Throttle holding device

A holding device for a throttle of an internal combustion engine including an internal combustion engine throttle lever, a throttle rod operatively connected to the throttle lever, the throttle rod being segmented into two portions having a bell crank mechanism disposed between respective ends of opposite portions of the throttle rod, the first segment of the throttle rod operatively connected between the throttle lever and one end portion of the bell crank mechanism, the second segment of the throttle rod operatively connected between the opposite end of the bell crank mechanism and one end of the second segment of the throttle rod, the opposite end of the second segment of the throttle rod being operatively connected to a throttle pedal operable to urge the throttle lever toward a throttle open position, the bell crank mechanism having a mounting member, a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on the member, a coextensive member rigidly connected adjacent the bellcrank lever, the coextensive member engageable with a friction device capable of gripping said coextensive member to retain the bell crank mechanism and the throttle rod connected thereto in a preset position, and means for operating the friction device including an electrical solenoid capable when energized of urging the brake into engagement with the coextensive member to restrict its movement, and an operating circuit for engaging and disengaging the solenoid, said circuit comprising an energy source, a manually operated electrical switch for connecting said electrical energy means to the solenoid, a three-position switch disposed in the circuit engageable in a first position to activate the circuit, in a second position to maintain the circuit in an operating condition and in a third position to deactivate the circuit, a magnetic switch engageable upon engagement of the three-position switch to the first position, the engagement of the magnetic switch supplying electrical energy to the solenoid for operation thereof, and a hydraulically operated switch provided in the operating circuit capable of disconnecting the solenoid from said electrical energy source when the hydraulic pressure in the switch is above a predetermined minimum, whereby the throttle lever is movable between a throttle closed position and a throttle open position and the friction device may be engaged to hold the throttle rod in a predetermined position which maintains the throttle lever in an open position and may be disengaged to release the throttle rod and return the throttle lever to a closed position.