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US 4,716,980 AGranted
Control system for rider vehicles
AssigneeThe Prime-Mover Co.
InventorRobert W. Butler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric rider vehicle control system is disclosed which includes a dead man brake that is normally set to prevent coasting, and controls which release the brake and permit normal transport operation of the vehicle at multiple speeds by an operator on the operator's platform. The controls also include a selector switch for selecting between such normal operation and another mode in which the brake is held in a release position by an electrical solenoid, the first controls are disabled or bypassed, and the propulsive drive is operated by jogging control switches mounted on the sides of the vehicle for convenient manipulation by an operator walking alongside. An adjustable hydraulic snubber also is provided to control brake application.
Claims20
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- electrical propulsion means for propelling said vehicle, means for supporting a person in an operator's position on said vehicle, first control means disposed on said vehicle in said operator's position for manipulation by a person at said position for effecting operation of said propelling means in forward and reverse directions in a first mode of propulsive operation, second control means disposed on said vehicle in a position wherein it is accessible for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for effecting operation of said propelling means in forward and reverse directions in a second mode of propulsive operation which is different from said first mode, and means for selecting between operation of said propelling means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode.
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- electrical propulsion means for propelling said vehicle, means for supporting a person in an operator's position on said vehicle, brake means for preventing coasting movement of said vehicle and means for normally positioning said brake means in a vehicle-braking position, first control means disposed on said vehicle in said operator's position for manipulation by a person at said position for effecting operation of said propelling means in a first mode of propulsive operation, said first control means including brake operating means for selectively positioning said brake means in a non-braking position in said first mode, second control means disposed on said vehicle in a position wherein it is accessible for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for effecting operation of said propelling means in a second mode of propulsive operation which is different from said first mode, means for selecting between operation of said propelling means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode, and said selecting means including means for positioning said brake means in a non-braking position while said second control means is selected for operation of said vehicle in said second mode.
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- electrical propulsion means for propelling said vehicle, means for supporting a person in an operator's position on said vehicle, first control means disposed on said vehicle in said operator's position for manipulation by a person at said position for effecting operation of said propelling means in a first mode of propulsive operation, second control means disposed on said vehicle in a position wherein it is accessible for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for effecting operation of said propelling means in a second mode of propulsive operation which is different from said first mode, said second control means comprising control switch actuators mounted on each side of said vehicle, means for selecting between operation of said propelling means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode.
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- electrical propulsion means for propelling said vehicle, means for supporting a person in an operator's position on said vehicle, a control column adjacent said operator's position, first control means mounted on said control column and disposed in said operator's position for manipulation by a person at said position for effecting operation of said propelling means in a first mode of propulsive operation, second control means disposed on said vehicle in a position wherein it is accessible for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for effecting operation of said propelling means in a second mode of propulsive operation which is different from said first mode, said second control means comprising control switches mounted on each side of said column, and means for selecting between operation of said propelling means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode.
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- electrical propulsion means for propelling said vehicle, means for supporting a person in an operator's position on said vehicle, brake means for preventing coasting movement of said vehicle, means for normally positioning said brake means in a vehicle-braking position, and power means for selectively moving said brake means to a non-braking position, first control means disposed on said vehicle in said operator's position for manipulation by a person at said position for effecting operation of said propelling means in a first mode of propulsive operation, said first control means including operating means for selectively actuating said power means to move said brake means to a non-braking position, second control means disposed on said vehicle in a position wherein it is accessible for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for effecting operation of said propelling means in a second mode of propulsive operation which is different from said first mode, means for selecting between operation of said propelling means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode, and wherein said selecting means includes means for actuating said power means for positioning said brake means in a non-braking position when said second control means is selected.
An electric rider vehicle comprising:
- a frame, support wheels including at least one drive wheel which is steerable about a vertical axis for steering said vehicle, electrical propulsion means drive-connected to said wheel for propelling said vehicle, brake means and means normally setting said brake in a braking position for preventing coasting movement of said vehicle, an operator's platform on said frame for supporting an operator on said vehicle, a movable steering column disposed adjacent said platform and connected to said steerable drive wheel for steering said wheel by movement of said column by an operator, first control means mounted on said column for manipulation by an operator on said platform for operation of said propulsion means for propelling said vehicle at multiple speeds in a first mode of propulsive operation, electrical power means for selectively moving said brake means to a non-braking position, first actuating means on said vehicle for actuating said power means in response to the presence of an operator on said platform, second control means mounted on the side of said control column for manipulation by a person walking beside said vehicle for affecting operation of said propulsion means in a second mode of propulsive operation, and means for selecting between either operation of said propulsion means by said first control means in said first mode or said second control means in said second mode and precluding operation of said propelling means by the non-selected control means in the respective non-selected mode, and second means for actuating said power means to position said brake means in a non-braking position when said second control means is selected for operation of said vehicle in said second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.