Patent ID: 7237453

Claim:
A power control device for a drive motor of a motor vehicle, comprising: an operating lever arranged to be actuated by an operating force so that from a rest position the operating lever pivots about a pivot axis against a return force, a damping device arranged to damp the pivoting motion of the operating lever, the damping device being a friction device comprising: a first friction element and a first friction wheel arranged to be acted upon by the first friction element, a second friction element and a second friction wheel arranged to be acted upon by the second friction element, wherein the first and second friction wheels are arranged on a first shaft, wherein the damping device is arranged to act upon at least one of the operating lever and a component of the operating lever such that for the pivoting motion of the operating lever in a direction away from the rest position, a friction force is overcome in addition to the return force, wherein the friction device is configured to act upon at least one of the operating lever and the component of the operating lever, and wherein the friction device is arranged to be activated by an activation signal.