Patent Description:
Document <CIT> describes an air guide comprising a duct configured to direct a flow of air entering a motor vehicle towards a heat exchanger. The air guide comprises a protective grille for protecting the heat exchanger. A flap assembly is mounted within the duct of the air guide by means of a flap support.

Document <CIT> describes a throttle device for adjusting an airflow through an opening in a vehicle body. The throttle device comprises a frame through which the airflow is guided towards a radiator of the vehicle. The frame has longitudinal guides along which louvers can slide between an open position and a closed position. If the louvers are moved into the open position, the airflow can pass through the frame. If the louvers are moved into the closed position, the louvers prevent the air from passing through the frame. By a plurality of pivoting axes, along which adjacent louvers are coupled to each other, a stone chip protection is provided.

However, if the louvers are folded and therefore moved into the open position, the pivoting axes cannot prevent stones from passing through the frame and from potentially hitting the radiator.

Document <CIT> describes an adjustable guiding device for controlling external air flowing towards a radiator. The guiding device comprises an upper shutter assembly and a lower air flap. The upper shutter assembly and the lower air flap are linked by a coupling mechanism and can therefore be moved simultaneously.

Document <CIT> describes an airflow guide device for a vehicle, wherein the airflow guide device comprises an upper air flap device and a lower air flap device.

It is further possible to protect a radiator of a vehicle against damages resulting from stone chip events by providing a stone chip grill at a front face of the radiator. Such a stone chip grill, which can be made from plastic, must however be fixed to the radiator in order to protect the radiator against leakages resulting from stone chip events.

On the one hand, this is time consuming and cumbersome. Further, fixing such a stone chip protection grill on the front face of the radiator leads to an increase in the pressure loss of the airflow flowing through the radiator. The pressure loss results from the stone chip protection grill attached to the front face of the radiator. Additionally, the heat exchange performance of the radiator is reduced due to the presence of such a stone chip protection grill.

Finally, fixing the stone chip protection grill to the radiator increases a potential for leakages between the air guiding element and the radiator. This results in a lower amount of air reaching the radiator in operation of the radiator arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to indicate a radiator arrangement of the initially mentioned kind, which provides a stone chip protection in a particularly simple and reliable manner, and to provide a vehicle with such a radiator arrangement.

This object is solved by a radiator arrangement having the features of claim <NUM> and by a vehicle having the features of claim <NUM>. Advantageous configurations with convenient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

The inventive radiator arrangement comprises a radiator and an air guiding element for guiding an airflow towards the radiator. The air guiding element has an inlet for letting in the airflow and an outlet facing the radiator. The air guiding element comprises a plurality of louvers which are configured to prevent stones of a predetermined size to hit the radiator. The louvers are fixed in position relative to a housing of the air guiding element, wherein the housing is configured to guide the airflow towards the outlet. The outlet has a cross-sectional area at least encompassing an area of a front face of the radiator, wherein the front face of the radiator is exposed to the airflow.

The radiator arrangement comprises a shutter assembly arranged at the air guiding element. Herein, the shutter assembly comprises a plurality of louvers which are movable with respect to a frame structure of the shutter assembly. By means of such a shutter assembly, a quantity of air passing through the air guiding element towards the front face of the radiator can be adjusted. In particular by moving the louvers of the shutter assembly into a closed position, it can be avoided that an airflow gets to the front face of the radiator. Such an operational mode of the radiator arrangement can be advantageous for reducing the drag or air resistance of the radiator arrangement. This can be particularly beneficial, for example, if the radiator arrangement is located in a front-end portion of the vehicle equipped with the radiator arrangement.

Additionally, the movable louvers of the shutter assembly can contribute to the stone chip protection provided by the immobile louvers, i.e. the louvers which are fixed in position relative to the housing of the air guiding element. Consequently, providing the shutter assembly is helpful in preventing stones from getting to or hitting the front face of the radiator.

The shutter assembly is arranged at the inlet of the air guiding element, wherein the frame structure is fixed to a frame element of the air guiding element. Such a configuration prevents the airflow from entering the air guiding element, if the movable louvers of the shutter assembly are moved into the closed position. This is beneficial, in particular with respect to the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle equipped with the radiator arrangement, i.e. in which the radiator arrangement is installed.

