Angled Joint Actuator for Vehicle Air Intake Shutters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active grill shutter systems are poorly designed for vehicles with aerodynamically curved front ends, where angled air intake openings pose challenges in synchronous operation and increased costs due to complex driven connections.
Innovation Solution
An active vehicle air intake shutter system with angled joints and a shaft oriented in the lateral direction, allowing pivotal movement between shutter assemblies at angled air intake openings, enabling simultaneous operation and improved aerodynamics without altering the angle between connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air intake openings are angled relative to one another to extend in both rearward and lateral directions for aerodynamic contouring, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the complexity of driven connection for synchronous shutter operation increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driven connection system is segmented into modular components: a lateral shaft, angled couplings at each shutter assembly, and universal joints. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific angular and positional requirements independently, simplifying the overall connection complexity while maintaining synchronous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accommodates angular variations in the air intake openings by using adjustable angled couplings and universal joints that can adapt to different angles. This parameter flexibility allows the same basic shaft-coupling mechanism to work with various aerodynamic contour configurations without increasing complexity.
2Loss of energy
If air intake openings are angled relative to one another for aerodynamic contouring, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to complex driven connections
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft-coupling-universal joint assembly serves multiple functions: it transmits rotational motion, accommodates angular misalignment, and enables synchronous operation of angled shutters. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for complex custom mechanisms for each angled configuration, reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Universal joints and angled couplings act as intermediaries between the lateral shaft and the angled shutter assemblies. These intermediary components simplify the connection by handling angular transformations, making the system easier to manufacture compared to direct rigid connections.
3Ease of operation
If traditional driven connections are used for angled air intake openings, then shutter operation can be achieved, but synchronous operation becomes challenging and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of motion transmission, angular accommodation, and synchronous control into a single integrated shaft-coupling-universal joint assembly. This combination simplifies synchronous operation by ensuring that both angled shutters are driven from a common lateral shaft, maintaining synchronized movement without complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An active vehicle air intake shutter system is provided for installation at first and second air intake openings on a front end of a motor vehicle that are angled relative to one another in both the rearward and lateral directions. The system comprises first and second intake shutter assemblies for mounting at the intake openings. A lateral shaft comprises a first and second shaft couplings each oriented axially with respect to the shaft axis. The first shaft coupling is configured to connect to a first coupling of the first intake shutter assembly at an angle to define a first angled joint that transfers pivotal movement therebetween without changing the angle therebetween. The second shaft coupling is also configured to connect to the second coupling of the second intake shutter assembly at an angle to define a second such angled joint. An actuator pivots the first and second couplings of the first and second intake shutter assemblies simultaneously between the open and closed positions thereof via the shaft and the first and second angled joints.