DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE AIR FLOW OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for regulating airflow within a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle and a cooling module equipped with such a device. It is particularly intended for use on the front end of a motor vehicle.

[0002] It is known to use actuator-controlled shutters on the front of a vehicle to reduce drag and improve cooling and air conditioning performance. Such a system is most often referred to by the acronym AGS, from the English expression "Active Grille Shutter." The AGS is preferably installed in the vehicle's grille. In the open position, air can flow through the grille, contributing to engine cooling. In the closed position, air does not enter through the grille, reducing drag and thus lowering fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The AGS therefore reduces energy consumption and pollution when the engine does not need to be cooled by outside air.

[0003] In some cases, it is not possible to position an AGS at the level of the grille, in front of the exchangers, due to an unsuitable environment, a customer wish or other reasons.

[0004] This is a known type of automotive cooling module comprising two heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger cools an auxiliary vehicle circuit, such as an air conditioning system or a charge air cooler. The second heat exchanger is required to cool the vehicle's engine. The heat exchangers are located at the front of the vehicle, assembled and aligned in series so that the airflow entering through the vehicle's grille passes through them sequentially. They typically include a heat exchanger bundle, consisting of tubes through which the fluid to be cooled circulates and through which the air from the grille flows.

[0005] To separate the cooling of the two heat exchangers and optimize the aerodynamic gain of each, the applicant recently proposed an airflow control device for circulating within the heat exchangers in an unpublished patent application. The control device comprises two curtains mounted in a frame and movable alternately in translation between two positions: open and closed. By moving between these two positions, the curtains allow the control device to alternately permit or block the airflow passing through the grille of the motor vehicle. The movement of the curtains is achieved by means of a transmission system that guides their translational movement, and an actuator that induces movement in the transmission system.

[0006] Such a regulatory device is known from FR3063338A1.

[0007] The invention thus relates to a device for regulating an airflow intended to circulate through a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the device comprising two curtains capable of moving in an opening / closing direction, between a closed position blocking the passage of the airflow and an open position allowing the airflow to pass through, this regulation device comprising a transmission system arranged to guide the movement of said curtains, as well as an actuator inducing movement in the transmission system, this transmission system comprising two winding shafts each for winding and unwinding one of the curtains, this transmission system further comprising at least one actuable belt arranged to rotate at least one of the winding shafts simultaneously in the direction of winding the curtain and in the direction of unwinding the curtain.characterized in that each winding shaft comprises a toothed pinion arranged to cooperate with the belt which is notched so that the movement of one of the winding shafts, in particular a movement caused by the actuator, is transmitted to the other winding shaft,

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the actuator is arranged to rotate one of the winding shafts selectively in a winding direction of the curtain or in an unwinding direction of the curtain.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the regulating device comprises two belts each at one end of the two winding shafts so that each belt is associated with two toothed pinions of the two winding shafts, these two belts being arranged to be in synchronized movement relative to each other.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the device comprises at least one drive member secured to a free edge of the curtain and arranged to move at the same time as the belt to accompany the curtain during its rolling or unrolling so as to keep the curtain flat.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the drive member comprises fixing elements arranged to be fixed to the belts so that the drive member is integral with the two belts.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, each fastening element is pinched onto the associated belt, in particular pinched onto a strip forming the belt.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, for each belt, the fastening element associated with one of the curtains is fixed to a first strand of the belt between the two winding shafts and the other fastening element associated with the other curtain is fixed to a second strand of the belt which is opposite to the first strand so that the two fastening elements can be moved in opposite directions, either away from each other or towards each other.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the drive element comprises a rod with a fastening element at each end, the rod being positioned along a free edge of the associated curtain. In particular, when both curtains are in the closed position, the two rods bear against each other. The fastening elements are fixed to the belt without any possibility of relative movement with respect to the belt.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, each fastening element is made of plastic material.

[0016] Thus, to open or close the curtain, it is driven simultaneously by the winding shaft and the drive mechanism at both ends. This simultaneous action at both ends keeps the curtain taut as desired, preventing bunching, creases, and potential jams. The invention therefore advantageously eliminates the need for a return spring, which could be bulky and consume some of the torque generated by the actuator. Furthermore, the invention allows for the uniform transmission of the actuator's torque to both winding shafts of the two curtains. When the curtain is opened, it winds around its winding shaft, and the belt's movement pulls the free end of the curtain back towards this shaft via the drive mechanism.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the direction in which the curtain is wound around the winding shaft is the same on both shafts. This is made possible by the fact that the curtains wind in opposite directions on the two shafts.

[0018] The belt thus allows the rotation of one of the winding shafts simultaneously with the translational movement of the curtain drive member via the fixing elements.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for opening or closing the curtain of a device according to one of the preceding claims; this curtain is driven simultaneously by the winding shaft and by the drive element, respectively at both ends, notably without the need for an additional return spring.

