Throttle actuator position verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441437-B2
Application number	US-202318517073-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Dec 2, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A throttle actuator includes a base, a carrier and a circuit board coupled between the base and the carrier. The circuit board has a first force sensor and a second force sensor. A spring plate is disposed between the carrier and the circuit board. The spring plate is adjacent to and extends between the first force sensor and the second force sensor. A cover is coupled to the base enclosing the carrier, the spring plate and the circuit board between the cover and the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A throttle actuator comprising:
a base;
a carrier;
a circuit board coupled between the base and the carrier, said circuit board comprising first force sensor and a second force sensor;
a spring plate disposed between the carrier and the circuit board, said spring plate configured to distribute force applied to the carrier to the first force sensor and the second force sensor; and
a cover coupled to the base enclosing the carrier, the spring plate and the circuit board between the cover and the base.

2. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises a recess for receiving the circuit board.

3. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 further comprising a heater coupled between the cover and the base.

4. The throttle actuator as in claim 3 wherein the heater is disposed adjacent to the carrier opposite the spring plate.

5. The throttle actuator as in claim 3 wherein the heater is flexible and comprises one of a resistive heater and a positive temperature coefficient heater.

6. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the carrier is flexible.

7. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the cover is flexible.

8. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a movement stop.

9. The throttle actuator as in claim 8 wherein the spring plate comprises a first pad and a second pad coupled thereto, said first pad and said second pad formed of compressible material.

10. The throttle actuator as in claim 9 wherein said first pad disposed adjacent to the first force sensor and said second pad disposed adjacent to the second force sensor.

11. The throttle actuator as in claim 9 wherein the movement stop extends from the carrier toward the base, wherein the stop engages a base surface when the carrier is compressed.

12. The throttle actuator as in claim 11 wherein the movement stop extends a first distance from the carrier, wherein the carrier comprises a spring deflector extending a second distance from the carrier, said second distance less than the first distance.

13. The throttle actuator as in claim 12 wherein the spring deflector comprises a first spring deflector and a second spring deflector disposed adjacent to the first pad and the second pad, respectively.

14. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the cover and the base comprises a seal disposed therein.

15. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic vent disposed therethrough, said vent coupled to a cavity between the cover and the base.

16. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a first wire, said first wire extending through the base through a first wire seal.

17. The throttle actuator as in claim 1 wherein heater comprises a second wire, said second wire extending through the base through a second wire seal.

18. A throttle verification system, comprising:
a throttle actuator as in claim 1 ; and
a module to receive a verification signal from the force sensor.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the module includes an engine control unit.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:
a throttle position sensor;
wherein the verification signal and a throttle position sensor signal are evaluated by the module.

21. A throttle actuator comprising:
a base;
a carrier;
a circuit board coupled between the base and the carrier, said circuit board comprising first force sensor and a second force sensor;
a spring plate disposed between the carrier and the circuit board, said spring plate adjacent to and extending between the first force sensor and the second force sensor;
a cover coupled to the base enclosing the carrier, the spring plate and the circuit board between the cover and the base; and
a heater coupled between the cover and the base.

22. A throttle actuator comprising:
a base;
a carrier;
a circuit board coupled between the base and the carrier, said circuit board comprising first force sensor and a second force sensor;
a spring plate disposed between the carrier and the circuit board, said spring plate adjacent to and extending between the first force sensor and the second force sensor; and
a cover coupled to the base enclosing the carrier, the spring plate and the circuit board between the cover and the base;
wherein the carrier comprises a movement stop.

23. A throttle actuator, comprising:
a throttle hand control configured to be coupled to a grip bar, the throttle hand control including a throttle lever, the throttle lever including:
a base;
a carrier;
a circuit board coupled between the base and the carrier, said circuit board comprising first force sensor and a second force sensor;
a spring plate disposed between the carrier and the circuit board, said spring plate adjacent to and extending between the first force sensor and the second force sensor; and
a cover coupled to the base enclosing the carrier, the spring plate and the circuit board between the cover and the base.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Tharaldson Joseph D
• Rhodes Trevor F
• Kern Peter
• Mickelson Joshua J
• Bentow Tyler
• Hedlund Michael A
• Mcconnell Craig
• Sanchez Luis Felipe
• Volk Scott Richard

Classifications

• B62K23/06 Primary

  Levers · CPC title

• B62M27/02 Primary

  power driven · CPC title