Brake actuated return to neutral mechanism

Claim 1

In a wheeled vehicle of the type having a. a pedal for applying brakes to the vehicle; b. a hydrostatic transmission employing a variable swash plate pump whose swash plate is selectively positionable to a forward driving inclination, a neutral position where the pump has no output, and a reverse drive inclination; c. a pivot lever for moving the swash plate to the selected position; d. a manually operated handle for placing the swash plate in a selected position; and e. means for causing the swash plate to move to the neutral position when the pedal is activated to apply the brakes, the improvement wherein activation of the pedal causes the swash plate to be brought to its neutral position without altering the position of the manually operated handle, the improvement comprising: 1. a first assembly mounted to pivot about a stationary first axis; 2. a second assembly having a crank mounted to pivot on the first assembly about a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the second assembly having means responsive to activation of the brake pedal foR causing the crank to pivot relative to the first assembly about the second axis; 3. means connecting the manually operated handle to the first assembly whereby movement of the handle causes movement of the first and second assemblies as a unit about the first axis; 4. a link pivotally connected to the crank at a third axis parallel to and spaced from the second axis, the link being pivotally connected to the pivot lever at a fourth axis parallel to and spaced from the third axis; and 5. the third axis and the first axis being spaced equidistantly from the second axis whereby activation of the brake pedal causes the crank to pivot and bring the third axis into alignment with the first axis without altering the position of the manually operated handle.