Abstract: A variable speed drive includes a transmission in a housing with a rotatable control shaft for moving the transmission between neutral and drive positions. A rotary damper is engaged to an external control arm which rotates the control shaft. A return to neutral mechanism is engaged to the control shaft to return the transmission to neutral. The external damper may be a viscous fluid damper having a plate, a rotor element with a first set of concentric projections, and a stator element with a second set of concentric projections that mesh with the first set of concentric projections. A method is provided for assembling a damper subassembly and a return arm subassembly, and connecting the damper subassembly to the housing, connecting the control arm to the control shaft and connecting the return arm subassembly to the control shaft for ease of assembly.

Abstract: An integrated assembly useful for controlling a variable speed drive having a housing and a control shaft projecting therefrom. The control assembly consists of a control arm fixed on the control shaft to effect its rotation; a return to neutral mechanism disposed about the control shaft to bias the control shaft to a neutral position; and a rotary, viscous fluid damper integrated with the return to neutral mechanism, the damper having a rotor engaged to the control shaft and a stator fixed to the housing of the variable speed drive to moderate, or slow the rotational movement of the control shaft under the influence of inputs from the control arm and the return to neutral mechanism. The neutral arm of the return to neutral mechanism is integrally formed with the external case of the rotary, viscous fluid damper, creating a compact control mechanism.