Airflap apparatus of vehicle

Abstract

The present invention can provide an air flap device for a vehicle comprising: a housing including a first axis and a second axis spaced apart from the first axis; an air flap rotatably coupled to the housing about the first axis; a link portion having one side rotatably coupled to the air flap about the second axis and the other side rotatably coupled to the housing; and a first loader rotatably connected to the housing about a third axis and fixed to the link portion, wherein the air flap includes a first contact surface and the first loader includes a stopper having a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface, and wherein the operating angle of the first loader about the third axis is greater than the operating angle of the air flap about the first axis.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The embodiment relates to an air flap device of a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] A vehicle's air flap device is a mechanism designed to regulate the amount of external air entering through the vehicle's bumper grille. For example, a vehicle air flap device called an Active Air Flap (AAF) consists of an air flap rotatably positioned in a housing and an actuator for rotating the air flap.

[0003] The housing forms a passage for external air to enter, and the air flap is positioned to cover the passage. The drive shaft of the air flap is located at the bottom of the housing. The degree of opening of the passage changes depending on the rotation of the air flap, and consequently, the amount of external air entering the passage varies.

[0004] The front surface of the air flap is formed as a flat plate-like member and receives the pressure of the driving airflow. However, when the vehicle travels at high speed, even if the actuator is not operating, the air flap rotates or deforms due to aerodynamic loads, causing a problem where the air flap lifts up between the air flap and the inner wall of the housing, resulting in reduced aerodynamic performance. The problem to be solved

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a vehicle air flap device capable of preventing the air flap from being pushed out by aerodynamic loads during high-speed driving.

[0006] The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0007] The present invention for achieving the above objective can provide an air flap device for a vehicle comprising: a housing including a first axis and a second axis spaced apart from the first axis; an air flap rotatably coupled to the housing about the first axis; a link portion having one side rotatably coupled to the air flap about the second axis and the other side rotatably coupled to the housing; and a first loader rotatably connected to the housing about a third axis and fixed to the link portion, wherein the air flap includes a first contact surface and the first loader includes a stopper having a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface, and the operating angle of the first loader about the third axis is greater than the operating angle of the air flap about the first axis.

[0008] The position of the second contact surface rotating around the third axis may be positioned outside the operating radius of the first contact surface centered on the first axis at the same time.

[0009] It further includes a second loader positioned on the upper side of the air flap and rotatably coupled to the housing, and the other side of the link portion can be rotatably coupled to the second loader.

[0010] The second loader comprises a second inner part, a second outer part disposed on the outer side of the second inner part, a second connecting part forming a fourth axis connecting the second inner part and the second outer part, and a second projection protruding from the second inner part or the second outer part, wherein the shaft part is rotatably coupled to the housing and the second projection can be rotatably coupled to the other side of the link part.

[0011] The first loader includes an elongated slot, and the housing may include a first projection disposed in the slot to form the third axis.

[0012] The first loader includes a first inner part, a first outer part spaced apart from the first inner part, and a first connecting part connecting the first inner part and the first outer part, the first inner part includes the slot, and the first outer part can be coupled to the link part.

[0013] The above link portion may be disposed between the first outer portion and the first inner portion.

[0014] The second axis is positioned behind the first axis, and the third axis is positioned above the second axis and the first axis, and may be positioned between the second axis and the first axis in the front-rear direction.

[0015] It may further include an actuator directly connected to the first shaft.

[0016] An embodiment may provide an air flap device for a vehicle comprising a housing, an air flap rotatably coupled to the housing, a link portion having one side rotatably fixed to the air flap and the other side rotatably coupled to the housing, and a first loader rotatably connected to the housing and fixed to the link portion, wherein the air flap includes a first contact surface and the first loader includes a stopper having a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface, and when the air flap rotates, the first contact surface and the second contact surface rotate in the same direction, and the position of the second contact surface is positioned outside the operating radius of the first contact surface at the same time. Effects of the invention

[0017] According to the embodiment, a stopper is provided at the rear of the air flap to prevent the air flap from being pushed by aerodynamic load during high-speed driving, thereby preventing the gap between the air flap and the inner wall of the housing from lifting and ensuring aerodynamic performance.

