Patent ID: 6729298
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: F02D,G05G

Abstract:
A vehicle comprising:a vehicle body; an engine mounted on said vehicle body; a user-operable speed control assembly operably coupled to said engine wherein said speed control assembly selectively varies the speed of said engine, said speed control assembly comprising: a user-operable input mechanism having a first range of motion ranging from an input idle position to an input maximum position; a first linkage body operably coupled with said input mechanism and having a second range of motion ranging from a first linkage idle position to a first linkage maximum position wherein movement of said input mechanism from said input idle position through said input maximum position correspondingly moves said first linkage body through said second range of motion from said first linkage idle position to said first linkage maximum position; a first biasing member operably coupled to said speed control assembly for biasing said first linkage body and said user-operable input mechanism toward said first linkage idle position and said input idle position respectively; a second linkage body having a third range of motion which includes a second linkage idle position and a second linkage maximum throttle position, said second linkage body operably coupled to said engine wherein movement of said second linkage body through said third range of motion varies the speed of said engine, movement of said second linkage member in a first direction from said second linkage idle position toward said second linkage maximum throttle position progressively increasing the speed of said engine, said second linkage body being movable relative to said first linkage body, a second biasing member biasing said second linkage body relative to said first linkage body in said first direction, said second linkage body engagable with said first linkage body whereby relative movement of said second linkage body relative to said first linkage body in said first direction is limited, and wherein, as said first linkage body is moved through said second range of motion from said first linkage idle position to said first linkage maximum position, said second linkage body remains engaged with said first linkage body and is moved in said first direction until said second linkage member engages a stop which limits further travel of said second linkage member in said first direction, said first linkage body being intermediate said first linkage idle and said first linkage maximum positions when said second linkage body engages said stop, further travel of said first linkage body toward said first linkage maximum position after said second linkage body has engaged said stop causing relative movement of said first and second linkage bodies in a direction opposed by said second biasing element.