Speed control apparatus for a vehicle

Claim 1

A speed control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a frame of the vehicle; a speed control lever having a ball connector formed thereon at a lower end thereof pivotally mounted in every direction at an intermediate portion thereof to said frame; a console mounted on said frame, said console having formed therein a U-shaped guide groove in which said speed control lever is adapted to move; a pair of substantially straight levers each pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion thereof to said frame, each of said pair of levers having a notch formed threin at an upper end thereof whereby the ball connector is selectively engageable with either one of the notches as said speed control lever is moved in the guide groove of said console, the selected lever being pivoted thereby; a pair of rod means each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the other ends of said respective levers; a turning member rotatably mounted to said frame, said turning member having a pair of arms projecting therefrom in opposite directions from each other relative to the axis of said turning member, each arm being pivotally connected to the other ends of said respective rod means; spring means for applying a braking force to said turning member against rotation; and control valve means for forward and reverse change-over and speed control of the vehicle, said control valve means being connected to one of said arms and adapted to be changed over between forward and reverse positions in accordance with the turning direction of said turning member.