Speed control for utility vehicle operable from rearward-facing seat

A utility vehicle control system for a utility vehicle having a forward-facing driving position and a rearward-facing seat, comprising:

• a speed-controllable transmission operable to output power to drive a wheel;
• a creep speed control actuator located adjacent to the rearward-facing seat;
• a creep speed control system operatively connected to said actuator and to said transmission, said creep speed control system converting movement of said speed control actuator to speed change of said transmission;
• wherein said transmission comprises a hydrostatic transmission having a variable displacement pump that includes a swashplate, the angular position of the swashplate controlling variable displacement pump capacity, the pump hydraulically connected to a hydraulic motor, and a hydraulic control system having a servo piston housed in a servo cylinder, and connected to said swashplate, movement of said piston within said cylinder causing a change of angle of said swashplate, and a forward pressure control valve and a reverse pressure control valve, said valves hydraulically connected to opposite sides of the servo piston respectively, said forward and reverse pressure control valves selectively energized to move said servo piston within said servo cylinder, and a controller, and said actuator comprises a position sensor to send an actuator position signal to said controller.

A utility vehicle control system for a utility vehicle having a forward-facing driving position and a rearward-facing seat, comprising:

• a hydrostatic transmission operable to output power to drive a wheel;
• a creep speed control actuator located adjacent to the rearward-facing seat, said creep speed control actuator outputting a creep speed signal for forward or reverse direction;
• a controller having an input for receiving said creep speed signal, and an output sending an output signal substantially proportional to said creep speed signal;
• a first pressure control valve signal-connected to said controller for receiving said output signal and hydraulically-connected to said hydrostatic transmission, and energized to cause forward movement of said vehicle, a second pressure control valve signal-connected to said controller for receiving said output signal and hydraulically-connected to said hydrostatic transmission, and energized to cause reverse movement of said vehicle, said controller, by said output signal, energizing one of said first and second control valves corresponding to the speed signal of said actuator.