Throttle device

Abstract

Provided is a throttle device that, even when a magnet is brought close thereto from the outside, is capable of inhibiting influence on magnetism of the magnet interlocking with a throttle grip, and that is also capable of reducing manufacturing costs for magnetic shielding.　The throttle device comprises: an interlocking member (2) that interlocks with a throttle grip (G) and rotates; a rotation member (3) that rotates with a magnet (m); a magnetic sensor (5) that detects a magnetic change of the magnet (m) associated with a rotation of the rotation member (3) and detects the rotation angle of the rotation member (3); a case member (1) that rotatably holds the interlocking member (2) and the rotation member (3); and a magnetic shielding member (12) that is made of a magnetic material and is positioned around the magnet (m) and the magnetic sensor (5) so as to be capable of shielding magnetism from the outside. The magnetic shielding member (12) has: a cylindrical side part (12a) that is open at both ends and surrounds the sides of the magnet (m) and the magnetic sensor (5); and a plate-like bottom part (12b) that shuts at least one of the open ends of the side part (12a).

Description

Throttle device

[0001] The present invention relates to a throttle device in which a drive source of a vehicle is controlled based on the rotational operation angle of a throttle grip.

[0002] Recently, motorcycles have become commonplace, with a configuration in which a sensor electrically detects the rotation angle of the throttle grip and sends the detected value as an electrical signal to an electronic control device or the like mounted on the motorcycle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).The electronic control device then performs a predetermined calculation based on the detection signal, and the ignition timing of the engine or the opening and closing of the throttle valve is controlled based on the calculation results.

[0003] Such conventional throttle devices are equipped with an interlocking member that rotates in conjunction with the throttle grip, a rotating member to which a magnet is attached that rotates together with the magnet according to the rotation angle of the interlocking member, detection means that detects magnetic changes in the magnet as the rotating member rotates and detects the rotation angle of the rotating member, and a magnetic shielding member to shield from external magnetism.

[0004] JP 2015-96345 A

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned conventional throttle device, the magnetic shielding member is made of a cylindrical member with a bottom, which requires deep drawing, resulting in a problem of increased manufacturing costs. In particular, the magnetic shielding member in the conventional throttle device requires a small-diameter cylindrical member with a bottom and a large-diameter cylindrical member with a bottom, which requires deep drawing to obtain each of these components.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a throttle device that can suppress the influence of the magnetism of the magnet linked to the throttle grip even when a magnet is brought close from the outside, and that can reduce manufacturing costs for magnetic shielding.

[0007] The invention of claim 1 is a throttle device comprising an operating means for throttle operation, an interlocking member that rotates in conjunction with the operating means, a rotating member to which a magnet is attached and that rotates together with the magnet in accordance with the rotation angle of the interlocking member, detection means that detects magnetic changes in the magnet that accompany the rotation of the rotating member and detects the rotation angle of the rotating member, a case member that rotatably holds the interlocking member and the rotating member, and a magnetic shielding member made of a magnetic material and positioned around the magnet and detection means to block external magnetism, wherein the amount of operation of the operating means is detected based on the rotation angle of the rotating member detected by the detection means, and the drive source of a vehicle is controlled, and the magnetic shielding member is characterized in that it has a cylindrical side part that is open at both ends and surrounds the magnet and detection means from the sides, and a plate-shaped bottom part that closes at least one open end of the side part.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the throttle device of claim 1, the case member comprises a first accommodating portion in which the interlocking member is rotatably attached, a second accommodating portion in which the rotating member is rotatably attached, and a third accommodating portion in which the detection means is attached, and an insertion portion is formed at a lateral position of the third accommodating portion into which a side part of the magnetic shielding member can be inserted.

[0009] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the throttle device described in claim 2, the case member has a fourth accommodating portion formed continuously with the third accommodating portion, and a board on which the detection means is formed is attached across the third accommodating portion and the fourth accommodating portion, and a connection terminal is formed on the portion of the board located in the fourth accommodating portion.

[0010] The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in the throttle device described in claim 3, the side part of the magnetic shielding member consists of a tubular member with a notch formed in part of the side, and when inserted into the insertion portion, the notch is located at the boundary between the third accommodating portion and the fourth accommodating portion.

