Radiator shutter for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A radiator shutter for a motor vehicle for controlled ventilation of the engine, the radiator shutter having a frame (2), in which at least two slats (8-11) are mounted in a rotatable manner such that these can be pivoted from a fully closed position (approximately 0°) to an open position (approximately 90°), wherein the shutter (8-11) is mounted in bearings on two opposite sides of the frame, wherein a motor (12) which drives an individual shutter (9) is provided in or on the frame on the engine side (6) of the frame. Wherein, on the same engine side (6) of the frame, there is a coupling element (7) which transfers the rotation of the shutter (9) synchronously to the other shutters (8, 10-11), characterized in that on the mounting side (5) of the frame (2) facing away from the engine side (6) of the frame (2) in the region in which the shutters (8-11) are mounted, a locking disc (18-21) is provided for each shutter, and wherein the locking discs (18-21) are shaped in such a way that the rotary movement of the locking discs is blocked in a force- and / or form-fitting manner if at least one of the locking discs does not rotate synchronously with all the other locking discs (18-21).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a radiator shutter made of thermoplastic material for a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a radiator shutter and to the use of such a structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] A radiator shutter for a motor vehicle is a device for controlled guiding of external air flowing into the vehicle via the front to the engine. A reliable control of this air flow is essential for a reliable management of the combustion process, i.e. for the efficiency and the pollutant emissions of the engine.

[0003] A radiator shutter is usually a set of horizontally or vertically arranged parallel slats, which are rotatably or pivotably mounted in a frame, so that these slats can be rotated from a fully open position (leaf plane of the horizontal slats oriented transversely to the vehicle axis, the axis of rotation then arranged essentially in the horizontal plane) into a closed position, in which the slats then extend with their plane essentially vertically and each slat overlaps in the edge region.

[0004] The slats mounted in such a frame structure are currently controlled to the respective desired angular position by small electric motors, which are predefined by a controller, so that there is an optimum air supply for each operating condition. SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present invention, inter alia, to provide a radiator shutter, in particular for a motor vehicle, which can be reliably operated, can be simply manufactured and is robust or prevents faults and / or reports faults to the controller as quickly as possible.

[0006] The present invention therefore relates to a radiator shutter, in particular for a motor vehicle, for the controlled ventilation of an engine, having a frame, in which at least two slats are mounted in a rotatable manner.

[0007] These slats can be pivoted from a fully closed position (approximately 0°), in which the leaves of the slats are arranged essentially parallel to the plane of the frame and partially overlap or lie closely against one another in the region in which they adjoin one another, so that the frame opening (37) is essentially closed for air flow, into an open position (approximately 90°), in which the leaves of the slats are arranged essentially perpendicular to the plane of the frame, so that the frame opening is essentially maximally open for air flow.

[0008] The slats are mounted in bearing points on two opposite sides of the frame. Furthermore, in or on the frame, preferably integrated into the appropriate frame area, a motor driving the individual slats is provided on the motor side of the frame. Furthermore, on the same motor side of the frame, a coupling element is provided which transfers the rotation of the driven slats synchronously to the further slats.

[0009] It is particularly preferred that the proposed design is characterized in that on the mounting side of the frame facing away from the motor side of the frame in the area in which the slats are provided, a locking element is provided for each slat, which preferably implements the following function: If the individual slat no longer rotates synchronously with the other slats, which includes the driven slats, the rotary movement is automatically locked by the locking elements on this mounting side facing away from the motor. The motor notices this because an unexpected stop in the normal operating state would subsequently lead to a sudden increase in torque.

[0010] On the mounting side of the frame facing away from the motor side of the frame in the area in which the slats are provided, a locking element is provided for each slat, and wherein the locking elements are coupled directly or indirectly, such that if at least one of the locking elements does not rotate synchronously with all other locking elements, the rotary movement of the locking elements is blocked in at least one direction, preferably in a force- and / or form-fitting manner.

[0011] The locking elements can be formed as elements separate from the actual slats, so that if the slats break, the locking elements remain in the frame and can ensure the locking function, for example with locking rods or by means of interaction with adjacent locking elements. Alternatively, the slats can be designed to be formed in one piece with the actual slats; it is then preferably ensured that even if the slats break, the locking elements remain in the frame. For this purpose, for example, the connection between the locking elements and the slats, for example in the form of a connecting pin, can be formed as a detachable plug-in connection or as a predetermined breaking point, so that if the slats break, the locking elements remain in the frame, respectively. To assist with this, the locking elements can be at least partially caught in the frame or in an additional cover of the frame, for example by a corresponding contour in the cover, so that the locking elements cannot fall out of the frame or the cover in the event of a breakage of the slats.

[0012] Preferably, locking discs are provided, and the locking discs are shaped such that the rotary movement of the locking discs is blocked, in particular in a force- and / or form-fitting manner, if at least one of the locking discs does not rotate synchronously with all other locking discs.

[0013] According to a first preferred embodiment, the design is characterized in that at least three, preferably at least four, particularly preferably exactly four slats are mounted in parallel in the frame.

[0014] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the respective locking disks are coupled with the associated slats in both rotational directions, and in that the locking disks preferably each have at least one locking plate which is arranged essentially perpendicular to the respective slat axis.

[0015] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that at least the first locking plate has a greater radius in a first circumferential region than in a second, preferably essentially opposite, circumferential region.

[0016] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that there are preferably two locking plates, which are preferably adjacent and preferably each mirror-symmetrical, offset with respect to the axis of the locking disk, wherein in particular the second locking plate preferably has a lateral protrusion on the side.

[0017] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that at least one locking disk, preferably all locking disks, are designed mirror-symmetrical with respect to a mirror plane, which mirror plane includes the axis.

[0018] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that in the non-locked operating state, a minimum spacing between the locking disks is always maintained, wherein this minimum spacing is preferably 0.1-5 mm, or 0.1-4 mm, preferably 0.1-1 mm, in particular 0.25-0.75 mm.

[0019] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the locking elements have at least one engagement pin which is radially offset with respect to the rotational axis of the slats, which engagement pin extends parallel to the rotational axis of the slats and, during rotation of the slats, performs an arcuate movement in synchronism with the slats, and the engagement pins of all locking elements are coupled via a common locking lever which extends perpendicular to the slat axis.

[0020] The engagement pin preferably runs in a locking recess in the locking lever, wherein the locking recess is preferably configured as a slot or an elongated recess, the long axis of which extends perpendicular to the main extension direction of the locking lever. The slot or elongated recess can be configured as a channel opening or a groove, in particular in the form of a slotted guide. It is also possible for the slot or elongated recess to be open on at least one side for easy installation in the locking lever, and for this open side to be subsequently closed off by a further component for operation. In particular for such an open design, it is advantageous for the slot or elongated recess not to be designed in the form of a channel opening but in the form of a groove. The locking lever can further be mounted such that it can be displaced essentially only along its main extension direction and not in a direction perpendicular thereto. For this purpose, a corresponding guide groove or a corresponding channel opening can be provided along the main extension direction of the locking lever, in which a fixed guide pin engages.

