JP2004169627A - Throttle valve controller for engine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a throttle valve controller for an engine capable of stably holding a throttle valve at predetermined default opening without using a default lever. <P>SOLUTION: This throttle valve controller for the engine is provided with a main spring 10a forming a movable arm 12 and a default arm 13 at both ends and an auxiliary spring 10b connecting one end with the default arm 13 and forming a fixed arm 11 at the other end. A movable locking part 16 integral with a valve shaft 2a is springily nipped by the default arm 13 and the movable arm 12. The default arm 13 is abutted on a default stopper member 18 of a throttle body 1 to give default opening to the throttle valve. The fixed arm of the auxiliary spring 10b is abutted on a fixed locking part 15 of the throttle body 1 to abut the default arm on the default stopper member springily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a throttle valve control device for an engine, in which a throttle shaft rotatably supported by a throttle body having an intake passage and opening and closing the intake passage is provided with a valve shaft and an electric actuator for driving the rotation of the throttle shaft to the throttle body. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in which the throttle valve can be maintained at a default opening slightly larger than a normal idle opening when the electric actuator is stopped or inoperable.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such an engine throttle valve control device is already known as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] US Pat. No. 5,492,097 [Patent Document 2]
JP 10-131771 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the device described in Patent Document 1, in order to hold the throttle valve at the default opening, a fixed stopper piece and a movable stopper piece which are arranged on the throttle body and the valve shaft in the radial direction of the valve shaft at the default opening of the throttle valve. Are integrally formed, and the stopper members are elastically held by a pair of pinching arms of a torsion coil spring mounted on the valve shaft so that the throttle valve can be maintained at the default opening. ing. However, in such a case, it is extremely difficult in manufacturing to completely equalize the width of the fixed stopper piece and the movable stopper piece in the direction in which the two holding arms are sandwiched. With respect to the degree, there is a disadvantage that a gap is generated between one of the fixed stopper piece and the movable stopper piece and the two holding arms, which causes the throttle valve to fluctuate, making it difficult to stably maintain the default opening.
[0005]
Further, the one described in Patent Document 2 does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages. However, it requires two springs and a default lever interposed between them to maintain the default opening of the throttle valve. In addition, there are disadvantages that the number of parts is large, the structure is complicated, and the cost is disadvantageous.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is intended to provide a simple and inexpensive engine capable of stably holding a throttle valve at a predetermined default opening without using a default lever. It is an object to provide a throttle valve control device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a throttle valve having an intake passage, which is rotatably supported by a throttle body to open and close the intake passage, and an electric actuator for driving the rotation of the throttle shaft. In the throttle valve control device for an engine, a control spring means is constituted by a main spring having a movable arm and a default arm formed at both ends and an auxiliary spring having one end connected to the default arm and having a fixed arm formed at the other end. A default arm and a movable arm, which oppose each other with a movable locking portion connected to the valve shaft along the rotation direction of the valve shaft, and the default arm is restricted to a default stopper member provided on the throttle body. A main spring is arranged so that rotation of the valve in the valve opening direction is restricted, and the main spring is connected to the valve shaft via a movable arm and a movable locking portion. A set load that urges the throttle valve in the valve closing direction, the default arm restricts rotation of the throttle valve in the valve opening direction by the default stopper member, and a fixed arm is provided on the throttle body. An auxiliary spring is disposed so as to abut against the fixed locking portion, and a set load is applied to the auxiliary spring to bias the default arm and the fixed arm in the contact direction with the default stopper member and the fixed locking portion, respectively. This is a first feature.
[0008]
The electric actuator corresponds to an electric motor 3 in an embodiment of the present invention to be described later, and the fixed locking portion and the movable locking portion correspond to the fixed locking pin 15 and the movable locking pin 16, respectively. The default stopper member corresponds to the default stopper bolt 18.
[0009]
According to the first feature, in a state where the electric actuator is at rest or inoperable, the default arm is pressed against the default stopper member with the set load of the auxiliary spring and stops, and the default arm and the movable arm are stopped by the throttle. By elastically holding the movable locking portion substantially integral with the valve with the set load of the main spring without play, the throttle valve can be maintained at the predetermined default opening without play. Furthermore, since a default lever is not required, the number of parts of the throttle valve control device can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0010]
According to the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the electric actuator and the valve shaft are connected via a reduction gear including a small-diameter gear fixed to the former output shaft and a large-diameter gear fixed to the latter, and A second feature is that the movable locking portion is fixed to the large diameter gear.
[0011]
According to the second feature, the large-diameter gear of the reduction gear also functions as a member for supporting the movable locking portion, and there is no need to provide a dedicated member for supporting the movable locking portion on the valve shaft. Can be simplified.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the first feature, a third feature is that the main spring and the auxiliary spring are each constituted by a main coil spring and an auxiliary coil spring whose axes are parallel to each other.
