Adjustment equipment for motor vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjusting device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an adjusting element (4) and a magnetic device (5), wherein the adjusting element can be adjusted between a first position providing a first vehicle function and a second position providing a second vehicle function by applying a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic device can apply a magnetic field to the adjusting element, wherein the adjusting element is additively manufactured, wherein the adjusting element is constructed as a ventilation grille through which air can flow, wherein the adjusting element has a larger bottom surface in the first position than in the second position, wherein the adjusting element does not bend out of an extension plane when the adjusting element is adjusted between the first position and the second position, wherein the adjusting element is stretched or compressed within the extension plane, wherein the adjusting element is compressed when the adjusting element is adjusted from the first position to the second position, and stretched when the adjusting element is adjusted from the second position to the first position, wherein the through-opening of the adjusting element is released when the adjusting element is stretched when it is adjusted from the second position to the first position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an adjusting device for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] US 2014 / 0199933 A1 discloses a vehicle ventilation device that enables air to flow out of the interior of a vehicle. The vehicle ventilation device is designed to equalize the pressure in the interior of a motor vehicle toward the surrounding environment. The vehicle ventilation device includes a drive mechanism connected to a valve flap so as to pivot the valve flap about a pivot axis. The valve flap closes or releases a fan opening depending on the pivot position. The drive mechanism includes a magnetic device designed to generate a magnetic field. This magnetic field causes the valve flap to pivot about the pivot axis.

[0003] Furthermore, DE 10 2009 047 525 A1 discloses an electromagnetically actuatable valve for a motor vehicle, which comprises a magnetic actuator.

[0004] Furthermore, S. Roh published "3D-Printed Silicone Soft Architectures with Programmed Magneto-Capillary Reconfiguration" in the fourth edition of the academic journal Advanced Materials Technologies in 2019, which describes soft smart structures whose shape can be adjusted by applying a magnetic field. These magnetically active soft structures were fabricated using 3D printing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting device for a motor vehicle which is particularly simple to produce and particularly durable.

[0006] According to the present invention, the object is achieved by an adjusting device for a motor vehicle, the adjusting device comprising an adjusting element and a magnetic device, the adjusting element being adjustable between a first position providing a first vehicle function and a second position providing a second vehicle function by applying a magnetic field, the magnetic device being capable of applying a magnetic field to the adjusting element, the adjusting element being characterized in that the adjusting element is additively manufactured and is constructed as a ventilation grille through which air can flow, the ventilation grille comprising a plurality of grille elements that are constructed separately and linked to each other, the grille elements being movable relative to each other within an extension plane; and the adjusting device comprising an air guiding device for the motor vehicle, by means of which air from the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle can be supplied to the motor vehicle, wherein, as the first vehicle function, by means of the adjusting element in the first position The joint element releases the fan opening of the air guiding device to deliver air into the motor vehicle and, as a second vehicle function, closes the fan opening by means of the adjusting element in the second position to prevent air from being delivered into the motor vehicle; the adjusting element has a larger bottom surface in the first position than in the second position, and when the adjusting element is adjusted between the first position and the second position, the adjusting element is extended or compressed in the extension plane, wherein, when the adjusting element is adjusted from the first position to the second position, the adjusting element contracts and the bottom surface of the adjusting element is thereby compressed, and the through-opening of the adjusting element for air is closed; and the adjusting element is extended when it is adjusted from the second position to the first position, and when the adjusting element is extended when it is adjusted from the second position to the first position, the adjusting elements are pulled apart from each other in the extension plane so as to increase the bottom surface and provide a through-opening for air.

[0007] The present invention relates to an adjustment device for a motor vehicle, comprising an adjustment element capable of being adjusted between a first position providing a first vehicle function and a second position providing a second vehicle function by applying a magnetic field. In particular, the adjustment element can be adjusted from the first position to the second position by applying a magnetic field. When the adjustment element is applied with the magnetic field, the adjustment element can then remain in the second position. When the magnetic field is removed, the adjustment element can then be reset from the second position to the first position and remain in the first position. In other words, when no magnetic field is applied to the adjustment element, the adjustment element remains in the first position. Alternatively, when a magnetic field is applied in a first magnetic field direction, the adjustment element can be adjusted from the first position to the second position and remain in the second position. When a magnetic field is applied in a second magnetic field direction opposite to the first magnetic field direction, the adjustment element can be reset from the second position to the first position and remain in the first position.

