Automatic throttle control for auxiliary motors driving drawbar-towed vehicles

Claim 2

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer, c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. a throttle control motor, f. link means operatively linking the throttle control motor to the throttle, and g. actuating means for the throttle control motor connected to the drawbar and responsive to longitudinal movement thereof, thereby adjusting the throttle proportionately to such movement.

Claim 3

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer, c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load and comprising a pair of spaced bearings receiving the drawbar and fixed to the frame of the vehicle or trailer, and stop means on the drawbar for limiting its longitudinal movement, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. a throttle control motor, f. link means operatively linking the throttle control motor to the throttle and g. actuating means for the throttle control motor connected to the drawbar and responsive to longitudinal movement thereof, thereby adjusting the throttle proportionately to such movement.

Claim 4

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer, c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load and comprising a pair of spaced bearings receiving the drawbar and fixed to the frame of the vehicle or trailer, and stop means on the drawbar for limiting its longitudinal movement, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. a throttle control motor, f. link means operatively linking the throttle control motor to the throttle and g. actuating means for the throttle control motor connected to the drawbar and responsive to longitudinal movement thereof, thereby adjusting the throttle proportionately to such movement.

Claim 5

The throttle control of claim 2 wherein the drawbar is provided with a boss and compression springs mounted on the drawbar, one on each side of the boss for resiliently centering the Drawbar.

Claim 6

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer; c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. an electric throttle control motor, f. motor energizing means mounted on the drawbar in an electric circuit with the motor for energizing the same, g. a screw driven by the motor, h. a drive block driven by the screw, and i. link means connecting the drive block to the throttle of the auxiliary motor.

Claim 7

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer; c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. an electric throttle control motor, f. motor energizing means mounted on the drawbar in an electric circuit with the motor for energizing the same, g. a screw driven by the motor, h. a drive block driven by the screw, and i. link means connecting the drive block to the throttle of the auxiliary motor.

Claim 8

The throttle control of claim 4 wherein the motor energizing means comprises switch means in the electric circuit and switch actuator means mounted on the drawbar and operative to actuate the switch upon movement of the drawbar.

Claim 9

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer, c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. a throttle control motor, f. link means operatively linking the throttle control motor to the throttle, g. actuating means for the throttle control motor connected to the drawbar and responsive to longitudinal movement thereof, thereby adjusting the throttle proportionately to such movement, and h. brake-operated throttle control override means connected to the throttle and operative to return it to its idle running position upon operation of the vehicle brakes.

Claim 10

For use in controlling a throttle-regulated auxiliary drive motor applied to driving a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, the throttle control comprising: a. a drawbar, b. means coupling the forward end of the drawbar to the towing vehicle and the rearward end thereof to the trailer, c. drawbar mounting means mounting the drawbar for a longitudinal movement determined by the trailer load, d. resilient means locating the drawbar in a normal running position of the auxiliary motor, e. a throttle control motor, f. link means operatively linking the throttle control motor to the throttle, g. actuating means for the throttle control motor connected to the drawbar and responsive to longitudinal movement thereof, thereby adjusting the throttle proportionately to such movement, and h. brake-operated throttle control override means connected to the throttle and operative to return it to its idle running position upon operation of the vehicle brakes.

Claim 11

The throttle control of claim 6 wherein the brakes are pneumatic brakes and the brake-operated override means comprise a pneumatic cylinder in the pneumatic circuit operating the brakes, and spring pressed link means linking the cylinder to the throttle for return of the throttle to its idle operating position upon applying air to the brakes and the cylinder.