Motor vehicle front air intake blanking module and motor vehicle including the air intake blanking module.

Abstract

Motor vehicle air inlet shutter module (10), said shutter module (10) comprising a frame (20) further comprising at least one through orifice (19) and a shutter assembly (11) comprising at least two flaps (12, 13) movable by pivoting about a common axis (14) between a shuttered position in which the through orifice (10) is shuttered by complementarity of said at least two flaps (12, 13), and an open position in which an airflow is able to pass through the through orifice (19), the shutter module (10) comprising an actuating device (100) for the shutter assembly (11), said actuating device (100) being movable between a position close to the frame (20) in which the shutter assembly (11) is in the shuttered position, and a position away from the frame (20) in which the shutter assembly (11) is in the open position. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle front air intake sealing module and motor vehicle comprising the air intake sealing module.

[0001] The present invention relates to a shutter module, and more specifically to a shutter module for a device for closing a front air intake of a motor vehicle comprising a system of controlled flaps. The present invention also relates to a front end of a vehicle comprising such a shutter device.

[0002] The front ends, also called front fascias or front grilles, of motor vehicles generally consist of one or more air inlets, for example, two air inlets symmetrical with respect to a vertical and longitudinal median plane of the vehicle, or for example, two air inlets arranged vertically one above the other, called upper air inlets and lower air inlets, separated, for example, by a bumper beam. Behind these air inlets are generally located heat exchangers for the motor vehicle, such as, for example, the one used for air conditioning the passenger compartment and / or the one used for engine cooling.

[0003] It is also known to provide, in the air path passing through the front air intakes of the vehicle, a shuttering device comprising a peripheral frame and a plurality of movable flaps pivoting around axes and capable of assuming a multitude of different angular positions, between an open position and a closed position, under the action of appropriate mechanical control and drive means. The various flaps are generally fixed to an axis driven in rotation by a geared device.

[0004] This results in a shuttering device similar to a louver, which allows adjustment of the airflow through the air intake and into the heat exchangers. This makes it possible to optimize the efficiency of these heat exchangers according to requirements by varying the amount of air they receive. Furthermore, at high speeds, the shutters in the closed position reduce the vehicle's drag coefficient, thereby improving its aerodynamics.

[0005] US2023085317 describes a shuttering device for a front of a vehicle comprising flaps arranged in horizontal rows arranged vertically one above the other, the control and drive means allowing sequential control of the position of the flaps by row between an open position and a closed position providing a shuttering of the front of the air inlets.

[0006] However, this type of shuttering device is not suitable for controlling the position of the shutters between an open and a closed position for each shutter sequentially relative to the others. Furthermore, this type of shuttering device is very difficult to integrate with a convex front face.

[0007] One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing an improved shuttering device allowing, with a simple mechanism, control of the opening and closing of the flaps relative to each other in a sequential manner, and this in particular for a front face, or front facade, of a vehicle with a convex shape.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle air intake closure module, comprising a frame defining a through orifice and a closure assembly having at least two movable flaps pivoting about a common axis, the closure assembly being movable between a closure position in which the through orifice is closed by complementarity of said at least two flaps, and an opening position in which an airflow is able to pass through the through orifice, the closure assembly having an actuating device, said actuating device being movable between a position close to the frame in which the closure assembly is in the closure position, and a position far from the frame in which the closure assembly is in the opening position.

[0009] The sealing module according to the invention further comprises at least one of the following features, taken alone or in combination: - The actuation device includes a rod connected by one of its two ends to the shutter assembly, the rod being movable in translation between a position close to the frame in which the shutter assembly is in the shutter position and a position far from the frame in which the shutter assembly is in the open position. - The actuation device further includes an actuator capable of driving the rod at least towards its position close to the frame. - The actuation device further includes a return means capable of driving the rod at least towards its position away from the frame. - The actuator has a cam in contact with the second end of the rod, so as to drive the rod towards its position closer to the frame. - The actuation device includes a rod translation guide device, - The guiding device is a body comprising a hollow orifice suitable for guiding the rod in translation between its near position and its far position, - The actuation device includes a linking element connecting the rod to at least the two flaps of the shutter assembly, - The connecting element is an elastic element linking the rod to at least the two flaps of the closure assembly, - The elastic element has a first end connected to at least one of the two flaps of the sealing assembly and a second end fixed to the first end of the rod, - The return mechanism is a return spring, - The retrieval mechanism is fixed at the level of the hollow opening of the device rod guide, - The actuator includes means for moving the cam along a direction of movement substantially perpendicular to the direction of translation of the rod. - The cam has a first flat face substantially perpendicular to the direction of translation of the rod, and a second inclined face having a first edge common with said first face and a second edge distant from the first edge, in the direction of movement of the rod away from the frame, the rod being in its position close to the frame when its second end is in contact with the first face, the rod being in its position far from the frame when the rod is in contact with the second face at the level of the second edge. In other words, the obturator assembly is in the obturator position when the stem is in contact with the first face, and the obturator assembly is in the open position when the stem is in contact with the second face at the second edge.

