US1494900A - Accelerator - Google Patents

Description

v May 20 1924.

H. F. GEORGE AC CELERATOR 'led June 22. I1921 Patented May 20, 1924.

i UNITED sTn'rEsA HARRY F. GEORGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACCELERATOR.

Application filed .Tune 22, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it kno'wn that I, HARRY F. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States, residinat Chicago, in the county of Cook and' btate of Illinois, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Accelerators, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a new and improved throttle operating device or accelerator for automobiles, and more particularly to a device of the character described especially adapted for use in connection with cars having control pedals operated similarly to those in use upon the Ford car.

In the operation o-f an automobile it is highly desirable to open the throttle valve and thus accelerate the engine when going into the low gear or into the reverse gear, which latter is a low gear simply operating in the reverse direction. This acceleration is necessary7 to afford the desired power and to avoid the possibility of stalling the engine. Vith cars of the ordinary type the throttle control is operated by a lever located upon the steering column and on going y into'low gear with such machine it is necessaryi Ato do two separate things, narriely, manipulate the necessary pedals and at the same time manipulate the throttle lever.v

. In some machines provision for this opening vof the throttle or' accelerator has been made by means of a separate pedal. This, however, although it avoids the necessity for using the hands at that time, still retains the requirement for the doing` of two things at once. Means, therefore, which are adapted to open the throttle and accelerator of the engine automatically upon going into either low speed or the reverse, are highly desirable.

The use of either of these gear connections is ordinarily only' temporary and at the end of their use it is desirable to return t0 the previous adjustment of the throttle valve. Any variation, therefore, caused automati-y cally by the drive control levers upon the adjustment of the throttle valve should be entirely independent of the adjustment caused b v the usual manual throttle control lever, and should permit return to the adjustment of that lever automatically upon coming out of the slow speed `or reverse position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a throttle control device adapted to be connected-to the vehicle drive control Serial No. 479,475.

levers in suchv manner as to automatically open the throttle upon predetermined movement of those levers.y

It is a further object to so connect the control to the throttle as to cause it to open the throttle independently of the hand throttle adjustment.

It is an additional object to provide means associated with the device to return all parts to their previous position, that is, the position determined by the adjustment of the hand cont-rol, upon release of the levers.

vlt is a further object to provide in connection with suchy an accelerator, means 4' for operating it by a foot pedal independently of other control means.

It Vis also an object to provide a device which is simple in design, relatively inexpensive in construction and' which maybe readily applied to existing automobiles without modification` thereof.

lIt is another object to provide a pedal particularly adapted forjuse with devices of this character.

(,)ther and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Broadly, my invention comprises a shaft adapted to be located adjacent the'drive control levers of a vehicle, the shaft having means connecting it to certain of said levers in such manner that lthe shaft is rotated by movement of the levers-in one direction. The shaft is further provided with an arm and a pedal is associated therewith in such manner as to operate the shaft independently of the vehicledrive levers. Means are further provided fory returning the shaft toits previous position upon release by the levers or pedal.- The particular form of connection to the throttle is such as to permit adjustment of the throttle by the usual adapted for use in connection with that machine. It obviously, however, may be modilied to adapt it to other motors and control devices.

As shown in Figure 1, the engine 4 has associated therewith the carburetor 5 having the throttle lever 6. The gear housing 7 is provided at its upper side with the closure plate 8. To this plate 8 is secured the holding vbracket 9 of my device. This bracket is provided with two journals 10 through which passes the shaft 11. This shaft is provided with the crank 12 upon its left end, as shown in Figure 2. The lugs 13 and 13 are secured to the crank 12 by means of the set screws 14 and 14. Pivoted to each of these lugs are the lateral eXtensions '15 and 15 which are perforated to receive the rods 16 and 16. These rods carry the sleeves 17 and 17 adjustably secured thereto by the lock screws 18 and 18. Pivoted tothe rods are the loops 19 and 19 which are adapted to engagethe shanks of the forward and reverse pedals 2O and 21 respectively. The arm 22 is fitted upon the shaft 11 between the journals 10 and is held in the desired angular relation therewith bythe set screw 23. The arm 22 carries at its upper end the roller 24'which is adapted to be engaged by the wear plate 25 upon the lower surface of the pedal 26. The collars 27 and 27 are retained inA place upon the shaft 11 by the set screws 2:8 an-d 28 in such position as to engage the journals 10 and prevent lateral displacement of the shaft.

