Active grille shutter

Abstract

Provided in the present disclosure is an active grille shutter. The active grille shutter comprises: a frame, which has an air intake opening; an actuation mechanism, which is fixed to the frame; at least one blade set, which comprises a first blade and a second blade, which are respectively pivotally connected to the frame and can be driven by the actuation mechanism to respectively pivot between an open position and a closed position in the same direction of rotation so as to open and close the air intake opening; and a linkage drive mechanism, which is connected to the actuation mechanism and the at least one blade set and is configured to transmit torque outputted by the actuation mechanism to the first blade and the second blade. The above design of the present disclosure enables the blade set to achieve synchronized opening and closing, and effectively improves the aesthetics of a vehicle's front-end appearance; and the active grille shutter has a simple structure and is convenient to install.

Description

Active grille Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an active air intake grille for an automobile. Background Technology

[0002] An active grille, such as an external one, has blades with opening and closing functions placed at the very front of the vehicle body (also known as front-mounted blades). In this way, the blades of the active grille not only have the function of adjusting the airflow in front of the vehicle (to change the flow of outside air into the car's radiator), but the active grille also serves as part of the car's front fascia. The shape of its blades, the opening angle, the closing angle, and the direction of opening and closing all affect the front fascia design and the drag coefficient of the car.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field to propose an active air intake grille that can reduce the drag coefficient, improve the appearance of the car's front face, and is simple in structure and easy to install. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an active air intake grille. By setting a linkage-type drive mechanism between the actuator and the blade assembly, the torque output by the actuator can be transmitted to the blade assembly, causing two blades to rotate in the same direction. This results in a smooth opening and closing motion of the blade assembly, effectively enhancing the styling of the car's front end. This disclosure designs the linkage-type drive mechanism to include a lever and first and second linkages, allowing the torque of the actuator to be transmitted to the first and second blades respectively. This configuration is simple and easy to install. Furthermore, by setting the first and second blades to have different closing angles, this disclosure gives the blade assembly a streamlined appearance. This not only achieves a lower drag coefficient but also further enhances the styling of the car's front end. Additionally, by aligning the first and second blades approximately parallel to a plane defined by the lateral and longitudinal directions when the blade assembly is fully open, this disclosure achieves maximum forward airflow (i.e., maximum flow rate of outside air entering the car's radiator), resulting in excellent heat dissipation.

[0005] This disclosure provides an active air intake grille, comprising: a frame having an air inlet; an actuator fixed to the frame; and at least one blade group including a first blade and a second blade, the first blade and the second blade being pivotally connected to the frame and capable of pivoting in the same direction of rotation between an open position and a closed position under the drive of the actuator to open and close the air inlet. The active air intake grille further includes a linkage drive mechanism connecting the actuator and the at least one blade group to transmit the torque output by the actuator to the first blade and the second blade.

[0006] The active air intake grille according to this disclosure may also have one or more of the following features, individually or in combination.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the linkage drive mechanism includes: a lever having a receiving end connected to the actuator and a driving end opposite thereto; a first link having one end pivotally connected to the driving end of the lever and the other end pivotally connected to the first blade; and a second link having one end pivotally connected to the driving end of the lever and the other end pivotally connected to the second blade.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, one end of the first link and one end of the second link are coaxially pivotally connected to the transmission end of the lever.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the receiving end and the driving end of the lever are located on different axes that are parallel to each other.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the frame includes a support portion having a hole, and the lever has a protrusion that mates with the hole, the protrusion being coaxially disposed with the receiving end.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the transmission end has a cylindrical structure and a snap-fit ​​protrusion near its free end, the first link and the second link have through holes for receiving the transmission end, the through holes having grooves, wherein the snap-fit ​​protrusion is capable of passing through the grooves in the through holes of the first link and the second link during installation, and is capable of preventing the first link and the second link from disengaging from the transmission end when the lever pivots relative to the first link and the second link.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the first blade includes: a first pivot portion pivotally connected to the frame; and a second pivot portion pivotally connected to the first link, and the second blade includes: a third pivot portion pivotally connected to the frame; and a fourth pivot portion pivotally connected to the second link.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, when the first blade and the second blade are in the closed position, the first pivot and the fourth pivot are located between the second pivot and the third pivot.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the active air intake grille includes two blade groups, and the actuation structure is located between the two blade groups and drives each blade group via the linkage drive mechanism.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, two of the linkage drive mechanisms are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the actuator.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, when the first blade and the second blade are in the closed position, the angles between the first blade and the second blade and the plane defined by the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction are different.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the angle between the first blade and the plane is 85 degrees, and the angle between the second blade and the plane is 60 degrees.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, when the first blade and the second blade are in the open position, the first blade and the second blade are parallel to the plane.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the actuator is a motor, and the lever is connected to the output shaft of the motor. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an active air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an active air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from another angle, showing the actuator and the linkage drive mechanism.

