EP3829915A1

EP3829915A1 - An active grille shutter system

Info

Publication number: EP3829915A1
Application number: EP19879393.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jie Xu; Xiaogang GUI
Original assignee: Yanfeng Plastic Omnium Automotive Exterior Systems Co Ltd; Plastic Omnium SE
Current assignee: Yanfeng Plastic Omnium Automotive Exterior Systems Co Ltd; Plastic Omnium SE
Priority date: 2018-11-02
Filing date: 2019-07-24
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Also published as: EP3829915A4; CN109228849A; CN109228849B; WO2020088000A1

Abstract

An AGS system comprising: an electrical motor (1), a vane linkage lever (3, 3'), vanes (4, 4'), and a grille body, the two ends of the vanes (4, 4') being connected to the grille body, the vane linkage lever (3, 3') being connected with one end of the vanes (4, 4') and driving the vanes (4, 4') to rotate, the system further comprises a rotary lever (2), the rotary lever (2) being connected with the electrical motor (1) via a spline extending along the Y direction through the electrical motor (1), the rotary lever (2) being connected with the vane linkage lever (3, 3'), and the rotary lever (2) rotating in the XZ plan when driven by the electrical motor (1) so as to drive the vane linkage lever (3, 3') to rotate.

Description

An Active Grille Shutter System

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of automobile grilles, and more particularly, an active grille shutter (AGS) system.

