Vehicle air intake closure device

Abstract

Vehicle Air Intake Closing Device The invention relates to a vehicle air intake closing device (100), comprising a frame (1) and a closing flap (4a, 4b) mounted pivotally about an axis (xa, xb), the closing device (100) comprising means for actuating the closing flap (4a, 4b), comprising at least one carriage (2) capable of moving parallel to the pivot axis (xa, xb) of the closing flap (4a, 4b), and a connecting means (3a, 3b) comprising a first joint connected to the carriage (2) and a second joint connected to a portion (46a, 46b) of the closing flap (4a, 4b), the portion (46a, 46b) of the closing flap (4a, 4b) being located at a distance of the pivot axis (xa, xb) of the shutter flap (4a, 4b). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle air intake closure device

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of mechanics and thermal regulation devices, and more specifically concerns a sealing device for a vehicle air intake, on the front face thereof.

[0002] Vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles, are commonly equipped on their front end with an air intake fitted with a ventilation grille, designed to allow airflow through it. This airflow is used, for example, to exchange heat with a front-mounted heat exchanger, which is part of an air conditioning, cooling, or heating system. Such a vehicle frequently includes a system for controlling this airflow, commonly referred to by the English acronym AGS for "Active Grille Shutter." This system makes it possible, in particular, to increase the aerodynamic efficiency when the engine does not require cooling by an external airflow, thereby reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

[0003] The airflow control system generally consists of a grille in which passages are provided to allow the airflow to pass through. The system also includes one or more controlled shutters so as to allow or prevent the passage of the airflow through the passages provided in the grille, in particular to reduce the air penetration coefficient when the shutters prevent the passage of the airflow.

[0004] The shutter flaps, generally rectangular, are mounted on one or more shafts driven in rotation by an actuator such as an electric motor, the shafts being positioned horizontally and parallel to the grille. The shutter flaps are arranged so that when the motor rotates the shafts a quarter turn, the shutter flaps move from a position parallel to the vehicle's grille, thus preventing the passage of airflow, to a horizontal position, thus allowing the passage of airflow. A small number of flaps, for example four flaps, is therefore sufficient to close the entire grille, using a limited number of shafts and actuators.

[0005] This implementation, however, is not applicable to a curved grid, as it requires a multitude of small shutters and just as many shafts, not all of which are parallel to each other. This necessitates the use of many more actuators than with a flat grid, or a complex coupling system between the shafts on the one hand and a small number of actuators on the other. In general, the Multiplying the number of shutters on the ventilation grille increases the complexity and cost of the associated airflow control system. Consequently, car manufacturers are limited in the design of air vents, whether it's to precisely manage the airflow through the vent, to give the vehicle an aesthetic appearance, or to reinforce its brand identity. This can notably include a specific sequence for opening the shutter flaps when the vehicle is started.

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a closing device for an air intake of a vehicle, the opening mechanism of the closing flaps of which allows in particular a great design flexibility in the form of an air vent barring the air intake, and a multiplication of these closing flaps, without disproportionate additional cost of the airflow control system passing through it, compared to known designs of airflow control systems.

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes a closing device for an air intake of a vehicle, comprising a frame configured to delimit a passage allowing an airflow to pass through it, and at least one closing flap mounted pivoting about an axis, the closing device comprising means for actuating at least one closing flap, capable of moving the closing flap from a first position in which the closing flap prohibits the passage of the airflow to a second position in which the closing flap allows the passage of the airflow, the closing device being characterized in that the actuating means comprise at least one carriage capable of moving parallel to the pivot axis of the closing flap, and a connecting means comprising a first articulation connected to the carriage and a second articulation connected to a part of the closing flap,the part of the shutter flap being distant from the pivot axis of the shutter flap.

[0008] The actuation means are also suitable for moving the shutter flap from the second position to the first position, for example to increase the vehicle's aerodynamic drag coefficient while driving.