[0022] Figure 3 is a side view of an active air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 is a partial enlarged view of the active air intake grille at the actuator and linkage drive mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged view of a moving component in an active air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the moving component includes an actuator, a linkage drive mechanism, and blades;

[0025] Figure 6 is a partially enlarged view of a moving component in an active air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from another perspective;

[0026] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a linkage drive mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a linkage drive mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from another angle;

[0028] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a lever according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 10 is a partial enlarged view of the lever installed on the frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a first link according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the second link according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 13 is a partial enlarged view of the blade assembly near the actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this disclosure from the content disclosed in this specification.

[0034] It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes to aid those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this disclosure. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effectiveness and purpose of this disclosure, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed herein. Furthermore, the terms "above" and "a" used in this specification are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of this disclosure's implementation.

[0035] This disclosure provides an active air intake grille 1, and the various embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For a clearer understanding of this disclosure, the lateral direction X is defined as the left-right extension direction of the vehicle body when the active air intake grille 1 is installed on the vehicle; the longitudinal direction Y is defined as the front-rear extension direction of the vehicle body when the active air intake grille 1 is installed on the vehicle, and the longitudinal direction Y is perpendicular to the lateral direction X; the vertical direction z is defined as the direction perpendicular to the plane containing the lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y.

[0036] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. The active air intake grille 1 includes a frame 10, an actuator 20, at least one blade assembly 30, and a linkage-type drive mechanism 40 (also referred to as a drive mechanism). The frame 10 has an air inlet 100 through which outside air enters the vehicle's radiator to cool the vehicle's powertrain. The actuator 20 (e.g., an electric motor) is fixed to the frame 10 and can output power / torque. The blade assembly 30 includes a first blade 31 (also referred to as an upper blade) and a second blade 32 (also referred to as a lower blade) arranged vertically in the z-direction. The first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are pivotally connected to the frame 10 and can rotate between an open position (as shown on the left side of Figure 1) and a closed position (as shown on the right side of Figure 1) under the drive of the actuator 20 to open or close the air inlet 100 of the frame 10. The linkage-type drive mechanism 40 of the active air intake grille 1 connects the actuator 20 and the blade assembly 30 to transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the first blade 31 and the second blade 32, causing the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 to rotate in the same direction of rotation, for example, both the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 rotate in a first direction of rotation R1 (clockwise as shown in Figure 1). This arrangement simplifies the structure of the active air intake grille 1, facilitates installation, and ensures that the opening and closing movements of the blade assembly 30 are neat, thus enhancing the appearance of the car's front end.

[0037] Specifically, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the frame 10 can be generally shaped like a convex cover. The frame 10 includes a front wall 101 and a top wall 102, a bottom wall 103, and two side walls 104 connected to the periphery of the front wall 101. The front wall 101 is provided with at least one air inlet 100 (this disclosure uses two air inlets 100 as an example, but is not limited thereto), which can be opened or closed by the blade assembly 30 (i.e., the first blade 31 and the second blade 32) to regulate the airflow into the vehicle radiator. The frame 10 also has a generally rectangular receiving cavity 12 for accommodating components such as a vehicle radar (not shown) and an actuator 20. The receiving cavity 12 is located between the two air inlets 100. The actuator 20 can be disposed in the receiving cavity 12 near the bottom wall 103 of the frame 10 (as shown in Figure 2), and components such as automotive radar can be disposed in the receiving cavity near the top wall 102 of the frame 10 to make full use of space and improve the compactness of the components. The receiving cavity 12 has a first opening 121 on the front wall 101 of the frame 10 and a second opening 122 on the top wall 102 to facilitate the installation of components such as automotive radar and / or actuator 20.