[0011] The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in the throttle device described in claim 1, the rotating member is configured to have a gear portion formed with a gear that meshes with the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion extending cylindrically from the gear portion, and the magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion.

[0012] The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the throttle device of claim 1, it is provided with a cover member attached to the case member to cover the interlocking member and the rotating member, and the cover member is made of a magnetic material.

[0013] The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the throttle device of claim 1, it is provided with a cover member attached to the case member to cover the interlocking member and the rotating member, and a backlash spring that applies a biasing force in the rotational direction of the rotating member to reduce backlash between the interlocking member and the rotating member, and the backlash spring consists of a torsion spring attached to the rotating member, one end of which is engaged with the rotating member and the other end of which extends to the outside of the cover member and is engaged while being subjected to a torsional action.

[0014] The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the throttle device of claim 7, it is provided with an arc-shaped notch formed in the cover member that allows the other end of the backlash spring to move when a torsional action is applied to the other end, and a locking member that is attached to the outside of the cover member that moves the other end of the backlash spring to apply a torsional action and locks the other end of the backlash spring to which a torsional action has been applied.

[0015] The invention described in claim 9 is characterized in that, in the throttle device described in claim 8, the locking member is fixed in a state in which it applies a spring force to the backlash spring by rotating around an axial member which is the rotation axis of the rotating member while locking the other end of the backlash spring.

[0016] The invention of claim 10 is characterized in that, in the throttle device of claim 7, the rotating member is configured to have a gear portion formed with a gear that meshes with a gear formed on the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion extending cylindrically from the gear portion, the magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion, and a spring mounting recess that accommodates the backlash spring is formed from the side of the gear portion toward the cylindrical portion.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 1, the magnetic shielding member has a cylindrical side part that is open at both ends and surrounds the magnet and the detection means from the sides, and a plate-shaped bottom part that closes at least one open end of the side part, so that even if a magnet is brought close from the outside, the influence on the magnetism of the magnet that is linked to the operating means can be suppressed, and the manufacturing costs for magnetic shielding can be reduced.

[0018] According to the invention of claim 2, the case member comprises a first housing portion to which the interlocking member is rotatably mounted, a second housing portion to which the rotating member is rotatably mounted, and a third housing portion to which the detecting means is mounted, and an insertion portion is formed at a lateral position of the third housing portion into which a side part of the magnetic shielding member can be inserted, thereby improving the positioning accuracy between the detecting means and the side part of the magnetic shielding member, and the positioning accuracy between the detecting means and the magnet of the rotating member.

[0019] According to the invention of claim 3, the case member has a fourth storage section formed continuous with the third storage section, and a board on which the detection means is formed is attached across the third and fourth storage sections, and a connection terminal is formed on the part of the board located in the fourth storage section, so that the board can be attached to the case member while avoiding interference with the magnetic shielding member.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 4, the side part of the magnetic shielding member is made of a tubular member with a notch formed in part of the side, and when inserted into the insertion portion, the notch is located at the boundary between the third and fourth accommodating portions, so that the board can be reliably positioned across the third and fourth accommodating portions while avoiding interference between the side part and the board.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 5, the rotating member is configured to have a gear portion formed with a gear that meshes with the gear formed on the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion that extends cylindrically from the gear portion, and a magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion, so that even if a magnet is brought close from the outside, the influence on the magnetism of the magnet that interlocks with the operating means can be suppressed, and the magnet can be arranged in the vicinity of the detection means, allowing the amount of operation of the operating means to be detected accurately.

[0022] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a cover member is provided that is attached to the case member and covers the interlocking member and the rotating member, and the cover member is made of a magnetic material, so that magnetic shielding can be achieved by the cover member in addition to the magnetic shielding member.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 7, the backlash spring comprises a torsion spring attached to the rotating member, one end of which is engaged with the rotating member, and the other end of which extends to the outside of the cover member and is engaged while being subjected to a torsional action, so that the backlash spring can be easily assembled, improving workability during assembly.

