US PATENT SUBCLASS 180 / 170
WITH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SPEED OF VEHICLE FOR MAINTAINING SPEED AT, OR PREVENTING IT FROM EXCEEDING, A PARTICULAR VALUE

Current as of: June, 1999
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180 /   HD   MOTOR VEHICLES

170WITH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SPEED OF VEHICLE FOR MAINTAINING SPEED AT, OR PREVENTING IT FROM EXCEEDING, A PARTICULAR VALUE {4}
171  DF  .~> Including device to signal to operator existence of unusual or unintended speed
172  DF  .~> Including device responsive to centrifugal force {2}
175  DF  .~> Including fluid pressure actuated servomechanism {2}
178  DF  .~> Including electrically actuated servomechanism {1}

DEFINITION

Classification: 180/170

WITH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SPEED OF VEHICLE FOR MAINTAINING SPEED AT, OR PREVENTING IT FROM EXCEEDING, A PARTICULAR VALUE:

(under the class definition) Vehicle provided with means for controlling its rate of movement over a supporting surface in response to its speed, which controlling may consist of either (a) preventing it from exceeding an arbitrarily established, predetermined velocity or (b) maintaining it at a particular velocity, or velocity range, selected by the operator of the vehicle.

(1) Note. The means ordinarily includes a device (e.g., a servomechanism) for operating a velocity-affecting element (e.g., the throttle) of the vehicle.

(2) Note. A means for preventing the vehicle from exceeding a particular speed often is identified as a "governor" whereas a means for maintaining the vehicle at a particular speed, or within a relatively narrow range of speed, frequently is designated as a "cruise control"; however, the two functions frequently are so interrelated as to make it difficult to identify a device as being particularly adapted to perform only one, or the other, of the functions.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

167+, for a motor vehicle having means for controlling its operation responsive to electromagnetic radiation or magnetic force or sound waves either received from a source, or

reflected from an object or a surface, located apart from the vehicle, and wherein the controlling of the operation of the vehicle may include the regulation of its speed.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

73, Measuring and Testing, 488+, for a device of that class which is responsive to speed.

74, Machine Element or Mechanism,

513, for a linkage system associated with a foot operated accelerator, which system may include means for locking the accelerator at a particular point in its travel.

123, Internal-Combustion Engines,

319+, (see especially indented subclasses 350+ and 378+) for means for controlling the speed of an engine, which engine may be the motor of a vehicle, wherein the means is responsive to a condition of the engine; and subclass 198 for an accessory (e.g., a fuel or ignition cutoff device) for an engine.

137, Fluid Handling,

47+, for a system of that class which includes a valve and a driven actuator therefor, which actuator influences the operation of the valve in accordance with the speed at which it is driven.

192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control,

1.1+, for the joint control of a vehicle engine (e.g., as by a throttle holder) and a vehicle brake.

246, Railway Switches and Signals, appropriate subclasses for controlling the speed of a vehicle of the railway type; however, as indicated in section IV(a) of the class definition of that class (246), speed control of a vehicle is elsewhere (as designated therein) "when all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation with devices on the track or roadway".

361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,

51, for means for protecting an electrical system or device by sensing an excessive speed condition and activating a protective circuit. 388, Electricity: Motor Control Systems,

800+, and 825+ for single motor running-speed control systems with, and without, feedback, respectively.

477, Interrelated Power Delivery Controls, Including Engine Controls,

108, for engine speed control and interrelated transmission control to achieve constant output speed, where specific vehicle structure is not claimed.