BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows the rotary throttle in a first position.
FIG. 3 shows the rotary throttle of FIG. 2 rotated clockwise to a position in which the driven disk is at a top dead center position.
FIG. 4 shows the rotary throttle of FIG. 3 further rotated clockwise to a second position.
FIG. 5 shows the rotary throttle assembly connected to a portable motor.
FIG. 6 shows an operator carrying a portable assembly for vibrating wet concrete with the rotary throttle of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-4 which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows the parts of a rotary throttle (R) according to the invention. Handle (1) which is rotatable about an axis, is connected to a flexible shaft (2). Any rotation of the handle (1) is transmitted through the flexible shaft (2) to a drive shaft (3), which in turn rotates a driving disk (4). The driving disk (4) has cam faces which engage a driven pin (8) secured to a driven disk (5). A spring (6) is secured to the driven disk (5) at one end by a screw (13), and it is secured to a wall (15) of a casing (10) of the rotary throttle assembly at the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the spring is secured to the driven disk (5) opposite the driven pin (8). A throttle linkage (7), which is connected to the throttle of an engine (E) at one end as shown in FIG. 5, is also secured to the driven disk (5) by a screw (14) at the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the throttle linkage is secured to the driven disk (5) at approximately 90 degrees from the spring or the driven pin (8). A stop pin (9) is secured to the casing (10).
The operation of the rotary throttle assembly will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-4. For illustrative purposes, the driven plate (5) is shown in FIGS. 2-4 as a transparent plate to show the configuration and relationship of the relevant parts
In a first position shown in FIG. 2, the spring (6) exerts a tangential force in the counterclockwise direction on the driven pin (8), which in turn drives the driving disk (4) counterclockwise. However, the stop pin (9) on the casing (10) abuts the driving disk (4) and prevents the driving disk from rotating counterclockwise, which results in a first static position with a corresponding throttle linkage position, which may correspond to the “idle” or low power setting.
During operation, the operator may rotate the handle slightly clockwise which in turn rotates the drive shaft (3), the driving disk (4), the driven pin (8), the driven disk (5), and the throttle linkage clockwise. For this example, any clockwise movement of the throttle linkage translates to increasing power and higher rpm.
The operator may continue to rotate the handle slightly clockwise, and as soon as the handle is let go, the spring will rotate the driven disk (5) and the throttle linkage back to the first, idle position. This may be particularly useful after a cold start when the temperature is low to slightly rev the engine and warm up the engine.
As the operator continues to rotate the handle clockwise, the driving disk (4) will reach a “top dead center” position in which the spring (6) is stretched the furthest as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, a slight rotation of the driven disk (5) on which the spring is secured will cause the spring to contract and rotate in the sane direction.
If the operator continues to rotate the handle clockwise past the “top dead center” position, the spring (6) will exert a tangential force in the clockwise direction and move the driven pin (8) and the driving plate (4) clockwise until the driving plate abuts the stop pin (9), which prevents the assembly from rotating clockwise any further, resulting in the position shown in FIG. 4. In a preferred embodiment, this moves the throttle lever (7) to a desired operating position, which in the example of concrete vibrator, is the position in which the vibrator is vibrating at 10,000 to 12,000 rpm.
To return the throttle to the idle position, the operator simply operates the rotary throttle as described above in reverse (counterclockwise). Namely, the operator rotates the throttle handle (1) counterclockwise, which rotates the driving disk (4) in the same direction to engage the driven pin (8). This in turn rotates the driven disk (5) until the driven disk (5) reaches the top dead center position. Once the driven disk (5) rotates past the top dead center position in the counterclockwise direction, the spring (6) will contract and moves the lever (7) back to the idle position.
As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary throttle assembly may be enclosed by a casing (10). The casing (10) houses the drive shaft (3), the driving disk (4), the driven pin (8), the driven disk (5), the spring (6), the stop pin (9), and has an opening (11) through which the throttle linkage (7) extends and connects to the engine (E). The flexible shaft (2) is preferably enclosed inside a handle bar (12), which at one end connects to the casing (10), and at the other end connects to the handle (1).
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the engine (E) is a portable engine mounted to a backpack (B). The throttle assembly is positioned behind the back of the operator during operation, and is essentially shielded from any splattering wet concrete by the operator. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the only part of the rotary throttle assembly handled by the user during operation is the throttle handle (1). However, the throttle handle (1) can be readily cleaned and even if wet concrete is deposited thereon and left to set, would not affect the operation of the rotary throttle assembly. Other than the throttle handle (1), the rotary throttle assembly has essentially no disposed parts on which wet concrete can be deposited.
The foregoing describes a preferred embodiment in which the controlled engine is an internal combustion engine. However, an alternative power drive system is contemplated, such as an electric motor.
Furthermore, although the invention is disclosed with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made which will fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the attached claims. For example, although the operation of the rotary throttle assembly has been described with respect to a concrete vibrator, one skilled in the art will be able to utilize the rotary throttle assembly in many other applications where it is desirable to operate an engine in two power settings or in applications where it is important to ensure that an engine operates at a certain power.
Patent Application
20070259720
