Extruded flap for a device for shutting off an air intake on the front of a motor vehicle

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shutter for a closing device and more precisely to a device for closing the air inlet on the front of a motor vehicle.

[0002] The front of motor vehicles is generally composed of two main air intakes, called the upper and lower air intakes, separated by a bumper beam. Behind this bumper beam are generally placed the heat exchangers of the motor vehicle, such as the one used for air conditioning the passenger compartment and / or the one used for cooling the engine.

[0003] It is also known to have, in the air path passing through the main air inlets, more generally the lower path, a support frame comprising a multiplicity of flaps mounted to pivot around parallel axes and capable of taking a multiplicity of different angular positions, between an open position and a closed position, under the action of appropriate control means.

[0004] This results in a shutter device similar to a louver that allows the air flow through the air inlets and reaching the heat exchangers to be adjusted. It is thus possible to optimize the efficiency of these heat exchangers according to needs by varying the quantity of air they receive. In addition, at high speed, the shutters in the shutter position reduce the vehicle's drag coefficient and thus improve the aerodynamics of said vehicle.

[0005] The shutters of such closure devices may in particular comprise an extruded shutter body at the ends of which are arranged end pieces allowing the connection with the support frame. However, in order for these end pieces to remain in place within the shutter body or to prevent the end pieces from damaging the shutter body during their installation, reduced manufacturing tolerances are necessary. This quality of production is difficult to achieve and very expensive given the materials and dimensions of the parts.

[0006] A shutter of this type is also shown in document DE102017119098A1.

[0007] One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to at least partially remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a shutter comprising an improved connection between the shutter body and the end pieces.

[0008] The present invention therefore relates to a flap for a device for closing off the air intake of the front of a motor vehicle, said flap comprising a profiled oblong-shaped flap body, obtained by extrusion and extending along its axis of rotation, said flap body comprising a front wall intended to be arranged in opposition to an air flow when the flap is in a closed position and a rear wall, opposite the front wall, intended to be connected to at least one retaining device carried by the closing device, the rear wall comprising a groove extending concentrically to the axis of rotation of the flap, the front and rear walls being connected edge to edge and delimiting an internal hollow, said flap further comprising at each of the ends of the flap body an end piece, said end pieces comprising an internal part inserted into the hollow of the flap body and an external part protruding from said flap body,at least one end piece comprising a hooking finger, said hooking finger projecting from the end piece along the axis of rotation and being inserted into the groove of the rear wall, said hooking finger comprising at least one tooth intended to be planted in said groove, said tooth being oriented so as to prevent the end piece from being extracted from the shutter body.,

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the free end of the hooking finger comprises a chamfer oriented so as to facilitate the insertion of said hooking finger into the groove.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the shutter body comprises within its hollow a central reinforcing wall extending along the axis of rotation and connecting the internal face of the internal wall to the internal face of the external wall, said central wall separating the central channel in two, the internal part of the end piece comprising a slot for inserting said central wall.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the central wall is arranged directly above the groove so as to connect the bottom of said groove with the front wall.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the internal part of the end piece comprises at least one support point on each of the internal faces of the external walls forming the shutter body.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the internal part of the end piece has a cross-section of a shape complementary to that of the hollow of the shutter body.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the internal part of the end piece comprises non-through recesses facing the internal faces of the external walls in the state mounted in the shutter body.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the sections forming the internal part of the tip varies by a value of less than 15% from one section to another.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the end piece comprises between its internal part and its external part a collar projecting perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shutter, said collar closing the end of the shutter body.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the shutter comprises, at a first of its ends, an end piece comprising on its external part a pivot axis concentric with the axis of rotation and, at a second end, an end piece comprising a pivot axis concentric with the axis of rotation and a control arm.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 shows a schematic representation in front perspective of a shutter device in the shutter position, [ Fig 2 ] there figure 2 shows a schematic perspective representation of a control element, [ Fig 3 ] there figure 3 shows a schematic perspective representation of a shutter, [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 shows a schematic representation in exploded perspective of one end of a shutter, [ Fig 5 ] there figure 6 shows a schematic perspective representation of a nozzle, [ Fig 6 ] there figure 6 shows a schematic representation in perspective and longitudinal section of one end of a shutter.

[0019] Identical elements in different figures have the same references.

[0020] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments still in accordance with the claims.

[0021] In this description, certain elements or parameters may be indexed, such as first element or second element, as well as first parameter and second parameter, or first criterion and second criterion, etc. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements or parameters or criteria that are close but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, parameter or criterion over another. This indexing also does not imply an order in time, for example, to assess such and such criteria.

