Locking device

Abstract

Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) with: Ribs (200) comprising a plurality of plate-shaped components, each of the ribs (200) being designed to switch between a state of blocking an airflow and a state of not blocking the airflow by rotating about an axis of rotation extending along a longitudinal direction of the rib (200); a frame (100) that rotatably supports the ribs (200); and a connecting element component (300) that transmits a driving force to each of the ribs (200) in order to actuate the ribs (200), wherein Each of the ribs (200) is provided with a support projection (210), which is a section rotatably supported by the frame (100), and a drive projection (220), which is a section rotatably supported by the connecting element component (300), a plurality of support grooves (130) are formed in the frame (100) and extend rearward along a predetermined direction, each of the support grooves (130) receiving the corresponding support projection (210), the connecting element component (300) is provided with a plurality of drive grooves (310) into which the drive projections (220) of the ribs (200) are each inserted, the drive projections (220) are arranged to slide in the drive grooves (310), and The connecting element component (300) prevents the removal of the support projection (210) from the support groove (130).

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Air is drawn into the engine compartment at the front of the vehicle through a front grille. This air is used for heat dissipation from a radiator, a condenser in an air conditioning system, and similar applications.

[0003] However, the engine compartment can become too cold due to the incoming air, for example, while the vehicle is traveling at high speed or during winter driving, thus reducing the vehicle's fuel efficiency. In particular, vehicles with low heat emissions from internal combustion engines, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, need to keep the engine compartment warm to a high degree. To reduce air resistance to the vehicle, the intake of air into the engine compartment can, in some cases, be temporarily restricted.

[0004] Thus, a closing device is provided at the front of the vehicle to temporarily suppress airflow into the engine compartment. The closing device has a plurality of ribs that regulate the airflow, as described, for example, in patent document 1. The individual ribs are connected to a connecting element. The plurality of ribs are actuated simultaneously by a driving force received by the connecting element. [Previous state documents][Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP S57 - 89 824 U

[0006] DE 10 2013 007 158 A1 discloses a closure device comprising: ribs, which are a plurality of plate-shaped components, each of the ribs being designed to switch between a state of blocking an airflow and a state of not blocking the airflow by rotating about an axis of rotation extending along a longitudinal direction of the rib; a frame rotatably supporting the ribs; and a connecting element that transmits a driving force to each of the ribs to actuate the ribs, each of the ribs being provided with a support projection, which is a section rotatably supported by the frame, and a driving projection, which is a section rotatably supported by the connecting element, and wherein a plurality of support grooves are formed in the frame, each of the support grooves receiving the corresponding support projection.

[0007] Further locking devices are known from JP 2008 - 260 447 A, WO 2012 / 012 535 A2, DE 23 33 737 B2, JP 2015 - 093 666 A and JP 2008 - 106 982 A. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the locking device described in the aforementioned patent document 1, cylindrical support projections provided on the respective ribs are inserted into circular through-holes formed in a frame. Thus, the ribs are rotatably supported by the frame.

[0009] When the locking device is assembled with such a design, the process of inserting the support projections into the through-holes must be repeated a number of times equal to the number of ribs. To simplify the rib assembly process, the present inventors have studied a design in which the support projections provided in the respective ribs are received inside grooves (but not in the through-holes) formed in the frame. A locking device with this design allows for easy assembly of the numerous ribs to the frame, thereby reducing the assembly costs.

[0010] However, the locking device with the design described above requires an additional anti-ejection component to prevent the support projection from being removed from the groove. Consequently, if the number of locking device parts increases and the process of assembling the anti-ejection component becomes more expensive, the overall cost of the locking device may increase.

[0011] Therefore, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a locking device that can be easily assembled without increasing the number of parts.

[0012] The object of the invention is achieved with a locking device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] In the locking device according to the invention, the support projections formed in the ribs are received in the support grooves formed in the frame, and thus the ribs are designed to be rotatably supported. This allows the process of mounting the ribs to the frame to be carried out easily.