The air guiding element comprises a center strut dividing the inlet into a first inlet portion and a second inlet portion. Herein, a first group of louvers is arranged within the first inlet portion, and a second group of louvers is arranged within the second inlet portion. This results in a shorter length of each one of the louvers within the respective group compared to an air guiding element without such a center strut. Consequently, the stability of the louvers is increased.

The radiator arrangement comprises a mechanism for moving the movable louvers into their various positions, wherein the mechanism is arranged in front of the center strut.

As the louvers are fixed in position relative to the housing of the air guiding element and are therefore immobile, the louvers permanently prevent stones of the predetermined size to hit the radiator. This results in a particularly reliable and efficient stone chip protection. Further, as the housing of the air guiding element shields the airflow towards the environment in operation of the radiator arrangement, i.e. when the airflow actually passes through the air guiding element, the entire airflow reaching the front face of the radiator in operation of the radiator arrangement benefits from the retention of the stones, which is provided by the immobile louvers.

As the cross-sectional area of the outlet at least encompasses or at least includes the area of the radiator's front face, the front face comes to lie within the outlet, in particular centrally within the outlet, if the area of the front face of the radiator is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outlet.

In particular, the cross-sectional area of the outlet can substantially correspond to the area of the front face of the radiator. This leads to a particularly extensive utilization of the cooling performance that can be provided by the airflow reaching the radiator.

In contrast to movable louvers such as louvers of the shutter assembly, the immobile louvers or louvers fixed in position are not configured to be moved, in particular rotated, from a first position into a second position. Rather the positions and orientations of the immobile louvers remain permanently unchanged.

Advantageously, integrating the immobile louvers into the air guiding element makes it unnecessary to provide a stone chip protection grill as a separate component. Further, the effort associated with mounting such an additional component to the radiator is avoided. This results in a simpler manufacturing of the radiator arrangement and in a cost reduction.

Additionally, the louvers which are part of the air guiding element, only lead to a very little increase of the pressure loss on the airflow side of the radiator compared to the pressure loss resulting from a separate stone chip protection grill fixed to the front face of the radiator. Still further, as there is no need for fixing a separate component such as the stone chip protection grill to the radiator, leakages between the housing of the air guiding element and the radiator front face can be reduced.

As the radiator is protected against damages resulting from stones hitting the front face of the radiator, a loss of a cooling fluid, in particular a cooling liquid, flowing through the radiator in operation of the radiator arrangement can be avoided to a particularly large extent. Therefore, the functionality of the radiator can be readily maintained.

The louvers fixed in position can also protect the radiator from damage by reducing the kinetic energy of stones reaching the front face of the radiator. As the probability is reduced that even stones smaller than the predetermined size hit the radiator with full speed, a reliable and efficient stone chip protection is provided.

In operation of the radiator arrangement, i.e. when the airflow actually flows through the housing of the air guiding element towards the front face of the radiator, a transfer of heat from the cooling fluid towards the airflow passing through the radiator (or vice versa from the airflow towards the cooling fluid) can occur. Therefore the cooling fluid can be cooled by means of the radiator.

In operation of the radiator arrangement, the airflow can preferably be effected by the movement of the vehicle equipped with the radiator arrangement and/or by means of a cooling fan which can be part of the radiator arrangement.

Preferably, the louvers are configured as plate like elements having a narrow side facing the airflow and upper and lower faces which are oriented substantially parallel to the airflow. Such a shape and orientation of the immobile or fixed louvers leads to a particularly low pressure loss during operation of the radiator arrangement, i.e. when the airflow actually passes through the air guiding element and reaches the front face of the radiator and then passes through the radiator. Consequently, providing the louvers as the plate like elements results in a particularly small pressure loss associated with the louvers.

Preferably, the louvers are made in one piece with the housing of the air guiding element. This results in a particularly good fixation of the louvers relative to the housing and in a good stability of the louvers. Further, providing the louvers does not require an additional mounting step. Rather, in manufacturing the air guiding element the louvers are directly produced as parts of the air guiding element.

