Grill shutter

Abstract

To solve a problem of immobilization of a grille shutter.SOLUTION: In a grille shutter, a plurality of movable fins 14 has at least a first movable fin 14 connected to an actuator and a second movable fin 16 connected to the first movable fin 14 through a time difference link 36. The time difference link 36 prevents the second movable fin 16 from moving with the first movable fin 14 when the first movable fin 14 rotates from a closed position to a predetermined intermediate position and allows the second movable fin 16 to move with the first movable fin 14 when the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to an open position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a grill shutter for a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a grill shutter. The grill shutter includes a plurality of movable fins and an actuator that rotationally drives the plurality of movable fins.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, a plurality of movable fins are rotationally driven by a common actuator. Thereby, the number of required actuators can be reduced. On the other hand, when any one of the movable fins becomes non-rotatable (also referred to as stuck) from the closed position due to foreign matter, freezing, etc., the other movable fins also become non-rotatable. As a result, the opening (also referred to as the front grill or grill opening) for taking in the traveling wind cannot be opened at all, and there is a risk of overheating a cooling target such as a radiator. This specification provides a technology that can avoid or suppress such problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a grille shutter installed in an opening of a vehicle that takes in oncoming air. This grille shutter includes a plurality of movable fins arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the opening and each rotatably supported about an axis parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle, and an actuator that rotationally drives the plurality of movable fins from a closed position where the opening is closed to an open position where the opening is opened. The plurality of movable fins include at least a first movable fin connected to the actuator and a second movable fin connected to the first movable fin via a phased link. The phased link is configured not to interlock the second movable fin with the first movable fin while the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to a predetermined intermediate position, and to interlock the second movable fin with the first movable fin while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position.

[0006] In the above-described configuration, when the actuator rotationally drives the first movable fin, the second movable fin is rotationally driven with a delay. Even if the second movable fin is fixed, the first movable fin can rotate to the intermediate position, and the opening of the vehicle that takes in oncoming air can be partially opened. Thereby, overheating of a cooling target such as a radiator can be avoided or suppressed, for example.

[0007] Here, the positional relationship between the first movable fin and the second movable fin is not particularly limited. In particular, movable fins that are likely to become fixed and movable fins that are difficult to become fixed may differ depending on the specific structure of the vehicle. Therefore, among the plurality of movable fins, it is advisable to identify the movable fin that is likely to become fixed by experiments or the like, make that movable fin the second movable fin, and make the other movable fins the first movable fins.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] In one embodiment of the present technology, the second movable fin may be located at the lowermost position among the plurality of movable fins. Although some exceptions have been confirmed, generally, the movable fin located at the lowermost position is the most likely to be fixed, so it is advisable to use the second movable fin that interlocks with a delay with respect to the movable fin.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present technology, while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin may rotate at a higher speed than the first movable fin. According to such a configuration, even when the second movable fin is rotationally driven with a delay from the first movable fin, for example, the second movable fin can be sufficiently rotated up to an angle equivalent to that of the first movable fin.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present technology, one end of the time difference link may be rotatably connected to a first connecting shaft fixed to the first movable fin. The other end of the time difference link may be rotatably connected to a second connecting shaft fixed to the second movable fin and movable by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the time difference link. And while the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, movement of the second connecting shaft in the longitudinal direction with respect to the time difference link is allowed, and while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, movement of the second connecting shaft in the longitudinal direction with respect to the time difference link may be prohibited. With such a configuration, when the actuator rotationally drives the first movable fin, the second movable fin can be rotationally driven with a delay.

[0012] In the above embodiment, the distance from the rotation axis of the second movable fin to the second connecting shaft may be shorter than the distance from the rotation axis of the first movable fin to the first connecting shaft. With such a configuration, while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin can be rotated at a higher speed than the first movable fin.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present technology, the time difference link may have a first link and a second link. In this case, one end of the first link may be rotatably connected to a first connecting shaft fixed to the first movable fin. The other end of the first link may be rotatably connected to one end of the second link. The other end of the second link may be rotatably connected to a second connecting shaft fixed to the second movable fin by a predetermined angle. And while the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, rotation of the second link with respect to the second movable fin is allowed, and while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, rotation of the second link with respect to the second movable fin may be prohibited. With such a configuration, when the actuator rotationally drives the first movable fin, the second movable fin can be rotationally driven with a delay.

[0014] In the above-described embodiment, the distance from the rotation axis of the second movable fin to the second connecting shaft may be shorter than the distance from the rotation axis of the first movable fin to the first connecting shaft. According to such a configuration, while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin can be rotated at a higher speed than the first movable fin.

Example

[0015] With reference to the drawings, the grill shutter 10 of the example will be described. The grill shutter 10 of this example is adopted in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle and is installed in an opening 2 of the vehicle that takes in the traveling wind. Although not particularly limited, the opening 2 is located at the front end portion of the vehicle and opens forward. This type of opening 2 is also referred to as a front grill or a grill opening. The traveling wind taken in from the opening 2 cools a cooling target such as a radiator disposed in the front compartment of the vehicle.