[0021] The engagement pin is substantially maximally deflected in the main extension direction of the locking lever relative to the axis of rotation of the respective slat in the fully closed position or in the fully open position and, when rotated into the fully open or fully closed position, is rotated into a position in which the engagement pin is substantially located at the level of the axis of rotation of the respective slat in the main extension direction of the locking lever and in which, in the fully open or fully closed position, the engagement pins are preferably each located in the end region of the slot or elongate recess.

[0022] The slot or elongate recess preferably has a snap recess or lateral offset in the direction of maximum deflection of the engagement pin, preferably at half of the slot or elongate recess.

[0023] The locking lever can be guided in the locking guide in such a way that the locking lever can only be displaced in a single direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the slat and cannot be displaced in the direction of the normal to the plane covered by the axis of rotation of the slat.

[0024] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the locking element, preferably in the form of a locking disc, is formed as a separate component from the slat, the support pin of the slat preferably being inserted into the locking element only in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0025] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the locking disc is arranged in an encapsulation region of the frame, which is separated from the passage opening of the frame by a partition wall, and in that, preferably, the support pin of the slat engages through the passage opening in the partition wall. Mounting protrusions of the locking disc can in turn engage in the passage opening in the partition wall, which can be configured with a blind hole or passage opening, into which the corresponding support pin of the respective slat engages. The interior of this opening is preferably structured and the outer contour of the mounting pin of the respective slat is correspondingly structured, so that the slat is inserted in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, on the outside of such mounting protrusions, axially extending sliding webs can be provided, which reduce the susceptibility to contamination, since these sliding webs only slide in the area of the corresponding receiving opening in the frame or in the respective partition wall.

[0026] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the slat has a length of at least 10 cm or at least 20 cm or at least 50 cm, preferably a length of more than 60 cm or more than 1 m, particularly preferably a length of 10-150 cm or 20-120 cm or a length of 1.2-2 m, and in that, in particular, a vertical middle web supporting the middle mounting region of the slat is preferably provided in the frame.

[0027] The structure can also be a radiator shutter with more than one slat region, for example two slat regions on both sides. The slat regions can each be driven individually by a motor, or the slat regions can also preferably all be driven by the same motor. In the latter case, the motor is preferably arranged in the middle between the two slat regions, and on the outside there is a separate locking mechanism for each slat assembly. If a central motor is used, in this case a rod that moves the two slat assemblies one piece or at least firmly connected together can be selected as a connecting rod.

[0028] Especially if the torsional stability of the individual slats is not sufficient to feed back to the motor, one of the slats in the slat assembly can be selectively formed with a higher torsional stability than the other slats, a separate drive element with sufficient torsional stability can be provided instead of or in addition to the slats, for example in a frame arranged above or below the slat assembly, in order to ensure sufficient feedback to the motor in the event of a slat obstruction or failure.

[0029] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the slats have a manufacturing-related cavity inside, which extends along the axis of the respective slat.

[0030] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the coupling element is formed as a coupling rod, wherein the motor preferably drives the driven slat directly via the shaft of the driven slat, and the coupling rod, which is preferably arranged parallel to the plane of the frame and perpendicular to the axis of the slats, is moved via a connecting handle, and the other slats are moved synchronously via corresponding connecting handles coupled to the coupling rod.

[0031] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating or controlling a radiator shutter as described above, wherein preferably the method is characterized in that the controller of the motor is designed such that an error message is output if the motor is moved into a locked stop position that does not correspond to the closed end position or the open end position of the slats as a result of the locking of the locking disc, wherein the fact that such a locked stop position has been reached is preferably detected via an increase in the torque generated by the motor.

[0032] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a radiator shutter as described above, preferably characterized in that the frame, the slats and the locking disc are manufactured individually from a thermoplastic material, preferably from a glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, particularly preferably from a glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polyamide, in an injection molding process, and then assembled to form the radiator shutter.

[0033] Last but not least, the present application relates to the use of a radiator shutter as described above as an air intake control element in a motor vehicle or generally in a means of transport, in particular in a motor vehicle, preferably for targeted supply of air to an engine (internal combustion engine, electric motor), an engine component, an energy store (for example a battery in an electric vehicle) or other heat-generating components.

[0034] Further embodiments of the present application are given in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the present application. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 A radiator shutter in assembled state is shown in perspective view.

[0037] Figure 2 A radiator shutter according to Figure 1 is shown in exploded view.

[0038] Figure 3 A radiator shutter with locking elements is shown;

[0039] Figure 4 A radiator shutter according to Figure 3 is shown in exploded view.

[0040] Figure 5 Another radiator shutter with locking elements is shown;

[0041] Figure 6 A radiator shutter according to Figure 5 is shown, in Figure 6 a) an enlarged detail of the motor side, in Figure 6 b) an enlarged detail of the mounting side of the slats with locking elements.

[0042] Figure 7 A radiator shutter according to Figure 5 is shown in exploded view.

[0043] Figure 8 Locking elements are shown, in Figure 8 a) a view from inside the frame, in Figure 8 b) a view from outside the frame, in Figure 8 c) a perspective view.

[0044] Figure 9 Locking elements according to another embodiment are shown in perspective view, in Figure 9a) a view from the side of the first locking plate is shown, in Figure 9 b) a view from the side of the second locking plate is shown;

[0045] Figure 10 various standard positions are shown from the side of the first locking plate, wherein in Figure 10 a) the closed position (0°) is shown, in Figure 10 b) the half-open position (42.5°) is shown, in Figure 10 c) the open position (85°) is shown;

[0046] Figure 11 various standard positions are shown from the side of the second locking plate, wherein in Figure 11 a) the closed position (0°) is shown, in Figure 11 b) the half-open position (42.5°) is shown, in Figure 11 c) the open position (85°) is shown;

[0047] Figure 12 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be opened starting from the closed position (0°), wherein in Figure 12 a) the open position (0°) is shown from the side of the first locking plate, in Figure 12 b) a block at approximately 12° is shown after the open rotation from the side of the first locking plate, in Figure 12 c) the open position (0°) is shown from the side of the second locking plate, in Figure 12 d) a block at approximately 12° is shown after the open rotation from the side of the second locking plate;

[0048] Figure 13 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be closed starting from the open position (85°), wherein in Figure 13 a) the closed position (85°) is shown from the side of the first locking plate, in Figure 13 b) a block at approximately 42° is shown after the closed rotation from the side of the first locking plate, in Figure 13 c) the closed position (85°) is shown from the side of the second locking plate, in Figure 13 d) a block at approximately 42° is shown after the closed rotation from the side of the second locking plate;

[0049] Figure 14 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be closed starting from the half-open position (42.5°), respectively from the side of the first locking plate, wherein in Figure 14a) the half-open starting position (42.5°) is shown in Figure 14 b) the closed position (0°) is shown in which the lowermost locking element remains stationary, in Figure 14 c) the opening position of approximately 45° is shown if the lowermost locking element is pushed out of its rotational position, in Figure 14 d) the locking position of approximately 40° is shown after turning back towards the closed position;

