Electronic throttle/brake control system for monitorized wheel hub

• US 6,342,769 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D&V Electronics, Ltd. (Motorcar Parts of America Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Orville J. Birkestrand, William A. Peterson
• Inventors: Birkestrand, Orville J., Peterson, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US09/707,788
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/149, 318/59, 318/60, 318/63, 318/268, 318/269, 318/273, 318/362, 318/379, 318/380, 318/587, 180/205, 180/206, 180/220, 180/65-- 6, 280/212, 280/214, 280/215, 290/16, 290/17, 290/45, 310/68.B
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A throttle/brake control system has a first member, a second member and a mount for mounting the members for relative movement on either side of a home position, the members being biased relatively to that home position. A variable resistor track having an end is mounted to the first member along with a conductive power track having a gap. A conductive wiper is mounted to the second member opposite the first member, the wiper being arranged to slide along both the resistor track and the power track when the first and second members are moved relatively away from the home position and to repose opposite the gap when the first and second members are in the home position.

Claims

1. A throttle/brake control system comprising:

a first member;

a second member;

means for mounting said members for relative movement on either side of a home position;

means for biasing said members relatively to said home position;

a variable resistor track having an end and being mounted to said first member;

a conductive power track mounted to said first member substantially parallel to said resistor track, said power track having a gap therein, and

a conductive wiper mounted to said second member opposite said first member, said wiper being arranged to slide along both said resistor track and said power track when said first and second members are moved relatively away from said home position and to repose opposite said gap when said first and second members are in said home position.

2. The system defined in claim 1 and further including a ground track mounted to said first member, said ground track extending substantially parallel to said resistor track and being contacted by said wiper at all positions of said first and second members.

3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein said resistor track comprises a variable resistive element whose resistance varies along the length of the element.

4. The system defined in claim 3 wherein the resistance of said element varies logarithmically.

5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the resistor track comprises

contact segments, and

a resistor ladder connected along its length to said contact segments.

6. The system defined in claim 5 wherein said resistor ladder consists of a plurality of resistors having binary weighted resistance values.

7. The system defined in claim 1 wherein

said first and second members move relatively about an axis, and

said tracks are curved about said axis.

8. The system defined in claim 1 and further including

a motor, and

a controller connected between said tracks and said motor for delivering a drive signal to said motor only when said wiper is not disposed opposite said control track gap and whose signal level is dependent upon the position of said wiper on said resistor track.