Golf car having modular accelerator pedal assembly with non-contacting position sensor
AssigneeTextron Inc.
InventorJames C. Journey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automobile is provided with a speed control system operably connected to a drive system of the automobile. The speed control system includes an accelerator pedal assembly having an accelerator pedal movably connected to a frame of the assembly, an actuator rod connected to the accelerator pedal, and an induction sensor stationarily connected to the frame. The sensor is adapted to generate an electrical output signal corresponding to the position of the actuator rod relative to the sensor without the actuator rod contacting the sensor. The accelerator pedal assembly is connected to the chassis of the automobile as a substantially modular unit.
Claims21
An automobile comprising:
- a chassis;
- a drive system connected to the chassis;
- and
- a speed control system operably connected to the drive system, the speed control system comprising an accelerator pedal assembly having a foot pedal, a movable actuator rod pivotably connected to the foot pedal, and a position sensor, the actuator rod having a section that is longitudinally moved in a receiving area of the position sensor as the actuator rod is moved, wherein the position sensor is a non-contacting position sensor for generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the actuator rod relative to the sensor without the actuator rod contacting the sensor.
In a golf car having a chassis, a drive system, a speed controller, and a manually actuated accelerator control, the improvement comprising:
- the accelerator control having a longitudinally movable induction actuator and a non-contacting induction position sensor for sensing the position of the actuator relative to the position sensor and generating an electrical output signal to the speed controller corresponding thereto, the position sensor having a receiving area that allows a portion of the induction actuator to longitudinally move therein wherein the accelerator control includes an accelerator pedal connected to an accelerator control frame, the actuator being pivotably connected to the accelerator pedal and moved by moving the pedal.
A speed control assembly for a car comprising:
- a frame having means for connection to a chassis of the car;
- an accelerator pedal movably connected to the frame;
- a movable actuator rod connected to the accelerator pedal;
- and
- a non-contracting sensor fixedly connected to the frame, the position sensor being suitably positioned relative to the actuator rod for generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the actuator rod relative to the sensor without the actuator rod contacting the sensor, wherein the position sensor, the actuator rod, the accelerator pedal and the frame are a modular unit that is modularly connectable to the car.
In a car having a chassis, a drive system, and a manually actuated accelerator control, the improvement comprising:
- the manually actuated accelerator control comprising a frame, an accelerator pedal movably connected to the frame, and a sensor stationarily connected to the frame for sensing the position of the accelerator pedal relative to the frame, the frame having means for connection to the chassis wherein the frame, the accelerator pedal and the sensor are a single module and, the module is connected to the chassis as a singular modular unit.
An automobile comprising:
- a chassis;
- a drive system connected to the chassis;
- and
- a speed control system operably connected to the drive system, the speed control system comprising an accelerator pedal assembly having a movable actuator rod, a switch and a position sensor, wherein the position sensor is a non-contacting position sensor for generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the actuator rod relative to the sensor without the actuator rod contacting the sensor and, the switch is positioned for signaling movement of the actuator rod from a home position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.