[0038] In order to improve the appearance and prevent dust, particles and other impurities from entering the receiving cavity 12 and thus affecting the sensing accuracy of components such as the car radar and the motion accuracy of the actuator 20, the active air intake grille 1 may also be provided with a first cover plate (not shown) fixed between the two air inlets 100 on the front wall 101 and a second cover plate (not shown) fixed on the top wall 102. The first cover plate is used to block the first opening 121 and the second cover plate is used to block the second opening 122.

[0039] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. The actuator 20 (e.g., a motor) and the linkage drive mechanism 40 are located within the frame 10. The actuator 20 is fixed in the receiving cavity 13, and the linkage drive mechanism 40 is located between the actuator 20 and the blade assembly 30 and is concealed by the frame 10. This arrangement ensures that the actuator 20 and the linkage drive mechanism 40 are not exposed in the visible area during the opening and closing of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The output end (e.g., an output shaft) of the actuator 20 is connected to the linkage drive mechanism 40, and the torque output by the actuator 20 is transmitted to the blade assembly 30 (i.e., the first blade 31 and the second blade 32) through the linkage drive mechanism 40, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0040] The blade group 30 of the active air intake grille 1 is arranged corresponding to the air inlet 100 on the frame 10. In this embodiment, the active air intake grille 1 includes two blade groups 30, which are located on both sides of the actuator 20, and each blade group 30 is provided with a linkage drive mechanism 40 between it and the actuator 20, so that the torque output by the same actuator 20 is transmitted to the blade groups 30 on both sides simultaneously, so that the two blade groups 30 rotate synchronously and simultaneously close and open the air inlet 100 on the frame 10.

[0041] It should be noted that the states in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 where one blade group 30 is closed and the other blade group 30 is open are only for the purpose of illustrating that the blade groups 30 (first blade 31 and second blade 32) have open and closed states, but are not intended to illustrate that the two blade groups 30 can have different states at the same time.

[0042] In one embodiment, the blade group 30 and the linkage drive mechanism 40 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the actuator 20. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, only the blade group 30 and drive mechanism 40 on one side will be described below. Based on this, those skilled in the art should be able to clearly understand the blade group 30 and drive mechanism 40 on the other side, so they will not be described in detail here.

[0043] Please refer to Figures 7 to 9. The linkage-type drive mechanism 40 may include a lever 43, a first link 41, and a second link 42. The lever 43 may be approximately Z-shaped and has a receiving end 431 and a transmission end 432 arranged opposite to each other. The receiving end 431 is connected (e.g., splined) to the output end of the actuator 20, so that the lever 43 rotates synchronously with the output end of the actuator 20. Specifically, the lever 43 may have an external spline on the receiving end 431, and the output end of the actuator 20 may have a corresponding internal spline. The external spline of the receiving end 431 is inserted into the internal spline of the actuator 20 to form a splined connection. Of course, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the receiving end 431 may also have an internal spline, and the output end of the actuator 20 may have a corresponding external spline, as long as the two can be connected and rotate synchronously. The transmission end 432 and the receiving end 431 of the lever 43 can be located on different parallel axes, and the transmission end 432 can be coaxially pivotally connected to the first link 41 and the second link 42 (or the first link 41 and the second link 42 can be coaxially pivotally connected to the transmission end 432) to transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the first link 41 and the second link 42, and to simplify the structure of the lever 43. Of course, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the transmission end 432 of the lever 43 can also have two branches, which are respectively and non-axially pivotally connected to the first link 41 and the second link 42, as long as the transmission end 432 of the lever 43 can transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the first link 41 and the second link 42.