[0024] According to the invention of claim 8, there is provided an arc-shaped notch formed in the cover member that allows movement of the other end of the backlash spring when a torsional action is applied to the other end of the backlash spring, and a locking member that is attached to the outside of the cover member and moves the other end of the backlash spring to apply a torsional action, and locks the other end of the backlash spring to which a torsional action has been applied.Therefore, a biasing force can be applied to the backlash spring from the outside of the cover member using the locking member, and workability during assembly can be further improved.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 9, the locking member rotates around the shaft member which is the rotation axis of the rotating member while locking the other end of the backlash spring, thereby fixing the backlash spring in a state in which a spring force is applied to it. Therefore, the locking member can be rotated using the shaft member which is the rotation axis of the rotating member, making it easy to apply a spring force to the backlash spring.

[0026] According to the invention of claim 10, the rotating member is configured to have a gear portion formed with a gear that meshes with a gear formed on the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion that extends cylindrically from the gear portion, a magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion, and a spring mounting recess that accommodates a backlash spring is formed from the side of the gear portion toward the cylindrical portion, so that the magnet can be positioned near the detection means while the backlash spring can be arranged close to the cover member, and the other end of the backlash spring can be easily extended to the outside of the cover member.

[0027] 3 is an external view showing a throttle device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the throttle device; FIG. 5 is a three-sided view showing a throttle operation detection unit of the throttle device; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the throttle operation detection unit of the throttle device with the cover member removed; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the throttle operation detection unit; FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of some components of the throttle operation detection unit; a three-sided view showing the rotating member of the throttle operation detection unit; a three-sided view showing the substrate on which the magnetic sensor (detection means) of the throttle operation detection unit is formed; a two-sided view showing the cover member of the throttle operation detection unit; a two-sided view showing the side parts of the magnetic shielding member in the throttle operation detection unit; a three-sided view showing the bottom part of the magnetic shielding member in the throttle operation detection unit; a three-sided view showing the locking member in the throttle operation detection unit; a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the side parts of the magnetic shielding member and the magnetic sensor in the throttle operation detection unit; and a schematic view showing the function of the locking member in the throttle operation detection unit.

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The throttle device according to this embodiment detects the rotational operation angle (operation amount) of a throttle grip (operating means) attached to the handlebar H of a motorcycle and transmits the detection signal to an electronic control device such as an ECU mounted on the motorcycle to control the vehicle's drive source. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the throttle device is configured to include a switch case C fixed to the handlebar H of the vehicle, a throttle operation detection unit Y mounted within the switch case C, and operating parts t1 to t3 attached to the switch case C and capable of operating various electrical components mounted on the vehicle.

[0029] The switch case C is made by molding a predetermined material and is constructed by fitting together a front switch case Ca and a rear switch case Cb, each of which has a split shape, as shown in Figure 2. Openings are formed at predetermined positions in the switch case C, and operation knobs that form the operation units (t1 to t3) are attached to each opening, allowing any electrical equipment installed in the vehicle to be operated.

[0030] More specifically, the operation unit t1 has a seesaw-type operation knob that can be swung and a switch unit that is electrically turned on and off in response to operation of the operation knob, the operation unit t2 has a button-type operation knob that can be pressed and a switch unit that is electrically turned on and off in response to operation of the operation knob, and the operation unit t3 has a seesaw-type operation knob that can be swung and a switch unit that is electrically turned on and off in response to operation of the operation knob.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 to 9, the throttle operation detection unit Y is composed of a throttle grip G (operating means), an interlocking member 2, a rotating member 3 to which a magnet m is attached, a magnetic sensor 5 (detecting means) formed on a substrate 4, a case member 1 that rotatably holds the interlocking member 2 and the rotating member 3, a forward rotation return spring 6 and a reverse rotation return spring 7, a friction imparting member 9, a cover member 11, a magnetic shielding member 12, a backlash spring 13, and a locking member 14.

[0032] The throttle grip G is attached to the tip (right end) of the vehicle's handlebar H, and is arranged adjacent to the switch case C so that the driver can grip it and rotate it around an axis to operate the throttle. Note that instead of the throttle grip G, other operating means by which the driver can operate the throttle may be used, such as a rocking lever or a slide switch that can be operated with any amount of operation.

[0033] The case member 1 rotatably holds the interlocking member 2 and the rotating member 3, and as shown in Figures 8 to 10, is formed with a first accommodating portion 1a to which the interlocking member 2 is rotatably attached, a second accommodating portion 1b to which the rotating member 3 is rotatably attached, a third accommodating portion 1c to which the magnetic sensor 5 is attached, a fourth accommodating portion 1d formed continuously with the third accommodating portion 1c, a fifth accommodating portion 1e to which the friction-applying member 9 and the coil spring 10 are attached, and an insertion portion 1f.

