Device for influencing an air flow

Abstract

Device (100) for influencing an air flow (21a, 21b) impinging on the device (100), in particular an air flow for cooling (21b) and / or supplying (21b) an engine in a vehicle (203), comprising a first air guide element (10) and a second air guide element (11) movable relative to the first air guide element (10), wherein the first air guide element (10) and the second air guide element (11) are arranged relative to one another in an open position of the device (100) such that the air flow (21a) can flow through the device (100), and wherein the first air guide element (10) and the second air guide element (11) lie on one another in a closed position of the device (100) such that a fluid flow (27), in particular an air and / or water flow, is blocked by the device (100),and wherein, for the transition of the device (100) from the open to the closed position, the second air guide element (11) is movable in the direction of the first air guide element (10) under the action of a water flow (27) arriving from the direction of the air flow, so that the second air guide element (11) rests on the first air guide element (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for influencing an air flow impinging on the device, in particular an air flow for cooling and / or supplying an engine in a motor vehicle, and to a vehicle comprising such a device.

[0002] State-of-the-art motor vehicles have an airflow guidance system in the area of ​​the front of the vehicle for guiding an airflow, wherein the airflow comprises, on the one hand, air for the engine's raw air intake and, on the other hand, air for cooling the engine. For this purpose, the airflow guidance system comprises two separate air paths with separate air inlets, wherein a first air inlet is provided in the radiator grille in the upper front of the vehicle for the raw air intake and a second air inlet is provided in the lower front of the vehicle for the air used to cool the engine. The two air inlets and the air ducts located behind them are separated by a horizontal air guiding device or air guiding part, wherein a design surface is arranged on the front of the vehicle between the two air inlets.The horizontal air deflector has the function, on the one hand, of separating the two aforementioned air flows and, on the other hand, of preventing water hammer when traveling on water, which would result in engine failure.

[0003] With the introduction of new design or functional elements in the front of the vehicle, such as illuminated light bar modules in the center of the front, a direct supply of untreated air to the corresponding upper air intake is no longer possible due to design constraints. Therefore, the required untreated air is drawn in together with the cooling air for the engine through the lower air intake. In these cases, a corresponding air guide element to retain water is often omitted. This increases the risk of water entering the untreated air intake. Furthermore, the use of the upper design or functional element generally restricts the cooling air flow.

[0004] DE 196 04 353 A1 discloses an intake air duct for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The intake air duct has an air-settling chamber, the wall of which has a passage opening closed by a rotary flap. The rotary flap opens automatically when spray water enters the intake air duct and the air-settling chamber, allowing the spray water to be discharged.

[0005] Furthermore, EP 2 379 360 B1 discloses an adjustable radiator grille arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one air duct through which an air flow can be guided to flow to a radiator, with two grill elements that can be moved relative to one another, so that the air duct can be opened and closed.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved device for influencing an air flow, in particular an air flow for cooling and / or supplying an engine in a motor vehicle, which prevents the passage of water through the device.

[0007] This object is achieved by a device for influencing an air flow impinging on the device, in particular an air flow for cooling and / or supplying an engine in a motor vehicle, comprising a first air guide element and a second air guide element movable relative to the first air guide element, wherein the first air guide element and the second air guide element are arranged relative to one another in an open position of the device such that the air flow can flow through the device, and wherein the first air guide element and the second air guide element lie on one another in a closed position of the device such that a fluid flow, in particular an air and / or water flow, is blocked by the device,and wherein, for the transition of the device from the open to the closed position, the second air guide element is movable in the direction of the first air guide element under the action of a water flow arriving from the direction of the air flow, so that the second air guide element rests on the first air guide element.

[0008] The device, in particular, has an airflow opening or is inserted into an airflow opening. The first and second air guide elements are arranged, in particular, in the airflow opening and, in the closed position of the device, lie one on top of the other in the airflow opening, so that the superimposed air guide elements seal the airflow opening in a fluid-tight manner. In particular, the first and second air guide elements are plate-shaped.

[0009] The water flow, which causes the transition from the open to the closed position of the device, strikes the second air guiding device on a side facing away from the first air guiding element, so that the second air guiding device is pushed in the direction of the first air guiding device and comes into contact with it.

[0010] The fluid flow is preferably a water flow. In particular, it is a water ingress that occurs when a vehicle travels through water.

[0011] In the following, the terms “open position” and “closed position” can be used synonymously to refer to both the device and the second air guide element.

[0012] Preferably, the device is arranged between a first airflow region and a second airflow region and separates these two regions. In the open position of the device, air can flow from the first airflow region into the second airflow region. In the closed position, the airflow from the first to the second airflow region is blocked.