[0018] According to the embodiment, when the air flap rotates, the first contact surface of the air flap that contacts the second contact surface of the stopper is configured so as not to interfere, thereby having the advantage of securing the rotation area of ​​the air flap while installing the stopper at the rear of the air flap. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an air flap device of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the air flap device of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1, viewed from the outside. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the air flap device of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1, viewed from the inside. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the housing, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an air flap, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first loader, FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a second loader, FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a first loader including a stopper when the air flap is not operated, FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a first loader including a stopper in a state where the air flap is operated. FIG. 10 is a partial side view of an air flap device of a vehicle showing the state in which the air flap has started to open. FIG. 11 is a partial side view of a vehicle air flap device showing a state in which the opening of the air flap has progressed compared to the air flap device of the vehicle shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a partial side view of a vehicle air flap device showing a state in which the air flap is opened further than the air flap device of the vehicle shown in FIG. 11. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The object, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention are omitted.

[0021] In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used.

[0022] These terms are intended merely to distinguish a component from other components and are not limited by the nature, order, sequence, etc., of the said component.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an air flap device of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the air flap device of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 viewed from the outside, and FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the air flap device of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 viewed from the inside.

[0024] In the drawings below, the x-axis represents the left-right direction of the vehicle's air flap device, the y-axis represents the front-rear direction (y) of the vehicle's air flap device, and the z-axis represents the up-down direction of the vehicle's air flap device. "Front" and "rear" are based on the front-rear direction (y).

[0025] Hereinafter, the first axis (C1), second axis (C2), third axis (C3), fourth axis (C4), and fifth axis (C5) are each formed with an axial direction along the left-right direction (x). Hereinafter, "inner side" refers to the direction toward the air flap (200) based on the two side walls of the housing, and "outer side" refers to the opposite direction.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the air flap device of a vehicle according to the embodiment may include a housing (100), an air flap (200), a link portion (300), a first loader (400), and a second loader (500). The air flap device of such a vehicle is characterized in that, when the air flap (200) rotates, the link portion (300) rotates the first loader (400) in conjunction with the rotation of the air flap (200) to avoid interference between the first loader (400), on which a stopper (440) is placed, and the air flap (200).

[0027] The housing (100) forms a space in the center where an air flap (200) can be positioned, and includes a structure in which the air flap (200) can be rotatably coupled to both side walls.

[0028] The air flap (200) is coupled to the housing (100) to rotate around a first axis (C1) formed along the left-right direction (x). An actuator (600) is disposed in the housing (100), and the actuator (600) can be directly coupled to the first axis (C1) of the air flap (200).

[0029] The link portion (300) is rotatably positioned in the housing (100). The lower side of the link portion (300) is rotatably coupled to the air flap (200) around a second axis (C2). The upper side of the link portion (300) is rotatably coupled to the housing (100) around a fourth axis (C4) via a second loader (500). The second axis (C2) is positioned spaced apart from the first axis (C1). For example, the second axis (C2) may be positioned behind the first axis (C1). The link portion (300) is linked to the rotation of the air flap (200).

[0030] The first loader (400) is connected to the housing (100) so as to rotate around the third axis (C3) of the housing (100). The first loader (400) is fixed to the link portion (300). Thus, the first loader (400) moves in tandem with the movement of the link portion (300).

[0031] One side of the second loader (500) is rotatably coupled to the housing (100) around the fourth axis (C4). The other side of the second loader (500) is coupled to the upper end of the link portion (300) so as to rotate around the fifth axis (C5).

[0032] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the housing (100).

[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, the housing (100) may include a first projection (101). The housing (100) includes an extension (102) extending from the rear end, and the first projection (101) may protrude inward from the extension (102) with respect to the left-right direction (x) where the air flap (200) is located. This first projection (101) forms a third axis (C3) that becomes the rotation center of the first loader (400).

[0034] And the housing (100) may include a first groove (103) and a second groove (104) positioned at the rear end. The first groove (103) is where the second loader (500) is rotatably mounted. And the second groove (104) is where the air flap (200) is rotatably mounted.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an air flap (200).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, the air flap (200) may have a hole (210) formed on the lower side of the rear end to form a first axis (C1). The air flap (200) includes an arm portion (220) extending from the rear end to the rear, and the arm portion (220) may have an axis portion (230) formed to form a second axis (C2).

