U.S. patent application number 13/713325 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for linkage for dual grille shutter system.
This patent application is currently assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Aaron P. Klop.
Application Number | 20140167451 13/713325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50736324 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140167451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klop; Aaron P. |
June 19, 2014 |
LINKAGE FOR DUAL GRILLE SHUTTER SYSTEM
Abstract
A shutter system is provided for a grille of an automotive
vehicle. A first vane set is disposed at a first grille opening
section configured to pivot to a master position. A second vane set
is disposed at a second grille opening section configured to pivot
to a slave position. An actuator motor is coupled to the first vane
set for controllably placing the first vane set to a selected
master position. A linkage is coupled between the first and second
vane sets for moving the second vane set to the slave position
corresponding to the master position of the first vane set. The
linkage includes a compensation spring configured to undergo
compression when the first and second vane sets are placed in the
closed positions and a limit strap for imposing a limit on
expansion of the compensation spring.
Inventors: |
Klop; Aaron P.; (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES,
LLC
DEARBORN
MI
|
Family ID: |
50736324 |
Appl. No.: |
13/713325 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/193.1 ;
403/113 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/88 20130101;
B60K 11/085 20130101; B60Y 2410/113 20130101; Y10T 403/32557
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/193.1 ;
403/113 |
International
Class: |
B60K 11/08 20060101
B60K011/08 |
Claims
1. A shutter system for a grille of an automotive vehicle
comprising: a first vane set disposed at a first grille opening
section configured to pivot to a master position selected from a
closed position and a plurality of open positions; a second vane
set disposed at a second grille opening section configured to pivot
to a slave position corresponding to the master position, including
a closed position and a plurality of open positions; an actuator
motor coupled to the first vane set for controllably placing the
first vane set to a selected master position; and a linkage coupled
between the first and second vane sets for moving the second vane
set to the slave position corresponding to the master position of
the first vane set selected by the actuator motor, wherein the
linkage is comprised of a compensation spring configured to undergo
compression when the first and second vane sets are placed in the
closed positions, and wherein the linkage is comprised of a limit
strap for imposing a limit on expansion of the compensation
spring.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the compensation spring has a rest
position, and wherein the expansion limit imposed by the limit
strap is substantially equal to the rest position.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the linkage is configured such
that when the first and second vane sets are moving into their
closed positions, the second vane set enters its closed position
prior to the first vane set entering its closed position, and then
the compensation spring is compressed as the first vane set reaches
its closed position.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the linkage is comprised of an
elongated member made of molded plastic, wherein the compression
spring is a U-spring formed at an intermediate location along the
elongated member, and wherein the limit strap spans the
U-spring.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the limit strap has a first end
attached to the elongated member by a living hinge on one side of
the U-spring, and wherein the limit strap has a second end attached
to the elongated member by a sliding snap fit on the other side of
the U-spring.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the snap fit is comprised of a
pair of compression prongs extending from the limit strap and a
slot formed in the elongated member for receiving the compression
prongs, and wherein a length of the slot determines the expansion
limit of the compensation spring.
7. A linkage for joining vane sets in a grille shutter system,
comprising: an elongated member with opposed ends for joining with
respective vane sets and having a compression spring at an
intermediate location on the elongated member; and a limit strap
spanning the compression spring and having first and second ends
attached to the elongated member to limit expansion of the
compression spring to substantially a rest position.
8. The linkage of claim 7 the elongated member is comprised of
molded plastic, and wherein the compression spring is a U-spring
formed at an intermediate location along the elongated member.
9. The linkage of claim 8 wherein the limit strap is integrally
molded with the elongated member, wherein the limit strap has the
first end attached to the elongated member by a living hinge on one
side of the U-spring, and wherein the limit strap has the second
end attached to the elongated member by a sliding snap fit on the
other side of the U-spring.
10. The linkage of claim 9 wherein the snap fit is comprised of a
pair of compression prongs extending from the limit strap and a
slot formed in the elongated member for receiving the compression
prongs, and wherein a length of the slot determines the expansion
limit of the compensation spring.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates in general to automatically
positioned grille shutter systems for automotive vehicles for
providing a cooling air flow into an engine compartment, and, more
specifically, to joining multiple vane sets of an active grille
shutter system in a manner that ensures complete closure of a slave
vane set controlled via a linkage by a master vane set.
[0004] A vehicle grille located at a front of a vehicle provides an
opening for the intake of fresh air into an engine compartment to
assist the vehicle's cooling system in cooling the engine,
transmission, and other components. The air flow passing through
the grille may add aerodynamic drag when the vehicle is in motion.
