Throttle valves having spherical shaped edges

Abstract

Throttles (10) may include a bore (1b) defined within a throttle body (1a). A longitudinal axis is defined within the bore and the bore serves as an air flow channel for the throttle. A throttle shaft (3) may extend across the air flow channel and may be rotatably supported by the throttle body about a rotational axis. A throttle valve (5) may be coupled to the throttle shaft and preferably opens and closes the air flow channel by rotating the throttle shaft and the throttle valve within the bore. The throttle valve may extend perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the bore when the throttle valve is disposed in a fully closed position with respect to the bore. A clearance (S) is defined between a peripheral edge (5a) of the throttle valve and an inner wall of the bore when the throttle valve is disposed in the fully closed position. The peripheral edge of the throttle valve end preferably defines a substantially spherical surface having a radius (R) of curvature with respect to the rotational axis. A stopper (2) may be disposed on the throttle body in a position outside of the air flow channel. Further, a lever (4) may be coupled to the throttle shaft. The lever may contact the stopper when the throttle valve is disposed in a fully closed position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.