Car grille

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle grille comprising: a wall (20) having a rear face (21) opposite a front face (22) exposed to the air, and a plurality of openings formed in said wall; a plurality of shuttering elements (26), the shuttering elements being adapted to be carried between a first position in which they close each of the openings (24) and a second position in which they open each of the openings to allow the passage of air. The grille further comprises an electrical current-carrying circuit installed around said plurality of shuttering elements (26); and each of said shuttering elements (26) is equipped with a light-emitting diode (19) and an induced circuit (15) connected to said light-emitting diode, such that said electrical current-carrying circuit induces a remote electrical current in said induced circuit (15). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 6

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle grille

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle grille making it possible to modulate the air intake.

[0002] Motor vehicles with thermal or electric engines require an air intake at the front to be able to cool the elements of the powertrain when it is in operation.

[0003] Thus, the grille, installed in the front face of the vehicles, is equipped with a wall having air intake orifices. Usually, the size of the orifices offers a compromise between good ventilation of the powertrain and a good coefficient of penetration into the air of the vehicle.

[0004] Indeed, the orifices tend to increase the resistance to the vehicle's movement, particularly when it is moving at high speed. It would then be advantageous to close them. But when the torque required to move the vehicle forward is high, for example in the mountains, the powertrain becomes relatively hot, and conversely, it would be advisable for the air intake orifices to be free.

[0005] Also, it has been imagined to implement movable flaps in pivoting on the rear face of the wall and thus, to automatically adjust the flaps in a position of closing the orifices when the vehicle is moving at high speed or in a position in which they allow the passage of air through the orifices when a need for cooling of the powertrain is necessary.

[0006] Reference may be made in particular to document WO2013092141, which discloses such adjustable shutters.

[0007] Furthermore, manufacturers are seeking to beautify their vehicles and to illuminate the grille precisely. However, it is difficult to illuminate such dynamic grilles.

[0008] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a motor vehicle grille which allows the air intake to be modulated and which can nevertheless be illuminated.

[0009] For this purpose, a motor vehicle grille is proposed comprising: a wall having a rear face opposite a front face in the open air, and a plurality of orifices made in said wall; a plurality of closing members, the closing members being adapted to be carried between a first position in which they close each of the orifices of said plurality of orifices and a second position in which they free each of the orifices of said plurality of orifices to allow the passage of air.

[0010] The motor vehicle grille according to the invention further comprises an electric current passage circuit installed around said plurality of closing members; and each of said shutter members is equipped with a light-emitting diode and an induced circuit connected to said light-emitting diode, so that said electric current passage circuit remotely induces an induced electric current in said induced circuit in order to be able to power the light-emitting diodes and illuminate said shutter members.

[0011] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of an induced circuit and a light-emitting diode on each of the closure members and, in addition, in the implementation of a circuit for passing the electric current around the plurality of closure members. This circuit for passing the electric current can, for example, be supplied with alternating current, which makes it possible to generate a variable magnetic field capable of inducing an electric current in each of the induced circuits.

[0012] Therefore, this induced electric current supplies the light-emitting diodes of each of the closing members.

[0013] In this way, each of the light-emitting diodes installed on the closure members is powered remotely, without it being necessary to connect them by a wire.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the electric current flow circuit is supplied with direct current. And thus, the mere movement of the closure members between the first position and the second position induces a variation in magnetic flux in the induced circuit and consequently causes the circulation of a temporary electric current in the induced circuit. This circulation of electric current causes a temporary, and ephemeral, illumination of the light-emitting diodes.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said closure members are made of a material capable of guiding light therethrough. In this way, the light-emitting diodes can be mounted in a fixed position against the wall of the closure members so that the light they emit can propagate therethrough. Therefore, only the closure members themselves emit light, which makes it possible to give the grille an aesthetic appearance.

[0016] Preferably, each of said orifices has an elliptical section, while each of said closure members comprises a portion having a substantially ellipsoidal shape. An elliptical section also means a circular section, just like the portion of ellipsoidal shape. When the elliptical section and the ellipsoidal portion are of circular symmetry, the closure members then close the corresponding orifices in a more sealed manner. The closure members may then have a “water drop” shape. Such a shape makes it possible to improve the flow of air through the grille.

