Active grille shutter assembly and vehicle

Abstract

An active grille shutter assembly (10) for a vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) comprises a vehicle body (20) and a grille opening (21) formed on the vehicle body (20). The active grille shutter assembly (10) comprises a first structural member (11) and a controller (13). The first structural member (11) is movably connected to the vehicle body (20) in a vertical direction, the controller (13) is connected to the first structural member (11), and the controller (13) is configured to control the first structural member (11) to move in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body (20). The first structural member (11) has a first state and a second state. The first structural member (11) is configured to prevent an airflow from entering the vehicle body (20) through the grille opening (21) in the first state, and the first structural member (11) is further configured to prevent the airflow from passing through the bottom (22) of the vehicle body in the second state.

Description

Active grille assembly and vehicle

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on February 2, 2024, with application number 202410155142.9 and application name “Active air intake grille assembly and vehicle”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, and in particular to an active air intake grille assembly and a vehicle. Background Art

[0004] Active grilles and active air dams are both important components used by motor vehicles to regulate ambient airflow. The active grille assembly can be opened when the vehicle's engine needs cooling, accelerating engine cooling. It closes when cooling is not necessary, rapidly heating the engine, improving efficiency, and reducing exhaust emissions. It also reduces wind resistance, ultimately saving fuel and reducing energy consumption. Active air dams can be used to control the flow of air relative to the vehicle at different speeds to improve vehicle dynamics and maneuverability, as well as increase the vehicle's damping coefficient or generate downward force on it to enhance vehicle stability.

[0005] Typically, the active grille assembly and active air dam are both located at the front end of the vehicle. Both utilize a flipping motion, with separate control systems adjusting their flip angles to adjust ambient airflow.

[0006] However, the space at the front end of the vehicle is limited, and the independent control systems of the active grille assembly and the active air dam will take up a large space, which makes it difficult to arrange the active grille assembly and the active air dam. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide an active air intake grille assembly and a vehicle to solve the problem that the active air intake grille assembly and the active air dam of existing vehicles are difficult to arrange.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides an active air intake grille assembly for use in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a grille opening provided on the vehicle body. The active air intake grille assembly comprises a first structural member and a controller. The first structural member is movably connected to the vehicle body in a vertical direction, the controller is connected to the first structural member, and the controller is used to control the movement of the first structural member in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body. The first structural member comprises a first state and a second state. The first structural member is used to block airflow from entering the vehicle body from the grille opening in the first state, and the first structural member is also used to block airflow from passing through the bottom of the vehicle body in the second state.

[0009] The active air intake grille assembly in the embodiment of the present application is configured such that the first structural member can be moved in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body, that is, the first structural member can be moved up and down relative to the vehicle body, and when the first structural member is in a first state, it can be used to block the airflow from the grille opening into the vehicle body, so that part of the structure of the first structural member in the first state can play the role of an air intake grille, blocking the airflow from entering the interior of the vehicle body, and having a heat-insulating effect on the engine, thereby quickly heating the engine, improving engine efficiency, reducing exhaust emissions, and reducing wind resistance, thereby achieving the purpose of saving fuel and reducing consumption.

[0010] When the first structural member is in the second state, it can be used to block airflow from passing through the bottom of the vehicle body, so that part of the structure of the first structural member in the second state can act as an air dam, improve the vehicle's dynamic performance and operability, and increase the damping coefficient of the vehicle body, or generate downward force on it to enhance the stability of the vehicle.

[0011] That is, the first structural member can be used as both an air intake grille and an air dam, and is easy to control. Therefore, the active air intake grille assembly in the embodiment of the present application has a simple structure, small size, low cost, can reduce installation space, and facilitate assembly.

[0012] In one possible implementation, when the first structural member is in a first state, at least a portion of the first structural member is located within the grille opening and is used to block at least a portion of the grille opening. When the first structural member is in a second state, at least a portion of the first structural member extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body.

[0013] When the first structural member is in the first state, at least a portion of the first structural member is located within the grille opening, so that the portion of the first structural member located within the grille opening can block at least a portion of the grille opening, thereby enabling the first structural member to prevent airflow from entering the vehicle body through the grille opening. When the first structural member is in the second state, at least a portion of the first structural member is extended beyond the bottom of the vehicle body, so that the portion of the first structural member extending beyond the bottom of the vehicle body can block airflow from the bottom of the vehicle body, that is, prevent airflow from entering the bottom of the vehicle body, thereby making the air pressure at the bottom of the vehicle body lower than the air pressure outside the vehicle body, thereby increasing the downforce of the vehicle body and improving the stability of the vehicle body.

[0014] In one possible implementation, a monitoring device is further included, wherein the monitoring device is electrically connected to the controller, the monitoring device is configured to collect driving parameter information of the vehicle, and the controller is configured to control the vertical movement of the first structural member relative to the vehicle body based on the driving parameter information.

