Shutter device for vehicle

A shutter device includes a frame member, a plurality of blades, an actuator device, and an auxiliary member. The frame member is formed in a casing shape, and air introduced from a front opening of the vehicle flows through an inside passage of the frame member. The blades are supported by the frame member in a rotatable manner, and open and close space within a casing of the frame member. The actuator device opens and closes the blades. Auxiliary member is assembled to the frame member to assist a blades supporting function of the frame member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A present disclosure relates to a shutter device for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle uses air to dissipate heat from a heat exchanger. Devices are developed to control an amount of air. In one aspect, the air, especially traveling wind is strong enough to deform members. The devices to control the air is required to work properly even in such an environment. In the above aspects, or in other aspects not mentioned, there is a need for further improvements in a shutter device for a vehicle.

SUMMARY

A shutter device for a vehicle is disclosed. The shutter device comprises: a frame, a plurality of blades, an actuator device, and an auxiliary member. The frame member is formed in a casing shape, and air introduced from a front opening of the vehicle flows through space within the casing. The blades are supported by the frame member in a rotatable manner, and open and close space within a casing of the frame member. The actuator device opens and closes the blades. The auxiliary member is assembled to the frame member and assists supporting of the blades to the frame member.

According to this configuration, since the auxiliary member can assist a support of the blade with respect to the frame member, it is possible to prevent the blade from being disassembled from the frame member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiment of a vehicle shutter device are described with reference to the drawings. To facilitate understanding, identical constituent elements are designated with identical symbols in the drawings where possible with the duplicate description omitted.

A vehicle introduces air from a front opening to an engine room. The introduced air is used to dissipate heat from a radiator through which an engine cooling water flows or heat from a condenser of an air conditioner for a vehicle. A shutter device capable of temporarily blocking the air flow from the front opening to the engine room may be installed in such a vehicle.

JP2016-55719A discloses a shutter device which has a plurality of blades having a pair of shaft portions on both ends and a frame member supporting the shaft portions of the blades in a rotatable coupled manner. Each blade opens and closes by rotating around the shaft portions. In this shutter device, an air flow through the frame can pass when the plurality of blades are in an open state, and can be blocked when the plurality of blades are in a closed state.

In recent years, a space in an engine room has been reduced due to factors such as an increase in a number of devices installed in the engine room of the vehicle. Therefore, it is required to reduce mounting space of a shutter device of the vehicle. In order to achieve this demand, the inventors are considering that an arrangement in which the shutter device is arranged in a narrow gap between two heat exchangers such as a radiator and a condenser of an air conditioner. When arranging the shutter device in such a place, it is essential to reduce a thickness of the shutter device.

On the other hand, when the shutter device is in the closed state, a traveling wind of the vehicle hits the blade, so that a ram pressure is generated on the blade. When a strength of the frame member is reduced due to a thinning of the shutter device, a force applied to the blade by the ram pressure is transmitted to the frame member, so that the frame is easily deformed to a downstream side in the air flow direction. If the frame member is deformed downstream in the air flow direction, the blades may be disassembled from the frame member. Further, when the blade is deformed by the ram pressure, the blade may also be disassembled from the frame member. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle shutter device capable of preventing the blade from being disassembled from the frame member.

First, a schematic configuration of a vehicle equipped with the shutter device of the embodiment is described.

As shown inFIG.1, a front opening2is provided on a front of a body1of a vehicle C. Air in front of the body1is introduced into an engine room3of the vehicle C through the front opening2. In the engine room3, heat exchangers5and6such as a radiator and a condenser are arranged in addition to the engine4of the vehicle C. The radiator5dissipates heat from a cooling water for cooling the engine4by performing heat exchange between the cooling water and the air introduced from the front opening2. The condenser6is a component of a refrigeration cycle for an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle C. The condenser6dissipates heat from a refrigerant by performing heat exchange between the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle and the air introduced from the front opening2. The heat exchangers5and6are arranged between the front opening2and the engine4.

A shutter device10capable of temporarily blocking the flow of air from the grill opening2to the engine room3is arranged between the heat exchangers5and6. The shutter device10is arranged to provide several advantages. In one aspect, the shutter device10enables early warming up of the engine4, for example, by temporarily blocking the air flow from the front opening2to the engine room3during a cold start of the engine4. Further, the shutter device10improves an aerodynamic performance of the vehicle C by temporarily blocking the air flow from the front opening2to the engine room3when the vehicle C travels at high speed.