[0050] Figure 15 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be closed starting from the half-open position (42.5°), respectively viewed from the side of the second locking plate, wherein in Figure 15 a) the half-open starting position (42.5°) is shown in Figure 15 b) the closed position (0°) is shown in which the lowermost locking element remains stationary, in Figure 15 c) the opening position of approximately 45° is shown if the lowermost locking element is pushed out of its rotational position, in Figure 15 d) the locking position of approximately 40° is shown after turning back towards the closed position;

[0051] Figure 16 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be opened starting from the half-open position (42.5°), respectively viewed from the side of the first locking plate, wherein in Figure 16 a) the half-open starting position (42.5°) is shown in Figure 16 b) the position at approximately 45° is shown if the lowermost locking element is pushed out of its rotational position, in Figure 16 c) the opening position is shown in which the first locking plate is contacted but not locked, in Figure 16 d) the locking position of approximately 40° is shown after turning back towards the opening position;

[0052] Figure 17 various positions are shown when the (lowermost) locking elements do not rotate together and are to be opened starting from the half-open position (42.5°), respectively viewed from the side of the second locking plate, wherein in Figure 17 a) the half-open starting position (42.5°) is shown in Figure 17 b) the position at approximately 45° is shown if the lowermost locking element is pushed out of its rotational position, in Figure 17 c) the opening position is shown in which the first locking plate is contacted but not locked, in Figure 18 d) the locking position of approximately 40° is shown after turning back towards the opening position;

[0053] Figure 19 Another exemplary embodiment of a radiator shutter is shown in perspective view from one side of the engine, this time with five slats, which is generally provided for vertical alignment of its axis;

[0054] Figure 18 A radiator shutter according to Figure 19 is shown, this time in perspective view of the locking side, in Figure 19 a) the assembled state without cover, in Figure 20 b) an exploded view with respect to the locking;

[0055] Figure 21 The behavior of the locking lever is shown for various angular positions during the rotation of a slat from the closed position (at very top) to the open position (at very bottom);

[0056] Figure 21 The starting position in the closed position is shown in Figure 21 a), the locking starting from the fully closed position if the rightmost slat is broken and does not rotate together in Figure 21 b), and from a slightly open position in Figure 22 c);

[0057] Figure 23 The locking is shown when the engagement pin of a broken slat is stuck in the snap recess.

[0058] Figure 24 The locking is shown when the rightmost slat is broken and assumes the fully closed position;

[0059] Figure 25 The locking is shown when the rightmost slat is broken and assumes the fully open position;

[0060] Figure 26 The locking is shown when the rightmost slat is broken and moves in the closing direction from the half-open position (45°);

[0061] Figure 27 The locking is shown when the rightmost slat is broken and moves in the opening direction from the half-open position (42.5°);

[0062] Figure 27 An alternative design of the locking lever is shown, in which Figure 27 a) a side view of a first embodiment is shown, in which the locking recess is configured as a channel opening with an offset portion, in Figure 27 b) a side view of a second embodiment is shown, in which the locking recess is formed as a groove that is open on one side and has an offset portion, in Figure 28 c) a perspective view of the second embodiment is shown;

[0063] Figure 28 Another heat sink shutter with locking elements is shown, wherein in Figure 28 a) an exploded view is reproduced, in Figure 28 b) and Figure 28 c) details of the slats on the one side of the locking bar and on the motor side, respectively, are shown according to Figure 28 a), in Figure 28 d) details regarding the relative arrangement and configuration of the locking bar and the cover are shown according to Figure 1 a).

[0064] Legend of the figures

[0065] 1 heat sink shutter

[0066] 2 frame

[0067] 3 vertical intermediate web

[0068] 4 lateral fastening area of 2

[0069] 5 bearing area of 2

[0070] 6 motor area of 6

[0071] 7 coupling bar

[0072] 8 first slat

[0073] 8' bearing pin of 8

[0074] 8" intermediate bearing of 8

[0075] 8"' bearing head of 8

[0076] 9 driven slat

[0077] 9' bearing pin of 9

[0078] 9" intermediate bearing of 9

[0079] 9"' bearing head of 9

[0080] 10 third slat

[0081] 10' bearing pin of 10

[0082] 10" intermediate bearing of 10

[0083] 10"' bearing head of 10

[0084] 11 fourth slat

[0085] 11' bearing pin of 11

[0086] 11" intermediate bearing of 11

[0087] 11" bearing head of 11

[0088] 11a fifth slat

[0089] 12 motor

[0090] 13 drive side mounting portion of 8-11

[0091] 14 non-drive side mounting portion of 8-11

[0092] 15 motor cage

[0093] 16 cover of 3

[0094] 17 covered area of slats, slat vanes

[0095] 18 OBD disc of 8

[0096] 19 OBD disc of 9

[0097] 20 OBD disc of 10

[0098] 21 OBD disc of 11

[0099] 22 packaging space of 18-21

[0100] 23 partition wall of 22

[0101] 24 coupling recess in 7

[0102] 25 coupling lever of slat

[0103] 26 coupling pin on 25

[0104] 27 passage opening for bearing pin in 23

[0105] 28 shaft of 18-21

[0106] 29 guide collar

[0107] 30 first locking plate of 18-21

[0108] 31 second locking plate of 18-21

[0109] 32 swept area of 30

[0110] 33 cutout area of 30

[0111] 34 truncated area due to prototype structure

[0112] 35 lateral protrusion on 31

[0113] 36 minimum distance

[0114] 37 frame opening

[0115] 38 mirror

[0116] 39 reinforcement

[0117] 40 axial hole

[0118] 41 rotation-preventing flat side

[0119] 42 recess

[0120] 43 sliding web

[0121] 44 circumferential flange on one side of the second locking plate

[0122] 45 circumferential flange on one side of the first locking plate

[0123] 46 blocking region of 30

[0124] 47 lateral region of 30

[0125] 48 cutout region of 30

[0126] 49 transition region of 30

[0127] 50 circular cylindrical region of 31

[0128] 51 blocking region of 31

[0129] 52 first transition region of 31

[0130] 53 second transition region of 31

[0131] 54 blocking impact portion

[0132] 55 “failed” OBD disk

[0133] 56 no locking contact

[0134] 60 rotating disk

[0135] 61 locking lever

[0136] 62 locking guide, locking housing

[0137] 63 engagement pin

[0138] 64 locking recess in 61

[0139] 65 snap-in recess

[0140] 66 lower end region of the locking recess

[0141] 67 locking housing

[0142] 68 mounting plate

[0143] 69 cover plate

[0144] 70 receiving opening in 60 for support pin of slat

[0145] 71 fastening screw

[0146] 72 lower guide web

[0147] 73 upper housing wall

[0148] 74 parallel slot for guiding

[0149] 75 guiding pin for engaging in 74

[0150] 76 displacement direction of locking lever

[0151] 77 support pin of slat

[0152] 78 upper end region of locking recess

[0153] 79 laterally offset portion of locking recess

[0154] 80 upper insertion opening of locking recess

[0155] 81 closed rear wall of locking recess

[0156] 82 cover

[0157] 83 coupling region of 7

[0158] 84 bridging region of 7

[0159] 85 drive shaft

[0160] 86 slat of left-hand region

[0161] 87 slat of generally right-hand region

[0162] 88 horizontal intermediate web

[0163] 89 support pin of 86 / 87

[0164] 90 rear wall of 82

[0165] 91 cover wall of 82

[0166] 92 contour in front wall of 82 for receiving 60

[0167] 93 recess in 92 for 89

[0168] EV first locking plate 30

[0169] ZV second locking plate 31 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0170] Figure 1 A radiator shutter 1 with a frame 2 is shown. The frame has two long sides which are opposite horizontally and two frame sections which are opposite vertically. The vertically frame section shown on the right here has a transverse fastening area 4 and mounting areas 5 for horizontally extending slats are provided in this frame section shown on the right. In Figure 2 In the middle, such a radiator shutter installed in a motor vehicle is shown from the motor side. Before being installed in the vehicle, an inner cover is additionally attached, which is not reproduced here and in the following figures in order to make the inner workings of the frame visible.

