Single lever remote control for engine throttle and clutch

Abstract

.[.Disclosed herein is.]. A throttle control for an engine including a housing supporting a control lever for rotation relative to a neutral position, a throttle lever movably mounted on the housing and adapted to actuate the engine throttle, a throttle drive member including a drive pin and mounted for rotation in response to movement of the control lever from the neutral position, and a cam member connected between the throttle lever and the throttle drive member. The cam member includes a cam track receiving the drive pin and having a shape effective to displace the cam member relative to the throttle drive member, transversely relative to the rotational axis of the throttle drive member, so as to move the throttle lever in response to rotation of the throttle drive member. In one embodiment, the control further includes a shift lever movably mounted on the housing and adapted to actuate the engine clutch and a shift drive member drivingly connected to the shift lever for actuating the engine clutch in response to movement of the control lever from the neutral position. The cam track is arranged so that the cam member, and thus the throttle lever, remains in an engine idle position during initial movement of the control lever from the neutral position to actuate the engine clutch and so that further movement of the control lever from the neutral position causes translatory movement of the cam member to advance the engine throttle.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: .[.1. A throttle control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing, a control lever connected to said shaft member for common rotation therewith relative to a neutral position, a shift lever mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position and adapted to actuate the engine clutch in response to movement of said shift lever, means connecting said shift lever to said shaft member for moving said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a throttle lever movable mounted on said housing and adapted to actuate the engine throttle in response to movement said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin mounted on said shaft member for common rotation therewith in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a cam member carried by said shaft member and connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and a throttle advance position in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a shape effective to displace said cam member relative to said shaft member and to said throttle drive member to move said throttle lever in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, and guide means on said cam member and on said shaft member for guiding translatory movement of said cam member relative to the rotational axis of said shaft member in response to movement of said drive pin in said cam track..]. .[.2. A throttle control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing, a control lever connected to said shaft member for common rotation therewith relative to a neutral position, a shift lever mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position and adapted to actuate the engine clutch in response to movement of said shift lever, means connecting said shift lever to said shaft member for moving said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a throttle lever movably mounted on said housing and adapted to actuate the engine throttle in response to movement of said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin and mounted on said shaft member for common rotation therewith in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a cam member carried by said shaft member and connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and a throttle advance position in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a central portion extending at a uniform radius from the rotational axis of said shaft member and end portions extending from said central portion at increasing distances from the rotational axis of said shaft member, whereby said cam member remains in the idle position while said drive pin travels in said cam track central portion in response to rotation of said throttle drive member and said cam member moves from the idle position to a throttle advance position after said drive pin enters into and travels within one of said cam track end portions in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, and guide means on said cam member and on said shaft member for guiding translatory movement of said cam member relative to the rotational axis of said shaft member in response to movement of said drive pin in said cam track..]. .[.3. A throttle control according to claim 2 wherein said shaft member is further supported within said housing for axial movement relative to said housing and to said throttle drive member between first and second positions in response to axial movement of said control lever, wherein said means connecting said shift lever with said shaft member includes a shift drive member mounted on said shaft member for common axial movement therewith and for relative rotary movement therebetween and means connecting said shift lever and said shift drive member for moving said shift lever from a neutral position to the shift position in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position and for permitting axial movement of said shift drive member relative to said shift lever in response to axial movement of said control lever, and wherein said control includes drive means for releasably connecting said shift drive member and said throttle drive member to provide common rotary movement of said shift drive member and said throttle drive member when said shaft member is in the first position and to permit relative rotation of said shift member and said shift drive member, in response to rotational movement of said 
     
        control lever, when said shaft member is in the second position..]. 4. A throttle control according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.wherein said drive means includes at least one drive recess in said shift drive member and a drive lug on said throttle drive member drivingly engaged with said shift drive member recess when said shaft member is in the first position and disengaged from said shift drive member recess when said shaft member 
     
     
        is in the second position. 5. A throttle control according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.including lockout means for permitting axial movement of said shift drive member from an engaged position to a disengaged position when said control lever is in the neutral position and for preventing axial movement of said shift drive member from the engaged position when said control lever is displaced from the neutral position. 
     