[0014] In the locking device according to the invention, the connecting element prevents the support projection from being removed from the support groove. This means that the connecting element, which is an existing component, also serves as the anti-fall-out component, without requiring the addition of a further anti-fall-out component to prevent the support projection from being removed from the groove. Therefore, no new part or component needs to be added to prevent the rib from falling out.

[0015] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a locking device that can be easily assembled without increasing the number of parts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the design of the locking device according to the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a diagram to explain the operation of the locking device, which is in Fig. 1 is shown; Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the design of the locking device according to the second embodiment; Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the design of the locking device according to the second embodiment; Fig. Figure 7 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a third embodiment; Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a fourth embodiment; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a first comparative example; Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a second comparative example; Fig. Figure 11 is a diagram showing a design of a locking device according to a third comparative example. DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EXECUTION

[0016] The present embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For ease of understanding, the same components in the respective drawings are designated with the same reference numerals wherever possible, and thus their repeated description is omitted below.

[0017] The design of a locking device 10 according to a first embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 described. The closing device 10 is located near a front grille (not shown) of a vehicle and is designed as a device that adjusts the flow rate of air entering it from the front grille. The closing device 10 has a frame 100, ribs 200, an actuator MT, and a connecting element 300.

[0018] The frame 100 is a rectangular frame body that rotatably supports the ribs 200, which will be described later. The frame 100 has a top plate 110 and a pair of side plates 120. Although not shown, a bottom plate, which has essentially the same shape as the top plate 110, is also provided at a lower end of the frame 100.

[0019] The upper plate 110 is a rectangular plate component designed to extend in the left-right direction, which in Fig. Figure 1 shows that the side plates 120 are designed to extend lengthwise downwards from both sides of the upper plate 110, as shown in Figure 1. Fig. As shown in 1, to insert.

[0020] It should be noted that in Fig. 1. The x-direction is defined as the direction oriented from left to right along the longitudinal direction of the upper plate 110, and the x-axis is defined along the same direction. The z-direction is defined as the direction oriented from the bottom to the top along the longitudinal direction of the side plate 120, and the z-axis is defined along the same direction. Furthermore, the y-direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to both the x-direction and the z-direction (also referred to as the direction perpendicular to an opening surface of the frame 100) and runs from the front to the rear side. Fig. The graph is oriented in the x-axis, and the y-axis is fixed along the same direction. Furthermore, in Fig. 2 and in the following figures the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are defined in the same way as described above.

[0021] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a multitude of support grooves 130 are formed in one of the side plates 120, located on the -x-direction side in Fig. 1 is provided. Each of the support grooves 130 is a rectangular groove designed to extend rearward along the y-direction from an end face of the side plate 120 on the -y-direction side. The respective support grooves 130 have the same shape and are arranged at equal intervals along the z-direction. Each support groove 130 is a groove that accommodates a corresponding support projection 210 formed on the rib 200, which will be described later.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing a state of the locking device 10 as seen along the xy-plane and viewed from the z-direction side. As shown in this figure, a plurality of through holes 131 are formed in the other of the side plates 120, which is provided on the x-direction side. Each through hole 131 is a circular through hole. The respective through holes 131 have the same shape and are arranged at equal intervals along the z-direction. The position of each through hole 131 in the z-direction corresponds to the position of the corresponding support groove 130 in the z-direction. The through hole 131 is a hole into which the support projection 210, formed on the rib 200, which will be described later, is inserted.

[0023] A multitude of ribs 200 are provided in the closure device 10. Each rib 200 is a plate-shaped component rotatably supported by the frame 100. The ribs 200 are arranged side by side along the z-direction so that their longitudinal directions are aligned with the x-axis. Each rib 200 switches between a state of blocking airflow and a state of not blocking airflow by rotating about its axis of rotation along its longitudinal direction. The rib 200 is provided with a pair of support projections 210 and a drive projection 220.

