Device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle, said device comprising one or more flaps (14) which can be oriented to modulate a circulation of said air flow through said device, said device comprising a light emitter (20) from said flap(s) (14), said emitter (20) comprising at least one light source (22) powered by an electric current and capable of emitting a light beam, said light source(s) (22) being movable with said flaps (14). Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle

[0001] The invention relates to a device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle.

[0002] In this field, front faces of motor vehicles are known, comprising grilles allowing a passage for an air flow under the hood of the vehicle while blocking projectiles which could be dangerous, such as stones or gravel. It is also known to provide the front faces with a device for controlling said air flow in order to be able to open or close the passage, or even to control the flow rate more precisely.

[0003] Devices have already been proposed in this sense, comprising a frame and a set of adjustable blades articulated in rotation on said frame to modulate the circulation of said air flow through said device as a function of an angular orientation of said blades. It has also already been proposed to make such devices luminous in order to enrich their appearance and / or their functionalities.

[0004] However, optical coupling must be carried out between the articulated blades and an optical source located on the frame in order to have blades offering a luminous appearance. Such coupling presents many difficulties.

[0005] The invention aims to at least partially overcome the above drawbacks and to this end proposes a device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle, said device comprising one or more adjustable flaps for modulating a circulation of said air flow through said device, said device comprising a light emitter from said flap(s), said emitter comprising at least one light source powered by an electric current and capable of emitting a light beam, said light source(s) being movable with said flap(s).

[0006] By providing the light source(s) directly at the level of the shutter(s), it is no longer necessary to manage the light conduction with a fixed light source.

[0007] According to various additional characteristics of the invention, which may be taken together or separately in any technically possible combination and which form as many embodiments of the invention: - said light source(s) comprise a light-emitting diode, - each of said shutters comprises a plurality of said light sources, - said light sources are regularly distributed along said light source(s) each of the said sections, said shutter(s) comprise a body having an opening for the passage of light, said body defines a housing for said source(s), said shutter(s) comprise a window arranged across said opening so as to be traversed by light, said glass is formed from a diffuser in order to homogenize the light emitted by the shutter(s) from said beam(s), said light source(s) are located between said body and said glass, said light source(s) are kept at a distance from said glass, said light source(s) are fixed to a support, the said light source(s) are glued to the support, said support comprises a support strip, said support strip is rigid, said shutter(s) comprise a first electrical power supply circuit for said light source(s). said support strip comprises said first electrical circuit, said device comprises a frame having at least one passage for said flow in a flow direction, said armature comprises a second electrical supply circuit for said first circuit(s), said flap(s) comprise a flexible cable electrically connecting said first circuit(s) to said second power supply circuit, said flap(s) are configured to modulate the circulation of the air flow through said passage, said flaps are articulated in rotation around respective axes of rotation, the circulation of the air flow passing through said device being a function of an angular orientation of said flaps, said flexible cable passes along the axis of rotation of the corresponding shutter to be connected to said second circuit, said flap(s), in particular said body, have an articulation pin provided with a passageway for said flexible cable, said pin extends axially along said axis of rotation, said device has a stop of said glass against said body, said shutter(s) further comprise a seal between said body and said glass, said device is configured so that said abutment allows compression of said seal, - said glass is fixed on said body by a snap-fastening, in a snap-fastening direction, to obtain said stop, - said body comprises a connecting member, defining said opening, and a cover attached to said connecting member, - said cover is snapped onto said connecting member, - said glass is sandwiched between said connecting member and said cover so that said abutment takes place against an internal face of said connecting member, - said seal is located between said cover and said glass, - said cover has a bottom plate and lateral sides extending from said bottom plate parallel to the snap-in direction, - at least one of said lateral sides is provided with snap hooks, - said connecting member has a skirt extending substantially parallel to said snap direction, - said skirt is provided with holes for introducing said hooks, - said seal is sandwiched between a free edge of said lateral sides and a internal face of said ice, - said body defines a shoulder surrounding said housing, said shoulder defining a bearing surface for said abutment, - said body has two opposite parallel longitudinal edges, said edges defining surfaces for said support, - said seal is located on the periphery of said housing, - said seal is annular, - said seal is reported, - said support strip is attached to said body, - said support strip is mechanically fixed to said body, - said support strip is snapped onto said body.

[0008] The invention also relates to a vehicle front end comprising such a device.