[0017] Also, each of said shutter members extends longitudinally from a front end to a rear end, and said light-emitting diode is installed at said rear end. Thus, the shutter members are advantageously oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and they are held in line with the holes, at the rear of the wall. In this way, when the closing members close the holes, their front end projects from the front face of the wall, while they are illuminated from their rear end. Therefore, the light is guided through the closing members and is re-emitted at their front end. This produces an advantageous aesthetic effect. The emitted light is, for example, red in color.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, each of said closure members is covered with a protective strip, between said front end and said rear end. The protective strip not only preserves the closure members, but also guides the light. This protective strip is for example produced by the use of an opaque varnish around the closure members.

[0019] Preferably, said induced circuit comprises a first conductive wire wound around the closure member. Each of the closure members thus comprises a first conductive wire wound, for example in a spiral, on a portion of the closure member, located towards the rear so that it can be connected more easily to the light-emitting diode. Preferably, the first conductive wire is wound in a single layer of contiguous turns. In this way, the general shape of the closure member is preserved.

[0020] Furthermore, advantageously, the intensity of said induced current varies between said two positions of said closing members. Such a possibility is offered when the closing members are driven in movement between a position close to the circuit for passing the electric current, where the magnetic field is maximum, and a position away from the circuit, where the magnetic field is minimum. Preferably, the closing members are in the position close to the magnetic field, when they are in the first position for closing the orifices of the wall. Consequently, the light intensity of the light-emitting diodes is maximum.

[0021] Furthermore, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the grille further comprises a frame installed transversely opposite said rear face of said wall, while said closing members are mounted in a fixed position on said frame respectively opposite said orifices, and said frame is mounted movable in translation between a position close to said wall and a position separated from said wall, to be able to carry said closing members in said first and second positions.

[0022] Also, preferably, said chassis is slidably mounted inside a frame installed near said rear face of said wall.

[0023] And furthermore, said electric current flow circuit comprises a second conductive wire wound around said frame. Thus, the current flow circuit electric allows the generation of a variable or continuous magnetic field strong enough to cause the light-emitting diodes to light up.

[0024] It will be observed that, when the electric current supplying the second conductive wire is continuous, the supply of the light-emitting diodes is caused by the sole movement of the closing members between the position of closing the orifices and the position of releasing the orifices.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] is a schematic front view of a motor vehicle equipped with a grille according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] is a schematic three-quarter front left view of a grille in accordance with the invention, in a first state, and according to a first variant embodiment;

[0028] [Fig.3] is a partial rear schematic perspective view of the object of the [Fig.2] ;

[0029] [Fig.4] is a schematic detail view of [Fig.3];

[0030] [Fig.5] is a partial schematic view of the object of [Fig.3];

[0031] [Fig.6] is a rear schematic view of an object of [Fig.l] including the object of the [Fig.3] ; and,

[0032] [Fig.7] is a view of the object of [Fig.2] in a second state.

[0033] [Fig.l] shows a motor vehicle 10, seen from the front, and it is inscribed in a reference frame orthogonal X, Y, Z, in which the X axis extends in a longitudinal direction front-rear of the motor vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y axis extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented from left to right when in a rolling situation; and the Z axis extends in a vertical direction, oriented away from the ground.

[0034] The motor vehicle 10 is equipped, on its front face, with a grille 12 having an upper part 14 and a lower part 16. Also, the vehicle 10 has a front compartment 18 in which is housed a powertrain unit not shown and located behind the grille 12.

[0035] Also, the lower part 16 of the grille 12, which is the subject of the invention, will be described with reference to [Fig. 2]. It will be noted that the upper part 14 could also be the subject of the invention.

[0036] The lower part 16 comprises a substantially uniform wall 20 extending transversely along the Y axis. The wall 20 has a rear face 21 and, opposite, a front face 22, in the open air. Also, the wall 20 is pierced with a plurality of orifices 24 in which closure members 26 are engaged.