[0024] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, one of the support projections 210 is configured to extend from an end face of the rib 200 located on the -x-direction side to the -x-direction side. The other support projection 210 is configured to extend from an end face of the rib 200 located on the x-direction side to the x-direction side. Each support projection 210 has a cylindrical shape. The central axes of the respective support projections 210 coincide. The shape of the support projection 210 can be any shape other than cylindrical.

[0025] The support projection 210 on the x-direction side is received inside the corresponding support groove 130 formed in the side plate 120 and is thus rotatably supported by the support groove 130. The support projection 210 on the x-direction side is inserted into the corresponding through-hole 131 formed in the side plate and is thus rotatably supported by the through-hole 131. Therefore, the support projections 210 are sections rotatably supported by the frame 100. The central axis of each support projection 210 becomes the axis of rotation of the rib 200.

[0026] The drive projections 220 are configured to extend from the end faces of the ribs 200, located on the -x-direction side, to the -x-direction side. The position where the drive projection 220 is formed is closer to the -y-direction side than the position where the support projection 210 is formed. The drive projection 220 has a cylindrical shape, identical to that of the support projection 210. The drive projections 220 are sections that receive the drive force from the connecting element component 300, which is described later.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, in an open state where the ribs 200 are spaced apart, air passes through a gap between the adjacent ribs 200. Conversely, in a closed state where the ribs 200 are rotated to close the gap, the size of which is zero (i.e., in a state where the ribs 200 are in contact with each other), the airflow through the ribs 200 is blocked.

[0028] The actuator MT is a rotating electric machine that generates a driving force to rotate the drive shaft MS. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the support projection 210 of rib 200, located closest to the z-direction side, is longer than any of the support projections 210 of the other ribs 200 and is connected to a drive shaft MS of the actuator MT. Thus, when the actuator MT is driven to rotate the drive shaft MS, the support projection 210 also rotates along with the rotation of the drive shaft MS. In this way, the rib 200 located closest to the z-direction side also functions as a component that receives the drive force directly from the actuator MT. The drive force of the actuator MT is also transmitted to the other ribs 200 by the connecting element 300, which is described below.

[0029] The connecting element component 300 is a component that transmits the drive force of the actuator MT to each rib 200 in order to actuate the respective ribs 200 simultaneously. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the connecting element component 300 is arranged at a position between the side plate 120 on the -x-direction side and the ribs 200. Fig. Figure 1 shows a state in which the connecting element component 300 is located away from the position mentioned above in the -y direction.

[0030] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of drive grooves 310 are formed in the connecting element component 300. Each drive groove 310 is a rectangular groove designed to extend rearward along the -x direction from the end face of the connecting element component 300 on the x-direction side. Each drive groove 310 is also designed to extend along the y direction. The respective drive grooves 310 have the same shape and are arranged at equal intervals along the z direction.

[0031] The drive projection 220, formed on the rib 200, is received within the corresponding drive groove 310. Thus, the drive projections 220 are rotatably held by the connecting element component 300. The drive projections 220 can also slide along the direction (y-direction) in which the drive grooves 310 extend.

[0032] The drive groove 310 of the present embodiment is designed as a groove that has both ends open along the y-axis. Instead of this shape, the drive groove 310 can have such a shape that only one end of it is open on the y-direction side and the other end of it is closed on the -y-direction side.

[0033] The connecting element 300 is supported by a bearing (not shown) in a state where it is movable along the z-axis. It is proposed that such a bearing be designed in such a way that, for example, a multitude of parts of the frame 100 project towards the x-direction side in order to sandwich the connecting element 300 between both the y-direction side and the -y-direction side thereof.

[0034] The operation of the locking device 10 is described with reference to Fig. 3 described. Fig. Figure 3 is a diagram that schematically shows the rib 200, the connecting element component 300 and the side plate 120, which is arranged on the -x-direction side, from the view of the x-direction side.

