Active Grille Louver Camming Mechanism for Engine Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for automobiles are inefficient in controlling airflow around the engine, leading to poor fuel efficiency during startup and aerodynamic inefficiencies, as they either remove heat away from the engine when it's cold or fail to utilize forward motion airflow effectively.
Innovation Solution
An active grille system with a single actuator controlling two sets of louvers through a camming mechanism, allowing for selective actuation between closed and open positions based on temperature, utilizing a first and second camming plate with differently shaped slots to independently control the movement of each set of louvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air flow control devices are used to remove heat from the engine, then cooling efficiency is improved, but fuel efficiency during startup deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts louver positions based on engine temperature and operating conditions. During startup, louvers remain closed to retain heat; once the engine reaches optimal temperature, louvers open to enable cooling. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining engine temperature and fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow control operates periodically based on engine warm-up cycles. Initially, the system prevents air flow to allow engine warming. After a predetermined time or temperature threshold is reached, the system periodically opens louvers to allow cooling, creating a periodic action pattern that balances warming and cooling needs.
2Temperature
If traditional cooling systems are used, then engine cooling is achieved, but aerodynamic efficiency deteriorates due to poor airflow management
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts air flow paths based on vehicle operating conditions and aerodynamic requirements. By controlling louver positions, the system optimizes airflow to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency while maintaining necessary engine cooling, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and aerodynamic efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If multiple actuators are used to control different louver sets, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control functions of multiple actuators into a single actuator that controls both upper and lower louver sets through a unified cam mechanism. This consolidation maintains the ability to independently position different louver sets while reducing the total number of actuators, thus resolving the contradiction between control precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator performs multiple functions by controlling both upper and lower louver sets through differently shaped cams. This multi-functional design allows one actuator to achieve what would traditionally require multiple actuators, reducing system complexity while maintaining precise control over different air flow paths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently manages airflow around the engine by adapting to temperature changes, improving fuel efficiency and aerodynamics by allowing precise control over airflow using a minimal number of parts and actuators, optimizing engine warming and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention also includes a camming mechanism for providing selective actuation of the first set of louvers and the second set of louvers, and an actuator which controls the camming mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
An active grille system which is mounted to a fascia, grille, or carrier, or is part of the carrier of an automobile. Two sets of louvers are rotatably mounted to a frame, and a camming mechanism provides selective actuation of both sets of louvers, and an actuator controls the camming mechanism such that the actuator moves the camming mechanism between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the camming mechanism is in the first position, both the first set and second set of louvers are in a closed position, when the camming mechanism is in the second position, the first set of louvers are in an open position and the second set of louvers are in a closed position, and when the camming mechanism is in the third position both the first set and second set of louvers are in an open position.