[0009] The shutter flap is, for example, rectangular, triangular, or hexagonal. When the shutter device comprises several shutter flaps, the frame forms, for example, a ventilation grille whose openings are complementary in shape to those of the shutter flaps, which may be of different shapes. Alternatively, the frame forms a single opening sealed only by the shutter flaps.

[0010] The carriage is capable of moving parallel to the pivot axis of the shutter flap, in the sense of "substantially parallel," that is, with a tolerance of a few degrees. In this application, an axis refers, unless otherwise specified, to an axis around which a shutter flap pivots. It is understood that during movement of the carriage, it pushes on or pulls the shutter flap, via the connecting means, so as to pivot it around its pivot axis towards the first or second position.

[0011] The invention allows for several shutters to pivot around as many axes forming a curved line from one end of the frame to the other, without multiplying the actuators. Indeed, since the carriage moves parallel to the pivot axis of a shutter, a single actuator can move all the carriages, each associated with a shutter, along the curved line formed by the pivot axes of the shutters. Each carriage moves only along a small portion of the curved line, which can be considered straight. This actuator is, for example, capable of moving each of the carriages in translation by means of a rod.

[0012] Thanks to the invention, the curved surface of the frame is embraced by a multitude of shutter flaps forming as many facets cutting this curved surface, these shutter flaps being controlled by one or more carriages whose translational movements are carried out by a single actuator, without a complex coupling device between these carriages and the actuator.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the shutter comprises a base and a panel, and the connecting means is a connecting rod connected on one side to the carriage by a ball joint and on the other side to the panel of the shutter by a ball joint.

[0014] The base defines the pivot axis of the shutter or surrounds this pivot axis. The base and the panel, for example, form a single molded part made of polymer material and are connected by a film hinge, i.e., a thin layer of material allowing the panel to pivot relative to the base. The base can then be an integral part of the frame. Alternatively, the base is a sleeve to which the panel is attached and houses a shaft through which the panel's pivot axis passes. In this variant, the sleeve is fixed to the shaft, which rotates in bearings fixed to the frame, or it rotates around the shaft, which is fixed to the frame.

[0015] Furthermore, the shuttering device according to the invention includes means for driving the carriage, parallel to the pivot axis of the shutter flap. Driving the carriage parallel to the pivot axis of the shutter flap allows the shutter flap to be opened or closed, depending on the direction of movement of the carriage parallel to the pivot axis.

[0016] The carriage drive means comprise, for example, a rod on which a helical thread is arranged, and an actuator capable of rotating the rod, the carriage having a tapped hole complementary to the helical thread. When the helical thread is in the tapped hole of the carriage, the rotational movement of the rod drives the carriage in translation, which rotates the shutter flap.

[0017] The shuttering device according to the invention preferably comprises several shuttering flaps. For example, the shuttering device according to the invention comprises at least one row of at least two shuttering flaps, the shuttering flaps of the row being mounted pivoting around the same or more axes, the shuttering device comprising a carriage and a means of connecting each shuttering flap of the row, the shuttering device comprising the same drive means for moving each carriage parallel to its pivoting axis.

[0018] When the shutters in the row are mounted to pivot around several distinct axes, they are aligned along a curved line so as to follow the shape of the frame. The row can extend from one end of the frame to the other. In this case, to move all the carriages actuating the shutters in the row in translation, a curved rod or cable can be used instead of a threaded rod. Thus, the curved rod or cable also follows the shape of the frame and allows all the shutters to be opened simultaneously. Preferably, there is a carriage associated with each shutter in the row, each carriage being fixed to the threaded rod or cable, which reduces the overall size of the device in a direction orthogonal to the frame.

[0019] When the shutter flaps of the row are mounted to pivot about the same axis, the actuation means may consist of the threaded rod and the actuator mentioned above. When the frame is curved, the row sharing this rod extends, for example, only over a portion of the frame, which can be considered a flat portion.