[0015] By providing a monitoring device, the controller can control the movement of the first structural member using the vehicle driving parameter information collected by the monitoring device. In other words, the controller can control the movement direction of the first structural member using the vehicle driving parameter information collected by the monitoring device. For example, when the first structural member is required to function as an air intake grille, the first structural member can be controlled to move upward to block the grille opening. When the first structural member is required to function as an air dam, the first structural member can be controlled to move downward so that part of the first structural member extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body, thereby blocking airflow from entering the bottom of the vehicle body.

[0016] In one possible implementation, a drive assembly is further included, wherein the first structural member is connected to the drive assembly. The drive assembly is electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is configured to control the drive assembly to drive the first structural member to move vertically relative to the vehicle body.

[0017] By providing a driving assembly, a driving force is provided for the movement of the first structural member, so as to drive the first structural member to move in a vertical direction. By electrically connecting a controller to the driving assembly, the driving assembly is controlled by the controller.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the driving assembly includes a guide rail and an actuator, wherein the first structural member is movably connected to the guide rail, and the actuator is used to drive the first structural member to move in a vertical direction along the guide rail.

[0019] By providing a drive assembly including a guide rail and an actuator, the first structural member can be movably connected to the guide rail. Thus, when the first structural member moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the guide rail, thereby preventing the first structural member from shaking during vertical movement and improving the stability of the first structural member during movement. By providing an actuator, a driving force can be provided for the movement of the first structural member.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the actuator is a motor.

[0021] In one possible implementation, a second structural member is further included, wherein in the vertical direction, the first structural member and the second structural member are relatively arranged on both sides of the grille opening, and the first structural member is located between the grille opening and the bottom of the vehicle body, and the second structural member is located between the grille opening and the top of the vehicle body.

[0022] By setting a second structural member and arranging the first structural member and the second structural member relatively on both sides of the grille opening, the opening or closing of the grille opening can be controlled jointly by the first structural member and the second structural member. Compared with controlling the opening or closing of the grille opening only by the first structural member, the flexibility of the grille opening control can be improved.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the second structural member is connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the second structural member to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body.

[0024] The second structural member is connected to the controller so that the controller can control the second structural member to move in the vertical direction.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the second structural member includes a third state and a fourth state. When the second structural member is in the third state, at least a portion of the second structural member is located within the grille opening and is used to block at least a portion of the grille opening to prevent airflow from entering the vehicle body through the grille opening. When the second structural member is in the fourth state, the second structural member is located outside the grille opening.

[0026] When the second structural member is in the third state, at least a portion of the second structural member is positioned within the grille opening. The portion of the second structural member positioned within the grille opening can block airflow from entering the vehicle body through the grille opening, thereby allowing the portion of the second structural member in the third state to function as an air intake grille, blocking airflow from entering the vehicle body and providing insulation for the engine. This can rapidly heat the engine, improve engine efficiency, reduce exhaust emissions, and reduce wind resistance, thereby achieving fuel economy and energy savings. When the second structural member is in the fourth state, the second structural member is positioned outside the grille opening, allowing the grille opening to be opened, thereby facilitating heat dissipation from the vehicle engine.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the vehicle further includes a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly. The first structural member is connected to the first drive assembly. The second structural member is connected to the second drive assembly. Both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly are electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is configured to control the first drive assembly to drive the first structural member to move vertically relative to the vehicle body. The controller is also configured to control the second drive assembly to drive the second structural member to move vertically relative to the vehicle body.

[0028] By providing a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly, a driving force is provided for the movement of the first structural member and the second structural member, thereby driving the first structural member and the second structural member to move in the vertical direction. By electrically connecting a controller to both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly, the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly can be controlled by the controller.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first drive assembly includes a first guide rail and a first actuator, and the second drive assembly includes a second guide rail and a second actuator. The first structural member is movably connected to the first guide rail, and the first actuator is used to drive the first structural member to move vertically along the first guide rail. The second structural member is movably connected to the second guide rail, and the second actuator is used to drive the second structural member to move vertically along the second guide rail.

[0030] By providing the first drive assembly with a first guide rail and a first actuator, the first structural member can be movably connected to the first guide rail. Thus, when the first structural member moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the first guide rail, thereby preventing the first structural member from shaking during vertical movement and improving the stability of the first structural member during movement. The first actuator can provide driving force for the movement of the first structural member.

[0031] By providing the second drive assembly with a second guide rail and a second actuator, the second structural member can be movably connected to the second guide rail. Thus, when the second structural member moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the second guide rail, thereby preventing the second structural member from shaking during vertical movement and improving the stability of the second structural member during movement. The second actuator can provide driving force for the movement of the second structural member.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first actuator and the second actuator are both motors.

[0033] A second aspect of the present application provides a vehicle, comprising a vehicle body and an active air intake grille assembly as described in any one of the first aspects above.

[0034] The vehicle in the embodiment of the present application is provided with the active air intake grille assembly of the first aspect mentioned above. Since the active air intake grille assembly of the first aspect has a simple structure, small size and low cost, it can reduce the installation space and facilitate assembly, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty of the active air intake grille and reducing the cost of the vehicle.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the vehicle body includes a grille opening and an engine compartment, and the grille opening and the engine compartment are in communication; the active air intake grille assembly includes a first structural member, and the first structural member is located between the grille opening and the engine compartment.