     
           A throttle control according to claim 5 wherein said lockout means further includes means for preventing both rotational movement of said shift drive member from the neutral position and axial movement of said shift drive member from the disengaged position to the engaged position when said shaft member is in the second position and said control lever is 
     
     
        displaced from the neutral position. 7. A throttle control according to claim 5 wherein said lockout means includes a recess in said housing and a lockout lug on said shift drive member located to project and to engage said housing recess and thereby lock said shift drive member in the neutral position when said shaft member is moved to the second position with said control lever in the neutral position and further includes arcuate protuberances extending on said housing in opposite directions from said housing recess and located to be engaged by said lockout lug in the event movement of said shaft toward the second position is attempted 
     
     
        when said control lever is displaced from the neutral position. 8. A throttle control according to claim 7 wherein said lockout means further includes a camming surface extending on said shift drive member from said drive recess and adapted to engage the outer edge of said drive lug when said control lever is displaced from the neutral position after said shaft member has been moved to the second position and thereby retain said 
     
     
        lockout lug in said housing recess. 9. A throttle control according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.including means for biasing said shaft 
     
     
        member towards the first position. 10. A throttle control according to claim 9 wherein said housing has a wall and wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring encircling said shaft member and interposed 
     
     
        said shift drive member and said housing wall. .Iadd.11.  A throttle control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a control lever mounted on said housing for rotation relative to a neutral position, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing and connected to said control lever for common rotation therewith, said shaft member being further supported within said housing for axial movement relative to said housing between first and second positions in response to axial movement of said control lever, a throttle lever movably mounted on said housing and adapted to be connected to the engine throttle for actuation thereof in response to movement of said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin and connected to said shaft member for rotation in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a shift lever adapted to be connected to the engine clutch for actuation thereof in response to shift lever movement, said shift lever being movably mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position in response to movement of said shift lever, means releasably connecting said shift lever to said shaft member so as selectively to move said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position and to permit relative rotation between said shift lever and said shaft member in response to rotational movement of said control lever, said means connecting said shift lever to said shaft member including a shift drive member mounted on said shaft member for relative rotary movement therebetween, means connecting said shift lever and said shift drive member, and drive means for releasably connecting said shift drive member and said throttle drive member to provide common rotary movement of said shift drive member and said throttle drive member when said shaft member is in the first position and to permit relative rotation between said shaft member and said shift drive member, in response to rotational movement of said control lever, when said shaft member is in the second position, a cam member connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and throttle advance positions in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a central portion extending at a uniform radius from the rotational axis of said shaft member and end portions extending from said central portion at increasing distances from the rotational axis of said shaft member, and guide means located on said cam member and on said housing for guiding movement of said cam member in response to movement of said drive pin in said cam track, whereby said cam member remains in the idle position while said drive pin travels in said cam track central portion in response to rotation of said throttle drive member and said cam member moves from the idle position to a throttle advance position after said drive pin enters into and travels within one of said cam track end portions in response to rotation of said throttle 
     
     
        drive member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12.  A control in accordance with claim 11 and further including lockout means for preventing rotation of said shift drive member when said shaft member is in said second position. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.13.  A throttle control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing, a control lever connected to said shaft member for common rotation therewith relative to a neutral position, a shift lever mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position and adapted to be connected to the engine clutch for actuation thereof in response to movement of said shift lever, means connecting said shift lever to said shaft member for moving said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a throttle lever movably mounted on said housing and adapted to be connected to the engine throttle for actuation thereof in response to movement of said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin mounted on said shaft member for common rotation therewith in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a cam member carried by said shaft member and connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and a throttle advance position in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a shape effective to displace said cam member relative to said shaft member and to said throttle drive member to move said throttle lever in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, and guide means on said cam member and on said shaft member for guiding translatory movement of said cam member relative to the rotational axis of said shaft member in response to movement of 
     