[0034] Specifically, a first storage section 1a, a second storage section 1b, and a fifth storage section 1e are formed on one side of the case member 1, and an interlocking member 2, a rotating member 3, a friction-applying member 9, and a coil spring 10 are attached to each of them.When the interlocking member 2 housed in the first storage section 1a rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the throttle grip G, the rotating member 3 housed in the second storage section 1b rotates in conjunction with it, and the friction-applying member 9, biased by the coil spring 10, comes into contact with and slides against the interlocking member 2, thereby applying friction (frictional force) to the throttle grip G when it is operated.

[0035] Furthermore, a third housing section 1c and a fourth housing section 1d are formed in series on the other surface of the case member 1, and a substrate 4 is attached across these continuously formed third housing section 1c and fourth housing section 1d. The substrate 4 according to this embodiment is made of a printed circuit board on which predetermined electrical circuits are formed, and a magnetic sensor 5 is attached to a portion of the substrate 4 located in the third housing section 1c, and a connection terminal T extending from the case member 1 can be inserted and formed to protrude into a hole portion 4c of the substrate 4 located in the fourth housing section 1d.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, an arc-shaped fitting portion 1f is formed on the side of the third housing portion 1c in the case member 1, and the side part 12a of the magnetic shielding member 12 can be fitted into the fitting portion 1f. When the side part 12a is fitted into the fitting portion 1f, the side part 12a is positioned to the side of the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby enabling shielding from external magnetism.

[0037] The interlocking member 2 is rotatable in conjunction with the throttle grip G and is rotatably attached to the first housing portion 1a of the case member 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the interlocking member 2 according to this embodiment is configured to have an engaging portion 2a that can engage with and lock a protrusion (not shown) formed at the base end of the throttle grip G, and a gear portion 2b formed over a predetermined range. When the driver rotates the throttle grip G, the interlocking member 2 is rotatable in conjunction with the throttle grip G.

[0038] The rotating member 3 rotates together with the magnet m in accordance with the rotation angle of the interlocking member 2, and is rotatably attached to the second housing portion 1b of the case member 1. As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the rotating member 3 according to this embodiment is formed with a gear portion 3a that meshes with the gear portion 2b of the interlocking member 2, a cylindrical portion 3b that extends cylindrically from the gear portion 3a, a magnet mounting recess 3c formed at the tip of the cylindrical portion 3b and in which the magnet m is mounted, and a spring mounting recess 3d that can accommodate a backlash spring 13.

[0039] The forward rotation return spring 6 is made of a torsion coil spring and is a return spring that urges the interlocking member 2 toward its initial position when the throttle grip G is rotated forward. Specifically, the forward rotation return spring 6 is assembled such that one end is engaged with the case member 1 and the other end is engaged with the interlocking member 2, and when the throttle grip G is rotated forward, the interlocking member 2 rotates against the urging force of the forward rotation return spring 6, so that the urging force is transmitted to the throttle grip G, and a force acts to return the throttle grip G to its initial position.

[0040] The reverse return spring 7 is attached to the interlocking member 2 and consists of a pair of coil springs attached with one end abutting against a spring receiving portion 8a (see Figure 6) formed on the receiving member 8, and is used to urge the interlocking member 2 toward its initial position when the throttle grip G is rotated in the reverse direction. Specifically, when the throttle grip G is rotated in the reverse direction, the protruding portion 8b of the receiving member 8 engages with a predetermined portion of the case member 1, so that the receiving member 8 stops while the interlocking member 2 rotates. As a result, the interlocking member 2 rotates against the urging force of the reverse return spring 7, and this urging force is transmitted to the throttle grip G, acting to return the throttle grip G to its initial position.

[0041] The magnetic sensor 5 (detection means) detects magnetic changes (changes in the direction of the magnetic field) of the magnet m that accompany the rotation of the rotating member 3, and detects the rotation angle of the rotating member 3, making it possible to detect the rotation angle of the throttle grip G. Specifically, the magnetic sensor 5 is capable of obtaining an output voltage corresponding to the magnetic field changes (changes in magnetic flux density) of the magnet m, and is configured, for example, with a Hall element, which is a magnetic sensor that utilizes the Hall effect (specifically, a linear Hall IC that can obtain an output voltage proportional to the magnetic field (magnetic flux density) of the magnet m).

