Grille shutter device

Abstract

To obtain a grille shutter device capable of suppressing a cooling function loss while securing an opening area.SOLUTION: A grille shutter device 10 includes a frame 20 provided at a vehicle front portion and forming an opening portion 28 for introducing air into the vehicle front portion, a plurality of fin portions 30 supported by the frame 20 so as to be rotatable about the vehicle width direction or the vehicle vertical direction as an axis, and opening and closing the opening portion 28, and a dropping mechanism 40 provided at at least one of both end portions in the axial direction on the vehicle inner side of the frame 20 and causing the fin portion 30 to fall off at the time of collision.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a grill shutter device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a structure that allows a front grille to smoothly retract in the event of a vehicle collision. This structure is configured by providing a frame that supports a shutter mechanism within an opening with a fixed part that rotatably fixes one end within the opening and a protruding part that protrudes forward. As a result, when the front grille retracts, the protruding part abuts against the front grille, causing the frame to rotate and retract around the fixed part as a fulcrum. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-107534 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if a vehicle crash occurs when the shutter is fully closed, air may not be guided through the opening. To address this issue, a structure has been developed that divides the opening into left and right halves, ensuring the function of either the left or right halves and preventing loss of cooling function. However, this structure involves the presence of a pillar in the center of the opening in the vehicle width direction, which reduces the opening area of ​​the opening. Therefore, in order to prevent loss of cooling function, it may be necessary to enlarge the opening, which is desirable from a design perspective. With the structure described in Patent Document 1, there are cases where simply retracting the frame is not enough to fully close the opening, leaving room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a grille shutter device that can suppress loss of cooling function while ensuring an opening area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The grill shutter device of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a frame provided at the front of the vehicle and forming an opening for introducing air into the front of the vehicle, a plurality of fin portions supported by the frame so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle vertical direction and for opening and closing the opening, and a detachment mechanism provided on at least one of both ends in the axial direction on the inside of the vehicle of the frame and for causing the fin portions to detach in the event of a collision.

[0007] In the grille shutter device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the multiple fins that open and close the opening for introducing air into the front of the vehicle are detached by a detachment mechanism in the event of a vehicle collision. Therefore, the opening area of ​​the opening is secured without dividing the opening, and loss of cooling function due to the fins detaching in the event of a collision can be suppressed.

[0008] The grill shutter device of the present invention described in claim 2 has the configuration described in claim 1, in which the detachment mechanism is provided at the mounting position of the rotation axis of the fin portion on the frame and has a notch that is open to the rear side of the vehicle.

[0009] In the grille shutter device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the detachment mechanism is provided with a notch that is provided in the frame at the mounting position of the rotation axis of the fin portion and is open in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, because the rear side of the notch in the frame is open, when the frame is deformed so as to convexly form toward the rear of the vehicle during a collision, the notch widens, making it easier for the fin portion to detach.

[0010] A grille shutter device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 is the configuration as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of fin portions rotate about an axial direction that is the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0011] In the grille shutter device of the present invention described in claim 3, the multiple fin portions rotate with the vehicle's vertical direction as their axial direction, making it possible to make the notch wider more easily in a frame that has a curvature in the vehicle width direction.

[0012] The grill shutter device of the present invention described in claim 4 is a configuration described in claim 2 or claim 3, in which the notch is provided on the lower edge side of the frame and has a bottom surface with a tapered shape that becomes lower toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0013] In the grill shutter device of the present invention described in claim 4, the notch provided on the lower edge side of the frame has a bottom surface with a tapered shape that becomes lower toward the rear of the vehicle, making it easier to push the fin portion rearward and therefore easier for the fin portion to fall off.

[0014] A grille shutter device according to the present invention described in claim 5 is the configuration described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notch penetrates the frame.

[0015] In the grille shutter device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 5, the notch penetrates the frame, so that the fin portion can also be removed in the penetrating direction of the frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the grill shutter device of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to ensure the opening area of ​​the opening without dividing the opening, while suppressing loss of cooling function due to the fin portion falling off in the event of a collision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a grille shutter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a notch. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of a fin portion of the grill shutter device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the dropping off caused by the dropping mechanism. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view schematically showing an example of a grille shutter device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] First Embodiment A grill shutter device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The arrows FR, UP, and RH shown in each drawing indicate the front, upper, and right sides of the grill shutter device 10, respectively. The opposite directions of the arrows FR, UP, and RH indicate the rear, lower, and left sides. Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "left-right," and "up-and-down" are used in the following description, they refer to the front-rear direction of the grill shutter device 10, the left-right direction of the left-right direction, and the up-and-down direction of the up-and-down direction, unless otherwise specified. The grill shutter device 10 is mounted on a vehicle so that the front side is the front of the vehicle (the direction of travel), the upper side is the upper side of the vehicle, and the right side is the right side of the vehicle. Therefore, when the grill shutter device 10 is mounted on a vehicle, the front, upper, and right sides of the grill shutter device 10 correspond to the front, upper, and right sides of the vehicle.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the grill shutter device 10 includes a frame 20, a plurality of fins 30, and a detachment mechanism 40.

