FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, rule 13]
"A CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHODS THEREOF"
NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure is in relation to a cruise control system for automobiles, more particularly relates to a cruise control device for maintaining a constant accelerator setting in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
In existing systems maintaining a constant cruising speed for vehicles are not available. Especially in case of commercial vehicles which are usually travel on highways, a constant speed is maintained by the driver for a long distance and the driver focuses on maneuvering rather than on change of speed and gear. In such cases the driver puts a dead weight on the accelerator pedal, so that the vehicle moves in constant speed such that the driver can rest his leg, but such practice is dangerous.
Existing cruise control system is electronically controlled. Controlling the engine fueling to maintain the required speed is possible in electronically governed engines. Further, the electronics cruise control are mainly provided to attend a predetermined speed after comparing with the instantaneous speed and therefore does not provide flexibility to fix the speed according to driver's/user's need. Hence, the electronically controlled cruise control systems are lacking adoptability.
Though there are mechanical cruise control systems they are insensitive to changes in gear or clutch. Thus, the existing mechanical cruise control system is also not convenient and requires a lot of human/driver's effort. The limitation of the existing mechanical cruise control system is the mechanism involves lot of mechanical linkages which makes the system difficult to adopt the system on any vehicle.
In light of the foregoing discussion, there is a need to develop a mechanical cruise control device which can be retrofitted in the vehicles and are easily operated and controlled by either clutch or brake pedals.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
The objective of the disclosure is to prevent above mentioned drawbacks by providing a cruise control device for the mechanically governed fuel injection system vehicles. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a cruise control device which allows the driver to set the accelerator at a chosen level, maintaining substantially constant

vehicle speed and allowing him to rest his foot and leg during sustained non stop driving.
In one embodiment, the cruise control device described in the present disclosure is economical.
STATEMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, the disclosure provides for a cruise control device (1) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that: a bracket (7) of predetermined shape comprises plurality of holes on its side surface (20) and top surface (21); a rack (5) passing through a sleeve (19), connected to a fuel control lever (2) of a fuel injection pump (13) in a vehicle engine; said sleeve (19) enclosing the rack (5) is passed through the holes at side surface (20) of the bracket (7); an actuator (6) consisting a pin (14), is mounted on the top surface (21) of the bracket (7), and an electrical circuit placed in the engine to activate plurality of control switches to activate and deactivate the actuator (6) for cruise control; also provides for a method of maintaining a constant speed of a vehicle using a cruise control device (1), said method comprises acts of: accelerating the vehicle to a desired speed by pressing accelerator pedal, switching ON an actuator switch (16) at predetermined speed to activate an actuator (6), engaging a pin (14) of the activated actuator (6) with a rack (5) for locking a fuel control lever (2) in order to maintain the predetermined constant speed of the vehicle; And also provides for a method of assembling a cruise control device (1) to engine, said method comprising acts of: passing a rack (5) through a sleeve (19) at one end and connecting the rack (5) to a fuel control lever (2) of the engine at other end; mounting a bracket (7) onto a timing cover (22) of the engine; and mounting an actuator (6) on top surface of the bracket (7), wherein pin (14) of the actuator (6) aligns above serrations provided on the rack (5).
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of system and method as claimed in disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
The disclosure provides a cruise control device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that: a bracket of predetermined shape, comprises plurality of holes on its side surface and top surface; rack passing through a sleeve, connected to a fuel control lever of a fuel injection pump in a vehicle engine; said sleeve enclosing the rack is passed through the holes at side surface of the bracket ; an actuator consisting a pin , is mounted on the top surface of the bracket , and an electrical circuit placed in the engine to activate plurality of control switches to activate and deactivate the actuator for cruise control.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure the cruise control device comprises a switch mounted in dash board of the vehicle for switching on the cruise control device.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said wherein one end of the bracket is connected to a timing cover of the engine.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said pin passing through the top hole of the bracket aligns with serrations provided in the rack.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the serrations in the rack are unidirectional to avoid locking of the fuel control lever.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said rack is formed by connecting a U-clamp and serrated rod using locking pin.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the U clamp is connected to a fuel control lever at one end and the serrated rod at its other end.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said actuator is selected from a group comprising solenoid and pneumatic.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of control switches is connected to a battery.
One embodiment of the present disclosure, is method of maintaining a constant speed of a vehicle using a cruise control device, said method comprises acts of: accelerating the vehicle to a desired speed by pressing accelerator pedal, switching ON an actuator switch at predetermined speed to activate an actuator, engaging a pin of the activated actuator with a rack for locking a fuel control lever in order to maintain the predetermined constant speed of the vehicle.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the actuator switch is manually operated by a vehicle operator.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cruise control device is deactivated by pressing any one of brake pedal and clutch pedal.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure is a method of assembling a cruise control device to engine, said method comprising acts of: passing a rack through a sleeve at one end and connecting the rack to a fuel control lever of the engine at other end; mounting a bracket onto a timing cover of the engine; and mounting an actuator on top surface of the bracket, wherein pin of the actuator aligns above serrations provided on the rack.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

