# US 4,396,081 A · Mechanism for indicating drive engaging force

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- Number: US 4,396,081 A
- Document ID: US4396081A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/330,762
- Filed: 1981-12-14
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1981-12-14
- Assignees: Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc.
- Inventors: Lynn E. Hochwitz; Daniel W. Schaefer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396081A

## CPC

- B62D 51/001: {characterised by the vehicle control device (mechanical features of control devices in general G05G; arrangements of vehicle control devices in general B60K20/00, B60K23/00, B60K26/00)}
- Y10T 74/20006: Resilient connections
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The proper drive establishing force is indicated by the relative position of the end (91) of a control link (36) and the end (92) of a spring coil (49) of a coil spring (47) by which resilient clutch engaging force is transmitted to a transmission clutching mechanism (65,66) by a hand lever (26).

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a control for establishing drive in a walk-behind vehicle, comprising:
a manually operated clutch control linkage including
a hand-operated lever shiftable between clutch engaged and clutch disengaged positions,
an elongated control link having first and second parts interconnected by fastening means permitting the parts to be adjusted relative to one another to vary the length of the link,
means connecting one of said parts to said hand-operated lever,
a clutch control member shiftably mounted on the vehicle for the movement between clutch engaged and clutch disengaged positions, and
a coil spring having one of its ends connected to said clutch control member and the other of its ends connected to said second part of said control link, said second part including a portion extending axially through the inside of the coil of said spring with an end portion of said second part extending beyond the end coil when the manually operated lever is in its clutch disengaged position and the terminous of said end portion being closely adjacent an end of the coil when said manually operated lever is moved to its clutch engaged position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control of claim 1 wherein adjacent ends of said first and second parts are threaded and said fastening means includes a turnbuckle with aligned threaded openings at its opposite ends in threaded engagement with said threaded ends of said first and second parts.

### Claim 3

In a control for establishing drive in a walk-behind vehicle, comprising:
a manually operated clutch control linkage including
a hand-operated lever shiftable between clutch engaged and clutch disengaged positions,
a clutch control member shiftably mounted on said vehicle for movement between clutch engaged and clutch disengaged positions,
a coil tension spring having one end connected to said clutch control member to impart shifting movement thereto, and
an elongated link having one end connected to said hand-operated lever whereby said link moves generally in its direction of elongation upon shifting movement of said lever, said link including a portion near its other end connected in thrust transmitting relation to the other end of said coil spring and a part extending through the coil of said coil spring with an end terminating near the remote end of said coil,
the relative position of said end of said link part and the remote end of said coil of said spring being observable and indicating the magnitude of the clutch engaging force being transmitted through the linkage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The control of claim 3 wherein said end of said link part extends beyond said remote end of said coil when said hand-operated lever is in its clutch disengaged position and is adjacent to said remote end of said coil when said hand-operated lever is in its clutch engaged position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4)

The control of claims 3 or 4 wherein said elongated link is selectively adjustable in length.