[0036] By arranging the first structural member between the grille opening and the engine compartment, the first structural member can be arranged inside the vehicle body, thereby improving the appearance of the vehicle body and enhancing the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0038] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of an active air intake grille assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 100-vehicle; 10-active air intake grille assembly; 11-first structural member; 111-air dam; 12-second structural member; 13-controller; 14-monitoring device; 15-drive assembly; 151-actuator; 152-guide rail; 16-first drive assembly; 161-first actuator; 162-first guide rail; 17-second drive assembly; 171-second actuator; 172-second guide rail; 20-vehicle body; 21-grille opening; 22-bottom of the vehicle body; 23-hood; 24-engine compartment; 30-wheel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] Traditional active grilles and active air dams are typically implemented as two separate components. The active grille typically uses a flap-type mechanism, requiring a motor to control its movement. Even when open, the grille vanes still remain, reducing the utilization of the grille opening area and reducing heat dissipation from the vehicle engine. The active air dam typically uses a flip-type mechanism, and a curved air dam must be split into three sections. Each section requires a motor to operate, requiring a significant amount of space.

[0052] However, the space at the front end of the vehicle is limited, which makes it difficult to arrange the active air intake grille and active air dam.

[0053] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present application provides an active air intake grille assembly and a vehicle. The active air intake grille assembly is configured by setting a first structural member, and the first structural member is configured to be movable in a vertical direction. When the first structural member is in a first state, it also serves as an air intake grille. When the first structural member is in a second state, it can serve as an active air dam, thereby simplifying the structure of the active air intake grille assembly, reducing the occupied space, and facilitating layout.

[0054] The active air intake grille assembly and vehicle provided in the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] For ease of description, in this embodiment of the present application, the height direction of the vehicle 100 is referred to as the z-direction, the width direction of the vehicle 100 is referred to as the x-direction, and the length direction of the vehicle 100 is referred to as the y-direction. The height direction of the vehicle 100 is the vertical direction, the axial direction of the wheel 30 is the same as the width direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction from the front to the rear of the vehicle is the length direction of the vehicle 100.

[0057] An embodiment of the present application provides a vehicle 100, as shown in FIG1 . The vehicle 100 may include a body 20 and wheels 30. The wheels 30 are disposed on a bottom 22 of the body and are used to support the body 20. A hood 23 is disposed at the front of the body 20, and an engine compartment 24 (see FIG2 ) is disposed below the hood 23. The engine assembly of the vehicle 100 may be disposed within the engine compartment 24. A grille opening 21 is disposed at the front end of the body 20, and the grille opening 21 communicates with the engine compartment 24.

[0058] For example, as shown in FIG2 , an engine compartment 24 is disposed below a hood 23 of a vehicle body 20, a grille opening 21 may be disposed at the front end of the vehicle body 20, and an active air intake grille assembly 10 may be disposed inside the grille opening 21. The active air intake grille assembly 10 may, in some circumstances, block the grille opening 21 to prevent airflow from entering the engine compartment 24 through the grille opening 21, or may, in some circumstances, open the grille opening 21 to allow airflow to enter the engine compartment 24 through the grille opening 21.

[0059] By arranging the first structural member 11 between the grille opening 21 and the engine compartment 24 , the first structural member 11 can be arranged inside the vehicle body 20 , thereby improving the appearance of the vehicle body 20 and enhancing the user experience.

[0060] It should be noted that the active air intake grille assembly 10 can be used to block the grille opening 21. When the active air intake grille assembly 10 completely blocks the grille opening 21 (as shown in Figure 1), the grille opening 21 is in a closed state. At this time, the airflow can be prevented from entering the engine compartment 24 from the grille opening 21, which can keep the engine warm and quickly heat the engine, improve engine efficiency, reduce exhaust emissions, and reduce wind resistance, thereby achieving the purpose of saving fuel and reducing consumption.

[0061] When the active air intake grille assembly 10 partially blocks the grille opening 21, the grille opening 21 is in a partially closed state. At this time, it can also block part of the airflow from the grille opening 21 into the engine compartment 24, and can also allow part of the airflow to enter the engine compartment 24 from the grille opening 21. This can have a certain heat dissipation effect on the engine, prevent the engine temperature from being too high and causing abnormalities, and thus protect the engine.

[0062] When the active air intake grille assembly 10 does not block the grille opening 21, the grille opening 21 is in an open state (as shown in FIG2 ), allowing airflow to enter the engine compartment 24 through the grille opening 21, thereby providing a certain cooling effect on the engine, preventing abnormal engine temperatures from overheating, and thus protecting the engine. Furthermore, the cooling efficiency is higher than when the grille opening 21 is partially closed.

[0063] In addition, the active grille assembly 10 can also be used as an air dam for the vehicle 100. When the active grille assembly 10 extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body 20, the air dam 111 is in an open state, thereby blocking airflow from passing through the bottom of the vehicle body 20. When the active grille assembly 10 is located within the bottom of the vehicle body 20, the air dam 111 is in a closed state.