[0010] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle air intake closure device, said closure device comprising at least one closure module according to the invention.

[0011] The sealing device according to the invention further comprises at least one of the following features, taken alone or in combination: - The shutter device includes a peripheral frame defining a front face intended to be exposed to an incoming airflow. - The sealing device comprises a plurality of sealing modules according to the invention. - The shutter modules are arranged vertically one above the other and / or in one or more substantially horizontal rows. - The front face being a convex surface with respect to the incoming airflow. - The common axis of at least two shutter flaps of a shutter module is arranged in a direction substantially tangential to the front face, - The actuation devices of the successive shutter modules of the same row are capable of moving sequentially between a position close to their respective frame and a position far from their respective frame.

[0012] The sealing device according to the invention further comprises at least one of the following features, taken alone or in combination: - The shuttering device comprises at least two successive through modules of the same row, and said at least two shuttering modules each respectively comprising an actuation device and comprising an actuator common to said actuation devices. - The common actuator comprises a bar on which are fixed each of the at least two cams of the actuation devices of said at least two successive shutter modules. - The bar is able to move in such a way as to drive each cam in its direction of movement. - Each row of shutter modules includes an actuator common to the shutter modules of said row, - The actuator common to the shutter modules of the same row is a bar on which the cams are arranged opposite the rod of each through orifice. - The bar is able to move so as to drive each cam in its direction of movement, and the direction of movement of the bar substantially follows the orientation of the row. - The bar is driven in its movement by a rack and pinion type device and a motor. - The cams of two successive shutter modules in the same row are of identical shapes. - The cams of two successive sealing modules of the same row have an offset in their position relative to their respective rod according to the direction of movement of the cams. Thus, a movement of the bar in its direction of travel causes a first cam to act on a first rod, moving the first rod closer to or further from a first shutter assembly of a first shutter module, and causes a second cam to act on a second rod, moving said second rod closer to or further from a second shutter assembly of a second successive shutter module of the first shutter module within of the same row, the action of the second cam on the second rod being offset relative to the action of the first cam during the movement of the bar in its direction of movement, thus the movements of the sealing assemblies of two successive through orifices of the same row are carried out sequentially.

[0013] The sealing device according to the invention further comprises at least one of the following features, taken alone or in combination: - The offsets of the position of the cams relative to their respective rod of two successive obturating modules of the same row are equal in the direction of movement of the bar supporting said cams. - The offsets of the position of the cams relative to their respective rod of two successive through orifices of the same row follow a linear or geometric progression or according to any mathematical law. Thus, with a non-constant offset in the position of the cams of successive shutter modules in the same row, for a constant speed movement of the bar, the movements of the shutter assemblies between their opening and closing positions are carried out sequentially and will appear to be either accelerating or slowing down.

[0014] The invention also relates to a front face of a vehicle comprising a sealing device according to the invention. - The front panel also includes at least one of the following features, taken alone or in combination: The front face comprises two portions separated by a perpendicular plane. to said front face, each portion of the front face module comprising a closing device according to the invention.

[0015] The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising a front face according to the invention.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, among which: - [Fig.1] [Fig.1] shows a schematic representation of a front face of a vehicle comprising a sealing device according to the invention. - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows one according to a first embodiment. - [Dig.3] Figure [Fig.3] shows a partial representation of a device actuation; - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows a schematic representation along a section of two actuation devices for two successive shutter modules of the same row. - [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] shows a schematic representation representing by specifically a sealing module comprising an actuation device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0017] The identical elements on the different figures bear the same references.

[0018] 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. Simple features from different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0019] In this description the sealing module and its components are described in a situation assembled to a vehicle in running order.

