Patent Publication Number: US-2021188079-A1

Title: Active grid device for motor vehicles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present Application claims priority of French Patent Application No. 19 14983 filed Dec. 19, 2019. The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an active grid device, of the type comprising: a frame; a first mobile assembly, comprising at least one first flap capable of pivoting with respect to the frame between a closed position and an open position; a second mobile assembly, comprising at least one second flap capable of pivoting with respect to the frame between a closed position and an open position; a first and a second cam track; and a first and a second connecting mechanisms connecting the first and second mobile assemblies to the first and second cam tracks, respectively, each of the first and second connecting mechanisms comprising at least one connecting rod. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a known manner, such an active grid device is arranged at the front of a motor vehicle, in order to regulate an air inlet into the interior of said vehicle during its movement. Such an air inlet makes it possible in particular to cool an engine compartment of the said vehicle. 
     In order to precisely modulate the circulation of air from the outside to the inside of the vehicle, it is known, for example from document WO2017/109371, to equip the active grille device with several flaps. These can be moved independently into the open or closed position, so that the air flow to the inside of the vehicle can be gradually changed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the present invention is to propose a device which is simple to realize and which allows to modulate efficiently an air flow through the said device. 
     For this purpose, the object of the invention is to propose an active grid device of the above-mentioned type, in which: the first and second cam tracks are fixed with respect to the frame; and the device further comprises: an actuating lever rotatable with respect to the frame; and a first and a second shoe, movable in translation with respect to the actuating lever, said first and second shoes being able to slide respectively in the first and second cam tracks; the connecting rod of each of the first and second connecting mechanisms being articulated respectively on the first and second shoes. The actuating lever is capable of pivoting relative to the frame between a first, a second and a third configuration, such that: in the first configuration, each of the first and second flaps is in the closed position; in the second configuration, the first flap is in the open position and the second flap is in the closed position; and in the third configuration, each of the first and second flaps is in the open position. 
     The device according to the invention thus allows a sequential opening of the flaps, associated with the cooling needs. 
     According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the active grid device has one or more of the following features, taken alone or in any technically possible combination: 
     the device further comprises an actuator connected to the actuating lever, said actuator being capable of pivoting said lever relative to the frame between the first, second and third configurations; 
     the first cam track has an active portion and an inactive portion, configured such that: pivoting the actuating lever between the first and second configurations causes the first shoe to slide in the active portion of the first cam track; and pivoting the actuating lever between the second and third configurations causes the first shoe to slide in the inactive portion of the first cam track; 
     the device is configured such that sliding the first shoe into the active portion of the first cam track results in translation of the connecting rod of the first coupling mechanism so as to pivot the first flap between the closed and open positions;
         the second cam track has an inactive portion and an active portion, configured such that: pivoting the operating lever between the first and second configurations causes the second shoe to slide into the inactive portion of the second cam track; and pivoting the operating lever between the second and third configurations causes the second shoe to slide into the active portion of the second cam track;       

     the device is configured such that sliding the second shoe into the active portion of the second cam track results in a translation of the connecting rod of the second coupling mechanism so as to pivot the second shoe between the closed and open positions; 
     the first movable assembly comprises a plurality of first flaps, capable of pivoting relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position along distinct and parallel axes; and the first coupling mechanism comprises a first transmission element articulated to each of said first flaps, said first transmission element being articulated to the connecting rod of said first coupling mechanism; 
     the second movable assembly comprises a plurality of second flaps, capable of pivoting with respect to the frame between a closed position and an open position along distinct and parallel axes; and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second transmission element articulated to each of said second flaps, said second transmission element being articulated to the connecting rod of said second coupling mechanism. 
     The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an active grid device as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given only as a non-limitative example and made with reference to the figures on which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an active grid device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the device in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 3, 4 and 5  are partial views of the device in  FIG. 1 , in a first, second and third configuration respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of an active grid device in an embodiment of the invention. 
     Device  10  is in particular intended to be assembled to a front part of a motor vehicle (not shown), in order to regulate an air inlet into an engine compartment of the said vehicle. 
     Device  10  comprises in particular: a frame  12 ; a first  14  and a second  16  set of movable flaps; a cam structure  18 ; an actuating device  20 ; and a first  22  and a second  24  coupling mechanism. 
