Importance

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Abstract

A monitor connected to an automotive engine, suitably monitoring pulses in the ignition system thereof electronically, and a flyball-type governor connected to the final drive train of an automotive engine transmission driven thereby, respectively operate switches for independently causing an engine-throttle-closing fixed-rate drive to run in throttle-closing direction to override the manual throttle control whenever the engine exceeds a predetermined engine speed or the vehicle approaches or exceeds a predetermined vehicle speed. Whenever both engine and vehicle are below their respective predetermined speeds and the vehicle speed is neither constant nor accelerating in the aforementioned approach range, the unoperated switches cause the throttle drive to run in throttle-opening direction to allow, but not to cause, full-throttle operation, which may be achieved by operating the manual throttle control to open the throttle to obtain full power. The dynamics of this system cause it to operate as a forcefully surging engine governor to protect the engine from overspeeding in the lower gears and to encourage the driver to shift out of the lower gears, while in the higher gears it operates as a road speed governor to limit the maximum road speed, and as a road speed control or 'cruise control' to hold a constant road speed, within engine accelerational and braking capacities, so long as the driver keeps the accelerator pedal depressed beyond the normal positions required for attaining or maintaining the predetermined speeds.

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First Claim