Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02378556 2002-03-22
SNOWMOBILE REMOTE THROTTLE CONTROL
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of throttle controls for recreational
vehicles
such as snowmobiles, and in particular to a mechanism which allows for the
throttle control of
such vehicles from a remote location.
Background of the Invention
Snowmobiling is a very popular recreational pastime. One drawback of
snowmobiles, however, is that they sometimes get stuck. When this occurs,
because
snowmobiles are heavy, they are very difficult to manoeuvre. Often what is
required is that
the operator, who is often alone, must walk to the front of the snowmobile and
try to free the
snowmobile by pulling on the front skids or otherwise on the front end of the
snowmobile. It
is often advantageous in assisting freeing the snowmobile to have a second
person operate the
throttle of the snowmobile as the snowmobile operator is tugging on the front
end to thereby
gain the assistance of the snowmobile's motivating force as the front skis are
dislodged. It is
also advantageous to be able to control the throttle by foot pressure rather
than solely by use of
a thumb control.
When however the operator is alone. it is not possible to simultaneously pull
on
the front of the snowmobile and operate the snowmobile throttle which is
typically located as a
thumb controlled lever on the snowmobile handle bar.
Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device for remotely actuating the snowmobile throttle, and in
particular, remotely
operating the throttle by an operator standing in front of or behind the
snowmobile. It is also
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advantageous to be able to control the throttle by foot pressure rather than
solely by use of a
thumb control.
In the prior art, applicant is aware of various innovations to do with
throttle
mechanisms on snowmobiles and like recreational vehicles, however, these are
restricted to
throttles affixed to the recreational vehicle in the usual position and
manner. As an example,
application is aware of the following patents: United States patent No.
4,237,997 which issued
December 9, 1980 to Swanson for a Switch and Throttle Lever Combination for
Use in
Conjunction with Snowmobile Engine Speed Limiting System, United States patent
No.
5,829,312 which issued to Berg et al on November 3, 1998 for a Progressive
Throttle Lever,
and Canadian Patent No. 1,279,557 which issued .lanuary 29, 1991 to Bourret
for a Throttle
Lever.
United States Patent No. 3,580,100 which issued to McDermott teaches
providing a driving instructor with handles which may be actuated to pull a
cable so as to
remotely and entirely disengage the throttle mechanism of an automobile. No
throttle speed
control is given to the instructor so that when the instructor decides to over-
ride a student's
throttle input, by actuating the handles, the hook (78) on the cable actuated
bell crank (72)
entirely disengages from the aperture (106) in the inner plate-like slide (40)
thereby allowing
the throttle valve control arm (18) to move to the idle position under the
biasing action of a
spring (114). Thus the instructor's control over the throttle is entirely
removed as the throttle
returns to idle until the student removes his or her foot tiom the accelerator
pedal so as to
allow foot throttle control to be reconnected by re-engaging of the bell crank
with the slide.
Summary of the Invention
The remote throttle control device is for mounting on snowmobiles. The device
is not intended to include the snowmobile per se, with exception perhaps of
only the throttle
thumb-lever. The device includes a throttle coupler which is for releasable
mounting to a
CA 02378556 2002-03-22
snowmobile throttle thumb lever or which is build into the lever as an
integral component.
The throttle coupler is mountable to a first end of'a flexible push/pull
cable. A remote actuator
is mountable to the opposite second end of the push/pull cable, opposite the
first end. The
remote actuator is for pushing or pulling the push/pull cable, so as to
respectively push or pull
the throttle coupler. When the throttle coupler is mounted to the thumb lever,
or formed as
part of the thumb lever, pushing or pulling on the cable rotates the thumb
lever to accelerate or
decelerate the snowmobile°s motor.
The remote throttle actuator is mounted to a handle adapted for grasping and
pulling by a user. A tether is releasably mounted to the handle. The tether is
adapted for
releasable mounting, for example by a hook, to a ski of the snowmobile.
The embodiment gives the user all the advantages of a remote throttle
controller
plus allows the user to pull with both hands, control the throttle, and stand
in an upright
position while running the snowmobile. One advantage is the added pulling
power a user may
achieve. The user uses their body as a counter-weight for added pulling power.