[0013]
According to the third feature, the spring constant and the set load corresponding to each function can be freely set individually by individually selecting the diameter and the number of turns of the main coil spring and the auxiliary coil spring. be able to.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, in addition to the first or third feature, a fourth feature is that the main spring and the auxiliary spring are continuously formed with one wire.
[0015]
According to the fourth feature, the control spring means can be constituted by a single spring, so that the number of parts of the throttle valve control device can be reduced and the structure can be further simplified.
[0016]
Still further, in addition to the first or third feature, the present invention further comprises a main default arm on a main spring side and an auxiliary default arm on an auxiliary spring side, wherein the default arms overlap each other and are supported by the default stopper member. The fifth feature is that the division is made.
[0017]
According to the fifth feature, the main and auxiliary coil springs can be individually and efficiently formed without using a special spring manufacturing machine, and the cost can be reduced.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a throttle valve control device for an automobile engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a default opening state of the throttle valve, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a fully closed state of the throttle valve, FIG. 4 shows a fully opened state of the throttle valve, FIG. 2 shows a corresponding diagram, FIG. 5 shows characteristic lines of main and auxiliary coil springs, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention and corresponding to FIG. 1.
[0020]
First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicates a throttle body of an automobile engine. The throttle body 1 has an intake path 1a penetrating the center of the throttle body 1 and connected to an intake port of the engine. The throttle type throttle valve 2 is a butterfly type throttle valve 2 that opens and closes the intake path 1a to control the intake amount of the engine. The shaft 2a is rotatably supported on the throttle body 1.
[0021]
One end of the valve shaft 2a protrudes outside the throttle body 1, and an output shaft 3a of an electric motor 3 attached to the throttle body 1 is connected to one end of the valve shaft 2a via a reduction gear 4. The reduction gear 4 is composed of a small-diameter gear 5 fixed to the output shaft 3a and a sector-shaped large-diameter gear 6 fixed to the valve shaft 2a and meshing with the small-diameter gear 5. The driving force of the shaft 3a is decelerated and transmitted to the throttle valve 2, which is driven to open and close in a full opening range from fully closed to fully opened.
[0022]
The control spring means 10 comprises a main coil spring 10a and an auxiliary coil spring 10b which are arranged in parallel with each other. A movable arm 12 and a default arm 13 projecting radially outward are provided at both ends of the main coil spring 10a. Is formed, and the default arm 13 is integrally connected to one end of the auxiliary coil spring 10b. At the other end of the auxiliary coil spring 10b, a fixed arm 11 protruding radially outward is formed. As a result, the main default arm 13 and the auxiliary default arm 13 are formed by one continuous wire. The main coil spring 10a is fitted on the outer periphery of the valve shaft 2a adjacent to the inside of the large diameter gear 6.
[0023]
On the inner surface of the large-diameter gear 6, a movable locking pin 16 protruding from the inner surface of the large-diameter gear 6 extends in parallel with the valve shaft 2a. The movable locking pin 16 applies a torsional set load F1 ( With reference to FIG. 6), the movable arm 12 and the default arm 13 are disposed so as to be elastically held along the rotation direction of the valve shaft 2a. On the other hand, the first support piece 17a protruding from the outer surface of the throttle body 1 has a default stopper bolt 19 for receiving the default arm 13 and preventing the arm 13 from rotating in the opening direction of the throttle valve 2. It is screwed in forward and backward adjustable. As a result, the torsional set load F1 of the main coil spring 10a urges the throttle valve 2 in the valve closing direction via the movable arm 12, the movable locking pin 16 and the large-diameter gear 6.
[0024]
The default stopper bolt 18 receives the default arm 13 when the movable arm 12 and the default arm 13 sandwich the movable locking pin 16 and gives the throttle valve 2 a predetermined default opening slightly larger than the idle opening. Placed in
[0025]
A fixed locking pin 15 corresponding to the fixed arm 11 protrudes from the outer surface of the throttle body 1. The default arm 13 and the fixed arm 11 are fixed to the auxiliary coil spring 10b by a default stopper bolt 18 and a fixed lock. A torsional set load F2 (see FIG. 6) that urges in the contact direction with the pin 15 is applied.
[0026]
Further, second and third support pieces 17b and 17c are provided on the outer surface of the throttle body 1 so as to project therefrom. A fully-closed stopper bolt 19 for defining a fully-closed position is screwed in such a manner as to be able to advance and retreat. The fully open stopper bolt 20 is screwed forward and backward adjustable.