[0020] When the sealing flaps of the row share the same pivot axis, the rod extends along the pivot axis and includes, for example, a helical thread for each sealing flap of the row, the helical threads being separated from each other by unthreaded areas.

[0021] According to an optional and advantageous feature of the shutter device according to the invention, at least two of the helical threads have helical pitches of distinct lengths. Thus, when the actuator rotates the rod, a carriage moving on the helical thread with the larger pitch of the two helical threads will travel a distance faster on that helical thread, parallel to the pivot axis of a shutter flap to which it is connected, than another carriage traveling the same distance on the other of the two helical threads. parallel to the pivot axis of another shutter to which this other carriage is connected. As a result, the shutter connected to the carriage moving on the helical thread with the larger pitch will move more quickly from the first position to the second position, and vice versa, than the other shutter connected to the other carriage moving on the other of the two helical threads, assuming of course that the connecting rods associated with each shutter are of the same length, which simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the shutter device.

[0022] Thus one of the shutter flaps will close or open after the other of the shutter flaps, which makes it possible to sequence the closing or opening of the shutter flaps, so as for example to close or open first the shutter flaps of a middle area of ​​the frame, then the shutter flaps of the other areas of the frame.

[0023] It should be noted that the unthreaded areas allow the translational movement of one of the carriages to be stopped when the other carriage has not yet completed its travel. Therefore, when the shutter flaps open or close synchronously, these areas are not necessary. When one of the carriages is in an unthreaded area, it is necessary to re-engage that carriage on its thread to rotate the shutter flap to which it is connected.

[0024] To this end, the carriage drive means further comprise at least one priming device configured to prime one of the carriages on one of the helical threads. This priming device comprises, for example, a spring held compressed against the carriage when the latter enters an unthreaded area, and a spring release means, activated when movement of the carriage towards the helical thread it has just left is required.

[0025] Furthermore, the shuttering device according to the invention can use the same carriage to open two shutter flaps close to each other, by arranging several connecting rods on this carriage.

[0026] For example, the shuttering device according to the invention comprises at least a first shuttering flap and a second shuttering flap configured to move from the first position to the second position by pivoting in different directions of rotation around distinct and parallel axes, the actuation means of the first and second shuttering flap comprising the same carriage capable of moving parallel to the pivot axes of the first and second shuttering flaps, a first articulated linkage means connecting the carriage to a part of the first shuttering flap, distant from the pivot axis of the first shuttering flap, and a second articulated linkage means connecting the carriage to a part of the second shuttering flap, distant from the pivot axis of the second shuttering flap.

[0027] This pooling of drive means can also be associated with the use of the same rod for the shutter flaps of the same row. In this case, the shuttering device according to the invention comprises a row of first shutter flaps and a row of second shutter flaps, arranged symmetrically in pairs of a first shutter flap and a second shutter flap, configured to move from the first position to the second position by pivoting in different directions of rotation around distinct and parallel axes, the actuation means for each pair of a first and a second shutter flap comprising the same carriage capable of moving parallel to the pivot axes of the first and second shutter flaps, a first articulated linkage means connecting the carriage to a part of the first shutter flap, distant from the pivot axis of the first shutter flap,and a second articulated linkage connecting the carriage to a portion of the second shutter flap, located away from the pivot axis of the second shutter flap, the shutter device comprising the same drive means capable of moving each carriage of a pair of a first shutter flap and a second shutter flap parallel to their pivot axes.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0029] [Fig-1] illustrates in perspective a shuttering device according to the invention, in a method of embodiment of the invention,

[0030] [Fig.2] is a front view of part of the shuttering device of [Fig.1],

[0031] [Fig.3] is a rear view of part of the shutter device of [Fig.1],

[0032] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of three shutter flaps of the shuttering device of the [Fig. 1], in the closed position, and of the actuation mechanism of these three flaps, and

[0033] [Fig.5] is another schematic representation showing the three flaps of [Fig.4] in position open, as well as the actuation mechanism of these three flaps.

