Front Air Inlet Shutter Sealing With Synchronized Non-Parallel Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shutter devices for motor vehicle air intakes struggle to ensure synchronous control of shutter opening and closing when the shutters are not arranged in parallel, which can compromise aerodynamics and heat exchanger efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A shutter system with a support frame featuring crossing orifices and mobile shutters, where a suspended element connected to each shutter allows for synchronous control of opening and closing, independent of the shutters' arrangement within the support frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a common connecting rod is used to control multiple shutters, then synchronous opening and closing can be achieved when shutters are arranged in parallel, but the system cannot ensure synchronicity when shutters are arranged in non-parallel configurations
Solution Approach 1:
A suspended element acts as an intermediary between the actuating device and multiple shutters. This suspended element moves linearly along a guide device and is connected to each shutter via connecting rods, translating its linear motion into synchronized rotational motion of all shutters regardless of their spatial arrangement. The intermediary converts a single linear motion into multiple coordinated rotational motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional common connecting rod mechanical system with a suspended element system. Instead of directly connecting all shutters to a single rotating rod, the new system uses a linearly moving suspended element that connects to each shutter through individual connecting rods, allowing flexible geometric arrangements while maintaining synchronization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If shutters are arranged in non-parallel configurations for aesthetic reasons, then design flexibility is improved, but synchronous control becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The suspended element serves as a mediator that decouples the control mechanism from the specific geometric arrangement of shutters. By connecting to each shutter through individual connecting rods rather than a single common rod, it accommodates various spatial configurations including non-parallel arrangements while maintaining synchronized motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of motion control by using a linearly moving suspended element instead of a rotating common rod. This linear motion along a guide device provides a different kinematic approach that can accommodate shutters arranged in various dimensions and orientations, including non-parallel configurations.
3Reliability
If multiple connecting rods are used to connect the suspended element to each shutter, then synchronous control of non-parallel shutters is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control function into a single suspended element that serves all shutters simultaneously. While individual connecting rods are used for each shutter, the suspended element consolidates the control mechanism into one component that moves linearly to control all shutters, reducing the overall system complexity compared to multiple independent actuating mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for sealing an air inlet of a motor vehicle, said sealing device (1) comprising a support frame (3) comprising a front face (3a) and a rear face (3b), said support frame (3) comprising at least one through-orifice, each through-orifice comprising a sealing assembly (5) comprising at least two complementary flaps (50), each of which is movable about a corresponding pivot axis (51) between a sealing position and an open position, the sealing device (1) further comprising a system for synchronously opening the flaps (50), said opening system comprising: - a suspended element (7) arranged on the rear face (3b) of the support frame (3) and movable between a position in which it is close to the support frame (3) and a position in which it is remote from the support frame (3), said suspended element (7) being connected to each of the flaps (50) such that, in the close position, the flaps (50) are in the sealing position and, in the remote position, the flaps (50) are in the open position, - an actuating device configured to move the suspended element (7) between the close position and the second, remote position.