An inflatable active grille shutter, a vehicle, and a grille shutter control method

By designing an inflatable active air intake grille, the opening and closing of the air intake grille is controlled by airbags, which solves the problems of structural complexity and low reliability, reduces the risk of damage in collision accidents, and realizes a low-cost, high-reliability air intake grille system.

CN118636824BActive Publication Date: 2025-10-31CHERY AUTOMOBILE CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202410923113.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-07-10
Publication Date
2025-10-31
Estimated Expiration
2044-07-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing active grille shutters are complex in structure, have low reliability, are easily damaged, especially in collisions, and are also costly.

Method used

It adopts an inflatable active air intake grille, and the opening and closing of the air intake grille is controlled by an airbag. The grille blades are connected to the outer frame frame by a snap-fit ​​method. When the airbag is inflated, it relieves the impact force and disengages from the limit slot to reduce the risk of damage.

Benefits of technology

It reduces structural complexity and cost, improves reliability, reduces the risk of damage in collision accidents, and is simple to assemble and easy to maintain.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This disclosure provides an inflatable active grille shutter, a vehicle, and a grille control method, relating to the field of active grille shutter technology. It includes an outer frame and grille blades. The outer frame is fixed relative to the vehicle and has limiting slots for engaging the grille blades. Each grille blade includes a grille blade frame and an airbag covering the outside of the frame. Multiple grille blades are arranged on the outer frame, and when the airbags of each grille blade are inflated, the airbags of adjacent grille blades are in contact. Each grille blade is engaged with the outer frame via the limiting slots. This disclosure reduces the structural complexity of the active grille shutter, improves reliability, and is less prone to damage in rear-end collisions.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of active grille technology, specifically to an inflatable active grille, a vehicle, and a grille control method. Background Technology

[0002] Due to the cooling needs of systems such as the engine and air conditioning, car front grilles are typically designed in a blade or mesh pattern to allow cooling air to enter the heat exchanger and carry away excess heat. However, at high speeds, the cooling airflow creates additional cooling resistance, increasing drag and worsening fuel consumption. In cold winter weather, the engine coolant temperature is low, and cooling air is not needed. Therefore, if a car uses an active grille shutter, opening it for heat exchange when needed and closing it (or partially closing it) in cold weather, it would significantly reduce drag and save overall fuel consumption.

[0003] Currently, active grille shutters are mainly classified into the following types:

[0004] (1) Rotary blade type, which uses multiple blade groups to rotate 90° around their respective rotation axes to achieve the opening and closing of the grille in a structure similar to louvers. However, this type of structure has a driving rotation mechanism, which contains a large number of series gear groups, making it complex, prone to damage and jamming, and expensive.

[0005] (2) Folding type, which is formed by two blades forming a structure similar to an umbrella. The blades are folded / unfolded by a connecting rod. Multiple sets of blades are arranged side by side to form a complete device. However, this type of structure is driven by a connecting rod and contains a large number of small rod-shaped parts. It is complex, difficult to install and maintain, and expensive.

[0006] (3) Roller shutter type: Similar to a roller shutter door design, the retractable blades can be released from the top and bottom or left and right directions to achieve the effect of closing the grille. However, this structure is usually equipped with two guide rails and pull cords, which makes a lot of noise when running, and it is easy to get stuck when dust and stones enter.

[0007] The aforementioned types of active air intake grilles have certain shortcomings in terms of structural complexity and reliability. Furthermore, in practical applications, active air intake grilles are prone to damage in rear-end collisions, and existing structures struggle to prevent such damage. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This disclosure provides an inflatable active grille shutter, a vehicle, and a grille shutter control method, which can reduce the structural complexity of the active grille shutter, improve its reliability, and reduce the likelihood of damage in rear-end collisions. The technical solution is as follows:

[0009] In one aspect, an inflatable active air intake grille is provided, including an outer frame frame and grille blades;

[0010] The outer frame is fixed relative to the vehicle, and the outer frame is provided with a limiting slot for engaging the grille blades.

