Driving vane for active grille shutter device

Abstract

To provide an active grille shutter device that facilitates and simplifies the assembly of the active grille shutter device comprising the driving vane for an operator, while ensuring the robustness of the active grille shutter device and the assembly method of the device.SOLUTION: A driving vane for mounting on an active grille shutter device with an actuator, linkage and follower vanes, includes: a connection portion for mounting on the actuator; and a lever for cooperating with the linkage in order to transmit a movement of the driving vane to at least one follower vane. The driving vane is made integral.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive vane configured to be attached to an active grill shutter apparatus, and to an active grill shutter apparatus including such a drive vane. [Background technology]

[0002] Active grill shutter systems use controlled shutters or vanes to control and regulate airflow to improve a vehicle's aerodynamic and thermal performance.

[0003] An actuator with built-in electronics controls the opening and closing of the shutters. When air conditioning is needed, the electronics control the opening of the vanes to improve temperature. Conversely, if engine coolant temperature allows, the system closes the vanes to reduce noise and fuel consumption.

[0004] Current active grill shutter devices include a drive vane configured to be attached to an actuator, a linkage adapted to interact with the drive vane and a number of follower vanes, and a frame configured to receive the drive vane and the actuator forming a subassembly such that motion imparted to the drive vane by the actuator drives each of the follower vanes via the linkage.

[0005] However, the assembly process of current active grill shutter devices is complicated by the fact that workers cannot see the drive vanes of the active grill shutter device being inserted into the frame and into the actuator because the drive vanes are obscured by the linkage during insertion. This can lead workers to make mistakes that could damage the actuator of the active grill shutter device. Additionally, this increases the cycle time it takes for a worker to assemble the active grill shutter device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] There is therefore a need to make it easy and simple for an operator to assemble an active grill shutter apparatus with actuated vanes while ensuring the robustness of the active grill shutter apparatus and method for assembling the apparatus.

[0007] In accordance with the objects and advantages described herein, a drive vane is configured for attachment to an active grill shutter (AGS) device. The drive vane comprises: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; and the drive vane is integrally formed.

[0008] Thanks to the present invention, the number of parts forming the drive vane is reduced, which makes the drive vane easier to manufacture and reduces the cycle time required to assemble the active grill shutter device, thus reducing the cost of such manufacture. Also, the reduced number of parts in the drive vane allows for increased robustness of the drive vane.

[0009] The lever and connecting portion allow the drive vane to be visible to an operator while it is being assembled to the actuator, for example to form a subassembly which can then be inserted into the frame of the active grill shutter apparatus, thus reducing the risk of damaging the actuator during the assembly process of the active grill shutter apparatus.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the drive vane is a single molded piece.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the lever of the drive vane has a hook configured to interact with a bridge portion of the linkage.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the hook is a U-shaped hook.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the coupling portion includes teeth configured to mate with holes in the actuator.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the drive vane includes a blade connected to a lever by a rod.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the blade comprises: - The back part, a ventral portion having a plurality of ribs forming a honeycomb structure; It is equipped with:

[0016] The present invention also relates to a drive vane configured for attachment to an active grill shutter apparatus, the drive vane comprising: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; Equipped with The lever of the drive vane has a hook configured to interact with a linkage.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the hook is configured to interact with a pin of the linkage.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the pin forms a bridge portion between two flanges of the linkage.

[0019] The present invention also provides - an actuator configured to have assembled thereto a drive vane configured to be attached to the active grill shutter device; a drive vane configured to be assembled to the actuator; The present invention relates to a subassembly comprising: a coupling part configured to be attached to an actuator; - a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transfer movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; Equipped with The drive vanes are integrally formed.

[0020] The present invention also provides - an actuator configured to have assembled thereto a drive vane configured to be attached to the active grill shutter device; a drive vane configured to be assembled to the actuator; The present invention relates to a subassembly comprising: a coupling part configured to be attached to an actuator; - a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transfer movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; Equipped with The lever of the drive vane has a hook configured to interact with the linkage.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the actuator includes a bore having a complementary shape to the connecting portion of the drive vane.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, the hole is rotatable by a motor of the actuator.

