Electronic throttle control assembly

An electronic throttle assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a) a housing mounted to the vehicle, the housing defining an interior;
• b) a first gear movably mounted in the interior wherein the first gear has a first end and a second end;
• c) a second gear in the interior and in contact with the first gear such that the first gear moves upon a rotation of the second gear;
• d) a first compression spring mounted in the interior and extending between the housing and the first end of the first gear;
• e) a second compression spring mounted in the interior and extending between the housing and the second end of the first gear, wherein the first and second compression springs act on the first gear and are retained within the housing such that the first and second compression springs are normally in a preloaded state against the first gear in an opposing orientation;
• and
• f) a grip coupled to the housing for rotation, wherein a rotation of the grip in a first direction rotates the second gear and, in turn, the first gear moves so that the first compression spring compresses further to provide haptic resistance to an operator, wherein the first gear includes a ridge extending into an interior channel of the first gear, the ridge having an inner width less than an outer width of the first compression spring to allow the first compression spring to act on the first gear until the first compression spring banks against the ridge.

An electronic throttle control assembly of a vehicle comprising:

• a) a housing defining an interior;
• b) a first gear movably mounted in the interior wherein the first gear has a first end and a second end;
• c) a second gear in the interior and in contact with the first gear such that the first gear moves in a linear or translational direction upon a rotation of the second gear;
• d) a sensor target coupled to the first gear for movement therewith;
• e) a sensor for generating an electric signal for a vehicle control unit based on a position of the sensor target;
• f) a first compression spring mounted in the interior of the housing and extending between the housing and the first end of the first gear;
• g) a second compression spring mounted in the interior and extending between the housing and the second end of the first gear;
• h) a rod mounted in the interior upon and extending partially into the first compression spring and second compression spring;
• i) a grip coupled to the second gear, wherein a rotation of the grip in a first direction simultaneously rotates the second gear and, in turn, moves the first gear and the sensor target in a linear or translational direction so that the electric signal varies based on change in position of the sensor target;
• and
• j) a spring stop coupled to the rod, wherein the first and second compression springs are separated by the spring stop and retained within the housing such that the first and second compression springs are normally in a preloaded state between the housing and one of the first gear or spring stop, wherein movement of the first gear causes the first gear to compress one of the first and second compression spring, so that the one of the first and second compression springs that is compressed provides haptic resistance to an operator.

An electronic throttle assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a) a housing mounted to the vehicle, the housing defining a first compartment and a second compartment;
• b) a first gear movably mounted in the first compartment, wherein the housing acts as a hard stop for movement of the first gear;
• c) a second gear movably mounted in the second compartment and in contact with the first gear such that the first gear moves upon movement of the second gear, wherein the second gear is moved by an operator;
• e) a first spring extending between the housing and the first gear, wherein the first spring acts on the first gear to provide a bias to a normal position;
• and
• f) a grip coupled to the second gear, wherein movement of the grip in a first direction by the operator moves the second gear and, in turn, the first gear moves so that the first spring provides haptic resistance to the operator.