Intake control device

Abstract

Provided is an intake control device (1) that inexpensively achieves a pull-out prevention function for a tube (7). The intake control device (1) comprises: a throttle body (4) having a round body part (3) in which an intake passage (2) is formed; a throttle valve (5) for opening and closing the intake passage (2); and a throttle shaft (6) for holding the throttle valve (5) and rotatably supported by the throttle body (4). The tube (7) is connected to the round body part (3). The throttle body (4) is provided with a band fixing part (14) to which a band (13) for fastening the outer periphery of the tube (7) connected to the round body part (3) is fixed.

Description

Intake control device

[0001] The present invention relates to an intake control device equipped with a throttle body.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an intake control device that includes a throttle body having a cylindrical portion with an intake passage formed therein, and a tube leading to an air cleaner connected to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the intake control device of Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the tube connected to the throttle body from coming loose, a protrusion that juts out in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the intake passage extends and protrudes inward of the tube is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0003] This protrusion is formed when the throttle body is molded. However, this protrusion cannot be formed using only the main mold, which moves in the direction in which the intake passage extends to mold the cylindrical portion. Therefore, to form this protrusion, a slide mold, which moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the intake passage extends, is used.

[0004] Furthermore, in order for the protrusion to function as a retaining member, it is necessary for it to have a certain length along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. For this reason, two slide dies are used to form the protrusion. Meanwhile, there is also known a technology in which an annular groove is additionally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and this annular groove serves to retain the tube (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0005] JP 2021-21356 A JP 2010-255572 A

[0006] However, the intake control device of Patent Document 1 and the technology of Patent Document 2 require the use of a slide mold or additional machining of an annular groove to form protrusions and grooves on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the throttle body, which increases mold and processing costs and the number of steps, resulting in disadvantages in terms of product price and productivity.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an intake control device that inexpensively realizes a tube retaining function.

[0008] The intake control device of the present invention includes a throttle body having a cylindrical portion with an intake passage formed therein, a throttle valve that opens and closes the intake passage, and a throttle shaft that holds the throttle valve and is rotatably supported by the throttle body. A tube is connected to the cylindrical portion. The throttle body includes a band fixing portion to which a band is fixed that tightens the outer periphery of the tube connected to the cylindrical portion against the cylindrical portion.

[0009] According to the present invention, the band fixed to the band fixing part can reliably prevent the tube from coming out of the cylindrical part. Therefore, it is possible to provide an intake control device that does not require the formation of a protrusion or additional machining of an annular groove on the cylindrical part of the throttle body, which was previously required to prevent the tube from coming out, and that inexpensively achieves a tube-retaining function.

[0010] 3. A perspective view showing a main part of an intake control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1. A perspective view showing a state in which a tube is connected to the throttle body of the intake control device of FIG. 1. 2. A front view showing the intake control device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side where the tube is connected along the direction in which the intake passage extends. 3. A cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the throttle body and a mold when molding the throttle body of the intake control device of FIG. 1, taken along a plane corresponding to line IV-IV in FIG. 3. 4. A cross-sectional view along line V-V in FIG. 3. 5. A perspective view of the throttle body portion of an intake control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows the main components of an intake control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, this intake control device 1 includes a throttle body 4 having a cylindrical portion 3 in which an intake passage 2 is formed, a throttle valve 5 that opens and closes the intake passage 2, and a throttle shaft 6 that holds the throttle valve 5 and is rotatably supported by the throttle body 4.

[0012] A tube 7 (see FIG. 2), such as an air duct leading to an air cleaner, is connected to the cylindrical portion 3. The throttle body 4 includes a motor case 9 that houses a motor 8, and a gear chamber 11 that houses a gear mechanism 10 (see FIG. 5) that transmits the rotation of the drive shaft of the motor 8 to the throttle shaft 6. In other words, the motor 8 supplies power to open and close the throttle valve 5 via the gear mechanism 10. The gear chamber 11 is closed by a gear chamber cover 12.

[0013] The throttle body 4 also includes a band fixing portion 14 to which a metal band 13 (see FIG. 2) is fixed. The band fixing portion 14 tightens the outer periphery of the tube 7 connected to the cylindrical portion 3 against the cylindrical portion 3. The band fixing portion 14 is fixed to the surface of the motor case 9 so as to extend from the surface. More specifically, the band fixing portion 14 is provided so as to protrude from the side wall of the motor case 9 along the passage direction D, which is the direction in which the intake passage 2 (the central axis of the intake passage 2) extends.

