Throttle apparatus for internal combustion engine

A throttle apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a body that forms an intake passage, which is communicated with the internal combustion engine;
• a valve that is rotatably received in the intake passage and is adapted to be driven to adjust an opening degree of the valve in the intake passage;
• means for urging the valve toward a predetermined intermediate position between a full close position and a full open position of the valve from both of a full close position side and a full open position side of the valve;
• an electric motor that is adapted to provide an output force upon energization thereof to drive the valve in a corresponding one of an opening direction and a closing direction of the valve against an urging force of the urging means;
• a plurality of output force transmission members that cooperate together to conduct the output force of the electric motor to the valve;
• a full close position limiting member that is adapted to be engaged with a predetermined one of the plurality of output force transmission members to limit further movement of the predetermined one of the plurality of output force transmission members when the valve is driven in the valve closing direction and reaches the full close position of the valve;
• and
• an intermediate position limiting member that is adapted to be engaged with the urging means when the valve is placed on a side of the predetermined intermediate position where the full close position of the valve is located, wherein:
• the full close position limiting member receives a full close side engaging force from the predetermined one of the output force transmission members when the predetermined one of the output force transmission members is engaged with the full close position limiting member;
• the intermediate position limiting member receives an intermediate reaction force from the urging means through the engagement with the urging means;
• the full close side engaging force, which is applied to the full close position limiting member, and the intermediate reaction force, which is applied to the intermediate position limiting member, are generally directed in a predetermined direction;
• the intermediate position limiting member is adapted to conduct the intermediate reaction force to the full close position limiting member, and the full close position limiting member is adapted to be deformed by the conducted intermediate reaction force generally in the predetermined direction;
• and
• a point of action of the full close side engaging force at the full close position limiting member is adapted to move generally in the predetermined direction upon the deformation of the full close position limiting member generally in the predetermined direction.