Throttle Valve Stopper Geometry for Screwless Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing throttle devices face challenges in reducing size and production cost due to the need for screw-adjustable fully closed and default position defining mechanisms, which also require measures to prevent screw loss and ensure airtightness, making the design complex and difficult to adjust.
Innovation Solution
A throttle device design that eliminates screw-adjustable mechanisms by using a body-side and gear-side fully closed position stoppers, with a biasing member to set the throttle valve to an intermediate default position, allowing for adjustment of the angle between fully closed and default positions through cutting of specific contact surfaces on the throttle gear and body-side stopper, simplifying the adjustment process and reducing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If screw-adjustable fully closed position defining mechanism and default position defining mechanism are used, then position adjustment capability is improved, but device complexity increases and size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adjustment function from separate screws and integrates it into the stopper mechanism itself. The stopper has an adjustable contact surface that can be positioned at different angles relative to the gear, eliminating the need for separate adjustment screws while maintaining position adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fully closed position defining function and default position defining function into a single stopper component. The stopper simultaneously provides both position references through its different contact surfaces, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If screw-adjustable mechanisms are used, then position adjustment capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate adjustment screws and their associated mounting holes, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This directly reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving the adjustment capability through the integrated stopper design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If screw-adjustable mechanisms are used, then position adjustment capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to screw loss and airtightness issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates screws entirely from the position defining mechanism, removing the sources of potential failure such as screw loosening, falling out, or improper tightening. The screwless design inherently improves reliability while maintaining adjustability through the stopper's configurable contact surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If fully closed position defining arm is used, then fully closed position can be defined, but device size increases due to wide space requirement for arm rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rotating arm mechanism with a compact stopper component that achieves the same fully closed position definition function. The stopper eliminates the need for wide rotational space by using a fixed component with an adjustable contact surface instead of a moving arm that requires arc-shaped clearance.
5Ease of operation
If fully closed position defining arm is used, then fully closed position can be defined, but manufacturing complexity increases due to separate welding steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fully closed position defining arm and the default position defining arm into a single integrated stopper component. This merging eliminates the need for separate welding operations and assembly steps, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining both position definition functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies the adjustment of throttle valve positions, reduces device size, and eliminates the need for screw-based mechanisms, thereby lowering production costs and preventing screw loss, while ensuring airtightness and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring 108 that exerts a biasing force to the throttle gear 107, so that the throttle valve rotates toward a default position
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a throttle device includes setting an angle between a fully closed position and a default position to a predetermined angle by processing at least one of a gear-side fully closed position stopper on a throttle gear, a body-side fully closed position stopper on a throttle body, a default position defining member, a body-side engaging portion of the throttle body, or a gear-side engaging portion of the throttle gear.