[0035] When the actuator MT is driven to rotate the drive shaft MS in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. As indicated by 1, the rib 200 closest to the z-direction side rotates in the same direction, causing the drive projection 220 of this rib 200 to move towards the -z-direction side. When a force is applied to the drive projection 220, the connecting element 300 moves in the -z direction.

[0036] When the connecting element 300 moves towards the -z side, all drive projections 220, which are received in the drive grooves 310 of the connecting element 300, receive a force oriented in the -z direction from the inner surfaces of the drive grooves 310. Thus, the drive projections 220 of all ribs 200 that are not connected to the actuator MT also move towards the -z direction side. Consequently, each rib 200 rotates about the central axis of the corresponding support projection 210 in the same direction as described above. At this time, the drive projection 220 slides towards the y direction side inside the corresponding drive groove 310.

[0037] When the drive shaft MS of the actuator MT rotates in the opposite direction to that described above, the connecting element 300 moves towards the z-direction side, causing the respective ribs 200 to rotate in the opposite direction to that described above. Thus, the drive force of the actuator MT to the drive projections 220 of all ribs 200 is transmitted through the connecting element 300, thereby actuating all ribs 200 simultaneously.

[0038] When the locking device 10 is assembled with this configuration, the support projections 210 are inserted into the support grooves 130, while the respective ribs 200 are moved towards the y-direction side so that the ribs 200 can be mounted on the frame 100. This means that the process of mounting the multiple ribs 200 can be completed from the -y-direction side of the frame 100 without changing the position of the components. Thus, assembly costs can be reduced.

[0039] As indicated by the arrow in Fig. As indicated in section 1, when the connecting element component 300 is attached to the locking device 10, the connecting element component 300 can also be moved from the -y-direction side of the frame 100 in the y-direction and then fitted into the frame 100. Both the process of mounting the ribs 200 to the frame 100 and the process of mounting the connecting element component 300 to the frame 100 can be carried out from the same direction. Thus, the assembly costs can be further reduced.

[0040] However, the design, which has the support projections 210 that are received inside the support grooves 130, requires an anti-ejection component that prevents the support projections 210 from being removed from the support grooves 130. In the locking device 10 according to the present embodiment, the connecting element component 300 also functions as the anti-ejection component, which is described below. That is, in the present embodiment, the connecting element component 300 prevents the support projections 210 from being removed from the support grooves 130.

[0041] In Fig. Reference numeral 320 designates a section of the connecting element component 300 that extends from the bottom surface of the drive groove 310 to the -x-direction side. This section is also referred to below as a "groove bottom section 320".

[0042] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the support projection 210 is designed to be longer than the drive projection 220 on the -x-direction side. The aforementioned groove bottom section 320 is positioned closer to the -y-direction side to a section of the support projection 210 that projects towards the -x-direction side relative to the drive projection 220. Thus, when the support projection 210 is intended to be moved away from the support groove 130 (in the -y-direction), the aforementioned section of the support projection 210 (the section that projects towards the -x-direction side relative to the drive projection 220) comes into contact with the groove bottom section 320. Consequently, removal of the support projection 210 from the support groove 130 is prevented.

[0043] A fall-out prevention component, to be provided separately from the connecting element component 300, is also proposed as a design to prevent the removal of the support projection 210 from the support groove 130. A comparative example with such a design is given with reference to Fig. 9 described. Fig. Figure 9 shows a locking device 10D according to a first comparative example.

[0044] In the locking device 10D, a drive projection 220 is provided on the end face of the rib 200 on the x-direction side. The drive projection 220 is inserted into a through-hole 351 of a connecting element component 350. The connecting element component 350 is a plate-shaped component designed to extend along the z-axis. A plurality of the through-holes 351 described above are formed in the connecting element mechanism 350 to be arranged side by side along the z-axis. The drive force of the actuator MT is transmitted through the connecting element component 350 to each rib 200 in order to actuate the respective ribs 200 simultaneously.

[0045] In a section of the rib 200 on the -x-direction side, the support projection 210 is received inside the corresponding support groove 130 of the frame 100, as in the aforementioned first embodiment (see above). Fig. 2) In this comparative example, a fall-out prevention component 500 prevents the removal of the support projection 210 from the support groove 130.