[0034] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], a shuttering device 100 according to the invention for an air intake of a vehicle comprises a frame 1 forming a ventilation grille having openings that can be closed by trapezoidal shuttering flaps 4a and 4b. Alternatively, other shapes are of course conceivable for the shuttering flaps 4a and 4b. The shuttering flaps 4a and 4b are, for example, each formed from a single molded piece of synthetic polymer. In this embodiment of the invention, all the shuttering flaps 4a, 4b of frame 1 are identical, but of course as a variation they can be made differently from each other.

[0035] The sealing device 100 is represented as positioned on a front face of the vehicle, a longitudinal direction X being directed from the rear to the front of the vehicle, a transverse direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X being directed towards the right of the vehicle, and a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y pointing towards the top of the vehicle.

[0036] It thus appears that the frame 1 extends in length in the transverse direction Y, in height in the vertical direction Z and in thickness along the longitudinal direction X. The frame 1 has a curved shape towards the interior of the vehicle, when viewed in section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y.

[0037] The arrangement of the shutter flaps 4a and 4b is more perceptible in the view of [Fig.2], which shows that the frame 1 has six rows rl to r6 of shutter flaps 4a or 4b extending in the transverse direction Y, from one end of the frame 1 to a second end of the frame 1. Each row rl to r6 has shutter flaps 4a or 4b pivoting in the same direction of rotation around an axis respectively xa or xb, this direction of rotation being represented by arrows near each shutter flap 4a or 4b in [Fig.2].

[0038] The shutter flaps 4a are capable of pivoting from a first position in which the shutter flaps 4a prohibit the passage of the airflow to a second position in which the shutter flaps 4a permit the passage of the airflow, by rotating clockwise with respect to the transverse direction Y, and are called first shutter flaps 4a.

[0039] The shutter flaps 4b are capable of pivoting from the first position to the second position by rotating counterclockwise with respect to the transverse direction Y, and are called second shutter flaps 4b.

[0040] The frame 1 forming a grid, the axes xa, xb around which the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b are able to pivot, are materialized by rotation shafts fixed solidly to the shutter flaps 4a, 4b and rotating in bearings of the frame 1, located in portions of the frame joining two of the openings of the grid.

[0041] Alternatively, the shafts on which the shutter flaps 4a, 4b are mounted are fixed rigidly to the frame, the shutter flaps 4a, 4b rotating around these shafts. In another embodiment, the shutter flaps 4a, 4b are fixed by their bases to the frame 1 and have film hinges forming the pivot axes xa, xb.

[0042] A first row rl of the frame 1, located at an upper vertical end of the frame 1, comprises second shutter flaps 4b, mounted on shafts mounted for rotation on the upper vertical end of the frame 1, for example clipped into bearings on it.

[0043] A second row r2 of the frame 1, arranged under the first row rl, includes first shutter flaps 4a, the openings of the first shutter flaps 4a of the second row r2 interposing each between two openings of the second shutter flaps 4b of the first row rl.

[0044] A third row r3 of the frame 1, arranged under the second row r2, comprises second shutter flaps 4b, each of these second shutter flaps 4b of the third row r3 being arranged symmetrically to a first shutter flap 4a of the second row r2, with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to their respective axes xa, xb of pivoting.

[0045] A fourth row r4 of the frame 1, arranged under the third row r3, includes first shutter flaps 4a, the openings of the first shutter flaps 4a of the fourth row r4 interposing each between two openings of the second shutter flaps 4b of the third row r3.

[0046] A fifth row r5 of the frame 1, arranged below the fourth row r4, comprises second shutter flaps 4b, each of these second shutter flaps 4b of the fifth row r5 being arranged symmetrically to a first shutter flap 4a of the fourth row r4, with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to their respective axes xa, xb of pivoting.