v Upon the right end of the shaft 11 is secured the arm 29. This arm is provided with the vupwardly extending lug 30 to which is connected the spring 31. To the end of the arm is secured a ball socket 32 into which fits a ball 33 carried by one end of the rod 34. The opposite end of. the rod 34 carries a ball 35 fitted in a ball socket 36 which is Fa stened to the throttle lever operating arm 37. This arm 37 is provided with the screw 38 adapted to connect the member to the throttle lever 6 and is further provided with ,downwardly depending lugs 39 and 39 adapted to engage the lever to prevent -displacement therefrom. The member 40 is pivotedly carried by the member 37 and is perforated to receive the control rod 41 which is adapted to be connected to the usual manual control device of the machine. The rod 41 is provided with the enlarged head 42 which bears upon the member 40.

The pedal, as shown in detail in Figure 3, comprises the heel portion 43 and sole portion 44, the latter being at a higher level. It is pivotedly connected to the support 45 by the transverse pin 46. The spring 47 is vconnected to the support 45 at 48 and Vengages the undersurface of the foot portion. The bearing plate 25. as previously stated,-

is secured to the lower face of the foot portion and adapted to engage the'roller 24. The pedal and its support are preferably formed of aluminum alloy while the wear plate is formed of steel.

In the operation of my device, it will be seen that inward movement of either pedal 2O or 21 will move the rod 16 or 16 inwardly, or upwardly as shown Vin Figure 2. The corresponding collar 17 or 17 will engage the member 15 or 15 and will thus rotate the shaft 11 about its pivot in the journal members 10. 'This rotation of the shaft will be against the tensiony of the spring 31 connected to the portion 30 of the arm 29. This arm 29y will be thrust downwardly and its movement will thrust the rod 34 forwardly. This movement of the rod will be transferred to the member 37 through the ball connection therewith and will serve to rotate the throttle control lever to the left, as seen in Figure 2. In this movement the member 40 will slide on the rod 41 and the adjustment of the Upon release of jaressureupon the pedal, and consequently through the collar 17 or 17, upon the shaft, the spring 31 will rotate the shaft until the member 40 engages the head 42 on the manual control rod. The throttle adjustment is then restored to that point prior to the acceleration. If not stopped by the engagement between these members 40 and 42, the rotay tion of the shaft would lbe stopped by engagement of either lug 15 or 15 with its coacting sleeve or by engagement. of the roller 24 with the wear plate 25 on the pedal 26. However. the adjustment of the several parts is preferably such that under normal conditions the members 15 and 15 do not engage the sleeve nor the roller 24, the pedal.

If it is desired to accelerate the motor inmanual control rod 41 will'not be disturbed. i

dependently of movement of the pedals A2() l or 21. this may be accomplished by depressing the forward end of the pedal 26. The contact member 25 engages the roller' 24 and rotates the shaft 117 whereupon the adjustment of the. throttle is accomplished as before described. Upon release of the pedal the spring 31 carries the parts back to the previous adjusted position.

It will be observed, of course, that` movement of the rod 41 in order to vary the 4U against the member 4t2 and the spring thus closes theA throttle. i p

The pedal shown in Figure 3 is simple in design and relatively inexpensive to construct, and it has the important advantage that the foot is positively supported in the normal )osition in vwhich it is shown, and sudden .direct pressure upon the pedal will not accelerate the engine. It is necessary to tilt the foot, depressing the toe, in order to accomplish this result. This operation thus being different from the usual pedal on the machine, there is no danger of inadvertently accelerating the machine When the intention, for example, is to apply the brake.

