System and method for controlling the ground speed and enhancing the maneuverability of an off-road vehicle

A system for controlling the ground speed of a maneuverable off-road vehicle having an operator seat, an engine and a hydrostatic transmission coupled for driving a pair of ground wheels and having a swash plate selectively moveable among neutral, forward and reverse drive positions, and a pair of brakes respectively coupled to the pair of wheels, said system comprising:

• means, operatively connected to said swash plate, for precisely locating the neutral position of said swash plate comprising:
• cam means pivotably mounted to said transmission at one end and having a V profile at the other end;
• cam follower means pivotably connected to said vehicle;
• roller means, operatively connected to said cam follower and being rotatably positioned in the V end of said cam;
• spring means for biasing an upper end of said cam follower toward said V of said cam and being operatively attached to the lower end of said cam follower means at one end and being adjustably attached to the vehicle at said other end;
• an electrical switch having a plunger operatively connected to said cam such that said switch plunger is positioned proximate said V's apex whereby when said roller is positioned in said cam V apex, said transmission is in the neutral position and said plunger is depressed by a second roller operatively connected to said first roller thereby sensing said neutral position;
• direction control means, operatively connected to said swash plate and said precisely locating means, for selectively controlling said swash plate such that said vehicle is driven in either a forward or a reverse direction;
• brake control means, operatively connected to said pair of brakes, for selectively stopping said vehicle;
• turning control means, operatively connected to said brake control means, for selectively engaging one or the other of said pair of brakes thereby enhancing said vehicle's maneuverability;
• cruise control means, operatively connected to said swash plate, said direction control means and said brake control means, for selectively maintaining said swash plate in a constant position while said vehicle is moving in said forward direction;
• and
• means, operative interconnecting said direction control means, said turning control means and said brake control means, for selectively disengaging said cruise control means such that when said cruise control means is engaged, engagement of either of said forward direction control means or said brake control means or disengagement of said cruise control means is operative to disengage said cruise control means.

A system for controlling the ground speed of a vehicle having an operator seat, an engine and a hydrostatic transmission operatively connected for driving a pair of ground wheels and having a swash plate selectively moveable among neutral, forward and reverse drive positions, and a pair of brakes respectively operatively connected to the pair of wheels, said system comprising:

• means, operatively connected to said swash plate, for precisely locating the neutral position of said swash plate, said precisely locating means further comprising:
• cam means pivotably mounted to said transmission at one end and having a V-profile at the other end;
• cam follower means pivotably connected to said vehicle and having a flange member at each end thereof;
• roller means, operatively connected to said cam follower means and being rotatably positioned in the V of said cam means;
• resilient means for biasing an upper end of said cam follower means towards said V of said cam means and being operatively connected to the lower end of said cam means at one end and being adjustably attached to said vehicle at the other end;
• and
• switch means having a plunger operatively connected to said cam means such that when said plunger is positioned proximate said V's apex therefore and said roller is positioned in said cam V apex, said transmission is in the neutral position and said plunger is depressed by a second roller operatively connected to said first roller thereby sensing said neutral position;
• direction control means, operatively connected to said swash plate and said precisely locating means, for selectively positioning said swash plate for driving said vehicle in either a forward or a reverse direction;
• brake control means, operatively connected to said pair of brakes, for selectively stopping said vehicle;
• turning control means, operatively connected to said brake control means, for selectively engaging one or the other of said pair of brakes thereby enhancing said vehicle's maneuverability;
• and
• cruise control means, operatively connected to said swash plate for selectively maintaining said swash plate in a constant position while said vehicle is moving in said forward direction.

A brake system for an off-road vehicle comprising:

• a brake shaft operatively positioned on said vehicle;
• a service brake pedal operatively connected to said shaft;
• a first brake arm having lost motion means integral therewith operatively connected to said shaft;
• a second brake arm operatively connected to said shaft and having at least two studs operatively positioned thereon;
• a first brake hub operatively rotatably mounted about said shaft and having a third brake arm having lost motion means integral therewith and extending below said shaft;
• a second brake hub operatively connected to said first brake hub and being rotatable about said brake shaft, said hub having a fourth brake arm having lost motion means integral therewith extending below said brake shaft;
• a third brake hub operatively connected to said shaft and having a fourth brake arm with lost motion means integral therewith extending below said shaft;
• a fourth brake hub rotatably mounted about said shaft and having a fifth brake arm with lost motion means integral therewith extending below said shaft;
• and
• means for connecting said arms having lost motion means integral therewith to said brakes.

A mechanism for initially precisely locating the neutral position of a hydrostatic transmission installed in a vehicle comprising:

• a cam pivotally mounted to said transmission at one end and having a V profile at the other end;
• a cam follower pivotally connected to said vehicle and having a flange member at each end thereof;
• a roller, operatively attached to said cam follower and being rotatably positioned in the V end of said cam;
• a spring for biasing an upper end of said cam follower toward said V of said cam and being operatively connected to said lower end of said cam at one end and being adjustably attached to said vehicle at said other end;
• and
• electrical switch means having plunger means operatively connected to said cam such that said plunger means is positioned proximate said V's apex such that when said roller is positioned in said cam V apex and said transmission is in the neutral position, said plunger means is depressed by a second roller operatively connected to said first roller thereby sensing said neutral position.