[0020] The frame 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and as an example, includes a rectangular first frame 22, a rectangular second frame 24 smaller than the first frame 22, and a rectangular third frame 26 smaller than the second frame 24. The frame 20 is arranged such that the first frame 22, the second frame 24, and the third frame 26 are stacked in this order from the rear side to the front side. In other words, the frame 20 has a step formed in the frame. The frame 20 also has a rectangular opening 28 on the inside that penetrates the first frame 22, the second frame 24, and the third frame 26. The frame 20 may be formed as a single frame without a step.

[0021] As an example, the frame 20 is attached to the front of the vehicle so that the opening 28 faces an outside air intake opening (not shown) provided in the front grille of the vehicle, and air (outside air) is introduced into the front of the vehicle through the opening 28. In this embodiment, the frame 20 is curved so as to have a convex shape that protrudes forward in the left-right direction. Specifically, the frame 20 is curved in substantially the same manner as the design surface of the vehicle.

[0022] The opening 28 is made up of an upper inner surface 28A, a lower inner surface 28B, a right inner surface 28C, and a left inner surface 28D. A plurality of holes (not shown) are formed in the upper inner surface 28A at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of notches 42 (described later) are formed in the lower inner surface 28B at positions facing the plurality of holes.

[0023] 2, notch 42 corresponds to the removal mechanism 40 of the present invention and is formed to penetrate bottom wall 29B, which has bottom inner surface 28B of frame 20. Notch 42 is provided rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction of bottom wall 29B, and includes a substantially circular portion 42A and a substantially rectangular cutout portion 42B that is cut out from the rear end of bottom wall 29B toward circular portion 42A and communicates with circular portion 42A. In other words, notch 42 is open on the rear side.

[0024] The plurality of holes (not shown) provided in the upper inner surface 28A are also formed in a substantially circular shape, with their centers coinciding with the centers of the circular portions 42A of the notches 42 in a top view. The plurality of holes may or may not penetrate the upper wall 29A having the upper inner surface 28A. In the present embodiment, as an example, the holes are not penetrated.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, the plurality of fin portions 30 are provided inside the opening 28. Although not shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower wall 29B has a step, as shown in Fig. 1, as an example. Each of the plurality of fin portions 30 includes a rotation shaft 32 that is supported so as to be rotatable up and down by a hole provided in the upper wall 29A and a notch 42 provided in the lower wall 29B. The rotation shaft 32 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape (in other words, rod-like), and each of the rotation shafts 32 is provided with a fin-like fin 34.

[0026] The fins 34 are formed so that, in an open state in which the opening 28 is open, the thickness thereof extends in the left-right direction, and the thickness gradually decreases toward the rear. The fins 34 are provided with an insertion hole 34A at the front end thereof in the open state, through which the rotation shaft 32 is inserted. The fins 34 have a main surface 36 whose widest surface is in the left-right direction in the open state. Furthermore, the fins 34 are formed to be curved, for example, so as to curve along the curvature of the frame 20 in a closed state in which the opening 28 is closed.

[0027] In this embodiment, as an example, the upper end of the rotating shaft 32 is connected to an actuator (not shown) provided on the right outer side of the frame 20. The actuator rotates the rotating shaft 32 with the vertical direction as the axial direction, thereby rotating the fin 34 in the direction of arrow M in Fig. 3 and opening and closing the opening 28. Note that a known technique can be used to connect the rotating shaft 32 and the actuator, so detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, when the opening 28 is in an open state and is open, the main surfaces 36 of the fins 34 face left and right, as shown by the solid lines, and when the opening 28 is in a closed state and is closed, the main surfaces 36 of the fins 34 face front and back, as shown by the dashed double-dashed lines.

[0029] (Actions and Effects of the First Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0030] In the grille shutter device 10 according to this embodiment, the multiple fins 30 that open and close the opening 28 for introducing air into the front of the vehicle are released by notches 42 serving as the release mechanism 40 during a vehicle collision. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , if a load from the front, indicated by arrow C, is applied to the lower wall 29B of the frame 20 during a frontal vehicle collision, the lower wall 29B is pushed by the load and deforms so that the rear side becomes convex. At this time, the rear side of the notch 42 provided on the rear side of the lower wall 29B is open, so the notch 42 widens as indicated by arrow A. This widening of the notch 42 makes it easier for the lower end of the rotation shaft 32 to come off the notch 42 rearward.