[0044] Please refer to Figures 7 to 9. The transmission end 432 of the lever 43 includes a cylindrical structure for pivotally connecting the first link 41 and the second link 42. In one embodiment, the cylindrical structure may have a snap-fit ​​protrusion (not shown) near its free end to prevent the lever 43 from disengaging from the first link 41 and the second link 42 after assembly. Specifically, the first connecting portion 431 may have at least one snap-fit ​​protrusion in the radial extension direction of its cylindrical structure. The snap-fit ​​protrusion may be approximately inverted triangular in shape, meaning that it may gradually shift away from the axis of the cylindrical structure as it extends from the transmission end 432 to the receiving end 431. This allows it to not only guide the transmission end 432 into the through holes 410 and 420 of the first link 41 and the second link (as shown in Figures 11 and 12), but also prevent the transmission end 432 from disengaging from the through holes 410 of the first link 41 and the through holes 420 of the second link 42 after assembly. In addition, to reduce weight, a groove can be provided on the lever 43 (including the transmission end 432 and the protrusion 433), as shown in Figure 9.

[0045] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in one embodiment, the lever 43 may also have a protrusion 433, which is coaxially and oppositely disposed to the receiving end 431. That is, the protrusion 433 and the transmission end 432 are disposed on the same side of the lever 43, and are coaxially disposed to the receiving end 431 (especially at the connection between the receiving end 431 and the actuator 20). In other words, the protrusion 433 may be coaxially disposed to the output end of the actuator 20. Correspondingly, the frame 10 has a support portion 11 that cooperates with the protrusion 433 and is used to support the lever 43. The support portion 11 may be a support rib on the frame 10 and integrally formed with the frame 10, which facilitates manufacturing and avoids separate installation. The support part 11 has a hole into which the protrusion 433 of the lever 43 can be inserted, so that the two sides of the lever 43 can be supported by the support part 11 and the actuator 20 respectively. This prevents the transmission end 432 of the lever 43 from deviating from the rotation axis during rotation, which would affect the opening and closing angle of the blade group 30. At the same time, it can also effectively prevent the axial movement of the fork 43 and ensure the motion accuracy of the linkage drive mechanism 40.

[0046] Please refer back to Figures 5 to 8 and Figure 11. The first link 41 of the linkage drive mechanism 40 can be generally straight, with one end pivotally connected to the receiving end 431 of the lever 43 and the other end pivotally connected to the first blade 31 to transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the first blade 31. In one embodiment, one end of the first link 41 has a through hole 410 for receiving the cylindrical structure of the first connecting portion 431. In one embodiment, in order to allow the cylindrical structure of the receiving end 431 (with a snap-fit ​​protrusion) to pass smoothly through the through hole 410, the through hole 410 is provided with at least one groove (not shown) in its radially extending direction, so that the snap-fit ​​protrusion on the cylindrical structure can pass smoothly through the through hole 410 for easy installation. During the pivoting of the lever 43 relative to the first link 41, the outer wall of the through hole 410 can stop the snap-fit ​​protrusion in the non-groove position to prevent the receiving end 431 from disengaging from the first link 41. The other end of the first connecting rod 41 has a circular through hole 411 for pivotally connecting the first blade 31. Specifically, referring to Figures 6 and 13, the first blade 31 has a first pivot portion 311 and a second pivot portion 312, wherein the first pivot portion 311 is pivotally connected to the frame 10, allowing the first blade 31 to rotate relative to the frame 10; the second pivot portion 312 is pivotally connected to the circular through hole 411 of the first connecting rod 41. In one embodiment, the second pivot portion 312 may have a cylindrical structure, and its outer diameter is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the through hole 412 of the first connecting rod 41. In order for the cylindrical structure to pass smoothly through the through hole 412, the cylindrical structure may have a longitudinal groove (not shown) extending from its free end along its axial direction, making the second pivot portion 312 approximately U-shaped and increasing its elasticity, so that it can be easily pivotally connected to the first connecting rod 41 even if the second pivot portion 312 is deformed.