[0016] Here, the direction FR in the figure indicates the front in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the direction RR in the figure indicates the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The direction LH in the figure indicates the left in the vehicle lateral direction, and the direction RH in the figure indicates the right in the vehicle lateral direction. And the direction UP in the figure indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, and the direction DW in the figure indicates the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the grill shutter 10 includes a frame 12, a plurality of movable fins 14, 16, an actuator 20 that drives the plurality of movable fins 14, 16, and a transmission mechanism 30 that transmits the power of the actuator 20 to the movable fins 14, 16. The plurality of movable fins 14, 16, the actuator 20, and the transmission mechanism 30 are integrally supported by the frame 12. Although not particularly limited, the actuator 20 may be an electric actuator such as an electric motor.

[0018] The plurality of movable fins 14, 16 are arranged in the vehicle vertical direction at the opening 2 of the vehicle. Each of the movable fins 14, 16 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis 15, 17 parallel to the vehicle left - right direction. Although details will be described later, the plurality of movable fins 14, 16 are rotationally driven by an actuator 20 between a closed position where the opening 2 is closed (see Fig. 3(A)) and an open position where the opening 2 is opened (see Fig. 3(C)). Although not particularly limited, each of the movable fins 14, 16 is substantially parallel to the vehicle vertical direction when in the closed position and substantially parallel to the vehicle front - rear direction when in the open position.

[0019] The plurality of movable fins 14, 16 include a first movable fin 14 and a second movable fin 16. The first movable fin 14 is connected to the actuator 20 via a transmission mechanism 30. Thereby, the first movable fin 14 is directly rotationally driven by the actuator 20. On the other hand, the second movable fin 16 is connected to the first movable fin 14 via the transmission mechanism 30. Thereby, the second movable fin 16 is configured to be rotationally driven in conjunction with the first movable fin 14. Although not particularly limited, among the plurality of movable fins 14, 16, the second movable fin 16 is located at the lowermost position, and the first movable fin 14 is located above the second movable fin 16. Note that the number of the plurality of movable fins 14, 16 is not limited to two.

[0020] The transmission mechanism 30 includes a first arm 32 fixed to the first movable fin 14, a second arm 34 fixed to the second movable fin 16, and a time - difference link 36 that connects the first arm 32 and the second arm 34 to each other.

[0021] One end of the first arm 32 is fixed to the rotation axis 15 of the first movable fin 14, and both the first arm 32 and the first movable fin 14 rotate integrally about the rotation axis 15 of the first movable fin 14. On the other hand, the other end of the first arm 32 is connected to one end of the time difference link 36. Specifically, a first connecting shaft 33 is provided at the other end of the first arm 32, and one end of the time difference link 36 is rotatably connected to the first connecting shaft 33.

[0022] One end of the second arm 34 is fixed to the rotation axis 17 of the second movable fin 16, and both the second arm 34 and the second movable fin 16 rotate integrally about the rotation axis 17 of the second movable fin 16. On the other hand, the other end of the second arm 34 is connected to the other end of the time difference link 36. Specifically, a second connecting shaft 35 is provided at the other end of the second arm 34, and the other end of the time difference link 36 is rotatably connected to the second connecting shaft 35. Note that the first connecting shaft 33 and the second connecting shaft 35 are parallel to each other and are also parallel to the respective rotation axes 15 and 17 of the first movable fin 14 and the second movable fin 16.

[0023] Here, the other end of the time difference link 36 is not only rotatable with respect to the second connecting shaft 35 but is also connected so as to be movable by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction of the time difference link 36. Specifically, a long hole 38 is formed at the other end of the time difference link 36, and the second connecting shaft 35 of the second arm 34 is loosely fitted in the long hole 38. The second connecting shaft 35 of the second arm 34 is slidable in the long hole 38 of the time difference link 36, whereby the other end of the time difference link 36 can be relatively displaced with respect to the second connecting shaft 35 by the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the long hole 38.

[0024] The first arm 32 and the second arm 34 have different lengths. Specifically, the distance L2 from the rotation axis 17 of the second movable fin 16 to the second connecting shaft 35 is shorter than the distance L1 from the rotation axis 15 of the first movable fin 14 to the first connecting shaft 33.

[0025] According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, when the actuator 20 rotationally drives the first movable fin 14, the second movable fin 16 is rotationally driven with a delay. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) and (B), while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the closed position to a predetermined intermediate position, the second connecting shaft 35 of the second movable fin 16 slides within the elongated hole 38 of the time difference link 36. As a result, the second movable fin 16 is not interlocked with the first movable fin 14, and only the first movable fin 14 is rotationally driven. Thus, even if the second movable fin 16 is fixed, the first movable fin 14 can be rotationally driven to the intermediate position to partially open the opening 2.

[0026] Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 3(B) and (C), while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second connecting shaft 35 of the second movable fin 16 abuts against the end of the elongated hole 38 of the time difference link 36. As a result, the above-described sliding movement is prohibited, and the second movable fin 16 is rotationally driven in conjunction with the first movable fin 14. Thus, if the second movable fin 16 is not fixed, the second movable fin 16 also moves to the open position.