[0042] 12, the substrate 4 is integrally formed with a sensor area 4a where the magnetic sensor 5 is attached and a connection terminal area 4b where hole portions 4c are formed to allow the connection terminals T to protrude, and when attached to the case member 1, the sensor area 4a is located in the third housing portion 1c and the connection terminal area 4b is located in the fourth housing portion 1d. The connection terminals T are electrically connected to wiring extending from the vehicle side, so that the detection value of the magnetic sensor 5 can be transmitted to the vehicle side.

[0043] As a result, when the throttle grip G rotates and the interlocking member 2 and the rotating member 3 rotate by a corresponding rotation angle, the output signal of the magnetic sensor 5 increases or decreases due to changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnet m attached to the rotating member 3, and the rotational operation angle of the throttle grip G can be detected based on this output signal. This detection signal is sent to the ECU equipped in the motorcycle via a wire connected to the connection terminal T of the circuit board 4, and the drive source (engine or motor) is controlled based on this detection signal (output control based on the rotation angle of the throttle grip G).

[0044] The cover member 11 is made of a plate-like member that is attached to one surface of the case member 1 and covers the interlocking member 2 and the rotating member 3, and as shown in Figure 13, is formed with an insertion hole 11a through which the shaft member L can be inserted, an arc-shaped notch portion 11b through which the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 is inserted and which allows movement of the other end 13b when a torsional action is applied to the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13, and a screw hole 11c through which a screw n3 that fixes the locking member 14 can be inserted.

[0045] The backlash reduction spring 13 applies a biasing force in the rotational direction of the rotating member 3 to reduce backlash between the interlocking member 2 and the rotating member 3, and is made of a torsion spring with one end 13a and the other end 13b formed on both ends of a coil portion 13c, as shown in Figures 6 to 8. The backlash reduction spring 13 according to this embodiment is housed in the spring mounting recess 3d of the rotating member 3, with one end 13a locked to the rotating member 3 and the other end 13b extending to the outside of the cover member 11 via the cutout portion 11b and locked by the locking member 14 while being subjected to a torsional action.

[0046] Specifically, the gear portion 3a of the rotating member 3 is meshed with the gear portion 2b of the interlocking member 2, and the rotating member 3 and the interlocking member 2 are assembled to the case member 1. Then, the backlash spring 13 is housed in the spring mounting recess 3d of the rotating member 3, and one end 13a is locked to the rotating member 3. Then, after the shaft member L, which is the rotation shaft of the rotating member 3, is assembled to the case member 1, the protruding end of the shaft member L is inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the cover member 11, and the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 is inserted into the notch portion 11b, and the cover member 11 is fixed to the case member 1 with the screw n2. At this time, the backlash spring 13 is in a free state in which no biasing force is applied, and therefore a biasing force is applied to it by the locking member 14.

[0047] The locking member 14 is attached to the outside of the cover member 11, moves the other end 13b of the backlash compensation spring 13 to apply a torsional action, and locks the other end 13b of the backlash compensation spring 13 to which the torsional action has been applied. The locking member 14 according to this embodiment is rotatable about the shaft member L, which is the rotation axis of the rotating member 3, while locking the other end 13b of the backlash compensation spring 13, and is fixed at a predetermined position on the cover member 11. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 16 , the locking member 14 has a central hole 14a through which the protruding end of the shaft member L can be inserted, a locking groove 14b through which the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 can be locked, and a screw hole 14c through which the screw n3 can be inserted.

[0048] After the cover member 11 is attached to the case member 1, as shown in Figure 18(a), the tip of the shaft member L protruding from the insertion hole 11a is inserted into the center hole 14a of the locking member 14, and the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 (in a free state with no biasing force applied) protruding from the cutout portion 11b is locked in the locking groove 14b of the locking member 14. Then, as shown in Figure 18(b), when the locking member 14 is rotated around the shaft member L, the other end 13b locked in the locking groove 14b moves in an arc, and a torsion action is applied to the backlash spring 13.