[0047] Referring to Figures 5 to 8 and Figure 12, the second link 42 of the linkage drive mechanism 40 can also be generally straight, with one end pivotally connected to the receiving end 432 of the lever 43 coaxially with the first link 41, and the other end pivotally connected to the second blade 32 to transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the second blade 32. In one embodiment, one end of the second link 42 has a through hole 420 for receiving the cylindrical structure of the receiving end 432. To allow the cylindrical structure (with a snap-fit ​​protrusion) of the receiving end 432 of the lever 43 to pass smoothly through the through hole 420, the through hole 420 is provided with at least one groove (not shown) in its radially extending direction, allowing the snap-fit ​​protrusion on the cylindrical structure to pass smoothly through the through hole 420 for easy installation. Furthermore, during the pivoting of the lever 43 relative to the second connecting rod 42, the outer wall of the through hole 420 can stop the snap-fit ​​protrusion in the non-grooved position to prevent the receiving end 432 from disengaging from the second connecting rod 42. The other end of the second connecting rod 42 has a circular through hole 421 for pivotally connecting the second blade 31. Specifically, referring to Figures 5, 6, and 13, the second blade 32 has a third pivot portion 321 and a fourth pivot portion 322, wherein the third pivot portion 321 is pivotally connected to the frame 10, allowing the second blade 32 to rotate relative to the frame 10; the fourth pivot portion 322 is pivotally connected to the circular through hole 421 of the second connecting rod 42. In one embodiment, the structure of the fourth pivot portion 322 may be the same as that of the first pivot portion 311 of the first blade 31, that is, the fourth pivot portion 322 may have a cylindrical structure and its outer diameter is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the through hole 421. In order for the cylindrical structure to pass smoothly through the through hole 421, the cylindrical structure may have a longitudinal groove (not shown) extending from its free end along its axial direction, so that the fourth pivot portion 322 is approximately U-shaped and its elasticity is increased, so that it can be conveniently pivoted to the second connecting rod 42 in the event of deformation of the fourth pivot portion 322.

[0048] In order to enable the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 to rotate in the same direction during opening or closing, and to make the opening and closing action of the blade assembly 30 neat to beautify the front face design, when the blade assembly 30 is in the closed position (i.e., when the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are in the closed position), the first pivot 311 and the fourth pivot 322 are located between the second pivot 312 and the third pivot 321 (as shown in Figures 6 and 13). That is, the first link 41 and the second link 42 are respectively pivotally connected to the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 at approximately the same position (for example, the upper end of one side of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 as shown in Figure 13), and the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are respectively pivotally connected to the frame 10 at another approximately the same position on the same side (the lower end of the same side of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 as shown in Figure 13). Under the drive of the linkage drive mechanism 40, the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 rotate in the same direction (as shown in Figure 1), so that the opening and closing action of the blade assembly 30 is neat to beautify the front face design of the car.

[0049] Please refer back to Figure 3. The first blade 31 and the second blade 32 of the blade assembly 30 have different closing angles, which gives the blade assembly 30 a streamlined appearance. This not only achieves a lower air drag coefficient, but also enhances the front styling of the car.

[0050] Specifically, when the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are in the closed position, the angle αα between the first blade 31 and the plane defined by the lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y (as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3) (i.e., the closing angle of the first blade 31) is different from the angle β between the second blade 32 and the aforementioned plane (as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3) (i.e., the closing angle of the second blade 32), allowing the blade assembly 30 to exhibit a streamlined appearance. In one embodiment, the closing angle of the first blade 31 may be 85 degrees, and the closing angle of the second blade 32 may be 60 degrees; however, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can specifically define the closing angles of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 according to the appearance requirements of the car's front end.

[0051] Please refer back to Figures 1 and 2. When the actuator 20 drives the blade assembly 30 to the fully open position, the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are approximately parallel to the plane defined by the lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y, so as to obtain the maximum airflow in front of the vehicle (i.e., obtain the maximum flow rate of outside air into the car radiator) and achieve a good heat dissipation effect.

