Speed control for wheeled vehicles

A method for controlling the speed of awheeled vehicle that has a brake, and drive means which includes a pedal-driven crank drive system including a crank which is drivingly connectible to a wheel of said vehicle, the rotational velocity of said crank when drivingly coupled to one of said wheels being directly proportional to the linear velocity of the vehicle, and which vehicle is propellable by power motive means, which said power motive means has a speed that is directly proportional to the vehicle speed, said power motive means including a power output control, said control being adjustable selectively to vary the power output of said motive means and including actuator means for adjusting said power output control, first signal generator means driven by said crank drive system for generating a first signal proportional to a desired vehicle speed, second signal generator means for generating a second signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed, and comparator means for comparing said first and second signals, said comparator means including storage means for containing the actual linear velocity of said vehicle, and brake operation detecting means for generating a signal as a consequence of actuating said brake, said method comprising:

• (a) with said comparator means comparing said first and second signals to detect any difference between them;
• (b) actuating said actuator means to adjust said power output control to tend to eliminate said difference and cause said actual vehicle speed to approach said desired vehicle speed;
• and
• (c) upon cessation of a first linear signal from said first signal generator means and in the absence of a signal from said brake operation detecting means, controlling said actuator to maintain said actual velocity at the value it had at the time when said first signal generator means ceased supplying said first signal.

In combination:

• a wheeled vehicle including a frame, a brake, and at least one wheel mounted to said frame and drive means including a pedal driven crank drive system including a crank which is drivingly couplable to a wheel of said vehicle, the rotational velocity of said crank when drivingly coupled to one of said wheels being directly proportional to the linear velocity of the vehicle, and which vehicle is propellable by power motive means,
• said motive means when driving said vehicle having a speed which is directly proportional to the vehicle speed, said power motive means including a power output control, said control being selectively adjustable to vary the power output of said power motive means, and a vehicle speed control said vehicle speed control comprising:
• actuator means for adjusting said power output control, first signal generator means driven by said crank drive system for generating a first signal proportional to a desired vehicle speed, second signal generator means for generating a second signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed;
• comparator means for comparing said first and second signals and, as a consequence of an observed difference between them, causing said actuator means to adjust said power output control, whereby to adjust the power output of said power motive means to a level which tends to eliminate said difference in speeds and causes the vehicle to approach said desired vehicle speed;
• brake operation detecting means for generating a signal as a consequence of actuating said brake;
• and
• storage means in said comparator means for containing the actual linear velocity of the vehicle, said comparator means, upon the cessation of a first signal from said first signal generator means and in the absence of a signal from said brake operation detecting means, controlling said actuator to maintain said actual velocity at the value it had at the time when said first signal generator means ceased supplying said first signal.