US1853504A - Accelerator attachment for motors - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1932. F. M. BUTLER ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Filed March 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet lllll. 955555!!! ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1932; F. M. BUTLER ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Filed March 1a.

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INVENTOR Fab/us M .BzM/a/ ATTORNEY April 1932- A F. M. BUTLER ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Filed March 11:, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l I I I INVENTOR 502/: M 502%2/ ATTORNEY I Patented Apr. 12, 1932 gUNME' STATES TENT I FABIUS M. BUTLER, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Application filed March 12, 1927. Serial No. 174,942.

provide an accelerator mechanism which may be located conveniently and accessibly to the operator so that it will not interfere with the manipulation of the other control mechanisms for the motor car, such as the usual gear shift lever, or the brake and clutch foot pedals.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall be adapted to operate the motor throttle in a more steady and uniform manner than apparatus heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention is to pro:

vide an accelerator mechanism of the character designated which shall be simple in operation, durable in construction and effective in controlling the operation of the motor car.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following specification and drawings, as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a View partially-in section of a hydraulic accelerator mechanism for operating the accelerator of a motor car;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pump mechanism on line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing a fluid regulator;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of the cylinder and piston on line 4lt of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an accelerator mechanism employing a flexible member connected to the carbureter throttle and accessible to the operator;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of my invention in which the accelerator attachment is mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown conventionally the front portion of an automobile embodyingfloor sections 10, a seat 11, steering'column'12, and a motor 13 shown in dotted lines. The motor'is provided with a carbureter 1 1 having a throttle lever 15 and this lever is actuated by a mechanism constructed in. accordance with my invention. A

invention contemplates providing a hydraulic mechanism for actuating the throttle in which acylinder and piston is connected to the throttle lever and a fluid pressure control mechanism is located conveniently to the operator for regulating the operation of the throttle lever. The mechanism for actuating the throttle comprises a fluid pressure cylinder 16 having a piston 17 and arod 18 operating therein. 1 The rod isadju'stably secured the throttle lever 15. i The throttle lever 15 is normally maintained ina closed position by an extension springQO'secured to the lever 15 and the motor frame. The cylinder 16 is rigidly mounted on the motor frame in any suitable manner as for example by the metal straps 21, 21 as shown in Fig. 4. I

The supply of motive fluid forthe hydraulic system; which may be any suitable fluid such as oil or water; is delivered'to the cylinder 16 by a pump 22 located conveniently to the leg or knee of the operator. The pump comprises a cylinder 23 and a piston member 24 operated by a hand lever 25 pivotally mounted on the cylinder'head by a pivot member 26. The lower extremity of the pivoted lever is provided with depending fingers 27' and 28 adapted to engage the top portion of the piston 24 so that when the lever is moved laterally as shown in the dotted line position in Fig. ,2 one of the-fingers will engage the piston and move thesame downwardly and thereby displace fluid in the cvl- .to the'pistonl'i' by means of set nuts 19 and Y inder. -When fluid is thus displaced it is forced through a conduit-29 which connects the pump with the throttle actuating cylinple, a bayonet joint connection 30.

7 In order to provide for regulating the effective pressure transmitted by the pump to the associated operating cylinder 16, a variable capacity reservoir 31 is placed in com-.

munication withthe conduit 29. .This regulator reservoir is in the form of a closed cylinder provided with a displacement piston 32 i which is carried 'by a threaded member 33 threaded in the head of the cylinder and op erated by suitable handle 3 L.

' Having thus described a hydraulic mech-v anism, constructed in accordance with my invention, the operation thereof is obvious.

The system is filled with any desired amount of fluid, and the variable capacity reservoir is adjusted so that any excess pressure caused by the movement of-the fluid in the system will impart to the piston in'the operating cylinder'16 a desired movementto operate the throttle lever 15.- When the throttle lever is thus moved against the tension of spring 20, and the pressure is released, the spring will return the lever to its normal position and also causethe cylinder piston to force the fluid back through the system and thus restore the fluid to equilibrium.

While I have shown and described a pump mechanism operable by the operator for supplying the desired fluid pressure to thesystem, it is obvious that the fluid pressure may be supplied from an independent source and merely controlled by the operator without departing from thescope of my invention.

In the embodimentof my invention shown in'Fi-g. 5, the throttle lever is arranged to be actuated by a flexible tension member 35, such as a cord or wire. This member lo- (rated-near the leg or knee of the operator and connected to the seat so that it may be actu- .ated' by lateral movement of the leg of the operator. This tension member is detacha= bly connected to the automobile seat in any suitable manner, as, for eXample ,'-'by a book 36 and eye 37 at the end of the member. The

other end of the member is connected to a lever 38 pivotally mounted on a bracket 39 lo- .cated on the engine frame. 'Thepivoted lever is connected to the throttle lever 1 5'by a link 410, thereby providing a simple and eflicient operating mechanism which may be readily operated. in eonjunetion with the usualfoot accelerator attachments supplied .with standard equipment'for automobiles.