[0064] The active air intake grille assembly 10 provided in an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0065] An embodiment of the present application provides an active air intake grille assembly 10, which is applied to a vehicle 100. As shown in FIG3 , the active air intake grille assembly 10 may include a first structural member 11 and a controller 13. The first structural member 11 may be movably connected to a vehicle body 20 in a vertical direction, and the controller 13 is connected to the first structural member 11. The controller 13 is used to control the vertical movement of the first structural member 11 relative to the vehicle body 20. The first structural member 11 includes a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first structural member 11 is used to block airflow from entering the vehicle body 20 from the grille opening 21. In the second state, the first structural member 11 is also used to block airflow from passing through the bottom 22 of the vehicle body.

[0066] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the vertical direction refers to the height direction of the vehicle 100, and the vertical direction can be perpendicular to the horizontal plane, or can be at a certain angle to the horizontal plane. The first structural member 11 moves in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 20, which means that the first structural member 11 can move up and down in space. For example, when the first structural member 11 is tilted relative to the horizontal plane, the first structural member 11 can move in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 20, which means that the first structural member 11 moves up and down along its own tilt direction. The up and down directions in the embodiment of the present application are the same as the up and down directions of the vehicle 100, wherein the top of the vehicle 100 is located at the top and the wheels 30 of the vehicle 100 are located at the bottom.

[0067] For example, as shown in FIG3 , when the first structural member 11 is in the first state, at least a portion of the first structural member 11 is located within the grille opening 21 and serves to block at least a portion of the grille opening 21. As shown in FIG4 , when the first structural member 11 is in the second state, at least a portion of the first structural member 11 extends beyond the bottom 22 of the vehicle body, and the air dam 111 is in an open state.

[0068] The active air intake grille assembly 10 in the embodiment of the present application is configured such that the first structural member 11 can be moved in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 20, that is, the first structural member 11 can be moved up and down relative to the vehicle body 20, and when the first structural member 11 is in the first state, it can be used to block the airflow from the grille opening 21 into the vehicle body 20, so that part of the structure of the first structural member 11 in the first state can play the role of an air intake grille, blocking the airflow from entering the interior of the vehicle body 20, which can keep the engine warm, and thus quickly heat the engine, improve engine efficiency, reduce exhaust emissions, and reduce wind resistance, thereby achieving the purpose of saving fuel and reducing consumption.

[0069] When the first structural member 11 is in the second state, it can be used to block airflow from passing through the bottom 22 of the vehicle body, so that the partial structure of the first structural member 11 in the second state can act as an air dam, thereby improving the dynamic performance and maneuverability of the vehicle 100, and increasing the damping coefficient of the vehicle, or generating a downward force thereon, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle 100.

[0070] That is, the first structural member 11 can be used as both an air intake grille and an air dam, and is easy to control. Therefore, the active air intake grille assembly 10 in the embodiment of the present application has a simple structure, a small size, and a low cost, which can reduce installation space and facilitate assembly.

[0071] It should be noted that when the first structural member 11 is in the first state, the grille opening 21 is partially closed or closed, thereby preventing airflow from entering the vehicle body 20 through the grille opening 21. When the first structural member is in the second state, the air dam 111 is open (as shown in FIG. 4 ), thereby preventing airflow from passing through the bottom of the vehicle body 20.

[0072] When the first structural member 11 is in the first state, at least a portion of the first structural member 11 is located within the grille opening 21, thereby blocking at least a portion of the grille opening 21. This allows the first structural member 11 to prevent airflow from entering the vehicle body 20 through the grille opening 21. When the first structural member 11 is in the second state, at least a portion of the first structural member 11 extends beyond the bottom 22 of the vehicle body, thereby blocking airflow from the bottom of the vehicle body 20. In other words, this portion of the first structural member 11 that extends beyond the bottom 22 of the vehicle body blocks airflow from entering the bottom of the vehicle body 20. This prevents airflow from entering the bottom of the vehicle body 20, thereby reducing the air pressure at the bottom of the vehicle body 20 to a lower level than the air pressure outside the vehicle body 20. This results in a greater downforce on the vehicle body 20 and improves the stability of the vehicle body 20.

[0073] It should be noted that when the first structural member 11 is in the second state, the length of the first structural member 11 extending from the bottom of the vehicle body 20 is not limited and can be set according to the specific vehicle model, and is not further limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0074] Illustratively, the first structural member 11 may be a plate-shaped structure whose dimension in the width direction of the vehicle 100 is larger than that of the grille opening 21 in the width direction of the vehicle 100 , so that the plate-shaped structure can block at least a portion of the grille opening 21 when in the first state.

[0075] For example, in the width direction of the vehicle 100, the first structural member 11 extends from the center of the grille opening 21 to both ends, and the first structural member 11 is bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the centerline of the grille opening 21. This ensures that the airflow from the grille opening 21 into the interior of the vehicle body 20 is relatively uniform in the width direction of the vehicle 100, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle 100 during driving.

