Throttle control system and throttle control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12110834-B2
Application number	US-202218069480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2022
Priority date	Jan 28, 2022
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

A throttle control system includes a throttle device and a controller that controls the throttle device. The controller executes a driving process of driving the electric motor such that a target angular position of the specific gear continues to increase beyond or decrease below the initial position. The controller executes a determination process of determining that wear has occurred in the gear mechanism based on that a non-rotation time in which the angular position detected by the rotation sensor does not change during execution of the drive process being greater than or equal to a predetermined specified time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A throttle control system comprising:
a throttle device; and
a controller configured to control the throttle device, wherein,
the throttle device includes:
an electric motor including a drive shaft;
a gear mechanism including a plurality of gears and configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft;
a driven shaft configured to be rotated by the gear mechanism;
a throttle valve configured to be selectively opened and closed by rotation of the driven shaft;
a rotation sensor configured to obtain an angular position of a specific gear that is one of the gears; and
a spring mechanism configured to urge the specific gear such that the angular position agrees with a predetermined initial position when receiving no torque from the electric motor or the driven shaft,
the controller is configured to execute
a driving process of driving the electric motor such that a target angular position of the specific gear continues to increase beyond or decrease below the initial position; and
a determination process of determining that wear has occurred in the gear mechanism based on that a non-rotation time in which the angular position detected by the rotation sensor does not change during execution of the driving process is greater than or equal to a predetermined specified time.

2. The throttle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the specific gear is a gear that rotates integrally with the driven shaft.

3. The throttle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
among the gears, one or more gears selected from the specific gear and a gear existing between the specific gear and the electric motor on a transmission path of torque from the electric motor to the driven shaft are made of a plastic.

4. The throttle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to further execute an alarm process of outputting an alarm signal when the controller determines in the determination process that wear has occurred in the gear mechanism.

5. The throttle control system according to claim 1 , wherein,
the controller stores values of the non-rotation time that correspond to a predetermined number of consecutive cycles in order from a latest one, and
the determination process includes determining that wear has occurred in the gear mechanism based on an average of the stored values of the non-rotation time corresponding to the multiple cycles being longer than or equal to the specified time.

6. A method of controlling a throttle device,
the throttle device including
an electric motor having a drive shaft;
a gear mechanism including a plurality of gears and configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft;
a driven shaft that is rotated by the gear mechanism;
a throttle valve configured to be selectively opened and closed by rotation of the driven shaft;
a rotation sensor configured to acquire an angular position of a specific gear that is one of the gears; and
a spring mechanism configured to urge the specific gear such that the angular position agrees with a predetermined initial position when receiving no torque from the electric motor or the driven shaft,
the method comprising:
executing a driving process of driving the electric motor such that a target angular position of the specific gear continues to increase beyond or decrease below the initial position; and
determining that wear has occurred in the gear mechanism based on that a non-rotation time in which the angular position detected by the rotation sensor does not change during execution of the driving process is greater than or equal to a predetermined specified time.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fujitani Hiroshi

Classifications

• F16K37/0083

  by measuring valve parameters · CPC title

• F16K31/047

  characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means (F16K31/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D2041/228

  Warning displays · CPC title

• F02D9/1065

  Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like · CPC title

• F02D9/105

  having a throttle position sensor (detection of actuation F02D11/106) · CPC title