[0008] The regulating device further includes a magnetic device, by means of which a magnetic field can be applied to the regulating element. The magnetic device is thus designed to provide a magnetic field in a first magnetic field direction and / or in a second magnetic field direction and to prevent the provision of a magnetic field. The regulating element can thus be controlled by means of the magnetic device. Thus, the magnetic device can be used to regulate whether a first vehicle function or a second vehicle function of the motor vehicle is provided by providing a magnetic field in the first magnetic field direction or in the second magnetic field direction, or by regulating whether no magnetic field is provided.

[0009] According to the present invention, the adjusting element is additively manufactured. This means that the adjusting element is produced within the scope of a generative manufacturing method. Additive manufacturing of the adjusting element can be understood as constructing the adjusting element layer by layer. Additive manufacturing of the adjusting element allows for a particularly simple, cost-effective, and rapid provision of adjusting elements for adjusting devices. Furthermore, additive manufacturing of the adjusting element allows for particularly high flexibility in the design of the adjusting element's shape. In this case, the adjusting element is preferably made of a ferromagnetic material, i.e., a material having ferromagnetic properties.

[0010] In a further development of the present invention, the control device includes an air guiding device for a motor vehicle, by means of which air from the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle can be supplied to the motor vehicle. Furthermore, as a first vehicle function, a fan opening of the air guiding device is released by means of an adjusting element in a first position to supply air into the motor vehicle, and as a second vehicle function, the fan opening is closed by means of the adjusting element in a second position to prevent air from being supplied into the motor vehicle. Thus, the air guiding device is designed for guiding air, wherein the adjusting element, in at least one of the positions, extends across a cross section of the air guiding device and thereby at least partially covers the fan opening. In particular, the adjusting element completely covers the fan opening, wherein in the first position, air flow through the adjusting element is released, and in the second position, air flow through the adjusting element is prevented. Thus, the air guiding device can be particularly easily and reliably locked in its second position by means of the adjusting element to prevent air from flowing through the air guiding device to provide the second vehicle function. Consequently, the air supply to the motor vehicle can be controlled particularly easily by means of the adjusting element. In particular, the adjusting element experiences particularly low wear when adjusted by means of a magnetic field, making the control device particularly durable.

[0011] In this regard, it has proven particularly advantageous to be able to regulate the air supply to the radiator of a motor vehicle through the fan openings using an air guiding device. The regulating element can be designed as a fan shutter of the air guiding device, by means of which air can be enabled or blocked to flow into the air guiding device. Thus, a first vehicle function is to cool the radiator of the motor vehicle using the air guided from the air guiding device to the radiator. As a second vehicle function, the radiator is not cooled. Therefore, the temperature control of the radiator of the motor vehicle can be particularly advantageously regulated using the regulating device. The regulating element of the regulating device can advantageously be actuated particularly quickly, so that the fan opening can be opened or closed accordingly particularly quickly, thereby allowing the temperature control of the radiator of the motor vehicle to be regulated particularly quickly and, therefore, with particularly low inertia.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, it has proven advantageous to configure the control element as a ventilation grille of an air guiding device through which air can flow. This means that the control element is shaped like a grille, wherein in a first position of the control element, free space remains between the corresponding grille bars, allowing air to flow through the control element, and in a second position of the control element, the grille bars of the ventilation grille abut against one another, at least substantially preventing air from flowing through the control element. In the embodiment of the control element as a ventilation grille, a particularly small positional deviation of the corresponding grille bars is sufficient to release or close the fan opening, thereby enabling a particularly rapid switch between the first and second vehicle functions.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, it has proven advantageous if the magnetic device comprises a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is particularly switchable so that it provides a magnetic field in a first state and no magnetic field in a second state. The magnetic tape is particularly flexible, making it particularly easy and precise to adjust the orientation and corresponding strength of the magnetic field at a predetermined position of the adjusting device. Furthermore, the magnetic tape enables a particularly large region of constant field strength in the magnetic field, thereby advantageously enabling the entire adjusting element to have its shape specifically adjusted using the magnetic field.