[0171] The slats 8-11 extend over a large length of more than 1 m horizontally. These slats are mounted and driven on the vertically frame side shown on the left here, i.e. the motor area. The slats are likewise mounted on the other side, i.e. in the mounting areas 5 of the frame. Since the slats 8-11 have a large length, there is a vertically intermediate web 3 in the frame, in which the slats are likewise mounted. For this purpose, it can be seen from the exploded view according to Figure 1 The slats each have an intermediate mounting 8"-11" for this purpose; there, the slats are formed cylindrically and do not have actual slat blades 17 which extend on both sides of the central axis of the slat. On the motor side 6, the frame has a suitable recess so that the motor 12 can be inserted, which is first inserted into a motor holder 15, which is an injection-molded part. Since the motor shaft is coupled directly or indirectly to a bearing head 9"', the motor drives the second slat with the reference 9 directly from above. On the motor side, the slats are mounted via such bearing heads 8"-11"' and on the other side via bearing pins 8'-11'.

[0172] For the installation, the slats are first inserted with their bearing pins 8'-11' into the corresponding mounting recesses in the mounting areas 5 and into the corresponding bearing points in the motor holder 15. For this purpose, the motor 12 is preferably inserted into the holder 15 beforehand and then inserted together with the slat assembly into the frame until the intermediate bearings 8"-11" engage in the corresponding recesses 17 in the vertically intermediate web 3. Then, the intermediate mounting can be closed from the front side with a cover 16.

[0173] As already mentioned above, the motor 12 is coupled to the bearing head 9" which drives the slat 9. The motor moves the slat between a fully closed position (0°) in which the lateral ends of the slat slightly overlap and a fully open position (about 90°) in which the plane of the slat is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the frame and the passage of air is maximally opened. Figure 3 The closed position is shown.

[0174] In order to couple the movement of the other slats 8, 10-11 synchronously to the movement of the drive slat 9, a coupling rod 7 is provided. The coupling rod is driven via an eccentric on the drive slat 9 and moves the other slats 8, 10-11 synchronously, which in turn have a similar eccentric.

[0175] Figure 4 A radiator shutter with locking elements is shown. Figures 1-2 The corresponding exploded view is reproduced. The features already described in connection with Figure 1 Similar or identical elements described will not be described hereinafter.

[0176] At this point, OBD disks 18-21 (OBD stands for On-Board Diagnostics) are present in the mounting area 5, which are inserted there onto the end of the slats. The function of these disks will be explained in further detail below. Thus, the end of the slat shown on the right and facing away from the motor is no longer mounted directly in the frame, but in these OBD disks 18-21, which serve as the locking elements mentioned at the outset. All these disks 18-21 preferably have the same dimensions and are made of the same material as the frame and the slats, in an injection molding process from a thermoplastic material, preferably polyamide 6 with a glass fiber content of approximately 50%.

[0177] In order to be able to absorb the increased torque through the locking in the event of a malfunction on the side facing away from the motor, the area of the slat facing the motor here is provided with a reinforcement 39; the reinforcement is formed here as a separate component screwed on, but preferably can be produced in one piece with the slat during the injection molding process. The locking elements, i.e. the disks 18-21, are formed as separate elements from the slats 8-11, however. This is important because if the slat is completely broken, the associated OBD disk can also break, then the locking function thereof will no longer be able to be detected in the event of a malfunction. Here, too, the coupling rod is formed to be more robust than in the illustration according to Figure 5 , again because of the higher torque that can be present in the event of a malfunction due to the locking.

[0178] Figure 7 Another slightly different design of such a radiator shutter with locking elements is shown. Figure 6 The corresponding exploded view is reproduced. In this exemplary embodiment, as already explained in connection with Figure 6 a) and Figure 6b) It can be seen that no reinforcement 39 in the form of a separate screwed-on component is present at the motor side. Here, the individual eccentric wheels are designed more robustly in the form of a respective strip-shaped coupling lever 25. The coupling levers 25 each have a coupling pin 26 facing the coupling bar 7. These coupling pins 26 each engage in a corresponding coupling groove in the coupling bar 7. Here, the motor 12 also directly drives the corresponding bearing head 9"' of the drive strip 9. The movement corresponding to the coupling of the other strips is performed via the coupling lever 25 of the strip 9 to the coupling bar 7 and then from this coupling bar via the corresponding coupling lever 25 of the other strip to this other strip.

[0179] Figure 8 b) It is shown how the locking elements 18-21 are arranged in the encapsulation space 22 for protection against dirt, etc. Thus, no water, dirt, etc. can act on these locking elements, which are important for diagnosis; the encapsulation area 22 is closed towards the front and also towards the rear, further closed during final assembly by a frame cover, which is not shown here. Thus, the encapsulation area 22 of the locking elements is substantially completely separated from the frame opening 37 by a partition wall 23, through which air, as well as dirt and water, etc. can flow.

[0180] The function and shape of the locking elements 18-21 can be best explained with reference to Figure 8 . Here, at the top, a series of locking elements 18-21 is shown from the side of the frame opening, and in Figure 8 b) a quasi-inverted view from the outside. In Figures 9-17 c), a perspective view of this series of locking elements is shown. All locking elements are preferably constructed identically in principle; here, the locking elements 18 and 21, which are completely arranged on the outside, are slightly modified (compare cut-off area 34), since the housing arranged in the frame would otherwise lead to a collision in certain rotational positions. However, preferably, all locking elements 18-21 are identical (see Figure 9 ).

[0181] Each locking element has two guide shafts 28 or guide pins protruding in two directions. Here, the side facing the strips is formed as a guide collar 29 with an axially extending cutout, in which the blade 17 of a strip engages. However, instead of such a guide collar 29, it is also possible to omit this and to provide an axial hole or recess on this side of the pin 28 directly for the corresponding bearing pin 8'-11' of the associated strip. This recess has an inner structure so that the corresponding pin of the strip can be inserted into it to prevent rotation.

[0182] In the passage openings 27 on the frame opening side, two shafts 28 protruding on both sides engage in corresponding bearing recesses. The locking elements can thus be said to be mounted individually and independently of the slats 8. This is important because if a slat 8 breaks, the corresponding locking disc 18-21 does not necessarily have to come off the frame as well, otherwise the locking disc would no longer perform the locking function and correspondingly would no longer provide the diagnostic function.