     Preferably, frame  12  is substantially flat and has a substantially parallelepipedal contour. In the remainder of the description, an orthonormal base (X, Y, Z) associated with frame  12  in a configuration assembled to a motor vehicle (not shown) is considered. The Z-direction represents the vertical and the X-direction represents a direction of travel of the vehicle. 
     Frame  12  is substantially arranged in a (Y, Z) plane. Frame  12  has a first  30  and a second  32  flap housings. The first  30  and the second  32  housings are essentially aligned in a Z-direction, with the first slot  30  above the second housing  32 . 
     Each housing  30 ,  32  has at least one opening  34 ,  36  delimited by a parallelepiped edge, with sides substantially aligned in Y and Z. 
     In the embodiment shown, each housing  30 ,  32  has two openings  34 ,  36  approximately aligned according to Y. The openings  34  of the first housing  30  are substantially identical and are separated according to Y by a first panel  38 . The openings  36  of the second housing  32  are substantially identical and are separated according to Y by a second panel  39 . 
     According to a variant not shown, the first  30  and/or the second  32  housing has a single opening, or a number of openings greater than or equal to three. 
     Each of the first  14  and second  16  sets of movable flaps is rotatably mounted on frame  12 , so that the first  30  and second  32  housings are opened and closed respectively. 
     Each of the first  14  and second  16  sets includes at least one flap  40 ,  42  rotatable relative to frame  12 , along an axis substantially parallel to Y. As will be described below, each flap  40 ,  42  is capable of pivoting relative to frame  12  between a closed and an open position. 
     In the embodiment shown, each of the first  14  and second  16  sets has a plurality of flaps  40 ,  42 . 
     Preferably, each of the two openings  34  of the first housing  30  receives several flaps  40  arranged one above the other, according to distinct axes of rotation  43 ,  44  and substantially parallel to Y. Preferably, the same axis  43 ,  44  is common to two flaps  40  located in each of the two openings  34 . 
     Preferably, each of the two openings  36  of the second housing  32  receives several flaps  42  arranged one above the other, according to distinct axes of rotation  45 ,  46  and substantially parallel to Y. Preferably, the same axis  45 ,  46  is common to two flaps  42  located in each of the two openings  36 . 
     One end according to Y of each flap  40  of the first set  14  is notably hinged to the first panel  38 , separating the openings  34  from the first housing  30 . One end according to Y of each flap  42  of the second set  16  is hinged to the second panel  39 , separating the openings  36  of the second housing  32 . 
     A number of flaps  40 ,  42  received in the same opening  34 ,  36  is for example two to six flaps. In the design shown, each opening  34  of the first housing  30  receives three flaps  40  and each opening  36  of the second housing  32  receives four flaps  42 . 
     The cam structure  18  consists of a first  50  and a second  52  cam tracks. Each of said first  50  and second  52  cam tracks has at least one plate  54 ,  56 , each of said plates  54 ,  56  having a slot  58 ,  59  at the closed ends. 
     In the embodiment shown, each of the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks has a pair of plates  54 ,  56 . Each plate  54 ,  56  has a slot  58 ,  59  at the closed ends. The slots  58  of the two plates  54  of the first cam track  50  have an identical shape. Similarly, the slots  59  of the two plates  56  of the second cam track  52  have an identical shape. 
     Each plate  54 ,  56  of the first cam track  50  and the second cam track  52  is attached to frame  12 . Specifically, each plate  54 ,  56  is arranged in one plane (X, Z) and forms a projection along X from the second panel  39  of frame  12 . 
     In the embodiment shown, each plate  54 ,  56  of the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks is formed in one piece with a support  99 , said support  99  being fixed to the second panel  39 . 
     The two plates  54  of the first cam track  50  are Y-spaced by a first gap  60  and arranged so that the slots  58  of said plates  54  face each other. Likewise, the two plates  56  of the second cam track  52  are spaced at Y intervals by a second gap  62  and arranged so that the slots  59  of said plates  56  face each other. 
     Each of the first  50  and second  52  cam paths has an active portion  64 ,  65  and an inactive portion  66 ,  67 , is continuous to each other. 
