm moving so as to idle the engine of the go kart, receipt of the general signal by the at least one receiver unit activating the means for idling and receipt of the area signal by the at least one receiver unit activating the means for idling.