System for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723404-B2
Application number	US-201816484205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2018
Priority date	Feb 23, 2017
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls, the control system includes a handgrip mounted on a shaft and fitted with a position sensor and with a return spring which is fixed by one end to the handgrip so as to generate a return moment that opposes the twisting of the handgrip. The system includes at least one actuator able to move a cam mounted on the shaft and able to: modify the preload of the return spring according to the position of the cam to which the other end of the return spring is fixed, and/or modify the travel of the handgrip by collaborating with an end stop of the handgrip, the end stop coming into contact with a cam at the end of the travel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls, the control system comprising:
a handgrip mounted on a shaft of a handlebar;
a position sensor;
a return spring which is fixed by one end to the handgrip so as to generate a return moment that opposes twisting of the handgrip; and
at least one actuator able to move a cam mounted on the shaft and able to:
modify a preload of the return spring according to a position of the cam to which an opposite end of the return spring is fixed, and/or
modify travel of the handgrip by collaborating with an end stop of the handgrip, the end stop coming into contact with the cam at the end of the travel.

2. The system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the return spring is of the spiral spring type, wound around the shaft of the handgrip.

3. The system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the position sensor is an index sensor collaborating with an index attached to the handgrip, using mechanical or magnetic interaction.

4. The system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the handlebar controls the steering of the vehicle, the handgrip being fixed to the shaft of said handlebar.

5. The system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the handgrip is a throttle handgrip providing control over the acceleration of the vehicle.

6. The system for controlling a vehicle fitted with electrical controls as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is an index sensor collaborating with an index attached to the handgrip, using mechanical or magnetic interaction.

7. A system for controlling a motorized vehicle having at least two wheels and fitted with a control system, wherein the control system comprises:
a handgrip mounted on a shaft;
a position sensor;
a return spring which is fixed by one end to the handgrip so as to generate a return moment that opposes twisting of the handgrip; and
at least one actuator able to move a cam mounted on the shaft and able to:
modify a preload of the return spring according to a position of the cam to which an opposite end of the return spring is fixed, and/or
modify travel of the handgrip by collaborating with an end stop of the handgrip, the end stop coming into contact with the cam at the end of the travel.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive France
• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Trocme Loïc
• Rochard Pascal

Classifications

• F02D11/02 Primary

  characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means · CPC title

• F02D9/1065

  Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like · CPC title

• B62K23/04

  Twist grips · CPC title

• B62K11/14 Primary

  Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto (hand controls per se B62K23/02) · CPC title

• B60K26/021 Primary

  with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics · CPC title