Vehicle control device

Claim 2

In a vehicle control device for use with vehicles adapted to move along a track comprising a speed control member having a generally straight section between a first angled section having a cam surface for controlling deceleration of a vehicle and a second angled section having a cam surface for controlling acceleration of a vehicle, each of said angled sections converging toward and terminating at said straight section, motor means for moving said control member from a lower inoperative position wherein a cam follower on a vehicle cannot contact the sections of said control member to an upper operative position wherein a cam follower on a vehicle can contact the sections of said control member, and said control member being at all times gravity biased downwardly from said operative position to said inoperative position, the improvement comprising providing said cam follower on said vehicle for supporting said control device in said operative position.

Claim 3

A control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sections of said control member having a round peripheral surface for contact with the periphery of a concave surface on a cam follower.

Claim 4

A device in accordance with claim 2 including a vehicle having a drive wheel connected to a cam follower, said cam follower having a projection at its lower end for contacting and supporting the control member in its operative position so long as the cam follower is in contact with one of said sections.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 4 including using a cam follower having the shape of a truncated cone with a concave peripheral surface projecting upwardly from said projection thereon.

Claim 8

Apparatus comprising a vehicle having a drive wheel rotatable about a vertical axis and in contact with a horizontally disposed drive shaft which in turn is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a follower means connected to said drive wheel and rotatable therewith, a control device for controlling the speed of the vehicle and comprising a speed control member having a generally straight section between a first angled section having a cam surface for controlling deceleration of the vehicle and a second angled section having a cam surface for controlling acceleration of the vehicle, each of said angled sections converging toward and terminating at said straight section, said straight section being generally parallel to said drive shaft, motor means for moving said control member from a lower inoperative position wherein said follower means cannot contact any of said sections to an upper operative position wherein said follower means can contact said sections, and said control member being biased downwardly from said operative position to said inoperative position, said follower means being at an elevation for contact with said control member, said follower means forming a means for supporting said control member in said operative position when said follower means is in contact with said control member and when said motor means provides no support for said control member so that said control member moves to its inoperative position as a result of lack of contact with said follower means if said motor means is providing no support for said control member.

Claim 9

Apparatus comprising a vehicle having a drive wheel rotatable about a vertical axis and in contact with a horizontally disposed drive shaft which in turn is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a follower means connected to said drive wheel and rotatable therewith, a control device for controlling the speed of the vehicle and comprising a speed control member having a generally straight section between a first angled section having a cam surface for controlling deceleration of the vehicle and a second angled section having a cam surface for controlling acceleration of the vehicle, each of said angled sections converging toward and terminating at said straight section, said straight section being generally parallel to said drive shaft, motor means for moving said control member from a lower inoperative position wherein said follower means cannot contact any of said sections to an upper operative position wherein said follower means can contact said sections, and said control member being biased downwardly from said operative position to said inoperative position, said follower means being at an elevation for contact with said control member, said follower means forming a means for supporting said control member in said operative position when said follower means is in contact with said control member and when said motor means provides no support for said control member so that said control member moves to its inoperative position as a result of lack of contact with said follower means if said motor means is providing no support for said control member.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said follower means is a round peripheral surface for contact with a side face of said cam surfaces and includes a projection at its lower end for contact with a lower surface of said control member.