Device and electronic throttle valve control arrangement

Abstract

Device comprising the following: a throttle valve control arrangement (10) containing: a case (12); an adapter (20) which is integrally formed with the housing (12); a rotation locking feature (38) which is integrally formed with the housing (12); at least one relief notch (40A, 40B) which is formed as part of the housing (12), wherein the at least one relief notch (40A, 40B) is positioned next to the anti-rotation feature (38); a first groove (32) which is integrally formed as part of the adapter (20); a second groove (36) which is integrally formed as part of the housing (12); a rib section (34) which is arranged between the first groove (32) and the second groove (36), wherein the rib section (34) is formed as part of the adapter (20); wherein the first groove (32) and the rib section (34) substantially surround the adapter (20) and the second groove (36) partially surrounds the housing (12), and wherein the anti-rotation feature (38) is formed integrally with the housing (12) during an injection molding process.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention generally relates to an electronic throttle body having an integrally formed anti-rotation feature, wherein the anti-rotation feature is formed during an injection molding or casting process without the use of any additional machining processes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electronic throttle bodies are well known, and typically involve connecting a channel or conduit in fluid communication with the throttle body for directing air into the throttle body, which controls the flow of air into an engine. The conduit is commonly connected to the throttle body using a connector, and the conduit is prevented from rotating relative to the throttle body by some type of anti-rotation feature engaged with the conduit.

[0003] Typical throttle bodies have parts manufactured as a single component, but certain parts formed as part of the throttle body are more complex and expensive to manufacture. Some throttle body parts are formed using a casting process, and others are formed using various machining processes. Additional machining processes increase costs and require additional steps during manufacturing. Some throttle bodies have an anti-rotation feature formed during subsequent manufacturing processes, such as machining, or the anti-rotation feature is formed as part of one of several separate components of the throttle assembly.The use of subsequent manufacturing processes or the production of multiple components increases costs, prolongs production time, and increases the overall manufacturing complexity of the throttle body assembly. Furthermore, throttle body assemblies assembled from multiple components are generally unable to meet stringent packaging requirements.

[0004] The documents EP 2 428 666 A1 and US 5 341 773 A each concern throttle bodies.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a throttle body that is easier to manufacture and includes an anti-rotation feature formed without the use of additional machining processes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention is defined by the device of independent claim 1.

[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention is a throttle control assembly including a throttle body, an adapter formed integrally with the throttle body, a housing portion formed as part of the adapter, and a central passage extending through the throttle body and the adapter. A first groove is formed integrally as part of the adapter, a second groove is formed integrally as part of the throttle body, and a rib portion is disposed between the first and second grooves. The rib portion is formed as part of the adapter, and an anti-rotation feature is formed integrally with the throttle body. The anti-rotation feature is formed integrally with the throttle body during an injection molding process.

[0008] A first relief notch and a second relief notch are formed as part of the throttle body housing. The first relief notch is positioned on one side of the anti-rotation feature, and the second notch is positioned on the opposite side of the anti-rotation feature.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first relief notch is located adjacent a first end of the first groove, and the first relief notch is located adjacent a first end of the rib portion. The second relief notch is located adjacent a second end of the first groove, and the second relief notch is located adjacent a second end of the rib portion.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second groove includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein both the first portion terminates in the anti-rotation feature and the second portion terminates in the anti-rotation feature.

[0011] One of the advantages of the throttle control assembly is that the anti-rotation feature can be formed at various locations on the outer surface of the housing. In one embodiment, an axis passes through the central passage, and the anti-rotation feature can be positioned anywhere along a region of the outer surface of the housing extending approximately 225° around the axis.

[0012] The anti-rotation feature may be formed using one of several processes. In one embodiment, the anti-rotation feature is formed integrally with the housing during a casting process. In another embodiment, the anti-rotation feature is formed integrally with the housing during a metal injection molding process.