[0013] The first airflow region and the second airflow region are preferably arranged in the front region of a vehicle. In particular, the first airflow region is a region in which untreated air is drawn in to supply a vehicle engine. The second airflow region is a region in which the untreated air is drawn in together with cooling air to cool the engine. Starting from the first airflow region, the untreated air flows through the device when the device is open, and the cooling air reaches an engine radiator. When the device is closed, all of the drawn-in air preferably reaches the engine radiator.

[0014] The device according to the invention advantageously prevents water from penetrating the raw air intake, thus preventing water hammer, while air can flow into the raw air intake during normal driving without water. In particular, the device switches between the open and closed positions automatically due to the force of the water ingress, so no additional actuation or control devices are required.

[0015] Preferably, the first air guide element and the second air guide element each have at least one, preferably a plurality of, through openings, wherein the at least one opening of the first air guide element and the at least one opening of the second air guide element are arranged offset from one another in the closed position and viewed in the flow direction of the air flow in order to block the fluid flow through the device, and wherein the first air guide element and the second air guide element are arranged relative to one another in the open position such that the air flow can pass through the openings.

[0016] By providing the through-openings in either the first or the second air guide element, an air flow, in particular the untreated air from the engine, can pass through the device with only minimal resistance in the respective position of the device, while the device effectively blocks a water and / or air flow in the closed position. Viewed in the direction of air flow, the first air guide element and the second air guide element form a closed surface, in particular formed by the overlap of the respective openings such that they are each concealed by the other air guide element.

[0017] Preferably, the at least one opening in each of the first air guiding element and the second air guiding element is a slot, wherein in particular the slots of the first and the second air guiding element are arranged parallel to one another and offset when viewed in the direction of flow.

[0018] Preferably, the first air guide element and the second air guide element each have a plurality of openings. The openings are arranged such that, in the closed position, the openings of one air guide element are each covered by areas without openings of the other air guide element. In particular, the first air guide element and the second air guide element each have a plurality of slots arranged parallel to one another.

[0019] Preferably, the slots of each air guiding element, which are arranged parallel to one another and are in particular substantially identical, are spaced apart laterally, wherein the lateral spacing is, in particular slightly, greater than a width of the slots.

[0020] The device preferably has at least one return element for returning the second air guide element from the closed position to the open position. The return element acts on the second air guide element in such a way that it is subjected to a return force in the closed position, since the second air guide element is pressed against the first air guide element into the closed position by the water ingress. As soon as the water no longer acts on the second air guide element, the return element causes the second air guide element to be pushed back into the open position away from the first air guide element.

[0021] Preferably, the return element is a spring.

[0022] The device preferably comprises a guide device for guiding the movement of the second air guide element between the open and the closed position of the device. The guide device advantageously increases the stability of the device, since in the event of water ingress, water often strikes the device or the second air guide element in an uncontrolled manner, and the guide device prevents bending and thus damage to the device. Furthermore, the guide device preferably has a stop for limiting the movement of the second air guide element in the open position of the device. This advantageously ensures that the second air guide element is always arranged in a predefined position in the open position, which guarantees optimal closing of the device in the event of water ingress.

[0023] Preferably, the guide device comprises at least one guide rail arranged on the first or second air guiding element and at least one guide element arranged on the other of the first and second air guiding elements for movement within the guide rail.

[0024] Preferably, the second element is pivotably mounted on the device, in particular by means of a hinge, particularly preferably by means of a film hinge, wherein the change between the open and closed positions of the device takes place by pivoting the second air guide element relative to the first air guide element. The second air guide element is arranged on the device, in particular similar to a flap, and relative to the first air guide element, and folds into the closed position under the influence of the water ingress.

[0025] The device preferably comprises a fastening device for fastening to a component of a vehicle. For example, the fastening device can be a fastening strip that can be connected, in particular screwed, glued, or welded, to a mounting support within the vehicle.

[0026] Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle comprising a device having the features listed above. The vehicle, which is in particular a motor vehicle, preferably with an internal combustion engine, preferably comprises the features of the vehicle according to the above description.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. They show, in purely schematic representations: Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of an air guidance system of a vehicle from the prior art according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of an air guidance system of a vehicle from the prior art according to a second embodiment, Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of an air duct system of a vehicle from the prior art according to the first embodiment in the case of water ingress, Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view of an air duct system of a vehicle from the prior art according to the second embodiment in the case of water ingress, Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view of an air guidance system of a vehicle with a device according to the invention in the closed position, Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of an air guidance system of a vehicle with a device according to the invention in the open position, Fig. 7 a first perspective view of a device according to the invention in the open position, Fig. 8 a second perspective view of a device according to the invention in the open position, Fig. 9 a third perspective view of the device according to the invention, Fig. 10 a fourth perspective view of the device according to the invention, and Fig. 11 a fifth perspective view of the device according to the invention.

