Driver training simulator
AssigneeDriver Training Institute
InventorsHerbert Gruen, Kenneth R. Wisner, Tony Karp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A driver training simulator apparatus is disclosed which provides accurate simulation of the operation of the steering wheel and clutch. The resistance of the steering wheel to a turning force is greater when the simulated training vehicle is at rest than when the vehicle is moving. The simulated clutch offers a progressively different resistance to movement of the clutch pedal depending on the degree of engagement or disengagement of the simulated clutch. Also provided in the simulator is a stall sensor which causes the simulated vehicle to "stall" while also providing an indication of the occurrence of a stall when predetermined simulated conditions of engine speed and load are present in the simulated vehicle.
Claims40
In a driver training simulator including simulated controls of a vehicle including a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal, and a reduced-size vehicle the movements of which are controlled by the operation by a student driver of one or more of said controls, the improvement which comprises:
- means for sensing whether the reduced-size vehicle is at rest or in motion, and means for producing a first resistance to the rotation of said steering wheel of a first magnitude when the reduced-size vehicle is at rest and for producing a second resistance to the rotation of said steering wheel of a second magnitude less than that of said first magnitude when the reduced-size vehicle is in motion.
In a driver training simulator including simulated controls of a vehicle and a reduced-size vehicle whose movement is controlled by the operation of one or more of said controls, said vehicle including an electric drive motor, the improvement which comprises:
- first means for producing a first signal bearing a relation to the speed of said motor, second means for producing a second signal bearing a relation to the torque of said motor, and means operatively coupled to said first and second signal producing means and including means for comparing the relative magnitudes of said first and second signals for producing a simulated stall condition in said vehicle at predetermined levels of said first and second signals.
A driver training simulator including simulated controls of a vehicle including a clutch pedal, means for producing a varying resistance to the movement of the clutch pedal corresponding to the movement thereof, and a reduced-size vehicle whose movement is controlled by the operation of one or more of said controls, said varying-resistance producing means comprising a first resistance member for providing an initial gradually increasing resistance to movement of the clutch over a predetermined distance to a point simulating clutch disengagement, and a second resistance member axially aligned with and axially spaced from said first resistance member for providing additional resistance to that offered by said first member as the clutch pedal is moved beyond said predetermined distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.