[0076] As shown in FIG5 , in some embodiments, the active air intake grille assembly 10 may further include a monitoring device 14. The monitoring device 14 is electrically connected to the controller 13 and configured to collect driving parameter information of the vehicle 100. The controller 13 is configured to control the vertical movement of the first structural member 11 relative to the vehicle body 20 based on the driving parameter information.

[0077] For example, the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 may include the driving speed of the vehicle 100, the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 is not further limited. It should be noted that when the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is high, the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100 is also relatively high. When the vehicle 100 is stationary or traveling at a low speed, the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100 is relatively low.

[0078] Exemplarily, the monitoring device 14 may include a speed sensor and a temperature transmitter. In the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the monitoring device 14 is not further limited.

[0079] It should be noted that when the controller 13 controls the first structural member 11 to move in the vertical direction according to the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 , it is not limited to switching the first structural member 11 between the first state and the second state.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first structural member 11 can have multiple states. For example, the first state of the first structural member 11 can include a partially blocked state and a fully blocked state. The first structural member 11 can also have an intermediate state. When the first structural member 11 is in the intermediate state, it is located between the grille opening 21 and the bottom 22 of the vehicle body. In this state, the grille opening 21 is open and the air dam 111 is retracted. The controller 13 can be configured to switch the first structural member 11 between the partially blocked state, the fully blocked state, the intermediate state, and the second state based on driving parameter information of the vehicle 100.

[0081] It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 5, the air dam 111 is a part of the first structural member 11. When the first structural member 11 extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body 20, the part of the first structural member 11 extending beyond the bottom of the vehicle body 20 is the air dam 111.

[0082] The following specifically introduces some examples of the controller 13 controlling the first structural component 11 according to the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 .

[0083] In some embodiments, when the vehicle 100's speed exceeds a first preset threshold, the controller 13 controls the first structural member 11 to be in the second state. At this point, the air dam 111 can be considered to be in the open state. The portion of the first structural member 11 extending to the outside of the vehicle bottom can block airflow from passing through the bottom 22 of the vehicle body, making the lateral pressure at the bottom of the vehicle body 20 lower than that outside the vehicle body 20. This increases the pressure on the vehicle body 20, improves the vehicle 100's grip on the road, and thus enhances the vehicle's 100 driving stability.

[0084] Exemplarily, the first preset threshold may be any value between 120-160 km / h.

[0085] When the vehicle 100's speed is less than a first predetermined threshold, the air dam 111 is not needed to increase the vehicle's grip, so the first structural member 11 can be adjusted to a position other than the second position. In other words, as long as the first structural member 11 does not extend beyond the bottom of the vehicle body 20, the first structural member 11 can be adjusted to the first position, or to a neutral position. This is not further limited in the present embodiment.

[0086] For example, when the engine temperature of vehicle 100 is less than a second preset threshold, the engine does not need to dissipate heat. In this case, controller 13 can control first structural member 11 to be in the first state. It should be noted that when first structural member 11 is in the first state, grille opening 21 is partially closed or closed. In other words, when the temperature is low, grille opening 21 can be closed, or partially closed, to maintain engine heat.

[0087] When the engine temperature of the vehicle 100 is greater than the second preset threshold, the engine needs to dissipate heat. The controller 13 can control the first structural member 11 to partially block or completely unblock the grille opening 21, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the engine.

[0088] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the specific manner in which the controller 13 controls the vertical movement of the first structural member 11 relative to the vehicle body 20 based on the driving parameter information is not further limited. In addition, the specific values ​​of the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold are not further limited.

[0089] By providing the monitoring device 14, the controller 13 can control the movement of the first structural member 11 using the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 collected by the monitoring device 14. In other words, the controller 13 can control the movement direction of the first structural member 11 using the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 collected by the monitoring device 14. For example, when the first structural member 11 is required to function as an air intake grille, the first structural member 11 can be controlled to move upward to block the grille opening 21. When the first structural member 11 is required to function as an air dam, the first structural member 11 can be controlled to move downward so that part of the first structural member 11 extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body 20, thereby blocking airflow from entering the bottom of the vehicle body 20.

[0090] Continuing with FIG. 5 , the active grille assembly 10 provided in the present application may further include a drive assembly 15 . The first structural member 11 is connected to the drive assembly 15 . The drive assembly 15 is electrically connected to the controller 13 , which is configured to control the drive assembly 15 to move the first structural member 11 vertically relative to the vehicle body 20 .

[0091] The drive assembly 15 is provided to provide a driving force for the movement of the first structural member 11 so as to drive the first structural member 11 to move in the vertical direction. The controller 13 is electrically connected to the drive assembly 15 so as to control the drive assembly 15 through the controller 13 .

[0092] Exemplarily, the driving assembly 15 includes a guide rail 152 and an actuator 151 , wherein the first structural member 11 is movably connected to the guide rail 152 , and the actuator 151 is used to drive the first structural member 11 to move along the guide rail 152 in a vertical direction.

