Actuator for vehicle engine throttles

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• and
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions, wherein the guide includes a first guide member fixedly connected with the vehicle and a second guide member coupled with the input member so as to be displaceable with respect to the first guide member, the connector extending generally between the two guide members such that a portion of the connector extends partially about each one of the two guide members when the input member displaces between an intermediate position and the maximum displaced position.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions;
• and
• a governor mechanism coupled with the throttle plate, the second end of the connector being coupled with the governor mechanism so as to connect the connector second end with the throttle plate, wherein the governor mechanism is configured to displace the throttle plate toward the plate minimum open position as a speed approaches a predetermined maximum value, the speed being one of vehicle ground speed and engine speed.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position, the input member including a pedal assembly pivotally connected with the vehicle so as to angularly displace between the initial and maximum displaced positions, the pedal assembly including an input lever pivotally connected with the vehicle so as to be angularly displaceable about an axis and having a portion contactable by a foot and a control lever pivotally connected with the vehicle so as to be angularly displaceable about the axis and engageable with the foot lever such that displacement of the foot lever angularly displaces the control lever, the foot lever being disengageable from the control lever such that the foot lever is angularly displaceable independently of the control lever;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the control lever such that angular displacement of the control lever displaces the connector and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• and
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions.

An actuator for use with a first vehicle engine and alternatively with a second vehicle engine, each engine including a carburetor with a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• and
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions when the input member displaces between the initial and maximum positions;
• and
• wherein the connector is connectable with the input member such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate varies during input member movement for use with the first engine and is alternatively connectable with the input member such that the displacement rate is generally constant during input member movement for use with the second engine.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input lever pivotally connected with the vehicle so as to be angularly displaceable about an axis and having a portion engageable by a vehicle user;
• a control lever pivotally connected with the vehicle so as to be angularly displaceable about the axis and engageable with the input lever such that displacement of the input lever angularly displaces the control lever;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the throttle plate and a second end connected with the control lever such that angular displacement of the control lever displaces the connector, the input lever being disengageable from the control lever such that the input lever is angularly displaceable independently of the control lever;
• and
• a limit member connected with the vehicle and contactable with the control lever so as to prevent rotation of the control lever in a first angular direction about the axis;
• wherein the input lever is displaceable between first and second limit positions about the axis and the control lever contacts the limit member when the input lever is located at an intermediate, stop position between the two limit positions such that further displacement of the input lever in the first direction causes the input lever to uncouple from the control lever.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• and
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions, the guide being further configured to take up a portion of the connector such that displacement of the connector second end is substantially greater than displacement of the connector first end as the input member moves toward the maximum displaced position, the guide including a first guide member fixedly connected with the vehicle and a second guide member coupled with the input member so as to be movable with respect to the first guide member, the connector extending generally between the first and second guide members, the two guide members engaging with a separate, opposing side of the connector when the input member displaces between an intermediate position and the maximum displaced position such that the taken-up connector portion is partially winded about each one of the first and second guide members.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• and
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions, wherein the guide includes first and second guide members each configured to engage with the connector such that a portion of the connector winds partially about each one of the two guide members such that displacement of the connector second end is greater than displacement of the connector first end as the input member moves toward the maximum position.

An actuator for an engine of a vehicle, the engine including a carburetor having a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, the actuator comprising:

• an input member movably coupled with the vehicle so as to be displaceable between an initial position and a maximum displaced position;
• a flexible connector having a first end connected with the input member and a second end connected with the throttle plate such that movement of the input member displaces the connector to move the throttle plate between the minimum and maximum positions;
• and
• a guide configured to direct movement of the connector such that a rate of displacement of the throttle plate is varied as the input member moves between the initial and maximum positions;
• wherein the connector first end is alternatively connectable with the input member so as to be nonengageable by the guide such that the throttle rate displacement is generally constant as the input member moves between the initial and maximum displaced positions.