Applicant's
believe that this allows the user to apply seventy-live to one hundred per
cent more pulling
power than the user ordinarily would have by merely pulling on the ski, for
example because
the user is not bent over trying to pull on the ski. There is no way to get
any leverage when
you are bent over, and many skis can be hard on the hands as they are not
designed to be
pulled on. The throttle and hook strap gives you added length from where you
would normally
grab the ski. This is nothing short of a total back saver for a lot of
situations. It works
especially well when you are standing at a level higher than the snowmobile;
we are faced with
this type of situation more often than not. Ninety-live per cent of the time
you will be able to
stand totally upright which is not hard on your back at all. The hook/strap is
removable from
the hand throttle attachment, so it will be out of the way for situations with
no heavy pulling
needed. The applicants believe this new attachment is equal to having three
people pulling and
operating the throttle. Normally with three people you would have two people
pull and one
run the throttle. This may now be achieved single-handedly.
CA 02378556 2002-03-22
The throttle coupler may be a rigid lever arm mountable at a first end thereof
to,
or formed as part of the thumb lever, and at an opposite second end thereof to
the first end of
the push/pull cable. The throttle coupler may further comprise a rigid
mounting arm for
mounting an end of the conduit to the snowmobile adjacent the lever arm.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure l, is a perspective view of the remote throttle control of the present
invention connected to the hand throttle of a Snowmobile, with the
manipulation strap
removably attached to a ski of the Snowmobile.
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective of the snowmobile remote throttle control
in
the actuated position, opening the throttle, and illustrating one method for
releasable
attachment of the manipulation strap to a ski.
Figure 2a is a sectional view taken on line 2a-2a of Figure 2.
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of the snowmobile remote throttle control
in
the neutral position, prior to throttle actuation, illustrating one method of
releasable attachment
of the manipulation strap.
Figure 3a is a sectional view taken on line 3a-3a of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the throttle cable coupler and throttle
actuator
secured to the snowmobile throttle handle.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the throttle cable coupler only secured to
the
Snowmobile throttle handle.
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Figure Sa is an exploded perspective view of the components of the throttle
cable coupler.
Figure Sb is a perspective view of the throttle actuator.
Figure 6 is a plan elevation view of the throttle cable coupler and throttle
actuator in the neutral position with the cable extended outwardly to limit
throttle travel in the
actuated direction.
Figure 6a is a plan elevation view of the throttle cable coupler and throttle
actuator in the actuated position.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the foot operated remote throttle actuator.
Figure 8 is a perspective view, partially cut-away of the rear side of the
foot
operated remote throttle actuator.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a plan elevation view of one aspect of the throttle cable coupler
and
throttle actuator integrally formed with the snowmobile hand grip.
Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 11.
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Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
Figure 1 depicts a user 10 working to free a snowmobile 12 which has become
stuck in snow 14 employing the remote throttle actuator of the present
invention. 'the remote
throttle actuator includes a sheathed cable 16 which extends from a remote end
mounted to a
manual cable actuator 18 such as better seen in Figures 2 and 3 to an opposite
end where it
mounts to a throttle thumb lever actuator 20 as better seen in Figures 4-6.
Manual cable actuator 18 includes handlebar 22 which may as illustrated be
grasped using two hands on either side of a strap coupler such as D ring 24
mounted medially
along handlebar 22. A flexible strap or tether 26 is mounted to D ring 24,
hook 28 being
mounted at its distal end. Hook 28 is sized for releasably hooking onto
snowmobile 12, for
example onto one of the conventional skis or support struts 30 of snowmobile
skis 32. Tether
26 is of sufficient length so that, with hook 28 hooked on to strut 30, user
10 may while
standing upright grasp handlebar 22 so as to comfortably tension tether 26 by
pulling on the
handlebar to assist in freeing snowmobile 12. Simultaneously, user 10 may
actuate manual
cable actuator 18 by urging handle 34 of bell crank 36 in direction A towards
handle 22 so as
to rotate bell crank 36 in direction B about pivot 38 rigidly mounted medially
along handle 22
opposite to D ring 24.
