CONTROL SYSTEM FOR COORDINATED ACTUATION OF A TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE

摘要

A control system to provide shifting of a transmission in coordination with the opening and closing of a throttle, both located at a controlled station, by actuation of a single control lever at a control station remote with respect to the controlled station. Only a single push-pull cable is required to transmit motion from the control lever to a reciprocatingly slidable operating member at the controlled station. The operating member has a first drive means in the form of a full unbroken rack of teeth that meshingly engage a fully toothed pinion. Rotation of the fully toothed pinion in response to translation of the operating member effects a shifting of the transmission through a pair of cooperative, interrupted gears. The operating member also has a second drive means in the form of an interrupted rack of teeth that interact with an interrupted pinion. The interruption of the teeth on both the rack and pinion maintain the interrupted pinion stationary in response to movements of the operating member during that portion of its translation by which the transmission is shifted. Thereafter, continued translation of the operating member brings the teeth on the second rack into meshing engagement with the teeth on the interrupted pinion to effect an opening or closing of the throttle.