Abstract: An automotive air control valve comprises a housing, the housing defining an air flow path, a blade pivotally mounted within the housing, the blade pivotable between a closed position, wherein the blade substantially blocks air flow through the housing, and an open position, wherein air can flow through the housing, an actuator adapted to selectively pivot the blade between the open and closed positions, a first stop that provides a positive stop for the blade when rotated to the open position, a second stop that provides a positive stop for the blade when rotated to the closed position; and an over-center cam mechanism, wherein the over-center cam mechanism is adapted to bias the blade in the open position when the blade has been pivoted to the open position, and to bias the blade in the closed position when the blade has been pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: An automotive air control valve comprises a housing, the housing defining an air flow path, a blade pivotally mounted within the housing, the blade pivotable between a closed position, wherein the blade substantially blocks air flow through the housing, and an open position, wherein air can flow through the housing, an actuator adapted to selectively pivot the blade between the open and closed positions, a first stop that provides a positive stop for the blade when rotated to the open position, a second stop that provides a positive stop for the blade when rotated to the closed position; and an over-center cam mechanism, wherein the over-center cam mechanism is adapted to bias the blade in the open position when the blade has been pivoted to the open position, and to bias the blade in the closed position when the blade has been pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention is a throttle body assembly which is adaptable for both gasoline and diesel applications, and may also be used for applications to meter fluid, such as for a water cooling valve. The throttle body assembly includes at least one bearing assembly and at least one seal which is used to configure the bearing assembly to withstand a high-pressure environment.

Abstract: An adapter assembly connected to a throttle body housing of an electronic throttle control assembly with a connecting feature. The adapter assembly of the present invention provides significantly lower cost assembly, and permits single side molding of the adapter assembly. The adapter assembly also includes alternative features for a captured seal or a void to contain excess thread sealer, and also permits a an anti-rotation feature, or locking tab, that is indexed to the receiving element, where the screw stop angle of the adapter assembly does not have to be controlled to provide a desired tab orientation.

Abstract: An excentric pin for an electronic throttle control assembly, which is used to adjust the default position of at least one spring used to control the position of a valve plate, where the valve plate is located in an opening of a housing in the electronic control assembly. The excentric pin is used to adjust the default angle of the valve plate to have an angular tolerance of +/?0.10°. The excentric pin is slideably pressed into an aperture of the housing of the electronic throttle control assembly, and turned using some type of driver. The electronic throttle control assembly may be a one-spring design, or a two-spring design, where the two-spring design requires only one spring pin and the excentric pin. Also, the excenter pin may be used to adjust the position of the sector gear, e.g., function as the lower mechanical stop to provide a minimum opening angle for low leakage, and a minimum opening angle to avoid throttle plate corking into opening of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is a throttle body assembly which is adaptable for both gasoline and diesel applications, and may also be used for applications to meter fluid, such as for a water cooling valve. The throttle body assembly includes at least one bearing assembly and at least one seal which is used to configure the bearing assembly to withstand a high-pressure environment.

Abstract: An excentric pin for an electronic throttle control assembly, which is used to adjust the default position of at least one spring used to control the position of a valve plate, where the valve plate is located in an opening of a housing in the electronic control assembly. The excentric pin is used to adjust the default angle of the valve plate to have an angular tolerance of +/?0.10°. The excentric pin is slideably pressed into an aperture of the housing of the electronic throttle control assembly, and turned using some type of driver. The electronic throttle control assembly may be a one-spring design, or a two-spring design, where the two-spring design requires only one spring pin and the excentric pin. Also, the excenter pin may be used to adjust the position of the sector gear, e.g., function as the lower mechanical stop to provide a minimum opening angle for low leakage, and a minimum opening angle to avoid throttle plate corking into opening of the housing.

Abstract: 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 includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear 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 pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear 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 pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, 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.

