Power control device and method for a motorcycle

• US 20060005808A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company, Kimball Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company
• Inventors: Hurda, Daniel, Blomenberg, Timothy, Boyles, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/103 at least one throttle being alternatively mechanically linked to the pedal or moved by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/1065 Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like

Abstract

A power control device and method for a motorcycle. The power control device controls the power of the motorcycle engine in predetermined situations. The power control device controls the power output of the engine while maintaining an optimal air-to-fuel ratio to prevent backfires and misfires during combustion. In one embodiment, the power control device reduces the airflow to the engine by rotating a throttle valve. The amount of fuel delivered to the engine is also reduced corresponding to the position of the throttle valve. By reducing the amount of fuel delivered to the engine based upon the amount of airflow to the engine, the air-to-fuel ratio within the engine remains optimal for combustion. The throttle valve can be rotated by the operator and by the power control device. The position of the throttle plate and corresponding power output of the engine is controlled by the operator until overridden by the power control device.

Claims

1. An intake power control comprising:

a throttle body defining an air passage;

a throttle plate positioned within the air passage, the throttle plate movable between an idle position in which a first amount of air is allowed to pass through the air passage and a second position in which more air is allowed to pass through the air passage;

an electrically operable actuator coupled to the plate, movement of the electrically operable actuator directly causing movement of the plate;

a manually operable actuator coupled to the electrically operable actuator, movement of the manually operable actuator selectively causing movement of electrically operable actuator.

2. The intake power control of claim 1, further comprising a shaft extending across the air passage and pivotal within the air passage, a first end of the shaft extending through the throttle body, wherein the throttle plate is coupled to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft.

3. The intake power control of claim 2, wherein the electrically operable actuator comprises:

a first cable wheel coupled to the first end of the shaft,

a first cable coupled to the first cable wheel, and

an electrically powered actuator coupled to the first cable, wherein actuation of the electrically powered actuator moves the first cable wheel with respect to the manually operable actuator.

4. The intake power control of claim 3, wherein the electrically powered actuator is a solenoid.

5. The intake power control of claim 4, wherein the solenoid is actuated in two directions, the solenoid actuated in at least one direction by pulse width modulation.

6. The intake power control of claim 2, wherein the manually operable actuator comprises:

a second cable wheel coupled to the throttle body and positioned around the shaft;

a second cable coupled to the second cable wheel; and

a manually operable member coupled to the second cable.

7. The intake power control of claim 2, further comprising a torsion spring portioned around the first end of the shaft and having a first end coupled to the electrically operable actuator and a second end coupled to the manually operable actuator.

8. The intake power control of claim 2, further comprising a sensor positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft to determine the rotational position of the shaft.

9. The intake power control of claim 8, further comprising an electronic control module coupled to the sensor and the electrically operable actuator, the electronic control module selectively actuating the electrically operable actuator based upon sensed information.

10. The intake power control of claim 1, wherein the manually operable actuator is positioned between the electrically operable actuator and the throttle body.

11. The intake power control of claim 1, wherein the manually operable actuator is coupled to a projection on the throttle body.

12. The intake power control of claim 1, further comprising a stop positioned on the manually operable actuator, the stop engaging a portion of the electrically operable actuator to control movement of the electrically operable actuator with the manually operable actuator.

13. A motorcycle comprising:

an engine;

a throttle coupled to the engine, the throttle includes;

a throttle body defining an air passage;

a throttle plate positioned within the air passage, the throttle plate movable between an idle position in which a first amount of air is allowed to pass through the air passage and a second position in which more air is allowed to pass through the air passage;

an electrically operable actuator coupled to the plate, movement of the electrically operable actuator directly causing pivotal movement of the plate;

a manually operable actuator coupled to the electrically operable actuator, movement of the manually operable actuator selectively causing movement of the electrically operable actuator.

14. The motorcycle of claim 13, wherein the throttle includes a shaft extending across the air passage and pivotal within the air passage, a first end of the shaft extending through the throttle body;

a throttle plate coupled to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft.

15. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the electrically operable actuator comprises:

a first cable wheel coupled to the first end of the shaft,

a first cable coupled to the first cable wheel, and

an electrically powered actuator coupled to the first cable, wherein actuation of the electrically powered actuator moves the first cable wheel with respect to the manually operable actuator.

16. The motorcycle of claim 15, wherein the electrically powered actuator is a solenoid.

17. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the solenoid is actuated in two directions, the solenoid actuated in at least one direction by pulse width modulation.

18. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the manually operable actuator comprises:

a second cable wheel coupled to the throttle body and positioned around the shaft;

a second cable coupled to the second cable wheel; and

a manually operable member coupled to the second cable.

19. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the throttle includes a torsion spring portioned around the first end of the shaft and having a first end coupled to the electrically operable actuator and a second end coupled to the manually operable actuator.

20. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the throttle further comprises a sensor positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft to determine the rotational position of the shaft.

21. The motorcycle of claim 20, further comprising an electronic control module coupled to the sensor and the electrically operable actuator, the electronic control module selectively actuating the electrically operable actuator based upon sensed information.

22. The motorcycle of claim 13, wherein the manually operable actuator is positioned between the electrically operable actuator and the throttle body.

23. The motorcycle of claim 13, wherein the manually operable actuator is coupled to a projection on the throttle body.

24. The motorcycle of claim 13, wherein the manually operable actuator further comprises a stop positioned on the manually operable actuator, the stop engaging a portion of the electrically operable actuator to control movement of the electrically operable actuator with the manually operable actuator.

25. A method of controlling the power of a motorcycle engine, the engine having an air intake passage including a throttle plate coupled to a shaft and rotatable within the air passage with pivotal movement of the shaft, the throttle plate rotatable in a first direction to increase air introduced to the engine and rotatable in a second direction to reduce air introduced, a first actuator coupled to a first end of the shaft, and a second actuator coupled to the first actuator, the method comprising:

operating the engine;

manually moving the second actuator in a first direction;

moving the first actuator in a first direction in response to moving the second actuator in the first direction, the first actuator causing rotation of the shaft and throttle plate in the first direction;

increasing the air intake of the engine in response to moving the throttle plate in the first direction;

sensing a triggering condition; and

electronically moving the first actuator relative to the second actuator in response to the triggering condition.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising rotating the shaft and throttle plate in the second direction by moving the first actuator relative to the second actuator;

and

decreasing the air intake of the engine in response to moving the throttle plate in the second direction.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sensing a second triggering condition;

electronically moving the first actuator in the first direction in response to the second triggering condition, the first actuator causing rotation of the shaft and throttle plate in the first direction without causing rotation of the second actuator; and

increasing the air intake of the engine in response to moving the throttle plate in the second direction.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein electronically moving the first actuator in the first direction comprises pulse width modulating the first actuator.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising engaging a projection positioned on the first actuator with a stop positioned on the second actuator to limit the amount of rotation of the first actuator relative to the second actuator.

30. An intake power control comprising:

a throttle body defining an air passage;

a shaft extending across the air passage and pivotal within the air passage, a first end of the shaft extending through the throttle body;

a throttle plate coupled to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft within the air passage, the throttle plate rotatable in a first direction to increase an amount of air that is allowed to pass through the air passage and rotatable in a second direction to decrease the amount of air that is allowed to pass through the air passage;

a first cable wheel coupled to the end of the shaft, movement of the first cable wheel directly causing pivotal movement of the shaft;

a first cable coupled to the first cable wheel;

a solenoid coupled to the first cable;

a second cable wheel coupled to the throttle body and positioned around the shaft, movement of the second cable wheel selectively causing pivotal movement of the first actuator;

a second cable coupled to the second cable wheel; and

a manually operable member coupled to the second cable; and

a torsion spring having a first end coupled to the first cable wheel and a second end coupled to the second cable wheel.