Vehicle Grill Shutter Universal Joint Fin Concealment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular grill shutter devices with curved fins are aesthetically compromised as the curved body plates become visible through the grill opening when fins rotate, detracting from the appearance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating universal joints between the support shafts of neighboring fins allows for rotation and angle adjustment, creating a multi-joint structure that hides the fins behind the support shafts when open, maintaining a curved configuration and enhancing appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the fins are made with a curved body plate to fit the curved grill configuration, then the closed opening decorativeness is improved, but the body plate becomes visible through the opening when the fins rotate open, deteriorating the appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal joint mechanism that adds a rotational dimension to the fin support system. Instead of simple linear rotation, the fins now rotate about an axis that is angled relative to the grill surface, allowing the curved body plates to be concealed behind the support shafts when open while maintaining the curved configuration when closed
2Device complexity
If a single drive source is used to actuate all fins, then the device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to achieve synchronized rotation and proper positioning of multiple fins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fin actuation system into segmented units, where each fin has its own support shaft with a universal joint. This segmentation allows each fin to be independently positioned and rotated while still being driven by a single drive source, achieving both simplified complexity and reliable synchronized operation
Solution Approach 2:
The universal joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the single drive source and multiple fins. It transmits rotational motion from the drive source to each fin's support shaft, enabling synchronized operation while allowing for angular adjustments to maintain proper positioning
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 multi-joint structure effectively conceals the curved body plates of the fins when the grill is open, improving the aesthetic appeal by maintaining a smooth, curved appearance, while allowing simultaneous operation of multiple fins via a single drive source.
Implementation Method 1
a universal joint joining between the support shafts of two of the fins which neighbor one another in the vehicular width direction
Data Source
AI summary
A grill shutter device for vehicle includes a grill, a shutter, and a drive source. The grill is provided with an opening penetrating the grill in the front/rear direction. The shutter includes fins opening and closing the opening, lining up in a vehicular width direction, and curving so as to fit into a curved configuration of the grill. The drive source drives the shutter so that the fins open and close the opening. The fins include a body plate, and a support shaft fixed to the body plate, extending in a direction linearly linking between vehicular-width-direction opposite ends of a corresponding site in the opening, and supported to the grill so as to rotate when actuated by the drive source. Moreover, a universal joint joins between the support shafts of two of the fins neighboring one another in the vehicular width direction.