[0027]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the electric motor 3 with the output shaft 3 a released is in a stop or inoperable state, the movable locking pin of the large-diameter gear 6 fixed to the valve shaft 2 a of the reduction gear 4. Reference numeral 16 denotes a movable arm 12 and a default arm 13 which are elastically held without a backlash with a torsional set load F1 of the main coil portion 10b and a default arm 13 which is a torsional set load F2 of the auxiliary coil spring 10b. As a result, the throttle valve 2 is held at the contact position with the default stopper bolt 18, so that the throttle valve 2 is stably held at the predetermined default opening without play. That is, the throttle valve 2 is maintained at a predetermined distance from the inner wall of the intake passage 1a. Therefore, when the electric motor 3 is at rest, it is possible to prevent the throttle valve 2 from sticking to the inner wall of the intake passage 1a due to dew condensation and freezing in cold weather. When the electric motor 3 is inoperable, a specified amount of intake air is stably supplied to the engine to stabilize the low-speed operation of the engine, thereby enabling stable low-speed running to the destination of the automobile (for example, a maintenance shop). To
[0029]
When the throttle valve 2 is located at the default opening as described above, the drive torque is transmitted to the movable locking pin 16 via the reduction gear 4 in the closing direction of the throttle valve 2 by the operation of the electric motor 3. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable locking pin 16 rotates the default arm 13 against the torsional set load F2 of the auxiliary coil spring 10b. , From the default opening to the fully closed position defined by the fully closed stopper bolt 19, during which the idle speed of the engine is controlled.
[0030]
When the throttle valve 2 is located at the default opening degree, the drive torque is transmitted to the movable locking pin 16 via the reduction gear 4 in the opening direction of the throttle valve 2 by the operation of the electric motor 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the movable locking pin 16 pivots the movable arm 12 against the torsional set load F1 of the main coil spring 10a. The main coil spring 10a can be opened up to the fully open position defined by the bolt 20 while increasing the repulsive force of the main coil spring 10a.
[0031]
By the way, in the throttle valve control device for an engine of the present invention, the control spring means 10 used for maintaining the default opening of the throttle valve 2 is a single spring composed of a main coil spring 10a and an auxiliary coil spring 10b formed of one wire. Since it is one spring, and furthermore, the conventional default lever is not required, the number of parts of the throttle valve control device can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0032]
Further, by individually selecting the coil diameter and the number of turns of the main coil spring 10a and the auxiliary coil spring 10b, the spring constant and the set load corresponding to each function can be freely set individually.
[0033]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 will be described.
[0034]
In the second embodiment, the default arm 13 is divided into a main default arm 13a on the main coil spring 10a side and an auxiliary default arm 13b on the auxiliary coil spring 10b side. Then, the main default arm 13a and the auxiliary default arm 13b are overlapped with each other and supported by the default stopper bolt 18. In this case, the auxiliary coil spring 10b is fitted on a support shaft 21 projecting from the outer surface of the throttle body 1 to support the auxiliary coil spring 10b.
[0035]
Since other configurations are the same as those of the previous embodiment, in FIG. 6, portions corresponding to those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0036]
According to the second embodiment, the main and auxiliary coil springs 10 and 10b can be individually and efficiently formed without using a special coil spring manufacturing machine, which can contribute to cost reduction.
[0037]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an electric actuator that rotationally drives the throttle valve shaft, which is rotatably supported by a throttle body having an intake passage and opens and closes the intake passage, is provided with a throttle. In a throttle valve control device for an engine mounted on a body, control is performed by a main spring having a movable arm and a default arm formed at both ends and an auxiliary spring having one end connected to the default arm and a fixed arm formed at the other end. A spring means, a default arm and a movable arm opposed to each other with a movable locking portion connected to the valve shaft sandwiched along a rotation direction of the valve shaft, and a default arm provided on a throttle body; A main spring is arranged on the member so as to restrict the rotation of the throttle valve in the valve opening direction, and the main spring is mounted on the main spring via a movable arm and a movable locking portion. A set load for urging the throttle valve in the valve closing direction, the default arm is restrained by the default stopper member from rotating the throttle valve in the valve opening direction, and a fixed arm is provided on the throttle body. An auxiliary spring is disposed so as to abut against the fixed locking portion, and a set load for urging the default arm and the fixed arm in the contact direction with the default stopper member and the fixed locking portion, respectively, is applied to the auxiliary spring. When the electric actuator is at rest or inoperable state, the default arm is pressed against the default stopper member with the set load of the auxiliary spring, and stops, and the default arm is substantially movable with the throttle valve. By cooperating with the movable arm and holding the set part of the main spring elastically without play, The throttle valve can be held in without a backlash predetermined default opening. Furthermore, since a default lever is not required, the number of parts of the throttle valve control device can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0039]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the reduction between the electric actuator and the valve shaft includes a small-diameter gear fixed to the former output shaft and a large-diameter gear fixed to the latter. The movable locking part is fixed to the large-diameter gear, so that the large-diameter gear of the reduction gear doubles as a member that supports the movable locking part. It is not necessary to provide the above member on the valve shaft, which can contribute to simplification of the structure.
