Throttle cable disconnection apparatus and method

• US 20060086199A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reduce Your Speed, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reduce Your Speed, Inc.
• Inventors: Branch, Alan C., Dircks, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/971,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/502.600
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20462 Specific cable connector or guide

Abstract

A remotely activated throttle disconnector for a motor vehicle that has a throttle cable, the throttle having a conduit and a wire within the conduit and disposed to slide axially through the conduit such that a mechanical tractive force applied to a first end of the cable is transferred to a second end of the cable. The disconnector is comprised of a housing with a first end and a second end, each of the ends having a mount for an end of a section of the conduit of the throttle cable and each of the ends having a through hole. The through hole allows passage of an end of a section of the wire of the throttle cable therethrough. An electromagnet is disposed in the housing to slide axially therein. The electromagnet connects to the wire end of one section of the throttle cable. A passive plate is disposed in the housing to slide axially therein. The passive plate connects to the wire end of another section of the throttle cable. The electromagnet and the passive plate have an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position transfers tractive force from a first section of the cable to the second section of the cable. The electromagnet and the plate are in the engaged position when the electromagnet is energized, disengaged when the electromagnet is de-energized. A tractive force is only transferred through the disconnector when the electromagnet is energized.

Claims

1. A remotely activated throttle disconnector for a motor vehicle having a throttle cable, the throttle having a conduit and a wire within the conduit and disposed to slide axially through the conduit such that a mechanical tractive force applied in a first end of the cable is transferred to a second end of the cable, said disconnector comprising:

a housing, said housing having a first end and a second end, each of said ends having a mount for an end of a section of the conduit of the throttle cable and each of said ends having a through hole, said through hole being dimensioned to allow passage of an end of a section of the wire of the throttle cable therethrough, and said housing having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis being substantially parallel with the throttle cable;

an electromagnet, said electromagnet disposed in said housing to slide axially therein, said electromagnet being adapted to connect to the wire end of one section of the throttle cable;

a passive plate, disposed in said housing to slide axially therein, said passive plate being adapted to connect to the wire end of another section of the throttle cable;

said electromagnet and said passive plate having an engaged position and a disengaged position, said engaged position transferring tractive force from a first section of the cable to the second section of the cable;

wherein said electromagnet and said plate are in said engaged position when said electromagnet is energized such that a tractive force may be transferred through said throttle disconnector, and wherein said electromagnet and plate are disengaged when said electromagnet is de-energized such that a tractive force is not transferred through said disconnector.

2. The throttle disconnector of claim 1 further comprising a spring, said spring being disposed in said housing to bias said passive plate and said electromagnet together.

3. The throttle disconnector of claim 1 wherein said electromagnet is activated via a hardwire switch.

4. The throttle disconnector of claim 1 wherein said electromagnet is activated via an actuator selected from the group consisting of:

the radio frequency device, an infrared device, a microwave device, and a laser device.

5. The throttle disconnector of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency signal receiver, said receiver being in operative communication with said electromagnet to actuate said electromagnet.

6. A method of installing a throttle disconnector comprising:

separating a throttle cable into a first section and a second section;

attaching a conduit end of said first section to a first end of a housing, said housing enclosing an electromagnet and a passive plate, said electromagnet and passive plate being disposed to slide axially within said housing;

fixing a first wire of said first section of said throttle cable to said passive plate within said housing;

attaching a conduit end of said second section of said throttle cable to a second end of said housing;

fixing a second wire of said second section of said throttle cable to an electromagnet within said housing, such that when said electromagnet is energized, a tractive force supplied to said first section of said throttle cable is transferred through said throttle disconnector to said second section of said throttle cable and such that when said electromagnet is deactivated a tractive force supplied to said first section of said throttle cable is not transferred to said second section of said throttle cable.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a spring, disposing in said housing to bias said passive plate and said electromagnet together.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said electromagnet is configured to be activated via a hardwire switch.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising wiring said electromagnet to be activated via an actuator selected from the group consisting of:

the radio frequency device, an infrared device, a microwave device, and a laser device.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising operatively connecting a radio frequency signal receiver, to be in operative communication with said electromagnet to actuate said electromagnet.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein said installation is a retrofit.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein said installation is in an automobile.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising powering said electromagnet with a battery in said automobile.

14. The method of claim 6 further comprising a mounting screw for fixing said second wire to said electromagnet.

15. A method of assembling a throttle disconnector for a motor vehicle comprising:

fabricating a housing having an open internal space;

dimensioning an electromagnet and a passive plate such that they may slide axially along said open space within said housing;

enclosing said electromagnet and said passive plate within said housing;

forming a throttle cable conduit mount in each of a first end and second end of said housing;

creating a through hole in each of said first end and said second end of said housing, said through hole being arranged and configured to allow passage therethrough of a first end and a second end of a wire of said throttle cable;

providing a wire fixation on an outer facing surface of each of said electromagnet and said passive plate.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of disposing a spring within said housing, said spring biasing said electromagnet and said passive plate together.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of fixing said second end of said wire of said throttle cable to said electromagnet is with a screw mount.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a wire lead on said electromagnet, said wire lead being adapted for connection to a power source external to said throttle disconnector.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said wire lead is further adapted to receive switching signals from an external source for an energizing and deenergizing said electromagnet.