Background of the Invention

With the rapid development of automobiles, requirements in terms of aerodynamics are becoming higher and higher. The needs for other rotatable parts such as AGS systems also emerge gradually because those parts not only contribute to temperature control, but also can reduce wind drag. However, with the current grille configuration, instead of being mounted entirely horizontally, the two parts of the vanes of a grille that are symmetric along the body of an automobile often form an angel. As a result, an electrical motor cannot directly drive the vanes in a bidirectional simultaneous output manner, hence a relatively big torque is required, and a balance between the two output sides cannot be achieved. Moreover, connecting rods are required to have a relatively high strength. Some also need a universal joint structure between vanes, which complicates the entire structure.
Currently, there exist mainly two following solutions in the market: in the first, an electrical motor drives in a unidirectional output manner one part of the vanes, then the other part of the vanes at the other side is driven via a connecting rod which connecting the two parts of the vanes at both sides; in the second, the two parts of the vanes at both sides being connected by a connecting rod, an electrical motor drives in a unidirectional output manner the connecting rod so as to drive the both parts of the vanes. However, these two solutions both involve a unidirectional (single-sided) output electrical motor, requiring a relatively high torque, unable to achieve a balance between the two output sides, and posing a certain risk to durability. Therefore, it is essential to provide a structure which enables the electrical motor to work in a bidirectional (double-sided) simultaneous output manner.
Summary of the Invention
The invention aims to provide an AGS system to solve the problem of the incapability to achieve a simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor in case that vanes are mounted not entirely horizontally of the AGSs in the prior art.
To solve the above technical problem, the invention adopts the following technical solution:
An active grille shutter system is provided. The AGS system comprises: an electrical motor, a vane linkage lever, vanes, and a grille body. The two ends of the vanes are connected to the grille body. The vane linkage lever is connected with one end of the vanes and drives the vanes to rotate. The AGS system further comprises a rotary lever being connected with the electrical motor via a spline extending along the Y direction through the electrical motor, and the rotary lever is further connected with the vane linkage lever. The rotary lever rotates in the XZ plan when driven by the electrical motor so as to drive the vane linkage lever to rotate.
In the context of the invention, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the Y direction refers to the transverse direction of a motor vehicle, the X direction refers to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, and the Z direction refers to the vertical direction of the motor vehicle. It also can be understood by those skilled in the art that the XZ plan refers to the plan defined by the above X direction and Z direction, which is perpendicular to the transverse direction and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
The rotary lever has a symmetrical structure in the Y direction centering on the electrical motor.
The rotary lever comprises a rotary lever body arranged at the two ends of the spline, and the rotary lever body rotates around the spline as a central axis when driven by the electrical motor.
The rotary lever is connected with the vane linkage lever via the rotary lever body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the vane linkage lever comprises respectively individually formed left and right vane linkage levers, and the vanes are divided into left and right vanes, the left vane linkage lever being connected with the left vanes, and the right vane linkage lever being connected with the right vanes.
The left and right vane linkage levers possess a certain displacement space in the Y direction relative to the rotary lever, so as to absorb a deviation of the rotation trajectory of the vanes. That is to say, the left and right vane linkage levers are unrestrained and enabled with float movement without displacement limitation in the Y direction with respect to the rotary lever.
The left vane linkage lever is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the left vanes, and the right vane linkage lever is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the right vanes.
The rotary lever is connected with the vane linkage lever via a protruding column with a double spherical surface structure.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the vane linkage lever is integrally formed as one piece, and the vanes are divided into left vanes and right vanes, the left and right sides of the vane linkage lever being connected, respectively, with the left and right vanes.
The vane linkage lever is coupled with the left and right vanes by a shaft-hole fit.
The vane linkage lever possesses a certain displacement space in the Y direction relative to the left and right vanes, so as to absorb a deviation of the rotation trajectory of the vanes. That is to say, the vane linkage lever is unrestrained and enabled with float movement without displacement limitation in the Y direction with respect to the left and right vanes.
The vane linkage lever is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the rotary lever.
The above-described AGS system provided by the invention, by adding the rotary lever mechanism to drive the vane linkage lever, and by enabling the vane linkage lever always enjoy a certain displacement space in the Y direction to absorb a deviation of the vanes’ rotation trajectory through a corresponding structural design, achieves a simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor even under the condition that the left and right vanes are mounted not entirely horizontally, thereby significantly improving the balance and durability.
In summary, the invention provides an AGS system that significantly improves the balance and durability, and achieves a simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor even when the left and right vanes are mounted not entirely horizontally.
Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of an AGS system according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the grille body is not shown;
Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the AGS system shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the connection relationship between the rotary lever and the vane linkage lever in the AGS system shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic view of the connection relationship between the vane linkage lever and the vanes in the AGS system shown in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of the connection relationship between the rotary lever and the vane linkage lever in the AGS system shown in Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along the section A-Ain Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of the connection relationship between the vane linkage lever and the vanes in an AGS system according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 8 is a schematic view of the connection relationship between the rotary lever and the vane linkage lever in an AGS system according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Below preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate a better understanding of the invention’s functions and characteristics.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an active grille shutter (AGS) system according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The AGS system mainly comprises: an electrical motor 1; a rotary lever 2; individually formed left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’; left and right vanes 4, 4’; and, a grille body (not shown in the figures) . The rotary lever 2 is connected with the electrical motor 1 via a spline extending in the Y direction through the electrical motor 1. The left vane linkage lever 3 is connected with three left vanes 4. The right vane linkage lever 3’ is connected with three right vanes 4’. The rotary lever 2 is connected with the vane linkage lever 3. The rotation of the rotary lever 2 in the XZ plan drives, respectively, the left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’. The two ends of the left and right vanes 4, 4’ are connected, respectively, to the grille body. The left vane linkage lever 3 is also connected with one end of the vanes 4. The right vane linkage lever 3’ is also connected with one end of the vane 4’. When driven by the electrical motor 1, the rotary lever 2 rotates in the XZ plan and thus drives simultaneously the left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’ as well as the vanes 4, 4’ to rotate.
The rotary lever 2 has a structure symmetrical in the Y direction centering on the electrical motor 1.
The rotary lever 2 comprises a rotary lever body 21 provided at the two ends of the spline, which, when driven by the electrical motor 1, rotates around the spline as a central axis.
The rotary lever 2 is connected, respectively, with the left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’ via the rotary lever body 21.
As shown in Figure 3, in this preferred embodiment, the right vane linkage lever 3’ has a certain displacement space in the Y direction with respect to the rotary lever 2, thus enabling a float movement to absorb the deviation of the right vanes’ rotation trajectory. Similarly, the left vane linkage lever 3 enjoys a certain displacement space in the Y direction with respect to the rotary lever 2, also enabling a float movement to absorb the deviation in the left vanes’ rotation trajectory.
As shown in Figure 4, the left vanes 4 are provided with an abutment structure 41 for the left vane linkage lever 3 to limit the freedom of the left vane linkage lever 3 in the direction of the rotation axis. Similarly, the right vanes 4’ are provided with an abutment structure for the right vane linkage lever 3’.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the rotary lever 2 comprises a protruding column 22 provided at the outer side of the rotary lever body 21, through which the rotary lever 2 is connected, respectively, with the left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’.
The surface of the protruding column 22 in contact with the left and right vane linkage levers 3, 3’ is provided with a double spherical surface supporting structure 221. To be specific, it’s a structure with two spherical surfaces spaced apart at a certain distance. This double spherical surface support design not only reduces friction compared to the prior cylindrical design, but also avoids unnecessary rotation due to a signal spherical surface support design, thereby achieving an optimal coupling between the rotary lever and the vane linkage levers.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific corresponding structures illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 can be inversed in other embodiment of the invention according to actual needs. In other words, the protruding column with the double spherical surface supporting structure can also be arranged on the vane linkage levers 3, 3’, and in this case the rotary lever 2 presents a corresponding sleeve shape at its connecting end with the vane linkage levers. It should also be understood by those skilled in the art that other suitable mechanism in the art could also be applied as an alternative in the place of the structures illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, as long as the mechanism provides a certain displacement space in the Y direction between the vane linkage levers 3, 3’ and the rotary lever 2.
The AGS system provided according to the above-described embodiment can achieve a simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor even in the state where the left and right vanes are not entirely horizontal, but are mounted at an angle.
As shown in Figures 7 and 8, an AGS system according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The AGS system is roughly the same as that of the first preferred embodiment, and the identical parts will not be described again. The only difference between the two embodiments consists in that, in this preferred embodiment, the vane linkage lever 3 being integrally formed as one piece and the vanes being divided into left and right vanes 4, 4’, the left and right side parts of the vane linkage lever 3 are connected, respectively, with the left and right vanes 4, 4’.
In this embodiment, the vane linkage lever 3 is coupled, respectively, with the left and right vanes 4, 4’ by a shaft-hole fit.
The vane linkage lever 3 has a certain displacement space in the Y direction with respect to the left vanes 4, thus enabling a float movement to absorb the deviation of the rotation trajectory of the left vanes 4. Similarly, the vane linkage lever 3 enjoys a certain displacement space in the Y direction with respect to the right vanes 4’, thus enabling a float movement to absorb the deviation of the rotation trajectory of the right vanes 4’.
The left side of the rotary lever 2 is provided with a position-limiting structure 23 for the vane linkage lever 3 to prevent the vane linkage lever 3 from flying out. Similarly, the right side of the rotary lever 2 is also provided with a position-limiting structure 23 for the vane linkage lever 3.
The AGS system provided according to the above-described embodiment can also achieve a simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor.
In summary, according to the above-described AGS system of the invention, the deviation of the vanes rotation trajectory can be absorbed by adding the rotary lever mechanism to drive the vane linkage lever, and by always providing the vane linkage lever with a certain displacement space in the Y direction by the corresponding structural design. The simultaneous double-sided output of the electrical motor can also be achieved even under the condition that the left and right vanes are not completely horizontally mounted, the balance between the two sides and thus the durability are also significantly improved.
What has been described above are merely preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments of the invention described above can be subject to various modifications. All simple, equivalent modifications and embellishments made based on the contents of the claims and the specification of the invention fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the invention. What has not been described in detail in the invention is conventional technology.