[0049] 18(c), the cover member 11 is rotated until the screw hole 14c of the locking member 14 is aligned with the screw hole 11c of the cover member 11, and the screw n3 is inserted through the screw holes 11c and 14c and screwed together, thereby fixing the locking member 14 to the cover member 11. In this way, by rotating and fixing the locking member 14, a torsion action is exerted on the backlash spring 13, and the state in which a biasing force is applied to the rotating member 3 can be maintained.

[0050] In this way, the backlash spring 13 has one end 13a engaged with the rotating member 3 while the other end 13b is engaged while being subjected to a torsional action by the engaging member 14, so that it can apply a biasing force in the rotational direction of the rotating member 3, and this biasing force can reduce the backlash between the gear portion 3a of the rotating member 3 and the gear portion 2b of the interlocking member 2.

[0051] The magnetic shielding member 12 is made of a magnetic material (a ferromagnetic material such as iron) and is positioned around the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5 to block (magnetically shield) magnetic fields from the outside (outside the throttle device). As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 9, it is composed of a side part 12a that is open at both ends and covers the sides of the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5, and a plate-shaped bottom part 12b that covers the bottom opening of the side part 12a.

[0052] The side part 12a is obtained by, for example, rolling a plate-like ferromagnetic material (processing it to fit the outer circumferential surface of a roll), and is made of a cylindrical member that is C-shaped in plan view, bent in an arc shape with a predetermined curvature as a whole, and has open ends (left and right ends in the figure) and a notch K formed in part of the side. As already described, the side part 12a is fitted into the fitting part 1f of the case member 1, and is positioned to the side of the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5 so as to be able to shield from external magnetism.

[0053] 17 , the side component 12a is made of a cylindrical member (a C-shaped member in a plan view) with a notch K formed in a portion of its side, and is configured so that the notch K is located at the boundary between the third housing portion 1c and the fourth housing portion 1d when the side component 12a is fitted into the fitting portion 1f of the case member 1. This allows the side component 12a to be positioned without separating the sensor region 4a and the connection terminal region 4b of the board 4, and allows the entire board 4 to be attached to the case member 1.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 15, the bottom part 12b is made of a plate-shaped ferromagnetic material and is configured to be attached to the case member 1 with a screw n1 as shown in Fig. 3. When attached to the case member 1, the bottom part 12b is configured to close one open end of the side part 12a as shown in Fig. 4, so that the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5 are surrounded by the side part 12a and the bottom part 12b.

[0055] According to the above embodiment, the magnetic shielding member 12 has a cylindrical side part 12a that is open at both ends and surrounds the sides of the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5, and a plate-shaped bottom part 12b that closes at least one open end of the side part 12a. Therefore, even if a magnet is brought close from the outside, the effect on the magnetism of the magnet m that is linked to the throttle grip G (operating means) can be suppressed, and deep drawing processing and the like is not required, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs for magnetic shielding.

[0056] The cover member 11 may also be made of a magnetic material (a ferromagnetic material such as iron, like the magnetic shielding member 12). If the cover member 11 is made of a magnetic material in this way, magnetic shielding can be achieved by the cover member 11 in addition to the magnetic shielding member 12. In this case, the side parts 12a are located to the sides of the magnet m and the magnetic sensor 5, and the bottom part 12b and the cover member 11, which has a magnetic shielding effect, are located above and below them, thereby ensuring more reliable magnetic shielding.

[0057] Furthermore, the case member 1 according to this embodiment comprises a first accommodating portion 1a in which the interlocking member 2 is rotatably mounted, a second accommodating portion 1b in which the rotating member 3 is rotatably mounted, and a third accommodating portion 1c in which the magnetic sensor 5 (detection means) is mounted, and an insertion portion 1f is formed at a lateral position of the third accommodating portion 1c into which the side part 12a of the magnetic shielding member 12 can be inserted, thereby improving the positioning accuracy between the magnetic sensor 5 and the side part 12a of the magnetic shielding member 12, and between the magnetic sensor 5 and the magnet m of the rotating member 3.

[0058] Furthermore, the case member 1 according to this embodiment has a fourth housing section 1d formed continuously with the third housing section 1c, and the substrate 4 on which the magnetic sensor 5 is formed is attached across the third housing section 1c and the fourth housing section 1d, and a connection terminal T is formed on the portion of the substrate 4 located in the fourth housing section 1d, so that the substrate 4 can be attached to the case member 1 while avoiding interference with the magnetic shielding member 12.