Next, the specific structure of the shutter device10is described.

As shown inFIG.2, the shutter device10includes a frame member20, a plurality of blades30, an actuator device40, a shaft50, and a link member60.

The frame member20has a frame main body21formed in a square casing shape, and a reinforcing frame piece22for reinforcing the frame main body21. The frame member20is made of, for example, a resin material.

The frame main body21has an upper frame piece210, a lower frame piece220, a right frame piece212, and a left frame piece213. The air introduced from the front opening2shown inFIG.1flows through space within a casing of the frame main body21.

Hereinafter, the longitudinal directions of the upper frame piece210and the lower frame piece211are also referred to as an X axis direction, and the longitudinal directions of the right frame piece212and the left frame piece213are also referred to as a Z axis direction. In this embodiment, the Z axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction and a vehicle up and down direction. Further, a direction orthogonal to both the X axis direction and the Z axis direction is also referred to as a Y axis direction. Since the Y axis direction corresponds to the air flow direction, the Y axis direction is also referred to as an air flow direction Y.

The reinforcing frame piece22is arranged in a cross shape within the casing of the frame main body21. The reinforcing frame piece22has a vertical reinforcing frame piece220and a lateral reinforcing frame piece221. The vertical reinforcing frame piece220is provided so as to connect between central portions of the upper frame piece210and the lower frame piece211. The lateral reinforcing frame piece221is provided so as to connect between central portions of the right frame piece212and the left frame piece213. The reinforcing frame pieces22defines four regions within the casing of the frame member20.

As shown inFIG.3, the blade30has shaft portions32and33at both ends in a longitudinal direction thereof, respectively. The shaft portions32and33are portions supported by the frame20in a rotatable manner. Further, the blade30has a connecting portion34at an end portion where the shaft portion33is formed. The connecting portion34is a portion to which the link member60is connected. The blade30opens and closes around the shaft portions32and33by a force applied to the connecting portion34via the link member60. A notch shape31is formed on a central portion of the blade30. InFIG.2, the notch shapes31of the blades30are not shown.

As shown inFIG.2, the plurality of blades30are arranged in four regions within the casing of the frame member20. In the four regions within the casing of the frame member20, the plurality of blades30are arranged so as to have a longitudinal direction in the Z axis direction and are arranged side by side in the X axis direction. The plurality of blades30includes the blades30arranged between the upper frame piece210and the lateral reinforcing frame piece221have the shaft portions32which are provided at upper ends thereof and are supported by the upper frame piece210in a rotatable manner, and the shaft portions33which are provided at lower ends thereof and are supported by the lateral reinforcing frame piece221in a rotatable manner. The plurality of blades30includes the blades30arranged between the lower frame piece211and the lateral reinforcing frame piece221have the shaft portions33which are provided at upper ends thereof and are supported by the lateral reinforcing frame piece221in a rotatable manner, and the shaft portions32which are provided at lower ends thereof and are supported by the upper frame piece210in a rotatable manner.

A link member60is further assembled to the lateral reinforcing frame piece221. The link member60is formed so as to extend in the X axis direction. As shown inFIG.4, the link member60is connected to a connecting portion34formed at one end of each blade30. A lower end of the shaft50is coupled with an one end of the link member60.

As shown inFIG.2, the shaft50is arranged along the right frame piece212upward from a central portion of the right frame piece212. The upper end of the shaft50projects from the upper surface of one end of the upper frame piece210. A gear51is formed at the upper end of the shaft50.

The actuator device40is fixed above one end of the upper frame piece210by a screw or the like. The actuator device40has a drive shaft which is meshed with the gear51of the shaft50, and rotates the shaft50in response to an electric power supply. The plurality of blades30are operated to open or to close in response to a relative displacement of the link member60in the X axis direction with respect to the lateral reinforcing frame piece221caused by rotation of the shaft50. That is, the link member60opens and closes the plurality of blades30by transmitting the rotational force of the shaft50to the plurality of blades30. When the plurality of blades30are in open state, gaps are formed between the blades30, so that the air can enter into the engine room3from the front opening2through the shutter device10. When the plurality of blades30are in closed state, the gaps between the blades30are closed, so that the air flow from the front opening2to the engine room3is temporarily blocked.