[0047] Finally, a sixth row r6 of frame 1, arranged under the fifth row r5, includes first shutter flaps 4a, the openings of the first shutter flaps 4a of the sixth row r6 interposing each between two openings of the second shutter flaps 4b of the fifth row r5.

[0048] The second row r2 and the third row r3 form a pair pl of rows of first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b whose pivot axes xa, xb are brought close together, which allows the means of actuation of these first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b to be shared.

[0049] Similarly, the fourth row r4 and the fifth row r5 form a pair p2 of rows of first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b whose pivot axes xa, xb are brought close to each other.

[0050] It should be noted that the means for actuation of the shutter flaps 4a, 4b of frame 1 are not shown in figures 1 and 2.

[0051] Figure 3 shows part of the actuation means associated with a first shutter 4a of the second row r2 and a second shutter 4b of the third row r3, this second shutter 4b being arranged symmetrically to the first shutter 4a of the second row r2 with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to the respective axes xa, xb of pivoting of this first panel 4a and this second panel 4b.

[0052] These actuation means comprise a carriage 2 capable of moving parallel to the respective pivot axes xa, xb of the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b, a first connecting rod 3a linking the carriage 2 to the first shutter flap 4a, and a second connecting rod 3b linking the carriage 2 to the second shutter flap 4b. The first connecting rod 3a is a first articulated linkage means connecting the carriage 2 to a portion of the first shutter flap 4a, located away from the pivot axis xa of this first shutter flap 4a, and the second connecting rod 3b is a second articulated linkage means connecting the carriage 2 to a portion of the second shutter flap 4b, located away from the pivot axis xb of this second shutter flap 4b.

[0053] More specifically, each first or second shutter flap 4a, 4b comprises a respective base 44a, 44b, and a respective trapezoidal panel 42a, 42b. In this embodiment of the invention, each base 44a, 44b forms a sleeve fixed rigidly to a shaft representing the pivot axis xa, xb of the corresponding shutter flap 4a, 4b. These shafts are rotatably mounted in bearings located in the frame 1.

[0054] The first connecting rod 3a forms a bar, one end of which has a spherical head mounted in a support 46a of the panel 42a of the first obturation flap 4a. This support 46a forms a cage in which the spherical head can rotate without detaching from the panel 42a, and is arranged in a distal portion of the panel 42a relative to the base 44a of the first obturation flap 4a. More precisely, this distal portion is located in the last third of the distance between the base 44a and an end of the panel 42a opposite this base 44a. Furthermore, the orthogonal projection of the distal portion onto the base 44a lies in a median portion of the base 44a. A second end of the bar formed by the first connecting rod 3a also has a spherical head, mounted in a support fixed to the carriage 2, this support not shown being similar to the support 46a of the panel 42a.

[0055] Similarly, the second connecting rod 3b forms a bar, one end of which has a spherical head mounted in a support 46b of the panel 42b of the second shutter flap 4b. This support 46b forms a cage in which the spherical head can rotate without detaching from the panel 42b, and is arranged in a distal portion of the panel 42b relative to the base 44b of the second shutter flap 4b. More precisely, this distal portion is located in the last third of the distance between the base 44b and an end of the panel 42b opposite this base 44b. Furthermore, the orthogonal projection of the distal portion onto the base 44b lies in a median portion of the base 44b. A second end of the bar that forms the second connecting rod 3b, also has a spherical head, mounted in a support fixed to the carriage 2, this support not shown being similar to the support 46b of the panel 42b.

[0056] The carriage 2 has, on the one hand, a threaded sleeve 24 through which a threaded rod 5 passes, and on the other hand, a plate 22 extending from the sleeve 24 outwards from the frame 1. The threaded rod 5 is fixed free to rotate to the frame 1, for example, on either side of the bases 44a, 44b in the transverse direction. This rod 5 extends substantially transversely and is arranged vertically between the respective pivot axes xa and xb of the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b. The supports for the spherical heads at the second ends of the connecting rods 3a and 3b are formed in the plate 22 at a free end of the plate 22, on the side of the plate 22 opposite the sleeve 24. The carriage 2 is, for example, formed from a single piece of synthetic polymer.