[0093] By providing the drive assembly 15 with a guide rail 152 and an actuator 151, the first structural member 11 can be movably connected to the guide rail 152. In this way, when the first structural member 11 moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the guide rail 152, thereby preventing the first structural member 11 from shaking when moving in the vertical direction and improving the stability of the first structural member 11 during movement. By providing the actuator 151, a driving force can be provided for the movement of the first structural member 11.

[0094] Exemplarily, the guide rail 152 can be a groove structure, and a protrusion structure that cooperates with the groove can be provided on the first structural member 11. When the first structural member 11 is assembled with the guide rail 152, the protrusion structure and the groove structure can be matched and connected so that the first structural member 11 can move in the vertical direction along the guide rail 152.

[0095] It should be noted that the shape of the guide rail 152 includes, but is not limited to, the groove structure described above. In other embodiments, the guide rail 152 may also have other structures. Furthermore, the number of guide rails 152 may be one, two, three, or more. When there are multiple guide rails 152, the multiple guide rails 152 may be spaced apart in the x-direction to improve the stability of the first structural member 11 during movement. In the embodiments of the present application, the specific shape and number of the guide rails 152 are not further limited.

[0096] For example, the actuator 151 may be a motor. Of course, in other embodiments, the actuator 151 may also be a connecting rod mechanism, a cylinder, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the actuator 151 is not further limited.

[0097] In some other embodiments, as shown in Figure 6, the active air intake grille assembly 10 also includes a second structural member 12, wherein in the vertical direction, the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 are relatively arranged on both sides of the grille opening 21, and the first structural member 11 is located between the grille opening 21 and the bottom of the vehicle body 20, and the second structural member 12 is located between the grille opening 21 and the top of the vehicle body 20.

[0098] By providing the second structural member 12 and arranging the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 relatively on both sides of the grille opening 21, the opening or closing of the grille opening 21 can be controlled jointly by the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12. Compared with controlling the opening or closing of the grille opening 21 only by the first structural member 11, the flexibility of controlling the grille opening 21 can be improved.

[0099] Illustratively, the second structural member 12 may be a plate-shaped structure whose dimension in the width direction of the vehicle 100 is larger than that of the grille opening 21 in the width direction of the vehicle 100 , so that the plate-shaped structure can block at least a portion of the grille opening 21 when in the first state.

[0100] In some embodiments, the opposite surface of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 can be set to a flat surface, a curved surface, a serrated surface, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 is not further limited.

[0101] Exemplarily, the second structural member 12 is connected to a controller 13, and the controller 13 is used to control the second structural member 12 to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 20. By connecting the second structural member 12 to the controller 13, the controller 13 can control the second structural member 12 to move in a vertical direction.

[0102] Continuing with FIG6 , the active grille assembly 10 may further include a first drive assembly 16 and a second drive assembly 17 . The first structural member 11 is connected to the first drive assembly 16 . The second structural member 12 is connected to the second drive assembly 17 . The first drive assembly 16 and the second drive assembly 17 are both electrically connected to a controller 13 , which is configured to control the first drive assembly 16 to drive the first structural member 11 to move vertically relative to the vehicle body 20 . The controller 13 is also configured to control the second drive assembly 17 to drive the second structural member 12 to move vertically relative to the vehicle body 20 .

[0103] By providing the first drive assembly 16 and the second drive assembly 17, a driving force is provided for the movement of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12, thereby driving the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 to move in the vertical direction. By electrically connecting the controller 13 to both the first drive member and the second drive assembly 17, the controller 13 can control the first drive member and the second drive assembly 17.

[0104] Illustratively, the first drive assembly 16 includes a first guide rail 162 and a first actuator 161, and the second drive assembly 17 includes a second guide rail 172 and a second actuator 171. The first structural member 11 is movably connected to the first guide rail 162, and the first actuator 161 is used to drive the first structural member 11 to move vertically along the first guide rail 162. The second structural member 12 is movably connected to the second guide rail 172, and the second actuator 171 is used to drive the second structural member 12 to move vertically along the second guide rail 172.

[0105] By providing the first driving assembly 16 with a first guide rail 162 and a first actuator 161, the first structural member 11 can be movably connected to the first guide rail 162. Thus, when the first structural member 11 moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the first guide rail 162, thereby preventing the first structural member 11 from shaking during vertical movement and improving the stability of the first structural member 11 during movement. The first actuator 161 can provide driving force for the movement of the first structural member 11.

[0106] By providing the second driving assembly 17 with a second guide rail 172 and a second actuator 171, the second structural member 12 can be movably connected to the second guide rail 172. Thus, when the second structural member 12 moves in the vertical direction, it can move along the second guide rail 172, thereby preventing the second structural member 12 from shaking during vertical movement and improving the stability of the second structural member 12 during movement. The second actuator 171 can provide driving force for the movement of the second structural member 12.

[0107] In one possible implementation, the first actuator 161 and the second actuator 171 are both motors. Of course, in other embodiments, the first actuator 161 and the second actuator 171 can also be a connecting rod mechanism, a cylinder, etc. In this embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the actuator 151 is not further limited.