By the way, in the shutter device10described above, if the ram pressure is applied to the blade30due to the traveling wind of the vehicle C when the plurality of blades30are in the closed state, the blade30may be deformed so as to bend in the air flow direction Y as shown by a double-dot chain line inFIG.5. Further, since force applied to the blade30by the ram pressure is transmitted to the frame member20, the frame member20may be deformed so as to bend in the air flow direction Y as shown by the double-dot chain line inFIG.6. When the frame member20and the blades30are deformed as shown inFIGS.5and6, the blades30may be disassembled from the frame member20. Further, if the frame member20and the blade30are deformed as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the frame member20and the blade30may come into contact with the heat exchanger6arranged on the downstream side of the air flow direction Y with respect to the shutter device10. As a result, the frame member20, the blade30, or the heat exchanger6may be damaged.

On the other hand, the heat exchanger6and the shutter device10may vibrate in the Z axis direction, i.e., in the vertical direction of the vehicle C due to the vibration of the vehicle C. Since the shapes and weights of the heat exchanger6and the shutter device10are different, the heat exchanger6and the shutter device10vibrate in different modes. Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the heat exchanger6and the shutter device10is deviated. When the heat exchanger6vibrates with a larger amplitude than the shutter device10, if the frame member20comes into contact with the heat exchanger6, as shown inFIG.7, the frame member20receives a large frictional force at a contact portion with the heat exchanger6. As a result, the frame member20or the heat exchanger6may be damaged earlier than the life at the contact portion.

Further, as shown inFIG.8, when the plurality of blades30are in the closed state, air flows through the narrow gap S10between the adjacent blades30. When air flows through the narrow gap S10, since a flow velocity of the air increases, a negative pressure is generated in the gap S10. When the blade30is deformed to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y due to this negative pressure, the negative pressure generated in the gap S10becomes smaller. As a result, the blade30returns to its original shape. When the blade30returns to its original shape, a negative pressure is generated again in the gap S10. As a result, the blade30is deformed. In this way, the blade30repeatedly deforms due to the negative pressure generated in the gap S10between the blades30. The blades30are vibrated in a self-excited manner. Such self-excited vibration of the blade30causes noise. Further, the self-excited vibration of the blade30may be transmitted to the other parts of the shutter device10and the other parts may vibrate, as a result, abrasion of various parts of the shutter device10may be facilitated as a problem.

As shown inFIG.2, a bracket80and a rod-shaped member90are assembled to the frame member20in the shutter device10of the present embodiment, in order to suppress the deformation of the blade30as shown inFIG.5and the deformation of the frame20shown inFIG.6andFIG.7. The rod-shaped member90also functions as a member for suppressing self-excited vibration of the blade30as shown inFIG.8. In the shutter device10, disassembling of the blade30from the frame member20is suppressed by suppressing deformation of the blade30and the frame member20by the bracket80and the rod-shaped member90. That is, in the present embodiment, the bracket80and the rod-shaped member90correspond to auxiliary members that assist support of the blade30with respect to the frame member20.

Next, the details of the structure of the bracket80and the rod-shaped member90are described.

As shown inFIG.2, the brackets80are arranged on connection portions, which includes a connecting portion between a central portion of the right frame piece212and a right end portion of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221, a connecting portion between a central portion of the left frame piece213and a left end of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221, and a connecting portion between a central portion of the vertical reinforcing frame piece220and a central portion of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221. Since a shape of the brackets80arranged on portions is identical, the structure of the bracket80provided at the connecting portion between the central portion of the vertical reinforcing frame piece220and the central portion of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221is described as a representative one.

As shown inFIG.9, the bracket80reinforces the connecting portion between the central portion of the vertical reinforcing frame piece220and the central portion of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221. The bracket80is made of a resin material.

The bracket80is assembled to an outer surface of the reinforcing frame piece22located on the downstream side in the air flow direction Y. The bracket80has a base portion81formed in a plate shape, and engaging portions82and83formed so as to extend in a direction parallel to the Y axis direction from each of both side surfaces of the base portion81.

Claw members223are formed on both side surfaces in the X axis direction on the vertical reinforcing frame piece220at portions above the connecting portion with the lateral reinforcing frame pieces221. The claw member223is engaged with the engaging member82of the bracket80in the Y axis direction.