[0022] On the figures 1 et 2 , we will use an XYZ trihedron to show the viewing angle of each of the figures in relation to each other. The axes of this trihedron can also correspond to the different orientations of the motor vehicle. The X axis can thus correspond to the axis of the vehicle's length, the Y axis to the axis of its width and the Z axis to that of its height.

[0023] There figure 1 shows a schematic perspective representation of a shutter device in the shutter position. This figure 1 shows more precisely the external face of said closing device 1, that is to say the face directed towards the outside of the motor vehicle.

[0024] Said closing device 1 comprises a support frame 5 comprising in particular two longitudinal crosspieces 5a, extending parallel to the Y axis of the trihedron, and at least two lateral uprights 5b, extending parallel to the Z axis of the trihedron, and connecting said longitudinal crosspieces 5a. Advantageously, the support frame 5 is made of plastic material and the two longitudinal crosspieces 5a and the at least two lateral uprights 5b are obtained by injection molding. In order to improve the rigidity of said support frame 5, the latter can be molded in a single piece.

[0025] Within said support frame 5 is installed one or more shutters 3. When there is a plurality of shutters 3, the latter form rows of shutters 3 parallel to each other and which form a set of shutters 3. In the example illustrated in figure 1 , the shutter device 1 comprises a set of shutters 3. A control module 13 is placed at one of the ends of the set of shutters 3 so as to allow the synchronous rotation of said shutters 3 around a pivot axis A. This rotation is carried out between an open position (not shown), where the shutters 3 are arranged so that a flow of air can pass through the shutter device 1, in particular inside the support frame 5, and a closed position, illustrated in figure 1 , where the shutters 3 are arranged so that an air flow cannot pass through the shutter device 1.

[0026] In the example presented in the figure 1 , the control module 13 is arranged at the level of a lateral upright 5b. It is nevertheless entirely possible to imagine that the control module 13 is arranged in the opening of the support frame 5 connecting the longitudinal crosspieces 5a and that the closing device 1 comprises a set of shutters 3 on either side of the control module 13.

[0027] As shown in the figure 2 , the control element 13 comprises in particular a connecting rod 7. The flaps 3 comprise a control arm 39, perpendicular to their pivot axis A and carrying a connecting stud along a connecting axis B. The connecting stud allows the connection between the flap 3 and the connecting rod 7. The pivot axis A and the connecting axes B are not coincident and both are parallel to the Y axis of the trihedron.

[0028] The control module 13 also comprises an actuator 9. The actuator 9 may be electric, such as an electric motor, or pneumatic, such as a pneumatic cylinder. Said actuator 9 applies a translational movement to the connecting rod 7 along the Z axis of the trihedron, by pivoting a lever 11.

[0029] The flaps 3 can each pivot about a pivot axis A defined by their connection with the support frame 5. The connecting studs between the flaps 3 and the control rod 7 are eccentric relative to the pivot axes A so that a translational movement parallel to the axis Z of the trihedron of the control rod 7, under the action of the actuator 9, causes the flaps 3 to pivot about their respective pivot axes A and therefore the passage of said flaps 3 from one position to another. The flaps 3 being connected to the same rod 7, the passage from an open position to a closed position is synchronous for all said flaps 3.

[0030] The support frame 5 also comprises one or more retaining devices 5c. These retaining devices 5c are more particularly arranged in the opening of the support frame 5 and connect the longitudinal crosspieces 5a. The retaining devices 5c are more particularly arranged behind the flaps 3. The retaining devices 5c also comprise retaining members 50 which are inserted into a groove 312 formed in the flaps 3 concentrically to their axes of rotation A. These retaining devices 5c allow the flaps 3 to have a support point in order to maintain a rectilinear shape and not to bend under their own weight, particularly if they are very long.

[0031] As shown in the figure 3 , a shutter 3 comprises a shutter body 31 of profiled oblong shape, obtained by extrusion and extending along its axis of rotation A. The cross section of the shutter body 31 may more particularly have a substantially oval profile (see figure 4 ).

[0032] At each end of the shutter body 31 are arranged end pieces 30, 30'. In the present case, we are talking about the ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter body 31. These end pieces 30, 30' make it possible in particular to close the shutter body 31 obtained by extrusion and also allow the connection of the shutter 3 with the support frame 5 and the control module 13. The end piece 30' intended to be connected to the control module 13 comprises in particular the control arm 39 allowing the connection with the connecting rod 7 (see figures 2 And 3 ).