[0020] It is understood that the above features and configurations are in no way limiting. Other features, details, and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the detailed description given below, and several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: There figure 1 [Fig. 1 ] schematically illustrates, in side view, the front face of a vehicle comprising a cooling module equipped with a regulation device not forming part of the invention; The figure 2 [Fig. 2 ] illustrates, in a schematic front view, a regulating device not forming part of the invention; the curtains are in the open position. figure 3 [Fig. 3 ] illustrates, in schematic front view, a regulating device according to the invention, the curtains are in the closed position, The figure 4 [Fig. 4 [ ] is a schematic representation of another regulating device not forming part of the invention, The figure 5 [Fig. 5 ] is a schematic representation of the elements of the device of the figure 4 , There figure 6 [Fig. 6 [ ] is a schematic representation of a device according to an example of an embodiment of the invention, in the closed position, The figure 7 [Fig. 7 [ ] is a schematic representation of a device according to the previous figure, in the open position, The figure 8 [Fig. 8 ] is a schematic representation of the device according to the figure 6 , in magnified view, in closed position.

[0021] There figure 1 Figure 10 illustrates an airflow control device F and a cooling module 1, shown in a side view. The cooling module 1 extends in depth along a direction X that is designed to correspond to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The airflow F flows substantially parallel to the direction X. The module is configured to be mounted on a support, such as the vehicle chassis.

[0022] The cooling module 1 includes an upstream heat exchanger 2 (located on the left of the fig. 1 ) and a downstream heat exchanger 3 (located on the right of the fig. 1 ) arranged in series according to the direction of the airflow F passing through them. In other words, the cooling module 1 is configured to be placed on its support, so that the upstream heat exchanger 2 is crossed by the airflow F first and the downstream heat exchanger 3 second.

[0023] The upstream heat exchanger 2 is a low-temperature radiator used to cool the coolant in a low-temperature heat exchange loop, which includes, among other things, an air conditioning condenser and / or a charge air cooler. The downstream heat exchanger 3 is, for example, a high-temperature radiator designed to cool the coolant in a heat exchange loop that includes the vehicle's engine. The air passing through this downstream heat exchanger 3 cools the engine's coolant.

[0024] Each heat exchanger 2, 3 comprises, for example, a heat exchange bundle and collection chambers arranged laterally on either side of the bundle (not shown). The bundle is traversed by the airflow F. It includes a set of parallel tubes, opening into the collection chambers, for the circulation of the coolant (not shown).

[0025] The cooling module 1 is advantageously configured to allow substantially airtight airflow between the heat exchangers 2 and 3. This means that the upstream heat exchanger 2 and the downstream heat exchanger 3 are assembled in such a way that the downstream heat exchanger 3 is not directly traversed by air from outside the module. In other words, the airflow F through the downstream heat exchanger 3 originates from the airflow through the upstream heat exchanger 2. To achieve this, the cooling module 1 may, for example, include sealing means that guide the entire airflow from the upstream heat exchanger 2 to the downstream heat exchanger 3 without any loss of airflow. These sealing means, not shown, may, for example, include a duct arranged between the two heat exchangers 2 and 3.

[0026] To facilitate airflow through the cooling module 1, particularly when the vehicle is stationary, the module advantageously includes a motor-fan assembly 10 capable of circulating air through the cooling module 1. As illustrated in the figure 1 , the motor-fan unit 4 is here arranged downstream of the downstream heat exchanger 3, the motor-fan unit 4 being configured to draw air from an air intake of the vehicle, which is preferably defined by its grille.

[0027] The cooling module 1 further includes an airflow control device 10, preferably arranged between the upstream heat exchanger 2 and the downstream heat exchanger 3. The control device 10 has a small profile relative to the depth of the cooling module. The control device 10 manages the flow of air F from the upstream heat exchanger 2 to the downstream heat exchanger 3 via retractable blinds or curtains 11.

[0028] Alternatively, the cooling module 1 may comprise a single heat exchanger, for example a cooling radiator, with the control device 10 arranged upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger. In such a configuration, the airflow F through the heat exchanger originates from, or flows into, the airflow F through the control device.

[0029] It has been represented on the figures 5 à 7 an air flow regulation device 300 according to an embodiment of the invention, the device 300 comprising two curtains 11 capable of moving in an opening / closing direction, between a closed position blocking the passage of the air flow and an open position allowing the air flow to pass through, this regulation device comprising a transmission system 301 arranged to guide the movement of said curtains 11, as well as an actuator 40 inducing a movement in the transmission system, this transmission system 301 comprising two winding shafts 302 and 303 each for winding and unwinding one of the curtains 11, this transmission system 301 further comprising at least one belt 305 actuable in motion and arranged to rotate at least one of the winding shafts both in the direction of winding the curtain and in the direction of unwinding the curtain 11.

[0030] The actuator 40 is arranged to rotate one of the winding shafts, that 303 in the figures, selectively in a direction of winding the curtain or in a direction of unwinding the curtain 11.

