# US 8,783,225 B2 · Intake device for internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,225 B2 - Document ID: US8783225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/293,299 - Filed: 2011-11-10 - Published: 2012-08-02 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-28 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Hideki Hayashi - Inventors: Hideki Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783225B2 ## CPC - F02D 9/1065: {Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like} - F16K 1/221: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)} - F16K 31/043: {characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means} - F02B 31/06: Movable means, e.g. butterfly valves - 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) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) ## Abstract An intake device for an internal combustion engine includes a casing, a valve, a shaft, and an actuator. The casing defines an intake passage, and the valve is contained in the casing. The shaft supports the valve, and the actuator includes a motor, a speed reduction mechanism, and a transmission mechanism which transmits torque of the motor to the shaft from a gear of the speed reduction mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes first and second connection members which are connected to the gear and the shaft respectively, and an impact absorbing member held between the first and second connection members. The first and second connection members respectively include first and second protrusions, which are alternately arranged in a rotational direction of the transmission mechanism. The impact absorbing member includes compressive deformation parts which are deformable in the rotational direction and are respectively located between adjacent first and second protrusions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intake device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a casing defining an intake passage communicating with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; a valve rotatably contained in the casing to open or close the intake passage; a shaft supporting the valve; and an actuator including: a motor as a power source, a speed reduction mechanism which reduces a rotational rate of the motor and includes a worm gear fixed to a motor shaft of the motor, a helical gear meshing with the worm gear, and a spur gear disposed coaxially with the helical gear and an output gear meshing with the spur gear, and a transmission mechanism which transmits torque of the motor to the shaft from the output gear of the speed reduction mechanism, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a first connection member which is integrally and rotatably connected to the output gear, a second connection member which is integrally and rotatably connected to the shaft, and an impact absorbing member held between the first connection member and the second connection member, the first connection member includes a plurality of first protrusions, the second connection member includes a plurality of second protrusions, and the first protrusions and the second protrusions are alternately arranged in a rotational direction of the transmission mechanism, and the impact absorbing member includes a plurality of compressive deformation parts which are compressively deformable in the rotational direction of the transmission mechanism and are respectively inserted and located between the first and second protrusions that are adjacent to each other in the rotational direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing member is made only of an elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing member includes a connection part which connects two of the compressive deformation parts that are adjacent to each other in the rotational direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first protrusions slidably contacts with the second connection member, and at least one of the second protrusions slidably contacts with the first connection member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusions are arranged at predetermined intervals in a rotational direction of the first connection member, and the second protrusions are arranged at predetermined intervals in a rotational direction of the second connection member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first connection member includes a first facing part, and the second connection member includes a second facing part that is opposite to the first facing part such that there is a predetermined space therebetween, and the first protrusions project from the first facing part toward the second facing part, and the second protrusions project from the second facing part toward the first facing part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first connection member includes a cylindrical part defining a containing space containing the impact absorbing member, and the first protrusions project radially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the shaft includes an insertion part having a polygonal shape in a sectional surface perpendicular to a rotation axis direction of the shaft, and the second connection member defines a press-fitting hole having a polygonal shape in cross-section, into which the insertion part is press-fitted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the second connection member includes a pivot rotatably supporting the first connection member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the helical gear and the spur gear are rotatably supported by a circumferential surface of a gear shaft which is disposed perpendicular to an axial direction of the motor shaft, and the spur gear is directly connected to the helical gear. ### Claim 11 An intake device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a casing defining an intake passage communicating with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; a valve rotatably contained in the casing to open or close the intake passage; a shaft supporting the valve; an actuator including: a motor as a power source, a speed reduction mechanism which reduces a rotational rate of the motor and includes a worm gear fixed to a motor shaft of the motor, a helical gear meshing with the worm gear, a spur gear disposed coaxially with the helical gear and an output gear meshing with the spur gear, and a transmission mechanism which transmits torque of the motor to the shaft from the output gear of the speed reduction mechanism, wherein the transmission mechanism is configured to have the output gear, a rotation member of the shaft, and an impact absorbing member held between the output gear and the rotation member, the output gear includes a plurality of first protrusions, the rotation member includes a plurality of second protrusions, and the first protrusions and the second protrusions are alternately arranged in a rotational direction of the transmission mechanism, and the impact absorbing member includes a plurality of compressive deformation parts which are compressively deformable in the rotational direction of the transmission mechanism and are respectively inserted and located between the first and second protrusions that are adjacent to each other in the rotational direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the impact absorbing member is made only of an elastomer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the impact absorbing member includes a connection part which connects two of the compressive deformation parts that are adjacent to each other in the rotational direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first protrusions slidably contacts with the rotation member, and at least one of the second protrusions slidably contacts with the gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the first protrusions are arranged at predetermined intervals in a rotational direction of the gear, and the second protrusions are arranged at predetermined intervals in a rotational direction of the rotation member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the gear includes a first facing part, and the rotation member includes a second facing part that is opposite to the first facing part such that there is a predetermined space therebetween, and the first protrusions project from the first facing part toward the second facing part, and the second protrusions project from the second facing part toward the first facing part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the gear includes a cylindrical part defining a containing space containing the impact absorbing member, and the first protrusions project radially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the shaft includes an insertion part having a polygonal shape in a sectional surface perpendicular to a rotation axis direction of the shaft, and the rotation member defines a press-fitting hole having a polygonal shape in cross-section, into which the insertion part is press-fitted. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the rotation member includes a pivot rotatably supporting the gear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The intake device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the helical gear and the spur gear are rotatably supported by a circumferential surface of a gear shaft which is disposed perpendicular to an axial direction of the motor shaft, and the spur gear is directly connected to the helical gear.