[0057] The tapping in the sleeve 24 is complementary to a helical thread 52 arranged on the threaded rod 5, so that the sleeve 24 can be moved on this thread 52 when the threaded rod 5 is driven in rotation by an actuator, not shown.

[0058] In this [Fig.3], the first panel 4a and the second panel 4b are shown in the closed position, and the sleeve 24 of the carriage 2 is located along the median parts of the respective bases 44a, 44b of the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b. In this way, the first connecting rod 3a and the second connecting rod 4a are oriented substantially orthogonally to the respective bases 44a, 44b of the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b, and thus maintain angles close to 90 degrees between the plate 22 of the carriage 2 and the panel 42a of the first shutter flap 4a as well as between the carriage 2 and the panel 42b of the second shutter flap 4b.

[0059] This first position of the first and second shutter flaps 4a and 4b, in closing the frame 1, is maintained by immobilizing the threaded rod 5, by the actuator.

[0060] It is understood that by moving the carriage 2 along the thread 52, the angle between, on the one hand, each first or second shutter flap 4a, 4b, and on the other hand, a plane orthogonal to the frame 1 passing through the rod 5, decreases, which corresponds to an opening of the first and second shutter flaps 4a, 4b. It should be noted that since the supports of the spherical heads at the second ends of the connecting rods 3a, 3b are offset transversely from each other at the free end of the panel 22, one of the connecting rods 3a, 3b is slightly longer than the other, so that the first and second shutter flaps 3a, 3b are open or closed at the same angle with respect to the frame 1 for a given position of the carriage 2. Alternatively, the connecting rods 3a, 3b are articulated at the same transverse level of the free end of the panel 22, and are of the same length.

[0061] In one embodiment of the invention, the thread 52 runs along the entire threaded rod 5 and serves for the synchronized opening and closing of several shutter flaps 4a, 4b on each of the second and third rows r2 and r3, this embodiment of course using a carriage 2 for each pair of a first shutter flap 4a and a second shutter flap 4b as well as two connecting rods arranged on this carriage 2, identical to the carriage 2 and the connecting rods 3a, 3b as described above.

[0062] However, in the main embodiment of the invention, the thread 52 is used for opening and closing a pair of first and second shutter flaps 4a and 4b only, and is positioned on the threaded rod 5, opposite the first and second shutter flaps 4a and 4b when these are in their second position, i.e., open. The thread 52 is extended on either side of its ends by an unthreaded area 54, 56.

[0063] Figure 4 illustrates more precisely the arrangement of different threads 52, each specific to a distinct pair of a first and a second shutter flap 4a, 4b on the threaded rod 5. Figure 4 shows three pairs of a first and a second shutter flap 4a, 4b in the closed position. Each pair of shutter flaps is provided with its own actuating means, which are a carriage 2 and connecting rods 3a, 3b identical to the actuating means described above.

[0064] The carriage 2 of the first pair of a first and second shutter flap 4a, 4b, to the left of [Fig.4], is mounted on a very tight pitch 52-1 thread.

[0065] The carriage 2 of the second pair of a first and second shutter flap 4a, 4b, in the middle of [Fig.4], is mounted on a thread 52-2 of average pitch, strictly larger than the pitch of the thread 52-1.

[0066] Finally, the carriage 2 of the third pair of a first and second shutter flap 4a, 4b, to the right of [Fig.4], is mounted on a thread 52-3 with a large pitch, strictly larger than the pitch of the thread 52-2.

[0067] Each thread 52-1, 52-2, 52-3 is of the same linear length, that is to say, covers the same distance parallel to the axis of the rod 5.

[0068] The arrow to the right of [Fig.4] indicates the rotational movement of the rod 5 as achieved by the actuator.