[0023] The present invention also relates to an active grill shutter device, the active grill shutter device comprising: - a subassembly, an actuator configured to have a drive vane assembled thereto that is configured to be attached to the active grill shutter apparatus; 1. A drive vane configured to be assembled to an actuator, comprising: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; a drive vane having a subassembly having an integrally formed drive vane; - a linkage adapted to interact with a lever of the driving vane and a driven vane; a frame configured to receive the subassembly; It is equipped with:

[0024] The present invention also relates to an active grill shutter device, the active grill shutter device comprising: - a subassembly, an actuator configured to be assembled to a drive vane configured to be attached to the active grill shutter apparatus; 1. A drive vane configured to be assembled to an actuator, comprising: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; a drive vane having a subassembly comprising: a lever of the drive vane having a hook configured to interact with the linkage; - a linkage adapted to interact with a lever of the driving vane and a driven vane; a frame configured to receive the subassembly; It is equipped with:

[0025] The drive vanes may be molded together with the follower vanes in the same mold.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage includes a pin configured to interact with the lever.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the pin forms a bridge portion between two flanges of the linkage.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage is movable between two extreme positions corresponding to a fully open position of the active grill shutter device and a closed position of the active grill shutter device.

[0029] Interaction between the pin and the lever allows the linkage to move between two extreme positions.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage includes a slit configured to expose a bridge portion of the linkage and a lever of the drive vane.

[0031] According to one aspect of the present invention, the slit is a rectangular slit.

[0032] According to one aspect of the present invention, the frame comprises: - two side walls connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; - an intermediate portion bridging the upper and lower walls and between the two side walls to create two openings on either side of said intermediate portion; Equipped with - Each opening is configured to receive a set of vanes, only one of the sets of vanes including a drive vane.

[0033] According to one aspect of the present invention, the vane grouping comprises: - Drive vanes, and / or - a plurality of driven vanes; Contains:

[0034] The active grill shutter device allows the actuator to drive at least two groups of vanes located on either side of the actuator (or a middle portion) while reducing the cost of the device and the cost of assembling the device.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage is configured to connect to all of the driven vanes.

[0036] In other words, only one linkage is required for all the driven vanes.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage includes two connecting side walls, each connecting side wall being connected to a follower vane.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two connecting side walls are parallel to each other.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage includes a bottom wall between two connecting side walls to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, a rectangular slit is formed in the bottom wall of the linkage.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom wall is flat.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate portion includes at least a vane cover configured to partially cover the follower vane and at least one of the follower vanes.

[0043] According to one aspect of the present invention, the follower vane comprises: - a first end configured to interact with the intermediate portion; a second end configured to interact with the linkage; Contains:

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the follower vane includes a plate on one of the sides of the follower vane, the plate including the first end and the second end of the follower vane.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the first end has a larger dimension than the second end.

[0046] According to one aspect of the invention, the connecting sidewall includes a plurality of holes, each hole configured to receive a second end of a follower vane.

[0047] According to one aspect of the invention, the drive vane includes an end configured to interact with one of the side walls of the frame.

[0048] In yet another possible embodiment, the intermediate portion is symmetrical about the two side walls such that the two openings have the same dimensions.

[0049] In an additional possible embodiment, the intermediate portion is asymmetric with respect to the two side walls such that the two openings have different dimensions.

[0050] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate portion includes two connecting side walls, each connecting side wall being connected to a follower vane.

[0051] According to one aspect of the invention, one of the connecting side walls includes a rod holder configured to receive a rod of the drive vane.

[0052] According to one aspect of the present invention, the rod holder is a U-shaped rod holder.

[0053] According to one aspect of the invention, the connecting sidewall includes apertures, each aperture configured to receive a first end of a follower vane and a connecting portion of a drive vane.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two connecting side walls are parallel to each other.

[0055] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate portion has a roof portion between two interlocking side walls to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0056] According to one aspect of the invention, the frame includes at least one opening configured to receive an electrical connection of an actuator of a subassembly.

[0057] According to one aspect of the invention, the opening is oriented in the direction of the longest length of the intermediate portion.

[0058] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage is integrally formed.

[0059] According to one aspect of the invention, the linkage is a molded part.

[0060] According to one aspect of the invention, the actuator is attached to a middle portion of the frame.

[0061] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling an active grill shutter apparatus, the apparatus comprising: - a subassembly, an actuator configured to be assembled to a drive vane configured to be attached to the active grill shutter apparatus; 1. A drive vane configured to be assembled to an actuator, comprising: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; a drive vane having a subassembly having an integrally formed drive vane; - a linkage adapted to interact with a lever of the driving vane and a driven vane; a frame configured to receive the subassembly; It is equipped with The method comprises: - forming a subassembly comprising an actuator and a drive vane; - mounting the subassembly into a frame of the active grill shutter apparatus; It is equipped with:

[0062] Thanks to the present invention, the assembly process is made simpler and more cost effective.

