Throttle assembly with oil seal bushing

• US 6,553,963 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corp (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation Of America
• Inventors: Noble, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,608
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 123/337, 123/399, 123/396, 123/336, 123/73.AV, 123/73.V, 123/403, 123/579, 123/580, 251/305, 251/129.11, 251/314
• US Class Current: 123/337
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/106 Sealing of the valve shaft in the housing, e.g. details of the bearings

Abstract

A throttle assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a throttle body that defines an airflow passage, a throttle shaft rotatably mounted to the throttle body and extending though the airflow passage, a throttle plate coupled to the throttle shaft, and a seal member coupled to the throttle shaft. More specifically, one end of the throttle shaft extends through the throttle body, and a seal member surrounds the throttle shaft between the throttle body and the shaft. The seal member extending into the airflow passage and effectively forms a standpipe extending into the airflow passage for a length sufficient to prevent pooled engine fluid from seeping out of said throttle body along said throttle shaft.

Claims

1. A throttle assembly for an internal combustion engine, said throttle assembly comprising:

a throttle body at least partially defining an airflow passage;

a throttle shaft rotatably mounted to said throttle body and extending though said airflow passage, said throttle shaft having at least one end extending through said throttle body;

a throttle plate coupled to said throttle shaft; and

a seal member surrounding said throttle shaft end between said throttle body and said shaft, said seal member extending into said airflow passage.

2. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seal member comprises a bushing.

3. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said throttle shaft is vertically mounted to said throttle body.

4. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said airflow passage is substantially cylindrical.

5. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said throttle plate is separated from said bushing along said throttle shaft.

6. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said throttle plate is substantially circular.

7. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said throttle plate comprises an outer periphery comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion discontinuous from said second portion.

8. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bushing extends into said airflow passage for a length to prevent pooled engine fluid from seeping out of said throttle body along said throttle shaft.

9. A throttle assembly for an internal combustion engine, said throttle assembly comprising:

a throttle body comprising an airflow passage therethrough, said airflow passage comprising an inner periphery;

a throttle plate situated in said airflow passage and selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position, said throttle plate comprising an outer periphery comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion separated from said inner periphery of said airflow passage when said throttle plate is in said open position and when said throttle plate is in said closed position; and

a throttle shaft rotatably coupled to said throttle plate and rotatably mounted to said throttle body; and

a seal member coupled to said shaft and extending between said throttle plate first portion and said airflow passage.

10. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said seal member comprises a bushing.

11. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first portion of said outer periphery is separated from said bushing.

12. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said throttle shaft is substantially vertically mounted.

13. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said throttle shaft extends through said throttle body, said bushing surrounding said shaft and extending into said airflow passage.

14. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said inner periphery is substantially cylindrical.

15. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer periphery first portion is substantially linear.

16. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer periphery second portion is substantially circular.

17. A throttle assembly for an internal combustion engine, said throttle assembly comprising:

a throttle body comprising an airflow passage, said airflow passage comprising an inner periphery;

a substantially vertical throttle shaft rotatably mounted to said throttle body and extending through said airflow passage, said throttle shaft comprising a first end extending through said throttle body;

a throttle plate coupled to said throttle shaft for regulating airflow through said air passage, said throttle plate having an outer periphery, said outer to periphery substantially complementary to said inner periphery; and

a seal member surrounding said throttle shaft and extending between said throttle shaft and said throttle body, said seal member further extending into said airflow passage, said seal member separated from said throttle plate.

18. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein said seal member forms a standpipe to prevent pooled engine fluid from seeping out of said throttle body along said first end of said throttle shaft.

19. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein said seal member comprises a bushing.

20. A throttle assembly in accordance with claim 19 wherein said bushing extends into said passage for a length of about 0.09 inches.