The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1998
Brent Alan Hall, Burton, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An air control valve for an engine includes a throttle body defining an air intake passage and a throttle valve rotatably mounted in the passage. The range of valve rotation includes an idle control portion extending from a minimum air flow position to an intermediate air flow position and a power control portion extending from the intermediate air flow position to a maximum air flow position. The intake passage is defined by an internal wall of the throttle body having a pair of arcuate surfaces spaced from the valve periphery, at a maximum first radius from the valve axis, with gradually increasing clearance on opposite sides of the valve axis in the idle control range from the minimum to the intermediate air flow position of the valve. The arcuate surfaces are defined by second and third radii greater than the maximum first radius and centered on second and third axes spaced laterally of the passage a predetermined offset distance beyond the valve axis relative to their respective surfaces. The offset dimensions are chosen to provide fine air flow resolution (gradually increasing air flow) during opening of the throttle valve in the idle control portion of its range with much greater air flow change in the power control portion. The arrangement allows control of the throttle valve with an electronic throttle control actuator with a limited number of control positions.