[0027] As described above, the distance L2 from the rotation shaft 17 of the second movable fin 16 to the second connecting shaft 35 is shorter than the distance L1 from the rotation shaft 15 of the first movable fin 14 to the first connecting shaft 33. According to such a configuration, while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin 16 rotationally driven with a delay from the first movable fin 14 can be rotated at a higher speed (exactly, with a larger angular velocity) than the first movable fin 14. As a result, the second movable fin 16 can be sufficiently rotated to an angle equivalent to that of the first movable fin 14.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, the grill shutter 110 of another embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows the main part of the grill shutter 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the grill shutter 110 of this embodiment has a different configuration of the transmission mechanism 30 compared to the grill shutter 10 of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the time difference link 36 has a first link 36a and a second link 36b.

[0029] One end of the first link 36a is rotatably connected to a first connecting shaft 33 fixed to the first movable fin 14. The other end of the first link 36a is rotatably connected to one end of a second link 36b via a third connecting shaft 37. And the other end of the second link 36b is rotatably connected to a second connecting shaft 35 fixed to the second movable fin 16 by a predetermined angle D.

[0030] In the grill shutter 110 of this embodiment, while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, the rotation angle of the second link 36b is less than the predetermined angle D, so the rotation of the second link 36b with respect to the second movable fin 16 is allowed. When the first movable fin 14 rotates to the intermediate position, the rotation angle of the second link 36b reaches the predetermined angle D. As a result, while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the rotation of the second link 36b with respect to the second movable fin 16 is prohibited, and both the second link 36b and the second movable fin 16 rotate integrally.

[0031] Thus, also in the grill shutter 110 of this embodiment, the time difference link 36 does not interlock the second movable fin 16 with respect to the first movable fin 14 while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position. Thereby, even if the second movable fin 16 is fixed, the actuator 20 can rotate the first movable fin 14 to the intermediate position, and the opening 2 of the vehicle that takes in the traveling wind can be partially opened. And the time difference link 36 can interlock the second movable fin 16 with respect to the first movable fin 14 while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to the open position.

[0032] Also in the grill shutter 110 of this embodiment, the distance from the rotation axis 17 of the second movable fin 16 to the second connecting axis 35 is shorter than the distance from the rotation axis 15 of the first movable fin 14 to the first connecting axis 33. As a result, while the first movable fin 14 rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin 16, which is rotationally driven with a delay from the first movable fin 14, can be rotated at a higher speed (more precisely, with a larger angular velocity) than the first movable fin 14.

Explanation of Signs

[0033] 10, 110: Grill shutter, 14: First movable fin, 16: Second movable fin 20: Actuator, 30: Transmission mechanism 33: First connecting axis, 35: Second connecting axis, 36: Phase difference link, 36a: First link of the phase difference link, 36b: Second link of the phase difference link

Claims

1. A grille shutter installed in an opening of a vehicle that takes in oncoming air, comprising a plurality of movable fins arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the opening and each supported so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle, and an actuator that rotationally drives the plurality of movable fins from a closed position where the opening is closed to an open position where the opening is open, wherein the plurality of movable fins have at least a first movable fin connected to the actuator and a second movable fin connected to the first movable fin via a time-delay link, the time-delay link does not interlock the second movable fin with the first movable fin while the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to a predetermined intermediate position, and is configured to interlock the second movable fin with the first movable fin while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, one end of the time-delay link is rotatably connected to a first connecting shaft fixed to the first movable fin, the other end of the time-delay link is rotatably connected to a second connecting shaft fixed to the second movable fin and is movable by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the time-delay link, movement of the second connecting shaft in the longitudinal direction with respect to the time-delay link is allowed while the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, movement of the second connecting shaft in the longitudinal direction with respect to the time-delay link is prohibited while the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, and the distance from the rotation axis of the second movable fin to the second connecting shaft is shorter than the distance from the rotation axis of the first movable fin to the first connecting shaft, a grille shutter.

2. A grille shutter installed in an opening of a vehicle that takes in oncoming air, comprising a plurality of movable fins arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the opening and each supported so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle, and an actuator that rotationally drives the plurality of movable fins from a closed position where the opening is closed to an open position where the opening is open, wherein the plurality of movable fins have at least a first movable fin connected to the actuator and a second movable fin connected to the first movable fin via a time-delay link, the time-delay link While the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to a predetermined intermediate position, the second movable fin is not interlocked with the first movable fin. While the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, the second movable fin is configured to be interlocked with the first movable fin. The time difference link has a first link and a second link. One end of the first link is rotatably connected to a first connecting shaft fixed to the first movable fin. The other end of the first link is rotatably connected to one end of the second link. The other end of the second link is rotatably connected to a second connecting shaft fixed to the second movable fin by a predetermined angle. While the first movable fin rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, rotation of the second link with respect to the second movable fin is permitted. While the first movable fin rotates from the intermediate position to the open position, rotation of the second link with respect to the second movable fin is prohibited. The distance from the rotation axis of the second movable fin to the second connecting shaft is shorter than the distance from the rotation axis of the first movable fin to the first connecting shaft. Grill shutter.

Images