It is particularly simple and inexpensive, if the louvers are made in one piece with the housing of the air guiding element by injection molding, in particular by injection molding of plastic. Further, it results in an advantageously low weight of the air guiding element, if the entire air guiding element is made from plastic. At the same time, utilizing plastic for providing the air guiding element and the louvers is particularly cost-effective and simple.

The air guiding element can be fixed to the radiator in a practically leakage-free manner. Alternatively or additionally, the air guiding element can be fixed in a practically leakage-free manner to a holding frame holding the radiator. In both cases a loss of air intended to reach the front face of the radiator in operation of the radiator arrangement is reduced to a particularly large extent. However, an absolutely leakage-free fixation of the air guiding element to the radiator and/or to the holding frame of the radiator arrangement is technically not feasible.

By providing the holding frame, it is particularly simple to include at least one further component into the radiator arrangement such as another heat exchanger in addition to the radiator, for example a condenser of an air conditioning system of the vehicle.

The louvers can extend in a width direction of the inlet. This can contribute to a simplified manufacturability of the louvers.

Alternatively or additionally, the louvers can extend in a height direction of the inlet. In particular, if the height of the inlet is smaller than the width of the inlet, this results in a shorter length of the louvers. This increases the stability of the louvers.

When the radiator arrangement is installed in the vehicle, the width direction of the inlet can in particular be substantially parallel to a transverse axis of the vehicle, wherein the height direction of the inlet can in particular be substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle.

Preferably, the first group of louvers and the second group of louvers each comprise at least one stabilizing rib extending in a first direction which is different from a second direction in which the louvers of the respective group extend. Herein, the at least one stabilizing rib has end portions abutting a frame element of the inlet. Such stabilizing ribs are beneficial for reliably holding the fixed or immobile louvers in place. Further, the at least one stabilizing rib, which is preferably narrow in a direction perpendicular to the airflow, contributes in preventing the stones from hitting the radiator. This increases the efficiency of the stone chip protection provided by the louvers.

In particular, if one of the stabilizing ribs is located in a central position with respect to the second direction, the stabilizing effect of the at least one rib is specifically high.

Preferably, a cross-sectional area of the inlet is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outlet. This results in the fact that even a radiator having a relatively large front face does not require a similarly large inlet of the air guiding element. Consequently, the inlet of the air guiding element does not require much space, for example in a front-end portion of the vehicle. Nevertheless, an efficient heat transfer from the cooling fluid, in particular from the cooling liquid, flowing through the radiator during operation of the radiator can be achieved.

However, even if the radiator arrangement does not comprise the shutter element, a good protection of the radiator can be achieved, for example, by increasing the number of immobile or fixed louvers compared to a radiator arrangement having the shutter assembly.

Preferably, the movable louvers of the shutter assembly substantially extend in the same direction as the louvers fixed in position relative to the housing of the air guiding element. Such an arrangement of the louvers is particularly helpful with respect to minimizing the pressure loss associated with the movable louvers and the immobile louvers.

Preferably, when the movable louvers of the shutter assembly are moved into an open position allowing a maximum airflow to pass through the shutter assembly, at least some of the louvers fixed in position relative to the housing of the air guiding element are in alignment with a space between two adjacent movable louvers. By such an arrangement of the fixed or immobile louvers relative to the movable louvers in alignment with the spaces or gaps between the movable louvers a protection even against relatively small stones can be provided particularly easily. Nevertheless, the pressure drop associated with the fixed louvers is low due to the orientation and shape of the fixed or immobile louvers.

Preferably, with respect to the airflow the movable louvers of the shutter assembly are arranged upstream of the louvers fixed in position relative to the housing of the air guiding element. Therefore, by closing the shutter assembly, i.e. by moving the movable louvers into the closed position, it can readily be prevented that stones get into contact with the immobile louvers or louvers fixed in position.

Preferably, the louvers are configured to prevent stones having a size of at least <NUM> to get to or hit the radiator. Therefore, such relatively large stones, which could otherwise easily damage the radiator, are prevented from getting in contact with the radiator.