[0009] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the detailed explanatory description which follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings among which:

[0010] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates in perspective an example of a device of control of an air flow according to the invention,

[0011] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates in perspective an exploded view of a first embodiment of a shutter of the device according to [Fig.l],

[0012] [Fig.3] illustrates schematically in perspective according to a section plane transverse the flap of the previous figure, in assembled mode,

[0013] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates in perspective an exploded view of a second embodiment of a shutter of an air flow control device according to the invention,

[0014] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates in perspective an exploded view of a third embodiment of a shutter of an air flow control device according to the invention.

[0015] It should first be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. encountered in the following are only used to distinguish the components concerned from each other and do not indicate either an order or a possible importance of said components.

[0016] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the invention relates to a device for controlling an air flow. It is in particular intended to equip a front face of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Said front face is optionally configured so that said device is placed behind a grille of said vehicle.

[0017] The illustrated device advantageously comprises a frame 2 having at least one passage 4 for said flow in a flow direction, marked X, intended to correspond, where appropriate, to a direction of movement of the equipped vehicle. The direction of circulation of said flow is indicated by the direction of the arrow. It is intended to be opposite to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

[0018] Said device further comprises one or more adjustable flaps 14 for controlling the circulation of said air flow through said passage(s) 4.

[0019] In the illustrated example, said passages 4 are two in number and each is provided with a plurality of said flaps 14. Said flaps 14 are here three in number in the or each of said passages. Said passages 4 are placed, for example, one next to the other in a plane perpendicular to the flow direction X. Said frame 2 further comprises here a central window 5 for the passage of the air flow, without adjustable flaps.

[0020] As illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5, said flaps 14 are advantageously articulated in rotation, for example around respective axes of rotation 16, the circulation of the air flow passing through said device being a function of an angular orientation of said flaps. More precisely, the rotation of the flaps makes it possible to have a modulation of a circulation section of said air flow through said passage(s) 4 as a function of the angular orientation of said flaps 14.

[0021] Said device comprises a light emitter 20 from said shutter(s) 14. Said device thus makes it possible to present to the eye a luminous appearance, which is moreover variable according to the orientation of the shutters 14 which could have a functional and / or aesthetic utility. Said emitter 20 comprises at least one light source 22 powered by an electric current and capable of emitting a light beam, ice

[0022] According to the invention, said light source(s) 22 are movable with said shutters. In other words, said light source(s) are part of and are located on the shutters 14. It is thus not necessary to have to manage light conduction with a fixed light source which would be linked to the frame 2.

[0023] The light beams emitted by each of said diodes are, in particular, of the same color. Alternatively, they are of different colors, for example per shutter. Other color configurations are of course possible while remaining within the scope of the invention.

[0024] Each of said flaps 14 here comprises a plurality of said light sources 22. They are advantageously regularly distributed along said or each of said flaps 14.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiments, said flaps 14 define a housing 18 accommodating said light source(s) 22. Said flaps 14 here comprise for this purpose a body 24 having an opening 26 for the passage of light. Said body 24 has an elongated configuration along the axis of rotation 16 of the flaps 14. Said body 24 and / or said opening 26 are, for example, substantially rectangular. Said body 24 is provided with articulation flanks 28 located here at the level of opposite longitudinal ends of said body 24.

[0026] Said articulation flanks 28 are provided, for example, with a rotational articulation pin 30. Said articulation pins 30 extend axially along said rotation axes 16. Said articulation flanks 28 are further provided here with a rotational drive lug 32, located radially at a distance from said articulation pin 30.

[0027] Said device further comprises one or more actuators 34 (visible [Fig.l]) making it possible to move the flaps 14 according to the desired orientation. They are configured to move said drive lugs 32, directly and / or by means of intermediate linkage members, not visible in the figures, so as to cause the rotation of the flaps 14 around their axis of rotation 16.

[0028] The said flap(s) 14 comprise a glass 36 arranged across the said opening 26 so as to be crossed by the light coming from the emitter 20. By "glass", this is not a reflective member but, as in vehicle optics, a member formed from a material allowing light to pass through. A particular embodiment proposes that the glass be replaced by a translucent cover.

[0029] Advantageously, said glass 36 is formed of a diffuser in order to homogenize the light emitted by the shutter(s) 14 from said beam(s). In other words, said glass is configured so that the luminous appearance given off by the or each of the shutters is substantially uniform over its entire surface. In other words, said glass is configured so that a more or less punctual appearance of a beam emitted by one of the light sources is attenuated. For this, said glass 36 is formed, for example, of a material allowing diffusion of light in the thickness of said glass 36 so as to spread the beam of light coming from the light source(s) 22 between one of the faces of the glass 36 receiving said beam and an opposite face emitting the light towards the outside.