     Each of the active portions  64 ,  65  corresponds to a part of the slot  58 ,  59  having substantially the shape of a first arc of a circle of small radius of curvature. The said first arc of a circle forms an angle of approximately 90°. The ends of the said first arc are located substantially one above the other in the Z direction. 
     Each of the inactive portions  66 ,  67  corresponds to a part of the slot  58 ,  59  having substantially the shape of a second circular arc of high radius of curvature. “High radius of curvature” means that for each cam track  50 ,  52 , the radius of curvature of the second arc is greater than the radius of curvature of the first arc. The said second arc of a circle forms an acute angle, the ends of the said second arc of a circle being substantially aligned along the X axis. 
     In the first cam track  50 , the active portion  64  extends upwards relative to the inactive portion  66 . A first end  68  of each slot  58  is adjacent to the active portion  64 . A second end  69  of each slot  58  is adjacent to the inactive portion  66 . 
     In the second cam track  52 , the active portion  65  extends downward relative to the inactive portion  67 . A first end  70  of each slot  59  is adjacent to the inactive portion  67 . A second end  71  of each slot  59  is adjacent to the active portion  65 . 
     Actuating device  20  consists of: an actuator  75 , an actuating lever  76  and a first  78  and a second  79  skids. 
     Actuator  75  is attached to the second panel  39  of frame  12 , between the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks. Actuator lever  76  is rotatably mounted on actuator  75  along an axis  80  parallel to Y. 
     According to the embodiment shown, the actuator  75  is attached to bracket  99 , with bracket  99  attached to the second panel  39 . 
     For each of the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks, the concavities of the active portion  64 ,  65  and the inactive portion  66 ,  67  are oriented towards the axis  80  of rotation of actuator lever  76 . 
     Actuating lever  76  consists of a first  82  and a second  83  section, arranged on either side of actuator  75  according to Y. Each of said first  82  and second  83  sections comprises a first  84  and a second  85  slide respectively. Each slide  84 ,  85  forms a radial projection with respect to the axis  80  of rotation of lever  76 . 
     Each slide  84 ,  85  extends along an axis  86 ,  87  perpendicular to Y. The axes  86 ,  87  of the first  84  and second  85  slides form a non-zero angle of between 45° and 135°. Preferably, this angle is about 90°. 
     The first  78  and the second  79  shoes are received in the first  84  and the second  85  slides respectively. Each shoe  78 ,  79  is able to slide in the corresponding slide  84 ,  85  along the axis  86 ,  87  of the said slide. 
     Each of the first  78  and second  79  shoes has a pin  88 ,  89 . Each pin  88 ,  89  forms a projection according to Y, on both sides of the slide  84 ,  85  corresponding to shoe  78 ,  79 . 
     The first slide  84  is arranged in the first space  60  between plates  54  of the first cam track  50 . Each end of pin  88  of the first shoe  78  is received and able to move in the slot  58  of one of the said plates  54 . 
     The second slide  85  is disposed in the second space  62  between the plates  56  of the second cam track  52 . Each end of pin  89  of the second shoe  79  is received and movable in the slot  59  of one of said plates  56 . 
     Each of the first  22  and second  24  coupling mechanisms comprises respectively: a first  90  and a second  92  connecting rod; and a first  94  and a second  96  transmission element. 
     A first end of each of the first  90  and second  92  connecting rods is articulated, respectively, on the first  78  and the second  79  shoes, along an axis parallel to Y. According to the embodiment, each of the first  90  and second  92  connecting rods has two legs  97 ,  98 . Each of the legs of the same connecting rod is articulated on pin  88 ,  89  of the corresponding shoe, on either side of the corresponding slide  84 ,  85  and on either side of the corresponding cam track  50 ,  52 . 
     A second end of each of the first  90  and second  92  connecting rods is articulated, respectively, on the first  94  and on the second  96  transmission element, along an axis parallel to the Y axis. 
     In addition, the first transmission element  94  is hinged to each flap  40  of the first set  14  of movable flaps, along axes parallel to Y. In particular, movement of the first transmission element  94  relative to frame  12  is capable of pivoting all the flaps  40  of the first set  14  between an open and a closed position. 