[0052] Furthermore, it should be noted that this disclosure does not limit the lengths of the first link 41 and the second link 42, nor does it limit the pivot position of the blade assembly 30 on the frame 10, or the position of the transmission end 432 relative to the rotation axis of the receiving end 431. The opening and closing angles of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 can be adjusted by the lengths of the first link 41 and the second link 42, the pivot position of the blade assembly 30 on the frame 10, and the rotation axis position of the transmission end 432 relative to the receiving end 431.

[0053] The following section will explain the switching of the blade assembly 30 between the closed and open positions in conjunction with Figure 5.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, the blade group 30 on one side of the actuator 20 (e.g., the left side in Figure 5) is in the closed position (i.e., the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are both in the closed position). When the actuator 20 rotates by an angle (e.g., 90 degrees) along the first rotation direction R1 (e.g., clockwise as shown in Figure 5), it drives the lever 43 to rotate along the first rotation direction R1. In this way, the transmission end 432 of the lever 43 can simultaneously pull the first blade 31 and the second blade 32, so that both blades 31 and 32 rotate along the first rotation direction R1 until the lever 43 on the left rotates to a position symmetrical to the lever 43 on the right. At this time, the blade group 30 is in the open position (i.e., the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are in the open position).

[0055] When the blade assembly 30 needs to be closed again, the actuator 20 rotates by an angle (e.g., 90 degrees) along the second rotation direction R2, and drives the lever 43 to rotate along the second rotation direction R2. In this way, the transmission end 432 of the lever 43 can simultaneously push against the first blade 31 and the second blade 32, so that both blades 31 and 32 rotate along the second rotation direction R2 until the lever 43 returns to the current position of the left lever 43. At this time, the blade assembly 30 is in the closed position (that is, the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 are in the closed position).

[0056] As can be seen, during the opening and closing process of the blade assembly 30, the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 always rotate in the same direction, so that the opening and closing action of the blade assembly 30 is neat, thus beautifying the front face of the car.

[0057] Although the active air intake grille 1 described in this disclosure is mainly illustrated with two blade groups 30 located on both sides of the actuator 20, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the active air intake grille 1 may also have only one blade group 30. In this case, only a large air inlet 100 needs to be opened on the frame 10, and the actuator 20 and the linkage drive mechanism 40 are set on one side of the blade group 30. The specific configuration can be determined according to actual needs.

[0058] The two blade groups 30 described in this disclosure are mainly illustrated by the example of symmetrical arrangement with respect to the actuator 20. However, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the two blade groups 30 can also be arranged asymmetrically with respect to the actuator 20, as long as the actuator 20 can drive the two blade groups 30 to rotate synchronously between the open and closed positions.

[0059] The receiving end 432 described in this disclosure is mainly illustrated by having a snap-fit ​​protrusion on it and corresponding grooves in the through holes of the first connecting rod 41 and the second connecting rod 42. However, this disclosure is not limited to the above structure, as long as the receiving end 432 can be pivotally connected to the first connecting rod 41 and the second connecting rod 42.

[0060] Similarly, this disclosure is not limited to the pivotal connection structure between the first link 41 and the first blade 31, and between the second link 42 and the second blade 32 in the above embodiments, as long as the first link 41 can be pivotally connected to the first blade 31 and the second link 42 can be pivotally connected to the second blade 32.

[0061] Furthermore, the linkage drive mechanism 40 described in this disclosure is mainly illustrated by including a lever 43, a first link 41, and a second link 42. However, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the linkage drive mechanism 40 may also include other transmission rods, as long as they can transmit the torque output by the actuator 20 to the blade assembly 30.

[0062] This disclosure provides an active air intake grille. By setting a linkage-type drive mechanism between the actuator and the blade assembly, the torque output by the actuator can be transmitted to the blade assembly, causing two blades to rotate in the same direction. This results in a smooth opening and closing motion of the blade assembly, effectively enhancing the front-end styling of the vehicle. The linkage-type drive mechanism, designed to include a lever and first and second linkages, transmits the torque of the actuator to the first and second blades respectively. This simple structure facilitates installation. Furthermore, by setting the first and second blades to have different closing angles, the blade assembly achieves a streamlined appearance, resulting in a lower drag coefficient and further enhancing the front-end styling of the vehicle. Additionally, by aligning the first and second blades approximately parallel to a plane defined by the lateral and longitudinal directions when the blade assembly is fully open, the maximum airflow (i.e., the maximum flow rate of outside air entering the vehicle's radiator) is achieved, resulting in excellent heat dissipation.