[0020] We apply the following axis conventions:

[0021] In vehicle condition, in running order, - The Z-axis is vertical, oriented upwards, - The Y-axis represents the transverse direction of the vehicle; Y is oriented from the left to right, and, - The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, X is oriented from front to back.

[0022] As shown in [Fig. 1], the front face of the vehicle includes a motor vehicle air inlet closure device 1. The closure device 1 includes means for regulating the flow of air passing through it.

[0023] The through airflow is directed in a direction substantially parallel to the X axis when the vehicle is in running order.

[0024] The air inlet sealing device comprises a peripheral frame and at least one sealing module 10. As shown in [Fig. 1], by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, said sealing device 1 comprises a plurality of sealing modules 10 arranged in several substantially horizontal rows, one above the other vertically. In the example shown, the sealing modules 10 are arranged in several substantially vertical rows, one next to the other.

[0025] In other cases not shown, the sealing modules are arranged in rows along curved lines.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a module a sealing element 10 comprising a frame 20 defining a through orifice 19 suitable for the passage of an airflow.

[0027] This shutter module 10 comprises a shutter assembly 11 having at least two flaps 12, 13, movable by pivoting about a common axis 14. tively between a closed position, in which the through orifice 19 is closed by complementarity of at least two flaps 12, 13, and an open position, in which the incoming airflow can pass through the through orifice 19. In [Fig.2], the closed assembly 11 is in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position.

[0028] The axis 14 is fixed to the frame 20 (the fixing of the axis 14 to the frame 20 is not shown in [Fig.2]).

[0029] The shutter module 10 includes peripheral walls of the frame 20 on which the flaps 12 and 13 rest at least partially in the shutter position so as to achieve the sealing of the orifice through 19 to an airflow in the shutter position.

[0030] The shutter module 10 includes, located away from the frame 20, downstream of the orifice passing through in the direction of the airflow, an actuation device 100 movable between a position close to the frame 20 in which the two flaps 12 and 13 are in the shutter position, and a position far from the frame 20 in which the two flaps 12 and 13 are in the open position, thus allowing the airflow to pass through the orifice passing through 19.

[0031] The actuation device 100 includes a rod 101 connected to the shutter assembly 11. The rod 101 is arranged opposite the pivot axis 14 of the two flaps 12 and 13, the rod 101 defining a direction substantially aligned with the axis 14 according to the orientation of the airflow.

[0032] As represented in [Fig.2], the rod 101 is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction X of the motor vehicle and the rod 101 is movable in translation along the axis X between a position close to the frame 20 in which the sealing assembly 11 is in the closing position and a position far from the frame 20 in which the sealing assembly 11 is in the opening position.

[0033] The actuation device 100 includes a guide device 102 for translation of the rod 101. Preferably, the guide device 102 is fixedly connected to the frame 20.

[0034] The guide device 102 is a body comprising a hollow orifice suitable for guiding the rod 101 in translation between its position close to the frame 20 and its position far from the frame 20.

[0035] The guide device 102 includes, for example, a cylindrical opening into which the rod 101 is inserted, said cylinder allowing the rod 101 to slide without play within the cylinder. The guide device 102 is either made of metal or of a plastic-type material for weight reduction purposes.

[0036] In the first embodiment of the through orifice 10 shown in [Fig.2], the sealing assembly 11 comprises two flaps 12, 13 which have an axis common pivot 14. The common pivot axis 14 is fixed to the frame 20, for example to the peripheral walls of the frame 20.

[0037] The actuation device 100 further includes an elastic element 111 connecting the rod 101 to the obturator assembly 11.

[0038] The rod 101 has two ends. The end 101a is said to be the proximal end of the rod 101, being the end of the rod 101 that is closest to the obturation assembly 11. The elastic element 111 has at least one first end 111b, 111c fixed to at least one of the two flaps 12, 13.

[0039] The elastic element 111 has a second end 111a fixed to the end 101a of the rod 101.

[0040] In the example shown in [Fig.2], the elastic element 111 is an "alpha" shaped part. The ends of the free arms of the "alpha" 111b, 111c are fixed respectively to the flaps 13, and 12. The "loop" of the "omega" constitutes the end 111a which is fixed to the end 101a of the rod 101.