My device is extremely simple in design and the form shown may be readily applied to existing Ford machines Without any material variation in the machine and at comparatively small expense and in a very short time.

I claim:

l. In combination with the drive control levers and throttle valve of an automobile,

a shaft located adjacent said levers and operatively associated with the throttle valve, a perforated lug on said shaft adjacent each lever, a rod connected to the lever and passing through the perforation, a collar on said rod adapted to engage the lug to rotate the shaft upon movement of a lever, said movement serving to operate the throttle valve, and means adapted to return the shaft to its previous position upon release of said lug by said collar.

42. In combination with the drive control levers and throttle valve of an automobile, a. shaft located adjacent said levers and operatively associated with the throttle valve, a perforated lug on said shaft adjacent each lever, a rod connected to the lever and passing through the perforation, a. collar on said rod adapted to engage the lug to rotate the shaft upon movement of the leve-r, said movement serving to operate the throttle valve, an arm on said shaft and a pedal adjacent said arm and adapted to engage the arm to rotate the shaft, and means adapted to return the shaft to its previous position upon release of said lug by said collar and of said arm by said pedal.

3. In combination with the drive control levers and throttle valve of an automobile, a shaft located adjacent said levers and operatively associated with the throttle valve, a perforated lug on said shaft adjacent each lever. a rod connected to the lever and passing through the perforation, a collar on said rod adapted to engage the lug to rotate the shaft upon movement of the lever, said movement serving to operate the throttle valve, an arm on said shaft and a pedal adjacent said arm and adapted to engage the arm to rotate the shaft, and a spring connected to a -lu "uponfthe shaft :adapted -toireturn the-sha t: to is previous position upon'rele'ase of said -lug by said collar.;`

et." Control mechanismforiautomobilesy of the-FordI type comprisingazrotatable shaft portion, said members being provided With rotatable perforated members, rods adapted to extend through said perforated members and being provided With adjust-able stop means. said rods being adapted to be connected to the low speed and reverse pedals of a Ford motor car, a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the body of a motor car and adapted to support said rotatable shaft, collars mounted upon said shaft for preventing the longitudinal movement of said shaft relative to said bracket but permitting rotary movement of said shaft, throttle control means, means for communicating motion from said rotatable shaft to said throttle control means, and a control rod having a lost motion connection with said throttle control means, i

5. Control mechanism for automobiles of the Ford type comprising a rotatable shaft having an onset crank portion, adjustable members mounted upon said offset crank portion, said members being provided With rotatable perforated members, rods adapted to extend through said perforated members and being provided With adjustable stop means, said rods being adapted to be connected to the 10W speed and reverse pedals of a Ford motor car, a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the body of a motor car and adapted to support said rotatable shaft, collars mounted upon said shaft for preventing the longitudinal movement of 4said* shaft relative to said bracket but permitting rotary movement of said shaft, an arm nonhaving: an offset crank portion, adjustable membersmounted upon. said :offset crank rotatably secured to said shaft, and a pedal y for operating said arm, said pedal being biased to a predetermined position such that a predetermined selective direction of pressure is required on said pedal before said pedal can operate said arm.

6. Control mechanism for automobiles of the Ford type comprising a rotatable shaft having, an offset crank portion, members mounted upon said offset crank portion, said members being provided with rotatable perforated members` rods adapted to extend through said perforated members and being provided with adjustable stop means, said rods being adapted to be connected to the low speed and reverse pedals of a Ford motor car.

7. Control mechanism for automobiles of the Ford type comprising a rotatable shaft having an offset crank portion, members mounted upon said offset crank portion, said members being provided With rotatable perforated members, rods adapted to extend through said perforated members and being l provided with adjustable stop means, said rods being adapted to be connected to the low speed and reverse pedals of a Ford v 5 motor car, a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the body of a motor oar and adapted to support Vsaid rotatable shaft, collars mount-

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