[0011] The grid blade includes a grid blade skeleton and an air bladder covering the outside of the grid blade skeleton. Multiple grid blades are arranged on the outer frame skeleton, and when the air bladders of each grid blade are inflated, the air bladders of adjacent grid blades are in contact. Each grid blade is snapped onto the outer frame skeleton by a limiting slot.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the two ends of the grid blade skeleton are respectively provided with a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap is provided with a first protrusion and the second end cap is provided with a second protrusion. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are used to cooperate with the limiting slot to realize the grid blade and the limiting slot.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the outer frame skeleton has two ends with the same number of corresponding limiting slots, the limiting slots are horizontally positioned, and the limiting slots have a third protrusion, the position and shape of which match the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both square rounded protrusions, and the third protrusion is an arc-shaped protrusion. An even number of third protrusions are arranged opposite each other on the upper and lower sides of the limiting slot to engage with the first protrusion or the second protrusion.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the second end cap is provided with an air nozzle; the grid blade skeleton includes a rectangular outer skeleton and a number of crossbars disposed between the rectangular outer skeletons, and the crossbars are provided with air holes.

[0016] In one possible implementation, an air pump unit is also included. An air pump unit mounting base is provided on the outer frame frame. The air pump unit is fixed on the air pump unit mounting base and is connected to the air nozzles on each grid blade through connecting pipes to control the inflation and deflation state of the air bladders of each grid blade.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the air pump unit includes an air pump, a control module, a connecting pipe, and a fixing device; the fixing device is located on the outside of the air pump and is used to cooperate with the air pump unit mounting base to fix the air pump unit; the control module is located at the air pump outlet and is used to control the air pump's inflation and deflation actions on the airbag; one end of the connecting pipe is connected to the control module, and the other end is connected to the air nozzles on each grid blade.

[0018] Secondly, a vehicle is provided, wherein the front of the vehicle is provided with an inflatable active air intake grille as described above, and the opening direction of the limiting slot on the outer frame is facing the interior of the vehicle.

[0019] Thirdly, based on the vehicle provided in the second aspect above, a method for controlling the air intake grille is provided, including:

[0020] Acquire information on the vehicle's power unit's coolant and oil temperatures, as well as the operating status of the air conditioning system;

[0021] If the water temperature and oil temperature do not exceed the set threshold and the air conditioning compressor is not turned on, the airbag will be inflated at the first set pressure and the air intake grille will be closed.

[0022] If the water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the set threshold, or if the air conditioning compressor is turned on, the airbag will be pumped out at the second set pressure to open the air intake grille.

[0023] If the water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the set threshold by a certain amount within the set range, and the air conditioning compressor is disconnected multiple times, the airbag will be inflated with a third set pressure, so that the air intake grille is in a partially open state.

[0024] One possible implementation also includes an active protection method, specifically including:

[0025] To assess the risk of collision between the vehicle and obstacles ahead;

[0026] If there is a risk of collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle, the airbag will be inflated at the first set pressure.

[0027] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this disclosure are:

[0028] This disclosure provides an inflatable active grille, a vehicle, and a grille control method. An airbag is integrated into the grille, and the opening and closing of the grille is controlled by the airbag. The overall structure is simple, without complex moving parts such as motors, gears, connecting rods, and guide rails, eliminating the risk of jamming. Furthermore, compared to structures like blades, airbags do not require high-precision machining, making processing and assembly easier, resulting in lower structural complexity and higher reliability. The grille blades are connected to the outer frame frame using a snap-fit ​​method. When inflated, the grille blades can mitigate impact forces and can disengage from the limiting slots when subjected to significant external force, reducing the risk of damage in rear-end collisions.

[0029] Advantages of this disclosure in some respects will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure in the airbag deflation state;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure in the airbag inflation state;

[0033] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the grille blades;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure in the airbag inflation state;

[0035] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cross-section of a single grid blade in the inflated state of the airbag;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of a single grid blade in the airbag deflating state;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation relationship between the first end cap and the grid blade skeleton;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation relationship between the second end cap and the grid blade skeleton.

[0039] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the air pump unit.

[0040] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] Figure 11 This is a logic block diagram of an air intake grille control method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Among them, 1. Outer frame frame; 11. Limiting slot; 111. Third protrusion; 12. Air pump unit mounting base; 2. Grille blade; 21. Grille blade frame; 211. Crossbar; 212. Vent hole; 22. Airbag; 23. First end cap; 231. First protrusion; 24. Second end cap; 241. Second protrusion; 242. Air nozzle; 3. Air pump unit; 31. Air pump; 32. Control module; 33. Connecting pipeline; 34. Fixing device; 35. Control wiring harness; 100. Vehicle; 101. Inflatable active air intake grille. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in this disclosure, claims, and drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0045] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure.

