US3613520A

US3613520A - Throttle control valve assembly

Info

Publication number: US3613520A
Application number: US32317A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald A Worden
Original assignee: MOROTTA SCIENTIFIC CONTROLS
Current assignee: MOROTTA SCIENTIFIC CONTROLS; Morotta Scientific Controls Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-27
Filing date: 1970-04-27
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19

Abstract

This is mechanism for adjusting the pressure to be applied to actuate valve that is operate by movement of a rod. The rod is slidably received through a bore through a base member and extends through a sleeve that has one end threaded onto the base member. A coil spring around the portion of the rod within the sleeve has one end attached to a collar that is on the rod in a fixed position relative to the length of the rod and its other end loosely threaded onto a matingly threaded annular element fixed in the interior of the sleeve. Thus, screwing the annular element relatively into or out of the spring varies the spring rate, and screwing the sleeve relatively toward or away from the base varies the compression of the spring, for adjusting the amount of pressure that must be applied to move the rod.

Description

United States Patent.

Inventor Donald A. Worden Pompton Plains, NJ. Appl. No. 32,317 Filed Apr. 27, 1970 Patented Oct. 19, 197 1 Assignee Morotta Scientific Controls, Inc.

Boonton, NJ.

THROTTLE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

3,347,044 10/1967 Medley.... 92/130 3,277,836 10/1966 .looste 92/130 X 1,652,879 12/1927 Standerwick 92/130 X Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Assistant Examiner-R. H. Lazarus AttorneySandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde ABSTRACT: This is mechanism for adjusting the pressure to be applied to actuate valve that is operate by movement of a rod. The rod is slidably received through a bore through a base member and extends through a sleeve that has one end threaded onto the base member. A coil spring around the portion of the rod within the sleeve has one end attached to a collar that is on the rod in a fixed position relative to the length of the rod and its other end loosely threaded onto a matingly threaded annular element fixed in the interior of the sleeve. Thus, screwing the annular element relatively into or out of the spring varies the spring rate, and screwing the sleeve relatively toward or away from the base varies the compression of the spring, for adjusting the amount of pressure that must be applied to move the rod.

PATENTEUnm 19 I911 mm wm 3m 0m T m r f 1 mo agaiil INVENTOR QM wmmw BY WAN-a ATTORNEYS.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to mechanism for operating a throttle control valve and in particular to such mechanism which includes means for varying the amount of pressure that must be applied to the mechanism to open and close the throttle valve. This means thus provides for adjustment of c the mechanism to coordinate the throttle response with graduations on a scale associated with a throttle control lever, for example.

In systems and apparatus in which an engine, or a number of cooperatingengines, are operated automatically or by remote control for supplying precise amount of power and for starting, stopping, accelerating and decelerating in response to precise requirements or for operating in accurate, timed relation-for example, in systems including standby motor generator sets that are operated in response to requirements for maintaining a unifonn level of electric power, or in aircraft or ships having a number of different engines operating in unison-it is particularly necessary to be able to adjust the response of the throttle valve, or valves, in relation to the actuation of the mechanism that operates the throttle valve or valves.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide simple and effective means for making fine adjustments in the response of a throttle valve to the actuation of the mechanism that operates the throttle valve.

Another object is to provide such adjusting means which is easily incorporated in conventional throttle control valve mechanism and which does not involve complex adapters and which takes up little additional space so that its incorporation in the control mechanism is normally accomplished easily without having to rearrange elements of the control mechanism or of adjacent elements of the engine.

Still another object is to provide such adjusting means in which the adjustment is made by adjusting the spring rate and/or the compression of a coil spring against the pressure of which the throttle control valve, or other device, is actuated.

Adjusting means in accordance with this invention are adapted for use with throttle valve control mechanism which includes a rod that is movable longitudinally for opening and closing a throttle valve. The rod is slidably received through a base member and through a sleeve which is threaded onto the base member. Within the sleeve a coil spring around the rod has one end attached to a collar that is mounted on the rod in a fixed position relative to the length of the rod. The other end of the coil spring is loosely threaded onto an annular element that is removably and rotatably supported in the interior of the sleeve.