[0014] Figure 2 shows the state in which the tube 7 is attached to the throttle body 4. However, in Figure 2, only the end of the tube 7 that is connected to the cylindrical portion 3 is shown. As shown in Figure 2, the band fixing portion 14 is provided with an insertion hole 16 through which a connecting member 15 that connects the ends of the band 13 is passed.

[0015] Here, a bolt 17 and a nut 18 are used as the connecting member 15. The tip of the bolt 17 is passed through the insertion hole 16, and a female thread 19 (see FIG. 1) is provided for screwing the tip of the bolt 17 into the insertion hole 16. The band fixing part 14 has a seat 20 where the insertion hole 16 opens and with which the bolt 17 of the connecting member 15 can come into contact. The seat 20 is aligned with the passage direction D.

[0016] The tube 7 has an annular groove 21 on the outer periphery of the end connected to the cylindrical portion 3, into which the band 13 is placed when the band 13 tightens around the outer periphery of the tube 7. The band 13 has fastening portions 22 at both ends, which allow the band 13 placed in the groove 21 to tighten around the outer periphery of the tube 7. Each fastening portion 22 has opposing plates 24 that rise outward from the opposing end edges of the band main body 23, and fixing plates 25 that fix each opposing plate 24 to each end edge of the band main body 23.

[0017] The opposing plates 24 are fixed to the band main body 23 in a mutually opposing orientation. Each opposing plate 24 is provided with a through-hole 26 through which the above-mentioned bolt 17 is passed. Two fixing plates 25 are provided for each opposing plate 24. Each fixing plate 25 has a shape similar to a right triangle, and one of its two sides other than the hypotenuse is fixed to the side edge of the corresponding opposing plate 24, and the other side is fixed to the corresponding side edge of the band main body 23.

[0018] Each tightening portion 22 is fixed to the band body 23 via two fixing plates 25 so that, when the band 13 is tightening the outer periphery of the tube 7, the opposing plates 24 of each tightening portion 22 are parallel and face each other with a tightening distance d between them.

[0019] The throttle body 4 has a unit connection part 28 connected to a sensor unit 27 (see FIG. 1 ) at one end in the shaft direction F, which is the direction in which the throttle shaft 6 extends. The sensor unit 27 has at least one of an opening sensor that detects the opening of the throttle valve 5, an intake pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the intake air in the intake passage 2, and an intake air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the intake air in the intake passage 2.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the intake control device 1 as viewed from the side where the tube 7 is connected along the passage direction D. Fig. 4 shows the relationship between the throttle body 4 and the mold when molding the throttle body 4, in a cross section taken along the plane corresponding to line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, when molding the throttle body 4, the band fixing portion 14 side of the motor case 9 is molded using a first main mold 29, the side of the motor case 9 opposite to the band fixing portion 14 is molded using a second main mold 30, and the gear chamber 11 side is molded using a slide mold 31.

[0022] At this time, the first main mold 29 moving in the passage direction D molds the cylindrical portion 3 and the intake passage 2 therein, and also molds the band fixing portion 14 together with its seat surface 20. The periphery of the cylindrical portion 3 is molded only by the first main mold 29 moving in the passage direction D and the second main mold 30 moving in the passage direction D. The slide mold 31 moves in a direction parallel to the drive shaft of the motor 8 (shaft direction F) and molds the inside of the motor case 9 together with the gear chamber 11.

[0023] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 3, and shows the state of the periphery of the cylindrical portion 3 molded by the first main mold 29 and the second main mold 30. As shown in FIG. 5, during this molding, the first main mold 29 molds a first recess 33 between the unit connection portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 3, which is recessed along the passage direction D from an end 32 on the side where the tube 7 of the unit connection portion 28 is connected to the cylindrical portion 3 toward the other end.

[0024] Further, a second recess 35 is formed between the gear chamber 11 and the cylindrical portion 3, recessed from an end 34 where the tube 7 of the gear chamber 11 connects to the cylindrical portion 3 toward the other end along the passage direction D. In other words, a throttle body 4 having the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 and little excess material is formed.

[0025] Since it is not necessary to form a protrusion on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 3 to prevent it from slipping out, a slide mold that moves in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction D is not used as a mold for molding the cylindrical portion 3.

