Patent Publication Number: US-2022212729-A1

Title: Air Flap System

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an air flap system for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle, to a method for assembling an air flap system, and to a motor vehicle equipped with such an air flap system. 
     In motor vehicles nowadays, for aerodynamic reasons, air flap systems are provided in order to be able to control the intake of air into the motor vehicle actively by means of adjustable air flaps in the region of the radiator grille. The improvement in the aerodynamics of motor vehicles is one of the possibilities for reducing the fuel consumption and therefore the CO 2  emission of the motor vehicles. For example, closing the air flap can cause the production of an air cushion in front of the radiator grille, which prevents or at least reduces swirling of the air. On the other hand, the intake of air or fresh air into the engine or the passenger compartment has to be possible at all times for obvious reasons. The air flaps are generally adjusted by an electric actuator. 
     It is known to fasten air flap systems having integrated radiator sensors rigidly in the vehicle frame. The relatively high costs which occur because of refastening the air flap system and the radar sensors following an impact at low speeds are a disadvantage of such an arrangement. In the event of a parking prang (accident) at low speeds or at low loads on the vehicle faring, bumper and the air flap system, the air flap system can be brought out of the starting position. If a radar sensor is installed in the air flap system, it is likewise brought as a result out of its starting position. This may impair the operation of the radar sensor. 
     The present invention is based on the object of providing an air flap system for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle, a method for assembling such an air flap system, and a motor vehicle comprising such an air flap system. 
     This object is achieved by an air flap system, a method, and a motor vehicle, in accordance with the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. 
     An air flap system according to the invention for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle comprises at least one air flap which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The air flap system furthermore comprises an elastic element which is provided for coupling the air flap system to a vehicle frame. The elastic element is elastic at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     The solution according to the invention makes it possible to bring about resetting of the air flap system simply and cost-effectively. At the same time, regulatory requirements regarding pedestrian protection can be maintained. In the event of a parking prang at low speeds or at low loads on the vehicle faring, bumper and the air flap system, the air flap system can be reset into the starting position, for example, by spring elements on both sides of the mounting. The impact causes the air flap system to be brought out of the starting position. If a radar sensor is installed in the air flap system, it is likewise brought out of its starting position as a result. This may impair the operation of the radar sensor. The elastic element located in the mounting of the air flap system resets the air flap system into the starting position. Restriction-free functioning of the radar sensor is therefore ensured. 
     In one embodiment of the air flap system, the elastic element brings about a resetting force in order to bring the air flap system back into a starting position after an impact event. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the air flap system furthermore comprises a radar sensor for detecting an object. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the air flap system is mounted elastically by means of the elastic element. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the air flap system has an air flap system frame, wherein the elastic element is clipped in the air flap system frame. The clipping of the elastic element permits a well-defined positioning. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the air flap system has a holding element which is used for the coupling between air flap system and vehicle frame, wherein the holding element is fastened, in particular screwed, to the vehicle frame. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the elastic element comprises a plastics spring or a metal spring. In particular the use of a plastics spring makes it possible to dispense with using a highly tensioned steel spring. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, the radar sensor is arranged in an upper cooling air inlet of the air flap system. 
     In a further embodiment of the air flap system, a breakaway force corresponds to a force which is necessary for releasing the elastic element from a locking position, wherein the breakaway force is greater than or equal to the resetting force. The provision of a breakaway force at which the elastic element is broken away from a predetermined breaking point into the starting position makes a higher force unnecessary for the return into the latching positions. Instead, the elastic element can drop back into the breakaway position without application of force. 
     A method according to the invention for assembling an air flap system for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle, wherein the air flap system comprises at least one air flap which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, comprises the following steps:
         providing an elastic element in the air flap system; and   coupling the elastic element to a vehicle frame, wherein the elastic element is elastic at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.       

     The object mentioned at the beginning is also achieved by the motor vehicle which is equipped with the abovementioned air flap system. Accordingly, the same or similar advantages as described in conjunction with the above are also afforded, and therefore reference is made to the above embodiment in conjunction with the device according to the invention in order to avoid repetitions. 
     Some advantageous embodiments of the invention will be explained by way of example below with reference to the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an air flap system according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows an enlarged detail of the image from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show side views of the first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the first embodiment from a different viewing direction. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Orientation details, such as, for example, “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom” and also “vertically” and “horizontally” relate to an arrangement as is conventionally provided in motor vehicles located on a horizontal surface without this being intended to constitute a limitation. 
       FIG. 1  shows an air flap system  10  for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle. Air flap system  10  comprises at least one air flap  110 . Air flap  110  is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. 
     Air flap system  10  comprises a spring element  100  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 2  which shows a detail from  FIG. 1 ). Spring element  100  is an example of an elastic element. Spring element  100  is provided for coupling air flap system  10  to a vehicle frame. Spring element  100  is elastic here at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     Further illustrations of spring element  100  are apparent from  FIGS. 2 to 5  which essentially refer to the region of a rectangle marked by dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . 
     Spring element  100  brings about a resetting force in order to bring air flap system  10  back into a starting position after an impact event. An elastic mounting of air flap system  10  can be achieved with the aid of spring element  100 . Spring element  100  is configured in particular as a compression spring. Spring element  100  may comprise, for example, a spiral spring and extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , air flap system  10  furthermore comprises a radar sensor  120  for detecting an object, such as a pedestrian. Radar sensor  120  is arranged here in an upper cooling air inlet of the air flap system  10 . 
     Air flap system  10  furthermore has an air flap system frame  20 . In one embodiment, spring element  100  is clipped or latched into air flap system frame  20 . The latching of spring element  100  makes it possible to achieve a well-defined positioning of spring element  100  and air flap system  10 . In one embodiment, air flap system  10  has a holding element  30  which is used for the coupling between air flap system  10  and the vehicle frame. Holding element  30  is fastened, in particular screwed, here to the vehicle frame. 
     Spring element  100  can be, for example, a plastic spring or a metal spring. 
     A breakaway force is required for releasing spring element  100  from a locking position. The breakaway force is greater than or equal to the resetting force. 
     A method for assembling the above-described air flap system  10  for controlling the intake of air into a motor vehicle, wherein the air flap system  10  comprises at least one air flap  110  which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, comprises the following steps:
         providing spring element  100  in air flap system  10 ; and   coupling spring element  100  to a vehicle frame, wherein spring element  100  is elastic at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.       

     Air flap system  10  is suitable for installing in a motor vehicle (not fully shown). 
     It goes without saying that in the present invention there is a relationship between firstly features which have been described in conjunction with method steps and also secondly features which have been described in conjunction with corresponding devices. Therefore, described method features are also to be considered to be device features which belong to the invention—and vice versa—even if this has not been explicitly stated. 
     It should be noted that the features of the invention described with reference to individual embodiments or variants, such as for example type and configuration of the individual air flaps and actuators, and the spatial arrangement thereof, can also be present in other embodiments, unless stated otherwise or automatically ruled out for technical reasons. In addition, all features of features of this kind, described in combination, of individual embodiments do not necessarily always have to be realized in a respective embodiment.