[0031] When the lower end of the rotating shaft 32 is disengaged from the notch 42, the fin portion 30 falls due to gravity, and the support of the upper end of the rotating shaft 32 by the upper wall 29A of the frame 20 is also released. Therefore, even if the opening 28 is blocked by the fin portion 30, the fin portion 30 will come off the frame 20 during a collision, and air can be guided through the opening at the position where the fin portion 30 has come off. This makes it possible to ensure the opening area of ​​the opening 28 without dividing the opening 28, while suppressing loss of cooling function due to the fin portion 30 falling off during a collision.

[0032] Furthermore, in the grill shutter device 10 according to this embodiment, the multiple fin portions 30 rotate with the vertical direction of the vehicle as the axial direction, which makes it easier for the notch 42 to widen in the frame 20 that has a curvature in the vehicle width direction.

[0033] Furthermore, in the grille shutter device 10 according to this embodiment, the notches 42 penetrate the lower wall 29B of the frame 20, so the fin portion 30 can also fall off in the penetration direction of the lower wall 29B. If the fin portion 30 falls off in the downward direction, which is the penetration direction, the upper end of the rotating shaft 32 can easily become loose from support by the upper wall 29A.

[0034] Second Embodiment Next, a grill shutter device 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view that schematically shows an example of the grill shutter device 10A according to the second embodiment. Note that in the grill shutter device 10A according to the second embodiment, the same components as those described in the first embodiment above are assigned the same numbers, and their description will be omitted.

[0035] The notch 42 serving as the detachment mechanism 40 in the first embodiment described above penetrates the lower wall 29B of the frame 20, but the notch 44 serving as the detachment mechanism 40 in the grill shutter device 10A in the second embodiment does not penetrate the lower wall 29B and has a bottom surface 46.

[0036] 5, the notch 44 is provided on the rear edge side of the bottom wall 29B, which is the lower edge side of the frame 20. The notch 44 has a bottom surface 46, which includes a circular portion 46A formed in a substantially circular shape and a tapered portion 46B that is connected to the circular portion 46A and has a tapered shape that becomes lower toward the rear side.

[0037] (Actions and Effects of the Second Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of the second embodiment will be described.

[0038] In the grill shutter device 10A of this embodiment, the notch 44 provided on the rear edge of the lower wall 29B, which is the lower edge side of the frame 20, has a bottom surface 46 with a tapered shape that becomes lower toward the rear.Therefore, when a load is applied to the fin portion 30 from the front during a frontal collision of the vehicle, the fin portion 30 is more likely to be pushed rearward, making it easier for the fin portion to fall off.

[0039] [supplementary explanation] In the above-described embodiment, the rotation shaft 32 of the fin unit 30 is formed in an elongated shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rotation shaft 32 may be formed as a cylindrical protrusion extending vertically from the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the front side of the fin 34 in the open state. Furthermore, the fin 34 and the rotation shaft 32 may be formed integrally or separately.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the notches 42 are formed only in the lower wall 29B of the frame 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and similar notches 42 may also be formed in the upper wall 29A.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the fins 30 are configured to rotate about an axis extending in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The fins 30 may be configured to rotate about an axis extending in the horizontal direction. In this case, the release mechanism 40 is provided on the left and right walls of the frame 20.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the notches 42, 44 are provided as the detachment mechanism 40, but the detachment mechanism 40 is not limited to the notches 42, 44. For example, the detachment mechanism 40 may have a hole as a support portion that supports the rotation shaft 32 of the fin portion 30, and the rear wall of this hole may be made weak.

[0043] Furthermore, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the configuration can be changed as appropriate as long as the problem can be solved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10, 10A Grill shutter device 20 frames 28 Opening 30 Fin section 32 Rotation axis 40 Falling mechanism 42 Notch (drop-off mechanism) 44 Notch (drop-off mechanism) 46 bottom

Claims

1. a frame provided at a front portion of the vehicle and defining an opening for introducing air into the front portion of the vehicle; a plurality of fin portions supported by the frame so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle up-down direction, and which open and close the opening; a detachment mechanism provided on at least one of both end portions in the axial direction on the vehicle inner side of the frame, the detachment mechanism causing the fin portion to detach in the event of a collision; A grill shutter device comprising:

2. The grille shutter device according to claim 1, wherein the detachment mechanism is provided at a mounting position of the frame for the rotation shaft of the fin portion, and includes a notch that is open toward the rear of the vehicle.

3. The grille shutter device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of fin portions rotate about an axial direction that is the vertical direction of the vehicle.

4. The grille shutter device according to claim 2, wherein the notch is provided on a lower edge side of the frame and has a bottom surface that is tapered downward toward the rear of the vehicle.

5. The grill shutter device according to claim 2 , wherein the notch extends through the frame.

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