[0063] According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises: - mounting the actuator subassembly into the frame; It further comprises:

[0064] According to one aspect of the invention, the actuator is mounted into the frame by screwing.

[0065] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling an active grill shutter apparatus, the apparatus comprising: - a subassembly, an actuator configured to be assembled to a drive vane configured to be attached to the active grill shutter apparatus; 1. A drive vane configured to be assembled to an actuator, comprising: a coupling portion configured to be attached to an actuator; a lever configured to interact with a linkage of the active grill shutter apparatus to transmit movement of the drive vane to at least one driven vane; a drive vane having a subassembly comprising: a lever of the drive vane having a hook configured to interact with the linkage; - a linkage adapted to interact with a lever of the driving vane and a driven vane; a frame configured to receive the subassembly; It is equipped with The method comprises: - forming a subassembly comprising an actuator and a drive vane; - mounting the subassembly into a frame of the active grill shutter apparatus; It is equipped with:

[0066] In the following description, several embodiments of a drive vane, an active grill shutter device, and a method for assembling an active grill shutter device are shown and described. As should be appreciated, the drive vane, device, and method may all be in different and different embodiments, and several details thereof are capable of modification in various obvious aspects, without departing from the drive vane, device, and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

[0067] It should be noted that all the above-mentioned features and configurations are merely exemplary. Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which some embodiments are given by way of example only, and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0068] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a front end portion of a motor vehicle equipped with an active grill shutter device; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the rear side of the active grill shutter device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front, top perspective view of the active grill shutter device of FIG. 2; [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing side cross sections of various parts at the rear of the active grill device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view with side cross-sections of each part at the front side of the active grill device. [Figure 7] 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for assembling an active grill shutter device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] In the various figures, identical elements are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0070] The following embodiments are illustrative. Although the specification refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference refers to the same embodiment or that the features only apply to a single embodiment. Individual features of the various embodiments can be combined or substituted to create other embodiments.

[0071] FIG. 1 shows in a side cross-sectional view an active grill shutter device 2 arranged at the front end of a motor vehicle 4 for closing an air intake against an air flow F. The air flow F flows approximately parallel to a direction X corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 4. The active grill shutter device 2 is arranged in particular behind a grill 6 fitted at the front end of the motor vehicle 4. Behind the grill 6, a cooling module 8 is also arranged, which comprises at least one heat exchanger 11, 12. It is intended that the air flow F passes through the at least one heat exchanger 10, 12 as it enters the motor vehicle 4 through the grill 6. The heat exchanger or exchangers 10, 12 extend in a plane parallel to the plane generated by the directions Y and Z of the trihedron XYZ. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cooling module 8 in particular comprises two heat exchangers 10 and 12 arranged downstream of the active grill shutter device along the axis X.

[0072] The cooling module 8 comprises, for example, an upstream heat exchanger 10 (left side in FIG. 1 ), which is upstream with respect to the flow direction of the air flow F, and a downstream heat exchanger 12 (right side in FIG. 1 ), which are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle 4. In this particular arrangement, the air flow F passes first through the upstream heat exchanger 10 and secondly through the downstream heat exchanger 12.

[0073] The upstream heat exchanger 10 is for example a radiator, called a low-temperature radiator, which serves to cool the coolant in a heat exchange loop, called a low-temperature loop, which in particular comprises an air-conditioning condenser and / or a charge air cooler. The downstream heat exchanger 12 is for example a high-temperature radiator intended to cool the coolant in a heat exchange loop including the engine of the vehicle 4. The air passing through this downstream heat exchanger 12 cools the engine coolant.

[0074] 2-6, an active grill shutter apparatus 2 is shown comprising a subassembly 14 and a frame 16 configured to receive the subassembly 14.

[0075] The subassembly 14 includes an actuator 18 configured to assemble with a drive vane 20 configured to be attached to the active grill shutter apparatus 2. The subassembly 14 further includes a drive vane 20 configured to assemble with the actuator 18.

[0076] The drive vane 20 is integrally formed and comprises a connecting portion 22 configured to be attached to the actuator 18, and a lever 24 configured to interact with a linkage 26 of the active grill shutter device 2 to transmit the movement of the drive vane 20 to the seven follower vanes 28. The term "integrally" means that the drive vane 20 is a single piece and is not formed by two separate elements connected to each other. For example, the drive vane 20 can be integrally formed by manufacturing the entire vane 20 at once in a dedicated injection mold. The connecting portion 22 can include teeth 90 configured to mesh with toothed holes 91 of the actuator 18.

[0077] The lever 24 of the drive vane 20 has a U-shaped hook 30 configured to interact with the linkage 26 .

[0078] The linkage 26 is adapted to interact with the lever 24 of the drive vane 20 and each of the follower vanes 28 .

[0079] 2-3, details of frame 16 are shown.

[0080] 3, which shows the front side of the active grill shutter apparatus 2, the frame 16 includes two side walls 32 connecting an upper wall 34 to a lower wall 36, and a middle portion 38 bridging the upper wall 34 and the lower wall 36. The actuator 18 is attached to the middle portion 38 of the frame 16.

[0081] The intermediate portion 38 resides between the two side walls 32 to create two openings 40 on either side of the intermediate portion 38. Each opening 40 is configured to receive a vane collection 120 including a driver vane 20 and a number of follower vanes 28. Only one of the vane collections 120 includes a driver vane 20. The vane collection 120 includes three follower vanes 28 and a driver vane 20. The other vane collection 120 includes four follower vanes 28.

[0082] The frame 16 includes an opening 42 configured to receive an electrical connection 44 of the actuator 18 of the subassembly 14. The opening 42 is oriented along the longest length of the intermediate portion 38.

[0083] The intermediate portion 38 includes a vane cover 50 arranged to partially cover the drive vane 20 and each follower vane 28 .

[0084] Referring to FIG. 3, the intermediate portion 38 is symmetrical about the two side walls 32 such that the two openings 40 have the same dimensions.

[0085] In one possible embodiment, not shown, the intermediate portion 38 can be asymmetric with respect to the two side walls 32 such that the two openings 40 have different dimensions.

[0086] Thanks to the present invention, the number of parts forming the drive vane 20 is reduced. As a result, the drive vane 20 can be manufactured more easily and the cycle time required to assemble the active grill shutter device 2 is reduced, thus reducing the cost of such manufacturing. Also, the reduced number of parts in the drive vane 20 allows the drive vane 20 to be more robust.

[0087] The presence of the lever 24 and the connecting portion 22 allows the drive vane 20 to be visible to an operator while it is being assembled to the actuator 18. For example, the drive vane 20 may be assembled to the actuator 18 to form a subassembly 14 which may then be inserted into the frame 16 of the active grill shutter apparatus 2. In this way, the risk of damaging the actuator 18 during the assembly process of the active grill shutter apparatus 2 is reduced.

[0088] The presence of the lever 24 allows the drive vane 20 to be fitted to an actuator 18 that is not configured to directly interact with the coupling portion 22. In other words, a coupling is provided between the actuator 18 (with its output shaft) and the drive vane 20 (starting shaft) through which all torque is transferred to the drive vane 20. The lever 24 (arm portion) is then integrated with the drive vane 20 (starting shaft) to transmit this torque to the remainder of the drive vane 20 via the linkage 26.

[0089] The active grill shutter device 2 allows the actuator 18 to drive two groups of vanes 120 located on either side of the actuator 18 while reducing the cost of the device 2 and the cost of assembling the device 2.

[0090] The driver vanes 20 may be molded together with each of the follower vanes 28 in the same mold.

[0091] 4, there is shown details of subassembly 14 including drive vane 20. Drive vane 20 includes a blade 52 connected to lever 24 by rod 53. Blade 52 includes a dorsal portion 54 and a ventral portion 56 having a plurality of ribs 58 forming a honeycomb structure. Drive vane 20 includes an end portion 59 configured to interact with one of the side walls of frame 16.

[0092] 5 and 6, the linkage 26 and lever 24 are shown in greater detail.

[0093] The linkage 26 includes a pin 60 that is configured to interact with the lever 24. The pin 60 forms a bridge portion between two flanges 62 of the linkage 26. The linkage 26 is an integrally formed, molded part.

[0094] The linkage 26 is movable between two extreme positions which correspond to a fully open position of the active grill shutter apparatus 2 and a closed position of the active grill shutter apparatus 2 .

[0095] The interaction between the pin 60 and the lever 24 allows the linkage 26 to move between two extreme positions.

[0096] The linkage 26 includes a rectangular slit 64 arranged to expose the bridge portion of the linkage 26 and the lever 24 of the drive vane 20 .

[0097] The linkage 26 is configured to connect to all of the follower vanes 28. In other words, only one linkage 26 is required for all of the follower vanes 28.

[0098] 5 and 6, the linkage 26 includes two parallel connecting side walls 66. Each connecting side wall 66 is connected to a follower vane 28.