A mechanism for driving a vehicle having a hydrostatic transmission and means initially for precisely locating the neutral position of the hydrostatic transmission, said mechanism comprising:

• at least two foot control pedals operatively connected to said transmission, one of said pedals controls the forward ground speed and the second of said pedals controls the reverse ground speed thereof;
• means, operatively connected to said foot pedals, for automatically returning said transmission to said initial neutral position;
• a first hub having an arm, said first hub being operatively connected to a shaft, said forward control pedal being operatively connected to said hub;
• at least a first connecting rod for connecting said first hub arm to said precisely locating means;
• a second hub having an arm, said second hub being operatively connected to said shaft and to said reverse control pedal;
• and
• at least a second connecting rod for connecting said second hub arm to said precisely locating means.

A system for controlling the ground speed and direction of a vehicle having a variable speed transmission, and said system comprising:

• at least a forward and a reverse foot operated pedal each operatively connected to said transmission;
• means, operatively connected to said transmission, for precisely locating the neutral position of said transmission;
• means, operatively connecting said foot pedals and said precisely locating means, for automatically returning said transmission to said neutral position upon disengagement of either of said foot pedals;
• a first hub having an arm, said first hub being operatively connected to a shaft, said forward pedal being operatively connected to said hub;
• at least a first connecting rod for connecting said first hub arm to said precisely locating means;
• a second hub having an arm, said second hub being operatively connected to said shaft and to said reverse pedal;
• and
• at least a second connecting rod for connecting said second hub arm to said precisely locating means.

A system for controlling the ground speed of a vehicle having an engine and a hydrostatic transmission having a swash plate, said system comprising:

• a forward control pedal;
• a reverse control pedal;
• means for locating a neutral position of the hydrostatic transmission;
• means, operatively connected to said locating means and said forward and reverse control pedals, for automatically returning said swash plate of said transmission to said neutral position;
• transfer means, operatively interconnecting said forward and reverse control pedals with said locating means, for changing the position of said swash plate in response to position changes of said forward and reverse pedals, respectfully;
• a first hub having an arm, said first hub being operatively connected to a shaft, said forward control pedal being operatively connected to said hub;
• at least a first connecting rod for connecting said first hub arm to said locating means;
• a second hub having an arm, said second hub being operatively connected to said shaft and to said reverse control pedal;
• and
• at least a second connecting rod for connecting said second hub arm to said locating means.

A system for controlling the ground speed of a vehicle having an engine and a hydrostatic transmission having a swash plate, said system comprising:

• a forward control pedal;
• a reverse control pedal;
• a cam having a V-shaped notch operatively connected to said swash plate;
• a cam follower operatively connected to said vehicle and having a roller member operatively connected thereto, said roller member being operatively positioned in the apex of said V-shaped notch when said swash plate is a neutral position;
• resilient means, operatively connected to said cam follower, for biasing said roller member towards said apex of said V-shaped notch when said swash plate is positioned in any position other than said neutral position;
• at least one pivot means;
• at least a first connecting rod operatively connecting said forward control pedal with said pivot means;
• at least a second connecting rod operatively connecting said reverse control pedal with said pivot means;
• a first hub having an arm operatively connecting said forward control pedal with said first connecting rod;
• and
• a second hub having an arm operatively connecting said reverse control pedal with said second connecting rod.

A mechanism for preventing inadvertent movement of a vehicle having a hydrostatic transmission, a pedal control system and a means for precisely locating the neutral position of said hydrostatic transmission, said mechanism comprising:

• a lever pivotally connected to said vehicle and having a flange with an aperture at one end and a hook member attached to the other end;
• a rod connected to said lever through said aperture and having a spring positioned at the end connected to said lever and being in contact with a seat with the other end;
• and
• a spring connected to said lever proximate said rod for biasing said lever toward said seat, said seat being biased away from contact with said rod such that when said seat is biased away from contact with said rod, said hook member engages said precisely locating means thereby positively locking said transmission in said neutral position.

A system for controlling the ground speed of a vehicle having an operator seat, an engine and a variable speed transmission coupled for driving a pair of ground wheels and having a control shaft selectively movable among neutral, forward and reverse drive positions, and a pair of brakes respectively coupled to the pair of wheels, said system comprising:

• means, operatively connected to said control shaft, for precisely locating the neutral position of said control shaft;
• direction control means, operatively connected to said control shaft and said precisely locating means, for selectively controlling said control shaft such that said vehicle is driven in either a forward or a reverse direction, said direction control means further comprising:
• a forward foot control pedal operatively connected to a shaft by a hub having an arm;
• a first connecting rod operatively connected to said first hub arm and to said transmission;
• a member received on a bolt connected to said precisely locating means at one end and to said connecting rod at the other end;
• a reverse foot control pedal operatively connected to said shaft at one end, and having an arm with a flange operatively connected to the other end of said shaft;
• and
• a second connecting rod operatively connected to an upper portion of said reverse pedal arm and to said member;
• means, operatively connected to each of said foot pedals for automatically returning said transmission to said initial neutral position;
• brake control means, operatively connected to said pair of brakes, for selectively stopping said vehicle;
• turning control means, operatively connected to said brake control means, for selectively engaging one or the other of said pair of brakes thereby enhancing said vehicle's maneuverability;
• cruise control means, operatively connected to said control shaft, said direction control means and said brake control means, for selectively maintaining said control shaft in a constant position while said vehicle is moving in said forward direction, and
• means, operatively interconnecting said direction control means, said turning control means and said brake control means for selectively disengaging said cruise control means such that when said cruise control means is engaged, engagement of either of said forward direction control means or said brake control means or disengagement of said cruise control means is operative to disengage said cruise control means.