Magneti Marelli Powertrain USA

Michael B Peppard

John G Fowler

The present invention discloses an ergonomic manual clutch actuator assembly, and a method for providing the manual clutch actuator assembly, for a straddle-type vehicle or the like. The assembly includes a manual clutch lever pivotally mounted to a handlebar for drawing a clutch cable connected to a clutch actuator mechanism. The clutch actuator mechanism is provided within the housing of the vehicle for cooperating with a distal end of a clutch shaft for disengaging a clutch when the cable is drawn. The clutch actuator assembly requires a first predefined force to pivot the clutch lever away from a normal extended position. A second predefined force, being greater than the first force, is required to further pivot the clutch lever to an intermediate position. Also, a third predefined force is required to maintain the clutch lever in a retracted position, the third force is less than the second force.

Ergonomic clutch actuator

A handlebar throttle controller includes a cylindrical housing adapted to be rotatably mounted to an end of a handlebar, and a rotary shaft supported within the housing for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis. A first spring angularly biases the shaft toward a first angular position, while at least one of a cam and follower arrangement and a friction element and reaction element arrangement generates a first torque characteristic resisting relative rotation of the shaft when the shaft is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and a second torque characteristic resisting relative rotation of the shaft within the housing when the shaft is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. A sensor on the housing generates an electrical output representative of an instantaneous angular position of the shaft relative to the housing, for use, for example, in an electronic throttle control system.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Michael B Peppard