[0033] As shown in the figure 4 , the shutter body 31 comprises a front wall 310a and a rear wall 310b connected edge to edge and delimiting an internal hollow 311. The front wall 310a is in particular intended to be arranged in opposition to an air flow when the shutter 3 is in a closed position as illustrated in figure 1 et 2 The rear wall 310b, opposite the front wall 310a, comprises the groove 312 allowing the connection with at least one retaining device 5c carried by the closure device 1 (visible in the figure 2 ). These two external walls 310 more precisely form the external structure of the shutter body 31. The internal hollow 311 extends over the entire length of the shutter body 31 because the latter is produced by extrusion.

[0034] The end pieces 30, 30' comprise an internal part 300 inserted into the hollow 311 of the shutter body 31 and an external part 301 protruding from said shutter body 31. The end pieces 30, 30' may also comprise, between their internal part 300 and their external part 301, a collar 302 projecting perpendicularly to the axis of rotation A of the shutter 3. This collar 302 closes in particular the end of the shutter body 31. The collar 302 also makes it possible to protect the support frame 5 and the control module 13 from water or dust which could reach the shutter body 31.

[0035] At a first end of the shutter body 31 illustrated in the figure 4 , the shutter 3 comprises in particular an end piece 30 comprising on its external part 301 a pivot axis concentric with the axis of rotation A intended to cooperate with a bearing carried by the support frame 5. At a second end of the shutter body 31 (visible on the figure 2 ), the flap 3 comprises another end piece 30' comprising a pivot axis concentric with the rotation axis A, intended to cooperate with a bearing carried by the control module 13, and the control arm 39. The end pieces 30, 30' are preferably made of plastic by injection molding.

[0036] As shown in more detail in the figures 4 à 6 , the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 also comprises a hooking finger 306. This hooking finger 306 projects from the end piece 30, 30' along the axis of rotation A and is inserted into the groove 312 of the rear wall 310b. The hooking finger 306 comprises at least one tooth 307 intended to come into contact with said groove 312. This tooth 307 is in particular oriented so as to oppose the extraction of the end piece 30, 30' from the shutter body 31. For this, the tooth 307 may comprise a flat oriented perpendicular to the rear wall 310b and facing the external part 301. It is also possible to imagine that the rear wall 310b comprises a bead or an orifice against which the tooth 307 abuts when the end piece 30, 30' is mounted on the shutter body 31. The hooking finger 30 may in particular come from the same material as the end piece 30.When the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 is inserted into the hollow 311 of the shutter body 31, the hooking finger 306 deforms when it enters the groove 312 to allow easy insertion. When a tearing force is applied to the end piece 30 in order, for example, to make it come out of the shutter body 31, the tooth 306 hooks the rear wall 310b within the groove 312, holding the end piece 30 within the shutter body 31. The free end of the hooking finger 306 may also include a chamfer 308 oriented so as to facilitate the insertion of said hooking finger 306 into the groove 312 during assembly of the shutter 3.

[0037] This hooking finger 306 allows a good connection between the end piece 30 and the shutter body 31. This makes it possible to secure the end piece 30 within the hollow 311 of the shutter body 31 and limits the risks of the latter becoming detached. In addition, the hooking finger, thanks to its deformation during assembly, allows greater manufacturing tolerances between the end piece 30 and the shutter body 31 and easy insertion of the end piece 30 within said shutter body 31.

[0038] The internal part 300 of the end piece 30 may also comprise non-through recesses 304 facing the internal faces of the external walls 310 in the state mounted in the shutter body 31. These recesses make it possible in particular to reduce the quantity of material constituting the end piece 30 and thus to reduce its weight. The sections forming the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 may in particular vary in thickness by a value of less than 15% from one section to another. This relatively constant thickness of the sections of the internal part 300 also allows the end piece 30 to have a relatively uniform thermal inertia.

[0039] The hollow 311 in which the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 is inserted, may also comprise a central reinforcing wall 313 extending along the axis of rotation A, as illustrated in the figures 4 And 6. This central wall 313 separates the central channel of the hollow 311 in two. The central wall 313 also makes it possible to stiffen the flap body 31 and in particular to maintain the gap between the external walls 310. For this, this central wall 313 more particularly connects the internal face of the internal wall 310b to the internal face of the external wall 310a. More precisely, the central wall 313 can be arranged directly above the groove 312 so as to connect the bottom of said groove 312 with the front wall 310a.

[0040] As shown by the figures 5 et 6 , the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 may in particular comprise an insertion slot 305 of said central wall 313 in order to allow the insertion of the internal part 300 into the central orifice of the shutter body 31. The hooking finger 306 may in particular be arranged within this insertion slot 305 when the central wall 313 is arranged directly above the groove 312.