The spring rate (which is proportional to the number of effective coils of the spring) is varied by screwing the annular element relatively into or out of the spring to change the number of coils between the collar and the first screw thread on annular element. For a given adjustment of the spring rate the compression of the spring, and hence its static pressure, may be further adjusted by screwing the sleeve relatively onto or out from the base. Being thus able to adjust the spring rate provides for a rough adjustment of the spring pressure; adjusting the compression by turning the sleeve provides a fine adjustment. Either or both of these adjustments are made to adjust the amount of pressure that must be applied to move the rod for operating the throttle valve. Varying this pressure, of course, varies the speed and amount of movement of the rod in response to pressure applied to it and thus provides means which may be utilized in conjunction with, or, to some extent, instead of, adjustment of the pressure which may be applied to the rod to open or close the throttle valve a desired amount.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, forming a part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of throttle control valve mechanism incorporating adjusting means of this invention, the adjusting means being shown in longitudinal cross section;

FIG. 2 is a left-end view of the adjusting means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right-end view of the adjusting means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4is a view similar to the view of FIG. I, but showing the adjusting element screwed further into the end of the coil spring to increase the spring rate of the coil; and

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a throttle control valve assembly incorporating adjusting means 10 in accordance with this invention includes a rod 11 which is movable longitudinally, alternately in opposite directions, for opening and closing a throttle valve to increase and decrease the speed of the engine of which it is a part.

In FIG. 1, a throttle valve (not shown) has a lever 12 fixed on a rotatable stub shaft 13 and is incrementally closed or incrementally opened to slow down or speed up the engine by moving the lever 12 respectively in a counterclockwise or in a clockwise direction. A helical spring 14 carried on the stub shaft 13 has one end attached to the shaft and its other end hooked around a peg 15, which is anchored to the engine block or some other relatively stationary member, and is biased to urge the lever 12 in counterclockwise direction against the right end of the rod 11 which has a rounded tip element 16 on it to engage the edge of the lever and slide relatively along the latter edge when the rod is moved longitudinally for pivoting the lever 12.

FIG. 1 shows the rod 11, and the lever 12 which is urged against the rod tip 16 by spring 14, in their furthest positions to the left in which the throttle valve (not shown) is in its closed (or slow) position. The throttle valve is thus opened by movement of the rod 11 to the right to swing the lever I2 to the right against the tension of spring 14.

In the form of control mechanism illustrated, the rod 11 is slidably received through a bore 17 in a base member 18, with the left end of the rod extending into an enlarged cylindrical chamber 19 in the base member. The rod is moved to the right, from the position shown, by fluid pressure applied to the chamber l9from a suitable source (not shown) by means of a tube and connector, indicated at 20 in phantom line in FIG. I, connected into the outer end of the chamber. The end of the rod 11 within the chamber 19 has a flange 21 that stops the movement-of the rod to the right when the flange comes up against the inner end wall of the chamber.

A seal in the bore 17 to inhibit loss of fluid pressure around the rod is provided by an 0-ring 22 between two

washers

23 and 24 that are received in an annular enlarged end portion of the bore adjacent to the chamber 19. The washer 24 preferably fits into the bore with a press fit so as to retain the O-ring against displacement.

The base member 18 has holes 25 transversely therethrough (FIG. 2) for attaching it to an engine block or other support by bolts (not shown).

The rod 11 extends out from the member I8 through a sleeve 30 which has one end threaded onto the base member by mating screw threads indicated at 31. The sleeve 30 is thus adapted to be screwed relatively in toward or out from the base member, and it is retained in a desired position of adjustment relative to the base member by a locknut 32 which is threaded onto the screw thread 31 of the base member. The outward end of sleeve 30 has two parallel slabbed-off flat surfaces 33 (FIG. 3) to be engaged by a wrench, if necessary, to turn the sleeve 30 to screw or unscrew it.

Mounted in the outer end of the sleeve 30 and extending into its interior is an annular projection 34 having a bore 35 through which the rod 11 extends. A wiper ring 36 seated in the outward end of the bore 35 bears against the surface of the rod to keep oil, grease and dirt out of the bore 35.

A collar 37 is mounted on the portion of the rod 11 within the sleeve 30 and is held in a fixed position relative to the length of the rod by an annular shoulder 38 on the rod at one side of the collar and a snapring 39 seated in an appropriate groove in the rod at the other side. The movement of the rod 11 to the left is thus limited by the collar 37 coming up against the right-end face of the base member 18.

A coil spring 40 around the portion of the rod 11 within the sleeve 30 has its left end in contact with the collar 37, being seated on the right face of the collar around a hub portion 41 of the collar. The annular projection 34 extending into the sleeve from the right end thereof has an exterior screw thread 43 corresponding to the coils of the coil spring 40 and the right end of the coil spring is threaded tightly onto the projection 34.

The annular projection 34 is rotatably supported in the sleeve 30 by its right-end portion 34a being received in an annular seat portion 30a in the right end of the sleeve 30. As shown in FIG. the end portion 34a of the projection is generally cylindrical to rotate in the sleeve seat portion 30a but has flattened surfaces 44 spaced around it. These flattened surfaces, which are suitably in a hexagonal arrangement as shown, provide means for holding the projection 34 in a vice, or for gripping it with a wrench, when the projection is removed from the sleeve 34, for screwing the projection relatively into or out of the end of the coil spring 40.

