Throttle sensor

Abstract

A throttle value spindle ( 3 ) is rotatably fixed to a throttle body ( 1 ). A recess is provided within the throttle body at one side of the throttle value spindle along the axial direction of the throttle valve spindle. A holder ( 6 ) is fixed to the throttle valve spindle within the recess and has brushes ( 7 ) at the opposite side of the throttle valve spindle, which rotates together with the throttle valve spindle. Resistors ( 12 ) are mounted on a ceramics circuit board ( 8 ) fixed on a housing ( 12 ). The housing engages with the recess in such a manner that the resistors contact with the brushes. When the brushes slide on the resistors corresponding to the rotation of the throttle value spindle, an electric signal is outputted continuously from the resistors.

1. A contact type throttle sensor for detecting a rotational angle of a throttle valve spindle rotatably mounted in a throttle body of an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a holder fixed to one end of said throttle valve spindle and having a brush which rotates along a predetermined path together with said throttle valve spindle;  
 a circuit board having a resistor mounted thereon for contact with said brush and which is positioned perpendicular to the axial direction of said throttle valve spindle; and  
 a housing holding said circuit board and being furnished with a lead frame and a connector for relaying an electric signal of said resistor, said housing being detachably fixed to said throttle body;  
 wherein said housing further comprises means for adjusting a position of said brush with respect to the resistor.  
 
     
     
       2. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein a first surface of said holder is adjacent to said throttle body, said brush being located on a second surface of the holder facing in a direction opposite to said first surface. 
     
     
       3. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 2 , wherein said brushes are located adjacent to a rim of said holder. 
     
     
       4. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder is located within a recess of said throttle body, and said circuit board is fixed to said housing which engages in said recess said recess and said housing being dimensional, whereby said brushes hold a predetermined contact pressure with said resistor when said housing is engaged in said recess. 
     
     
       5. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing forms a unitary structure with said circuit board, said lead frame and said connector. 
     
     
       6. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting means comprises adjustment slots for finely adjusting the position of said housing on said throttle body to produce an initial value of the electric signal corresponding to the rotational angle of the throttle valve spindle. 
     
     
       7. A contact type throttle sensor as in  claim 6  wherein said at least two adjustment slots comprise unloaded holes. 
     
     
       8. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said resistors comprises electrically conductive plastic. 
     
     
       9. A contact type throttle sensor as in  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting means moves said resistor either up or down with respect to said brush. 
     
     
       10. A contact type throttle sensor as in  claim 1 , wherein said circuit board is ceramic. 
     
     
       11. A contact type throttle sensor for detecting a rotational angle of a throttle valve spindle rotatably mounted in a throttle body of an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a holder being fixed to one end of said throttle valve spindle and having a plurality of brushes which rotate along a predetermined path together with said throttle valve spindle;  
 a circuit board having a plurality of resistors mounted thereon for contact with said plurality of brushes and located on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said throttle valve spindle; and  
 a housing holding said circuit board and having a lead frame and a connector for transmitting an electric signal of said resistors, said housing being detachably fixed to said throttle body;  
   wherein said housing forms a unitary structure with said connector.   
 
     
     
       12. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 11 , wherein said housing further forms a unitary structure with at least one of said lead frame and said circuit board. 
     
     
       13. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 11 , wherein said housing is sealed with respect to said throttle body by a sealing member. 
     
     
       14. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 13 , wherein said sealing member is an O- ring seal.   
     
     
       15. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 13 , wherein said lead frame enables electrical connection between at least one of said plurality of resistors of said circuit board and said connector, and said lead frame extends beyond said sealing member. 
     
     
       16. A contact type throttle sensor for detecting a rotational angle of a throttle valve spindle rotatably mounted in a throttle body of an internal combustion engine comprising:
   a holder being fixed to one end of said throttle valve spindle and having a plurality of brushes which rotate along a predetermined path together with said throttle valve spindle;        a circuit board having a plurality of resistors mounted thereon for contact with said plurality of brushes and located on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said throttle valve spindle; and        a housing holding said circuit board and having a lead frame and a connector for transmitting an electric signal of said resistors, said housing being detachably fixed to said throttle body;        wherein said housing is sealed with respect to said throttle body by a sealing member.     
     
     
       17. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 16 , wherein said sealing member is an O- ring seal.   
     
     
       18. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 16 , wherein said housing forms a unitary structure with said connector. 
     
     
       19. A contact type throttle sensor according to  claim 16 , wherein said lead frame enables electrical connection between at least one of said plurality of resistors of said circuit board and said connector, and said lead frame extends beyond said sealing member.