Internal-combustion engines – Engine speed regulator – Open loop condition responsive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-08-28
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Engine speed regulator
Open loop condition responsive
C123S399000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279533
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a load adjustment apparatus having an actuating element which controls the power of an internal combustion engine, is designed in particular as a throttle valve and is arranged on a control shaft, in which case the control shaft can be driven by means of a reversible actuating drive such that it can pivot between a minimum load position and a full load position, and having a single torsion spring, which is designed as a return spring to prestress the control shaft in the minimum load direction and as an emergency running spring to prestress the control shaft against an emergency running stop, the first end of which torsion spring is connected or can be connected to the control shaft while its second end is connected or can be connected to an arm of a supporting part which can move between a minimum load stop and the emergency running stop.
Load adjustment apparatuses of the type mentioned above are known in general by the name E-Gas, for adjusting the power of internal combustion engines in motor vehicles. By using a single torsion spring as an emergency running spring and as a return spring, the load adjustment apparatus has a particularly compact design, and is particularly light in weight.
A disadvantage of the known load adjustment apparatus is that the ends of the torsion spring must be attached in a complex manner to the control shaft and to the supporting part, since the torsion spring exerts actuating forces which act in both rotation directions of the control shaft. Furthermore, vibration in the motor vehicle can lead to the attachment of the torsion spring becoming loose. As a rule, the control shaft has a slot, into which the torsion spring is inserted, in order to attach the torsion spring to the control shaft.
It would be feasible to screw the second end of the torsion spring firmly to the supporting part. However, a load adjustment apparatus designed in such a way would be particularly costly. Furthermore, vibration can cause a screw to become loose, so that the torsion spring would then no longer be connected to the supporting part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the objective of providing a load adjustment apparatus of the type mentioned initially such that it can be constructed particularly cost-effectively, and such that the torsion spring is attached to the supporting part in a particularly reliable manner.
This problem is solved according to the invention in that the second end of the torsion spring is provided to engage behind an element of the supporting part.
By this, the torsion spring can transmit actuating forces which act in both directions of the control shaft to the supporting part, without being able to become detached from the supporting part on its own. Vibration in the motor vehicle likewise no longer leads to the torsion spring becoming detached from the supporting part. In consequence, the torsion spring is attached to the supporting part in a positively locking manner, and thus particularly reliably. The fact that the torsion spring engages behind an element of the supporting part results in a design which is particularly cost-effective in comparison to a screwed joint.
According to an advantageous development of the invention, the way in which the attachment of the torsion spring to the supporting part is designed is physically particularly simple if the second end of the torsion spring is designed such that it surrounds a pin of the supporting part. In consequence, the second end of the torsion spring just needs to be plugged onto the pin of the supporting part for mounting.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the second end of the torsion spring is held particularly reliably on the supporting part if the second end of the torsion spring is bent in a U-shape and, at its free end, has a spring tongue which points in the direction of the base of the U.
Another advantageous development of the invention contributes to further reducing the costs for the attachment of the torsion spring by the spring tongue being bent away from the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, an easy way to avoid the second end of the torsion spring becoming detached from the pin of the supporting part in the direction of the axis of the pin is for the pin of the supporting part to be designed such that it engages around the second end of the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the second end of the torsion spring is secured against becoming detached in any direction if the pin of the supporting part has a recess for holding the second end of the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the torsion spring can easily be secured against tilting if the supporting part has a baseplate for guiding the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the torsion spring can be prevented from being jammed at one edge of the supporting part if, in its radially outer regions, the supporting part has a plurality of stops for limiting the radial extension of the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the torsion spring is held reliably on the supporting part even in the event of severe vibration, if the stops are designed such that they engage around the torsion spring.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the supporting part can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively if the supporting part is manufactured integrally with the stops and the pin.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4989566 (1991-02-01), Wallerand
patent: 5133320 (1992-07-01), Kato et al.
patent: 5718201 (1998-02-01), Hannewald
patent: 5775292 (1998-07-01), Seeger
patent: 5820178 (1998-10-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 2728022 (1979-01-01), None
patent: 4013823 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 4132653 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 4315010 (1994-11-01), None
Argenbright Tony M.
Farber Martin A.
Mannesmann VDO AG
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