[0046] This disclosure provides an inflatable active air intake grille, see [link / reference]. Figures 1-9 The inflatable active air intake grille includes an outer frame frame 1 and grille blades 2;

[0047] The outer frame frame 1 is fixed relative to the vehicle, and the outer frame frame 1 is provided with a limiting slot 11 for engaging the grille blade 2;

[0048] The grid blade 2 includes a grid blade skeleton 21 and an air bladder 22 covering the outside of the grid blade skeleton 21. Multiple grid blades 2 are arranged on the outer frame skeleton 1, and when the air bladders of each grid blade are inflated, the air bladders of adjacent grid blades are in contact. Each grid blade is snapped onto the outer frame skeleton through a limiting slot.

[0049] The outer frame can be made of materials such as PP or ABS plastic. The outer frame is sealed to the front bumper skin of the car, which can be achieved by means of snap-fit ​​or welding, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0050] The dimensions of the outer frame are determined by the car's design, typically ranging from 40cm to 80cm in width, 6cm to 30cm in height, and 4cm to 10cm in depth.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure in the airbag deflation state. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure, in the airbag inflation state. Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inflatable active air intake grille provided in an embodiment of this disclosure in the airbag inflation state; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of a single grid blade in the inflated state of the airbag;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a single grille blade in the deflated state of the airbag. In the inflated state, the airbags of adjacent grille blades expand and press against each other, thereby sealing the gaps between the grille blades and closing the air intake grille. In the deflated state, the airbags retract and adhere to the outside of the grille blade skeleton, allowing external airflow to enter the vehicle's engine compartment through the gaps between the airbags.

[0053] This disclosure provides an inflatable active grille shutter, which uses an airbag to control the opening and closing of the grille. Compared to mechanically controlled grille opening and closing, this method requires no complex parts, has a simpler structure, lower material requirements, does not require high-precision machining, is easy to assemble, and has lower costs. It also has a higher degree of modularity; apart from the outer frame which needs to be designed according to the vehicle's styling, the grille blades and air pump can be used modularly, facilitating product design reuse. Furthermore, it can achieve self-diagnosis of faults, and when the airbag leaks, the leak can be located by applying soapy water and repaired by simple methods such as gluing.

[0054] In addition, the overall structure is not easily damaged. The most vulnerable situation for active air intake grilles is rear-end collisions. In this embodiment, on the one hand, the airbag can effectively mitigate the impact when inflated. On the other hand, the front and rear snap-fit ​​design of the grille blades and the outer frame frame ensures that the grille blades can easily detach from the fixing slots when subjected to force, making them less prone to damage.

[0055] See Figure 3 , Figure 7 , Figure 8, at both ends of the grille blade skeleton 21, a first end cap 23 and a second end cap 24 are respectively provided. On the outside of the first end cap 23, a first protrusion 231 is provided, and on the second end cap 24, a second protrusion 241 is provided. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are used to cooperate with the limit card slot to achieve the snap connection of the grille blade and the limit card slot. The first and second end caps are both made of plastic materials such as PP, ABS, etc. The overall contour of the end cap is circular or oval, matching the airbag in the inflated state.

[0056] At both ends of the outer frame skeleton 1, limit card slots 11 with the same quantity and corresponding positions are provided. The limit card slots 11 are horizontally arranged, and the opening direction faces the interior of the vehicle. Inside the limit card slot, there is a third protrusion 111. The position and shape of the third protrusion match those of the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion.

[0057] The shapes of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are preferably the same, both being square-rounded protrusions. The sizes of the first protrusion and the second protrusion match the height of the limit card slot. The third protrusion 111 is an arc-shaped protrusion, and the protrusion height is H. The H dimension is between 1 mm and 3 mm. The third protrusions are arranged horizontally and flush with each other on the upper and lower sides inside the limit card slot, for clamping the first protrusion or the second protrusion. In this embodiment, there are 2 first protrusions provided on the first end cap. The 2 first protrusions are horizontally arranged and spaced a certain distance apart; there are 2 second protrusions provided on the second end cap. The 2 second protrusions are horizontally arranged and spaced a certain distance apart. There are 4 third protrusions provided inside the limit card slot. The third protrusions correspond up and down and are horizontally spaced a certain distance apart, matching the structures of the first protrusion and the second protrusion to achieve the snap connection.

