Throttle valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine and motor cycle provided therewith

Abstract

Proposed is a throttle valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine, with a housing and an intake pipe comprising a through-flow cross section and a throttle valve that is pivotable relative to the through-flow cross section, which is actuatable by means of a throttle valve shaft and with an actuating device arranged on the housing, by means of which the throttle valve can be releasably fixed in a cold starting position in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

Claims

1. A throttle valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing; and an intake pipe, the intake pipe comprising: a through-flow cross section and a throttle valve that is pivotable relative to the through-flow cross section, which is actuatable by means of a throttle valve shaft, characterized by an actuating device arranged on the housing, by means of which the throttle valve is releasably fixable in a cold starting position in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

2. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the throttle valve shaft is actuatable in opening direction of the throttle valve by means of at least one control cable and the control cable is arranged operationally connected with a control cable drum arranged in the housing, the control cable drum being coupled to the throttle valve shaft.

3. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the throttle valve shaft is actuatable in closing direction of the throttle valve by means of at least one control cable and the control cable is arranged operationally connected with a control cable drum arranged in the housing, the control cable drum being coupled to the throttle valve shaft.

4. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device is designed for manual actuation for bringing about the cold starting position of the throttle valve which at least partially opens the through-flow cross section and for cancelling this position.

5. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device is designed for cancelling the cold starting position of the throttle valve in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened by means of actuation by a control cable.

6. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device can be brought, by means of a control cable actuating the throttle valve in closing direction, from the actuated cold starting position of the throttle valve in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened into a position of the throttle valve that is unactuated by the actuating device.

7. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device comprises a spring device and an actuating pin which is axially shiftable against the effect of the spring device, which can be brought to lie against a stop formed on the control cable drum in such a manner that the throttle valve is pivotable by a predetermined angle of rotation for bringing about an actuated cold starting position of the throttle valve in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

8. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device comprises engagement means, which releasably fix the actuating device in the actuated cold starting position of the throttle valve in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

9. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the actuating device comprises a sleeve-shaped body formed with an internal recess, which is designed for receiving the actuating pin and the actuating pin is arranged along a holder formed along a first section running alongside designed with an internal recess.

10. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the actuating device comprises a sleeve-shaped body formed with an internal recess, which is designed for receiving the actuating pin and the actuating pin is arranged along a holder formed along a first section running alongside designed with an internal recess.

11. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the holder is axially shiftably received in the internal recess of the sleeve-shaped body relative to the same and on the outer circumference comprises an indentation, which can be brought into releasable engagement with a bulge formed on the inner circumference of the sleeve-shaped body for bringing about an engagement position of the actuating device.

12. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the holder is axially shiftably received in the internal recess of the sleeve-shaped body relative to the same and on the outer circumference comprises an indentation, which can be brought into releasable engagement with a bulge formed on the inner circumference of the sleeve-shaped body for bringing about an engagement position of the actuating device.

13. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the actuating pin in the region of an end section facing an actuating knob comprises a thread section, along which the actuating pin is rotatable and axially shiftable relative to the holder which is provided with a corresponding thread section in such a manner that an end section projecting out of a housing section of the actuating device, which can be brought to lie against the stop of the control cable drum, is variable with respect to the projecting length of the end section.

14. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating pin comprises a section which along the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin tapers in the direction of the housing, which interacts with a protrusion formed on the internal recess of the holder in such a manner that a holding force between the tapering section and the protrusion is variable.

15. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that on the tapering section on the region of the actuating pin facing away from the housing a shoulder is formed, behind which the protrusion of the holder can engage.

16. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first control cable for actuating the throttle valve in opening direction and a second control cable for actuating the throttle valve in closing direction and an accelerator twist grip coupled to both control cables, wherein actuation of the accelerator twist grip in the direction of the closing direction of the throttle valve applies a return force on the actuating device which leads to a cancellation of the cold starting position of the throttle valve.

17. An internal combustion engine with a throttle valve apparatus, the throttle valve apparatus comprising: a housing; and an intake pipe, the intake pipe comprising: a through-flow cross section and a throttle valve that is pivotable relative to the through-flow cross section, which is actuatable by means of a throttle valve shaft, characterized by an actuating device arranged on the housing, by means of which the throttle valve can be releasably fixed in a cold starting position in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

18. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the throttle valve shaft is actuatable in opening direction of the throttle valve by means of at least one control cable and the control cable is arranged operationally connected with a control cable drum arranged in the housing, which is coupled to the throttle valve shaft.