The throttle is maintained in a normally closed position by a coil spring i1 connected to the pivot lever and to a stationary portion of the motor. This spring is also adapted to-maintain the desired tension upon the flexible member 35 so that the throttle may be readily moved in response to any deflection thereof. That portion of the member 35 which is in contact with the operators knee or leg is provided with a padded por- T tion l2 which provides'a convenient rest for the operator while using the accelerator attachment. W hen it is desired to remove the tension member out of the way, for any reason, the member may be unhooked from the seat fastening and removed to any-convenient position as indicated in the dotted lines of Fig. 6.

Having thus described apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, the

operation thereof is readily understood. The

flexible tension member35 being located in close proximity to the operators leg, it may readily be deflected laterally by a slight pressure, thereby operatingthe throttle in opposition to the tension of spring 41 and cause the desired operation of the throttle lever.

One of the principal advantages of a throttle mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is that the desired actuation of the throttle may be obtained without the ne.

cessity ofexerting a direct pressureon the accelerator mechanism as in the case of the usual foot operated mechanisms now in use,

as. the constant application of the foot be- -1 3 comes tiresome to the operator Furthermore, when'the' accelerator is actuated by the lateral movement of the leg both feet may be maintained on the clutch or brake pedals when desired- Referring to the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 7, the throttle operating lever '25 is mounted for horizontal swinging movement on the dash-of the motor'vehicle, in

"eessibleto the leg or knee ofthe operator.

suitable manner as for exampl b a bolt On the opposite side of the 'dash is a pivoted lever l? in the form of a wide plate, and

mounted in a U-shaped bracket which .is also 7 secured to the dash by the bolt 46.

The lever 47 is connected to the pivotally mounted throttle lever 38 by a rod 49 which loosely engages the lower extremity of the lever 47. The rod 49 is provided with an ad'- justing nut 50, which serves to maintain the desired adjustment of the levers against the action of spring ll. By thus providing a loose connection between the lever 47 and the rod 49, the throttle lever 38 may be independently operated by a hand or foot throttle mechanism should these be present on a motor vehicle to which my device is readily applicable.

The extremity of the operating lever 25 engaging the lever 47 is shown as a fork having projections 51 and 52 which extend through an opening 53 in the dash. The fork projections serve to maintain the lever in a normal operative position at right angles to the dash and convenient to the leg or knee of the operator. The rearward portion of the lever comprises a rod 54 and a tubular section 55 adapted to telescope therewith so that the lever may be readily removed to a position beneath the cowl of the automobile and thus be out of the way of the operator when it is not in use. The lever sections are maintained in the desired extended relation by any suitable fastening means such as a thumb screw 56. That portion of the tubular member normally engaged by the operators leg is provided with a padded portion 57 which also adds to the comfort of the operator while using the device.

A throttle lever constructed and arranged as above described may be readily attached to any motor vehicle and thus provide a convenient accelerator mechanism which relieves the operator from the fatigue usually experienced by the constant application of pressure on the usual foot operated accelerator. An accelerator embodying my invention is actuated by merely resting the leg orknee against the operating lever and should it be desired to operate the vehicle without the use of my improved device, the'telescoping parts permit the lever to be removedout of the way without interfering with any of the othor operating mechanism, such as the hand or foot accelerator levers usually furnished as standard equipment on the automobile.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a lever mounted on a dash of an automobile and extending rearwardly therefrom, said lever adapted to be operated by the leg or knee .of the operator, a second lever mounted on the dash and having a cam surface for engaging one end of the first mentioned lever, and means associatedwith said levers for maintaining the same in a normal position relative to the said dash and the operator.

2. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a telescopic lever mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle and adapted to be operated by the leg or knee of the operator, a second lever mounted on the dash in operative relation to said first mentioned lever and means for telescoping the lever parts whereby said operating lever may be moved out of the way of the operator when it is not in use. a a l 3. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising an extensible telescopic lever mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle, a second lever mounted on the dash adjacent to said first mentioned lever and adapted to be actuated thereby, and means for ad usting the length of the telescopic lever.

4:. In an accelerator attachment for motor vehicles, a manually operated lever mounted on the dash of the vehicle, a second lever engaged by said first lever and including means for maintaining said first lever at substantially right angles to said dash, connections between the second lever and a carbureter including a rod loosely connected to said second lever, whereby the rod may be moved independently of said second lever and resilient means for maintaining said second lever and rod in engagement. I

5. In combination with the dash of a motor 7 vehicle, an accelerator attachment comprising an extensible throttle lever pivotally mounted on thedash'and adapted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, means for adj usting the length of the lever and means including aspring for maintaining the lever in a desired normal position.

6. A knee-operated accelerator attachment for a motor vehicle comprising an adjustable lever pivotally mounted on the dash of the vehicle and extending rearwardly therefrom,

said lever having a padded portion, means for adjusting the padded portion relative to the knee of'the operator, means for moving the padded portion of saidlever beneath the dash and out of the way of the operator and means for preventing swinging movement of the lever when not in use.

7. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally mounted lever extending rearwardly from the dash of the vehicle and normally in close proximity to the knee of the operator, and movable connections for maintaining the lever out of the way of theoperator including means for preventing swinging movement of the lever when not in use.

8. Anaccelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the dash of the vehicle and extending normally in close proximity to the knee of the operator, means for maintaining the lever'in normal position, and means for maintaining the lever out of the way of the operator ineluding yieldable means for preventing

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