Rotation of bell crank 36 in direction B by the urging of handle 34 in
direction
A towards handlebar 22, correspondingly urges forked end 40 of bell crank 36
in direction C
away from handlebar 22.
As better seen in Figures 2a and 3a, coupler 42 mates between the parallel
tines
40a of forked end 40. Coupler 42, which may comprise a pair of washers snugly
bolted onto a
common through-shaft journalled through the washers. is rigidly mounted to
cable end 16a of
sheathed cable 16. Thus, because the sheath 16c through which cable 16 may
slide is rigidly
mounted by sheath coupler 44 which in turn is rigidly mounted to handlebar 22,
translation of
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coupler 42 in forked end 40 in direction C thereby pulls cable end 16a thereby
sliding the
entire length of cable 16 relative to sheath 16c.
A pair of helically coiled springs 46 are mounted at their ends so as to
extend
parallel on either side of cable end 16a between a pair of rigid cross braces
42a and 44a. Brace
42a is rigidly mounted to coupler 42. Cross brace 44a is rigidly mounted to
handlebar 22.
As better seen in Figure 3a, springs 46 when in their non-deformed state
retain
cable end 16a slid substantially completely into sheath coupler 44 and the
corresponding end
of sheath 16c. This corresponds to the return position of bell crank 36. For
example, when
user 10 has released handle 34, springs 46 resiliently urge coupler 42 towards
sheath coupler
44 in direction C', opposite to direction C, thereby sliding cable end 16a
into sheath 16c so as
to correspondingly slide cable 16 through sheath 16c. Thus as may be seen,
manual actuation
of handle 34 so as to rotate bell crank 36 in direction B pulls cable end 16a
from sheath 16c
against the resilient return biasing force of helical springs 46.
Sliding translation of cable 16 simultaneously pulls the opposite end of cable
16, that is end 16b, in direction D. A stop 48, such as the nut and washer
arrangement
illustrated, is rigidly mounted on to the distal end of cable end 16b. Thus,
with cable end 16b
releasably and slidably mounted between the parallel rigid tines 50a of fork
50, translation of
cable end 16b in direction D engages stop 48 against tines 50a. Fork 50,
better seen in Figure
5b is adapted for mounting onto a conventional throttle thumb lever 52 as
would normally be
found mounted to snowmobile handlebar 54 for the conventional operation of
snowmobile 12.
Fork 50 has a pair of rigid arms 50b extending generally parallel to, in
oppositely disposed
relation from tines 50a. Arms 50b are spaced apart sufficiently so that fork
50 may be placed
as a yoke over handlebar 54, thereby placing handlebar 54 between arms 54b.
The distal ends
of arms 50b may be threaded so that a pair of clamping members may be rigidly
mounted
across the ends of arms 50b.
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Fork 50 may thus be rigidly mounted on to thumb lever 52 by clamping thumb
lever 52 between clamping members 56 when clamping members 56 are rigidly
mounted on to
the threaded ends of arms 50, for example by means of the threaded nuts
illustrated. With
thumb lever 52 thus rigidly sandwiched between clamping members 56, where
clamping
members 56 may be conformally bent or curved so as to provide a better fit on
to thumb lever
52, as seen in Figure 6a sliding translation of cable end 16b into sheath 16c
in direction D
rotates fork 50 in direction E about the axis of rotation F of thumb lever 52.
Cable end 16b and the corresponding end of sheath 16c are held mounted so as
to dispose cable end 16b between tines SOa of fork 50 by the use of a clamp
arrangement
mounted to handlebar 54. In particular, as better seen in Figure 5a, the clamp
arrangement
includes a curved base 58, curved to snugly fit onto and partially around
handlebar 54. A
cantilevered L-shaped arm 60 is rigidly mounted at one end to base 58 so as to
extend away
from thumb lever 52. A releasable clamshell clamp 62 is rigidly mounted to the
other end of
L-shaped arm 60. Thus, as seen in Figure 5, with base 58 mounted to the
snowmobile's
handlebar 54, for example by means of a flexible collar clamp 64, clamshell
clamp 62 may be
opened by release of over-center latch 66. A cylindrical rigid sheath mount 68
may then be
releasably clamped within clamshell clamp 62 by engaging latch arm 66a with
catch 62a
thereby holding shut the two clamshell halves of clamshell clamps 62 once
rotated into their
closed position about their common hinge 62b.