At higher speeds, the rate of the air flow and the resulting drag
both increase. With a fixed grille opening that must provide
sufficient air flow at all speeds, excess air flow and drag must be
tolerated at higher speeds. Accordingly, active grille shutters
have been developed to reduce or block air flow to match that
needed for cooling purposes, thus reducing aerodynamic drag and
improving fuel economy. Closed grille shutters can also provide a
faster powertrain warm-up to improve fuel economy and performance
of the passenger compartment heater.
[0005] A typical active grille shutter (AGS) includes an actuator
that positions the grille shutters based on commands from a
powertrain control module. The shutter may pivot through a range of
about 90 degrees between fully closed and open positions, which may
be typically commanded in fixed increments for a plurality of set
shutter positions (e.g., 16 preset positions separated by about 6
degrees).
[0006] The actuator may be comprised of a smart motor that
communicates with the powertrain control module over a multiplex
bus, for example. The motor has an output shaft connected to a
fixed grille shutter housing and to one of a plurality of movable
vanes which are themselves linked together to form a vane set. When
the actuator motor output shaft moves, it moves the attached vane
which causes the other linked vanes to move together.
[0007] According to the grille styling used on certain vehicles,
more than one grille opening may be employed--with each opening
containing a respective vane set. The vane sets may usually be in
approximate vertical alignment, but are not necessarily coplanar.
In order to avoid the cost of placing separate actuators at each
vane set, a linkage may be provided between the vane sets in a
master/slave relationship. However, due to manufacturing tolerances
it has been difficult to ensure that both of the linked vane sets
become completely closed in synchronization. The actuator senses a
resistance to movement when one vane set becomes fully closed. In
response to the resistance, the motor shuts off. If one vane set
remains partially open, the aerodynamic performance is reduced and
undesirable noise may be created. Thus, it would be desirable to
ensure full closure of each vane set despite any variations in the
manufactured shapes or tolerances of the grille housing, vane sets,
or linkage.
[0008] In using a single motor for controlling multiple vane sets,
the motor torque requirements are increased, thereby necessitating
a larger, more expensive motor. The highest motor torque required
to be delivered by the motor typically corresponds to the act of
opening the vane sets from a fully closed position during a time
when the vehicle is traveling at high speed because of the need to
overcome wind resistance. Additionally, a high motor torque may be
required to open closed vanes that may be frozen in place by snow
and ice in a cold climate. Thus, it would also be desirable to
reduce the required motor torque when opening the closed vane
sets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one aspect of the invention, a shutter system is provided
for a grille of an automotive vehicle. A first vane set is disposed
at a first grille opening section configured to pivot to a master
position selected from a closed position and a plurality of open
positions. A second vane set is disposed at a second grille opening
section configured to pivot to a slave position corresponding to
the master position, including a closed position and a plurality of
open positions. An actuator motor is coupled to the first vane set
for controllably placing the first vane set to a selected master
position. A linkage is coupled between the first and second vane
sets for moving the second vane set to the slave position
corresponding to the master position of the first vane set selected
by the actuator motor. The linkage includes a compensation spring
configured to undergo compression when the first and second vane
sets are placed in the closed positions and a limit strap for
imposing a limit on expansion of the compensation spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a known type of dual
shutter system with an actuator motor.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of another dual shutter system
showing a fixed linkage in greater detail.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
spring linkage of the invention with a limit strap in the assembled
position.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spring linkage of FIG. 3
with the limit strap in the unassembled position.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a transverse cross section through the sliding
snap fit of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal cross sections of a portion
of the spring linkage of FIG. 3 in a rest position and a compressed
position, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, an active grille system includes a
grille housing 10 with a first grille opening section 11 and a
second grille opening section 12. A master vane set 13 is disposed
in grille opening section 11 and is configured to pivot all of its
individual vanes to a master position selected between a closed
position through a plurality of open positions by a powertrain
control module (not shown). Likewise, a slave vane set 14 is
disposed in second grille opening section 12 and is configured to
pivot to a slave position corresponding to the master position,
including the same closed position and plurality of open positions.
An actuator motor 15 is mounted to housing 10 using an actuator
clip 16 received by motor 15 and retained in a fixed receptacle 17
on housing 10. Actuator motor 15 receives operating power and
commands via a wiring harness 18.
[0017] A linkage 20 is connected to a moving output (e.g., shaft)
of actuator motor 15 and to one or more individual vanes of vane
sets 13 and 14. A first end 21 is joined to vane set 13 and a
second end 22 is joined to vane set 14. An intermediate section 23
is configured according to an intended design specification that
defines the spatial relationship between vane sets 13 and 14.