[0063] The foregoing description of an exemplary embodiment of the active air intake grille provided by this disclosure refers to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations can be made to the above specific embodiments without departing from the spirit of this disclosure, and various combinations can be made to the various technical features and structures proposed in this disclosure without exceeding the protection scope of this disclosure, which is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An active grille shutter (1), characterized in that, The active air intake grille (1) comprises: a frame (10) having an air inlet (100); an actuator (20) fixed to the frame (10); at least one blade set (30) comprising a first blade (31) and a second blade (32), the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) being respectively pivoted to the frame (10) and being able to pivot in the same rotational direction between an open position and a closed position under the drive of the actuator (20) to open and close the air inlet (100), wherein the active air intake grille (1) further comprises a linkage driving mechanism (40) connecting the actuator (20) and the at least one blade set (30) to transmit the torque output by the actuator (20) to the first blade (31) and the second blade (32).

2. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The linkage driving mechanism (40) comprises: a lever (43) having a receiving end (431) connected to the actuator (20) and a driving end (432) opposite to the receiving end (431); a first linkage (41) having one end pivoted to the driving end (432) of the lever (43) and the other end pivoted to the first blade (31); and a second linkage (42) having one end pivoted to the driving end (432) of the lever (43) and the other end pivoted to the second blade (32).

3. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that One end of the first linkage (41) and one end of the second linkage (42) are coaxially pivoted to the driving end (432) of the lever (43).

4. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The receiving end (431) and the driving end (432) of the lever (43) are located on different axes parallel to each other.

5. Active air intake grille (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The frame (10) comprises a support portion (11) having a hole, the lever (43) has a protruding portion (433) matched with the hole, and the protruding portion (433) is coaxially arranged with the receiving end (431).

6. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The driving end (432) has a cylindrical structure and has a buckle protrusion close to the free end thereof, The first linkage (41) and the second linkage (42) have through holes (410, 420) for receiving the driving end (432), and the through holes (410, 420) have grooves therein, wherein the buckle protrusion is capable of passing through the grooves in the through holes (410, 420) of the first linkage (41) and the second linkage (42) when installed, and is capable of stopping the first linkage (41) and the second linkage (42) from disengaging from the driving end (432) when the lever (43) is pivoted relative to the first linkage (41) and the second linkage (42).

7. The active air intake grille (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first blade (31) comprises: a first pivoting portion (311) pivoted to the frame (10); and a second pivoting portion (312) pivoted to the first linkage (41), the second blade (32) comprises: a third pivoting portion (321) pivoted to the frame (10); and A fourth pivot joint (322) is pivotally connected to the second link (42).

8. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that When the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) are in the closed position, the first pivot joint (311) and the fourth pivot joint (322) are located between the second pivot joint (312) and the third pivot joint (321).

9. Active air intake grille (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The active grille shutter (1) comprises two blade groups (30), and the actuating structure (20) is located between the two blade groups (30) and drives each blade group (30) via the linkage driving mechanism (40) respectively.

10. Active air intake grille (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The two linkage driving mechanisms (40) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the actuating mechanism (20).

11. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that When the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) are in the closed position, the included angles between the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) and a plane defined by a longitudinal direction (Y) and a transverse direction (X) are different.

12. Active air intake grille (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that The included angle between the first blade (31) and the plane is 85 degrees, and the included angle between the second blade (32) and the plane is 60 degrees.

13. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that When the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) are in the open position, the first blade (31) and the second blade (32) are parallel to the plane.

14. Active grille shutter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The actuating mechanism (20) is an electric motor, and the lever (43) is connected to an output shaft of the electric motor.

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