[0183] The locking elements 18-21 are formed with corresponding locking plates 30, 31 which are formed as eccentric pieces and extend at right angles to the shafts 28. The shape of these locking plates is chosen such that only a synchronous, joint rotation can take place, without any premature or late locking collisions of the locking plates. If one of the locking plates or one of the locking elements 18-21 does not rotate jointly when the other locking elements rotate, in any case, at the latest after one complete cycle (for example from opening: closed and open again), the radially outer contour of the moving locking element comes into contact with the outer contour of the non-moving locking element, regardless of the starting position, which has the effect of a positive form-fit locking. For this purpose, there is a first locking plate 30 which has a swept area 32 and on the opposite side a smaller swept area with a cutout 33. These first locking plates are at the same axial height in the adjacent locking elements. In order to ensure that for all starting positions of a subsequent failure of one of the slats, the locking takes place immediately or at least after at the latest one or at the latest two complete movement cycles, there is also here a second locking plate 31 which has lateral protrusions 35 on both sides. This second locking plate 31 is able to push the non-joint rotating adjacent locking plates into a changed rotational position in one cycle, so that in this changed rotational position the first or the second locking plate subsequently moves into the locked state.

[0184] Figure 8A perspective view of the locking disc 18-21 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. The shape can be seen more precisely here. The locking disc has a passage opening in the form of an axial bore 40 in which there is a profile here in the form of a planar side 41 for pushing the shaft element 8' of the slat into the bore so that the locking disc is coupled to the corresponding slat with respect to rotation in both directions. Furthermore, there is a circumferential flange 44 on which a sliding web 43 is provided. A circumferential flange 45 runs in a corresponding recess in the frame and the flange 44 provided on the opposite side of the disc runs in a passage opening 27 in the partition wall 23. Such a type of flange thus exists not only on one side of the second locking plate 31 but also on the opposite side of the first locking plate 30. There, the flange 40 is designed to be higher than the opposite side. The disc 18-21 is inserted into the encapsulation space 22, first the high flange 45 is inserted into the appropriate opening and then the disc is inserted by means of the mobility or flexibility of the partition wall 23 until the respective opposite flange 54 is clamped into the respective passage opening 27. The sliding web 43 leads to a lower susceptibility to dirt; dirt can in particular collect in the area provided between the sliding webs and formed with a smaller radius so that the rotational movement is not impeded.

[0185] As already mentioned above, the first locking plate 30 has a swept area 32 on one side; the profile in this area is delimited by two blocking areas 46 connected via a transition area 49 and each of two lateral areas 47 with a gradually decreasing radius. The two lateral areas 47 are connected by a cutout area 48, designated by the reference 33. Figures 10-17

[0186] On the next plane and directly adjoining the first locking plate 30, there is the second locking plate 31. Here, there is a circumferential cylindrical area 50 with a small radius which is provided in the swept area of the first locking plate 30. In order to reduce the weight or to avoid deformations in the manufacturing process, recesses 42 can be provided here. On the side opposite to this cylindrical area 50, there is again a swept area with the lateral protrusions 35 already mentioned above. In the swept area, the two protrusions 35 are connected first via a concave transition area 52 and via a convex blocking area 51 located between the concave transition areas 52. With regard to the circular cylindrical area 50, behind the lateral protrusions 35 there is a concave second transition area 53. Both the first locking plate 30 and the second locking plate 31 contribute to the locking, but the first locking plate 30 in particular is also used to move the disc which is not moved together with it in one cycle into a position so that the locking can be carried out in a further movement sequence.

[0187] The locking function of the locking element 18-21 can be explained with reference to Figure 10 .

[0188] ​The starting points are the normal positions; these are shown from the side of the first locking plate 30 and the second locking plate 31 respectively in Figure 11 and Figure 12 . The three normal positions are given by closed (0°), half-open (42.2°), open (85°). In each of these positions, the discs do not touch one another. The minimum distance is 0.1 - 5 mm or 3 mm or 0.5 mm respectively.

[0189] Then Figure 12 is shown what happens when starting from the closed position (0°), the lowermost slat has failed and the corresponding disc 55 does not rotate together. As shown in Figure 12 a), here the disc, viewed from the side of the first locking plate 30, starts to rotate in the anticlockwise direction (see arrow) for opening. At a position of approximately 12° (see Figure 12 b)), the lateral area 47 of the disc abutting the disc 55 has come into blocking contact with the blocking area 46 of the failed disc 55.

[0190] The blocking can thus be said to occur immediately and only after 12° of rotation. Viewed from the side of the second locking plate 31, Figure 13 c, the same sequence of steps is shown, here the discs rotate correspondingly in the clockwise direction.

[0191] Figure 13 is shown what happens when starting from the open position (85°), the discs rotate in the direction of the closed position, again shown from the side of the first locking plate in Figure 13 a) and Figure 13 b) and again from the side of the second locking plate in Figure 13 c) and Figure 14 d). Here too, the lowermost disc 55 is inactive. After the three upper discs have rotated approximately 42°, blocking occurs here.

[0192] Then the blocking area 51 of the lowermost disc and one of the lateral protrusions 35 of the second lowermost disc come into contact, so that the three upper discs are blocked. Thus, starting from the open position, less than a quarter of the cycle has to run before the blocked state is reached. A very rapid diagnostic blocking thus also occurs here.

[0193] Figure 15 is shown what happens when rotating from the half-open position (42.5°) to the closed position (0°) from the side of the first locking plate, while in Figure 14 it is shown from the side of the second locking plate. It can be seen from the transition from Figure 14 a) to Figure 14 b) that at first nothing happens until the closed position (0°) is reached. The discs at the bottom do not rotate together at all. If the upper discs then rotate back again (seeFigure 14 c)) at approximately 45°, the second lowermost disc's lateral area 47 is in contact with the corresponding lateral area 47 of the lowermost disc, and then rotates the lowermost disc by pushing it into another rotational position when reaching the open position (see Figure 14 d)).

[0194] If the three upper discs are then rotated again in the direction of the closed position, the locking occurs again at approximately 40° (see Figure 16 e)) because the second lowermost disc's lateral protrusion 35 blocks the lowermost disc 55's blocking area 51.

[0195] Last but not least, Figure 17 and Figure 16 The behavior of the discs is shown when starting from the half-open position (42.5°) and rotating initially in the direction of the closed position and the lowermost disc 55 does not rotate together.

[0196] Here, after reaching a position of approximately 45°, the lowermost disc rotates together at the beginning by contact with the adjacent lateral area 47 (see Figure 17 b), Figure 16 b)) and is pushed towards the quasi-open position (see Figure 17 c), Figure 16 c)). If rotation occurs with the three upper discs then again in the open direction, the two lower discs are again locked via the protrusion 35 and the blocking area 51 (see Figure 17 d), Figure 18 d)).

[0197] Due to the shape of the discs, it is ensured that before the blocking is ensured, one full cycle must be run through, so that a higher torque is measured on the drive motor of the discs, so that the operating state of the strip assembly can be diagnosed via the motor.