Such a configuration or arrangement of the louvers can also help to reduce the probability that smaller stones, for example stones having a size or diameter of about <NUM> or of about <NUM>, hit the radiator with high speed. If the louvers reduce the kinetic energy of such smaller stones getting to the radiator, a reliable protection of the radiator from being damaged is achieved.

The protection can be provided by the immobile or fixed louvers alone or by the fixed or immobile louvers together with the movable louvers of the shutter assembly, if the radiator arrangement comprises the shutter assembly.

The louvers can, in particular, be configured to prevent stones having a size of at least <NUM> to hit the radiator. By retaining even such rather small stones, which can more readily reach the inlet of the air guiding element during operation of the vehicle equipped with the radiator arrangement than larger stones, a particularly good protection of the radiator is achieved.

Further, such an arrangement or configuration of the louvers can efficiently reduce the kinetic energy of even smaller stones. Therefore such smaller stones reach the front face of the radiator with significantly reduced speed, and damage of the radiator resulting from the smaller stones getting to the front face of the radiator is readily prevented.

Preferably, the radiator is inclined with respect to a plane determined by a height direction and a width direction of the inlet. Herein, a lower edge of the radiator in the height direction is closer to the inlet than an upper edge of the radiator. Such an inclined arrangement of the radiator has the advantage that the radiator occupies less space in the height direction than a radiator of the same size, which is arranged perpendicular to a horizontal plane.

Further, by such an inclination of the radiator, a space above the housing element and in particular above the inlet can be readily used for other purposes. For example, in the vehicle equipped with the radiator arrangement, such a space can be utilized as storing space for storing items of passengers of the vehicle.

The above advantages related to the inclination of the radiator are in particular present, if the radiator is inclined at an angle of about <NUM>° with respect to the plane determined by the height direction and the width direction of the inlet.

The vehicle according to the invention comprises a radiator arrangement according to the invention. Preferably, the radiator arrangement is located in a front-end portion of the vehicle. This allows for a particularly easy entry of air through the inlet into the air guiding element, as the vehicle moves in a forward direction.

In particular, the radiator arrangement can be located behind a decorative grill of the vehicle, wherein the decorative grill is arranged at the front-end portion of the vehicle. In such an arrangement, the decorative grill of the vehicle further contributes to preventing the stones from hitting the radiator during a ride of the vehicle. However, even if no such decorative grill is present, the louvers which are fixed in position or immobile louvers fulfil their function of preventing the stones from getting to or hitting the radiator.

The advantages and preferred embodiments described with respect to the radiator arrangement according to the invention also apply to the vehicle according to the invention and vice versa.

The invention therefore also comprises embodiments of the inventive vehicle that comprise features that correspond to features as they have already been described in connection with the embodiments of the inventive radiator arrangement. For this reason, the corresponding features of the embodiments of the inventive vehicle are not described here again.

The inventive vehicle is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger vehicle or a truck, or as a bus.

In the following an exemplary implementation of a radiator arrangement according to the invention is described.

In the figures identical reference signs indicate elements that provide the same function.

<FIG> shows a radiator arrangement <NUM> for a vehicle <NUM>, which is very schematically shown in <FIG>. The radiator arrangement <NUM> comprises a radiator <NUM> which can better be seen in a section view of the radiator arrangement <NUM> shown in <FIG> than in <FIG>.

The radiator arrangement <NUM> further comprises an air guiding element <NUM> for guiding an airflow towards the radiator <NUM>. The air guiding element <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> which has an inlet <NUM> for letting in the airflow and an outlet <NUM> facing the radiator. The outlet <NUM> can be better seen from <FIG> than from <FIG>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the air guiding element <NUM>, in particular the housing <NUM>, is fixed to a holding frame <NUM> of the radiator arrangement <NUM>, wherein the holding frame <NUM> holds the radiator <NUM>. In variants of the radiator arrangement <NUM>, the air guiding element <NUM> and in particular the housing <NUM> can be directly fixed to the radiator <NUM>.

In both cases or variants, the housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> assures that the airflow entering the air guiding element <NUM> through the inlet <NUM> is guided substantially leakage-free towards a front face <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the radiator <NUM>.

