The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 16, 1991
Paul A Pelligrino, Rockford, IL (US);
Gary L Potter, Rockford, IL (US);
Robert N Schenk, Rockford, IL (US);
Twin Disc Incorporated, Racine, WI (US);
Abstract
A marine vessel propulsion system includes one or more drive systems, each including an engine, an engine throttle, and a shiftable transmission. A control system for each drive system comprises a manually operable control lever assembly for electrically operating a servo assembly which mechanically operates the engine throttle and the transmission shifting clutches. The control lever assembly comprises a one-piece plastic support base which is adapted to pivotally support one or two identical one-piece plastic control levers. Components associated with a control lever are interchangeable and identical and include a potentiometer mechanically interconnected between the control lever and the base, a detent plate and a detent arm. The control lever assembly also comprises based-mounted components including a station selector switch, a mode selector switch, an electrical connector and a flexible circuit board for electrically connecting the potentiometer selector switches and electrical connector. The servo assembly comprises a plastic housing containing two identical servo units for mechanically operating the engine throttle and the transmission shifting clutches. Each servo unit comprises a support frame on which are mounted a reversible electric motor having a rotatable motor shaft, a rotatable link-drive shaft and a solenoid-operated clutch for connecting and disconnecting the motor shaft and the link-drive shaft. A potentiometer mechanically connected to the link-drive shaft is restrained from rotation by a clamp engaged with the motor housing.