[0069] Fig. 5 now shows the relative positions of the different shutter flaps 4a, 4b presented previously in Fig. 4, after a rotation of several turns of the rod 5, this number of turns being sufficient for the shutter flaps 4a, 4b of the third pair to be completely open, but insufficient for the shutter flaps 4a, 4b of the first and second pairs to be completely open.

[0070] Indeed, the pitch of the 52-3 thread is sufficiently large that this number of turns made has caused the carriage 2 of the third pair to move by a distance d, forcing the connecting rods 3a, 3b articulated on this carriage 2 to fully open the first and second flaps 4a, 4b of the third pair.

[0071] However, the pitch of the thread 52-2 is not large enough for the number of turns made to cause the carriage 2 of the second pair to move the distance d. As a result, the connecting rods 3a, 3b articulated on this carriage 2 are less folded against this carriage 2 than the connecting rods 3a, 3b articulated on the carriage 2 of the third pair, and the first and second flaps 4a, 4b of the second pair are therefore not completely open.

[0072] Similarly, the pitch of the thread 52-1 is not large enough for the number of turns made to cause the carriage 2 of the first pair to move the distance d. The connecting rods 3a, 3b articulated on this carriage 2 are even less folded against this carriage 2 than the connecting rods 3a, 3b articulated on the carriage 2 of the second pair, and the first and second flaps 4a, 4b of the first pair are therefore even less open than those of the second pair.

[0073] The three pairs of shutter flaps 4a, 4b of [Fig. 5] will therefore be fully open after a number of turns corresponding to the number of turns of the thread 52-1 of the first pair. The opening of these three pairs of shutter flaps 4a, 4b thus occurs sequentially. Symmetrically, when the actuator rotates the rod 5 in the opposite direction, the closing of the three pairs of shutter flaps 4a, 4b also occurs sequentially.

[0074] Furthermore, when one of the carriages 2 reaches the end of its travel, such as carriage 2 of the third pair of shutter flaps 4a, 4b in [Fig. 5], it risks disengaging from its thread 52. Therefore, priming devices 6 are provided, here arranged here between two helical threads 52. Each priming device 6 is configured to prime a carriage 2 brought against this priming device 6, on the helical thread 52 associated with the carriage 2. Each priming device 6 includes, for example, a spring that remains compressed during the opening sequences of the shutter flaps 4a, 4b, and as long as the shutter flaps 4a, 4b are held open, and a mechanism for releasing the spring at the beginning of a closing sequence of the shutter flaps 4a, 4b.

[0075] The priming device 6 is then configured so that a carriage 2 at the end of its travel is within range of the action of the spring of this priming device 6, such as the carriage 2 of the third pair of shutter flaps 4a, 4b as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0076] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0077] In particular, as an alternative, each row of first or second shutter flaps 4a, 4b has actuation means distinct from those of the other rows. In this alternative, a carriage actuates only one first or second shutter flap 4a, 4b and is therefore articulated to only one connecting rod. Furthermore, this alternative uses a separate threaded rod for each row of first or second shutter flaps 4a, 4b.

[0078] Finally, the characteristics of the different variants of embodiment of the invention envisaged in this application can be combined to carry out the invention, insofar as these variants are not incompatible with each other.

Claims

Demands

1. A shuttering device (100) for an air intake of a vehicle, comprising a frame (1) configured to delimit a passage allowing an airflow to pass through it, and at least one shuttering flap (4a, 4b) mounted pivotally about an axis (xa, xb), the shuttering device (100) comprising means for actuating at least one shuttering flap (4a, 4b), capable of moving the shuttering flap (4a, 4b) from a first position in which the shuttering flap (4a, 4b) prevents the passage of the airflow to a second position in which the shuttering flap (4a, 4b) allows the passage of the airflow, the shuttering device (100) being characterized in that the actuating means comprise at least one carriage (2) capable of moving parallel to the pivot axis (xa, xb) of the shutter flap (4a, 4b), and a connecting means (3a,3b) comprising a first joint connected to the carriage (2) and a second joint connected to a part (46a, 46b) of the shutter flap (4a, 4b), the part (46a, 46b) of the shutter flap (4a, 4b) being distant from the pivot axis (xa, xb) of the shutter flap (4a, 4b).

