Throttle body assembly
View Patent ↗Improved throttle body assemblies are described. More particularly, throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensor assemblies are described. In one aspect, a throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine is described. The assembly comprises a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate. The throttle plate is actuatable by an electric motor. The assembly further comprises a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle plate. The throttle assembly further comprises an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing, wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
1. A throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine, the assembly comprising:
a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate, the throttle plate being actuatable by an electric motor;
a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle; and
an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing,
wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor plate, the throttle position sensor is electrically connected to the throttle body housing to provide continual dissipation of the residual electric charge, the throttle position sensor comprises an electric ground circuit for dispersing the residual electric charge of the throttle position sensor, the ground circuit comprising a lead frame that is electrically connected to the throttle body housing, the lead frame extends from the throttle position sensor, and the lead frame is electrically connected to a pin which provides rotational support to one or more gears of the throttle body assembly, the one or more gears of the throttle body being configured to transmit rotational driving force between the electric motor and the throttle plate.
2. The throttle body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lead frame is disposed in a recess configured to receive the pin.
3. The throttle body assembly of claim 2 , wherein lead frame acts as a spring to provide continual contact with the pin.
4. The throttle body assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pin is press-fit against the lead frame.
5. The throttle body assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electric discharge path is electrically disposed between a sensor processor of the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing.
6. The throttle body assembly of claim 5 , wherein the electric discharge path is electrically disposed between a sensor processor of the throttle position sensor and the pin.
7. The throttle body assembly of claim 6 , wherein the electric discharge path is disposed such that during discharge of residual electric charge substantially no additional current or voltage is encountered by a sensor board of the throttle position sensor assembly.
8. The throttle body assembly of claim 7 , wherein the electric discharge path is disposed on an opposite side of the throttle position sensor assembly than the sensor board.
9. A throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine, the assembly comprising:
a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate, the throttle plate being actuatable by an electric motor;
a gear assembly transferring rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate, the gear assembly comprising an intermediate gear assembly configured to transfer rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate, the intermediate gear assembly being mounted to a pin;
a throttle position sensor assembly comprising a sensor element attached to a shaft of the throttle plate and a inductive rotary position sensor placed in inductive relationship with the sensor element, the throttle position sensor assembly being adapted to monitor the position of the sensor element; and
an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor assembly and the pin,
wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
10. The throttle body assembly of claim 9 , wherein the throttle position sensor comprises an electric ground circuit for dispersing the residual electric charge of the throttle position sensor, the ground circuit comprising a lead frame that extends from the throttle position sensor and is electrically connected to the pin.
11. The throttle body assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lead frame is disposed in a recess configured to receive and support the pin, the lead frame being under substantial continual pressure against the pin.
12. The throttle body assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electric discharge path is disposed on an opposite side of the throttle position sensor assembly than a sensor board such that during discharge of residual electric charge substantially no additional current or voltage is encountered by the sensor board.
13. A method of continual discharge of residual electric charge of a throttle position sensor of a throttle body assembly, comprising the steps of:
providing a throttle body assembly configured for aspirating an engine, the throttle body assembly comprising a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate, the throttle plate being actuatable by an electric motor, the throttle body assembly further comprising a gear assembly having an intermediate gear assembly to transfer rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate, the intermediate gear assembly being mounted to a pin;
providing a throttle position sensor assembly comprising a sensor element attached to a shaft of the throttle plate and a inductive rotary position sensor placed in inductive relationship with the sensor element, the throttle position sensor assembly being adapted to monitor the position of the sensor element; and
electrically connecting the throttle position sensor to the pin of the intermediate gear assembly to form an electric discharge path,
wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the throttle position sensor comprises an electric ground circuit for dispersing the residual electric charge of the throttle position sensor, the ground circuit comprising a lead frame that extends from the throttle position sensor and is electrically connected to the pin.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lead frame is disposed in a recess configured to receive the pin, the lead frame being under substantial continual pressure against the pin.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electric discharge path is disposed on an opposite side of the throttle position sensor assembly than a sensor board such that during discharge of residual electric charge substantially no additional current or voltage is encountered by the sensor board.