[0026] The cross sections of the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 parallel to both the passage direction D and the shaft direction F can have various values ​​of cross-sectional area depending on the position of the cross section in a direction perpendicular to both the passage direction D and the shaft direction F. In Figure 5, the cross sections of the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 taken along line V-V, which is one of the cross sections, are shown as shaded areas 36 and 37, respectively.

[0027] That is, the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 have portions that extend along the passage direction D from the end 32 or 34 on the side where the tube 7 of the unit connection portion 28 or the gear chamber 11 is connected to the vicinity of the end 38 of the cylindrical portion 3 opposite to the side where the tube 7 is connected. In Figure 5, cross sections of the portions of the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 that extend to the vicinity of the opposite end 38 are shown as shaded portions 36 and 37, respectively.

[0028] In this configuration, when connecting the end of the tube 7 to the end of the cylindrical portion 3, first, the band 13 is attached to the end of the tube 7. Next, the end of the tube 7 with the band 13 attached is fitted onto the outside of the end of the cylindrical portion 3.

[0029] Next, the bolt 17 is passed through the through-hole 26 of both tightening portions 22, and the nut 18 is screwed onto the tip end of the bolt 17. Furthermore, the tip end of the bolt 17, further than the nut 18, is passed through the insertion hole 16 of the band fixing portion 14 and screwed onto the female thread 19. The amount of screwing and the amount of screwing of the nut 18 are then adjusted so that the clamping force of the band 13 on the tube 7 to the cylindrical portion 3 is appropriate and so that both tightening portions 22 are securely fixed to the band fixing portion 14.

[0030] At this time, the distance between the opposing plates 24 of both clamping portions 22 becomes approximately equal to the clamping distance d, and both opposing plates 24 are approximately parallel. As a result, the end of the tube 7 is securely fixed to the end of the cylindrical portion 3 by the band 13, and this band 13 is securely fixed to the throttle body 4 via the bolt 17, completing the connection of the tube 7 to the cylindrical portion 3.

[0031] According to this embodiment, the throttle body 4 includes a band fixing portion 14 to which a band 13 is fixed, which fastens the outer periphery of the tube 7 connected to the cylindrical portion 3 to the cylindrical portion 3. This eliminates the need for a protrusion or annular groove that was required on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 3 of a conventional throttle body 4, while still allowing the band 13 to reliably prevent the tube 7 from coming loose.

[0032] As a result, additional processing such as a slide mold for forming the protrusion or an annular groove is not required, which reduces mold and processing costs and improves productivity. Therefore, the tube 7 pull-out prevention function can be achieved inexpensively.

[0033] Furthermore, because the band 13 is fixed to the throttle body 4, the band 13 does not come off the cylindrical portion 3 of the throttle body 4. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology in which the tube 7 is prevented from coming off by pressing the tube 7 against a protrusion or annular groove of the throttle body 4, the tube 7, which is fastened and prevented from coming off by the band 13, can be more reliably prevented from coming off.

[0034] Furthermore, the band fixing portion 14 is provided with an insertion hole 16 through which a connecting member 15 that connects the ends of the band 13 is passed. The band 13 can be fixed to the throttle body 4 by using the insertion hole 16 and the connecting member 15. Therefore, fixing the band 13 to the throttle body 4 does not require any additional parts other than the connecting member 15.

[0035] Furthermore, machining the insertion hole 16 in the band fixing portion 14 is easier than forming a protrusion using a slide mold around the periphery of the cylindrical portion 3 or machining an annular groove. Therefore, the tube retention function can be reliably achieved at low cost.

[0036] Furthermore, since the band 13 is fixed to the throttle body 4 using the bolts 17 and nuts 18 that have been conventionally used as the connecting members 15, there is no need to prepare special members for this fixing. Therefore, the function of preventing the tube 7 from coming off can be realized at a lower cost.

[0037] Furthermore, the through-hole 16 of the band fixing portion 14 is provided with a female thread 19 for threading the bolt 17, which eliminates the need for screw holes that were previously required at the ends of the band to join the ends of the band 13. This allows the band 13 to be manufactured at low cost.

[0038] Furthermore, the band fixing portion 14 has a seating surface 20, which is open to the insertion hole 16 and contacts the band 13, and is aligned along the passage direction D. Therefore, when molding the throttle body 4, the intake passage 2 is molded and the seating surface 20 can be formed by the first main mold 29, which moves in the passage direction D.

[0039] That is, a slide mold that moves in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the intake passage 2 is not required to mold the band fixing portion 14 equipped with the seat surface 20. Therefore, mold costs can be reduced and productivity can be improved, so that a more reliable and inexpensive mechanism for preventing the tube 7 from coming off can be realized.