[0014] In this regard, it has been shown to be particularly advantageous that the magnetic tape surrounds the fan opening at the peripheral side. Thus, when the adjusting element fully covers the fan opening, the adjusting element can be adjusted particularly evenly between the first position and the second position by means of the magnetic tape.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting element has a larger base surface in the first position than in the second position. This means that when adjusting the adjusting element between the first and second positions, its base surface changes. For example, the adjusting element contracts when adjusting from the first position to the second position, and its base surface is therefore compressed. When adjusting the adjusting element from the second position to the first position, the adjusting elements can be pulled apart in their extension plane to increase the base surface. Therefore, in its first position, the adjusting element is oriented parallel to its arrangement in its second position. Therefore, when adjusting the adjusting element, the adjusting element does not bend out of the extension plane. Therefore, the base surface of the adjusting element only changes when adjusting between the first and second positions. Therefore, while adjusting the adjusting element between the first and second positions, the orientation of the adjusting element relative to the air guiding device can remain at least substantially constant. This makes it possible to ensure particularly reliable opening and closing of the fan opening of the air guiding device using the adjusting element.

[0016] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to provide a reset device comprising a spring, by means of which the adjusting element can be reset from the second position to the first position by means of a spring force. This means that when adjusting the adjusting element from the first position to the second position, the adjusting element is adjusted by applying a magnetic field to the adjusting element, and the adjustment of the adjusting element builds up a spring tension in the spring. If the magnetic field is removed, the adjusting element is no longer held in the second position by the magnetic field, and the adjusting element is reset from the second position to the first position by means of the spring when the spring tension is released. Therefore, as long as no magnetic field is applied to the adjusting element, the adjusting element can be reset from the second position to the first position by means of the reset device. The spring enables a particularly simple, cost-effective, and reliable reset of the adjusting element from the second position to the first position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further features of the invention are apparent from the drawings and the description thereof. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the above description and the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the drawings and / or shown only in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0018] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic front view shows an adjusting device for a motor vehicle, by means of which the air supply into the motor vehicle can be adjusted and which comprises an adjusting element which can be adjusted from a first position into a second position by applying a magnetic field and which can be returned from the second position to the first position when the magnetic field is removed; and

[0020] Figure 2a to Figure 2b is a schematic top view of an additively manufactured adjusting element, wherein the adjusting element is Figure 2a is shown in its second position in which it is loaded with a magnetic field and in Figure 2b 1 is shown in its first position in which it is arranged without a magnetic field. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] exist Figure 1 , an air conditioning device 1 for a motor vehicle is shown. In the present case, the air conditioning device 1 comprises an air guiding device 2, by means of which air from the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle can be guided into the motor vehicle. In the present case, the motor vehicle is particularly a car, in particular a sedan. In the present case, the air guiding device 2 has a fan opening 3, through which air can flow from the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle into the air guiding device 2. By means of the air guiding device 2, the air flowing into the air guiding device 2 through the fan opening 3 can be guided to the radiator of the motor vehicle in order to cool the radiator. In the present case, the fan opening 3 is covered outwardly in the flow direction of the air through the fan opening 3 by an adjusting element 4. In the present case, the adjusting element 4 is additively manufactured and comprises a ferromagnetic material.