     
        said drive pin in said cam track. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  A throttle control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing, a control lever connected to said shaft member for common rotation therewith relative to a neutral position, a shift lever mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position and adapted to be connected to the engine clutch for actuation thereof in response to movement of said shift lever, means connecting said shift lever to said shaft member for moving said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a throttle lever movably mounted on said housing and adapted to be connected to the engine throttle for actuation thereof in response to movement of said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin and mounted on said shaft member for common rotation therewith in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a cam member carried by said shaft member and connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and a throttle advance position in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a central portion extending at a uniform radius from the rotational axis of said shaft member and end portions extending from said central portion at increasing distances from the rotational axis of said shaft member, whereby said cam member remains in the idle position while said drive pin travels in said cam track central portion in response to rotation of said throttle drive member and said cam member moves from the idle position to a throttle advance position after said drive pin enters into and travels within one of said cam track end portions in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, and guide means on said cam member and on said shaft member for guiding translatory movement of said cam member relative to the rotational axis of said shaft member in response to 
     
     
        movement of said drive pin in said cam track..Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  A throttle control according to claim 14 wherein said shaft member is further supported within said housing for axial movement relative to said housing and to said throttle drive member between first and second positions in response to axial movement of said control lever, wherein said means connecting said shift lever with said shaft member includes a shift drive member mounted on said shaft member for common axial movement therewith and for relative rotary movement therebetween and means connecting said shift lever and said shift drive member for moving said shift lever from a neutral position to the shift position in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position and for permitting axial movement of said shift drive member relative to said shift lever in response to axial movement of said control lever, and wherein said control includes drive means for releasably connecting said shift drive member and said throttle drive member to provide common rotary movement of said shift drive member and said throttle drive member when said shaft member is in the first position and to permit relative rotation of said shaft member and said shift drive member, in response to rotational movement of said control lever, when said shaft member is in 
     
     
        the second position..Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  A throttle and clutch control for an engine having a throttle and a clutch, said control comprising a housing, a control lever mounted on said housing for rotation relative to a neutral position, a shaft member supported within said housing for rotation relative to said housing and connected to said control lever for common movement therewith, a throttle lever movably mounted on said housing and adapted to be connected to the engine throttle for actuation thereof in response to movement of said throttle lever, a throttle drive member including a drive pin and connected to said shaft member for rotation in response to movement of said control lever from the neutral position, a cam member connected between said throttle lever and said throttle drive member for movement between an idle position and throttle advance positions in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, said cam member including a cam track receiving said drive pin and having a central portion extending at a uniform radius from the rotational axis of said shaft member and end portions extending from said central portion at increasing distances from the rotational axis of said shaft member, guide means located on said cam member and on said housing for guiding movement of said cam member in response to movement of said drive pin in said cam track, whereby said cam member remains in the idle position while said drive pin travels in said cam track central portion in response to rotation of said throttle drive member and said cam member moves from the idle position to a throttle advance position after said drive pin enters into and travels within one of said cam track end portions in response to rotation of said throttle drive member, a shift lever adapted to be connected to the engine clutch for actuation thereof in response to shift lever movement, said shift lever being movably mounted on said housing for movement between a neutral position and a shift position in response to movement of said shift lever, and means connecting said shaft member to said shift lever so as selectively to move said shift lever from the neutral position to the shift position in response to rotational movement of said control lever from the neutral position, said means connecting said shaft member to said shift lever being releaseable so as to permit relative rotation between said shaft member and said shift lever in response to rotational movement of said control lever, said means releaseably connecting said shaft member to said shift lever including means supporting said shaft member for axial movement relative to said housing between first and second positions in response to axial movement of said control lever, a shift drive member mounted on said shaft member for relative rotary movement therebetween, means connecting said shift lever and said shift drive member for movement of said shift lever in response to rotary movement of said shift drive member, and drive means for releaseably connecting said shaft member and said shift drive member to provide common rotary movement of said shaft member and said shift drive member when said shaft member is in the first position and to permit relative rotation between said shaft member and said shift drive member, in response to rotational movement of said control lever, when said shaft member is in the second position..Iaddend.