FIGS, la-li illustrates the Fuel Injection Pump, cruise control device, components and
their setup according to the disclosure.
FIG. 2 illustrates the Brake switch installation on the brake pedal according to the
disclosure.
FIG. 3 illustrates the Clutch switch installation on the clutch pedal according to the
disclosure.
FIG. 4 illustrates the Electrical wiring harness drawing according to the disclosure.
FIG. 5 illustrates the schematic layout of the cruise control system according to the
disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
It is to be noted at this point that all of the above described components, whether alone or in any combination, are claimed as being essential to the invention, in

particular the details depicted in the drawings and reference numerals in the drawings are as given below.

Referral Numerals Description
1 Cruise control device
2 Fuel control lever
3 Ball joint pin
4 Accelerator cable
5 Rack
6 Actuator
7 Bracket
8 Bolt
9 Brake pedal
10 Brake switch
10a Brake switch sensor
10b Brake pin
11 Clutch pedal
12 Clutch switch
12a Clutch switch sensor
12b Clutch pin
13 Fuel injection pump
14 pin
15 Rectangular plate mounted on brake pedal
16 Cruise switch
17 Clamp
18 Serrated rod
19 Sleeve
20 Side surface of bracket
21 Top surface
22 Timing cover

23 Locking pin
24 Accelerator pedal
25 Rectangular plate mounted on clutch pedal
26 Battery
The disclosure is related to a device for maintaining a constant throttle in an automobile, and more particularly to a brake and clutch releasable accelerator holding device. The device can be referred to as cruise controls. The mechanical cruise control or Fuel Injection Pump (FIP) throttle lever-holding device is having release means connected to the brake and clutch. The cruise control device is intended to allow a driver to set the throttle at a chosen level, maintaining substantially constant vehicle speed and allowing user/driver to rest his foot and leg during sustained non stop driving. The present disclosure constitutes of a throttle locking device on the FIP lever with an actuator and deactivation of cruise control with activation of brake or clutch pedal.
FIGS, 1a-1i illustrates a Cruise control device (1) and its components in a vehicle. In general the vehicle is provided with a Fuel Injection Pump [FIP] (13) which supplies adequate amount of fuel to the engine. A fuel control lever (2) is mounted on the FIP (13) to control the fuel delivery to the engine. A ball joint pin (3) is mounted on the Fuel control lever (2). The accelerator cable (4) is movably mounted on the ball joint pin (3). When the driver needs acceleration, the accelerator pedal is pressed, which pulls the accelerator cable (4). Due to the pulling of the accelerator cable (4), the fuel control lever (2) is actuated enabling the fuel delivery to the engine for accelerating the vehicle.
For incorporating a Cruise Control device, a rack (5) is designed to fit on the Fuel control lever (2) with a locking pin (14). The rack (5) consists of a U type clamp (17) construction on one side for enabling the fitment on Fuel control lever (2). The other side of the rack (5) has a serrated rod (18). The rack (5) is formed as a combination of clamp (17) and the rod (18) which is connected to each other through a locking pin (14). A Bracket (7) is mounted on the timing cover of the engine with bolts (8) or any other location suitable such that it is within the length of the rack, fastened properly in

the line of travel of the fuel control lever (2). The bracket (7) has plurality of holes, one for the sleeve (19) to pass through and the second at the top of the bracket (7) for fitment of the actuator (6).
FIG. 2 shows the installation of the Brake switch (10) on the brake pedal (9). A rectangular plate (15) of predetermined size is welded on to the brake pedal. The Brake switch (10) is mounted perpendicular to the rectangular plate (15) welded on the brake pedal (9). The brake switch (10) consists of a pin (10b), which moves in and out. When the brake pedal (9) is not pressed then the pin (10b) in the brake switch (10) is pressed-in and the circuit is closed enabling the current to pass through it. When the Brake pedal (9) is applied then the pin (10b) comes out enabling the circuit to disconnect and thus the cruise control mode is deactivated.
Cruise control mode can be deactivated either using clutch pedal or brake pedal. Figures 3 and 4 explain in detail about arrangement of brake pedal and clutch pedal used in deactivating the cruise control mode.
FIG. 3 shows the installation of the Clutch switch (12) on the clutch pedal (11). A rectangular plate (15) of predetermined size is welded on to the clutch pedal. The clutch switch (10) is mounted perpendicular of the rectangular plate (25) welded on the clutch pedal (12). The clutch switch (10) consists of a pin (12b), which moves in and out. When the clutch pedal (12) is not pressed the pin (12b) in the clutch switch (10) is pressed-in and the circuit is closed enabling the current to pass through it. When the clutch pedal (9) is applied then the pin (12b) comes out enabling the circuit to disconnect and thus the cruise control mode is deactivated.
FIG. 4 shows the Electrical wiring diagram. The "Clutch Switch" (12) is connected to a clutch pedal sensor (12a) to read the activation and deactivation of the clutch pedal (II). A "Brake Switch" (10) is connected to a brake pedal sensor (10a) to read the activation and deactivation of the brake pedal (9). A "Cruise Switch" (16) is used for switching ON the cruise control device (1). A "connector battery" (26) is connected to the actuator (6) for activation or deactivation of the actuator (6).
FIG. 5 shows the schematic working of the Cruise Control device (1). The driver/user drives the vehicle at a constant speed with the accelerator pedal pressed, where the

