Throttle position sensor
First Claim
1. A throttle position sensor comprising:
- a potentiometer module, said potentiometer module having;
a one piece casing with first and second ends;
a rotor mounted on a cantilever bearing located within said casing, said cantilever bearing having two separated bearing surfaces formed in said casing, and two corresponding bearing surfaces formed on said rotor to form two mating sets of bearing surfaces, one of said sets of bearing surfaces being located adjacent said first end of said casing and the other of said sets being located adjacent said second end of said casing;
a resistive element mounted at the second end of said casing having terminals on the outside surface connected to a resistive pattern on the inside surface;
a set of wiper contacts mounted on said rotor for contact with said resistive pattern over the range of rotation of the rotor and arranged to provide a change in potential at said terminals proportional to the change in rotational position of the rotor;
a mounting case;
means for coupling said mounting case and said potentiometer module to form an assembled throttle position sensor; and
said assembled sensor configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A throttle position sensor having a potentiometer module which fits into a connector casing for mounting on a carburetor or and air-fuel mixture control system for an internal combustion engine. The position sensor assembly is mounted such that movement of the butterfly valve and thus the throttle, acts to move the wiper element of the potentiometer in a predictable manner. The modules can be tested independently of the casing and rejected without unnecessary waste. Additionally, the same potentiometer module can be used with different connector casings. The potentiometer module includes a one piece casing having an integrally formed cantilever bearing system with two spaced bearing surfaces for rotatably mounting the rotor holding the potentiometer wipers and a "pilot diameter" boss aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotor. Longitudinal movement of the rotor within the casing is limited by position two stop members on either side of an annular ridge extending outwardly from the rotor.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A throttle position sensor comprising:
-
a potentiometer module, said potentiometer module having; a one piece casing with first and second ends;
a rotor mounted on a cantilever bearing located within said casing, said cantilever bearing having two separated bearing surfaces formed in said casing, and two corresponding bearing surfaces formed on said rotor to form two mating sets of bearing surfaces, one of said sets of bearing surfaces being located adjacent said first end of said casing and the other of said sets being located adjacent said second end of said casing;a resistive element mounted at the second end of said casing having terminals on the outside surface connected to a resistive pattern on the inside surface; a set of wiper contacts mounted on said rotor for contact with said resistive pattern over the range of rotation of the rotor and arranged to provide a change in potential at said terminals proportional to the change in rotational position of the rotor; a mounting case; means for coupling said mounting case and said potentiometer module to form an assembled throttle position sensor; and said assembled sensor configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A throttle position sensor comprising:
-
a potentiometer module having a molded unitary casing; said unitary casing having two separated interior bearing surfaces formed as part of said casing for mounting a rotor and a pilot diameter formed as part of said casing in order to position said sensor in its proper location on an engine; and said throttle position sensor configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly.
-
-
16. A throttle position sensor comprising:
-
a sensor module having means for sensing the change in angle through which a device being monitored rotates; a mounting case formed separately from said sensor module, said mounting case adapted to receive and hold said module, and having means for mounting the assembly of said module and said case in a desired location; and said throttle position sensor being configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A throttle position sensor comprising:
-
a one piece casing having first and second ends, said casing having a first bearing surface formed as part of said casing and a second bearing surface aligned with said first bearing surface formed as part of said casing, said first and second bearing surfaces being spaced from one another; a rotor having a first bearing surface designed to mate with said first bearing surface of said casing and a second bearing surface designed to mate with said second bearing surface of said casing, said rotor being mounted for rotational movement in said casing on said bearing surfaces; and said throttle position sensor configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A throttle position sensor comprising:
-
a one piece casing having first and second ends, said casing having a first surface formed as part of said casing and a second surface spaced from and aligned with said first surface and also formed as part of said casing, said first surface forming a cylindrical bearing surface inside said casing and said second surface forming a cylindrical pilot diameter boss on the outside of said casing; said pilot diameter boss providing precise alignment between said rotor and a throttle assembly to be monitored; and said throttle position sensor configured so as to be connectable to a throttle assembly.
-
Specification