[0028] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a front region of a prior art vehicle 201 according to a first embodiment. The vehicle 201 comprises an upper air inlet opening 20a for drawing in a raw air flow 21a and a lower air inlet opening 20b arranged below it for drawing in a cooling air flow 21b. The raw air flow region and the cooling air flow region within the vehicle are permanently separated from each other by a water hammer element 22. The raw air flow 21a is fed to the engine, and the cooling air flow 21b is fed to a radiator array 24.

[0029] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a front region of a vehicle 202 from the prior art according to a second embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment by a lighting element 25 located in the region of the upper air inlet opening 20a of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the unfiltered air 21a for the engine can no longer be drawn in through a separate upper air inlet opening and is therefore drawn in together with the cooling air 21b through the lower air inlet opening 20b. The drawn-in air flow splits through a passage opening 26, with the unfiltered air flowing upward through the passage opening 26 into the unfiltered air intake region, and the cooling air 21b reaching the radiator field 24.

[0030] The Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the two embodiments according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 from the prior art in the situation of water ingress when the vehicle 201, 202 drives through a body of water. Fig. 3 shows the situation of the vehicle 201 of the first embodiment, wherein no water can enter the area of ​​the raw air intake, since the raw air is sucked in via the upper air inlet opening 20a arranged correspondingly high up and in the interior of the vehicle 201 the area of ​​the raw air intake is separated in a fluid-tight manner from the area of ​​the cooling air intake by the water hammer element 26. Fig. Figure 4 shows the situation of the vehicle 202 of the second embodiment, wherein, due to the lighting element 25, the intake of the raw air occurs via the lower air inlet opening 20b, and no water hammer element 22 is provided, so that the raw air can enter the raw air intake via the passage opening 26. Due to the missing water hammer element 22, water can enter the raw air intake if water enters, which can lead to water hammer and thus to engine failure.

[0031] To prevent water from entering the raw air intake, as described in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, according to the invention a device 100 is arranged in the passage opening 26, which is inserted into a Fig. 5 shown closed position or in a position shown Fig. 6 shown open position. The device 100 comprises a first air guide element 10 and a second air guide element 11, wherein the second air guide element 11 can be moved towards and against the first air guide element 10 under a force caused by the water ingress in order to transfer the device 100 into the closed position. This is shown in Fig. 5. In normal driving operation without water ingress, the device 100 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 shown open position, wherein the second air guide element 11 automatically moves into the Fig. 6. The first air guide element 10 is arranged immovably in the passage opening 26.

[0032] Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the device 100. The device 100 comprises the first air guide element 10 and the second air guide element 11. The two air guide elements 10, 11 are essentially plate-shaped and have a rectangular shape. The second air guide element 11 is attached to the device 100 so that it can move relative to the first air guide element 10. The attachment is effected by means of a film hinge 18, so that the second air guide element 11 can be pivoted or folded relative to the first air guide element 10.

[0033] Further to be seen in Fig. 7 is a guide device for guiding the movement of the second air guide element 11. The guide device comprises two lateral guide rails 14a, b, which are fastened to the first air guide element 10. Two guide elements 15a, b are arranged on the second air guide element 11, which are mounted in the guide rails 14a, b and are movable within them in order to guide the movement of the second air guide element 11. Furthermore, the guide rails each have a stop 14c (in Fig. 7 only shown as an example for the guide rail 14b), which limits the movement of the second air guide element 11 and defines the position of the second air guide element 11 in the open position.

[0034] Furthermore, the device comprises a fastening device 17 for fastening the device 100 to the vehicle 203 or a component of the vehicle 203. This component can be, for example, a mounting bracket 23 as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The fastening device 17 comprises a flat piece with holes for screwing to the mounting bracket 23.

[0035] In addition, the device 100 comprises a return element 16, which is in the Fig. 7 to 11 is only indicated schematically. The return element 16 can be a spring, for example. The return element 16 preloads the second air guide element 11 in the closed position, so that the air guide element 11 automatically returns to the open position as soon as the water inflow decreases and the water inflow no longer presses on the second air guide element 11 in the direction of the first air guide element 10.