[0108] It should be noted that the first drive component 16 and the second drive component 17 in the embodiment of the present application have the same structure and principle as the drive component 15 in the embodiment shown in Figure 5. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, for the specific structure of the first drive component 16 and the second drive component 17, reference can be made to the introduction of the drive component 15 in the embodiment of Figure 5, and no further details will be given in the embodiment of the present application.

[0109] For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the active air intake grille assembly 10 may further include a monitoring device 14. The monitoring device 14 is electrically connected to the controller 13 and is configured to collect driving parameter information of the vehicle 100. The controller 13 is configured to control the vertical movement of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 relative to the vehicle body 20 based on the driving parameter information.

[0110] Exemplarily, the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 may include the driving speed of the vehicle 100 , the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100 , etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 is not further limited.

[0111] In some embodiments, the second structural member 12 can have a third state and a fourth state. When the second structural member 12 is in the third state, at least a portion of the second structural member 12 is located within the grille opening 21 and is used to block at least a portion of the grille opening 21 to prevent airflow from entering the vehicle body 20 through the grille opening 21. When the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state, the second structural member 12 is located outside the grille opening 21.

[0112] When the second structural member 12 is in the third state, at least a portion of the second structural member 12 is positioned within the grille opening 21. The portion of the second structural member 12 positioned within the grille opening can block airflow from the grille opening 21 into the vehicle body 20. This portion of the second structural member 12 in the third state functions as an air intake grille, blocking airflow from entering the vehicle body 20. This insulates the engine, thereby rapidly heating the engine, improving engine efficiency, reducing exhaust emissions, and reducing wind resistance, thereby achieving fuel economy and energy savings. When the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state, the second structural member 12 is positioned outside the grille opening 21, allowing the grille opening 21 to be opened, thereby facilitating heat dissipation from the engine of the vehicle 100.

[0113] It should be noted that when the controller 13 controls the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 to move in the vertical direction according to the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100, it is not limited to switching the first structural member 11 between the first state and the second state, and switching the second structural member 12 between the third state and the fourth state.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first structural member 11 can have multiple states. For example, the first state of the first structural member 11 can include a partially blocked state and a fully blocked state. The first structural member 11 can also have an intermediate state. When the first structural member 11 is in the intermediate state, it is located between the grille opening 21 and the bottom 22 of the vehicle body. In this state, the grille opening 21 is open and the air dam 111 is retracted. The controller 13 can be configured to switch the first structural member 11 between the partially blocked state, the fully blocked state, the intermediate state, and the second state based on driving parameter information of the vehicle 100.

[0115] It should be noted that when the second structural member 12 is in the third state, the grille opening 21 is in a partially closed state or a closed state. When the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state, the second structural member 12 has no blocking effect on the grille opening 21. Since the state of the first structural member 11 cannot be determined, the grille opening 21 can be in a partially closed state, a closed state or an open state at this time.

[0116] The following describes an example in which the controller 13 controls the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 according to the driving parameter information of the vehicle 100 with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0117] As shown in Figure 6, the grille opening 21 is in the open state, the air dam 111 is in the retracted state, the first structural member 11 is in the intermediate state, and the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state.

[0118] As shown in Figure 7, the grille opening 21 is closed and the air dam 111 is retracted. At this point, the first structural member 11 is in the first position, and the second structural member 12 is in the third position. Furthermore, the first structural member 11 blocks a portion of the grille opening 21, while the second structural member 12 blocks another portion of the grille opening 21.

[0119] As shown in FIG8 , the grille opening 21 is partially closed and the air dam 111 is retracted. At this time, the first structural member 11 is in the intermediate state and the second structural member 12 is in the third state, with the second structural member 12 partially blocking the grille opening 21 .

[0120] As shown in FIG9 , the grille opening 21 is partially closed and the air dam 111 is retracted. At this time, the first structural member 11 is in the first state, the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state, and the first structural member 11 partially blocks the grille opening 21 .

[0121] As shown in FIG10 , the grille opening 21 is in the closed state and the air dam 111 is in the open state. At this time, the first structural member 11 is in the second state, the second structural member 12 is in the third state, and the second structural member 12 completely blocks the grille opening 21 .

[0122] As shown in FIG. 11 , the grille opening 21 is in an open state, the air dam 111 is in an open state, the first structural member 11 is in the second state, and the second structural member 12 is in the fourth state.

[0123] For example, when the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is greater than the first preset threshold, the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100 is high. According to the heat dissipation requirement of the cooling system of the vehicle 100, the controller 13 can control the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 to move in the vertical direction to the positions shown in Figure 6, Figure 8, Figure 9 or Figure 11.