[0013] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below. It should be understood that, while the detailed description and specific examples indicate the preferred embodiment of the invention, they are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic throttle body having an anti-rotation feature in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of an electronic throttle body having an anti-rotation feature in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an electronic throttle body having an anti-rotation feature in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a portion of an electronic throttle body having an anti-rotation feature in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of an electronic throttle body having an anti-rotation feature in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0016] An electronic throttle control assembly with an integrally formed anti-rotation feature according to the present invention is shown generally at 10 in the figures. The assembly 10 includes a throttle body housing 12, and formed as part of the housing 12 is a central passage, shown generally at 14, through which air flows during operation of the assembly 10. A shaft (not shown) is provided extending through part of the central passage 14, the shaft being rotatable, and a valve plate (also not shown) is attached to the shaft.

[0017] The shaft is mounted in a bore 16 formed as part of the housing 12. The housing 12 further includes a cavity portion 18, and an actuator (not shown) is disposed within the cavity 18. The actuator is used to control a gear assembly, which is then connected to the shaft, thereby controlling the position of the valve plate in the central passage 14. By changing the position of the valve plate, the airflow through the central passage 14 is controlled.

[0018] The assembly 10 further includes an adapter, generally shown at 20, the adapter 20 being suitable for connection to a conduit. The adapter 20 includes a housing portion 22, and formed as part of the housing portion 22 is an opening 24 that forms part of the central passage 14 and has a substantially constant inner diameter. The remainder of the central passage 14 is formed as part of the housing 12 and extends therethrough. The housing portion 22 further includes a first diameter portion 26 located adjacent a first tapered portion 28. The housing portion 22 further includes a second tapered portion 30 located adjacent the first diameter portion 26. Each of the tapered portions 28, 30 facilitates the connection between a conduit and the throttle control assembly 10.During assembly, the housing portion 22 is inserted into an end portion of the conduit, and the tapered portions 28, 30 and the anti-rotation feature 38 ensure proper alignment between the housing portion 22 and the conduit during the assembly process at the factory where the throttle control assembly 10 is manufactured.

[0019] A first groove 32 is located adjacent to the second tapered portion 30, a rib portion 34 is located adjacent to the first groove 32, and a second groove 36 is located adjacent to the rib portion 34. An anti-rotation feature 38 is integrally formed with the housing 12, protruding from the housing 12 and located adjacent to the housing portion 22. A relief notch 40A, 40B is located on each side of the anti-rotation feature 38. The first relief notch 40A is located adjacent a first end 42A of the first groove 32 and a first end 44A of the rib portion 34. The second relief notch 40B is located adjacent a second end 42B of the first groove 32 and a second end 44B of the rib portion 34. The second groove 36 has two sections, with the two sections of the second groove 36 being located on opposite sides of the anti-rotation feature 38.A first portion of the second groove 36, generally shown at 46A, terminates in the anti-rotation feature 38, and a second portion of the second groove 36, generally shown at 46B, also terminates in the anti-rotation feature 38. The grooves 32, 36 and the rib portion 34 are also used to connect the conduit to the assembly 10. The grooves 32, 36 may receive a snap ring, a clamp, or any other type of connecting device for securing the conduit to the assembly 10.

[0020] The throttle control assembly 10 is formed using various manufacturing processes. The housing 12, the second groove 36, the anti-rotation feature 38, and the relief notches 40A, 40B are formed during a casting process.

[0021] After the casting process is complete, various portions of the throttle control assembly 10 still need to be formed. A machining process is then used to form the housing portion 22, the first groove 32, and the rib portion 34. The relief notches 40A, 40B provide adequate space to allow the use of various tooling as part of the machining process to form the housing portion 22, the first groove 32, and the rib portion 34. The second groove 36 partially surrounds the housing 12. The first groove 32 and the rib portion 34 almost completely surround the housing portion 22, except for the areas occupied by the anti-rotation feature 38 and the relief notches 40A, 40B.

[0022] The second groove 36 (formed during the casting process) does not completely surround the housing 12. An outer portion 48 partially surrounds the housing 12 in an area along the outside of the housing 12 (where the second groove 36 was not formed during the casting process), such that the outer portion 48 is located adjacent to a portion of the rib portion 34 in a similar manner to the second groove 36. The outer portion 48 is formed during the machining process along with the housing portion 22, the first groove 32, and the rib portion 34. A portion of the outer portion 48 extends along the outside of the housing 12 in an area where the cavity-containing portion 18 is integrally formed with the housing 12. Another portion of the outer portion 48 also extends along the outside of the housing 12 along an area where a gear housing 50 is integrally formed with the housing 12.