     In addition, the second transmission element  96  is hinged to each flap  42  of the second set  16  of movable flaps, along axes parallel to Y. In particular, movement of the second transmission element  96  relative to frame  12  is capable of pivoting all of the flaps  42  of the second set  16  between an open and a closed position. 
       FIG. 3  shows device  10  in a first configuration described below. 
     In the first configuration, all the flaps  40  of the first set  14  are in a so-called closed position, in which the openings  34  of the first housing  30  are closed by the said flaps  40 . 
     The closed position of the flaps  40  of the first set  14  corresponds to a so-called high position of the first transmission element  94 , hinged to each flap  40 , as well as to a so-called high position of the first connecting rod  90 , hinged to said first transmission element  94 . 
     In the same way, in the first configuration, all the flaps  42  of the second set  16  are in a position called closed, in which the openings  36  of the second housing  32  are closed by said flaps  42 . 
     The closed position of the flaps  42  of the second set  16  corresponds to a so-called high position of the second transmission element  96 , hinged to each flap  42 , as well as to a so-called high position of the second connecting rod  92 , hinged to said second transmission element  96 . 
     Furthermore, in the first configuration, pin  88  of the first shoe  78  of actuator  20  contacts the first end  68  of each slot  58  of the first cam track  50 , and pin  89  of the second shoe  79  of actuator  20  contacts the first end  70  of each slot  59  of the second cam track  52 . 
       FIG. 4  shows device  10  in a second configuration described below. 
     In the second configuration, all flaps  40  of the first assembly  14  are in a so-called open position, in which maximum space is left for air flow through the openings  34  of the first housing  30 . 
     The open position of the flaps  40  of the first set  14  corresponds to a so-called lower position of the first transmission element  94 , hinged to each flap  40 . In the said lower position, the first transmission element  94  is located lower according to Z than in the upper position described above. 
     In the same way, the open position of the flaps  40  of the first set  14  corresponds to a position known as the low position of the first connecting rod  90 , articulated to the first transmission element  94 . In the said lower position, the first connecting rod  90  is located lower according to Z than in the upper position described above. 
     On the other hand, in the second configuration, all the flaps  42  of the second set  16  are in the closed position described above. The second transmission element  96  and the second connecting rod  92  are in the up position described above. 
     Furthermore, in the second configuration, pin  88  of the first shoe  78  is located at a junction between the active  64  and inactive  66  portions of the first cam track  50 , and pin  89  of the second shoe  79  is located at a junction between the inactive  67  and active  65  portions of the second cam track  52 . 
       FIG. 5  shows device  10  in a third configuration described below. 
     In the third configuration, all flaps  40  of the first assembly  14  are in the open position described above. The first connecting rod  90  and the first transmission element  94  are in the lower position described above. 
     In addition, in the third configuration, all dampers  42  of the second set  16  are in a so-called open position, in which maximum space is left for air to pass through the openings  36  of the second housing  32 . 
     The open position of the flaps  42  of the second set  16  corresponds to a so-called low position of the second transmission element  96 , hinged to each flap  42 . In the said lower position, the second transmission element  96  is located lower according to Z than in the upper position described above. 
     In the same way, the open position of the flaps  42  of the second set  16  corresponds to a position known as the low position of the second connecting rod  92 , articulated to the second transmission element  96 . In this lower position, the second connecting rod  92  is located lower in Z than in the upper position described above. 
     Furthermore, in the third configuration, pin  88  of the first shoe  78  is in contact with the second end  69  of each slot  58  of the first cam track  50 , and pin  89  of the second shoe  79  is in contact with the second end  71  of each slot  59  of the second cam track  52 . 
     A method of operating device  10  will now be described. Such a method is implemented, for example, by means of a program stored in an electronic control module (not shown) of a motor vehicle (not shown) containing device  10 . 
     Such a program associates, for example, each of the first, second and third configurations of device  10  described above with a specific cooling requirement of an engine compartment of the vehicle. Such a specific cooling requirement is, for example, determined by comparing an engine compartment temperature with a predefined threshold in the program. The cooling may relate to the vehicle&#39;s engine, batteries or other accessories. 