[0198] Figure 19 Another exemplary embodiment of the radiator shutter is shown, this time with five strips. In the perspective view of the motor 12, the mounting of the strips can be seen. The motor drives the rightmost strip (i.e. strip 11a) directly on its rotational axis, and when the motor rotates the first strip 11a, the four further strips arranged to the left rotate together via the coupling lever 7 in a similar manner to the exemplary embodiment already described. The closed position is shown. For illustrative purposes, the entire radiator shutter is here arranged on a mounting plate 68; this mounting plate is usually mounted in a housing connected to the components upstream of the engine.

[0199] Opposite the motor 12 is a locking housing 67, in which the bearing pin opposite the drive side of the strips 8-11a is mounted. In Figure 19a) In this locking housing 67, the cover plate 69 has been removed (see exploded view according to Figure 20 b) in order to reveal a view into the locking housing 67. In the locking housing, the locking lever 61 can now be seen, which extends transversely to the plane of the slats; the locking lever can only be displaced parallel to the plane covered by the axis of the slats and perpendicular to the direction of extension of the locking lever in the housing 67.

[0200] At the height of each slat, there is a locking recess 64, which extends perpendicular to and towards the main direction of extension of the locking lever 61. The engagement pins 63 engage in these locking recesses 64. The engagement pins 63 are arranged on the rotating plates 60. The rotating plates 60 have a receiving opening 70; with this receiving opening 70, the rotating plates are pushed onto the support pins of the slats in order to prevent rotation. In the rotating plates 60, the engagement pins 63 are arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the slats, and the rotating plates 60 rotate together with the slats, for example as a result of a form-fit connection between the respective support pin 77 and the respective receiving opening 70.

[0201] All rotating plates 60 with their engagement pins 63 are aligned in the same direction, and in each rotating plate 60, the engagement pin 63 points from the slat in the direction of the locking lever 61.

[0202] In order to improve the guidance of the locking lever 61, the locking lever 61 has parallel grooves 74, which extend between the locking recesses 64 for the engagement pins 63 along the main direction of extension of the locking lever. Guiding pins 75 arranged on the rear wall of the housing slide in these grooves 74.

[0203] Arranged on the lower wall of the housing is a lower guiding web 72, and the locking lever 61 is clamped between the upper housing wall 73 and the guiding web 72, so that the locking lever can only be displaced along the Figure 20 indicated displacement directions and in the opposite direction. However, the locking lever is free to displace in this direction in the housing.

[0204] Figure 21At this point it is shown how the individual components move relative to one another if all slats are intact and not broken. At the top, 0° shows the closed state, the leftmost slat is driven by the motor. If the slat is then rotated at 30° into the open position, the guide pins 63 all move upwards synchronously and these guide pins describe a quarter of a circle in anti-clockwise direction until the fully open position. At 30° there is only a small displacement in the displacement direction 76, but during the next 45° and further rotation beyond 60° to 90° the locking lever 61 is carried in the displacement direction 76. During the closing, the same again takes place in the opposite direction, which means that the engagement pins 63 describe a quarter of a circle in clockwise direction. The locking lever 61 is carried in the left-hand direction in the figure during the movement from 0° to 90°, the engagement pins 63 move from the position at the very bottom to the very top in the corresponding locking recess 64.

[0205] In Figure 21 a) the starting state is shown at this point in the case of a broken slat 11a, namely the rightmost slat. Starting from the fully closed position at 0° shown here, the engagement pins 63 are each in the lower end region 66 in the locking recess 64, it can be said that this lower end region forms a stop, but this stop is not usually reached.

[0206] If, as shown in Figure 21 b), the slat group is then rotated via the motor, but the broken slat 11a does not rotate jointly, the engagement pins 63 of the intact slats move upwards into the locking recess 64 and begin to carry the locking lever 61 to the left. Since the broken slat 11a shown here at the right-hand side does not rotate jointly, its engagement pin 63 remains at the very bottom in the end region 66 of its locking recess 64, and since the right-hand circumferential region of the engagement pin is then in clamping contact with the inner contour of the locking recess immediately below the catch recess 65, the locking lever 61 cannot be displaced further to the left at this point, so that it also prevents further rotation of the engagement pin 63 of the slat arranged further to the left, and therefore also of the corresponding slat. The motor 12 is thus blocked and therefore detects the slat breakage.

[0207] This locking comes into play when starting from the fully closed position to a deflection angle of approximately 11.3°, as shown in Figure 21 c). In other words, as long as the broken slat is located in the region between 0° and approximately 11° as a starting position, the locking takes place, as shown in Figure 21 b) and Figure 22 c).

[0208] If starting from the starting position of 30°, then as shown in Figure 23As shown, the broken strip remains in this position and can then be said to be caught in the snap recess 65, so that the strip further to the left, indicated at 45°, can no longer be co-rotated, so that the entire strip assembly is blocked.

[0209] Figure 24 The state of the entire assembly is shown when the rightmost strip, i.e. strip 11a, is broken and starts from the closed state as already discussed above. The strip set can then be rotated at most to the position shown at 15° at the bottom, because at this position the further displacement of the locking lever to the left is blocked by the engagement pin 63 on the rightmost strip 11a.

[0210] Figure 23 The state is shown when the rightmost strip, i.e. strip 11a, is broken and starts from the fully open position. Here, all strips, even the broken strip, are co-rotated until the fully closed position of 0° is reached. Only when the assembly is opened again in the next opening operation, the system is blocked again at 15°, as explained in connection with Figure 25 .

[0211] Figure 23 The state is shown when the rightmost strip, i.e. strip 11a, is broken and starts from the fully open position. Here, all strips, even the broken strip, are co-rotated until the fully closed position of 0° is reached. Only when the assembly is opened again in the next opening operation, the system is blocked again at 15°, as explained in connection with Figure 26 .

[0212] Last but not least, Figure 26 The state is shown when the rightmost strip, i.e. strip 11a, is broken and starts from the fully open position. Here, all strips, even the broken strip, are co-rotated until the fully closed position of 0° is reached. Only when the assembly is opened again in the next opening operation, the system is blocked again at 15°, as explained in connection with Figure 27 .

[0213] Figure 27 An alternative construction of the locking lever 61 is shown. Figure 21 a) shows a side view of one embodiment, in which the locking recess 64 is not formed as a simple vertical slot with a lateral snap recess 65, but here the locking recess 64 has a lateral offset 79 between the lower end region 66 and the upper end region 78. If the strip stops at 0° (see Figure 22 ), the offset 79 has the same effect as the snap recess 65, and if the strip stops at 30° (see Figure 22) is present, the offset 79 has a similar effect as the snap-in recess 65. The advantages of the design with the lateral offset 79 are firstly that the engagement pin 63 is always guided laterally in the slotted guide of the locking recess 64 and does not have any play. A further advantage is that, for illustration, the state in Figure 27 , in which a corresponding locking recess with an offset must be assumed, is compared, starting from the blocking of the slats at 90° or 45°, even further depending on the height of the offset, and during an attempted rotation of the further slat in the 0° direction, the result is likewise a locking and a corresponding feedback of a fault to the motor.

