Power control device and method for a motorcycle
First Claim
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; and
a manually operable actuator coupled to the electrically operable actuator, movement of the manually operable actuator selectively causing movement of the electrically operable actuator;
wherein the manually operable actuator is coupled to a projection on the throttle body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
24 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An intake power control comprising:
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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; and a manually operable actuator coupled to the electrically operable actuator, movement of the manually operable actuator selectively causing movement of the electrically operable actuator; wherein the manually operable actuator is coupled to a projection on the throttle body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A motorcycle comprising:
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an engine; and 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 powered actuation device; an electrically operable actuator coupled to the plate and to the electrically powered actuation device, actuation of the electrically powered actuation device causing pivotal movement of the plate via the electrically operable actuator; and a manually operable actuator coupled to the electrically operable actuator and configured to move the throttle plate by rotating the electrically operable actuator without actuating the electrically powered actuation device, wherein the manually operable actuator and the electrically operable actuator are rotatable about a common axis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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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, a second actuator coupled to the first actuator, and an electrically powered actuation device connected to the first actuator, the method comprising:
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operating the engine; manually rotating the second actuator about a first axis to rotate the throttle plate in the first direction by rotating the first actuator without actuating the electrically powered actuation device; increasing the air intake of the engine in response to moving the throttle plate in the first direction; sensing a triggering condition; and rotating the first actuator relative to the second actuator about the first axis with the electrically powered actuation device in response to the triggering condition to thereby at least partially override the movement of the second actuator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An intake power control comprising:
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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.
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Specification