     Device  10  is initially considered to be in the first configuration described above. With the flaps  40 ,  42  being in the closed position, air circulation through openings  34 ,  36  is at a minimum level when the vehicle with device  10  is moving. 
     Thus, in the first configuration, the air flow around the vehicle is deflected, resulting in an aerodynamic gain and an associated reduction in CO 2  emissions. 
     In addition, the first configuration allows the vehicle&#39;s engine to be quickly warmed up to quickly reach its optimum operating temperature. 
     In the event that the program determines a need for cooling of the engine compartment, the actuator  75  rotates the actuator lever  76  around rotation axis  80 . Driven by the first  84  and second  85  sliders respectively, pins  88 ,  89  of the first  78  and second  79  shoes move in slots  58 ,  59 , respectively of the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks. 
     Specifically, from the first end  68  of slots  58 , pin  88  of the first shoe  78  moves into the active portion  64  of the first cam track  50 . The first connecting rod  90 , articulated on pin  88 , thus moves from the upper position to the lower position. Similarly, the first transmission element  94 , which is hinged to the first connecting rod  90 , moves from the up position to the down position. This movement leads to the pivoting of the flaps  40  of the first set  14  from the closed position to the open position. 
     In addition, from the first end  70  of the slots  59 , pin  89  of the second shoe  79  moves into the inactive portion  67  of the second cam track  52 . This inactive portion  67  is configured so that the second connecting rod  92 , which is articulated to pin  89 , pivots about its articulation to the second transmission element  96  without moving the second transmission element. The flaps  42  of the second assembly  16  therefore remain in the closed position. 
     The second configuration is reached when each pin  88 ,  89  reaches the junction between the active portions  64 ,  65  and inactive portions  66 ,  67  of the corresponding cam track  50 ,  52 . The flaps  40  of the first set  14  are then in the open position. 
     Due to the opening of only the first set  14  of flaps, the second configuration of device  10  allows an intermediate level of airflow through the openings  34 ,  36  of said device  10 . 
     If the cooling requirements are reduced, as determined by the program, actuator  75  reverses actuator lever  76  to return device  10  to the first configuration. 
     Conversely, if the program determines that an intermediate level of ventilation is insufficient to cool the engine compartment, actuator  75  continues to pivot actuator lever  76  about the axis of rotation  80  in the initial direction. This pivoting causes pins  88 ,  89  of the first  78  and second  79  shoes to continue to move into slots  58 ,  59  of the first  50  and second  52  cam tracks. 
     Specifically, from the second configuration, spindle  88  of the first shoe  78  moves into the inactive portion  66  of the first cam track  50 . This inactive portion  66  is configured so that the first connecting rod  90 , which is articulated to pin  88 , pivots about its articulation to the first transmission element  94  without moving the first transmission element. The flaps  40  of the first set  14  thus remain in the open position. 
     Furthermore, from the second configuration, pin  89  of the second shoe  79  moves into the active portion  65  of the second cam track  52 . The second connecting rod  92 , which is articulated on pin  89 , thus moves from the high position to the low position. Similarly, the second transmission element  96 , which is articulated to the second connecting rod  92 , moves from the high position to the low position. This movement leads to the pivoting of the flaps  42  of the second set  16  from the closed position to the open position. 
     The third configuration is reached when each pin  88 ,  89  reaches the second end  69 ,  71  of each slot  58 ,  59  of the corresponding cam track  50 ,  52 . The flaps  40  of the first set  14  and the flaps  42  of the second set  16  are then in the open position. 
     Due to the opening of the two sets  14 ,  16  of flaps, the third configuration of device  10  allows a maximum level of airflow through openings  34 ,  36  of said device  10 , for maximum cooling of the vehicle engine compartment. 
     If the cooling requirements are reduced, as determined by the program, actuator  75  rotates actuating lever  76  in the opposite direction. By moving pins  88 ,  89  in the slots  58 ,  59  in the opposite direction, device  10  switches from the third to the second configuration and then, if necessary, from the second to the first configuration. 
     Device  10  with active grid thus allows a sequential opening of the flaps  40 ,  42 , associated with the need for cooling. 
     Device  10  therefore makes it possible to simply and effectively modulate the air circulation inside a motor vehicle during its movement.