[0037] The orifices 24 have an elliptical shape and their main axis extends in the transverse direction Y of the motor vehicle. Also, the closing members 26 have a front portion 28 of ellipsoidal shape, partially engaged through the orifices 24 and which thus extend substantially projecting from the wall 20. The front portion 28 of the closing members 26 has an elliptical cross-section so as to fit perfectly into the orifices 24 in order to be able to close them in a sealed manner. In other words, the entire closed internal surface of the orifices receives as support a closed loop portion of closing member.

[0038] It will be observed that the orifices 24 and hence the closure members 26 are adjusted in a staggered arrangement. Thus, the orifices are made in columns C1, C2... Cn, of three, an upper orifice, a lower orifice and a middle orifice, and are spaced apart by a pitch P. And the orifices 24 of a column C2 adjacent to the column C1 are also spaced apart by the same pitch P, but vertically offset by a distance P / 2.

[0039] On the other hand, the wall 20 has a right end 29 in which only two orifices 30, 32 receive closure members 26. The only two orifices define a column C0 parallel to the columns C1, C2 and respectively receiving two closure members 26. It will be observed that at the opposite left end, which is not shown in [Fig.2], the plurality of orifices of the wall 20 also has only two orifices.

[0040] Thus, the orifices 24, and by the same token, the closing members 26, are regularly distributed in the wall 20.

[0041] [Fig. 3] shows the closure members 26, in the absence of a wall 20, and seen from the rear. They have their front portion 28 of a generally ellipsoidal shape and, opposite, a more tapered rear portion 34. Overall, the closure members 26 have a generally flattened ovoid shape.

[0042] A closure member 26 according to the invention will first be described in more detail with reference to [Fig. 4]. It extends along a longitudinal axis A and its front portion 28 is opposite its rear portion 34.

[0043] Also, it is molded in a polymer material capable of guiding light. It may be a transparent material, for example, polycarbonate. Other transparent polymers may be used, for example polymethyl methacrylate acrylic or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0044] Furthermore, the polymer material can also be mass-dyed.

[0045] Furthermore, between the front portion 28 and the rear portion 34, the closure member 26 has a protective strip 11 extending around the longitudinal axis A, and revealing a free front end 13.

[0046] The protective strip 11 is for example made of a layer of opaque varnish, which does not allow light to pass through.

[0047] Also, the closure member 26 comprises a first electric wire 15 wound in contiguous turns on a single layer in its rear portion 34 up to the joint of the protective strip 11.

[0048] And the closure member 26 has a free rear end 17 on which a light-emitting diode 19 is mounted. The first electrical wire 15 wound in a spiral thus forms a loop, the two ends of which are coupled to the light-emitting diode 19.

[0049] As will be explained below, the light-emitting diode 19 is adapted to be powered by an electric current generated in the first electric wire 15. And the light produced by the diode 19 propagates inside the polymer material of the closure member 26 to be re-emitted in its free front end 13.

[0050] Before this explanation, we will refer again to [Fig.3] showing the arrangement of the closing members 26.

[0051] We thus find a first column C'0 of closure members 26 corresponding to the first column C0 of orifices 30, 32 illustrated in [Fig.2], a second column C' 1 and a third column C'2 corresponding respectively to the first C1 and second C2 columns of orifices.

[0052] Thus, the plurality of closure members 26, as shown in [Fig. 3] is arranged in 19 columns C'2 - C'20 of three superimposed closure members and at the ends, twice two columns C'0, C' 1 and C'21, C'22, of two superimposed closure members symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane Pm. The 19 columns C'2 - C'20 each have an upper closure member, a lower closure member and a median closure member located between the two.

[0053] The method of connecting the closure members 26 to each other will be described in more detail with reference to [Fig.5].

[0054] We thus find the last column C'22 and the penultimate column C'21 of two closure members 26 preceded by the penultimate C'20 of three closure members 26. Also, the penultimate column C'20 is itself preceded by the penultimate column C'19 of three other vertically offset closure members 26.

[0055] We also find the front portion 28 of each of the closure members 26, opposite the rear portion 34, and between the two, for each, the protective strip 11 and the first electrical wire 15 wound in a spiral. In addition, the free rear end 17 of each of the closure members 26 comprises the light-emitting diode 19.

