Electronic throttle valve control system and two-wheeled motor vehicle

• US 20070169744A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Yokoi, Masato, Kishi, Tomoaki, Yamaguchi, Naoya, Matsuda, Takeshi, Maruo, Keisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/397
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0277 Fail-safe mechanisms, e.g. with limp-home feature, to close throttle if actuator fails, or if control cable sticks or breaks
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2072 Bridge circuits, i.e. the load being placed in the diagonal of a bridge to be controlled in both directions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1012 Engine speed gradient
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/1065 Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an electronic throttle valve control system which can prevent rapid rotation of a throttle valve when the control system has a failure.

[Solution] There are provided a throttle valve 10 for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor 20 for driving the throttle valve 10, and a control section 21 for controlling the electric motor 20. The throttle valve has an urging mechanism 31 for urging the throttle valve 10 in the closing direction. The control section 21 shifts the electric motor 20 to a regenerative mode when the control system has a failure to control the speed at which the throttle valve 10 is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 30. The throttle valve 10 is therefore rotated slowly in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 30 and then held in a predetermined opening position 10b.

Claims

1. An electronic throttle valve control system comprising:

a throttle valve for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor for driving the throttle valve; and

a control section for controlling the electric motor;

wherein

the throttle valve has an urging mechanism for urging the throttle valve in a closing direction; and

the control section shifts the electric motor to a regenerative mode to control a speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by an urging force of the urging mechanism when the control system has a failure.

2. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 1, wherein the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism and then held in a predetermined opening position when the control system has a failure.

5. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 2, wherein the internal combustion engine is maintained in such a state that a failure operation can be conducted when the throttle valve is held in the predetermined opening position.

8. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 1, wherein the control section cuts off a power from a power supply to the electric motor and then shifts the electric motor to the regenerative mode.

9. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 1, wherein the urging mechanism comprises a spring.

10. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic throttle valve control system further comprises a throttle operation mechanism for use in driving the throttle valve manually so that the throttle valve can be rotated in the closing direction when the control system has a failure.

11. A two-wheeled motor vehicle provided with the electronic throttle valve control system according to claim 1.

3. An electronic throttle valve control system comprising:

a throttle valve for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor for driving the throttle valve; and

a control section for controlling the electric motor;

wherein the throttle valve comprises

a first urging mechanism for urging the throttle valve in a closing direction; and

a second urging mechanism for urging the throttle valve in an opening direction, and

the control section shifts the electric motor to a regenerative mode to control a speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by a relative urging force of the first and second urging mechanisms when the control system has a failure.

4. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 3, wherein the throttle valve is rotated in the closing or opening direction by the relative urging force of the first and second urging mechanisms and then held in a predetermined opening position when the control system has a failure.

12. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 4, wherein the internal combustion engine is maintained in such a state that a failure operation can be conducted when the throttle valve is held in the predetermined opening position.

13. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 3, wherein the control section cuts off a power from a power supply to the electric motor and then shifts the electric motor to the regenerative mode.

15. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 3, wherein the urging mechanism comprises a spring.

16. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 3, wherein the electronic throttle valve control system further comprises a throttle operation mechanism for use in driving the throttle valve manually so that the throttle valve can be rotated in the closing direction when the control system has a failure.

18. A two-wheeled motor vehicle provided with the electronic throttle valve control system according to claim 3.

6. An electronic throttle valve control system comprising a throttle valve for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor for driving the throttle valve; and

a control section for controlling the electric motor, wherein

the control section shifts the electric motor to a regenerative mode to control a rotation of the throttle valve when the control system has a failure.

7. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 6, wherein the throttle valve is held in an opening position where it is when the control system has a failure.

14. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 6, wherein the control section cuts off a power from a power supply to the electric motor and then shifts the electric motor to the regenerative mode.

17. The electronic throttle valve control system of claim 6, wherein the electronic throttle valve control system further comprises a throttle operation mechanism for use in driving the throttle valve manually so that the throttle valve can be rotated in a closing direction when the control system has a failure.

19. A two-wheeled motor vehicle provided with the electronic throttle valve control system according to claim 6.