[0040] Furthermore, since the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 are formed between the unit connection portion 28 and the gear chamber 11 and the cylindrical portion 3, it is possible to form a throttle body 4 with less excess material compared to conventional throttle bodies that use protrusions or annular grooves to prevent the tube 7 from coming loose.

[0041] That is, in conventional throttle bodies, in order to prevent the tube 7 from coming loose by providing protrusions and annular grooves on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 3, the periphery of the cylindrical portion 3 is molded using a slide mold that moves in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction D in order to form the protrusions and annular grooves.

[0042] If the unit connection portion 28 and the gear chamber 11 are molded when the cylindrical portion 3 is molded using this slide mold, it is not possible to form recesses such as the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 in this embodiment between the unit connection portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 3, or between the gear chamber 11 and the cylindrical portion 3. Since there are no such recesses, the throttle body will inevitably have more excess material than the throttle body 4 of this embodiment.

[0043] In contrast, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to form a protrusion on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 3, and therefore the first recess 33 and the second recess 35 can be molded between the unit connection portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 3 and between the gear chamber 11 and the cylindrical portion 3 using only the first main die 29, which moves in the extension direction of the intake passage 2. This makes it possible to mold a throttle body 4 with little wasted material and provided with the first recess 33 and the second recess 35.

[0044] Further, along the passage direction D, the end 32 or 34 of the unit connection portion 28 or the gear chamber 11 on the side where the tube 7 is connected extends to the end of the cylindrical portion 3 on the side where the tube 7 is connected.

[0045] In the prior art, where an annular groove is machined and formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 3 to prevent the tube 7 from slipping out, the distance between the unit connection portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 3 or the distance between the gear chamber 11 and the cylindrical portion 3 is widened to ensure space for inserting a cutting tool for machining the annular groove, which increases the size of the throttle body 4.

[0046] In contrast, in this embodiment, even if the end 32 of the unit connection part 28 on the side where the tube 7 is connected or the end 34 of the gear chamber 11 on the side where the tube 7 is connected extends to one end of the cylindrical part 3, it is not necessary to machine an annular groove in the cylindrical part 3, and therefore it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the throttle body 4.

[0047] Furthermore, because the band fixing portion 14 extends from the surface of the motor case 9, the band fixing portion 14 functions as a heat dissipation fin, increasing the amount of heat dissipated by the motor 8. This makes it possible to prevent the motor 8 from becoming too hot, maintain its output, and improve its durability.

[0048] 6 shows a throttle body portion of an intake control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This throttle body 4b is provided with a band fixing portion 14b instead of the band fixing portion 14 in the first embodiment.

[0049] The band fixing portion 14b is provided on the side surface of the motor 8, protruding in a direction parallel to the passage direction D toward the side where the tube 7 of the intake passage 2 is connected. In this respect, it is similar to the band fixing portion 14 of the first embodiment. The band fixing portion 14b is also similar to the band fixing portion 14 of the first embodiment in that it fixes the band 13 that tightens the outer periphery of the tube 7 connected to the cylindrical portion 3 against the cylindrical portion 3.

[0050] On the other hand, band fixing portion 14b differs from band fixing portion 14 of the first embodiment in that it is provided at a position farther away from gear chamber 11 than band fixing portion 14 of the first embodiment. That is, band fixing portion 14b is provided at a position on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of motor 8 and that includes the central axis of intake passage 2.

[0051] Furthermore, the band fixing portion 14b is provided with a through hole 39 as an insertion hole for passing the bolt 17b along the shaft direction F. The bolt 17b and the nut 18b threaded onto it constitute a connecting member 15b that connects the ends of the band 13. Opposing surfaces 40 that face the opposing plates 24 of the tightening portions 22 on both ends of the band 13 are provided on both end faces of the band fixing portion 14b in the direction along the through hole 39.

[0052] With the tube 7 connected to the cylindrical portion 3, a small gap is formed between the opposing plate 24 at at least one end of the band 13 and the corresponding opposing surface 40. Each opposing surface 40 is aligned along the passage direction D and functions as a seat that can come into contact with the corresponding opposing plate 24 of the fastening portion 22 of the band 13. The other configurations of the throttle body 4b of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0053] In this configuration, when connecting the tube 7 to the cylindrical portion 3, first, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the tube 7 with the band 13 attached is fitted onto the outside of the cylindrical portion 3. Next, the bolt 17b is passed through the through-hole 26 of one tightening portion 22, the through-hole 39 of the band fixing portion 14b, and the through-hole 26 of the other tightening portion 22. Next, the nut 18 is screwed onto the tip of the bolt 17.