[0046] The anti-fallout component 500 is a component fixed to the side plate 120 of the frame 100. Part of the anti-fallout component 500 is located between the side plate 120 and the rib 200 and extends to a position near the support projection 210. If the support projection 210 attempts to move away from the support groove 130 (in the -y-direction), the support projection 210 comes into contact with the anti-fallout component 500. Consequently, removal of the support projection 210 from the support groove 130 is prevented.

[0047] In the first comparative example, the fall-out prevention component 500 is provided separately from the connecting component 350, thus increasing the number of parts compared to the first embodiment described above. To mount the connecting component 350 with the drive projections 220 of the ribs 200, the connecting component 350 must be moved from the x-direction side to the -x-direction side. In such a design, neither the process of mounting the ribs 200 to the frame 100 nor the process of mounting the connecting component 300 to the frame 100 can be carried out from the same direction, resulting in increased assembly costs compared to the first embodiment.As can be seen from the comparison with the first comparative example, the locking device 10 according to the present embodiment enables the easy assembly of the ribs 200, in addition to preventing an increase in the number of parts, in contrast to the comparative examples, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs.

[0048] In the design where the drive projections 220 are simply inserted into the through holes 351 of the connecting element component 350, the connecting element component 350 can, as in the first comparative example, perform a back-and-forth movement along the y-axis together with an opening / closing actuation of the ribs 200. Thus, the drive projection 220 could be removed from the through hole 350. An example of a design that prevents this situation is given with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 described.

[0049] Fig. Figure 10 shows a locking device 10E according to a second comparative example. In the locking device 10E, a retaining projecting piece 221 is formed near the tip of the drive projection 220. The projecting piece 221 is in a position of protrusion from the side face of the drive projection 220. When the drive projection 220 is inserted into the through-hole 351, the projecting piece 221 is elastically deformed to move rearward toward the inside of the drive projection 220. Subsequently, when the insertion of the drive projection 220 into the through-hole 351 is complete, the projecting piece 221 again projects from the side face of the drive projection 220. The projecting piece 221 prevents the drive projection 220 from being removed from the through-hole 351.

[0050] Fig. Figure 11 shows a locking device 10F according to a third comparative example. In the locking device 10F, a removal prevention component ST, which is a cylindrical component, is attached to the tip of each drive projection 220. After the drive projection 220 is inserted into the through-hole 351, the removal prevention component ST is attached and fixed to the tip of the drive projection 220. The diameter of the removal prevention component ST of the drive projection 220 is larger than the inner diameter of the through-hole 351. The removal prevention component ST prevents the drive projection 220 from being removed from the through-hole 351.

[0051] Because the preceding piece 221 is provided for in the second comparative example, which is in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the resistance caused when the drive projection 220 is inserted into the through-hole 351 is increased. Thus, the second comparative example has a problem in that the load required to mount a number of ribs 200 on the connecting element component 350 becomes large.

[0052] The third comparative example, which is in Fig. Figure 11 shows that the removal prevention components ST, the number of which is the same as the number of ribs 200, are required, as is the process of attaching all removal prevention components ST to the tips of the drive projections 220. Thus, the third comparative example has a problem in that the number of parts of the locking device and the processes involved are drastically increased.

[0053] In contrast to the second comparative example, the locking device 10 according to the first embodiment does not have the problem of the large load required to mount the ribs 200, because the drive projections 220 only need to be arranged inside the respective drive grooves 310 of the connecting element component 300. Furthermore, in contrast to the third comparative example, the locking device 10 of the first embodiment does not have the problem of the drastically increased number of parts and processes, because no additional component or part needs to be attached to the drive projection 220.

[0054] The design of a locking device 10A according to a second embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6 described. In the following, differences between the first and second embodiments are mainly described, and the description of similarities between them is omitted where appropriate.

