Manual control for a self-propelled vehicle

摘要

A self-propelled vehicle is equipped with a forwardly extendable tiller having a handgrip which can be held by an operator on foot and moved longitudinally of the tiller to regulate the direction and speed of operation of the vehicle drive motor. The handgrip is biased to a neutral position, which corresponds to a de-energized condition of the drive motor. From the neutral position and relative to the rear and front of the vehicle, rearward handgrip movement energizes the drive motor in reverse; and, forward handgrip movement energizes the drive motor in the forward direction, with a sensible transition being provided in the forward handgrip movement to enable the operator to distinguish a shift from first to second forward speeds. Control over the operation of the drive motor is accomplished by reed switches mounted in the tiller and actuatable by a magnet moved by the handgrip.