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:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1998
Glenn L Larsen, Bloomington, MN (US);
David A Murray, Eagan, MN (US);
Donald M White, III, Chanhassen, MN (US);
The Toro Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A cruise control system for a vehicle comprises an accelerator linkage that is linked to the input lever of a variable speed transmission. The accelerator linkage is biased to neutral, but can be moved against the bias by an operator who pushes down on an accelerator. A cruise control link which is separate from the accelerator linkage has one end coupled to the accelerator linkage by a pin and slot connection. The cruise control link can be locked in a fixed position by an electromagnet that can be selectively energized by the operator. A spring normally keeps the pin on the cruise control link in engagement with a forward end of the slot carried on the accelerator linkage to prevent the accelerator linkage from returning to neutral when the cruise control link is locked in place by the electromagnet. However, the operator can temporarily increase the vehicle speed since additional forward movement of the accelerator linkage is permitted by the length of the slot. This additional forward movement of the accelerator linkage does not lose or destroy the current fixed setting of the cruise control link.