[0031] Each winding shaft 302 and 303 has a toothed pinion 310 arranged to cooperate with the belt 305 which is toothed so that the movement of the winding shaft 303, a movement caused by the actuator 40, is transmitted to the other winding shaft 302.

[0032] The regulating device 300 includes two belts 305 each at one end of the two winding shafts 302 and 303 such that each belt 305 is associated with two toothed sprockets 310 of the two winding shafts, these two belts 305 being arranged to be in synchronized motion with respect to each other.

[0033] The device 300 includes a drive element 320 attached to a free edge 321 of the curtain 11 and arranged to move at the same time as the two belts 305 to accompany the curtain 11 during its winding or unwinding so as to keep the curtain 11 flat.

[0034] Each drive element 320 has two fixing elements 322 arranged to be fixed to the two belts 305 so that the drive element 320 is fixed to the two belts 305.

[0035] Each fastening element 322 is pinched onto the associated belt 305, precisely pinched onto a strip 324 forming the belt.

[0036] For each belt, the fastening element 322 associated with one of the curtains is fixed on a first strand 328 of the belt between the two winding shafts 302 and 303 and the other fastening element associated with the other of the curtains is fixed on a second strand 329 of the belt which is opposite the first strand so that the two fastening elements 322 can be moved in opposite directions, either away from each other or towards each other.

[0037] Each drive member 320 comprises a rod 331 with at each end of the rod 331 one of the fixing elements 322, and the rod 331 being placed along a free edge 321 of the associated curtain 11. In particular when the two curtains 11 are in the closed position, the two rods 331 come to bear against each other. The fixing elements 322 are in particular fixed on the belt without the possibility of relative movement with respect to this belt.

[0038] The 322 fixing elements are made of plastic.

[0039] Thus, to open or close the curtain, this curtain 11 is driven both by the winding shaft and by the drive member, at both ends. The simultaneous action at both ends of the curtain makes it possible to keep this curtain taut as desired, thus avoiding gathers or folds and possible jamming of the curtain. The invention thus advantageously eliminates the need for a return spring which could be bulky and have to consume part of the torque developed by the actuator. The invention also makes it possible to uniformly transmit the torque from the actuator to the two winding shafts of the two curtains 11. When the curtain opens, the curtain winds around its winding shaft 302 and 303 and the movement of the belt brings the free end of the curtain back towards this winding shaft via the drive member.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the direction in which the curtain 11 is wound around the winding shaft is the same on both shafts. This is made possible by the fact that the curtains wind in opposite directions on the two shafts.

[0041] Thus the belts 305 allow the rotation of one of the winding shafts simultaneously with the translational movement of the drive element 322 of the curtain via the fixing elements.

[0042] The shaft 303 cooperates with the actuator 40 via a cooperation leg 340. 1

Claims

1. Device (300) for regulating an air flow (F) intended to circulate through a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the device comprising two curtains (11) that are able to move in an opening / closing direction (Z), between a closed position (PF) obstructing the passage of the air flow (F) and an open position (PO) letting the air flow (F) pass, this regulating device having a transmission system (301) arranged to guide the movement of said curtains, and an actuator (40) causing the transmission system to move, this transmission system having two winding shafts, each for the winding and unwinding of one of the curtains, this transmission system also having at least one belt (305) that can be actuated to move and is arranged to rotate at least one of the winding shafts (302; 303) both in the direction of winding of the curtain and in the direction of unwinding of the curtain, characterized in that each winding shaft has a toothed pinion (310) arranged to cooperate with the belt, which is notched, such that the movement of one of the winding shafts, in particular a movement caused by the actuator, is transmitted to the other winding shaft.

2. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuator (40) is arranged to rotate one of the winding shafts (303) selectively in a direction of winding of the curtain or in a direction of unwinding of the curtain.

3. Device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the regulating device has two belts (305), each at one of the ends of the two winding shafts (302; 303), such that each belt is associated with two toothed pinions of the two winding shafts, these two belts being arranged so as to move synchronously relative to one another.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has at least one drive member (320) secured to a free edge of the curtain and arranged to move at the same time as the belt in order to accompany the curtain during its winding or unwinding, so as to keep the curtain flat.

5. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive member (320) has fastening elements (322) arranged to be fastened to the belts such that the drive member is secured to the two belts.

6. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein each fastening element (322) is clip-fastened onto the associated belt, in particular clip-fastened onto a strip forming the belt.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, for each belt, the fastening element associated with one of the curtains is fastened to a first strand (328) of the belt between the two winding shafts and the other fastening element, which is associated with the other of the curtains, is fastened to a second strand (329) of the belt that is opposite the first strand, such that the two fastening elements can be moved in opposite directions, either moving away from one another or moving closer to one another.

8. Device according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the drive member (320) has a rod (331) with one of the fastening elements at each end of the rod, the rod being placed along a free edge (321) of the associated curtain.

9. Method for opening or closing the curtain of a device according to one of the preceding claims, this curtain (11) being driven both by the winding shaft and by the drive member, respectively at the two ends, in particular without the intervention of an additional return spring.