[0124] For example, when the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is less than the first preset threshold, the temperature of the engine of the vehicle 100 is low, or when the vehicle 100 is started at extremely low temperatures, electric vehicles usually use the heat source of the air conditioner (positive temperature coefficient, PTC) or a heat pump to preheat the battery. For fuel vehicles or hybrid vehicles 100, the engine also needs to heat up quickly to preheat the lubrication power system. The vehicle 100 has no heat dissipation requirements and requires insulation measures. Therefore, in these cases, the controller 13 can be used to control the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 to move in the vertical direction to the positions shown in Figure 7 or Figure 10.

[0125] Exemplarily, when the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is less than a first preset threshold, a large downforce is not required to stabilize the grip of the front axle of the vehicle 100. At this time, the air dam 111 can be in a retracted state, and the controller 13 can control the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 to move to the positions shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 or 9. The positions of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 can also be specifically selected according to the temperature of the engine.

[0126] When the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is greater than a first preset threshold, the entire vehicle requires a larger downforce to obtain additional tire grip. At this time, the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 can be moved to the positions shown in Figures 10 and 11 by the controller 13, and the height of the first structural member 11 extending from the bottom of the vehicle body 20 can be adjusted according to the driving speed of the vehicle 100, thereby obtaining different front axle downforce values.

[0127] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, there is no further limitation on the control of the height of the first structural member 11 extending from the bottom of the vehicle body 20 .

[0128] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 can also be manually controlled to move in the vertical direction according to user needs. In the embodiment of the present application, the control method of the first structural member 11 and the second structural member 12 is not further limited.

[0129] The vehicle 100 in the embodiment of the present application is provided with the above-mentioned active air intake grille assembly 10. Since the active air intake grille assembly 10 has a simple structure, small size and low cost, it can reduce the installation space and facilitate assembly, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty of the active air intake grille and reducing the cost of the vehicle 100.

[0130] It should be noted that the vehicle in the embodiment of the present application can be a family car or a medium or large car, bus, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, there is no further limitation on the type of vehicle.

[0131] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0132] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof used herein are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or are inherent to these processes, methods, products or apparatuses.

[0133] Unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," "fixed," etc. should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integration. They can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. They can also refer to internal connections between two elements or interactions between two elements. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity of the technical features indicated.

[0134] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An active air intake grille assembly, applied to a vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle includes a body and a grille opening disposed on the body; The active air intake grille assembly includes a first structural member and a controller; wherein, The first structural member is movably connected to the vehicle body in a vertical direction, the controller is connected to the first structural member, and the controller is used to control the first structural member to move in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body; The first structural member includes a first state and a second state; The first structural member is used to block airflow from entering the vehicle body from the grille opening in a first state, and is also used to block airflow from passing through the bottom of the vehicle body in a second state.

2. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the first structural member is in the first state, at least a portion of the first structural member is located within the grille opening and is used to block at least a portion of the grille opening; When the first structural member is in the second state, at least a portion of the structure of the first structural member extends beyond the bottom of the vehicle body.

3. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes a monitoring device; wherein, The monitoring device is electrically connected to the controller. The monitoring device is used to collect driving parameter information of the vehicle. The controller is used to control the first structural member to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body according to the driving parameter information.

4. The active air intake grille assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Also included is a drive assembly; wherein, The first structural member is connected to the driving assembly; The driving assembly is electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the driving assembly to drive the first structural member to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body.

5. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The driving assembly includes a guide rail and an actuator; wherein, The first structural member is movably connected to the guide rail, and the actuator is used to drive the first structural member to move in a vertical direction along the guide rail.

6. The active air intake grille assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Also includes a second structural member; wherein, In the vertical direction, the first structural member and the second structural member are oppositely arranged on both sides of the grille opening, and the first structural member is located between the grille opening and the bottom of the vehicle body, and the second structural member is located between the grille opening and the top of the vehicle body; The second structural member is movably connected to the vehicle body in a vertical direction.

7. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second structural member is connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the second structural member to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body.

8. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second structural member includes a third state and a fourth state; wherein, When the second structural member is in the third state, at least a portion of the second structural member is located within the grille opening and is used to block at least a portion of the grille opening to prevent airflow from entering the vehicle body through the grille opening; When the second structural member is in the fourth state, the second structural member is located outside the grille opening.

9. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: Also includes a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly; wherein, The first structural member is connected to the first driving assembly, The second structural member is connected to the second driving assembly; The first drive assembly and the second drive assembly are both electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the first drive assembly to drive the first structure to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body; The controller is further configured to control the second driving assembly to drive the second structural member to move in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle body.

10. The active air intake grille assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first drive assembly includes a first guide rail and a first actuator, and the second drive assembly includes a second guide rail and a second actuator; wherein, The first structural member is movably connected to the first guide rail, and the first actuator is used to drive the first structural member to move in a vertical direction along the first guide rail; The second structural member is movably connected to the second guide rail, and the second actuator is used to drive the second structural member to move in a vertical direction along the second guide rail.

11. A vehicle, characterized in that: It comprises a vehicle body and the active air intake grille assembly described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that The vehicle body includes a grille opening and an engine compartment, and the grille opening is in communication with the engine compartment; The active air intake grille assembly includes a first structural member, and the first structural member is located between the grille opening and the engine compartment.

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