Throttle valve position-detecting device for a vehicle engine

Abstract

The throttle valve position detecting device includes a metal fitting having a projection. This fitting is fixed to a throttle shaft, and a throttle position sensor is provided for detecting the position of a throttle valve by detecting the rotary position of the projection. The throttle position sensor includes a rotary shaft having the same rotary axis as the throttle shaft, a rotary element fixed to the rotary shaft and engaged with the projection of the metal fitting to be rotated thereby, a coil spring to press the rotary element against the projection, and a detecting circuit for electrically detecting the position of the throttle valve from rotation of the rotary shaft. The throttle shaft is supported relative to a throttle body through a bearing. Clearance between the throttle shaft and the bearing permits the throttle shaft to move while the automotive engine is idling. The positions of the metal fitting and the rotary element are such that the crossing angle of the moving direction of the throttle shaft due to the clearance and the rotary power transmitting direction of the projection to the rotary element during the engine idling condition is 90 degrees. Therefore, as the rotary element does not move at all even if the throttle shaft moves due to the clearance, the throttle position sensor can produce a proper electric signal during the engine idling condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.