[0058] The material of the grille blade skeleton 21 can be plastic or aluminum. The overall is a "mesh" - shaped frame structure. The outer side is a rectangular outer skeleton, and there are several cross bars 211 in the middle. Multiple ventilation holes 212 are arranged on the cross bars 211 for air flow. Both ends of the grille blade skeleton are respectively connected to the first and second end caps. The main function of this skeleton is to support the airbag in the air-extracted state, making it maintain a flat sheet shape, and at the same time restricting the position of the airbag when the airbag is inflated.

[0059] The material of the airbag 22 is rubber, with strong elasticity. In the air-extracted state, it can closely adhere to the grille blade skeleton 21, and in the inflated state, it forms an approximate cylindrical shape. The airbag 22 is overall tubular, and both the left and right ends are respectively connected and bonded to the first and second end caps and are well sealed.

[0060] A nozzle 242 is also provided on the second end cap. The nozzle 242 is arranged between the two second protrusions 241 and is used to connect an external air pump unit. The outer diameter of the nozzle is the same as the height of the second protrusion.

[0061] A single grille blade frame 21, a single airbag 22, a single first end cap 23, and a single second end cap 24 are assembled together to form a grille blade 2. Multiple grille blades 2 are stacked longitudinally and closely side by side to form a grille blade assembly. The arrangement can be linear, zigzag, or curved, as long as they are closely arranged to ensure that they fit tightly together when the airbag is inflated. The grille blade assembly is then assembled onto the outer frame frame to form a complete air intake grille structure.

[0062] The overall width of the grille blades is between 40cm and 80cm, and the height and depth are between 3cm and 6cm, depending on the size of the outer frame.

[0063] An air pump unit mounting base 12 is provided on the outer frame frame. The air pump unit 3 is fixed on the air pump unit mounting base 12 and connected to the air nozzles on each grid blade through connecting pipes to control the inflation and deflation of the airbags on each grid blade. Specifically, see... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 9 The air pump unit 3 includes an air pump 31, a control module 32, a connecting pipe 33, and a fixing device 34. The fixing device 34 is located on the outside of the air pump 31 and is used to cooperate with the air pump unit fixing seat 12 on the outer frame to fix the air pump unit. The control module 32 is located at the outlet of the air pump 31 and is used to control the air pump's inflation and deflation actions on the airbag. One end of the connecting pipe 33 is connected to the control module 32, and the other end is connected to the air nozzle on each grid blade. The connecting pipe is simultaneously connected to the air nozzle on each grid blade to achieve simultaneous control of the airbags on each grid blade. After connection, the pipe has good sealing performance and does not leak air. The air pump can provide a maximum air pressure of 0.2 bar when inflating and a maximum air pressure of -0.05 bar when deflation. The control module 32 is also connected to a control wiring harness 35 to receive external control electrical signals to control the operation of the air pump. The control module 32 is equipped with a pressure sensor to detect the air pressure inside the connecting pipe in real time.

[0064] The inflatable active air intake grille provided in this embodiment is installed by first assembling the grille blades separately, and then sequentially inserting them into the limiting slots of the outer frame frame, achieving snap-fit ​​installation without any bolts or nuts. Then, the piping is connected to the air nozzles of each blade. Finally, the air pump unit is fixed and the control wiring harness is connected.

[0065] If a blade is damaged and needs replacement, you can first disconnect the connecting pipe of that blade, and then pull it backward to remove and replace it without any tools. If the replaced blade unit is damaged due to airbag damage, it can be reused through simple repairs (similar to repairing a flat tire), at extremely low cost.

[0066] Based on the above-described inflatable active grille shutter, this disclosure further provides a vehicle, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 The front of the vehicle 100 is provided with the aforementioned inflatable active air intake grille 101, and the opening direction of the limiting slot on the outer frame of the inflatable active air intake grille faces the interior of the vehicle.

[0067] It should be noted that the above-described vehicle concept is the same as that of an inflatable active air intake grille, and its specific implementation is the same as that of an inflatable active air intake grille, so it will not be described again here.

