Throttle linkage for a model vehicle

1. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a toy model vehicle engine having a throttle comprising a throttle axis that extends from the toy model vehicle engine;

a throttle actuation arm secured for a pivotal movement about a pivotal axis substantially fixed relative to the toy model vehicle engine, the throttle actuation arm extending along an actuation arm axis extending from the pivotal axis;

a throttle arm extending from the throttle and configured to linearly translate along the throttle axis without rotation of the throttle arm relative to the toy model vehicle engine to adjust engine power, the throttle arm extending along a throttle arm axis extending from a point of connection to the throttle and substantially intersecting the actuation arm axis; and

a coupling for engaging the throttle arm and throttle actuation arm at approximately the point of intersection of the actuation arm axis and the throttle arm axis, the coupling allowing sliding of the throttle arm along the actuation arm axis relative to the throttle actuation arm, such that the pivotal movement of the throttle actuation arm moves the throttle arm linearly along the throttle axis.

2. The throttle linkage of claim 1 further comprising a bell crank coupled to the throttle actuation arm, wherein in response to an actuation of the bell crank the throttle actuation arm is actuated.

3. The throttle linkage of claim 2 further comprising a servo-link coupled to the bell crank, wherein the servo-link extends along a servo-link axis, and wherein the servo-link moves along the servo-link axis when the bell crank is actuated.

4. The throttle linkage of claim 3 , wherein the servo-link and the throttle arm extend in substantially perpendicular directions from the pivot axis of the bell crank.

5. The throttle linkage of claim 3 , wherein the throttle actuation arm is positioned higher than the servo-link to provide clearance between the throttle actuation arm and the servo- link.

6. The throttle linkage of claim 3 , further comprising:

a guide, wherein the guide is at least configured to allow the servo-link to slide within the guide along the servo-link axis; and

a stop, wherein the stop is at least configured to stop the servo-link if the servo-link-slides to a predetermined position.

7. The throttle linkage of claim 1 , wherein the throttle actuation arm further comprises a slot through which at least a portion of the throttle arm extends.

8. The throttle linkage of claim 1 , wherein the toy model vehicle engine is movable with respect to a toy model vehicle chassis from at least a fixed first position to a fixed second position for adjusting a third position of a crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine relative to a transmission shaft of the toy model vehicle chassis, and wherein the position of the throttle does not change substantially in response to movement of the toy model vehicle engine from the first position to the second position.

9. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a toy model vehicle engine having a throttle, wherein the toy model vehicle engine is mounted to a first engine mount of a toy model vehicle chassis to adjust a crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine relative to a transmission shaft of the toy model vehicle chassis;

a throttle actuation mechanism for moving the throttle between open and closed positions, wherein the throttle actuation mechanism is directly coupled to the throttle and is mounted to the first engine mount to move with adjustment of the crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine;

a linear actuator coupled between the toy model vehicle chassis and the throttle actuation mechanism, the linear actuator causing the throttle actuation mechanism to open and close the throttle upon actuation;

wherein the throttle actuation mechanism further comprises:

a throttle actuation arm secured for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis substantially fixed relative to the toy model vehicle engine;

a throttle arm extending from the toy model vehicle engine and capable of actuation to adjust engine power; and

a coupling for engaging the throttle arm and throttle actuation arm, wherein the throttle actuation arm has an actuation arm axis extending from the pivotal axis;

wherein the throttle arm has a throttle arm axis extending from a point of connection to the throttle and substantially intersecting the actuation arm axis; and

wherein the coupling engages the throttle arm and the throttle actuation arm at approximately the point of intersection of the throttle arm axis and the actuation arm axis, the coupling allowing sliding of the throttle arm along the actuation arm axis relative to the throttle actuation arm.

10. The throttle linkage of claim 9 , wherein the throttle actuation arm further comprises a slot through which at least a portion of the throttle arm extends.

11. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a toy model vehicle engine having a throttle, wherein the toy model vehicle engine is mounted to a first engine mount of a toy model vehicle chassis to adjust a crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine relative to a transmission shaft of the toy model vehicle chassis;

a throttle actuation mechanism for moving the throttle between open and closed positions, wherein the throttle actuation mechanism is directly coupled to the throttle and is mounted to the first engine mount to move with adjustment of the crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine;

a linear actuator coupled between the toy model vehicle chassis and the throttle actuation mechanism, the linear actuator causing the throttle actuation mechanism to open and close the throttle upon actuation of the linear actuator;

wherein the linear actuator further comprises a servo-link; and

wherein the throttle linkage further comprises a bell crank that is at least configured to couple the throttle actuation mechanism and the servo-link.

12. The throttle linkage of claim 11 , wherein the throttle actuation arm further comprises a slot through which at least a portion of the throttle arm extends.

13. The throttle linkage of claim 12 , wherein the slot comprises an opening at a distal end from the pivotal axis of the throttle actuation arm, and wherein the opening allows the throttle arm to be disengaged from the throttle actuation arm for removing the engine from the chassis without disengaging the bell crank from the servo-link.

14. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a linear actuator operating in a first direction;

a throttle operating linearly in a second direction;

a link coupled between the linear actuator and the throttle for actuating the throttle in the second direction in response to movement of the linear actuator in the first direction; and

wherein the toy model vehicle engine is mounted on a first engine mount pivotally secured to a toy model vehicle chassis to adjust a position of a crankshaft relative to a transmission shaft of the toy model vehicle chassis, and wherein the link is secured to the first engine mount for movement with the toy model vehicle engine.

15. The throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine of claim 14 , wherein the movement of the toy model vehicle engine in a third direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the linear actuator, and wherein movement of the toy model vehicle engine in the third direction does not substantially change the position of the throttle relative to the link.

16. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a toy model vehicle engine having a throttle, wherein the toy model vehicle engine is mounted to a first engine mount of a toy model vehicle chassis to adjust a crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine relative to a transmission shaft of the toy model vehicle chassis;

a throttle actuation mechanism for moving the throttle between open and closed positions, wherein the throttle actuation mechanism is directly coupled to the throttle and is mounted to the first engine mount to move with adjustment of the crankshaft of the toy model vehicle engine;

a linear actuator coupled between the toy model vehicle chassis and the throttle actuation mechanism, the linear actuator causing the throttle actuation mechanism to open and close the throttle upon actuation of the linear actuator; and

wherein the throttle actuation mechanism is mounted to the first engine mount to move with the first engine mount to adjust a position of the crankshaft relative to the transmission shaft without decoupling the throttle actuation mechanism from the toy model vehicle engine.

17. A throttle linkage for a toy model vehicle engine, comprising:

a toy model vehicle engine having a throttle comprising a throttle axis that extends from the toy model vehicle engine, wherein the throttle moves along the throttle axis to adjust engine power;

a throttle actuation arm secured for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis substantially fixed relative to the model vehicle engine, the throttle actuation arm extending along an actuation arm axis extending from the pivotal axis;

a throttle arm extending along a throttle arm axis extending from a point of connection to the throttle and substantially intersecting the actuation arm axis, wherein the throttle arm engages a slot in the throttle actuation arm to allow sliding of the throttle arm in the slot as the throttle arm linearly translates along the throttle axis without substantial rotation of the throttle arm relative to the engine; and

a bell crank coupled to the throttle actuation arm, wherein, in response to rotation of the bell crank about the pivotal axis, the throttle actuation arm is pivoted to urge the throttle arm linearly along the throttle axis.