19. The throttle valve apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the throttle valve shaft is actuatable in closing direction of the throttle valve by means of at least one control cable and the control cable is arranged operationally connected with a control cable drum arranged in the housing, which is coupled to the throttle valve shaft.

20. A motor cycle with a rider's saddle and an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having a throttle valve apparatus comprising: a housing; and an intake pipe, the intake pipe comprising: a through-flow cross section and a throttle valve that is pivotable relative to the through-flow cross section, which is actuatable by means of a throttle valve shaft, characterized by an actuating device arranged on the housing, by means of which the throttle valve can be releasably fixed in a cold starting position in which the through-flow cross section is at least partially opened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with the help of the drawing. The drawing shows in:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a lateral view of a throttle valve apparatus according to an embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an unactuated position of the sectionally represented actuating device;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1, in which the actuating device has been actuated and the throttle valve is in the cold starting position;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1, in which the throttle valve is completely opened;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the actuating device in the unactuated state;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the actuating device in the actuated state;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a representation of an actuating device according to a modified embodiment;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a control cable drum of the throttle valve apparatus;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of an accelerator twist grip of a motor cycle provided with the throttle valve apparatus according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view from the front of the accelerator twist grip according to FIG. 8, which shows the section of the accelerator twist grip on which control cables for actuating the throttle valve can be hooked in, namely in a position which corresponds to the idle speed position of the throttle valve with internal combustion engine at operating temperature;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a representation similar to FIG. 9, which shows the angle of rotation position with actuated actuating device;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic lateral view of a motor cycle with the throttle valve apparatus according to the invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged representation of the detail A from FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a lateral view of an embodiment of a throttle valve apparatus 1 with an actuating device 2 shown in sectional view in unactuated position.

(15) The throttle valve apparatus 1 comprises a housing 3, which is arranged for receiving a control cable drum 4 shown in more detail with the help of FIG. 7 of the drawing and which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing without side cover, so that a view of the control cable drum 4 schematically shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is possible.

(16) The control cable drum 4 is non-positively connected with the throttle valve 6 via a throttle valve shaft 5 so that a relative rotation of the control cable drum 4 via the throttle valve shaft 5 can be transmitted to the throttle valve 6 namely for opening and for closing the throttle valve 6, that is for enlarging and reducing a throttle gap formed between the throttle valve 6 and an intake pipe 7 of an internal combustion engine 8 schematically shown with the help of FIG. 11.

(17) In FIG. 1, the throttle valve 6 is shown in a position which shows the idle speed position of the internal combustion engine 8 at operating temperature. As is easily evident, the throttle valve 6 is shown slightly sloping to the left, i.e. has an opening angle relative to the vertical of approximately 1 to 3 degrees, so that the internal combustion engine 8 can be supplied with an air-fuel mixture that is adequate for idle speed operation. This position corresponds to the idle speed operating position with the internal combustion engine at operating temperature.

(18) Two control cable receptacles 9, 10 for control cables 19, 20 which are schematically shown in FIG. 1 are formed on the control cable drum 4, wherein the receptacles 9 are provided for receiving a control cable ferrule of a control cable 19 for opening the throttle valve 6 and the receptacle 10 for receiving a control cable ferrule of a control cable 20 for closing the throttle valve 6. The opening movement of the throttle valve 6 in this case takes place in the direction of the arrow 11, while the closing movement of the throttle valve 6 takes place in the direction of the arrow 12 according to FIG. 1.

(19) The control cable 19 for opening the throttle valve 6 in this case enters the housing 3 via an opening 13 of the housing 3 and the control cable 20 for closing the throttle valve 6 enters the housing 3 via an opening 14.

(20) FIG. 7 shows the control cable drum 4 in a perspective view. The control cable drum 4 comprises a recess 15 for receiving the throttle valve shaft 5 and comprises the control cable receptacles 9, 10 already shown and explained in connection with FIG. 1 of the drawing. The control cables can be hooked into the receptacles 9, 10 with the respective control cable ferrules or the control cable ends and then run in the control cable grooves 16, 17 which are evident by way of FIG. 7 of the drawing and exit the housing 3 via the openings 13, 14 and continue further in the direction of the accelerator twist grip 19 shown by way of FIG. 8 of the drawing, as is the case by way of the opening control cable 19 schematically shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing and the closing control cable 20 that is likewise schematically shown.