2. A shuttering device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the shuttering flap (4a, 4b) comprises a base (44a, 44b) and a panel (42a, 42b), and wherein the connecting means (3a, 3b) is a connecting rod linked on one side to the carriage (2) by a ball joint and on the other side to the panel (42a, 42b) of the shuttering flap (4a, 4b) by a ball joint.

3. A shuttering device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising means for driving the carriage (2), parallel to the pivot axis (xa, xb) of the shuttering flap (4a, 4b).

4. A sealing device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the carriage drive means (2) comprise a rod (5) on which a helical thread (52) is arranged, and an actuator capable of driving the rod (5) in rotation, the carriage (2) having a complementary tapping of the helical thread (52).

5. A shuttering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one row (rl, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6) of at least two shuttering flaps (4a, 4b), the shuttering flaps (4a, 4b) of the row (rl, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6) being mounted pivoting around the same or more axes (xa, xb), the shuttering device (100) comprising a carriage (2) and a linking means (3a, 3b) per shuttering flap (4a, 4b) of the row (rl, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6), the shuttering device comprising the same drive means to move each carriage (2) parallel to its pivoting axis (xa, xb).

6. A shuttering device (100) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the shuttering flaps (4a, 4b) of the row share the same pivot axis (xa, xb), the rod (5) extends along the pivot axis (xa, xb) and has a helical thread (52) per shuttering flap (4a, 4b) of the row (rl, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6), the helical threads (52) being separated from each other by unthreaded areas (54, 56).

7. A sealing device (100) according to claim 6, wherein at least two of the helical threads (52) have helical pitches of distinct lengths.

8. A sealing device (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the carriage drive means (2) further comprise at least one priming device (6) configured to prime one of the carriages (2) on one of the helical threads (52).

9. A shuttering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least a first shuttering flap (4a) and a second shuttering flap (4b) configured to move from the first position to the second position by pivoting in different directions of rotation about distinct and parallel axes (xa, xb), the actuating means for the first and second shuttering flaps (4a, 4b) comprising a single carriage (2) capable of moving parallel to the pivot axes (xa, xb) of the first and second shuttering flaps (4a, 4b), a first articulated connecting means (3a) linking the carriage to a portion (46a) of the first shuttering flap (4a), located away from the pivot axis (xa) of the first shuttering flap (4a), and a second articulated connecting means (3b) linking the carriage (2) to a portion (46b) of the second shutter flap (4b), distant from the pivot axis (xb) of the second shutter flap (4b).

10. A shuttering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a row (r2, r4, r6) of first shuttering flaps (4a) and a row (rl, r3, r5) of second shutter flaps (4b), arranged symmetrically in pairs of a first shutter flap (4a) and a second shutter flap (4b), configured to move from the first position to the second position by pivoting in different directions around distinct and parallel axes (xa, xb), the actuation means for each pair of a first and a second shutter flap (4a, 4b) comprising a single carriage (2) capable of moving parallel to the pivot axes (xa, xb) of the first and second shutter flaps (4a, 4b), a first articulated connecting means (3a) linking the carriage (2) to a portion (46a) of the first shutter flap (4a), located away from the pivot axis (xa) of the first shutter flap (4a), and a second articulated connecting means (3b) linking the carriage (2) to a portion of the second flap shutter (4b), distant from the pivot axis (xb) of the second shutter flap (4b),the shuttering device (100) comprising a single drive means capable of moving each carriage (2) of a pair of a first shuttering flap (4a) and a second shuttering flap (4b) parallel to their pivot axes (xa, xb).

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