[0041] When the rod 101 moves in the positive X direction as shown in [Fig. 2], due to their elasticity, the free branches of the "alpha" constituting the elastic element 111 move closer together and the two flaps 12, 13 pivot around the axis 14. The free ends of the flaps 12 and 13, away from the axis 14, move and move closer together downstream of the axis 14 in the direction of the airflow so as to allow the airflow to flow through the orifice passing through 19. The free ends of the two flaps 12 and 13 have pivoted around their common pivot axis 14, during the recoil of the rod 101.

[0042] Fig. 2 illustrates an intermediate position of the two flaps 12 and 13 between the closed position and the open position of the two flaps 12 and 13. In the illustrated example, the rod 11 is arranged in an orientation parallel to the X axis.

[0043] The actuation device 100 further includes a return means capable of driving the rod 101 at least towards its position away from the frame 20.

[0044] The return means in one embodiment of the invention is a return spring (not shown in [Fig.2]) disposed at the level of the guide cylinder 102.

[0045] In another variant of the invention, the return means is a return spring, disposed at the pivot axis 14, for example a torsion spring.

[0046] Fig. 3 schematically represents in a section along a horizontal plane XY an actuation device 100 according to the invention.

[0047] The rod 101 has a first end 101a closest to the frame 20, and a second end 101b furthest from the frame 20.

[0048] The actuation device 100 further comprises an actuator 200 comprising a rigid bar 210 and a cam 201 fixed to the bar 210.

[0049] The cam 201 has two faces 202 and 203 intended to be in contact with the second end 101b of the rod 101.

[0050] The end 101b of the rod is able to be in contact with at least one of the faces 202, 203 of the cam 201. Under the action of the return means, the rod 101 is constantly in contact with one of the two faces 202, 203.

[0051] The face 203 of the cam 201 is such as shown as a flat face substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rod 101. When the end 101b of the rod 101 is in contact with the face 203, the sealing assembly 11 is in the sealing position closing the passage to the airflow through the orifice through 10.

[0052] The face 202 is a curved or flat surface having a first edge 202b common with the face 203.

[0053] The face 202 has a second edge 202a away from the edge 202b along the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0054] As shown in [Fig.3], the edges 202b, and 202a are oriented substantially along a vertical direction Z, and the face 202 is flat.

[0055] The second edge 202a is positioned further from the frame 20 than the first edge 202a. In other words, the edge 202a is further from the through-hole than the first edge 202b, and transversely distant from 202b in a direction perpendicular to the rod 101. The face 202 is arranged so that when the end 101b is in contact with the face 202 at the edge 202a, the rod 101, under the action of the return means, is in a position away from the frame 20 and the two flaps 12, 13 are in the open position.

[0056] The actuator 200 also includes means for moving (not shown) the bar 210, and therefore the cam 201 which is fixed to it, in the case shown along a transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0057] Under the action of the return means, the end 101b is in constant contact with one of the faces 202, 203.

[0058] When the end 101 is in contact with the face 202 between the edges 202b, 202a, the sealing assembly 11 is in an intermediate position between the sealing position and the opening position.

[0059] Figure 4 shows the actuation device 100 associated with a first shutter module, and a second actuation device 1100 associated with a second shutter module. The second shutter module is successive to the first shutter module in the same row of shutter modules.

[0060] A first cam 201 of the first actuation device 100 is disposed in contact with the end 101b of the rod 101 and a second cam 1201 is disposed in contact with the rod 1101b of the second actuation device 1110 associated with the second through orifice.

[0061] The first cam 201 and the second cam 1201 are of identical shape

[0062] The two rods 101 and 1101 are identical and transversely separated by a distance D, that is, in the direction of movement of the bar 210. The end 101b of rod 101 and the end 110b of rod 1101 are separated by the same distance from their respective frames and their respective shutter modules. The first cam 201 and the second cam 1201 are separated by a distance D+dy. The offset dy can be positive or negative.

[0063] In this embodiment, the first cam 201 and the second cam 1201 are fixed on the same bar 210, rigid and movable in the transverse direction Y. Thus, when the bar 210 is moved in the transverse direction, the movement of the rod 1101 is similar to the movement of the rod 101, with a time lag due to the geometric lag dy.

