Electronic switching module for multiple vehicle controls

A system for controlling a speed of a vehicle engine comprising:

• a. an electronic control module adapted to communicate with the vehicle engine;
• b. a first throttle assembly including a first throttle, a first throttle primary position sensor and a first throttle secondary position sensor;
• c. a second throttle assembly including a second throttle, a second throttle primary position sensor and a second throttle secondary position sensor;
• d. an electronic switching module including:
• i) first throttle assembly ports connected to the first throttle primary position sensor and the first throttle secondary position sensor so as to receive first throttle primary sensor position data and first throttle secondary sensor position data;
• ii) second throttle assembly ports connected to the second throttle primary position sensor and the second throttle secondary position sensor so as to receive second throttle primary sensor position data and second throttle secondary sensor position data;
• iii) an electronic control module port in communication with the electronic control module;
• iv) a controller connected to the first and second throttle assembly ports and the electronic control module port;
• v) said controller adapted to receive and perform a comparison between the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data and send an engine idle signal to the electronic control module via the electronic control module port when the comparison does not show a first predetermined relationship;
• vi) said controller adapted to receive and perform a comparison between the second throttle primary sensor position data and the second throttle secondary sensor position data and send an engine idle signal to the electronic control module via the electronic control module port when the comparison does not show a second predetermined relationship.

A method for switching control of a vehicle engine from a first throttle assembly, including a first throttle, a first throttle primary position sensor and a first throttle secondary position sensor, to a second throttle assembly, including a second throttle, a second throttle primary position sensor and a second throttle secondary position sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a controller in communication with the first and second throttle assemblies and the vehicle engine and a throttle assembly selector switch in communication with the controller;
• b. receiving first throttle primary sensor position data and first throttle secondary sensor position data into the controller;
• c. receiving second throttle primary sensor position data and second throttle secondary sensor position data into the controller;
• d. performing a comparison between the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data using the controller;
• e. sending an engine idle signal from the controller to the vehicle engine via an electronic control module when the comparison between the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data does not show a first predetermined relationship;
• and
• f. performing a comparison between the second throttle primary sensor position data and the second throttle secondary sensor position data using the controller;
• g. sending an engine idle signal from the controller to the vehicle engine via the electronic control module when the comparison between the second throttle primary sensor position data and the second throttle secondary sensor position data does not show a second predetermined relationship;
• h. checking the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data as well as the second throttle primary sensor position data and the second throttle secondary sensor position data using the controller when the throttle assembly selector switch is manipulated to change vehicle engine control from the first throttle assembly to the second throttle assembly;
• i. sending an engine idle signal to the vehicle engine via the electronic control module when any of the checked first throttle primary sensor position data, the first throttle secondary sensor position data, the second throttle primary sensor position data or the second throttle secondary sensor position data fails to indicate an idle throttle position.