[0059] In addition, the side part 12a of the magnetic shielding member 12 consists of a cylindrical member with a notch K formed in part of the side, and when it is inserted into the insertion part 1f, the notch K is located at the boundary between the third storage part 1c and the fourth storage part 1d, so that the substrate 4 can be reliably positioned across the third storage part 1c and the fourth storage part 1d while avoiding interference between the side part 12a and the substrate 4.

[0060] Furthermore, the rotating member 3 according to this embodiment is configured to have a gear portion 3a having a gear formed thereon that meshes with a gear (gear portion 2b) formed on the interlocking member 2, and a cylindrical portion 3b that extends cylindrically from the gear portion 3a, and a magnet m is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 3b, so that even if a magnet is brought close from the outside, the influence on the magnetism of the magnet m that interlocks with the throttle grip G (operating means) can be suppressed, and the magnet m can be arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor 5 (detecting means), allowing the amount of operation (rotational operating angle) of the throttle grip G (operating means) to be detected with high accuracy.

[0061] According to the above embodiment, the backlash spring 13 is made of a torsion spring attached to the rotating member 3, with one end 13a being engaged with the rotating member 3 and the other end 13b extending to the outside of the cover member 11 and being engaged while being subjected to a torsional action. Therefore, after the cover member 11 is assembled to the case member 1, a biasing force can be imparted to the backlash spring 13, making it possible to easily assemble the backlash spring 13 and improving workability during assembly.

[0062] Furthermore, the cover member 11 is provided with an arc-shaped notch 11b which allows movement of the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 when a torsional action is applied to the other end 13b, and a locking member 14 which is attached to the outside of the cover member 11 and which moves the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 to apply a torsional action and locks the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 to which a torsional action has been applied. Therefore, the locking member 14 can be used to apply a biasing force to the backlash spring 13 from the outside of the cover member 11, further improving workability during assembly.

[0063] Furthermore, the locking member 14 according to this embodiment is fixed in a state in which it applies a spring force to the backlash spring 13 by rotating around the shaft member L, which is the rotation axis of the rotating member 3, while locking the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13. Therefore, the locking member 14 can be rotated using the shaft member L, which is the rotation axis of the rotating member 3, and the spring force can be easily applied to the backlash spring 13.

[0064] Furthermore, the rotating member 3 according to this embodiment is configured to have a gear portion 3a having a gear formed thereon that meshes with the gear formed on the interlocking member 2, and a cylindrical portion 3b that extends cylindrically from the gear portion 3a. A magnet m is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 3b, and a spring mounting recess 3d that accommodates the backlash spring 13 is formed from the side of the gear portion 3a toward the cylindrical portion 3b. Therefore, the magnet m can be disposed near the magnetic sensor 5 while the backlash spring 13 can be disposed close to the cover member 11, and the other end 13b of the backlash spring 13 can be easily extended to the outside of the cover member 11.

[0065] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the magnetic shielding member 12 according to the present embodiment, the bottom part 12b is disposed to close one open end of the side part 12a. However, the bottom part 12b may be configured to close both open ends of the side part 12a. Furthermore, the side part 12a of the magnetic shielding member 12 according to the present embodiment has a C-shape in plan view with a notch K in a portion of its side. However, the side part 12a may be formed of a cylindrical member having an elliptical, rectangular, or irregular shape in plan view. Furthermore, the circuit board 4 according to the present embodiment is electrically connected to wiring extending from the vehicle side via the connection terminal T. However, instead of the connection terminal T, a lead wire may be connected to the circuit board 4 and led out of the case member, and the lead wire may be electrically connected to the wiring extending from the vehicle side. Alternatively, the other end 13b of the backlash compensation spring 13 may be locked by a means other than the locking member 14.

[0066] In this embodiment, the device is attached to the handlebar of a motorcycle, but it may also be attached to other vehicles with handlebars (for example, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.).The device may also be applied to vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine or other drive source, or to electric vehicles powered by a motor or other drive source.

[0067] The present invention can also be applied to devices with different external shapes or devices with additional functions, provided that they have the same gist as the present invention.

