US6089207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Throttle control response selection system
Assignee: Cummins Engine IP Inc
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Filing: 1998-09-18
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Granted: 2000-07-18
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Expires: 2018-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a throttle control is disclosed. The throttle control is responsive to a vehicle operator to generate a throttle setting signal to adjust vehicle speed. An operator-controlled input device is also provided to generate a selected signal corresponding to a selected one of a number of predetermined engine control relationships. A controller responds to the selection signal to govern engine operation in accordance with the selected one of the relationships and the throttle setting signal. The throttle control has a different performance characteristic for each of the relationships and is adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease speed for each of the relationships. The relationships may each correspond to a different type of engine governing technique and include different droop characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Goode
- 👤 Michael G. McKenna
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:07
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/24; F02D41/2406; F02D41/2409; F02D41/2422; F02D11/00; F02D11/06; F02D11/10; F02D11/105; F02D31/00; F02D31/001; F02D31/007; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1401; F02D2041/1413; F02D2041/1422; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having a throttle control; selecting between at least two engine governing relationships with a selection device, response to the throttle control being different for each of the relationships, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the engine with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having a throttle control; selecting between at least two engine governing relationships with a selection device, response to the throttle control being different for each of the relationships, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the engine with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a first one of the relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of the relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the relationships each correspond to a different degree of droop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor with a different degree of droop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the selection device includes a switch mounted in a driver compartment of the vehicle and the throttle control includes an accelerator pedal in the driver compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the selection device during said regulating to select a different one of the relationships.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising: detecting a predetermined position of the throttle control and an engine load below a predetermined minimum; and changing to the different one of the relationships to regulate the engine in response to said detecting.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
81 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having a throttle control; selecting between at least two engine control relationships with a selection device, the relationships each having a different droop characteristic to provide a correspondingly different throttle control quality to a throttle control operator, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the engine with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having a throttle control; selecting between at least two engine control relationships with a selection device, the relationships each having a different droop characteristic to provide a correspondingly different throttle control quality to a throttle control operator, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the engine with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8, wherein a first one of the relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of the relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor with a different degree of droop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the selection device includes a switch mounted in the vehicle and the throttle control includes an accelerator pedal mounted in the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising activating the selection device during said regulating to select a different one of the relationships.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting a predetermined position of the throttle control and an engine load below a predetermined minimum; and changing to the different one of the relationships to regulate the engine in response to said detecting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor with a different degree of droop.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the engine is diesel-fueled, has a number of reciprocating pistons rotatably coupled to a crankshaft, the vehicle includes a driver compartment, the throttle control is an accelerator pedal in the driver compartment, the selection device includes a switch mounted in the driver compartment, and the predetermined throttle position corresponds to an undeflected position of the accelerator pedal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle; an internal combustion engine to power said vehicle; a throttle control responsive to a vehicle operator to generate a throttle setting signal to adjust engine speed; an operator-controlled input device to generate a selection signal corresponding to a selected one of a number of predetermined engine control relationships; a controller responsive to said selection signal to govern engine operation in accordance with said selected one of said relationships and said throttle setting signal; and wherein said throttle control has a different performance characteristic for each of said relationships and is adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of said relationships.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle; an internal combustion engine to power said vehicle; a throttle control responsive to a vehicle operator to generate a throttle setting signal to adjust engine speed; an operator-controlled input device to generate a selection signal corresponding to a selected one of a number of predetermined engine control relationships; a controller responsive to said selection signal to govern engine operation in accordance with said selected one of said relationships and said throttle setting signal; and wherein said throttle control has a different performance characteristic for each of said relationships and is adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of said relationships.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said relationships each correspond to a different droop characteristic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a first one of said relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of said relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said selection device includes a switch mounted in said vehicle, and said throttle control includes an accelerator pedal mounted in said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said controller detects a predetermined position of said accelerator pedal and a minimum level of engine loading before shifting control of said engine in accordance with one of said relationships to another of said relationships in response to said selection signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor with a different degree of droop.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a first one of said relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of said relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a memory coupled to said controller, said relationships each corresponding to a look-up table stored in said memory, and said controller being programmed to access said look-up table corresponding to said selected one of said relationships.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle; an internal combustion engine powering said vehicle; a throttle control operatively coupled to said engine, said throttle control being responsive to an operator to adjust vehicle speed; and a means for operator selection of a performance characteristic of said throttle control, said means including a number of engine control relationships each having a different droop property, said engine being regulated by said means in accordance with a selected one of said relationships and said throttle control.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle; an internal combustion engine powering said vehicle; a throttle control operatively coupled to said engine, said throttle control being responsive to an operator to adjust vehicle speed; and a means for operator selection of a performance characteristic of said throttle control, said means including a number of engine control relationships each having a different droop property, said engine being regulated by said means in accordance with a selected one of said relationships and said throttle control.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a first one of said relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of said relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor having a different droop amount.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said means includes an operator-controlled selection device operatively coupled to a controller and said throttle control includes an accelerator pedal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said controller detects a predetermined position of said accelerator pedal and a minimum level of engine loading before shifting regulation of said engine in accordance with one of said relationships to another of said relationships in response to a selection signal from said selection device.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
80 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by a prime mover having a throttle control; selecting between at least two control relationships with a selection device, the relationships each having a different droop characteristic to provide a correspondingly different throttle control quality to a throttle control operator, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the prime mover with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
80 words
A method, comprising: operating a vehicle powered by a prime mover having a throttle control; selecting between at least two control relationships with a selection device, the relationships each having a different droop characteristic to provide a correspondingly different throttle control quality to a throttle control operator, the throttle control being adjustable by the operator to increase or decrease vehicle speed for each of the relationships; and regulating operation of the prime mover with the selected one of the relationships.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29, wherein a first one of the relationships corresponds to an all-speed governor and a second one of the relationships corresponds to a torque governor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the relationships each correspond to an all-speed governor with a different degree of droop.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the selection device includes a switch mounted in the vehicle and the throttle control includes an accelerator pedal mounted in the vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-01-17 | 2004-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-18 | 2008-01-17 | 2008-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-18 | 2012-01-17 | 2012-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |