Throttle Body Limiter Contour for Idle Air Flow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing throttle body technologies face challenges in precisely controlling air flow during the initial opening of the butterfly valve under idle or near idle conditions, leading to a noticeable jump in air intake and RPM, resulting in a non-optimized driving experience and reduced fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A throttle body assembly with a limiter that extends from the interior wall into the primary air passage, featuring a contour surface along the travel path of the valve plate's edge, reducing air flow during the initial movement from the closed to open position, allowing for more precise control of air intake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the butterfly valve opens slightly from closed position to idle condition, then air flow control is improved, but a noticeable jump in air intake and RPM occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The limiter is pre-positioned in the air passage to define a contour surface that the valve plate edge will follow during initial opening. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that as the valve plate begins to open, its edge is constrained to move along a predetermined path that limits air flow increase, preventing the sudden jump in air intake and RPM that would otherwise occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiter acts as an intermediary element between the valve plate and the air passage wall. It provides a contour surface that mediates the interaction between the opening valve plate and the air flow, creating a controlled transition zone that smooths the air intake increase during initial valve opening, thereby stabilizing RPM while maintaining control precision.
2Productivity
If the butterfly valve opens to increase air flow to the engine, then engine RPM increases, but fuel economy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The limiter creates a dynamic control mechanism where the effective air passage area changes non-linearly with valve plate opening angle. During initial opening, the contour surface constrains the expanding flow area, creating a more gradual and efficient air intake increase that better matches engine fuel injection timing and amount, thereby improving fuel economy while still achieving necessary RPM increases.
Data Source
AI summary
A throttle body assembly that includes a throttle body defining a primary air passage for an air intake system of an automobile. A valve is located in the primary air passage and is moveable along a travel path between a closed position, wherein an air flow through the primary air passage is blocked, and an open position, wherein the air flow can travel through the primary air passage. The open position includes a plurality of positions along a scale between a minimum amount of openness and a maximum amount of openness and a greater air flow rate corresponds to a larger amount of openness. A limiter is located in the primary air passage adjacent to the valve and reduces the relationship between openness and the corresponding flow rate for a portion of the travel path.