[0099] The linkage 26 includes a flat bottom wall 68 between two connecting side walls 66 to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0100] A rectangular slit 64 is formed in a flat bottom wall 68 of the linkage 26 .

[0101] With reference to FIG. 5, each of the follower vanes 28 includes a first end 70 configured to interact with the intermediate portion 38 and a second end 72 configured to interact with the linkage 26 .

[0102] 6, the connecting sidewall 66 of the linkage 26 includes a plurality of holes 74. Each hole 74 is configured to receive the second end 72 of a follower vane 28. The intermediate portion 38 includes two parallel connecting sidewalls 80. Each connecting sidewall 80 is connected to a follower vane 28.

[0103] The follower vane 28 includes a plate 83 on one of the sides of the follower vane 28. The plate 83 includes the first end 70 and the second end 72 of the follower vane 28. The first and second ends 70, 72 have a cylindrical shape. The first end 70 has a larger dimension (e.g., diameter) than the second end 72.

[0104] One of the connecting sidewalls 80 includes a U-shaped rod holder 82 configured to receive the rod 53 of the drive vane 20. The connecting sidewalls 80 include holes 86, each configured to receive a first end of each follower vane 28 and the connecting portion 22 of the drive vane 20. The intermediate portion 38 has a roof portion 84 between the two connecting sidewalls 80 to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0105] 7, details of a method 200 for assembling the active grill shutter apparatus 2 are shown.

[0106] The method 200 includes: - forming a subassembly 14 comprising an actuator 18 and a drive vane 20 (step 210); - mounting the subassembly 14 into the frame 16 of the active grill shutter apparatus (step 220); It is equipped with:

[0107] Thanks to the present invention, the assembly process is made simpler and more cost effective.

[0108] The method 200 further includes mounting the actuator 18 of the subassembly 14 within the frame 16. The actuator 18 is mounted within the frame 16 by screw fastenings.

[0109] The specification of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A drive vane for attachment to an active grill shutter apparatus having an actuator, a linkage, and a driven vane, comprising: a coupling portion for attachment to the actuator; a lever for interacting with the linkage to transmit motion of the drive vane to the driven vane; Equipped with Integrally formed, drive vane.

2. The drive vane of claim 1 , wherein the drive vane is a unitary molded piece.

3. The drive vane of claim 1 , wherein the lever has a hook for interacting with a bridge portion of the linkage.

4. The drive vane of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion includes teeth for mating with toothed holes in the actuator.

5. The drive vane of claim 1 further comprising a blade connected to the lever by a rod.

6. A frame, A subassembly coupled to the frame, An actuator; a drive vane having a connecting portion; A plurality of follower vanes; a linkage operatively coupled to the drive vane and the plurality of follower vanes; A subassembly including the Equipped with the drive vane includes a lever coupled to the actuator by the coupling portion and configured to interact with the linkage to transmit motion of the drive vane to the plurality of follower vanes; An active grill shutter apparatus, wherein the drive vane is integrally formed.

7. 7. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 6, wherein the linkage is movable between two extreme positions corresponding to a fully open position of the active grill shutter apparatus and a closed position of the active grill shutter apparatus.

8. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes two connecting side walls, each connecting side wall being connected to one of the plurality of follower vanes.

9. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes a pin configured to interact with the lever.

10. 9. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 8, wherein the linkage includes a bottom wall between the two connecting side walls to form a U-shaped cross section.

11. 10. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 9, wherein the linkage includes two flanges, the pin forms a bridge portion between the two flanges, and the linkage includes a slit disposed between the two flanges to expose the bridge portion and the lever of the drive vane.

12. 12. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 11, wherein the linkage includes a bottom wall between the two connecting side walls to form a U-shaped cross section, and the slit is rectangular in shape and formed in the bottom wall.

13. The frame is - two side walls connecting the upper and lower walls; an intermediate portion bridging said upper wall and said lower wall; the intermediate portion being disposed between the two side walls to create two openings on either side of the intermediate portion; 7. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 6, wherein each opening is configured to receive at least one follower vane of the plurality of follower vanes and one of the two openings is configured to receive the driver vane.

14. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator is mounted to the intermediate portion of the frame.

15. 14. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 13, wherein said intermediate portion is equidistant to said two side walls such that said two openings have the same dimensions.

16. 14. The active grill shutter apparatus of claim 13, wherein said intermediate portion is closer to one of said two side walls than to the other of said two side walls such that said two openings have different dimensions.

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