[0055] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, in the locking device 10A the support projection 210 is thicker than the drive projection 220. Consequently, the groove width (width along the z-axis) of the support groove 130, which accommodates the corresponding support projection 210, is larger than in the first embodiment.

[0056] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing a state of the locking device 10A along the xy-plane and from the z-direction side. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the tip of the rib 200 on the -y-direction side projects further towards the -y-direction side, beyond the tip of the side plate 120 on the -y-direction side. The length of the drive projection 220 is essentially the same as the length of the support projection 210.

[0057] The connecting element component 300 of the present embodiment is arranged closer to the -y-direction side than the side plate 120 and is movable along the z-axis in the state in which it is in contact with the side plate 120. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, a bottom surface 311 of the drive groove 310 is positioned on the same plane as a surface 121 of the side plate 120 on the -x-direction side.

[0058] Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram that schematically shows the connecting element 300 and the side plate 120, which is arranged on the -x-direction side, from the view of the x-direction side. In the present embodiment, the groove width W1 (width along the z-axis) of the drive groove 310 is smaller than the thickness (diameter D1) of the support projection 210.

[0059] Thus, even if the support projection 210 attempts to move away from the support groove 130 (in the -y-direction), it cannot be inserted into the drive groove 310 and therefore comes into contact with the edge of the drive groove 310 and is stopped there. Consequently, removal of the support projection 210 from the support groove 130 is prevented. This embodiment exhibits the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

[0060] The design of a locking device 10B according to a third embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 7 described. In the following, mainly differences between the first and the third embodiment are described, and descriptions of similarities between them are omitted where appropriate.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the drive shaft MS of the actuator MT is not connected to the support projection 210 of the rib 200, but is connected to a drive shaft 291. The drive shaft 291 is a cylindrical component and has a diameter that is essentially the same as the diameter of the support projection 210. The drive shaft 291 has its central axis along the x-axis and is received inside the support groove 130 in the same way as the support projection 210.

[0062] A connecting plate 292 is provided on a section of the drive shaft 291 that is closer to the x-direction side than the side plate 120. The connecting plate 292 is a plate-shaped component designed to extend in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the drive shaft 291. A connecting projection 293 is provided near the tip of the connecting plate 292.

[0063] The connecting projection 293 is a cylindrical component and is designed to extend from the connecting plate 292 in the -x direction. The diameter of the connecting projection 293 is essentially the same as the diameter of the drive projection 220. An x-coordinate of the tip of the connecting projection 293 is essentially the same as an x-coordinate of the tip of the drive projection 220.

[0064] The connecting projection 293 is received within the drive groove 310 that is formed closest to the z-direction side (i.e., the groove extending along the y-direction) of the plurality of drive grooves 310 formed in the connecting member component 300. This drive groove 310 is also referred to below as a "connecting groove 310A". The shape of the connecting projection 293 can be any shape that differs from the shape of the drive projection 220. In this case, the shape of the connecting groove 310A can be defined differently from the shape of the other connecting grooves 310 in order to support the connecting projection 293.

[0065] The operation of the locking device 10B will then be described with reference to Fig. 7 described. When the actuator MT is driven to rotate the drive shaft MS in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. As indicated by 7, the drive shaft 291 rotates in the same direction, causing the connecting projection 293 to move towards the -z-direction side. The connecting element component 300 receives a force from the connecting projection 293 and thereby moves towards the -z-direction side.

[0066] When the connecting element 300 moves toward the -z-direction side, all drive projections 220, which are received in the drive grooves 310 of the connecting element 300, receive a force oriented in the -z direction from the inner surfaces of the drive grooves 310. In this way, the drive projections 220 of all ribs 200 also move toward the -z-direction side. Consequently, each rib 200 rotates about the central axis of the support projection 210 in the same direction as described above. When the drive shaft MS of the actuator MT rotates in the opposite direction to that described above, the connecting element 300 moves toward the z-direction side, so that the respective ribs 200 rotate in the opposite direction to that described above.Thus, in the present embodiment, the driving force of the actuator MT to the drive projections 220 of all ribs 200 is transmitted by the connecting element component 300 itself, thereby actuating all ribs 200 simultaneously.

