US 9,126,579 B1 · Vehicle drive and control system

Abstract

A control system for use in a vehicle having left and right clutch assemblies, each clutch assembly including a brake mechanism and a drive mechanism. The control system includes a steering switch having a left steering position to actuate the left brake mechanism and the right drive mechanism, a neutral steering position to actuate the left and right drive mechanisms, and a right steering position to actuate the left drive mechanism and the right brake mechanism. The system may also include an operator switch having a first position to actuate brake mechanisms and disable the steering switch, and a second position that passes control of both brake clutch assemblies to the steering switch. The system may further include a brake switch having a brake position that actuates both brake mechanisms and disables the operator switch and the steering switch, and a drive position that passes control of both clutch assemblies to the operator switch.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A control system for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle having a prime mover, a transmission having a control shaft and a pair of wheels, each of the pair of wheels coupled to a respective drive assembly and a respective brake assembly, the transmission coupling the prime mover to each one of the drive assemblies, the control system comprising:

an electric actuator coupled to the control shaft of the transmission for controlling an output speed of the transmission and the forward and reverse motions of the vehicle, wherein the electric actuator is configured to rotate the control shaft of the transmission in a forward range of motion away from a neutral position and in a reverse range of motion away from the neutral position;
and
a brake switch having a brake position and a drive position, the brake switch for actuating each of the brake assemblies when in the brake position;
wherein the electric actuator is driven to rotate the control shaft of the transmission to the neutral position when the brake switch is in the brake position and the control shaft is not in the neutral position.

1 more element

an electric actuator coupled to the control shaft of the transmission for controlling an output speed of the transmission and the forward and reverse motions of the vehicle, wherein the electric actuator is configured to rotate the control shaft of the transmission in a forward range of motion away from a neutral position and in a reverse range of motion away from the neutral position;
and
a dead man switch having an engaged position and a released position, the engaged position indicating a presence of an operator of the vehicle and the released position indicating an absence of the operator of the vehicle, wherein the dead man switch is biased to the released position;
wherein the electric actuator is driven to rotate the control shaft of the transmission to the neutral position when the dead man switch is in the released position and the control shaft is not in the neutral position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle drive and control system

Life of this patent

Vehicle drive and control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16