[0068] This disclosure, based on the vehicle described above, further provides a method for controlling the air intake grille. Combined with... Figure 11 The control method provided in this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0069] When the car is driving normally, the control unit reads the power unit's coolant and oil temperature information, as well as the air conditioning system status information, from the CAN bus. Based on this information, the vehicle's operating status is divided into three conditions, and different control strategies are executed for each condition. This control unit can be an additional controller installed on the vehicle, or it can be the vehicle's own controller, such as the vehicle control unit (VCU). The control unit is electrically connected to the air pump unit's control module to control the air pump.

[0070] If the water temperature and oil temperature do not exceed the set thresholds, and the air conditioning compressor is not turned on, this state is designated as the first operating condition. Under the first operating condition, the vehicle's heat exchanger module currently has no heat exchange requirements and does not require air circulation.

[0071] In the first operating condition, the control unit sends an air pump inflation command to the air pump unit's control module, at which point the air pump begins continuous inflation. Meanwhile, the pressure sensor inside the control module continuously monitors the internal pressure of the connecting pipe. Since the connecting pipe is connected to the airbag, the pressure monitored here is the internal pressure of the airbag. When the air pump inflation pressure reaches 0.2 bar, the airbag is considered fully inflated, the air pump inflation stops, and the system enters the pressure holding phase.

[0072] In the first operating condition, the air bladders on the grille blades inflate. Once the set pressure is reached, the air bladders between each pair of blades are in complete contact, effectively sealing the gaps between the grille blades. At this point, external airflow cannot pass through the grille blades, thus achieving the effect of closing the air intake grille.

[0073] The first operating condition typically occurs shortly after vehicle startup or in cold winter conditions with low ambient temperatures. Under this condition, the vehicle's drag coefficient at 120 kph is expected to decrease by 0.02, which translates to approximately 0.1 L / 100 km in fuel consumption and approximately 1.5 kWh / 100 km in electricity consumption, resulting in significant overall benefits.

[0074] In the first operating condition, the threshold values ​​for water temperature and oil temperature are defined differently depending on the vehicle model and powertrain, and can be adjusted in the control unit.

[0075] If the power unit water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the threshold, or the air conditioning system compressor is turned on, either of these conditions indicates that the vehicle's heat exchanger module currently has a heat exchange requirement and needs air circulation. This condition is referred to as the second operating condition.

[0076] In the second operating mode, the control unit issues an air pump deflator command, at which point the air pump begins continuous deflatoring. When the air pump inflation pressure reaches -0.05 bar, the airbag deflator is considered to have reached the appropriate state, the air pump deflatoring action stops, and the system enters the pressure holding phase.

[0077] In the second operating condition, the airbags contract, and after reaching the set pressure, the airbags between each pair of blades are completely contracted and adhered to the grille blade skeleton. At this time, a large amount of external airflow can flow smoothly through the grille blades, thus achieving the effect of opening the air intake grille.

[0078] If the power unit water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the set threshold but the excess temperature is only 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, and the air conditioning system compressor is turned on but repeatedly turned off in a short period of time, it indicates that the vehicle's heat exchanger module currently has a heat exchange demand but it is not large, and only partial air circulation is required. This condition is called the third condition.

[0079] In the third operating condition, the grille blades are in a state between fully open and fully closed. The airbag is inflated but the air pressure is insufficient, approximately 0.05–0.1 bar. Therefore, there are a few gaps between the grille blades, allowing some cooling airflow to pass through the grille. This operating condition balances the heat exchange requirements, and the vehicle's drag coefficient at 120 kph is expected to decrease by 0.01.

[0080] In addition, the device also has a fault diagnosis function. Under normal circumstances, it takes about 2 minutes for the airbag to switch from inflated to deflated state. If the air pump operates for more than 5 minutes at a time, it can be assumed that the airbag is not reaching the expected pressure, or that there is a leak in the airbag or its tubing. In this case, the control unit can issue a prompt through the car's infotainment system: "The grille unit is damaged and needs repair!" At the same time, the air pump will stop working until the repair is completed.

[0081] Since the outer frame and grille blades are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism, in one possible implementation, it can also be combined with the vehicle's own intelligent driving system to achieve active protection of the air intake grille, specifically including:

[0082] To assess the risk of collision between the vehicle and obstacles ahead;

[0083] If there is a risk of collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle, the airbag will be inflated at the first set pressure.