accelerator cable (4) pulls the Fuel Control lever (2). The Rack (5) connected to the Fuel control lever (2) also moves along with the accelerator cable (4). When the driver feels that the speed in which the vehicle is moving is sufficient for him to cruise further, he activates the cruise switch (16) for activation of the cruise control device (1). Upon switching on the cruise switch (16) manually, the actuator (6) fixed on the bracket (7) activates. On activation, the pin (14) in the actuator (6) moves down and aligns with the serrations provided on the rack (5). The actuator (6) keeps the rack (5) locked until the driver feels the vehicle is cruising at sufficient speed, as per his requirement. If the driver encounters an uphill grade and wishes to add more power to keep his constant speed, the driver can override the cruise control device by pressing the accelerator further and later switching on the cruise switch (16). If the vehicle reaches a downhill grade and the driver does not wish to exceed his former constant speed, or there is other reason for temporarily slowing down, the driver need only to lightly touch the brake pedal and cruise control device immediately becomes completely inoperative. On activation of the brake pedal (9) or the clutch pedal (11), the respective switches (10 and 12) fitted on the respective pedals (9 and 11), brakes the circuit, making the actuator (6) to retract and releasing the rack (5) which in turn releases the Fuel control lever (2) making the engine to go to idling mode.
For activating the Cruise control device again, the driver has to activate the cruise switch (16) again after the vehicle attains cruising speed.
Advantages
The mechanical cruise control device according to the disclosure is simple and compact in construction, and easily installed and operated. Also, the device is easy to assemble with the engine of the vehicle and hence economic. The device can be attached and operated on virtually any automobile having a mechanical FIP throttle lever, brake pedal and a clutch lever. Further, as the cruise control device comprises fewer components, the cost for assembling and manufacturing is less and therefore said device is economical.
Equivalents
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the

singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C

together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:
1. A cruise control device (1) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that:
a bracket (7) of predetermined shape, comprises plurality of holes on its side surface (20) and top surface (21);
a rack (5) passing through a sleeve (19), connected to a fuel control lever (2) of a fuel injection pump (13) in a vehicle engine; said sleeve (19) enclosing the rack (5) is passed through the holes at side surface (20) of the bracket(7);
an actuator (6) consisting a pin (14), is mounted on the top surface (21) of the bracket (7), and
an electrical circuit placed in the engine to activate plurality of control switches to activate and deactivate the actuator (6) for cruise control.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cruise control device (1) comprises a switch mounted in dash board of the vehicle for switching on the cruise control device.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the bracket (7) is connected to a timing cover (22) of the engine.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pin (14) passing through the top hole of the bracket (7) aligns with serrations provided in the rack (5).
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the serrations in the rack (5) is unidirectional to avoid locking of the fuel control lever (2).
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rack (5) is formed by connecting a U-clamp (17) and serrated rod (18) using locking pin (23).
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the U clamp (17) is connected to a fuel control lever (2) at one end and the serrated rod (18) at its other end.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator (6) is selected from a group comprising solenoid and pneumatic.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of control switches are connected to a battery (26).
10. A method of maintaining a constant speed of a vehicle using a cruise control device, said method comprises acts of:
accelerating the vehicle to a desired speed by pressing accelerator pedal,
switching ON an actuator switch (16) at predetermined speed to activate an actuator (6),
engaging a pin (14) of the activated actuator (6) with a rack (5) for locking a fuel control lever (2) in order to maintain the predetermined constant speed of the vehicle.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said actuator switch is manually operated by a vehicle operator.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cruise control device (1) is deactivated by pressing any one of brake pedal (9) and clutch pedal (11).
13. The method of assembling a cruise control device (1) to engine, said method comprising acts of:
passing a rack (5) through a sleeve (19) at one end and connecting the rack (5) to a fuel control lever (2) of the engine at other end;
mounting a bracket (7) onto a timing cover (22) of the engine;
mounting an actuator (6) on top surface of the bracket (7), wherein pin (14) of the actuator (6) aligns above serrations provided on the rack (5),
14. A cruise control device, a method of maintaining a constant speed and a
method of assembling the cruise control device are substantially as herein
above described and as illustrated in accompanying drawings.