Universal Throttle Body Assembly for Engine Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle throttle body assemblies face challenges in accommodating various packaging configurations and adapting to both gasoline and diesel applications, as well as accommodating different engine orientations, which limits their flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A throttle body assembly with a housing, a rotatable shaft and throttle plate, a gear assembly driven by an electric motor, and a biasing structure to control air flow, along with a position sensor to monitor the throttle plate's position, allowing for adaptable and efficient control of air flow in both gasoline and diesel engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional throttle body assembly design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various packaging configurations and engine orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle body assembly is designed with a universal mounting system that can accommodate multiple packaging configurations and engine orientations (right-hand and left-hand configurations). The housing includes mounting flanges and attachment points that can be configured for different installation scenarios, allowing a single assembly design to serve multiple functions and applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The throttle plate is mounted on a rotatable shaft that can move between different angular positions to control air flow. The electric motor with gear assembly provides dynamic control capability, allowing the throttle plate to rotate and adjust the bore opening according to varying engine requirements, making the system adaptable to different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the throttle body assembly is designed for specific engine orientations, then the design is simplified, but it cannot accommodate both right-hand and left-hand configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with asymmetric mounting features that can accommodate both right-hand and left-hand engine configurations. The mounting flanges and attachment points are positioned to allow proper installation in either orientation, with the internal components arranged to function correctly regardless of which side the assembly is mounted on.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal housing design serves multiple engine orientation requirements. The mounting system incorporates features that enable the same assembly to be installed in both right-hand and left-hand configurations, eliminating the need for separate specialized designs for different orientations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate throttle body assemblies are used for gasoline and diesel applications, then each is optimized for its specific application, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle body assembly is designed as a universal unit that can be used with both gasoline and diesel engine applications. The basic structure, electric motor control, and throttle plate mechanism remain the same, while only minor components or mounting configurations may be adjusted to suit the specific fuel type requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly is divided into modular components where the core throttle control mechanism is standardized, and only specific sections or attachments need to be changed or configured differently for gasoline versus diesel applications. This segmentation allows the majority of the assembly to remain unchanged while adapting to different fuel types.
4Measurement precision
If the throttle plate is directly connected to the electric motor, then the control is simple, but the precision of throttle plate position control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A gear assembly is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the electric motor and the throttle plate shaft. The gear assembly includes a pinion gear driven by the motor that engages with a gear or rack on the shaft, providing mechanical advantage and precise control of the throttle plate position. This intermediate mechanism translates the motor's rotation into controlled angular movement of the throttle plate with improved positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A throttle position sensor is incorporated to provide feedback on the actual position of the throttle plate. The sensor monitors the shaft position and provides this information to the control system, enabling closed-loop control that ensures the throttle plate reaches and maintains the desired position with high precision, compensating for any variations or tolerances in the mechanical components.
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
The solution enables the throttle body assembly to accommodate diverse packaging configurations and engine orientations, ensuring efficient air flow control and adaptability to different fuel types, while minimizing component complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
Biasing structure is constructed and arranged to bias the gear assembly and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof
Implementation Method 2
When the motor is energized, rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias thereon, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position
Implementation Method 3
A throttle plate is disposed in the bore and is mounted on a shaft... controlling air flow into the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the gear assembly and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias biasing structure, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.