Vehicle cruise control
First Claim
1. An automatic controller of the velocity of a vehicle, said vehicle operating on a road, said vehicle having a propulsion system, said vehicle powered by fuel, said fuel flowing under control of a flow regulator, said automatic controller having a manually set target velocity, the improvement comprising:
- A means of sensing the slope of said road, means for developing a signal based upon said slope measurement;
programmed computer means for adjusting, through said signal, said fuel flow, said adjustment resulting in augmenting said propulsion with positive slope change, said augmenting being beyond that called for by said set target velocity, said augmenting providing enhanced fuel mileage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic control of speed for a vehicle is based on using speed setting, actual speed, acceleration and the change of the slope of the road to set fuel flow for improved fuel mileage. The proposed system of sensors and a programmed computer automatically manages fuel flow to the engine as the truck moves in gusting winds and through transitions from one slope of the road to another. As the conventional cruise control operates to maintain or change speed according to a speed setting Vs the actual speed, the added control of this invention results in a modification of the signal to fuel flow depending upon what road slope change and acceleration is detected. The result is an improvement in fuel mileage.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An automatic controller of the velocity of a vehicle, said vehicle operating on a road, said vehicle having a propulsion system, said vehicle powered by fuel, said fuel flowing under control of a flow regulator, said automatic controller having a manually set target velocity, the improvement comprising:
A means of sensing the slope of said road, means for developing a signal based upon said slope measurement;
programmed computer means for adjusting, through said signal, said fuel flow, said adjustment resulting in augmenting said propulsion with positive slope change, said augmenting being beyond that called for by said set target velocity, said augmenting providing enhanced fuel mileage.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automatic speed control for a vehicle, said vehicle having a throttle, said control having a manual target speed setting, said vehicle developing speed and a resultant fuel mileage;
- a means for automatically adjusting said throttle to a first position to enable said vehicle to approach and hold said target speed, said vehicle traveling roads of various slopes and in winds of various speeds and directions, the improvement comprising;
A means for measuring said road slope, a means for using said road slope to automatically adjust said throttle to a second position, said second position resulting in an off-target speed and in improved fuel mileage. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- a means for automatically adjusting said throttle to a first position to enable said vehicle to approach and hold said target speed, said vehicle traveling roads of various slopes and in winds of various speeds and directions, the improvement comprising;
Specification