[0068] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 case member 1a first storage portion 1b second storage portion 1c third storage portion 1d fourth storage portion 1e fifth storage portion 1f fitting portion 2 interlocking member 2a engagement portion 2b gear portion 3 rotating member 3a gear portion 3b cylindrical portion 3c magnet mounting recess 3d spring mounting recess 4 substrate 4a sensor area 4b connection terminal area 4c hole portion 5 magnetic sensor (detection means) 6 forward rotation return spring 7 reverse rotation return spring 8 receiving member 8a spring receiving portion 8b protrusion 9 friction imparting member 10 coil spring 11 cover member 11a insertion hole 11b notch portion 11c screw hole 11d opening 12 magnetic shielding member 12a side part 12b bottom part 13 backlash spring 13a One end 13b Other end 13c Coil portion 14 Locking member 14a Center hole 14b Locking groove 14c Screw hole G Throttle grip (operating means) m Magnet C Switch case Ca Front switch case Cb Rear switch case t1 to t3 Operating portion L Shaft member T Connection terminal Y Throttle operation detection unit

Claims

1. A throttle device comprising: an operating means for operating the throttle; an interlocking member which rotates in conjunction with said operating means; a rotating member to which a magnet is attached and which rotates together with the magnet in accordance with the rotation angle of the interlocking member; detection means which detects magnetic changes in the magnet accompanying the rotation of the rotating member and detects the rotation angle of the rotating member; a case member which rotatably holds the interlocking member and the rotating member; and a magnetic shielding member made of a magnetic material and positioned around the magnet and detection means to block external magnetic fields, wherein the amount of operation of the operating means is detected based on the rotation angle of the rotating member detected by the detection means and a drive source of a vehicle is controlled, wherein the magnetic shielding member has a cylindrical side part with both ends open and surrounding the sides of the magnet and detection means, and a plate-shaped bottom part which closes at least one open end of the side part.

2. A throttle device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the case member comprises a first accommodating portion in which the interlocking member is rotatably mounted, a second accommodating portion in which the rotating member is rotatably mounted, and a third accommodating portion in which the detection means is mounted, and an insertion portion is formed at a lateral position of the third accommodating portion into which a side part of the magnetic shielding member can be inserted.

3. A throttle device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the case member has a fourth accommodating section formed continuous with the third accommodating section, a board on which the detection means is formed is attached across the third accommodating section and the fourth accommodating section, and a connection terminal is formed on the portion of the board located in the fourth accommodating section.

4. A throttle device as described in claim 3, characterized in that the side part of the magnetic shielding member is made of a tubular member with a notch formed in part of the side, and when inserted into the insertion portion, the notch is located at the boundary between the third accommodating portion and the fourth accommodating portion.

5. A throttle device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the rotating member is composed of a gear portion having a gear that meshes with a gear formed on the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion extending cylindrically from the gear portion, and the magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion.

6. The throttle device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member attached to said case member to cover said interlocking member and said rotating member, said cover member being made of a magnetic material.

7. A throttle device as described in claim 1, comprising: a cover member attached to said case member to cover said interlocking member and said rotating member; and a backlash spring which applies a biasing force in the rotational direction of said rotating member to reduce backlash between said interlocking member and said rotating member, said backlash spring comprising a torsion spring attached to said rotating member, one end of which is engaged with said rotating member and the other end of which extends to the outside of said cover member and is engaged while being subjected to a torsional action.

8. A throttle device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: an arc-shaped cutout portion formed in said cover member for allowing movement of the other end of said backlash spring when a torsion action is applied to said other end; and a locking member attached to the outside of said cover member for moving the other end of said backlash spring to apply a torsion action and for locking the other end of said backlash spring to which a torsion action has been applied.

9. A throttle device as described in claim 8, characterized in that the locking member is fixed in a state in which it applies a spring force to the backlash spring by rotating about an axial member which is the rotation axis of the rotating member while locking the other end of the backlash spring.

10. A throttle device as described in claim 7, characterized in that the rotating member is configured to have a gear portion having a gear that meshes with a gear formed on the interlocking member, and a cylindrical portion extending cylindrically from the gear portion, the magnet is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion, and a spring mounting recess for accommodating the backlash spring is formed from the side of the gear portion toward the cylindrical portion.

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