Abstract: An adapter assembly connected to a throttle body housing of an electronic throttle control assembly with a connecting feature. The adapter assembly of the present invention provides significantly lower cost assembly, and permits single side molding of the adapter assembly. The adapter assembly also includes alternative features for a captured seal or a void to contain excess thread sealer, and also permits a an anti-rotation feature, or locking tab, that is indexed to the receiving element, where the screw stop angle of the adapter assembly does not have to be controlled to provide a desired tab orientation.

Abstract: A throttle control assembly which includes a valve plate made of aluminum, where the valve plate has a brass coating to substantially reduce or eliminate the effects of thermal cycling, and the probability of the occurrence of micro-welding. In one embodiment, the brass coating is applied using an electroplating process.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear 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 pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A positon sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.

Abstract: 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 includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear 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 pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, 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.

Abstract: A vacuum assist system attaches to an intake line and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine having a throttle. The vacuum assist system includes a venturi valve, a reservoir, and a proportionally controlled valve. The proportionally controlled valve is movable between an open position and a closed position. The proportionally controlled valve moved to the open position when the throttle is in the partially open position such that air is flows from the inlet to the intake manifold, from the inlet to the venturi valve, from the venturi valve to the intake manifold, and from the reservoir to the venturi valve. The proportionally controlled valve moves to the closed position when the throttle is in the almost-closed position such that air flows from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line and from the reservoir to the intake manifold to reduce the pressure within the reservoir.

Abstract: A vacuum assist system attaches to an intake line and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine having a throttle. The vacuum assist system includes a venturi valve, a reservoir, and a proportionally controlled valve. The proportionally controlled valve is movable between an open position and a closed position. The proportionally controlled valve moved to the open position when the throttle is in the partially open position such that air is flows from the inlet to the intake manifold, from the inlet to the venturi valve, from the venturi valve to the intake manifold, and from the reservoir to the venturi valve. The proportionally controlled valve moves to the closed position when the throttle is in the almost-closed position such that air flows from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line and from the reservoir to the intake manifold to reduce the pressure within the reservoir.

Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes an intake manifold body defining an interior manifold cavity. The intake manifold further includes a throttle mount coupled to the intake manifold body and defining a mount passage in fluid communication with the interior manifold cavity. The throttle mount is configured to be coupled to a throttle assembly. The intake manifold assembly further includes a supplemental gas conduit including a first supplemental gas conduit portion coupled to the intake manifold body. The supplemental gas conduit further includes a second supplemental gas conduit portion in fluid communication with the first supplemental gas conduit portion. The second supplemental gas conduit portion is coupled to the throttle mount and is configured to deliver supplemental gases into the mount passage to mix the supplemental gases with intake air flowing through the mount passage.

Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes an intake manifold body defining an interior manifold cavity. The intake manifold further includes a throttle mount coupled to the intake manifold body and defining a mount passage in fluid communication with the interior manifold cavity. The throttle mount is configured to be coupled to a throttle assembly. The intake manifold assembly further includes a supplemental gas conduit including a first supplemental gas conduit portion coupled to the intake manifold body. The supplemental gas conduit further includes a second supplemental gas conduit portion in fluid communication with the first supplemental gas conduit portion. The second supplemental gas conduit portion is coupled to the throttle mount and is configured to deliver supplemental gases into the mount passage to mix the supplemental gases with intake air flowing through the mount passage.

Abstract: Throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensing assemblies and a method of integrating a throttle position sensor assembly with a throttle body assembly are described. The method comprises the steps of: i) press-fitting a sensor element onto a shaft of a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly; ii) engaging one or more inwardly extending members of the sensor element with one or more recessed portions formed on the shaft of the throttle plate; and iii) disposing an inductive rotary position sensor proximate the sensor element, wherein the press-fit engagement and one or more inwardly extending members limit axial and rotational movement of the sensor element with respect to the throttle plate, and wherein the inductive rotary position sensor detects a relative position of the sensor element for the purpose of ascertaining a position of the throttle plate.