Speed control system

• US 5,700,171 A
• Filed: 10/27/1995
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enovation Controls, LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Perfect Pass Control Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Horton, Eric P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US08/549,283
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/2, 440/87, 180/170, 180/171, 180/178, 180/177, 180/179, 361/236, 361/239, 361/249
• US Class Current: 440/87
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/04 of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers

Abstract

A speed controller for vehicle comprises speed sensors which output to a controller which in turn outputs to a servo motor. The servo is connected to the inner cable of a co-axial cable, the outer sheath of which is lodged between a buttress and the engine throttle. The distance between the buttress and the engine throttle lever is, at least when the throttle is closed, shorter than the length of the outer sheath such that the outer sheath obtains a curved configuration. The inner cable extends beyond the engine throttle lever to a support. Accordingly, when the controller operates the servo to draw in the inner cable, the outer sheath is urged to straighten and, thereby, push against the engine throttle lever to open it. Conversely, when the inner cable is paid out, the outer sheath is relaxed to allow the engine throttle lever to close.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in a vehicle speed controller, comprising:

an actuator;

a co-axial cable having an outer sheath for extending between a buttress and an engine throttle lever and an inner cable operatively associated with said actuator and extending through said sheath to a support positioned beyond said engine throttle lever;

said outer sheath being relatively incompressible along its longitudinal axis and relatively flexible transversely of its longitudinal axis, said sheath having a length greater than the distance between said buttress and said engine throttle lever, at least when said engine throttle lever is in a closed throttle position; and

a controller for receiving an input by a speed sensor and outputting a control signal to said actuator.

2. A watercraft speed controller, comprising:

an engine throttle lever;

an actuator;

a co-axial cable having an outer sheath extending between a buttress and said engine throttle lever and an inner cable operatively associated with said actuator and extending through said outer sheath to a support positioned beyond said engine throttle lever;

said outer sheath being relatively incompressible along its longitudinal axis and relatively flexible transversely of its longitudinal axis, said sheath having a length greater than the distance between said buttress and said engine throttle lever, at least when said engine throttle lever is in a closed throttle position;

a water speed sensor; and

a controller input by said water speed sensor and outputting a control signal to said actuator.

3. The controller of claim 2 including:

a hand throttle;

a hand throttle cable extending from said hand throttle and joined to said inner cable such that said hand throttle comprises said support.

4. The controller of claim 3 wherein said engine throttle lever is biased toward a throttle closing position.

5. The controller of claim 4 including an abutment supported on said inner cable at a side of said engine throttle lever remote from said sheath, said abutment for abutting said engine throttle lever when said inner cable is sufficiently retracted by said actuator.

6. The controller of claim 5 wherein said actuator is a servo motor.

7. A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

(a) accepting an operator input of a set speed when a current speed of said vehicle is less than said set speed;

(b) after accepting an operator input of a set speed, refraining from controlling the current speed of said vehicle while said current speed of said vehicle remains less than said set speed;

(c) when an engine throttle for said vehicle is opened by said operator and said vehicle reaches approximately said set speed, providing an indication to said operator; and

(d) thereafter adjusting said engine throttle in order to maintain the speed of said vehicle within a pre-selected tolerance from said set speed.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of adjusting said engine throttle comprises, when opening said engine throttle, opening said engine throttle by no more than a pre-determined amount beyond the amount said throttle is opened by said operator.

9. The method of claim 8 including the step of ceasing to adjust said engine throttle by opening said engine throttle whenever an operator adjustment is made, which, but for the action of step (d), would close said engine throttle by more than said predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of adjusting said engine throttle comprises paying out, or drawing in, an inner cable through an outer sheath extending between a buttress and said engine throttle, said outer sheath of a type which is relatively incompressible along its longitudinal axis and relatively flexible transversely of its longitudinal axis, said outer sheath having a length greater than the distance between said buttress and said engine throttle lever.

11. The method of claim 10 including the step of, when an operator opens said engine throttle to accelerate a vehicle toward said pre-set speed, paying out said inner cable through said outer sheath.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of adjusting said engine throttle comprises paying out, or drawing in, an inner cable through an outer sheath extending between a buttress and said engine throttle, said outer sheath of a type which is relatively incompressible along its longitudinal axis and relatively flexible transversely of its longitudinal axis, said outer sheath having a length greater than the distance between said buttress and said engine throttle lever.

13. The method of claim 7 including the step of determining the time taken for said vehicle to move a known distance when said vehicle is expected to be travelling within a preselected tolerance of a pre-set speed and re-calibrating a speed which is considered to be said pre-set speed based on said timing.

14. The method of claim 7 including the step of controlling the rate of adjustment of said engine throttle of step (d) based on an operator input.