Claims

An active grille shutter system, comprising: an electrical motor (1) , a vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) , and vanes (4, 4’ ) , the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) being connected with the vanes (4, 4’ ) and driving the vanes (4, 4’ ) to rotate, characterized in that, the active grille shutter system further comprises a rotary lever (2) , the rotary lever (2) being connected with the electrical motor (1) , the rotary lever (2) being further connected with the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) , and the rotary lever (2) rotating in the XZ plan when driven by the electrical motor (1) so as to drive the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) to rotate.
The active grille shutter system according to claim 1, wherein the rotary lever (2) being connected with the electrical motor (1) via a spline extending along the Y direction through the electrical motor (1) .
The active grille shutter system according any one of the previous claims, wherein the rotary lever (2) has a symmetrical structure in the Y direction centering on the electrical motor (1) .
The active grille shutter system according to claim 2, wherein the rotary lever (2) comprises a rotary lever body (21) arranged at the two ends of the spline, the rotary lever body (21) rotating around the spline as a central axis when driven by the electrical motor (1) .
The active grille shutter system according to the previous claim, wherein the rotary lever (2) is connected with the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) via the rotary lever body (21) .
The active grille shutter system according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) comprises respectively individually formed left and right vane linkage levers (3, 3’ ) , and the vanes (4, 4’ ) are divided into left and right vanes (4, 4’ ) , the left vane linkage lever (3) being connected with the left vanes (4) , and the right vane linkage lever (3’ ) being connected with the right vanes (4’ ) .
The active grille shutter system according to the previous claim, wherein the left and right vane linkage levers (3, 3’ ) possess a certain displacement space in the Y direction relative to the rotary lever (2) , so as to absorb a deviation of the rotation trajectory of the vanes (4, 4’ ) .
The active grille shutter system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the left vane linkage lever (3) is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the left vanes (4) , and the right vane linkage lever (3’ ) is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the right vanes (4’ ) .
The active grille shutter system according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein the rotary lever (2) is connected with the vane linkage lever (3, 3’ ) via a protruding column (22) with a double spherical surface structure (221) .
The active grille shutter system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the vane linkage lever is integrally formed as one piece, and the vanes (4, 4’ ) are divided into left vanes (4) and right vanes (4’ ) , the left and right sides of the vane linkage lever being connected, respectively, with the left and right vanes (4, 4’ ) .
The active grille shutter system according to the previous claim, wherein the vane linkage lever possesses a certain displacement space in the Y direction relative to the left and right vanes (4, 4’ ) , so as to absorb a deviation of the rotation trajectory of the vanes (4, 4’ ) .
The active grille shutter system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the vane linkage lever is coupled with the left and right vanes (4, 4’ ) by a shaft-hole fit.
The active grille shutter system according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the vane linkage lever is limited in its displacement in the Y direction by the rotary lever (2) .
The active grille shutter system according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the active grille shutter system further comprises a grille body, the two ends of the vanes (4, 4’ ) being connected to the grille body.