Further, a cross-sectional area of the outlet <NUM> corresponds to an area of the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM>. In other words, the size of the cross-sectional area of the outlet <NUM> is substantially the same as the size of the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM>. Consequently, the air guiding element <NUM> ensures a very efficient guiding of the airflow towards the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM> such that the airflow can further pass through the radiator <NUM>. As a result, heat transfer between the air passing through the radiator <NUM> and a cooling fluid, in particular a cooling liquid, flowing through pipes or conduits of the radiator <NUM> can take place.

As can be seen particularly well from <FIG> and from <FIG>, the air guiding element <NUM> comprises a plurality of louvers <NUM>, <NUM>, which are in the embodiment shown in <FIG> arranged at the inlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>. For reasons of simplicity, only some of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are provided with reference signs in <FIG> and in <FIG>.

The louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured and arranged in order to prevent stones of a predetermined size to hit the radiator <NUM>. However, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> do not constitute a separate component or part which needs to be fixed to the radiator <NUM> such as it would be the case for a separate stone protection grill. Rather, by fixing the air guiding element <NUM> to the radiator <NUM> or to the holding frame <NUM>, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> fulfil their function of providing a stone chip protection for the radiator <NUM>.

Preferably, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are made in one piece with a housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>. The housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> can in particular be manufactured by injection molding of plastic. In this injection molding process, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> can be readily formed integrally with the other components of the air guiding element <NUM>.

As the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are fixed in position relative to the housing <NUM>, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> permanently fulfil their function of preventing stones from getting to or hitting the radiator <NUM>. This is the case, even if there is no further stone chip protection element included into the radiator arrangement <NUM>.

As can be seen particularly well from <FIG>, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured as plate like elements having a narrow side or front edge <NUM> facing the airflow entering the inlet <NUM>. In contrast to that, upper faces <NUM> and lower faces <NUM> of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are oriented substantially parallel to the airflow entering the inlet <NUM> in operation of the radiator arrangement <NUM>.

Due to this preferred shape of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> and even though the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> are immobile, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> only cause a very small pressure loss in operation of the radiator arrangement <NUM>. In other words, the shape and arrangement of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> impedes the airflow only to a little extent. Consequently, the airflow can reach the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM> to a particularly large extent without a substantial pressure loss. This is beneficial for a good heat transfer from the cooling fluid, in particular cooling liquid, flowing through pipes or conduits of the radiator <NUM> in operation of the radiator arrangement <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> extend substantially in a width direction of the inlet <NUM>. In a mounting position of the radiator arrangement <NUM> in the vehicle <NUM>, this width direction is preferably substantially parallel to a vehicle transverse axis y. In a like manner, in the mounting position a height direction of the inlet <NUM> preferably extends substantially parallel to a vertical axis z of the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle transverse axis y, the vehicle vertical axis z and a vehicle longitudinal axis x are illustrated by a respective coordinate system indicated in <FIG>, in <FIG> and in <FIG>.

However, as can be seen from <FIG>, in a variant of the radiator arrangement <NUM> and in particular of the air guiding element <NUM>, the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> which prevent stones of a predetermined size from hitting the radiator <NUM> can extend substantially in the height direction of the inlet <NUM>.

In the embodiment exemplarily shown in <FIG>, a width of the inlet <NUM> is larger than a height of the inlet <NUM>. In this embodiment, a center strut <NUM> is provided. The center strut <NUM> divides the inlet <NUM> into a first inlet portion <NUM> and a second inlet portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). In this embodiment, a first group of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example the louvers <NUM>, are arranged within the first inlet portion <NUM>. And a second group of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example the louvers <NUM>, are arranged within the second inlet portion <NUM>.

This arrangement goes along with a smaller length of the individual louvers <NUM>, <NUM> in the width direction of the inlet <NUM>, i.e. substantially parallel to the vehicle transverse axis y. Further, as can be seen from <FIG>, the first group of louvers <NUM> can comprise stabilizing ribs <NUM> extending substantially in the height direction of the inlet <NUM>. These stabilizing ribs <NUM> have end portions <NUM>, <NUM> abutting a frame element <NUM> of the inlet. For the sake of clarity, only some of the end portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the ribs <NUM> are provided with reference signs in <FIG>.