[0022] The regulating device 1 further comprises a magnetic device 5, by means of which a magnetic field can be provided. In the present case, the magnetic device 5 comprises a switchable magnetic tape 6 and a further switchable magnetic element 7. In particular, the magnetic element 7 and the magnetic tape 6 can be switched on independently of one another or switched on together. In the present case, the magnetic tape 6 surrounds the fan opening 3 on the circumference. The magnetic element 7 is arranged in the fan opening 3. Thus, the regulating element 4 can be loaded with a magnetic field on the circumference by means of the magnetic tape 6 and the regulating element 4 can be loaded with a magnetic field in the middle by means of the magnetic element 7. By means of the corresponding magnetic field provided by means of the magnetic device 5, the regulating element 4 can be switched on Figure 2b The first position 8 shown in FIG is the same as that in Figure 2a. The regulating element 4 can be adjusted from the first position 8 into the second position 9 by loading a magnetic field in a first magnetic field direction and reset from the second position 9 into the first position 8 by loading a magnetic field in a second magnetic field direction opposite to the first magnetic field direction. Alternatively, the regulating element 4 can be adjusted from the first position 8 into the second position 9 by loading a magnetic field in the first magnetic field direction and reset from the second position 9 into the first position 8 by removing the magnetic field. The magnetic element 7 and the magnetic tape 6 can be activated together to provide a magnetic field with the same magnetic field direction. Alternatively, the magnetic element 7 and the magnetic tape 6 can be activated alternately, wherein a magnetic field in one magnetic field direction is provided by means of the magnetic element 7 and a magnetic field in another opposite magnetic field direction is provided by means of the magnetic tape 6. In order to enable a particularly advantageous reset from the second position 9 to the first position 8, the regulating device 1 can comprise Figure 1 Schematically indicated by a small box, the reset device 10 is shown. The reset device 10 comprises at least one spring, here a plurality of springs, by means of which the adjusting element 4 can be reset from the second position 9 to the first position 8 by means of spring force. In this case, the adjusting elements 4 can be pulled apart from each other at the outer edges or outer corners by means of corresponding springs in order to reset the adjusting element 4 from the second position 9 to the first position 8.

[0023] The adjusting element 4 is designed to release the fan opening 3 as a first function when the adjusting element 4 is arranged in the first position 8. If the adjusting element 4 is arranged in the second position 9, the adjusting element 4 closes the fan opening 3 as a second vehicle function. In the first position 8 of the adjusting element 4, the adjusting element 4 thus enables air to flow into the air guiding device 2 via the fan opening 3. When the adjusting element 4 is arranged in the second position 9, the adjusting element 4 prevents air from flowing into the air guiding device 2 via the fan opening 3 and thus closes the fan opening 3.

[0024] exist Figure 2a and Figure 2bThe adjusting element 4 is shown in greater detail in FIG. Here, the adjusting element 4 is configured as a fan grille. In a first position 8, the fan grille provides a through-opening for air, through which air can flow through the fan opening 3 and into the air guiding device 2. In a second position 9 of the adjusting element 4, the through-opening is closed, thereby preventing air from flowing through the adjusting element 4 into the air guiding device 2. When adjusting the adjusting element 4 between the first position 8 and the second position 9, the dimensions of the bottom surface of the adjusting element 4 change. When adjusting the adjusting element 4 between the first position 8 and the second position 9, the adjusting element 4 is extended or compressed within the extension plane. When adjusting the adjusting element 4 from the first position 8 to the second position 9, the adjusting element 4 is compressed, while when adjusting from the second position 9 to the first position 8, the adjusting element 4 is extended. When the adjusting element 4 is extended from the second position 9 to the first position 8, the through-opening of the adjusting element 4 is released. Here, the adjusting element 4 comprises a plurality of independently configured, interconnected grille elements. These grille elements are movable relative to each other within the extension plane. By regulating the air flow to the radiator of the motor vehicle, the temperature control of the engine of the motor vehicle can be adjusted.

[0025] In an alternative design, not shown in the figures, the adjusting element can be pivotally mounted on the air guiding device 2 about a pivot axis. The adjusting element can be pivoted about the pivot axis between at least two positions, wherein in one of the pivot positions, the adjusting element releases the fan opening 3 and in the other pivot position, closes the fan opening 3. The dimensions of the adjusting element are identical in each pivot position. The adjusting element can be pivoted between the pivot positions by applying a magnetic field. To ensure particularly high stability of the adjusting element, the adjusting element can be covered by a glass pane on its opposite sides. For a particularly simple design of the adjusting element, the adjusting element can be shaped like a grid.