[0040]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the main spring and the auxiliary spring are each constituted by a main coil spring and an auxiliary coil spring whose axes are parallel to each other. By individually selecting the diameter and the number of turns of the auxiliary coil springs, the spring constant and the set load corresponding to each function can be freely set individually.
[0041]
Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or third aspect, the main spring and the auxiliary spring are continuously formed with one wire, so that the control spring means can be a single unit. It can be constituted by a spring, which can further reduce the number of parts of the throttle valve control device and simplify the structure.
[0042]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or third aspect, a main spring-side main default arm, wherein the default arms overlap with each other and are supported by the default stopper member, Since the main and auxiliary coil springs are divided into an auxiliary default arm on the spring side, it is possible to form the main and auxiliary coil springs individually and efficiently without using a special spring manufacturing machine, and to reduce costs. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a throttle valve control device for an automobile engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a default opening state of the throttle valve. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the throttle valve in a fully closed state, corresponding to FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows the throttle valve in a fully open state, corresponding to FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows characteristic curves of main and auxiliary coil springs. Correspondence with FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
F1: Set load of main spring F2: Set load of auxiliary spring 1 ... Throttle body 2 ... Throttle valve 2a ... Valve shaft 3 ... Electric actuator (Electric motor)
3a ... output shaft 4 ... reduction gear 5 ... small-diameter gear 6 ... large-diameter gear 10 ... control spring means 10a ... main spring (main coil spring) )
10b Auxiliary spring (auxiliary coil spring)
11 fixed arm 12 movable arm 13 default arm 13a main default arm 13b auxiliary default arm 15 fixed locking portion (fixed locking pin 15) )
16 ... Movable locking part (movable locking pin)
818: Default stopper member (Default stopper bolt)

Claims (5)

An electric actuator (3) rotatably drives a valve shaft (2a) of a throttle valve (3) rotatably supported by a throttle body (1) having an intake passage (1a) and opening and closing the intake passage (1a). ) Is attached to the throttle body (1).
A main spring (10a) having a movable arm (12) and a default arm (13) at both ends, and an auxiliary spring (10) having one end connected to the default arm (13) and having a fixed arm (11) at the other end. 10b) to form a control spring means (10),
A default arm (13) and a movable arm (12) are opposed to each other with a movable locking portion (16) provided continuously with the valve shaft (2a) sandwiched along the rotation direction of the valve shaft (2a), and the default arm ( 13) arranges the main spring (10a) so that the rotation of the throttle valve (2) in the valve opening direction is restricted by the default stopper member (18) provided on the throttle body (1);
A set load (F1) for urging the valve shaft (2a) in the closing direction of the throttle valve (2) is applied to the main spring (10a) via the movable arm (12) and the movable locking portion (16). And
Further, the default arm (13) is restrained by the default stopper member (18) from rotating in the valve opening direction of the throttle valve (2), and the fixed arm (11) is fixed to the throttle body (1). An auxiliary spring (10b) is arranged so as to abut against the locking portion (15),
A set load (F2) that urges the default arm (13) and the fixed arm (11) in the direction of contact with the default stopper member (18) and the fixed locking portion (15) is applied to the auxiliary spring (10b). (3) A throttle valve control device for an engine, characterized in that: The throttle valve control device for an engine according to claim 1,
Between the electric actuator (3) and the valve shaft (2a), a small-diameter gear (5) fixed to the output shaft (3a) of the former (3) and a large-diameter gear (6) fixed to the latter (2a) are included. A throttle valve control device for an engine, which is connected via a reduction gear (4) and has a movable locking portion (16) fixed to a large-diameter gear (6). The throttle valve control device for an engine according to claim 1,
A throttle valve control device for an engine, wherein the main spring and the auxiliary spring are each constituted by a main coil spring (10a) and an auxiliary coil spring (10b) whose axes are parallel to each other. The throttle valve control device for an engine according to claim 1 or 3,
A throttle valve control device for an engine, wherein the main spring and the auxiliary springs (10a, 10b) are continuously formed from a single wire. The throttle valve control device for an engine according to claim 1 or 3,
The main default arm (13a) on the main spring (10a) side and the auxiliary default arm (13b) on the auxiliary spring (10b) side, wherein the default arm (13) is overlapped and supported on the default stopper member (18). A throttle valve control device for an engine, characterized in that it is divided into:

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