Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A throttle control system 100 for a vehicle, the throttle control system 100 comprising:
a lever assembly 200 comprising:
a housing 210;
a rotatable shaft 212 extending from the housing 210;
a rod 230 extending from a first end to a second end, the rod 230 having a mounting plate 232 at the first end for coupling the rod 230 to the rotatable shaft 212, and the second end of the rod 230 having a knob 234 for moving the rod 230, movement of the knob 234 causes the rod 234 to rotate the rotatable shaft 212;
a magnet 216 disposed on the rotatable shaft 212;
a magnetic sensor 220 provided in the housing 210, the magnetic sensor 220 mounted adjacent to the rotatable shaft 212 for detecting position of the rotatable shaft 212; and
a control unit 300 in communication with the lever assembly 200, the control unit 300 configured to:
receive position information of the rod 230 from the magnetic sensor 220; generate a control signal depending upon the position information; and
regulate operation of fuel injector system 400 depending upon the control signal.
2. The throttle control system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end of the rod 230 has threading for engaging and/or adjusting with the mounting plate 232 and the knob 234.
3. The throttle control system 200 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first nut 240, the first nut 250 fastened on to the rotatable shaft 212 to tighten the mounting plate 232 with the rotatable shaft 212.
4. The throttle control system 200 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second nut 250 disposed between the mounting plate 232 and the first nut 240, the second nut 250 having an arm for changing tightening condition of the mounting plate 232, and thereby the tightening condition of the rod 230.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a throttle control system for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Generally to accelerate a vehicle, an accelerator pedal operable by a driver’s foot is provided. In certain vehicles such as tractors a hand-operated lever is also provided to accelerate the vehicle. Such hand-operated lever is linked with a sensor through a mechanical linkage. The sensor provides input to an engine ECU depending upon position of the hand-operated lever. However, the linkage creates mechanical losses, i.e. frictional & transmission losses between the lever and linkage, which is not desirable. Further, the force required to operate the hand-operated lever is considerably high as the return spring mechanism of the lever generates a high operational force to ensure that the throttle stays at the set point. Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide a throttle control system overcoming above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[003] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides a throttle control system for a vehicle, the throttle control system comprises of a lever assembly wherein the lever assembly comprises of a housing; a rotatable shaft extending from the housing; a rod extending from a first end to a second end, the rod having a mounting plate at the first end for coupling the rod to the rotatable shaft, and the second end of the rod having a knob for moving the rod, movement of the knob causes the rod to rotate the rotatable shaft; a magnet disposed on the rotatable shaft ;a magnetic sensor provided in the housing, the magnetic sensor mounted adjacent to the rotatable shaft for detecting position of the rotatable shaft; and a control unit in communication with the lever assembly, the control unit configured to: receive position information of the rod from the magnetic sensor; generate a control signal depending upon the position information; and regulate operation of fuel injector system depending upon the control signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[004] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a throttle control system for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a lever assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a lever assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a housing of the lever assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[005] The present invention is directed towards a throttle control system for a vehicle comprising a lever assembly which is hand operated and a control unit.
[006] Figure 1 shows a throttle control system 100 for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The throttle control system comprises of a lever assembly 200 and a control unit 300. Further, the throttle control system 100 is in communication with a fuel injector system 400.
[007] As shown in figure 2 and 3, the lever assembly 200 comprises of a housing 210, a rotatable shaft 212, a movable rod 230 and a magnetic sensor 220. As shown, the rotatable shaft 212 extends from the housing 210. In an embodiment, a magnet is disposed in the rotatable shaft 212.
[008] The magnet 216 as shown in figure 4 is mounted on a magnet carrier 214 and disposed in the rotatable shaft 212 towards its bottom end. The magnetic sensor 220 is provided below the rotatable shaft 212 so that any change in magnetic field can be detected by the magnetic sensor 220.
[009] The rod 230 is adapted to the rotatable shaft 212. The rod 230 extends from a first end to a second, and comprises of a mounting plate 232 at the first end and a knob 234 provided at the second end. In an embodiment, the first end and the second end of the rod 230 has threading for engaging and/or adjusting with the mounting plate 232 and the knob 234. The mounting plate 232 has a slot for mounting the rod 230 on the rotatable shaft 212. Upon mounting the rod 230 on the rotatable shaft 212, the rotatable shaft 210 can be moved by moving the knob 234. Such arrangement of the rod 230 on the rotatable shaft 212 requires less operational force, thereby is easy to operate. The magnetic sensor 220 is configured to detect the movement – change in position of the rotatable shaft 212.
[010] The control unit 300 as shown in figure 1 is an electronic control unit of the vehicle, which is already on board the vehicle. Alternately, control unit 300 can be a dedicated unit installed specifically for the system 100 of the present invention. The control unit 300 is configured to be responsive to at-least one sensor, and process the position information of the rod 230. Upon receiving the position information from the magnetic sensor 220, the control unit 300 generates a control signal depending upon the position information and regulates operation of fuel injector system 400 depending upon the control signal. Thus, present invention obviates any mechanical linkage to operate fuel injector system 400.
[011] Further, as shown in figure 3, the lever assembly 200 comprises of a first nut 240 and a second nut 250. The first nut 240 and the second nut 250 are mounted on the rotatable shaft 212 above the mounting plate 232, whereby the second nut 250 is provided between the first nut 240 and the mounting plate 232. The first nut 240 and the second nut 250 tighten the mounting plate 232 with the rotatable shaft 212. As can be seen, the second nut 250 comprises of an arm. The arm allows the second nut 250 to be moved to alter tightening condition of the mounting plate 260, and thereby tightening condition of the rod 230.
[012] Furthermore as shown in figure 3, the lever assembly 200 comprises of a first washer 260 and a second washer 270. The second washer 270 is mounted above the mounting plate 232 and has a conical profile. The second washer 270 prevents any unwanted movement of the lever during vibrations. The first washer 260 is mounted above the second washer 270 and has a flat profile. The lever assembly further comprises a flat washer 290 disposed below the mounting plate 232 to avoid direct contact of the mounting plate 232 and a mounting bracket 280. In an embodiment of the invention, the flat washer 290 is a flat rubber washer.
[013] Further the mounting bracket 280 is provided for mounting the lever assembly 200 on the vehicle.
[014] Advantageously, the present invention provides a throttle control system whereby the lever assembly requires less operational force. Further, the throttle control system obviates use of mechanical linkages and thus obviates the disadvantages associated with mechanical linkages.
[015] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.