[0037] Meanwhile, a first contact surface (201) may be disposed on the upper side of the front end of the air flap (200). The first contact surface (201) is an area that contacts the second contact surface (441) of the stopper (440). The air flap (200) may form a groove (202) connected to the first contact surface (201). The groove (202) guides the stopper (440) to the first contact surface (201).

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the first loader (400).

[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, the first loader (400) may include a first inner part (410), a first outer part (420) spaced apart from the first inner part (410) in the left-right direction (x), and a first connecting part (430) connecting the first inner part (410) and the first outer part (420). The first inner part (410) may include an elongated slot (401). The slot (401) is where the first projection (101) of the housing (100) is located. The first outer part (420) is coupled with a link part (300). A link part (300) is located between the first outer part (420) and the first inner part (410).

[0040] And the first loader (400) includes a stopper (440) including a second contact surface (441). The stopper (440) may be folded inward from the front end of the first inner part (410). The second contact surface (441) may correspond to the front surface of the stopper (440).

[0041] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a second loader (500).

[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the second loader (500) may include a second inner part (510), a second outer part (520) disposed on the outside of the second inner part (510), a second connecting part (530) connecting the second inner part (510) and the second outer part (520), and a second projection (540) protruding from the second outer part (520).

[0043] The second connecting part (530) is rotatably coupled to the housing (100). The second projection (540) is rotatably coupled to the other side of the link part (300). The link part (300) is positioned between the second inner part (510) and the second outer part (520).

[0044] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a first loader (400) including a stopper (440) when the air flap (200) is not operated.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 8, when the air flap (200) is not operating, the stopper (440) of the first loader (400) is positioned immediately behind the air flap (200). The second contact surface (441) of the stopper (440) is positioned facing the first contact surface (201) of the air flap (200). Therefore, when driving at high speed, even if a high aerodynamic load is applied to the air flap (200), the stopper (440) supports the air flap (200), so that the air flap (200) is pushed backward, preventing the gap between the bottom of the air flap (200) and the inner wall of the housing (100) from lifting or the air flap (200) from deforming.

[0046] In addition, even if the actuator (600) is not operating, the air flap (200) can be opened, preventing aerodynamic performance from decreasing.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a first loader (400) including a stopper (440) in a state where the air flap (200) is operating, and FIG. 10 is a partial side view of an air flap device of a vehicle showing a state where the opening of the air flap (200) has started.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the air flap (200) is in operation, there should be no interference between the stopper (440) and the air flap (200) in order to secure the opening angle of the air flap (200). To this end, the air flap device of the vehicle according to the embodiment is formed such that the operating angle (RO2) of the first loader (400) centered on the third axis (C3) is greater than the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) centered on the first axis (C1).

[0049] The second shaft (C2) is positioned behind the first shaft (C1), and the third shaft (C3) is positioned above the second shaft (C2) and the first shaft (C1), but can be positioned between the second shaft (C2) and the first shaft (C1) in the front-rear direction (y). When the air flap (200) rotates, the link portion (300) moves, and as the link portion (300) moves, the first loader (400) rotates around the third shaft (C3), as shown at T in FIG. 9, and the stopper (440) rotates together.

[0050] The position of the second contact surface (441) of the rotating stopper (440) centered on the third axis (C3) is positioned outside the operating radius (R) of the first contact surface (201) of the air flap (200) centered on the first axis (C1) at the same time, so that interference between the stopper (440) and the air flap (200) can be prevented while the air flap (200) is operating.

[0051] Figure 10 (a) shows the state where the air flap (200) is not operated, Figure 10 L1 is a virtual line representing the position that serves as the reference for the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) at this time, and Figure 10 L2 is a virtual line representing the position that serves as the reference for the operating angle (RO2) of the first rotor.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 10(b), when the air flap (200) starts operating (for example, when the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) is about 1°), the link portion (300) moves downward and the first loader (400) also starts rotating around the third axis (C3). At this time, since the operating angle (RO2) of the first loader (400) is greater than the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200), the displacement of the stopper (440) is relatively greater than the displacement of the first contact surface (201) of the air flap (200).