(21) The control cables 19, 20 via control cable ends can then be hooked into control cable receptacles 21, 22 suitably formed on the accelerator twist grip 18, which are evident by way of FIGS. 9, 10 of the drawing.

(22) As is shown by way of FIG. 7 of the drawing, a stop 23 is formed on the control cable drum 4 which is designed in the shape of a disc, which is provided for contacting by an engagement section 24 of an actuating pin 25 of the actuating device 2.

(23) In the idle speed position of the throttle valve 6 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the engagement section 24 is arranged spaced from the stop 23, in other words the engagement section 24 does not lie against the stop 23.

(24) By contrast, with the engagement position of the engagement section 24 with the stop 23 shown in FIG. 2, there is contact between the engagement section 24 and the stop 23, which results in that the throttle valve 6 was rotated in the direction of the arrow 11 and the throttle valve 6 is therefore in the cold starting position, in which the throttle gap compared with the throttle gap in the idle speed operating position of the engine at operating temperature is enlarged, which in turn results in that the started engine receives a larger quantity of air-fuel mixture than is the case in the position of the throttle valve 6 according to FIG. 1 of the drawing.

(25) In FIG. 3 of the drawing, in turn, the stop 23 is out of engagement with the engagement section 24 of the actuating pin 25, since this shows a position of the throttle valve 6 when it is in the position in which it is completely opened by the driver of the vehicle, in other words the driver desires the position of the throttle valve 6 corresponding to full load.

(26) In the following, the actuating device 2 is now described in more detail with the help of FIG. 4 of the drawing.

(27) The actuating device 2 has an overall elongated configuration with an actuating knob 26, which is provided for manual operation by a hand of the driver of the motor cycle according to FIG. 11 of the drawing.

(28) The actuating knob comprises a recess 28, in which an engagement section 29 of the holder 27 can be introduced, for example in the form of a fit similar to a press fit.

(29) The holder 27 likewise has an elongated configuration and comprises an internal recess 30, into which the elongated actuating pin 25 can be introduced. On a first section 31 of the actuating pin 25, the same is provided with an external thread section 32, via which the actuating pin 25 can be screwed into a corresponding section with an internal thread section 33 of the holder 27. By way of the thread, the clear distance 34 (FIG. 4) can be adjusted and thus the distance between the engagement section 24 of the actuating pin 25 and the stop 23 of the control cable drum 4 in the unactuated state of the actuating device 2.

(30) With the thread, it is therefore possible to advantageously react to the cold starting behaviour of different internal combustion engines in such a manner that the clear distance 34 is enlarged for example, as a result of which the distance between the stop 23 and the engagement section 24 is reduced and axial shifting of the actuating pin 25 for bringing about the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 then ensures a larger throttle gap than with smaller clear distance 34 and the internal combustion engine is then fed a larger quantity of air-fuel mixture for the cold starting operation. In a similar manner, the distance 34 can also be reduced, as a result of which the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 is then associated with a smaller throttle gap in the intake pipe 7.

(31) To bring about the actuated position of the actuating device 2 shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing, which leads to a cold starting position of the throttle valve 6, the actuating pin 25 is axially shifted by the user of the vehicle against the action of the spring device designed as coil compression spring 35 with the help of the actuating knob 26 which results in that the actuating device 2 assumes the position shown in FIG. 2. The axial shifting of the actuating knob 26 and thus of the actuating pin 25 also results in that the holder 27 is axially shifted relative to a sleeve-shaped body 36, which is provided with an internal recess 37, as a result of which at the same time an engagement position of the actuating device 2 is brought about.

(32) As is easily evident by way of FIG. 4 of the drawing, the sleeve-shaped body 36 is axially fixed on a housing section 39 of the actuating device 2 via a locking ring 38. The body 36 is provided on the internal recess 37 with a bulge 40, which in the unactuated state of the actuating device 2 is arranged in an indentation 41 on the outer circumference of the holder 27 and an engagement position in the unactuated position of the actuating device 2 can thus be established. The indentation 41 and bulge 40 form engagement means 55, which are provided for maintaining the actuated position of the actuating device.

(33) To bring about an engagement position in the actuated state of the actuating device 2, the actuating pin 25 is axially shifted against the effect of the coil compression spring 35, so that a bulge 42 on the outer circumference of the holder 27 is shifted over the bulge 40 of the sleeve-shaped body 36 and the bulge 42 is pressed against the bulge 40 by means of the now preloaded coil compression spring 35 and an engagement position in the actuated state of the actuating device 2 and thus in the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 is thus brought about.