[0084] Inflatable active grille shutters are located at the front of the vehicle, and the most common cause of damage in daily use is rear-end collisions. Because the outer frame and grille blades are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism, when the airbag inflates and is subjected to significant external force, the grille blades can detach from their slots, thus reducing the risk of damage from a collision and providing active protection. Since vehicles are typically in a second operational state under normal driving conditions, the airbag is in a deflated state and cannot provide protection. For vehicles equipped with intelligent driving systems such as LiDAR, the relative distance between the vehicle and the vehicle in front or obstacles can be obtained using LiDAR, the speed of the vehicle in front can be obtained using LiDAR, and the vehicle's speed can be obtained using GPS or wheel speed sensors. This provides the relative speed between the vehicle and the vehicle in front or obstacles. Based on the obtained relative speed and relative distance, combined with the vehicle's braking performance, a risk of rear-end collision can be determined. When a rear-end collision risk is determined, active protection of the grille shutters is activated. Regardless of the initial inflation state of the airbag, it is inflated at the pressure of the first working condition to ensure that the airbag is fully inflated, thereby mitigating the impact force and enabling it to disengage from the limiting slot in the event of an impact, reducing the risk of damage.

[0085] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this disclosure and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made to this disclosure by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An inflatable active air intake grille, characterized in that, Including the outer frame and grille blades; The outer frame is fixed relative to the vehicle, and the outer frame is provided with a limiting slot for engaging the grille blades. The grid blade includes a grid blade skeleton and an air bladder covering the outside of the grid blade skeleton. Multiple grid blades are arranged on the outer frame skeleton, and when the air bladders of each grid blade are inflated, the air bladders of adjacent grid blades are in contact. Each grid blade is snapped onto the outer frame skeleton through a limiting slot. The two ends of the grid blade skeleton are respectively provided with a first end cover and a second end cover. The first end cover is provided with a first protrusion and the second end cover is provided with a second protrusion. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are used to cooperate with the limiting slot to realize the grid blade and the limiting slot. The second end cap is provided with an air nozzle; the grid blade skeleton includes a rectangular outer skeleton and several crossbars arranged between the rectangular outer skeletons, and the crossbars are provided with air holes.

2. The inflatable active air intake grille as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer frame skeleton has two ends with the same number of corresponding limiting slots. The limiting slots are horizontally set and have a third protrusion inside. The position and shape of the third protrusion match the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion.

3. An inflatable active air intake grille as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first and second protrusions are both square rounded protrusions, and the third protrusion is an arc-shaped protrusion. An even number of third protrusions are arranged opposite each other on the upper and lower sides of the limiting slot to engage with the first or second protrusion.

4. The inflatable active air intake grille as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an air pump unit. An air pump unit mounting base is provided on the outer frame frame. The air pump unit is fixed on the air pump unit mounting base and is connected to the air nozzles on each grid blade through connecting pipes to control the inflation and deflation status of the air bladders of each grid blade.

5. An inflatable active air intake grille as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The air pump unit includes an air pump, a control module, a connecting pipe, and a fixing device. The fixing device is located on the outside of the air pump and is used to cooperate with the air pump unit mounting base to fix the air pump unit. The control module is located at the air pump outlet and is used to control the air pump's inflation and deflation actions on the airbag. One end of the connecting pipe is connected to the control module, and the other end is connected to the air nozzles on each grid blade.

6. A vehicle, characterized in that, The front of the vehicle is provided with an inflatable active air intake grille as described in any one of claims 1-5, and the opening direction of the limiting slot on the outer frame frame faces the interior of the vehicle.

7. A method for controlling an air intake grille, characterized in that, Implemented in an inflatable active air intake grille as described in any one of claims 1-5, comprising: Acquire information on the vehicle's power unit's coolant and oil temperatures, as well as the operating status of the air conditioning system; If the water temperature and oil temperature do not exceed the set threshold and the air conditioning compressor is not turned on, the airbag will be inflated at the first set pressure and the air intake grille will be closed. If the water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the set threshold, or if the air conditioning compressor is turned on, the airbag will be pumped out at the second set pressure to open the air intake grille. If the water temperature and / or oil temperature exceed the set threshold by a certain amount within the set range, and the air conditioning compressor is disconnected multiple times, the airbag will be inflated with a third set pressure, so that the air intake grille is in a partially open state.

8. The air intake grille control method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes proactive protection methods, specifically including: To assess the risk of a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle ahead; If there is a risk of collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle, the airbag will be inflated at the first set pressure.

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