[0053] FIG. 11 is a partial side view of a vehicle air flap device showing a state in which the air flap (200) is opened more than the air flap device of the vehicle shown in FIG. 10.

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 11 (a), when the operation of the air flap (200) continues (for example, the operation angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) is about 2.5°), the link portion (300) moves further downward and the first loader (400) also rotates further around the third axis (C3), causing the stopper (440) to move further away from the first contact surface (201).

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 11(b), when the operation of the air flap (200) continues (for example, the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) is about 5°), the link portion (300) moves further downward, and the first loader (400) also rotates further around the third axis (C3), and the stopper (440) moves further away from the first contact surface (201). The operating angle (RO2) of the first loader (400) may be six times the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200). For example, if the operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) is 5°, the operating angle (RO2) of the first loader (400) may be 60°.

[0056] FIG. 12 is a partial side view of a vehicle air flap device showing a state in which the air flap (200) is opened more than the air flap device of the vehicle shown in FIG. 11.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 12 (a), when the operation of the air flap (200) continues, when the possible operating angle (RO1) of the air flap (200) reaches 50%, the stopper (440) can be completely removed from the rotational trajectory of the first contact surface (201).

[0058] And as shown in FIG. 12 (b), when the stopper (440) is completely out of the rotational trajectory of the first contact surface (201), the operation of the air flap (200) continues so that the air flap (200) can be fully opened.

[0059] For the above, a vehicle air flap device according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been specifically examined with reference to the attached drawings.

[0060] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications, changes, and substitutions within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments and accompanying drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0061] 100: Housing 200: Air flap 201: First contact surface 300: Link part 400: First loader 401: Slot 410: First inner part 420: First outer part 430: First connecting part 440: Stopper 500: Second loader 510: Second inner part 520: Second outer part 530: Second connecting part 540: Second projection 600: Actuator

Claims

Claim 1 A vehicle air flap device comprising: a housing including a first axis and a second axis spaced apart from the first axis; an air flap rotatably coupled to the housing about the first axis; a link portion having one side rotatably coupled to the air flap about the second axis and the other side rotatably coupled to the housing; a first loader rotatably connected to the housing about a third axis and fixed to the link portion, wherein the air flap includes a first contact surface and the first loader includes a stopper having a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface, and the operating angle of the first loader about the third axis is greater than the operating angle of the air flap about the first axis. Claim 2 In claim 1, the position of the second contact surface rotating around the third axis is positioned outside the operating radius of the first contact surface around the first axis at the same time. Claim 3 An air flap device of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a second loader disposed on the upper side of the air flap and rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the other side of the link portion is rotatably coupled to the second loader. Claim 4 In claim 3, the second loader comprises a second inner part, a second outer part disposed on the outer side of the second inner part, a second connecting part forming a fourth axis connecting the second inner part and the second outer part, and a second projection protruding from the second inner part or the second outer part, wherein the second connecting part is rotatably coupled to the housing and the second projection is rotatably coupled to the other side of the link part, an air flap device of a vehicle. Claim 5 An air flap device of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first loader includes an elongated slot, and the housing includes a first projection disposed in the slot to form the third axis. Claim 6 In claim 5, the first loader comprises a first inner portion, a first outer portion spaced apart from the first inner portion, and a first connecting portion connecting the first inner portion and the first outer portion, wherein the first inner portion comprises the slot, and the first outer portion is coupled to the link portion, an air flap device of a vehicle. Claim 7 In claim 6, the link portion is an air flap device of a vehicle disposed between the first outer portion and the first inner portion. Claim 8 An air flap device of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second axis is positioned behind the first axis, and the third axis is positioned above the second axis and the first axis, and is positioned between the second axis and the first axis in the front-rear direction (y). Claim 9 An air flap device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator directly connected to the first shaft. Claim 10 An air flap device for a vehicle comprising: a housing; an air flap rotatably coupled to the housing; a link portion having one side rotatably fixed to the air flap and the other side rotatably coupled to the housing; a first loader rotatably connected to the housing and fixed to the link portion, wherein the air flap comprises a first contact surface and the first loader comprises a stopper having a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface, and when the air flap rotates, the first contact surface and the second contact surface rotate in the same direction, and the position of the second contact surface is positioned outside the operating radius of the first contact surface at the same time.

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