(34) As is easily evident by way of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 of the drawing, the projecting length B1 of the engagement section of the actuating pin 25 in the unactuated position differs from the projecting length B2 of the actuating pin in the actuated position. The change of the projecting length of the engagement section 24 at the transition from the unactuated to the actuated position of the actuating device 2 determines the angle of rotation amount running in the direction of the arrow 11 and thus the quantity of the change of the throttle gap in the intake pipe 7 and adaptation to the starting behaviour of different internal combustion engines is thus achieved.

(35) The actuating device 2 supports itself via a collar 43 on a flange 44 of the housing 2 and in the region of the projecting engagement section 24 comprises a cap 45, which in the region of the upper circumference comprises a shoulder 46, which with a greatest projecting length B2 comes into engagement with a corresponding shoulder 47 formed on the actuating pin 25 in order to avoid further projecting of the engagement section 24.

(36) FIG. 6 of the drawing shows an alternative embodiment of an actuating device 2a, which differs from the actuating device 2 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 substantially in that the actuating pin 48 has a section 49 tapering in the direction of the housing 4, which interacts with a protrusion formed on the internal recess 50 of the modified holder 51 in such a manner that a holding force is formed between the tapering section 49 and the protrusion 52.

(37) The holding force rises with the amount of the shifting movement of the actuating pin 48 in the direction of the arrow A (see FIG. 6) and signals to the driver of the vehicle with increasing holding force that upon a further shifting movement of the actuating pin 25 in the direction of the arrow A a shoulder 53 formed on the actuating pin is reached, behind which the protrusion 52 of the holder 51 can engage in order to achieve an engagement position of the modified actuating device 2a.

(38) FIG. 8 of the drawing shows a top view of an accelerator twist grip of the motor cycle shown in FIG. 11 of the drawing.

(39) The control cables 19, 20 enter the housing 56 via the guide 54 of the accelerator twist grip 18 where they can be releasably fixed on a control cable disc 57, which is designed similar to the control cable drum 4, namely in such a manner that the control cable ends or control cable ferrules facing the accelerator twist grip 18 are introduced into the control cable receptacles 21, 22 and fixed there.

(40) The control cable receptacle 21 in this case serves to receive the control cable end of the opening control cable 19 while the control cable receptacle 22 serves for receiving the control cable end of the closing control cable 20.

(41) FIG. 9 of the drawing shows the accelerator twist grip 18 in the idle speed position of the internal combustion engine in the state at operating temperature, i.e. the position corresponding to FIG. 1, while FIG. 10 shows the position of the accelerator twist grip 18, which corresponds to the position of the throttle valve 6 according to FIG. 2, i.e. the cold starting position.

(42) As is easily visible, the accelerator twist grip 18 according to FIG. 10 has been rotated approximately 5 degrees in the direction of the arrow 58, i.e. in the direction in which the accelerator twist grip 18 is twisted corresponding to the opening direction of the throttle valve 6.

(43) This position of the accelerator twist grip 18 according to FIG. 10 materialises since at the transition from the unactuated position of the throttle valve apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 into the actuated position according to FIG. 2 the receptacle 10 for the closing control cable 20 performs a rotary movement corresponding to the arrow 59 according to FIG. 2 and the accelerator twist grip 18 thus follows the rotary movement of the control cable drum 4 and thus of the throttle valve 6.

(44) Once the internal combustion engine 8 which is not yet at operating temperature has been started specifically with the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 corresponding to FIG. 2, the driver of the motor cycle can perform his driving operations with the motor cycle that are familiar to him via a suitable actuation of the accelerator twist grip 18 and for example in particular when the internal combustion engine 8 is in coasting mode, i.e. the accelerator twist grip 18 is closed, exert a pulling force on the closing control cable 20 designated by the arrow F via actuation of the accelerator twist grip in the direction of the arrow 60 according to FIG. 10, that is in the direction of the closing direction of the throttle valve 6.

(45) This pulling force results in that via the stop 23 of the control cable drum 4 a compressive force acting in the direction of the arrow 61 according to FIG. 2 is exerted on the actuating pin 25 which, supported by the spring force of the preloaded coil compression spring 37, lets the actuating device 2 jump back into its unactuated position namely from the engagement position of the actuating device shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing into the unactuated position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 is cancelled and the driver need not directly perform any manipulations on the actuating device 2 for this purpose but can perform this via the accelerator twist grip 18 by way of remote access.