[0056] The two penultimate upper and lower closure members 26 of the penultimate column C'21 are connected to each other by means of a first vertical profiled rod 36. This makes it possible to release the front portions 28, which are intended to seal the orifices.

[0057] The three closing members 26 of the penultimate column C'20 are connected two by two by means of two second vertical profiled rods 38 at the level of the strip 11. In addition, the upper member of the penultimate column C'20 is connected laterally to the upper member of the penultimate column C'21 by an upper lateral wing 40, while the lower member is connected laterally to the lower member of the penultimate column C'20 by a lower wing 42.

[0058] As regards the three closing members 26 of the front penultimate column C' 19, they are connected two by two by their rear portion 34 by means of two other vertical profiled rods 44.

[0059] These three closing members 26 are kept vertically offset downwards relative to those of the penultimate column C'20 by the half-distance which separates them vertically from each other respectively, by means of another upper lateral wing 46 which connects the upper member of the penultimate column C'20 and the upper member of the penultimate column C' 19, and a second lower lateral wing 48 which connects the lower members of the two columns C'20 and C' 19.

[0060] The closing members 26 are thus connected together in triplets in the same manner, up to the third column C'2 appearing in [Fig.3].

[0061] And the two closure members 26, of the penultimate column C'21 are themselves connected in parallel respectively to a left upright 54 by means of two left bars, an upper one 56 and a lower one 58. In addition, the two closure members 26 of the last column C'22, are mounted, one between the two left bars 56, 58, the other above the upper left bar 56.

[0062] Conversely, and in the same way as illustrated in [Fig.3], the two closing members 26 of the second column C' 1 are connected to a straight upright 60 by means of two straight bars 56', 58'.

[0063] In addition, the two closing members 26 of the first column C'0 are mounted, one between the two right bars 56', 58', the other above the upper right bar 56'.

[0064] Thus, the plurality of closure members 26 and the two opposite uprights 54, 60 form a single rigid part together constituting a frame 62.

[0065] Preferably, this assembly is molded in one piece in the aforementioned polymer material, i.e. polycarbonate. And each of the closure members 26 is then equipped with a protective strip 11, a first electrical wire 15 wound in a spiral and a light-emitting diode 19.

[0066] Furthermore, and as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the left upright 54 is equipped with a lower left slide 64 opposite an upper left slide 66, while the right upright 60 is equipped in parallel with a lower right slide 68 opposite an upper right slide 70. The slides 64, 66, 68, 70 are parallel to each other and they are intended to be oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the motor vehicle.

[0067] The chassis 62 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a frame which will be described below.

[0068] On the other hand, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], a second electrically conductive wire 23 is installed in a sheath 25 closed on itself in a rectangle and around the chassis 62. The second conductive wire 23 forms contiguous turns. It is adapted to be supplied with electric current so as to be able to generate a magnetic field in particular in the zone delimited by the rectangular sheath 25.

[0069] According to the first embodiment, the current is alternating, and for example at high frequency. In this way, the light-emitting diodes operate continuously.

[0070] According to another embodiment, the electric current is continuous. And consequently, the light-emitting diodes can only operate when the closing members are in motion as will be explained below.

[0071] The chassis 62 is then slidably mounted inside a frame 76 as illustrated in [Fig.6]. The frame 76 is mounted in a fixed position at the rear of the wall 20, opposite its rear face 21.

[0072] The frame 76 has a lower crosspiece 78 and an opposite upper crosspiece 80, joined at their ends respectively by a right flange 82 and a left flange 84.

[0073] The chassis 62, equipped with its closing members 26, is then adapted to be driven in translation in the direction X of the motor vehicle by means of two electric jacks 88, 90, respectively connecting the flanges 82, 84 and the right and left uprights 60, 54.

[0074] We also find the rectangular sheath 25 equipped with the second conductive wire 23. The rectangular sheath 25 is then mounted in a fixed position relative to the frame 76.

