Snowmobile engine safety cut out system

Claim 1

In a vehicle having an engine, a carburetor, a control element within said carburetor movable to adjust the quantity of fuel/air mixture supplied to said engine, a throttle/actuator situated remote from said engine and adapted to be engaged by a person operating the machine, means interconnecting said control element to move in response to movements of the actuator, said throttle actuator being movable from a limiting position, corresponding to an idle position of said control element wherein the quantity of air/fuel mixture supplied to the engine is sufficient to maintain operation of the engine at only an idle speed, to positions wherein progressively greater quantities of fuel/air mixture can be supplied to the engine, the improvement comprising: first sensing means responsive to engagement of said throttle actuator by the operator, and second sensing means directly responsive to the position of said carburetor control element, and engine control means associated with said first and second sensing means, said engine control means being effective to prevent starting of said engine when the throttle actuator is disengaged unless said carburetor control element is in said limiting position, and effective to terminate operation of said engine if said carburetor control element remains displaced from said limiting position when said throttle actuator is released, said first sensing means being a first switch responsive to the pressure of the operator's hand upon said throttle actuator irrespective of the position of said throttle actuator, said second sensing means comprising a second switch having a sensor positioned for engagement directly by the carburetor control element, said engine being of the spark ignition type and having an electrical ignition circuit which includes means for generating an ignition voltage, and said first and second switches being connected in series and being operative to prevent starting or terminating of operation of the engine by short-circuiting said voltage generating means.