(46) To illustrate why this is advantageous, reference is made to FIG. 11 of the drawing. The same shows a motor cycle 62 which is equipped with the throttle valve apparatus 1 according to the invention. For the sake of illustration, the internal combustion engine 8 as detail A is shown enlarged in order to be able to better explain the position of the throttle valve apparatus 1.

(47) As is easily visible, the actuating device 2 on the throttle valve apparatus 1 is arranged on the motor cycle 62 orientated downwards in direction, as a result of which it is achieved that in the case of a possible component defect of the actuating device 2 the throttle valve 6 cannot unintentionally assume its cold starting position and thus the throttle gap in the intake pipe 7 not unintentionally enlarged.

(48) The motor cycle 62 in the shown example is an off road sports motor cycle provided for competition purposes with a front wheel 63, a rear wheel 64, a rider's saddle 65, a fuel tank 66 and handle bars 67, on which the accelerator twist grip 18 shown by way of FIG. 8 is arranged.

(49) As is evident by way of FIG. 12 of the drawing, the driver of the motor cycle 62 can reach the throttle valve apparatus 1 arranged adjacent to the frame tube 68 and the actuating device 2 for activating the cold starting position arranged thereon even in particular when he already sits on the rider's saddle 65 and for activating the cold starting position merely has to slide the actuating knob 26 from his view in upward direction as a result of which the cold starting position is activated.

(50) Once the internal combustion engine 8 has been started, be it by means of an electrical starting device or by means of a kick starter, the internal combustion engine 8 immediately assumes a stable idle speed in the cold starting mode and the driver can directly drive away without having to bring the engine up to operating temperature while stationary, as has been usual in the field of off-road sports up to now. After a short time, the internal combustion engine has reached its operating temperature and the driver of the motor cycle actuates the accelerator twist grip 18 in the direction of the closing position of the throttle valve 6 as has already been explained above. Thus, the driver need no longer actuate the cold starting position by manually actuating the actuating device 2 directly on the throttle valve apparatus 1 but can deactivate the cold starting position of the throttle valve 6 via remote access by simply actuating the accelerator twist grip 18 against the opening direction of the throttle valve. This leads to a substantial gain in comfort for the driver even since with off road sports motor cycles, the exhaust pipe 69 emanating from the internal combustion engine 8 is often directly routed to the back at the height of the internal combustion engine, as is the case in the exhaust pipe 69 shown in FIG. 11 of the drawing in a stylised manner.

(51) With cold exhaust pipe, there is no problem for the driver of the motor cycle 62 in activating the actuating device 2 which is arranged directly next to the exhaust pipe 69 or adjacent to the exhaust manifold while deactivation through direct manipulation of the actuating device with hot exhaust pipe poses the risk of injury to the hand or the fingers of the driver. This problem is elegantly solved in that the driver of the vehicle can simply and securely deactivate the cold starting position of the throttle valve by actuating the accelerator twist grip in closing direction of the throttle valve.

(52) With respect to features of the invention which are not explained in more detail above, reference is otherwise expressly made to the patent claims and the drawing.

REFERENCE LIST

(53) 1 Throttle valve apparatus 2 Actuating device 3 Housing 4 Control cable drum 5 Throttle valve shaft 6 Throttle valve 7 Intake pipe 8 Internal combustion engine 9 Receptacle 10 Receptacle 11 Arrow opening movement 12 Arrow closing movement 13 Opening 14 Opening 15 Recess 16 Control cable groove 17 Control cable groove 18 Accelerator twist grip 19 Opening control cable 20 Closing control cable 21 Control cable receptacle 22 Control cable receptacle 23 Stop 24 Engagement section 25 Actuating pin 26 Actuating knob 27 Holder 28 Recess 29 Engagement section 30 Internal recess 31 First section 32 External thread section 33 Internal thread section 34 Clear distance 35 Coil compression spring 36 Sleeve-shaped body 37 Internal recess 38 Locking ring 39 Housing section 40 Bulge 41 Indentation 42 Bulge 43 Collar 44 Flange 45 Cap 46 Shoulder 47 Shoulder 48 Actuating pin 49 Tapering section 50 Internal recess of the holder 51 Holder 52 Protrusion 53 Shoulder 54 Guide 55 Engagement means 56 Housing 57 Control cable disc 58 Opening direction 59 Arrow 60 Arrow 61 Compressive force 62 Motor cycle 63 Front wheel 64 Rear wheel 65 Riders saddle 66 Fuel tank 67 Handle bar 68 Frame tube 69 Exhaust pipe