[0067] Thus, the drive shaft 291 serves to transmit the drive force from the actuator MT to the connecting element component 300. The connecting projection 293, which is provided in the drive shaft 291, is a section that is connected to the connecting groove 310A of the connecting element component 300. As in the present embodiment, even the design that transmits the drive force from the actuator MT not directly to the ribs 200, but indirectly to the ribs via another component, can exhibit the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

[0068] The design of a locking device 10C according to a fourth embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 8 described. In the following, differences between the first and fourth embodiments are mainly described, and the description of similarities between them is omitted where appropriate.

[0069] In the present embodiment, additional drive projections 220 are also formed in the portion of the ribs 200 on the x-direction side. Another connecting element component 300, which has the same shape as the connecting element component arranged on the -x-direction side, is also arranged at the position on the x-direction side of the ribs 200. The drive projections 220 on the x-direction side are received within the respective drive grooves 310 formed in the connecting element component 310.

[0070] In this way, the ribs 200 and their support structures are designed to be laterally symmetrical with respect to the yz-plane in the present embodiment. With this design, the assembly process of the multiple ribs 200 and the connecting element components 300 can be completed by simply moving the respective components straight from the -y-direction side of the frame 100 in the y-direction. This further reduces assembly costs.

[0071] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to the specific examples. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Modifications or changes made by a person skilled in the art to these specific examples, as appropriate, are included within the scope of the present disclosure, provided they have the features of the present disclosure. Each element included in the respective specific examples described above, and the arrangement, states, shape, and the like of these elements, are not limited to those illustrated by way of example and may be modified as appropriate. The respective elements included in the specific examples described above may be combined with one another in an appropriate manner, provided that no technical contradiction arises between them.

Claims

[1] Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) with: Ribs (200) comprising a plurality of plate-shaped components, each of the ribs (200) being designed to switch between a state of blocking an airflow and a state of not blocking the airflow by rotating about an axis of rotation extending along a longitudinal direction of the rib (200); a frame (100) that rotatably supports the ribs (200); and a connecting element component (300) that transmits a driving force to each of the ribs (200) in order to actuate the ribs (200), wherein Each of the ribs (200) is provided with a support projection (210), which is a section rotatably supported by the frame (100), and a drive projection (220), which is a section rotatably supported by the connecting element component (300), a plurality of support grooves (130) are formed in the frame (100) and extend rearward along a predetermined direction, each of the support grooves (130) receiving the corresponding support projection (210), the connecting element component (300) is provided with a plurality of drive grooves (310) into which the drive projections (220) of the ribs (200) are each inserted, the drive projections (220) are arranged to slide in the drive grooves (310), and The connecting element component (300) prevents the removal of the support projection (210) from the support groove (130). [2] Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) according to claim 1, wherein the drive grooves (310) are formed in the connecting element component (300) to extend along the predetermined direction. [3] Locking device (10, 10B, 10C) according to claim 1, wherein the support projection (210) is designed to be longer than the drive projection (220), and a section of the support projection (210) that extends beyond a tip of the drive projection (220) abuts the connecting element component (300), thereby preventing the support projection (210) from being removed from the support groove (130). [4] Locking device (10A) according to claim 1, wherein a groove width of the drive groove (310) is smaller than a thickness of the support projection. [5] Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a drive shaft (291) which transmits a drive force from an actuator (MT) to the connecting element component (300). [6] Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) according to claim 5, wherein the drive shaft (291) is provided with a connecting projection (293) which is a section connected to the connecting element component (300), and a connecting groove (310A) is formed in the connecting element component (300) which extends along the predetermined direction, wherein the connecting groove (310A) accommodates the connecting projection (293). [7] Locking device (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support projection (210) can come into contact with a bottom groove surface (320) of the drive groove (310).

Images