For changing the spring rate of the coil spring 40, the sleeve 30 is unscrewed from the base member 18 and temporarily separated therefrom so that the projection, with the spring 40 mounted thereon, can be lifted out of the sleeve in order to be able to grip the spring and the projection for screwing the projection relatively into or out of the end of the spring. This may require the use of a wrench applied on the end portion 340 of the projection while gripping the spring firmly, or gripping the portion 340 in a vice while gripping and turning the spring. After the spring rate adjustment is made, the parts are reassembled.

FIG. 4 shows the adjusting means in which the spring rate has been increased, as compared with the spring rate illustrated in FIG. 1, by screwing the projection 34 relatively into the spring 40; as shown, in FIG. 1 there are five spring coils between the collar 37 and the first thread on the projection 34 while in FIG. 4 the spring rate has been increased by screwing the projection 34 in to reduce the number of such coils to four.

In addition to adjustment of the spring rate, as above, the compression of the spring is finely adjusted by screwing the sleeve 30 further onto the base member 18, for increasing the compression, or by screwing the sleeve outward of the body member, for reducing the compression.

By varying the static pressure of the coil spring 40 in the above manner, the distance the rod is moved to the right by the application of a particular degree of fluid pressure (hydraulic or air pressure) to the chamber 19 of the base member, may easily be adjusted for correlating the operation of a throttle valve, and hence the speed of an engine, with the speed of other engines, or with the operation of other equipment.

As aforesaid, application of fluid pressure to the rod 11 moves it to the right and pivots the throttle valve 12 to the right for speeding up the engine. Relieving the fluid pressure allows the coil spring 40 to move the rod 11 back to the left again so that lever 12 follows the rod back under the pressure of helical spring 14 to slow the engine down.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but changes and modifications can be made and some features can be used in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is: I l. Mechanism for operating a throttle control valve or the like that is operated by movement of an element alternately in opposite directions, comprising a movable rod moving said element in correspondence with movement of the rod, means for moving the rod, a base member having a bore with said rod being slidably received through the bore, a sleeve having one end threaded onto the base member coaxially around the rod, said rod extending through the sleeve, a collar in a fixed axial position around a portion of the rod within the sleeve for butting against the base member and preventing further movement of the rod in one direction, a coil spring in the sleeve around the rod, said sleeve having an annular element mounted therein, said annular element having a screw thread corresponding to the coils at one end of the spring, said spring having one end threaded onto said thread and its other end supported on said collar and means on the annular element so that screwing the annular element relatively onto or out from the end of the spring varies the spring rate thereof, and screwing the sleeve relatively along the base member changes the compression of the spring, for adjusting the amount of pressure required to move the rod against the pressure of the spring.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which the annular element is rotatably seated inside the outward end portion of the sleeve and removable from the sleeve, when the sleeve is completely unscrewed from the base member, to facilitate screwing it relatively onto or out from the spring.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a circumferential surface of an end portion of the annular element that is generally cylindrical and is rotatably received in an annular seat portion of the sleeve inside the outward end of the sleeve, and in which said generally cylindrical end portion has a number of flat surfaces spaced around it to be engaged by a gripping tool.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 in which said annular element has an axial bore therethrough, through which said rod slidably extends, and an exterior screw thread onto which said end of the spring is loosely threaded.

5. The mechanism of claim I in which said base member has a chamber therein in axial alignment with and opening into said bore, an end of said rod extending through said bore into the chamber and which includes means for applying fluid pressure to said chamber for moving the rod relatively through said bore against the pressure of said springs.

6. The mechanism of claim 6 including annular sealing means around a portion of the rod between the rod and the surface of said bore in the base member.

Claims

1. Mechanism for operating a throttle control valve or the like that is operated by movement of an element alternately in opposite directions, comprising a movable rod moving said element in correspondence with movement of the rod, means for moving the rod, a base member having a bore with said rod being slidably received through the bore, a sleeve having one end threaded onto the base member coaxially around the rod, said rod extending through the sleeve, a collar in a fixed axial position around a portion of the rod within the sleeve for butting against the base member and preventing further movement of the rod in one direction, a coil spring in the sleeve around the rod, said sleeve having an annular element mounted therein, said annular element having a screw thread corresponding to the coils at one end of the spring, said spring having one end threaded onto said thread and its other end supported on said collar and means on the annular element so that screwing the annular element relatively onto or out from the end of the spring varies the spring rate thereof, and screwing the sleeve relatively along the base member changes the compression of the spring, for adjusting the amount of pressure required to move the rod against the pressure of the spring.

5. The mechanism of claim 1 in which said base member has a chamber therein in axial alignment with and opening into said bore, an end of said rod extending through said bore into the chamber and which includes means for applyinG fluid pressure to said chamber for moving the rod relatively through said bore against the pressure of said springs.