Active Grille Shutter with Non-Linear Louver Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active grille shutter systems are not scalable to fit complex, curved vehicle front grilles and are separate from the grille, increasing cost, mass, and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An active grille shutter system with moveable louvers that can rotate non-linearly, integrated with the vehicle grille, using a lifter mechanism with tensioners and a drive system to adjust louvers' positions, allowing for complex rotation and styling integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional active grille shutter systems use shutters rotating about a single straight axis on a flat grille surface, then the system is simple to manufacture and operate, but the system cannot fit complex curved vehicle front grilles and is not scalable to multiple sets of shutters with different rotation angles
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system is divided into multiple independent sets of shutters, each set capable of rotating about its own axis. Each shutter within a set can be independently controlled to rotate about a different axis angle, allowing the system to adapt to complex curved grille surfaces while maintaining manageable complexity through modular segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter system transitions from a static flat-plane rotation mechanism to a dynamic multi-axis rotation system. Each shutter can dynamically adjust its rotation axis and angle based on the local geometry of the curved grille surface, enabling adaptation to complex three-dimensional surfaces while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control
2Ease of manufacture
If active grille shutter systems are positioned behind or rearward of the vehicle's stylized front grille, then the shutters can function separately from the grille design, but this increases cost, mass, and space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system is merged with the vehicle's stylized front grille, integrating the functional shutter components directly into the aesthetic grille structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate grille and shutter assemblies, reducing overall mass, packaging space, and manufacturing complexity while maintaining both stylistic and functional requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated grille-shutter assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the vehicle's signature aesthetic styling, acts as the structural housing for the shutter mechanism, and enables active airflow control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing mass and space requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Active grille shutter. In an embodiment of a shutter system of the present disclosure, the shutter system comprises a plurality of moveable louvers, at least one lifter, the lifter including a lifter arm having a plurality of platforms and a plurality of spurs extending therefrom, a plurality of tensioners, and a drive mechanism connected to the lifter arm and structured to reversibly move the lifter arm and the plurality of platforms extending therefrom, wherein the movement of the lifter arm and platforms causes each louver to rotate about a pin extending therefrom, the pin adjacent and offset from the post.