Sheath mount 68 holds sheath 16c rigid relative to the clamping arrangement of
clamshell clamp 62, L-shaped arrn 6U and base 58. Thus, when a user depresses
handle 34 on
bell crank 36 so as to translate cable end 16a in direction C, because cable
16 is a flexible but
substantially non-resilient cable, cable end 16b is immediately drawn in
direction D into
sheath 16c. Depending on how far stop 48 has to travel in direction D before
engaging tines
50a of fork 50, this distance being adjustable according to the preferences of
the user (this
acting as a throttle governor adjustment), rotation of handle 34 through its
full available arc of
rotation between its non-depressed position in Figure 3 and its fully
depressed position in
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Figure 2 thereby translates into rotation of thumb lever ~2 through at least a
portion of its
available rotation in direction E. Rotation of thumb lever ~2 in direction E
then accelerates the
snowmobile motor in the normal manner turning the snowmobile's drive track as
the
snowmobile's clutch engages.
Thus user 10 may while simultaneously pulling on at least one of the
snowmobiles skis via a tether or tethers 26, apply increasing throttle to the
snowmobile motor
to commence rotation of the snowmobile drive track to thus free a stuck
snowmobile by the
combined actions.
A complimentary embodiment is illustrated in Figures 7-10 wherein a foot
pedal arrangement 70 is mounted into the footwell 12a of snowmobile 12, and in
particular to
side wall 12b to allow for foot operated remote actuation of thumb lever 52.
In this
embodiment, manual cable actuator 18 is replaced with foot pedal arrangement
70 so as to
cooperate with cable end 16a. 1n this embodiment, a parallel pair of opposed
facing rigid
channels 72 are mounted between rigid end plates 74 so as to form a
rectangular wheel race
housing. A wheel mounted foot pedal shuttle 76, formed by a parallel pair of
rigid cross
members 78 on which are mounted oppositely disposed pairs of wheels 80, is
free to run along
the length of channels 72. A cantilevered foot pedal 82 is rigidly mounted to
the lower of
cross members 78 so as to extend generally perpendicularly from the shuttle
housing defined
by the channels. Foot pedal 82 may be formed of two over-laid sheets of metal,
and cross
members 78 may be cylindrical tubes housing wheel shafts 80a. Alternatively,
wheels 80 may,
as better seen in Figure 9, be roller bearings mounted on the opposite ends of
cross members
78.
Sheath 16c is rigidly held in sheath mount 84 and sheath mount 84 is rigidly
mounted to the upper end plate 74. The upper end plate 74 may have an aperture
therethrough
to allow a helical coiled spring 86 to extend between the upper end of shuttle
76 and rigid
flange 84a mounted to sheath mount 84. Coil spring 86 is sized so as to urge
shuttle 76 in
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direction F so as to provide a resilient return biasing force against the
translation of shuttle 76
along channels 72 by a user's foot depressing foot pedal 82. Thus depression
of the foot pedal
in a direction opposite to direction F pulls cable end 16a from within sheath
16c thereby
actuating, in the manner of manual cable actuator 18, the rotation of fork 50
to
correspondingly rotate thumb lever 52. Thus with channels 72 bolted to
snowmobile side wall
12b for example by the use of apertured flanges 72a rigidly mounted to channel
72, a user may
merely rely on foot pressure applied to foot pedal 82 to control the
snowmobile throttle.
In the further embodiment of Figures 11 and 12, fork 50 and thumb lever 52 are
replaced with a single unitary modified thumb lever 88 which combines a
cantilevered thumb
lever component 88a with a fork extension 88b rigidly supporting a parallel
pair of rigid tines
88c. Cable end 16a is mountable between tines 88c in the same manner as the
cable end was
mountable between tines SOa. In this embodiment, base 58 and L-shaped arm 60
may be
replaced by merely a rigid arm member 90 formed as part of the housing to
which thumb lever
88 is mounted, arm member 90 rigidly supporting clamshell clamp 62 for
operation as before.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with tile substance defined by the following
claims.
