Bearing free spring free throttle position sensor

• US 5,460,035 A
• Filed: 06/23/1993
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Pfaffenberger, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/082,140
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 73/118.1, 29/595, 29/613, 338/68, 338/99, 338/197, 338/199
• US Class Current: 73/114.36
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/00 Indexing codes relating to the type of sensors based on the principle of their operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/20 Caging devices for moving parts when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49082 Resistor making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49824 to elastically deform work part or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit

Abstract

The rotor of a rotary position sensor mounts directly upon the rotary shaft to be sensed. The rotor prior to installation is retained in position by a pair of small protrusions extending from the rotor that cooperatively engage a pair of small indentations formed in a pair of supporting arms. During the installation process, the rotor is slipped onto the shaft and the protrusions are released from the engaged position. During operation of the position sensor, the rotor is free from direct contact with either the supporting arms or any other stationary part of the position sensor. Only the contactors engage the stationary components. This design eliminates the need for bearings and return springs prevalent in the prior art.

Claims

1. A rotary throttle position sensor for detecting the position of a rotary throttle shaft of an internal combustion engine comprising:

a resistor element having first and second electrical terminations;

a tap electrically contacting said resistor element intermediate said first and second terminations and deriving an electrical potential from said resistor element representative of a relative position of said tap between said first and said second terminations;

a rotor means mechanically linked to said tap, said rotor means transferring motion from said shaft to said tap;

retention means for mechanically retaining said rotor means in fixed position relative to said resistor element prior to mechanical linkage of said rotor means to said rotary throttle shaft,

said rotor means disengaged from and unsupported by said retention means during normal operational movement of said rotary throttle shaft and said rotor means.

2. The rotary throttle position sensor of claim 1 wherein said tap comprises a sliding contactor, said sliding contactor sliding upon a surface of said resistor element.

3. The rotary throttle position sensor of claim 1 wherein said retention means comprises protrusions extending radially from said rotor engaged with indentations in a stationary means.