Electronic throttle control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A recreational vehicle including:
- a chassis;
a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis;
an engine supported by the chassis;
a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine;
an engine control module configured to control an opening of the throttle valve;
an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the opening of the throttle valve based on the operator input device; and
a transmission driven by the engine and including a first gear and a second gear, the engine control module opening the throttle valve at a slower rate in the first gear than in the second gear based on a movement of the operator input device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic throttle control (ETC) system is disclosed for use on a recreational or a utility vehicle. The ETC system includes a drive mode selection device for selecting between a plurality of drive modes. The ETC system provides an adjustable engine idle speed and an engine power limiting feature.
236 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A recreational vehicle including:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine; an engine control module configured to control an opening of the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the opening of the throttle valve based on the operator input device; and a transmission driven by the engine and including a first gear and a second gear, the engine control module opening the throttle valve at a slower rate in the first gear than in the second gear based on a movement of the operator input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module controlling an opening of the throttle valve based on the operator input device; and a load detection device configured to detect a load of the vehicle, the engine control module opening the throttle valve at a first rate based on a movement of the operator input device when the detected load is within a predetermined range and at a second rate based on the movement of the operator input device when the detected load is outside the predetermined range, the first rate being faster than the second rate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine, the engine generating a torque based on an opening of the throttle valve; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the throttle valve based on a position of the operator input device; and a transmission driven by the engine and including a plurality of gears, the engine control module automatically reducing the torque of the engine during a shift of the transmission between gears of the plurality of gears. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a plurality of traction devices configured to support the chassis; a drive train supported by the chassis and including an engine, a transmission, and a final drive, the engine being configured to drive at least a portion of the plurality of traction devices, the drive train including a first drive configuration wherein the engine drives at least two of the traction devices and a second drive configuration wherein the engine drives at least four of the traction devices; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; and an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the throttle valve based on a position of the operator input device, the engine control module automatically reducing a torque of the engine during a modulation of the drive train between the first drive configuration and the second drive configuration. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine, the engine generating a torque based on an opening of the throttle valve; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the throttle valve based on a position of the operator input device; and an altitude sensor in communication with the engine control module and configured to detect an altitude of the vehicle, the engine control module limiting the opening of the throttle valve to a first maximum opening upon the vehicle being positioned at a first altitude and to a second maximum opening upon the vehicle being positioned at a second altitude higher than the first altitude, the first maximum opening being different from the second maximum opening. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine, the engine generating power based on an opening of the throttle valve; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module being configured to control the throttle valve based on a position of the operator input device; and a continuously variable transmission coupled to the engine, the engine being configured to apply a torque to the continuously variable transmission, the engine control module monitoring the torque applied to the continuously variable transmission based on at least one of the position of the operator input device and the opening of the throttle valve, the engine control module limiting the torque applied to the continuously variable transmission to within a predetermined torque range. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; a drive train supported by the chassis and including an engine, a transmission, and a final drive; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; a throttle input device configured to adjust the throttle valve; an engine control module in communication with the throttle input device and the throttle valve, the engine control module automatically controlling the throttle valve to provide a torque to the drive train during an idle condition of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the vehicle; a safety device configured to support the operator, the safety device being adjustable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; a throttle input device configured to control the throttle valve; an engine control module in communication with the throttle valve, the safety device, and the speed sensor, the engine control module automatically reducing a torque of the engine upon detection of the safety device being in the disengaged position and upon the detected speed of the vehicle being outside a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an implement removably coupled to the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate air intake into the engine; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; an operator input device in communication with the engine control module, the engine control module controlling an opening of the throttle valve based on the operator input device; and a sensor in communication with the engine control module, the sensor being configured to detect an attachment of the implement to the chassis, the engine control module being operative to open the throttle valve at a first rate based on a movement of the operator input device in response to a detection of the implement being detached from the chassis and at a second rate based on the movement of the operator input device in response to a detection of the implement being attached to the chassis, the first rate being faster than the second rate. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification