US Patent 7690366 Throttle valve and method of producing the same

A throttle assembly including a first throttle component that is formed of a plastic material including a conductive additive substantially homogeneously dispersed within the plastic material, and a second throttle component is axially aligned with the first throttle component and movable relative to the first throttle component between a first position and a second position to selectively vary a flow through the throttle assembly. A terminal is coupled to the first throttle component such that electricity may be provided to the first throttle component, thereby resistively heating the first throttle component via the conductive additive and a flow window is defined in one of the first throttle component and the second throttle component.