Engine control with self-energizing flywheel brake

摘要

A system for quickly stopping the internal combustion engine of a powered implement having a deadman control normally biased toward a first position and actuable by the implement operator to a second position for normal implement operation and optionally to a third position for actuating an engine starting mechanism. The engine has a flywheel coupled thereto for rotation with the engine crankshaft and that flywheel is provided with an annular friction surface of generally cylindrical configuration disposed coaxial with the axis of rotation of the flywheel. A braking member having a second friction surface is normally biased into engagement with the flywheel friction surface and coupled to a deadman control so that the two friction surfaces will be disengaged upon movement of the deadman control to a second or operational position by the implement operator. The system includes an arrangement for disabling the engine ignition system upon release of the deadman control and prior to engagement of the friction surfaces. The brake is self-actuating in the sense that once the friction surfaces are engaged, continued flywheel rotation forces or wedges the two braking surfaces together with substantially greater force than the force causing initial contact between those two surfaces.