[0041] According to the figure 6 , the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 may comprise at least one support point on each of the internal faces of the external walls 310 forming the shutter body 31. This allows in particular the internal part 300 and more broadly the end piece 30 to have only one degree of freedom along the axis of rotation A. This allows in particular good connection between the shutter body 31 and the end piece 30. In order to reinforce this connection and limit as much as possible the movements of the end piece 30 within the shutter body 31, the internal part 300 of the end piece 30 may in particular have a cross-section of a shape complementary to that of the hollow 311 of the shutter body 31.

[0042] In the example illustrated in figures 4 à 6, only the end piece 30 which is inserted into the first end of the shutter body 31 is shown and described. However, it is entirely possible to imagine that the internal part 300 of one or the other or even of the two end pieces 30, 30' is as described previously.

[0043] Thus, it is clearly seen that due to the presence of the hooking finger 306 which hooks onto the rear wall 310b of the shutter 3 in the groove 306, a good connection between the end piece 30 and the shutter body 31 is possible. This makes it possible to secure the end piece 30 within the hollow 311 of the shutter body 31 and limits the risks of the latter becoming detached. In addition, the hooking finger 306, thanks to its deformation, allows for greater manufacturing tolerances between the end piece 30 and the shutter body 31 and easy insertion of the end piece 30 within said shutter body 31.

Claims

1. Flap (3) for a device (1) for shutting off an air inlet of a motor vehicle front end, said flap (3) comprising a profiled flap body (31) that has an oblong shape, is obtained by extrusion and extends along its axis of rotation (A), said flap body (31) comprising a front wall (310a), which is intended to be arranged in opposition to an air flow when the flap (3) is in a closed position, and a rear wall (310b), which is opposite the front wall (310a) and is intended to be connected to at least one retaining device (5c) borne by the shut-off device (1), the rear wall (310b) comprising a groove (312) extending concentrically to the axis of rotation (A) of the flap (3), the front wall (310a) and rear wall (310b) being connected edge to edge and delimiting an inner cavity (311), said flap (3) also comprising an end piece (30, 30') at each of the ends of the flap body (31), said end pieces (30, 30') comprising an inner portion (300) inserted into the cavity (311) in the flap body (31) and an outer portion (301) that extends beyond said flap body (31), and at least one end piece (30, 30') comprises a hooking finger (306), said hooking finger (306) protruding from the end piece (30, 30') along the axis of rotation (A) and being inserted within the groove (312) in the rear wall (310b), said hooking finger (306) comprising at least one tooth (307) that is intended to be embedded within said groove (312), said tooth (307) being oriented so as to prevent the end piece (30, 30') from being removed from the flap body (31).

2. Flap (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the free end of the hooking finger (306) comprises a chamfer (308) that is oriented so as to make it easier for said hooking finger (306) to be inserted into the groove (312).

3. Flap (3) according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flap body (31) comprises, within its cavity (311), a central reinforcing wall (313) extending along the axis of rotation (A) and connecting the inner face of the inner wall (310b) to the inner face of the outer wall (310a), said central wall (313) dividing the central channel in two, the inner portion (300) of the end piece (30, 30') comprising a slot (305) for the insertion of said central wall (313).

4. Flap (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the central wall (313) is arranged in vertical alignment with the groove (312) so as to connect the bottom of said groove (312) to the front wall (310a).

5. Flap (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner portion (300) of the end piece (30, 30') comprises at least one bearing point on each of the inner faces of the outer walls (310) forming the flap body (31).

6. Flap (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the inner portion (300) of the end piece (30, 30') has a cross section that is complementary in shape to that of the cavity (311) in the flap body (31).

7. Flap (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner portion (300) of the end piece (30, 30') comprises blind recesses (304) that face the inner faces of the outer walls (310) when mounted in the flap body (31).

8. Flap (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the thickness of the sections forming the inner portion (300) of the end piece (30, 30') varies by a value of less than 15% from one section to another.

9. Flap (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece (30, 30') comprises, between its inner portion (300) and its outer portion (301), a collar (302) protruding perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A) of the flap (3), said collar (302) closing off the end of the flap body (31).

10. Flap (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, at a first of its ends, an end piece (30) comprising, on its outer portion (301), a pivot pin, which is concentric with the axis of rotation (A), and, at a second end, an end piece (30') comprising a pivot pin (301), which is concentric with the axis of rotation (A), and a control arm (39).