# US 2008/0184958 A1 · Throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine, and engine incorporating same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0184958 A1 - Document ID: US20080184958A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/893,204 - Filed: 2007-08-15 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-26 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Junya Sato; Takashi Udono - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080184958A1 ## CPC - F02D 9/1095: {Rotating on a common axis, e.g. having a common shaft} - F02D 9/1065: {Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like} - F02D 11/105: {characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque} - F02D 41/0215: {in relation with elements of the transmission} - F02D 41/023: {in relation with the gear ratio shifting (conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19)} - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) ## Abstract A throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which allows the response of the engine to an operator's request to be improved while allowing the output characteristic of the engine to be controlled arbitrarily. The throttle management apparatus controls plural throttle valves provided for plural cylinders respectively. The throttle management apparatus includes an electric throttle management apparatus which electrically drives the throttle valves for some of the cylinders based on an electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle, and a mechanical throttle management apparatus which, through throttle activation member operation, mechanically drives the throttle valves for the rest of the cylinders. In an engine having a V type cylinder head configuration, the electric throttle management apparatus controls the throttle valves of one cylinder bank of the cylinder bank pair, while the mechanical throttle management apparatus controls the throttle valves of the other cylinder bank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, wherein the engine has a plurality of cylinders and each cylinder includes a throttle valve, and the vehicle includes a throttle activation member operatively connected to said throttle valves, wherein the throttle management apparatus controls the throttle valves, the throttle management apparatus comprising: a first throttle control device which electrically drives the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders based on an electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle; and a second throttle control device which mechanically drives the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders based on an amount of throttle activation member operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the selected operating conditions of the vehicle include at least one of throttle activation member position, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, and wheel slip ratio. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the second throttle control device is mechanically linked to the throttle activation member using a cable, such that when the throttle activation member is operated, movement of the throttle activation member is transmitted to the second throttle control device via the cable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first throttle control device comprises an actuator and a linkage which connects the actuator to the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders, and wherein the actuator drives the linkage to generate movement of the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders based on an electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the second throttle control device comprises: a drum linked via a cable to the throttle activation member such that operation of the throttle activation member results in a rotation of the drum; an actuator which provides a rotational output via an actuator output shaft based on the electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle; a transmission device operatively connected to both the drum and the actuator output shaft; and a linkage, which transmits movement from the transmission device to the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the transmission device receives rotational input from one of the drum and the actuator output shaft, and transmits movement to the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders via the linkage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the second throttle control device comprises a correction device that corrects the opening amount of the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders based on the electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein the engine further comprises a crankshaft, the plurality of cylinders are grouped into two banks, and axes of the respective banks are arranged to form a V shape, and an actuator of the first throttle control device and an actuator of the correction device are disposed in a V-shaped opening between the respective banks, and the actuator of the first throttle control device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a first bank of said two banks, and the second throttle control device having the correction device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a second bank of said two banks. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein the engine further comprises a crankshaft, the plurality of cylinders are grouped in banks, and axes of the respective banks are arranged to form a V shape, and an actuator of the first throttle control device and an actuator of the correction device are disposed in a V-shaped opening between the respective banks such that the actuators are longitudinally in parallel with a crankshaft while mutually overlapping as viewed in a vertical direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The throttle management apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of cylinders are grouped into two banks, and the actuator of the first throttle control device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a first bank of said two banks, and the second throttle control device having the correction device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a second bank of said two banks. ### Claim 10 A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, each including a throttle valve; a throttle activation member operatively connected to said throttle valves; and a throttle management apparatus which controls the throttle valves; wherein the throttle management apparatus comprises: a first throttle control device which electrically drives the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders based on an electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle; and a second throttle control device which mechanically drives the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders based on an amount of throttle activation member operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the selected operating conditions of the vehicle include at least one of throttle activation member position, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, and wheel slip ratio. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second throttle control device is mechanically linked to the throttle activation member using a flexible link, such that when the throttle activation member is operated, movement of the throttle activation member is transmitted to the second throttle control device via the flexible link. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the first throttle control device comprises an actuator and a linkage which connects the actuator to the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders, and wherein the actuator drives the linkage to generate movement of the throttle valves for some of the plurality of cylinders based on an electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second throttle control device comprises: a drum linked via a cable to the throttle activation member such that operation of the throttle activation member results in a rotation of the drum; an actuator which provides a rotational output via an actuator output shaft based on the electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle; a transmission device operatively connected to both the drum and the actuator output shaft; and a linkage, which transmits movement from the transmission device to the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the transmission device receives rotational input from one of the drum and the actuator output shaft, and transmits movement to the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders via the linkage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second throttle control device comprises a correction device that corrects the opening amount of the throttle valves for the rest of the plurality of cylinders based on the electric signal generated according to selected operating conditions of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the engine further comprises a crankshaft, the plurality of cylinders are grouped into two banks, and axes of the respective banks are arranged to form a V shape, and an actuator of the first throttle control device and an actuator of the correction device are disposed in a V-shaped opening between the respective banks, and the actuator of the first throttle control device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a first bank of said two banks, and the second throttle control device having the correction device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a second bank of said two banks. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the engine further comprises a crankshaft, the plurality of cylinders are grouped in banks, and axes of the respective banks are arranged to form a V shape, and an actuator of the first throttle control device and an actuator of the correction device are disposed in a V-shaped opening between the respective banks such that the actuators are longitudinally in parallel with a crankshaft while mutually overlapping as viewed in a vertical direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of cylinders are grouped into two banks, and the actuator of the first throttle control device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a first bank of said two banks, and the second throttle control device having the correction device drives the throttle valves for cylinders included in a second bank of said two banks.