In a like manner, the louvers <NUM> arranged within the second inlet portion <NUM> are also stabilized by stabilizing ribs <NUM>. Here again, only one of the two stabilizing ribs <NUM> is provided with a reference sign in <FIG> and in <FIG>, respectively for reasons of clarity. In a like manner as described for the stabilizing ribs <NUM> arranged within the first inlet portion <NUM>, the stabilizing ribs <NUM> arranged within the second inlet portion <NUM> each comprise end portions abutting the frame element <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the stabilizing ribs <NUM>, <NUM> are made integrally, i.e. in one piece, with the housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>, preferably in the injection molding process.

As can be seen particularly well from <FIG> and <FIG>, a cross-sectional area of the inlet <NUM> is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>. The corresponding flat and broad shape of the inlet <NUM> is also visible from the front side view of the radiator arrangement <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> the radiator arrangement <NUM> also comprises a shutter assembly <NUM> which is arranged at the air guiding element <NUM>. Specifically, the shutter assembly <NUM> is arranged at the inlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>, upstream of the immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM>.

The shutter assembly <NUM>, which is preferably contacting the inlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> in a substantially leakage-free manner, can in particular be fixed to a front-end structure of the vehicle <NUM>. The front-end structure, which can in particular comprise a frame like element holding the shutter assembly <NUM> in place, is not shown in <FIG> for reasons of clarity.

The shutter assembly <NUM> also comprises a plurality of louvers <NUM>. However, these louvers <NUM> are not fixed in position or immobile as is the case for the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> made in one piece with the housing <NUM>. Rather, the louvers <NUM> of the shutter assembly <NUM> are movable with respect to a frame structure <NUM> of the shutter assembly <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the frame structure <NUM> is fixed to the frame element <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> in order to arrange the shutter assembly <NUM> at the inlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>.

A mechanism <NUM> for moving the movable louvers <NUM> into their various positions is schematically shown in <FIG>. This mechanism <NUM> is arranged in front of the center strut <NUM>. Preferably, the mechanism <NUM> is configured to rotate the blade-like louvers <NUM> of the shutter assembly <NUM> in order to influence the amount of air that can enter the inlet <NUM> and then further be guided to the radiator <NUM> by means of the housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the movable louvers <NUM> substantially extend in the same direction as the immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM> or louvers <NUM>, <NUM> fixed in position relative to the housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM>. However, in particular if the immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM> extend substantially in the height direction of the inlet <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the orientation of the immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM> can be different from the orientation of the movable louvers <NUM>.

In <FIG> the movable louvers <NUM> are shown moved into an open position allowing a maximum airflow to pass through the shutter assembly <NUM> and therefore further through the inlet <NUM> towards the radiator <NUM>. In this orientation of the movable louvers <NUM>, at least some of the louvers <NUM>, <NUM> fixed in position are in alignment with a space between two adjacent movable louvers <NUM>.

In the height direction of the inlet <NUM>, the fixed or immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM> can in particular be arranged between two adjacent movable louvers <NUM> moved into the open position. Such an arrangement is particularly effective in order to prevent stones from entering the air guiding element. This is due to the fact that the fixed or immobile louvers <NUM>, <NUM> in cooperation with the movable louvers <NUM> efficiently prevent the stones from getting into the housing <NUM> and therefore from hitting the radiator <NUM>.

The arrangement of the fixed louvers <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the movable louvers <NUM> can, in particular, be such that at least about <NUM> % of stones having a diameter of <NUM> are prevented from getting to the radiator <NUM>.

As can be seen particularly well from <FIG> and <FIG>, the radiator <NUM> can be inclined, in particular at an angle of about <NUM>°, with respect to a plane determined by the height direction and the width direction of the inlet <NUM>. Due to this inclination of the radiator <NUM>, a lower edge <NUM> of the radiator <NUM> in the height direction is closer to the inlet <NUM> than an upper edge <NUM> of the radiator <NUM>. As a consequence of the inclined orientation of the radiator <NUM>, a space <NUM> is provided above the housing <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> (see <FIG>). This space <NUM> can be advantageously utilized in the vehicle <NUM>, for example for storing items of passengers of the vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> further shows that a further heat exchanger, i.e. another heat exchanger than the radiator <NUM>, can be part of the radiator arrangement <NUM>. For example, the radiator arrangement <NUM> can comprise a further heat exchanger configured as a condenser <NUM> of an air conditioning system of the vehicle <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment shown in <FIG>, this condenser <NUM> is arranged downstream of the radiator <NUM> with respect to the direction of the airflow, when the airflow passes through the radiator <NUM>.