[0036] Depending on their relative position, the first air guide element 10 and the second air guide element 11 allow an air flow to pass through or block both an air flow and a water flow through the device 100. For this purpose, the first air guide element 10 and the second air guide element 11 each have a plurality of through-openings 12, 13. The through-openings 12, 13 of the respective air guide elements 10, 11 are each a plurality of slots arranged parallel to one another, through which the raw air flow 21a flows when the device 100 is in the open position.To prevent the untreated air flow 21a from flowing through the device 100 in the closed position, the through-openings 12 of the first air guide element 10 are laterally offset by a distance A from the through-openings 13 of the second air guide element 11, as viewed in the flow direction of the untreated air flow 21a, so that they do not overlap in the closed position, i.e., when the first and second air guide elements 10, 11 lie flat against one another. This is shown in . Fig. 9. Accordingly, each of the through-openings 12, 13 rests on a closed portion of the other air guide element 10, 11. As a result, the first and second air guide elements 10, 11 form a fluid-tight wall in the closed position. Accordingly, no water can pass through the device 100, and water penetration into the engine's raw air intake is advantageously prevented.

[0037] As soon as the water ingress no longer presses the second air guide element 11 against the first air guide element 10, the return element 16 forces the second air guide element 11 back into the open position spaced from the first air guide element 11. Due to the distance between the two air guide elements 10, 11, raw air 21a can again flow through the device 100 in the direction of the engine in this position.

[0038] The Fig. 8 to 11 show further perspective views of the device 100. In particular Fig. 9 shows the offset arrangement of the through openings 12, 13 by a distance A, so that in the closed state a fluid-impermeable wall is formed. Fig. Figure 9 shows the device in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions. List of reference symbols 100 device 10 first air guide element 11 second air guide element 12 through openings of the first air guide element 13 through-openings of the second air guide element 14a, b guide rails 15a, b guide elements 14c stop 16 Reset element 17 Fastening device 18 film hinge 201, 202, 203 vehicle 20a upper air inlet opening 20b lower air inlet opening 21a Raw air flow 21b Cooling air flow 22 Water hammer element 23 mounting brackets 24 radiator field 25 light elements 26 Passage opening 27 Water A distance

Claims

[1] Device (100) for influencing an air flow (21a, 21b) impinging on the device (100), in particular an air flow for cooling (21b) and / or supplying (21b) an engine in a vehicle (203), comprising a first air guide element (10) and a second air guide element (11) movable relative to the first air guide element (10), wherein the first air guide element (10) and the second air guide element (11) are arranged relative to one another in an open position of the device (100) such that the air flow (21a) can flow through the device (100), and wherein the first air guide element (10) and the second air guide element (11) lie on one another in a closed position of the device (100) such that a fluid flow (27), in particular an air and / or water flow, is blocked by the device (100),and wherein, for the transition of the device (100) from the open to the closed position, the second air guide element (11) is movable in the direction of the first air guide element (10) under the action of a water flow (27) arriving from the direction of the air flow, so that the second air guide element (11) rests on the first air guide element (10). [2] Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first air guiding element (10) and the second air guiding element (11) each have at least one, preferably a plurality of, through openings (19a, 19b), wherein the at least one through opening (19a, 19b) of the first air guiding element (10) and the at least one opening (19a, 19b) of the second air guiding element (11) are arranged offset from one another in the closed position and viewed in the flow direction of the air flow (21a, 21b) in order to block the fluid flow through the device (100), and wherein the first air guiding element (10) and the second air guiding element (11) are arranged relative to one another in the open position such that the air flow can pass through the through openings (19a, 19b). [3] Device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one through-opening (19a, 19b) in each of the first air guiding element (10) and the second air guiding element (11) is a slot, wherein in particular the slots of the first and the second air guiding element (10, 11) are arranged parallel to one another and offset when viewed in the flow direction. [4] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one return element (16) for returning the second air guide element (11) from the closed position to the open position. [5] Device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the return element (16) is a spring. [6] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a guide device for guiding the movement of the second air guiding element (11) between the open and the closed position of the device (100). [7] Device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the guide device comprises at least one guide rail (16a, 16b) arranged on the first or second air guiding element (10, 11) and at least one guide element (15a, 15b) arranged on the other of the first and second air guiding elements (10, 11) for moving within the guide rail (16a, 16b). [8] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second air guiding element (11) is arranged pivotably, in particular by means of a hinge (18), on the device (100), and wherein the change between the open and the closed position of the device (100) takes place by pivoting the second air guiding element (11) relative to the first air guiding element (10). [9] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a fastening device (17) for fastening to a component of a vehicle (203). [10] Vehicle (203) comprising a device (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

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