[0054] The amount of screwing is then adjusted so that the clamping force of the band 13 on the tube 7 to the cylindrical portion 3 is appropriate. At this time, a small gap is created between the opposing plate 24 and the opposing surface 40 at least at one end of the band 13, allowing the clamping force to be adjusted appropriately.

[0055] As a result, the connection side end of the tube 7 is securely fixed to the end of the cylindrical portion 3 by the band 13, and the band 13 is fixed to the throttle body 4b via the band fixing portion 14b. This completes the connection of the tube 7 to the cylindrical portion 3.

[0056] According to this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the band fixing portion 14b is located between the fastening portions 22 at both ends of the band 13, which provides a space advantage. In other respects, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved.

[0057] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the first embodiment, the connecting member 15 that connects the ends of the band 13 together is not limited to the combination of the bolt 17 and the nut 18, but may be the bolt 17 alone.

[0058] In this case, one fastening portion 22 of the band 13 is configured to be supported by the seat surface 20 of the band fixing portion 14, and the one fastening portion 22 is brought into contact with the seat surface 20. Then, the bolt 17 is passed from the other fastening portion 22 side to the insertion hole 16 of the band fixing portion 14 and screwed into the female thread 19 of the band fixing portion 14. This joins both ends of the band 13 together and fixes the band 13 to the throttle body 4. This makes it possible to omit the nut 18.

[0059] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...intake control device, 2...intake passage, 3...cylindrical portion, 4, 4b...throttle body, 5...throttle valve, 6...throttle shaft, 7...tube, 8...motor, 9...motor case, 10...gear mechanism, 11...gear chamber, 12...gear chamber cover, 13...band, 14, 14b...band fixing portion, 15, 15b...connecting member, 16...through hole, 17, 17b...bolt, 18, 18b...nut , 19...female thread, 20...seat surface, 21...groove, 22...tightening portion, 23...band body, 24...opposing plate, 25...fixing plate, 26...through hole, 27...sensor unit, 28...unit connection portion, 29...first main mold, 30...second main mold, 31...slide mold, 32...end, 33...first recess, 34...end, 35...second recess, 36...shaded portion, 37...shaded portion, 38...end, 39...through hole, 40...opposing surface.

Claims

1. An intake control device comprising: a throttle body having a cylindrical portion with an intake passage formed therein; a throttle valve for opening and closing the intake passage; and a throttle shaft for holding the throttle valve and rotatably supported by the throttle body, wherein a tube is connected to the cylindrical portion, wherein the throttle body has a band fixing portion to which a band is fixed for tightening the outer periphery of the tube connected to the cylindrical portion against the cylindrical portion.

2. An intake control device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the band fixing portion is provided with an insertion hole through which a connecting member for connecting the ends of the band is passed.

3. The intake control device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is constructed using a bolt.

4. An intake control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the insertion hole is provided with a female thread for screwing the bolt therein.

5. An intake control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the band fixing portion has a seat surface through which the insertion hole opens and with which the band or the connecting member comes into contact or can come into contact, the seat surface being aligned along the passage direction in which the intake passage extends.

6. The intake control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the throttle body is provided, at one end in the direction in which the throttle shaft extends, with a unit connection portion connected to a sensor unit having at least one of an opening sensor, an intake pressure sensor, and an intake air temperature sensor, or a gear chamber accommodating a gear mechanism that transmits motor rotation to the throttle shaft, and a first recess is formed between the unit connection portion and the cylindrical portion, which is recessed along the passage direction from the end of the tube of the unit connection portion connected to the cylindrical portion to the other end, or a second recess is formed between the gear chamber and the cylindrical portion, which is recessed along the passage direction from the end of the tube of the gear chamber connected to the cylindrical portion to the other end.

7. An intake control device as described in claim 6, characterized in that the end of the unit connection portion or the gear chamber to which the tube is connected extends along the passage direction to the end of the cylindrical portion to which the tube is connected.

8. An intake control device as described in claim 1, further comprising a motor that supplies power to open and close the throttle valve, the throttle body having a motor case that houses the motor, and the band fixing portion extending from a surface of the motor case.