Automatic power control for variable power train

Claim 1

Efficiency control for an engine-transmission power train of a fuel-powered vehicle of the type including an engine having power control means, a fixed range transmission having a plurality of fixed, specific reduction rations providing corresponding speed ranges and a variable range transmission providing a continuously variable range of speed reduction ratios, said variable range transmission being equipped with transmission pump and motor hydraulic units with variable displacement to vary their speed ratio, and electrically controlled hydraulic means to vary such displacement and correspondingly vary the variable transmission output speed and torque, and variable transmission including manual means for varying the variable transmission output speed and torque comprising: a command signal generator for connection to the electrical hydraulic means to provide thereto a main command signal for setting desired output speed of the transmission by varying the pump-and-motor speed-ratio of same as it is driven under engine power; means for storing in a memory a predetermined consecutive series of desired engine speed values which result in substantially minimum specific fuel consumption for a range of engine power setting; first means connected to the memory for generating a reference command indicative of that particular engine speed value which is desired corresponding to the actual engine power setting; second means for generating a second signal indicative of the actual engine speed; third means for generating a third signal indicative of the setting of the manual means for varying the variable transmission output speed and torque; said first and second and third means having means connected to the signal generator for modifying the main command signal automatically, in response to a deficiency of one of said reference command and second signal compared to the other; and a power control lever for adjusting the power level of an engine, said engine having a power control means, comprising the assembly of (1) a governor lever pivotally mounted on a fixed axis shaft, said governor lever having an end connected by linkage to said engine power control means; (2) an external handle disposed about a portion of said governor lever and a parallel switch lever disposed within said handle, said handle and said switch lever being mutually connected at their swinging end remote from the shaft for their relative movement in a sliding direction on a somewhat restricted basis and for relative tilting in a transverse direction on a more restricted basis, said switch lever having an opposite, self-latching/unlatching end for operating a switch; said power handle having an opposite end fulcrummed on said governor lever to pivot with limited motion on a swing center near the operating end of the switch lever and the latter fulcrummed on said governor lever to pivot with less limited motion on a swing center remote to its operatng end, and being so disposed that such remote swing center forces the operating end of the switch lever to pivot with amplified movement compared to said corresponding opposite end of the handle when the two undertake conjoint motion at their swinging end.