Throttle assembly having deadband linkage

An outboard motor comprising:

• an engine mounted on a midsection attachable to a transom of a boat;
• a throttle body attached to the engine and having a passage therethrough:
• a throttle plate rotatably positioned in the passage;
• a throttle linkage in operable association with the throttle plate to rotate the throttle plate in the passage of the throttle body;
• an actuator positioned between the throttle linkage and the throttle plate such that the throttle plate is disengaged from operable association with the throttle linkage during a range of engine operation;
• a throttle plate shaft extending through the throttle body and having the throttle plate attached thereto;
• an input shaft extending from the actuator;
• and
• a throttle position sensor positioned to directly sense position of the actuator input shaft,
• the actuator having a cylindrical body having the input shaft extending from one end and a recess constructed in an opposite end to receive a portion of the throttle plate shaft therein,
• the input shaft of the actuator being directly coupled to the throttle position sensor such that rotation of the actuator results in a change to a throttle position sensor signal.

An engine control system comprising:

• a throttle linkage;
• a mechanical actuator connected to the throttle linkage;
• a throttle body having a first opening therein;
• a throttle plate positioned in the first opening of the throttle body and rotatable between a closed position and an open position, the throttle plate rotatably connected to the mechanical actuator such that the mechanical actuator is allowed to partially rotate relative to the throttle plate in response to an input from the throttle linkage;
• and
• an air intake bypass constructed to maintain flow of combustion air when the throttle plate is in the closed position,
• the air intake bypass being in a side of the throttle body opposite the one having the throttle plate therein.

A method of minimizing noise emitted from an intake of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• providing an air bypass in a location to minimize noise travel toward a user while providing sufficient air for a given range of engine operation, the air bypass having an opening open to atmosphere and directed in a direction different than that of a throttle plate;
• and
• allowing acceleration between an idle operation and a low speed operation without a corresponding change in throttle plate position,
• the low speed operation being determined when the engine transitions from a stratified combustion charge to a homogeneous combustion charge.

A throttle assembly of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a throttle body having an opening therethrough;
• a throttle plate positioned in the opening and constructed to control passage of combustion gas through the throttle body;
• and
• a mechanical actuator engaged with the throttle plate and having a deadband engagement therebetween whereby a portion of input motion to the mechanical actuator is not transmitted to the throttle plate;
• and
• a throttle position sensor associated with the mechanical actuator and capable of sensing movement of the mechanical actuator during the portion of input motion to the mechanical actuator which is not transmitted to the throttle plate.