As shown inFIG.10, a length L1of an aperture of the engaging member82of the bracket80in the Z axis direction is longer than a length L2of the claw member223in the Z axis direction. As a result, a gap S20is formed between an upper wall inner surface of the engaging member82of the bracket80and the claw member223of the reinforcing frame piece22. Further, a gap S21is also formed between a lower wall inner surface of the engaging member82of the bracket80and the claw member223of the reinforcing frame piece22. These gaps S20and S21enable a relative displacement of the bracket80in the z axis direction with respect to the reinforcing frame piece22.

As shown inFIG.9, similar claw members224are formed on both side surfaces in the X axis direction on the vertical reinforcing frame piece220at portions below the connecting portion with the lateral reinforcing frame pieces221.

The base portion81of the bracket80is arranged so as to face a central portion of the link member60. As a result, the bracket80holds the central portion of the link member60with respect to the lateral reinforcing frame piece221.

By the way, if the link member60is disassembled from the lateral reinforcing frame piece221due to the deformation of the frame member20, the blades30supported by the lateral reinforcing frame piece221and the link member60may also be disassembled. In this regard, in the shutter device10of the present embodiment, as shown inFIG.9, the bracket80holds the link member60with respect to the lateral reinforcing frame pieces221. As a result, since it is possible to suppress disassembling of the link member60from the lateral reinforcing frame piece221, it is possible to suppress disassembling of the blades30from the frame member20. As described above, the bracket80functions as an auxiliary member for suppressing disassemble of the blades30from the frame member20.

As shown inFIG.9, an elastic body84such as a rubber member is integrally molded on a surface of the bracket80. That is, the bracket80is made of a two-color molded product formed of a resin material and an elastic material such as rubber.

As shown inFIG.2, the rod-shaped members90are arranged on a position facing central portions of the plurality of blades30arranged in an upper region of the frame member20and arranged on a position facing central portions of the plurality of blades30arranged in a lower region of the frame member20. As shown inFIG.11, one end of the rod-shaped member90is inserted and fixed in an insertion hole212aformed on the right frame piece212. Similarly, the other end of the rod-shaped member90is inserted and fixed in an insertion hole formed on the left frame piece213. As shown inFIG.12, a central portion of the rod-shaped member90is held by the lateral reinforcing frame piece221by being inserted into insertion holes221aformed on the vertical reinforcing frame piece220.

As shown inFIGS.11and13, the rod-shaped member90is arranged at a position facing the notch shape31of each one of the blades30. As shown inFIGS.14and15, when each blade30is in the open state, the rod-shaped member90is placed and held so as to be inserted into the notch shape31of each blade30.

The rod-shaped member90functions as an auxiliary member for suppressing disassemble of the blade30from the frame member20by being assembled to the right frame piece212, the left frame piece213, and the vertical reinforcing frame pieces221to suppress deformation of the blade30to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y.

Further, as shown inFIGS.11and13, when each blade30is in the closed state and each blade30is deformed to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y due to the ram pressure, self-excited vibration, or the like, each blade30comes into contact with the rod-shaped member90. As a result, further deformation of each blade30is regulated by the rod-shaped member90. The rod-shaped member90functions as an auxiliary member for suppressing disassemble of the blade30from the frame member20by suppressing further deformation of the blade30to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y in this way.

Further, since the deformation of the blades30to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y is suppressed by the rod-shaped member90, it is possible to avoid that each blade30comes into contact with the heat exchanger6arranged on the downstream side in the air flow direction Y. Further, since the self-excited vibration of each blade30can be suppressed by contacting each blade30with the rod-shaped member90, it is possible to suppress noise, abrasion of various parts of the shutter device10and the like caused by the self-excited vibration of each blade30.

When the frame member20is deformed by the ram pressure, the most easily deformed portion of the frame member20is central portions of the frame member20. If the central portion of the frame member20is significantly deformed to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y, the bracket80provided on the central portion of the frame member20comes into contact with the heat exchanger6. At that time, since the elastic body84provided on the surface of the bracket80comes into contact with the heat exchanger6, it is possible to absorb an impact force applied to the frame member20by the elastic body84when the frame member20comes into contact with the heat exchanger6. Therefore, it is possible to lower the impact force applied to the frame member20.