[0026] By manufacturing the adjusting element 4 as a ventilation grille and using an additive manufacturing method, the adjusting element 4 can be actuated using a magnetic device 5 . The actuation of the adjusting element 4 using the magnetic device 5 , in particular the magnetic tape 6 and / or the magnetic element 7 , allows the installation space of the front fascia of the motor vehicle to be particularly small, and the adjusting element 4 can be adjusted particularly efficiently using the magnetic device 5 . The magnetic actuation of the adjusting element 4 eliminates the need for a wear-prone servo motor and the associated mechanical system. The magnetic device 5 makes the adjusting device 1 particularly lightweight. The magnetic actuation of the adjusting element 4 is quickly converted into adjustment of the air guide flap using the servo motor, which can open and close the fan opening 3 .

[0027] Additive manufacturing of the adjusting element 4 has the advantage that its movement and / or function can be customized during additive manufacturing, allowing for a particularly high degree of design freedom in its construction or design. Consequently, the adjusting element 4 can be manufactured so that it undergoes three-dimensional deformation and / or moves three-dimensionally in space when adjusted between the respective positions 8 and 9. Furthermore, actuating the adjusting element 4 via the magnetic device 5 allows the fan opening 3 to be released and closed without mechanical movement of the adjusting element 4, thereby increasing the continuous load on the adjusting device 1. The adjusting element 4 can be used to release and close the fan opening 3, through which air can be directed to the radiator of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the adjusting device 1 can be designed to supply air to the interior of the motor vehicle, wherein the fan opening 3 for directing air into the motor vehicle interior can be released and also blocked by the adjusting element 4.

[0028] Overall, the present invention shows how magnetic functional components produced by additive manufacturing can be used.

[0029] Reference Signs List

[0030] 1 Adjustment equipment

[0031] 2 Air guide device

[0032] 3 Fan opening

[0033] 4. Regulating elements

[0034] 5 Magnetic device

[0035] 6 tapes

[0036] 7 Magnetic components

[0037] 8 First position

[0038] 9 Second position

[0039] 10 Reset device

Claims

1. An adjusting device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: an adjusting element (4) which is adjustable by applying a magnetic field between a first position (8) providing a first vehicle function and a second position (9) providing a second vehicle function; and a magnetic device (5), by means of which a magnetic field can be applied to the adjusting element (4); It is characterized by: The adjusting element (4) is additively manufactured and is configured as a ventilation grille through which air can flow, the ventilation grille comprising a plurality of grille elements that are configured separately from one another and are linked to one another, the grille elements being movable relative to one another within an extension plane; and The control device comprises an air guiding device (2) for a motor vehicle, by means of which air can be supplied to the motor vehicle from the surroundings of the motor vehicle, wherein, as a first vehicle function, a fan opening (3) of the air guiding device (2) is released by means of an adjusting element (4) in a first position (8) to supply air into the motor vehicle, and, as a second vehicle function, the fan opening (3) is closed by means of the adjusting element (4) in a second position (9) to prevent the supply of air into the motor vehicle; The adjusting element (4) has a larger bottom surface in the first position (8) than in the second position (9), and when the adjusting element (4) is adjusted between the first position (8) and the second position (9), the adjusting element (4) is stretched or compressed in the extension plane, wherein when the adjusting element (4) is adjusted from the first position (8) to the second position (9), the adjusting element (4) contracts and thus the bottom surface of the adjusting element is compressed, and the through-opening of the adjusting element for air is closed; while the adjusting element (4) is stretched when it is adjusted from the second position (9) to the first position (8), when the adjusting element (4) is stretched from the second position (9) to the first position (8), the adjusting elements (4) are pulled apart from each other in the extension plane in order to increase the bottom surface and provide a through-opening for air, and the adjusting element (4) is oriented in its first position (8) parallel to the arrangement structure of the adjusting element in its second position (9), and when the adjusting element is adjusted, the adjusting element does not bend out of the extension plane.

2. The regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The air supply to a radiator of a motor vehicle through a fan opening (3) can be regulated by means of an air guiding device (2).

3. The regulating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The magnetic device (5) comprises a magnetic tape (6).

4. The regulating device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The magnetic tape (6) surrounds the fan opening (3) on the circumferential side.

5. The regulating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjusting device comprises a return device (10) having a spring, by means of which the adjusting element (4) can be returned from the second position (9) into the first position (8) by means of the spring force.

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