Valves and valve actuation – Electrically actuated valve – Rotary electric actuator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-01-16
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
Electrically actuated valve
Rotary electric actuator
C251S250500, C251S305000, C123S339150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173939
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to electronic valve control systems and more particularly to an electronic throttle control system for an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND
Valve assemblies for engines and related systems typically utilize rotatable valve members in fluid flow passageways to assist in regulating fluid flow through them. For example, throttle valve members are positioned in the air induction passageways into internal combustion engines. The valve assemblies are controlled either mechanically or electronically and utilize a mechanism which directly operates the valve member.
For electronic throttle control systems, it is desirable to have a failsafe mechanism or system which activates the throttle valve in the event that the electronic control or electronic system of the vehicle fails. There are known electronic throttle control systems which have failsafe mechanisms for closing the throttle valve or moving it to a slightly open position in the event of an electronic failure in the vehicle. Some of these mechanisms utilize one, two or more spring members in order to activate the failsafe mechanism.
It would be desirable to have an electronic valve control system with an improved failsafe or limp-home mechanism and which provides an improved assembly and system with reduced cost and improved reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an electronic throttle control assembly having a housing with a motor, a gear train and throttle valve. A throttle plate is positioned on a throttle shaft and the plate and shaft are positioned in the engine or air induction passageway, such that the throttle plate regulates airflow into the engine.
The operation of the throttle valve is accomplished by a gear train assembly driven by a reversible DC motor. The motor is regulated by the electronic control unit of the vehicle which in turn is responsive to the input of the vehicle operator or driver. A throttle position sensor is included in a housing cover and feeds back the position of the throttle plate to the electronic control unit.
In the operation of the throttle valve, a gear connected to the motor operates an intermediate gear, which in turn operates a sector gear which is connected to the throttle body shaft. The sector gear is biased by a spring member towards the closed position of the throttle valve. As a failsafe mechanism, a spring-biased plunger member is attached to the housing and positioned to interrupt operation of the sector gear and prevent the throttle valve from closing completely.
If the throttle valve is in its closed position when an electronic failure occurs, the springbiased plunger member acts on the sector gear to open the throttle valve slightly to a failsafe position. At the failsafe position, the vehicle can still be operated, although at a reduced capacity. This allows the driver to “limp-home.”
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Bos Edward Albert
Dottavio James J.
Saunders Mark Alan
Semeyn Mark Warner
Bonderer D A
Drouillard Jerome R.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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