[0075] As shown in [Fig.6], the frame 62 is supported against the wall 20 of the grille and all the closing members 26 are then engaged in the orifices 24 which they close. This is the situation of the closing members 26 and the wall 20 observed from the front in [Fig.2].

[0076] In such a situation, the passage of air is prohibited through the grille. On the other hand, as illustrated in [Fig. 6], all the electric wire windings 15 of all the closure members 26 are substantially located at right angles to the rectangular sheath 25 in which the current circulates.

[0077] Therefore, the magnetic field in which the electric wire windings are bathed 15 is maximum. In this way, when the electric current is variable, the inducing magnetic flux induces a maximum electric current in each of the electric wire windings 15 and therefore can cause maximum illumination of the light-emitting diode.

[0078] On the other hand, when it is necessary to free the orifices 24 of the wall 20 to allow the penetration of air, the two electric jacks 88, 90 are then controlled. They make it possible to drive the chassis 62 in translation relative to the frame 76 and also to the rectangular sheath 25, and towards the rear according to the arrow F.

[0079] The orifices 24 of the wall 20 are then released by the closing members 26 as illustrated in [Fig.7]

[0080] In this way, the electric wire windings 15 of all the closure members 26 are substantially spaced from the rectangular sheath 25. Consequently, the magnetic flux to which they are subjected is less significant and therefore, the electric current which circulates in the electric wire windings 15 is all the less so. Thus, the luminous intensity of the light-emitting diodes decreases.

[0081] Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain an advantageous optical effect.

[0082] Furthermore, as can be seen in [Fig. 6], an inverse optical effect could be obtained if the rectangular sheath 25 including the second conductive wire 23 were moved back. Indeed, the magnetic flux would then be maximum for the electric wire windings 15 if the chassis 62 were itself moved back, while it would be minimal if the chassis 62 were pressed against the wall 20.

[0083] If the electric current is continuous, according to the other embodiment, the light-emitting diodes 19 only light up when the closure members 26 are driven in movement between the two positions. The induced current is in fact produced by the variation of magnetic flux in the electric wire windings 15, caused by their movement alone.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle grille comprising: - a wall (20) having a rear face (21) opposite a front face (22) in the open air, and a plurality of orifices (24) made in said wall; - a plurality of closing members (26), the closing members being adapted to be carried between a first position in which they close each of the orifices (24) of said plurality of orifices and a second position in which they release each of the orifices of said plurality of orifices to allow the passage of air; characterized in that it further comprises a circuit for the passage of electric current installed around said plurality of closing members (26);and in that each of said shutter members (26) is equipped with a light-emitting diode (19) and an induced circuit (15) connected to said light-emitting diode, so that said electric current passage circuit remotely induces an induced electric current in said induced circuit (15) in order to be able to power the light-emitting diodes (19) and illuminate said shutter members (26).;

2. Motor vehicle grille according to claim 1, characterized in that said closing members (26) are made of a material capable of guiding light therethrough.

3. Motor vehicle grille according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said orifices (24) has an elliptical section, while each of said closing members (26) comprises a portion having a substantially ellipsoidal shape.

4. Motor vehicle grille according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said closing members (26) extends longitudinally from a front end (13) to a rear end (17), and in that said light-emitting diode (19) is installed at said rear end.

5. Motor vehicle grille according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said closing members (26) is covered with a protective strip (11), between said front end (13) and said rear end (17).

6. Motor vehicle grille according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said induced circuit (15) comprises a first conductive wire wound around the closure member (26).

7. Motor vehicle grille according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the intensity of said induced current varies between said two positions of said closing members (26).

8. Motor vehicle grille according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a frame (62) installed transversely opposite said rear face (21) of said wall (20), while said closing members (26) are mounted in a fixed position on said frame respectively opposite said orifices (24), and in that said frame is mounted movable in translation between a position close to said wall (20) and a position spaced from said wall, to be able to carry said closing members (26) in said first and second positions.

9. Motor vehicle grille according to claim 8, characterized in that said chassis (62) is slidably mounted inside a frame installed near said rear face (21) of said wall (20).

10. Motor vehicle grille according to claim 9, characterized in that said electric current passage circuit comprises a second conductive wire (23) wound around said frame.

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