Throttle control device for saddle-ride type vehicle

• US 8,291,887 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukui, Kunihiko, Nozoe, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gimie, Mahmoud
• Application Number:
  US12/693,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 123/399, 123/396, 123/361, 123/337, 123/403, 701/101, 701/102, 745/04, 731/143.6
• US Class Current: 123/403
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post

Abstract

A throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a throttle sensor is disposed in a case at a fixed position to detect an amount of a rotation operation of a throttle grip in accordance with a rotation of a throttle pipe. An operation of an actuator which drives a throttle valve to open and close is controlled by a control unit on the basis of a detected value of the throttle sensor. The throttle control device does not require a cancel switch to cancel an operation of an automatic cruise control device, which in turn reduces the number of parts, allowing size reduction of the case fixed on a bar handle.

Claims

1. A throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle, said throttle control device comprising:

a throttle pipe which is rotatably supported on an end portion of a bar handle and which has a portion thereof inserted into a case fixed on said bar handle;

a throttle grip which covers said throttle pipe and is unrotatable relative to said throttle pipe;

a throttle sensor disposed at a fixed position in said case to detect an amount of a rotation operation of said throttle grip in accordance with a rotation of said throttle pipe;

an automatic cruise control device that automatically maintains a constant running speed, including,

an actuator which drives a throttle valve to open and close, and

a control unit which controls an operation of said actuator on the basis of a detected value of said throttle sensor,

a rotor to be detected by said throttle sensor housed in said case and rotatable together with said throttle pipe;

an abutting projection formed on said rotor at a position offset from a rotational axis of said rotor; and

a repulsor supported in either said case or a fixing member fixed onto said case,

wherein, when said throttle sensor detects that said throttle grip has been rotated from a fully closed position to a throttle closing side, said automatic cruise control device cancels the constant running speed,

wherein, when said rotor rotates from the fully closed position to the throttle closing side, said repulsor abuts on said abutting projection and thereby exerts a resilient force biasing said rotor toward the fully closed position, and

wherein, when said rotor rotates from the fully closed position to a throttle opening side, said repulsor is separated from said abutting projection.

2. The throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein said fixing member is a sensor housing of said throttle sensor and is fixedly placed in said case,

wherein said repulsor includes a rod and a spring, said rod being supported in an axially-movable manner by said sensor housing, said spring being provided between said sensor housing and said rod, said spring biasing said rod in a direction in which said rod abuts on said abutting projection,

wherein, when said rotor is in the fully closed position, one end of said rod abuts on said abutting projection,

wherein, when said rotor rotates from the fully closed position to the throttle opening side, said one end of said rod is separated from said abutting projection.

3. The throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said rotor integrally comprises:

a cylinder-shaped portion surrounding said bar handle and connected to said throttle pipe in a manner unrotatable relative to said throttle pipe; and

a collar portion protruding from an outer periphery of said cylinder-shaped portion outward in a radial direction of said cylinder-shaped portion, and

wherein said abutting projection projects from one side face of said collar portion.

4. The throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a resistance adder is provided between said throttle grip and said case, said resistance adder adding resistance to the rotation operation of said throttle grip.

5. The throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a resistance adder is provided between said throttle grip and said case, said resistance adder adding resistance to the rotation operation of said throttle grip.

6. The throttle control device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a resistance adder is provided between said throttle grip and said case, said resistance adder adding resistance to the rotation operation of said throttle grip.