[0030] Said light source(s) 22 are located, for example, between said body 24 and said glass 36. Said light source(s) 22 are preferably kept at a distance from said glass 36.

[0031] According to the illustrated embodiments, said light source(s) 22 are fixed to a support, in particular a support strip 38. Said support strip 38 is located in said housing 18.

[0032] Said support strip 38 is advantageously rigid. It may in particular be a printed circuit board on which said light-emitting diodes are fixed and to which they are electrically connected. Said light source(s) 22 are, for example, glued to the support.

[0033] More broadly, said shutter(s) 14 comprise a first electrical power supply circuit for said light source(s) 22. Said support strip 38 comprises said first electrical circuit.

[0034] Said armature 2 comprises a second electrical power supply circuit for said first circuit(s). Said second circuit is connected to a current power supply source and / or an electronic control member for controlling the power supply of said light sources 22 so as to turn them on or off depending on selected input parameters.

[0035] To electrically connect said first circuit(s) to said second power supply circuit, said shutter(s) comprise a cable 40 electrically connecting them. Said cable 40 is connected to said support strip 38 at one of its longitudinal ends. Here, it passes along the axis of rotation 16 of the corresponding shutter to be connected to said second circuit. Said cable 40 is advantageously flexible so as to be able to undergo a twist corresponding to the angular movement of the shutter(s) 14. It should be noted in this regard that the angular movement of the shutters 14 is a back-and-forth movement between two opposite end-of-travel positions, one closed and the other open, this making it possible to successively twist and untwist said cable 40.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiments, said articulation pins 30 have a light 42 for passage of said cable 40. Said light is preferably made watertight so as to prevent moisture from penetrating into said housing 18.

[0037] Preferably, said device has a stop of said glass 36 against said body 24. For this, here, said glass 36 is fixed on said body 24 by shape cooperation, in particular by snap-fastening, in a snap-fastening direction. Another particular embodiment proposes that said glass 36 is fixed to said body 24 by gluing.

[0038] The said flap(s) 14 further comprise a seal 44 between the said body 24 and the said glass 36. The said device is preferably configured so that the said abutment allows compression of the said seal 44. This contributes to the sealing of the housing 18. A particular example proposes that the seal comprises silicone.

[0039] According to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, said body 24 comprises a connecting member 50, defining said opening 26, and a cover 52 attached to said connecting member 50. Said cover 52 is snap-fastened onto said connecting member 50, in particular in said snap-fastening direction. Said housing 18 is defined by said cover 52 and closed by said connecting member 50 taken in combination with said glass 36.

[0040] More precisely, here, as is more clearly shown in [Fig. 3], said glass 36 is sandwiched between said connecting member 50 and said cover 52 and said abutment of said glass 36 against said 24 takes place against an internal face 54 of said connecting member 50. Said seal 44 is located and put under pressure between said cover 52 and said glass 36. Said glass 36 is therefore not directly between said connecting member 50 and said cover 52 but between said connecting member 50 and the seal 44.

[0041] Said articulation flanks 28 are located on said connecting member 50, at two opposite longitudinal ends of the latter.

[0042] Said cover 52 has, for example, a bottom plate 58 and lateral sides 60 extending from said bottom plate parallel to the snap-on direction. At least one, or even all of said lateral sides 60 of the cover 52 are provided with snap-on hooks 62 (see [Fig.2]). The hooks 62 are preferably regularly distributed along a free edge 64 of said cover 52, more particularly of said lateral sides 60.

[0043] Said connecting member 50 has a skirt 66 extending substantially parallel to said snap-fastening direction. Said skirt 66 is provided with orifices 67 for introducing said hooks 62.

[0044] Said glass 36 is advantageously flat. Said snap-on direction is, for example, substantially perpendicular to said glass 36.

[0045] Said seal 44 is sandwiched between the free edge 64 of said lateral sides 60 and an internal face 68 of said glass 36. It is annular and / or located at the periphery of said housing 18. Said seal 44 and the opening 26 are concentric. Said seal 44 is attached. In other words, it is independent of the body 24 and the glass 36.

[0046] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], said body 24 is formed from a single piece. Said housing 18 is formed hollow in said body 24. The latter defines a first shoulder 70 surrounding said housing 18 in the upper part of the latter. Said first shoulder 70 defines a bearing surface for said abutment according to the invention. Here it has an annular bottom wall 72 defining said bearing surface, and a side wall 74 extending from said bottom wall 72.

