Throttle device for multipurpose engine

• US 7,096,851 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Tomoki, Matsuda, Hayato, Katsuragawa, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/874,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 123/361, 123/396, 123/399
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/10 of the electric type

Abstract

In a throttle device for a multipurpose internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, a throttle shaft connected to the throttle valve and an electric motor housed in a housing to move the throttle valve, both ends of a motor output shaft is configured to protrude from the housing in such a manner that the one end is connected to a power transmission mechanism, whilst the other end is inserted in a hollow boss formed in a fixing component of the motor, thereby ensuring no fluctuation to occur in the positional relation of the output shaft to the throttle shaft, while enabling to prevent friction from being generated in the power transmitting mechanism. In addition, a manual operating lever is provided to allow the engine to be easily started again even when the throttle valve is held nearly closed when the engine is stopped.

Claims

1. A throttle device for a multipurpose internal combustion engine, comprising:

a throttle valve disposed at an air intake passage of the engine;

a throttle shaft connected to the throttle valve;

an electric motor housed in a housing and connected to the throttle shaft to move the throttle valve, the electric motor having an output shaft whose ends protrude from the housing;

a power transmitting mechanism connected to one end of the output shaft of the electric motor in such a manner that the other end of the output shaft of the electric motor is directly received by a member formed in a fixing component of the electric motor; and

a controller controlling operation of the electric motor to regulate an amount of air passing through the air intake passage.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the member is a hollowed boss formed at the fixing component of the electric motor.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing component is a case that accommodates at least the throttle valve and the power transmitting mechanism.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the throttle valve is housed in a throttle body that is accommodated in the case.

5. A throttle device for a multipurpose internal combustion engine, comprising:

a throttle valve housed in a throttle body and disposed at an air intake passage of the engine;

a throttle shaft connected to the throttle valve;

an electric motor connected to the throttle shaft to move the throttle valve via a power transmitting mechanism;

a case connected to the throttle body and accommodating at least the throttle shaft, the electric motor and the power transmitting mechanism in such a manner that one end of the throttle shaft protrudes from the case;

a lever attached to the one end of the throttle shaft to be operable by an operator;

a controller controlling operation of the electric motor to regulate an amount of air passing through the air intake passage; and

an idle speed adjuster attached to the case to be operable by the operator in such a manner that a position of the lever can be changed to adjust an idle speed of the engine.

6. The device according to claim 5, further including:

a spring disposed around the throttle shaft to urge the throttle shaft to a position in which the lever is brought into contact with the idle speed adjuster, such that the idle speed of the engine can be adjusted by changing the position of the lever.

7. A throttle device for a multipurpose internal combustion engine, comprising:

a throttle valve housed in a throttle body and disposed at an air intake passage of the engine;

a throttle shaft connected to the throttle valve;

an electric motor connected to the throttle shaft to move the throttle valve via a power transmitting mechanism;

a case connected to the throttle body and accommodating at least the throttle shaft, the electric motor and the power transmitting mechanism in such a manner that one end of the throttle shaft protrudes from the case;

a lever attached to the one end of the throttle shaft to be operable by an operator;

a controller controlling operation of the electric motor to regulate an amount of air passing through the air intake passage; and

a rod attached to the case to be operable by the operator in such a manner that the lever is moved to open the throttle valve.