However, the stacked tolerances of the individual components or
other build variations or changes over time during service use may
result in an ability to fully close both vane sets 13 and 14 once
they are linked together.
[0018] FIG. 2 is another prior art active grille system having a
housing 25 with a first grille opening section 26 and a second
grille opening section 27. A first vane set 28 selectably controls
an air flow through first opening section 26. Individual pivot ends
30 on the ends of individual vanes are received in holes 31 along
the sides of grille opening section 26 to allow the pivoting of
each vane between its closed and open positions. Each individual
vane also includes a respective pivot arm 32, all of which are
joined together by a vane bar 33 so that all the individual vanes
in first vane set 28 pivot in tandem. Similarly, a vane bar 34
connects to pivot arms of individual vanes in a second vane set 29
disposed in second grille opening section 27. Vane bars 33 and 34
are joined together by a fixed linkage 35. An actuator motor (not
shown) is coupled to one of the vane sets 28 or 29, such as by a
direct coupling of a motor output shaft to either one of vane bars
33 or 34 or to an individual vane in one of vane sets 28 or 29. The
vane set to which the actuator motor is directly connected is a
master vane set and the other vane set is a slave that follows a
selected master position of the master vane set by virtue of
linkage 35. In one particular embodiment of the present invention,
linkage 35 can be modified to incorporate a compensation spring as
described below.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, a linkage 40 of the present invention is
comprised of an elongated member 41 preferably made of molded
plastic with a first end 42 for coupling to a first vane set (e.g.,
via a vane bar) and a second end 43 for coupling to a second vane
set. The ends may include attachment holes 44 and 45 for connecting
to the respective vane sets. First end 42 also includes an
attachment hole 46 for interconnecting with a moving output of an
actuator motor using any conventional connection or fasteners as
known in the art.
[0020] At an intermediate location along elongated member 41, a
compensation spring 47 is formed that compresses when ends 42 and
43 are pressed toward one another. In the embodiment shown,
compression spring 47 is preferably formed as a U-spring which is
spanned by a limit strap 48. Limit strap 48 has one end connected
to elongated member 45 on one side of compensation spring 47 by a
living hinge 50 and has a second end with a pair of compression
prongs 51 projecting from limit strap 48 to be snapped into a slot
52 on elongated member 41 at the other side of compensation spring
47. Linkage 40 with compensation spring 47 and limit strap 48 is
preferably manufactured as an integral molding of any convenient
thermoplastic material such as PVC. FIG. 4 shows an
integrally-formed part as would be ejected from an injection mold,
and FIG. 3 shows the linkage after assembly which involves passing
compression prongs 51 through slot 52 to form a sliding snap fit.
As shown in FIG. 5, prongs 51A and 51B are shaped to be compressed
together in order to allow them to pass through slot 52 and then
expand in order to be retained within slot 52. By coming into
abutment with either end of slot 52, prongs 51 limit the deflection
of compensation spring 47 in both directions. However, compensation
spring 47 is allowed to compress by a predetermined amount due to
slot 52 having a greater longitudinal length than prongs 51.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows compensation spring 47 in a rest position in
which prongs 51 are at a near end of slot 52. The expansion of
compensation spring 47 is limited (or even prevented) so that the
linkage reliably functions to pull a slave vane set into a more
open position in response to the corresponding action of the
actuator motor.
[0022] To ensure full closing of both vane sets of the present
invention, the vane sets and linkage are configured such that the
slave vane set closes slightly before the master vane set. Once the
slave vane set becomes closed, the actuator motor continues to move
the master vane set while simultaneously compressing compensation
spring 47. The resistance associated with the compression of spring
47 is less than what would result in the turning off of the motor.
The actuator motor turns off only when it senses the resistance
from the master vane set reaching its fully closed position. Thus,
any build variations or stacked tolerances in the components are
compensated for by the compensation spring. Thus, full closing of
both vane sets can be assured.
[0023] Compression spring 47 remains in compression while both vane
sets are closed. When it becomes desired to open the grille
shutter, the torque required to be delivered by the actuator motor
is reduced because 1) the stored compression energy in the
compensation spring assists in the initial movement of the master
vane set, and 2) the movement of both vane sets is not initiated at
the same time.
[0024] The foregoing has shown a spring link design for joining
master and slave sets of grille shutter vanes in a manner that
overcomes the problems of a vane set not reaching its fully close
position while addressing the high torque requirements that were
present with prior art rigid link designs. Moreover, the inventive
linkage avoids any increase in either the part count or
manufacturing cost of an active grille shutter system.
* * * * *