[0047] Said glass 26 is configured to come into contact with said first shoulder 70, this being done by a periphery of the internal face 68 of said glass 26. The latter is advantageously flat. Said snap-fastening direction is, for example, substantially perpendicular to said glass 36.

[0048] Said glass 26 is fixed to said body 24 by shape cooperation, for example by snap-fastening of tabs 76 provided in continuity of material of a peripheral edge of said glass 36 and of flexible blades 78 provided in notches on said body 24. Said blades 78 and said notches are located along the side wall 74, advantageously provided parallel to said snap-fastening direction. Said blades 78 are configured to flex under the action of said tabs 76 during assembly in order to allow snap-fastening.

[0049] Said seal 44 is positioned in a second shoulder formed in said bottom wall 72 of the first shoulder 70. Said seal 44 is annular and / or located on the periphery of the upper part of said housing 18. Said seal 44 and the opening 26 are concentric. Said seal 44 is attached. In other words, it is independent of the body 24 and the glass 36.

[0050] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5], said body 24 is again formed from a single piece. Said housing 18 is formed, for example, by combining the shape of said body 24 and said glass 36. For this, said glass 26 is provided to be curved. Here it has two transverse walls 82, located at its opposite longitudinal ends and / or intended to cooperate with the articulation flanks 28 of said body 24 by being located opposite each other so as to form a sealed contact, if necessary.

[0051] Said body 24 has two first opposite parallel longitudinal edges 84. Here they connect said articulation flanks 28. Said first edges 84 define surfaces for said support according to the invention.

[0052] Said glass 26 has two second opposite parallel longitudinal edges 86. They connect the transverse walls 82. Said second edges 86 are intended to bear on said first edges 84.

[0053] Said body 24 and said glass 26 have at their first and second edges 84, 86 a groove and a mounting rib, here made of material. Said mounting rib is housed in said groove, for example by snap-fastening, in said snap-fastening direction, and / or by force so as to form a sealed contact, where appropriate.

[0054] According to the different embodiments illustrated, said support strip 38 is attached to said body 24, for example mechanically, in particular crimped and / or en- clicked, advantageously according to said click direction.

[0055] According to the embodiment of figures 1 to 3, said support strip 38 is located in said cover 52. In the embodiment of [Fig.4], it is located at the level of the bottom wall 72. In the embodiment of [Fig.5], it is located in said body 24, between said first edges 84 while being held by holding ribs 88, made from the material of said body 24 and / or extending longitudinally.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for controlling an air flow, in particular for the front of a motor vehicle, said device comprising one or more flaps (14) which can be oriented to modulate a circulation of said air flow through said device, said device comprising a light emitter (20) from said flap(s) (14), said emitter (20) comprising at least one light source (22) powered by an electric current and capable of emitting a light beam, said light source(s) (22) being movable with said flaps (14).

2. Device according to the preceding claim in which said light source(s) (22) comprise a light-emitting diode.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said shutter(s) (14) comprise a body (24) having an opening (26) for the passage of light, said shutter(s) further comprising a glass (36) arranged across said opening (26) so as to be traversed by light.

4. Device according to the preceding claim in which said glass (36) is formed of a diffuser in order to homogenize the light emitted by the shutter(s) (14) from said beam(s), said light source(s) (22) being kept at a distance from said glass (36).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said light source(s) (22) are fixed to a support, said support comprising a support strip (38).

6. Device according to the preceding claim in which said support strip (38) is rigid.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said shutter(s) (14) comprise a first electrical power supply circuit for said light source(s) (22), said device comprising a frame (2) having at least one passage (4) for said flow in a flow direction (X), said frame (2) comprising a second electrical power supply circuit for said first circuit(s), said shutter(s) (14) comprising a flexible cable (40) electrically connecting said first circuit(s) to said second power supply circuit.

8. Device according to the preceding claim in which said flaps (14) are articulated in rotation around respective axes of rotation (16), the circulation of the air flow passing through said device being depending on an angular orientation of said flaps (14), said cable (14) passing along the axis of rotation of the corresponding flap (14) to be connected to said second circuit.

9. Device according to the preceding claim in which the said flap(s) (14) have a pin (30), in particular the said body, provided with a passageway for the said cable (40), the said articulation pin (30) extending axially along the said axis of rotation (16).

10. A vehicle front end comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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