[0023] An axis 52 extends through the central passage 14, and the anti-rotation feature 38 can be formed at many possible locations along the outer surface of the housing 12 during the casting process. The anti-rotation feature 38 can be formed on a portion of the outer surface of the housing 12 in an area on the outer surface of the housing 12 that is in a Fig.5. The angle 54 in this embodiment is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees (specifically, the angle 54 in this embodiment is approximately 225°), but it is within the scope of the invention that the angle 54 may be changed to suit a particular application. In this embodiment, the angle 54 also corresponds to the degree to which the second groove 36 surrounds the housing 12. Therefore, the location on the outer surface of the housing 12 at which the anti-rotation feature 38 may be formed also corresponds to the degree to which the second groove 36 surrounds the housing 12. Furthermore, the anti-rotation feature 38 may be positioned anywhere along the outer surface of the housing 12 except for the area of ​​the outer portion 48 to meet various packaging and design requirements.

[0024] By forming the anti-rotation feature 38 during the casting process and forming the entire throttle control assembly 10 as a single component, the number of steps in the manufacturing process of the throttle control assembly 10 is reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the anti-rotation feature 38 can be formed during the casting process along the draw line in the mold, so that the shape of the anti-rotation feature 38 does not affect the removal of any mold inserts, mold slides, or the separation of the mold components after the casting process is complete.

[0025] In this embodiment, the anti-rotation feature 38 extends from the housing assembly 22 at a depth 56 of 3.875 millimeters. Furthermore, the anti-rotation feature 38 has a width 58 of 5.0 millimeters and a height 60 of 10.0 millimeters. However, the dimensions of the anti-rotation feature 38 can be modified to accommodate different packaging and design requirements, as well as different types of leads with different connection devices.

[0026] Although it has been described above that the housing 12, the second groove 36, the anti-rotation feature 38, and the relief notches 40A, 40B are formed during a molding process, it is within the scope of the invention that these components may also be formed during other types of injection molding processes, such as metal injection molding and 3D printing.

[0027] The description of the invention is merely exemplary, and thus variations that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

[1] A device comprising: a throttle control arrangement (10) comprising: a housing (12); an adapter (20) formed integrally with the housing (12); an anti-rotation feature (38) formed integrally with the housing (12); at least one relief notch (40A, 40B) formed as part of the housing (12), the at least one relief notch (40A, 40B) being positioned adjacent the anti-rotation feature (38); a first groove (32) formed integrally as part of the adapter (20); a second groove (36) formed integrally as part of the housing (12); a rib portion (34) disposed between the first groove (32) and the second groove (36), the rib portion (34) being formed as part of the adapter (20); wherein the first groove (32) and the rib portion (34) substantially surround the adapter (20) and the second groove (36) partially surrounds the housing (12), and wherein the anti-rotation feature (38) is formed integrally with the housing (12) during an injection molding process. [2] The device of claim 1, further comprising: a housing portion (22) which is part of the adapter (20); and a central passage (14); wherein a portion of the central passage (14) extends through the housing portion (22) of the adapter (20), and a portion of the central passage (14) extends through the housing (12). [3] The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second groove (36) further comprises: a first section (46A); and a second section (46B); wherein the first portion (46A) terminates in the anti-rotation feature (38) and the second portion (46B) terminates in the anti-rotation feature (38). [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one relief notch (40A, 40B) further comprises: a first relief notch (40A) formed as part of the housing (12); and a second relief notch (40B) formed as part of the housing (12); wherein the first relief notch (40A) and the second relief notch (40B) are positioned on opposite sides of the anti-rotation feature (38). [5] The device of claim 4, wherein the first relief notch (40A) is located adjacent a first end (42A) of the first groove (32) and the first relief notch (40A) is located adjacent a first end (44A) of the rib portion (34). [6] The device of claim 4, wherein the second relief notch (40B) is located adjacent a second end of the first groove (32) and the second relief notch (40B) is located adjacent a second end of the rib portion (34). [7] The device of claim 1, further comprising an axis (52) extending through the housing (12), wherein the anti-rotation feature (38) is positioned on a portion of a region of the outer surface of the housing (12) extending approximately 225° about the axis (52).

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