Further, in a situation where the heat exchanger6is vibrating due to a vibration of the vehicle C, if the bracket80comes into contact with the vibrating heat exchanger6, due to a frictional force generated between the elastic body84of the bracket80and the heat exchanger6, the bracket80is displaced integrally with the heat exchanger6in the vertical direction of the vehicle C, that is, in the Z axis direction. At this time, since the gaps are formed in the Z axis direction between the engaging member82of the bracket80and the claw member223of the frame member20, and between the engaging member83of the bracket80and the claw member224of the frame member20, it is possible to relatively displace the bracket80with respect to the frame member20. Since the bracket80can absorb displacement differences between the vibrating heat exchanger6and the frame member20by being displaced the bracket80relative to the frame member20, it is possible to suppress excessive frictional force applied to the frame member20at the contact portion of the heat exchanger6. Therefore, it is possible to prevent early damage to the frame member or the heat exchanger.

According to the shutter device10of this embodiment described above, operations and effects described in the following (i) to (xi) can be obtained.

(i) The bracket80and the rod-shaped member90are assembled to the frame member20to assist the support of the blade30with respect to the frame member20. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress disassembling of the blade30from the frame member20.

(ii) The bracket80holds the link member60with respect to the lateral reinforcing frame piece221. As a result, it is possible to suppress disassembling of the blade30caused by a disassembling of the link member60from the lateral reinforcing frame piece221.

(iii) The bracket80is assembled on the outer surface of the frame member20located on the downstream side in the air flow direction Y. According to such a configuration, the bracket80can effectively suppress the deformation of the frame member20to the downstream side in the air flow direction Y.

(iv) The elastic body84is integrally provided on the surface of the bracket80. As a result, the impact force applied to the frame member20or the heat exchanger6when the frame member20comes into contact with the heat exchanger6can be absorbed by the elastic body84, so that it is possible to lower the impact force applied to the frame member20.

(v) In other words, the gaps are formed in the Z axis direction, i.e., in a direction orthogonal to the air flow direction Y, between the engaging member82of the bracket80and the claw member223of the frame member20, and between the engaging member83of the bracket80and the claw member224of the frame member20. According to such a configuration, since the bracket80can absorb the displacement differences between the heat exchanger6and the frame member20when the bracket80comes into contact with the heat exchanger6, it is possible to prevent an excessive frictional force from being applied to the frame member20or the heat exchanger6at the contact portion.

(vi) The shutter device10is provided with a plurality of brackets80and a plurality of rod-shaped members90. As a result, the blades30can be supported more reliably with respect to the frame member20.

(vii) The bracket80arranged at the right end of the lateral reinforcing frame piece221further has a function to hold the shaft50with respect to the frame member20. According to such a configuration, the bracket80can prevent the shaft50from being disassembled from the frame member20.

(viii) The rod-shaped member90further suppresses the deformation of the blade30toward the downstream side in the air flow direction Y. According to such a configuration, the rod-shaped member90can prevent the blade30from coming into contact with the heat exchanger6adjacent to the shutter device10. Further, since the self-excited vibration of the blade30can be suppressed by the rod-shaped member90, it is possible to suppress noise and abrasion of parts on the blades30caused by the self-excited vibration.

(ix) The rod-shaped member90is arranged so as to face the plurality of blades30on the downstream side in the air flow direction Y and extends in the X axis direction, and is assembled to the frame member20. According to such a rod-shaped member90, it is possible to easily provide a member capable of suppressing deformation of the blade30.

(x) The blade30is formed with a notch shape31which avoids interference with the rod-shaped member90in the open state. According to such a configuration, since the rod-shaped member90can be arranged so as to be close to the blade30, the deformation of the blade30can be easily suppressed by the rod-shaped member90.

(xi) The rod-shaped member90is arranged so as to face central portions in longitudinal directions of the plurality of blades. According to such a configuration, since the deformation of the most easily deformable portion of the blade30can be suppressed by the rod-shaped member90, the deformation of the blade30can be effectively suppressed.

The embodiments described above can be also implemented in the following forms.

As shown inFIG.16, the bracket80may be assembled not only on the outer surface of the frame member20located on the downstream side in the air flow direction but also on the outer surface of the frame20located on the upstream side in the air flow direction.

The rod-shaped member90may be arranged so as to face portions other than the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of blades30.

The shutter device10may be provided with only one of the bracket80and the rod-shaped member90.

The present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples described above. The specific examples described above which have been appropriately modified in design by those skilled in the art are also encompassed in the scope of the present disclosure so far as the modified specific examples have the features of the present disclosure. Each element included in each of the specific examples described above, and the placement, condition, shape, and the like of the element are not limited to those illustrated, and can be modified as appropriate. The combinations of the elements in each of the specific examples described above can be changed as appropriate, as long as it is not technically contradictory.