Throttle grip apparatus

• US 8,336,423 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Michiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, VICKY A
• Application Number:
  US12/645,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 745/04, 745/06
• US Class Current: 74/504
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/106 Detection of demand or actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post

Abstract

A throttle grip apparatus is provided with: a throttle grip (1) rotatably mounted on a leading end of a handle bar (H) of a vehicle; a magnet (6) rotatable together with the throttle grip (1); a detector (13) for detecting variations in a magnetic field of the magnet (6) in a non-contact manner to detect a rotation angle of the throttle grip (1); and a frictional plate (9, 10) for generating a rotation load of the throttle grip (1). An engine of the vehicle is controlled based on a detected value of the detector (13). The frictional plate (9, 10) is disposed within the handle bar (H).

Claims

1. A throttle grip apparatus comprising:

a throttle grip rotatably mounted on a leading end of a handle bar of a vehicle;

a magnet rotatable together with the throttle grip;

a detector configured to detect variations in a magnetic field of the magnet in a non-contact manner to detect a rotation angle of the throttle grip based on a detected value of the detector;

a frictional plate configured to generate a resistance to a rotation of the throttle grip to generate a rotation load of the throttle grip;

a resistance adjusting unit configured to adjust the resistance generated by the frictional plate,

wherein an engine of the vehicle is controlled based on the detected value of the detector,

wherein the frictional plate is disposed within the handle bar, and

wherein the resistance adjusting unit is operable from an outside of the throttle grip, and includes an adjusting member disposed within the handle bar and an urging member disposed between the frictional plate and the adjusting member, wherein the resistance adjusting unit causes the adjusting member to move in a direction away from the frictional plate to decrease the urging force of the urging member applied to the frictional plate and causes the adjusting member to move in a direction toward the frictional plate to increase the urging force of the urging member applied to the frictional plate in order to change the resistance of the frictional plate.

2. The throttle grip apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistance adjusting unit further includes a bolt member,

wherein the bolt member includes a head portion and a screw portion that threadably engages with the adjusting member,

wherein the urging member and the frictional plate are disposed between the adjusting member and the head portion in an axial direction of the bolt member, and

wherein the friction plate is disposed between the urging member and the head portion in the axial direction of the bolt member.