[0064] In one embodiment of the invention, the sealing modules 10 are arranged, as in the example of [Fig. 1], in substantially horizontal rows, one above the other. A row of the sealing device 1 comprises a succession of sealing modules 10 arranged transversely and spaced from each of its successive neighbors by a distance D.Each shutter module 10 includes an actuation device having a rod located in the direction of the airflow by the same distance from the frame of the shutter module and located transversely by a distance D from the rod of the actuation device of the successive shutter module. Each cam of the actuation device of a shutter module being located transversely by a slightly different distance, for example the distance D plus an offset, from the cam of the actuation device of the successive shutter module, the cams being fixed on the same rigid bar 210, a displacement of the bar 210 in the transverse direction causes a displacement of the rods of the respective actuation devices of two successive through orifices with a time offset due to the geometric offset.Since the cams are fixed on the same bar 210, a movement of the bar 201 from one point to another causes a movement of the actuation means of the through orifices of the same row between a closed position and an open position in a sequential manner.

[0065] In another embodiment of the invention, schematically represented in [Fig. 5], a shutter module 910 comprises a frame 920 and a shutter assembly 911 comprising two flaps 912 and 913 pivoting about a common axis 914. The shutter module 910 further comprises an actuation device 9100 comprising a rod 9101 capable of moving in a translational motion, approaching or moving away from the frame 920, the rod 9101 being fixed by its first end 9101a to the axis 914. The flaps 912, 913, respectively, each comprise at least one end 912a, 913a, distant from the pivot axis 914, secured to slide on a portion 9124 of the frame 920.

[0066] The actuation device further includes an actuator (not shown in [Fig.5]) capable of driving the rod 9101 in translation at least towards its position close to the frame 920 in which the sealing assembly is in the sealing position.

[0067] The actuation device 9100 further comprising a return means (not shown) capable of driving the rod 9101 to at least one position away from the frame 920 in which the shutter assembly is in the open position.

Claims

Claims

1. A motor vehicle air intake closure module (10), said closure module (10) comprising a frame (20) further comprising at least one through-orifice (19) and a closure assembly (11) comprising at least two flaps (12, 13) pivotably movable about a common axis (14) between a closure position in which the through-orifice (10) is closed by complementarity of said at least two flaps (12, 13), and an open position in which an air flow is able to pass through the through-orifice (19), the closure module (10) comprising an actuating device (100) for actuating the closure assembly (11), said actuating device (100) being movable between a position close to the frame (20) in which the closure assembly (11) is in the closed position, and a position remote from the frame (20) in which the shutter assembly (11) is in the open position.

2. Shutter module (10) according to the preceding claim in which the actuating device (100) comprises a rod (101) connected by a first end (101a) to the shutter assembly (11) and movable in translation between a position close to the frame (20) in which the shutter assembly (11) is in the shutter position and a position distant from the frame (20) in which the shutter assembly (11) is in the open position.

3. Shutter module (10) according to the preceding claim in which the actuating device (100) comprises an actuator (200) capable of driving the rod (101) at least towards the position close to the frame (20).

4. Shutter module (10) according to the preceding claim in which the actuating device (100) comprises a return means capable of driving the rod (101) at least towards the position remote from the frame (20).

5. Shutter module (10) according to claim 4 wherein the actuator (200) further comprises a cam (201) in contact with a second end (101b) of the rod (101) so as to drive the rod (101) towards its position close to the frame (20).

6. Shutter module (1) according to the preceding claim in which the actuator (200) comprises means for moving the cam (201) in a direction of movement substantially perpendicular to the direction of translation of the rod (101).

7. A sealing device (1) comprising a plurality of sealing modules (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

8. A sealing device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the sealing modules (10) are arranged vertically above each other and / or in one or more substantially horizontal rows.

9. Device (1) for closing according to the preceding claim in which the actuating devices of the successive closing modules of the same row are capable of moving sequentially between a position close to their respective frame and a position far from their respective frame.

10. A sealing device (1) according to the preceding claim comprising a peripheral frame defining a front face intended to be exposed to the incoming air flow, the front face being a surface of convex shape with respect to the incoming air flow.

11. A closure device (1) according to claim 10 comprising a closure module (10) in which the common axis (14) of the two flaps (12, 13) of said closure assembly (11) of said closure module (10) is arranged substantially tangentially to the front face.

12. Vehicle front panel module comprising a closing device (1) according to one of claims 7 to 11.

13. Vehicle comprising a front end module shutter module according to claim 12.

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