[0214] Figure 27 b) and Figure 28 c) shows another alternative configuration of the locking lever 61. In order to be able to insert the slats after insertion of the locking lever 61 (see also Figure 28 ), it can be advantageous for the locking recess 64 to be open at the top or at the bottom. The open side is then closed by a further component (in Figure 28 , a cover). Furthermore, the locking recess 64 does not have to be configured as a channel opening. These locking recesses can also be formed as grooves, as shown in connection with this embodiment, i.e. as grooves on the side facing away from the slats, the locking lever 61 having a closed rear wall 81 or groove base. This can be advantageous for stability reasons, in particular when the locking recess 64 is open on one side.

[0215] Figure 27 Another heat sink shutter with locking elements is shown. In this case, two slat groups are driven and controlled via a centrally arranged motor 12. The frame 2 here has a vertical intermediate web 3 which is not only used for mounting the slats already described above, but also for accommodating the motor 12. In contrast to the examples described above, the slats do not extend over the entire width of the frame, but two separate slat assemblies are arranged in two recesses arranged on both sides of the vertical intermediate web, as shown, a first group of slats 86 in the left-hand region and, as shown, a second group of slats 87 in the right-hand region.

[0216] The motor 12 is arranged to be protected behind a vertical middle web 3 in the direction of travel, which motor jointly and synchronously drives both slat assemblies 86 / 87, wherein the motor drives the slats or drive shafts 85 (see further below), the further slats being moved via the common coupling element 7. For this purpose, the coupling element 7 has two coupling regions 83 and a bridging region 84 between the two coupling regions. The locking elements already described above are again in the form of respective locking bars 61, which are arranged on the outside in the frame, are fixed to or formed in one piece with an eccentric engagement pin 63 on the respective slat 86 / 87 via a swivel plate 60 arranged on the respective slat 86 / 87. These engagement pins 63 engage in recesses in the locking bars 61, which are each as already described above with reference to Figure 27 b) and Figure 28 c) the locking bars 61 further described above. In other words, the locking elements are locking bars 61, wherein the recesses open upwards or, here better, backwards in the direction of travel. This design allows the frame to be installed from behind, so to speak, first the locking bars 61 are inserted, then the slats, and finally closed via a cover 82, which is fixed, for example, by the screws shown. Here, the locking bars are also mounted such that they can only be displaced along their main extension.

[0217] In view of such a slat assembly with relatively many slats, a thin construction of the slats is preferred for reasons of weight and for reasons of the largest possible flow cross section when the slats are open. If a slat fails and blocks, this can lead to the torsional stability of the slat no longer being sufficient. It can then be possible that, although the rotation of the slat is blocked on the side facing away from the motor, this blockage is not transmitted to the motor side and thus not as feedback to the motor, since the slat can simply be rotated by the motor.

[0218] In this exemplary embodiment, the problem is solved by the presence of a corresponding horizontal middle web 88 in the frame 2, which is arranged at the same height as the slats. Arranged at the vertical height of this middle web 88 and on both sides in the frame is not a slat but a drive shaft 85, which has sufficient torsional stability, which is protected behind this middle web. This drive shaft 85 is also coupled to the locking bars 61 in the same way as the slats and is also blocked if a blockage is carried out via the locking bars 61. This drive shaft 85 is then also coupled to the motor 12 and to the elements of the coupling rod 7, which then feed back directly to the motor if a blockage occurs. If the drive shaft 85 is not directly coupled to the motor but to the motor via the coupling rod 7, the feedback occurs indirectly via the coupling rod 7. However, the appropriate protection of the feedback can also be carried out in another way, for example by a slat specially formed for torsional stability.

[0219] Figure 28 b) according toFigure 28 The detail in a) shows in detail the detailed configuration of the side of the slat 87 which is arranged with the rotating plate 60. In this case, the rotating plate 60 is formed in one piece with the slat 87 and is connected to the slat via the bearing pin 89. The corresponding engagement pin 63 is arranged eccentrically in the corresponding rotating plate 60.

[0220] Figure 28 c) According to Figure 28 The detail in a) shows in detail the detailed configuration of the side of the slat 86 which is coupled to the motor 12. The bearing pin 89 is arranged on the shaft and is mounted in a corresponding recess in the vertical middle web 3 of the frame 2. The corresponding coupling pin 26, which engages in a corresponding recess of the coupling lever 7, is provided via the coupling lever 25. Here, the coupling lever and the coupling pin are also formed in one piece with the slat.

[0221] Figure 28 d) According to ​ The detail in a) shows in detail the locking lever 61 with the locking recess 64, which in the illustrated figure is formed in such a way that it opens at the rear with an insertion opening 80 and, as described above, has a lateral offset 79 at approximately half the length. A cover 82 is placed on the locking lever 61 and is then connected to the frame. The cover 62 has a rear wall 90 which guides the locking lever 61 on the side and a cover wall 91 which closes the upper insertion opening 80 when the cover is placed and fixed to the frame. In the front wall of the cover facing the slats, there are profiles 92 at this time, in each of which a recess 93 for the bearing pin 89 is arranged, behind which the rotating plate 60 of the slat is clamped. The profiles ensure that, if the slat breaks, it breaks in the area of the corresponding bearing pin 89 between the actual slat and the rotating plate 60, so that, even in the event of a breakage of the slat, the rotating plate remains in the frame and ensures the coupling to the locking lever 61. Without such a measure, the slat could break together with the rotating plate, so that further locking via the locking lever 61 is no longer possible since the rotating plate no longer rotates together.

Claims

1. A radiator shutter (1) having a frame (2), in which at least two slats (8-11) are mounted in a rotatable manner, such that the at least two slats can be pivoted from a fully closed position to an open position, in which in the fully closed position the blades (17) of the slats (8-11) are arranged substantially parallel to the plane of the frame and in the region in which the blades adjoin one another, partially overlap or lie closely against one another, such that a frame opening (37) is substantially closed to air flow, in which in the open position the blades (17) of the slats (8-11) are arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame, such that the frame opening (37) is substantially maximally open to air flow, wherein the slats (8-11) are mounted in bearing points on two opposite sides of the frame, in which in the frame or on the frame a motor (12) which drives an individual slat (9) is arranged on a motor side (6) of the frame, and in which on the same motor side (6) of the frame a coupling element (7) is arranged, which couples the rotation of the driven slat (9) synchronously to the further slats (8, 10-11), and in which, on the mounting side of the frame (2) facing away from the motor side (6) of the frame in the region in which the slats (8-11) are mounted, a locking element (18-21, 60, 63) is provided for each slat, and in which the locking elements (18-21, 60, 63) are coupled directly or indirectly such that if at least one of the locking elements (18-21, 60, 63) does not rotate synchronously with all the other locking elements (18-21, 60, 63), the rotational movement of the locking elements (18-21, 60, 63) is blocked in at least one direction, characterized in that the locking elements are designed as locking disks (18-21, 60, 63) or as locking elements (60, 63) having at least one engagement pin (63) which is offset radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the slats (8-11), in which the engagement pins (63) extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the slats (8-11) and during the rotation of the slats complete an arc-shaped movement synchronously with the slats, and in which the engagement pins (63) of all the locking elements (60) are coupled via a locking lever (61) which extends perpendicular to the axis of the slats, and in which the locking disks (18-21) are shaped such that if at least one of the locking disks does not rotate synchronously with all the other locking disks (18-21), the rotational movement of the locking disks is blocked in a force- and / or form-fitting manner. The radiator shutter is used in a motor vehicle for the controlled ventilation of an engine. ​ ​ ​ ​ wherein ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that ​ 3. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The fully closed position is at 0°, in which the vanes (17) of the slats (8-11) are arranged essentially parallel to the plane of the frame and in the area where the vanes abut against one another, partially overlap or lie closely against one another, such that the frame openings (37) are essentially closed to air flow, and the open position is at 90°, in which the vanes (17) of the slats (8-11) are arranged essentially perpendicular to the plane of the frame, such that the frame openings (37) are essentially maximally open to air flow.

4. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The rotational movement of the locking elements (18-21, 60, 63) is blocked in at least one direction in a force- and / or form-fit manner.

5. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least three slats are mounted parallel in the frame.

6. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least four slats are mounted parallel in the frame.

7. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that Exactly four slats are mounted parallel in the frame.

8. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least three slats are mounted parallel in the frame, and each of the slats has a locking disc.

9. A heat sink shutter (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that The respective locking elements (18-21, 60, 63) in the form of locking discs (18-21) are coupled in both rotational directions with the associated slats (8-11), and wherein the locking discs each have at least one locking plate (30, 31) which is arranged essentially perpendicular to the respective slat axis.

10. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that At least the first locking plate (30) has a greater radius in a first circumferential area than in a second, essentially opposite circumferential area.

11. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that There are two locking plates (30, 31) which are offset relative to the axis (28) of the locking disc (18-21), and / or, at least one locking disc is designed mirror-symmetrically relative to a mirror plane (38) which includes the axis (28), and / or, in the non-locked operating state, a minimum spacing (36) between the locking discs (18-21) is always maintained.

12. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that There are two adjacent, mirror-symmetric locking plates (30, 31) which are offset relative to the axis (28) of the locking disc (18-21), wherein each of these locking plates has a first circumferential area with a greater radius and a second circumferential area with a smaller radius, wherein the circumferential areas with the greater radius of the two locking plates (30, 31) are arranged opposite relative to the axis of the locking disc, and wherein the second locking plate (31) has two lateral protrusions (35) laterally in the circumferential area with the greater radius, and / or, in the non-locked operating state, a minimum spacing (36) between the locking discs (18-21) is always maintained, which is 0.1-5 mm.

13. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that All locking discs (18-21) are designed mirror-symmetrically relative to a mirror plane (38) which includes the axis (28).

14. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that The minimum spacing is 0.1-4 mm.

15. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that The minimum spacing is 0.1-1 mm.

16. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that The minimum spacing is 0.25-0.75 mm.

17. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The engagement pin (63) travels in a locking recess (64) in the locking lever (61).

18. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 17, wherein the locking recess (64) is configured as a slot or an elongated recess (64), as a passage opening or as a groove, the long axis of the locking recess extending perpendicular to the main extension direction of the locking bar (61).

19. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 18, wherein The locking bar (61) is mounted such that it can be displaced essentially only along its main extension direction and not in a direction perpendicular to its main extension direction.

20. The heat spreader shutter of claim 1, wherein, The engagement pin (63) is substantially maximally deflected relative to the axis of rotation of the respective slat (8-11) in the main extension direction of the locking bar (61) in the fully closed position or in the fully open position and, during the rotation into the fully open position or the fully closed position, is rotated into a position in which the engagement pin is located substantially at the height of the axis of rotation of the respective slat (8-11) in the main extension direction of the locking bar (61), and / or the locking bar (61) is guided in the locking guide (62) such that it can only be displaced in a single direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the slat (8-11) and not in the direction of the normal to the plane covered by the axis of rotation of the slat (8-11).

21. The heat spreader shutter of claim 20, wherein, In the fully open position or the fully closed position, the engagement pin (63) is located in the end region (66) of the slot or the elongated recess (64), and / or is characterized in that, at one half of the slot or the elongated recess (64), the slot or the elongated recess (64) has a snap recess (65) or a lateral offset (79) in the direction of the maximum deflection of the engagement pin (63).

22. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The locking element (60, 63) in the form of a locking disc (18-21) is formed as a component separate from the slats.

23. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The locking element (60, 63) in the form of a locking disc (18-21) is formed as a component separate from the slats, the support pin of the slats being inserted into the component only in a rotationally fixed manner.

24. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The locking element (60, 63) in the form of a locking disc (18-21) and, if present, the locking bar (61) are arranged in an encapsulation region (22) of the frame, which is separated from the passage opening (27) of the frame (2) by a separation wall (23).

25. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The locking element (60, 63) in the form of a locking disc (18-21) and, if present, the locking bar (61) are arranged in an encapsulation region (22) of the frame, which is separated from the passage opening (27) of the frame (2) by a separation wall (23), and wherein the support pin of the slats engages through a passage opening (27) in the separation wall (23).

26. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of at least 10 cm.

27. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 26, wherein A vertical middle web (3) supporting the middle mounting region of the slats is arranged in the frame.

28. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of at least 20 cm.

29. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of at least 50 cm.

30. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of more than 60 cm.

31. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of more than 1 m.

32. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of 10-150 cm.

33. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of 20-120 cm.

34. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The slats have a length of 1.2-2 m.

35. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 26, characterized in that The slats have a manufacturing-related cavity inside, which extends along the axis of the respective slat.

36. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coupling elements are formed as coupling rods (7), and the coupling rods (7) and the other slats (8, 10-11) are moved synchronously via corresponding coupling levers (25) coupled to the coupling rods (7).

37. The heat sink shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coupling elements are formed as coupling rods (7), wherein the motor drives the driven slats (9) directly via the shaft of the driven slats (9), and the coupling rods (7) arranged parallel to the plane of the frame and perpendicular to the axis of the slats are moved via coupling levers (25), and the other slats (8, 10-11) are moved synchronously via corresponding coupling levers (25) coupled to the coupling rods (7).

38. A method for operating or controlling a heat sink shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The controller of the motor (12) is designed such that an error message is output if the motor moves into a locked stop position not corresponding to the closed end position or the open end position of the slats due to locking of the locking elements (60, 63).

39. The method of claim 38, wherein, The fact that such a locked stop position has been reached is detected via an increase in the torque generated by the motor.

40. A method for manufacturing a heat sink shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-37, characterized in that, The frame, the slats, and the locking elements (60, 63) in the form of locking discs and / or the locking rods (61) are manufactured individually from thermoplastic material and then assembled to form the radiator shutter (1).

41. The method of claim 40, wherein, The frame, the slats, and the locking elements (60, 63) in the form of locking discs and / or the locking rods (61) are manufactured individually from thermoplastic material in an injection molding process and then assembled to form the radiator shutter (1).

42. Use of a radiator shutter (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1-37 for targeted supply of air to an engine, an engine component, an energy store, or other heat-generating components in a means of transport, wherein the means of transport comprises a motor vehicle.

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