In variants of the radiator arrangement <NUM> the area of the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM> can be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outlet <NUM>. In this case the outlet <NUM> has a cross-sectional area encompassing the area of the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM>. And the cross-sectional area of the outlet <NUM> preferably corresponds to an area of a front face of the condenser <NUM>.

<FIG> further schematically shows a fan <NUM> which can be arranged further downstream of the radiator <NUM> and of the condenser <NUM>. In a manner known as such, blades of the fan <NUM>, which are not shown in detail in <FIG>, can rotate about a rotation axis <NUM> of the fan <NUM> or cooling fan in order to cause the air entering the inlet <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to flow through further through the housing <NUM> and then through the radiator <NUM>.

In <FIG> the vehicle <NUM> having the radiator arrangement <NUM> is schematically shown in a side view. In <FIG> the inclined position of the radiator <NUM> is illustrated even though the representation of the inclination is not realistic in terms of the actual arrangement of the radiator <NUM> within the vehicle <NUM> nor in terms of the actual size of the radiator arrangement <NUM>. However, it can be seen from <FIG> that the radiator arrangement <NUM> is preferably located in a front-end portion <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>.

In particular, the inlet <NUM> of the radiator arrangement <NUM> can be located or arranged behind a decorative grill <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> which is indicated only schematically in <FIG>. The air passing through the decorative grill <NUM> is then further introduced into the inlet <NUM> of the air guiding element <NUM> which is part of the radiator arrangement <NUM>. If such a decorative grill <NUM> is present, the decorative grill <NUM> further contributes in preventing stones from getting to the front face <NUM> of the radiator <NUM>. The decorative grill <NUM> forms in particular part of an external surface of the vehicle <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Radiator arrangement for a vehicle (<NUM>), comprising a radiator (<NUM>) and an air guiding element (<NUM>) for guiding an airflow towards the radiator (<NUM>), wherein the air guiding element (<NUM>) has an inlet (<NUM>) for letting in the airflow and an outlet (<NUM>) facing the radiator (<NUM>), and wherein the air guiding element (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of louvers (<NUM>, <NUM>) which are configured to prevent stones of a predetermined size to hit the radiator (<NUM>),
wherein the louvers (<NUM>, <NUM>) are fixed in position relative to a housing (<NUM>) of the air guiding element (<NUM>), wherein the housing (<NUM>) is configured to guide the airflow towards the outlet (<NUM>), wherein the outlet (<NUM>) has a cross-sectional area at least encompassing an area of a front face (<NUM>) of the radiator (<NUM>), wherein the front face (<NUM>) of the radiator (<NUM>) is exposed to the airflow, and wherein the radiator arrangement (<NUM>) comprises a shutter assembly (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the shutter assembly (<NUM>) is arranged at the inlet (<NUM>) of the air guiding element (<NUM>), wherein the shutter assembly (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of louvers (<NUM>) which are movable with respect to a frame structure (<NUM>) of the shutter assembly (<NUM>), wherein the frame structure (<NUM>) is fixed to a frame element (<NUM>) of the air guiding element (<NUM>), wherein the air guiding element (<NUM>) comprises a center strut (<NUM>) dividing the inlet (<NUM>) into a first inlet portion (<NUM>) and a second inlet portion (<NUM>), wherein a first group of louvers (<NUM>) is arranged within the first inlet portion (<NUM>) and a second group of louvers (<NUM>) is arranged within the second inlet portion (<NUM>), wherein the radiator arrangement (<NUM>) comprises a mechanism (<NUM>) for moving the movable louvers (<NUM>) into their various positions, and wherein the mechanism (<NUM>) is arranged in front of the center strut (<NUM>).