Grille Shutter Locking Structure for Fin Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing grille shutter device fails to detect abnormalities in the uppermost and lowermost fins due to the absence of adjacent fins, leading to potential undetected issues when motive power transmission is cut off in fully closed or open states.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a locking structure with a first locking portion on each fin and a second locking portion on the linkage member, which restricts movement when motive power transmission is cut off, allowing the abnormality detection unit to properly identify issues by restricting the operation of the driving device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the uppermost and lowermost fins are excluded from abnormality detection, then the detection system is simpler, but the reliability of abnormality detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure merges the abnormality detection function with the existing fin linkage mechanism. The first locking portions on fins and second locking portion on the linkage member work together as an integrated system, where the interaction between these components enables detection of abnormalities in all fins including uppermost and lowermost, without requiring separate detection hardware for each fin.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking structure acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates fin position and movement information into detectable signals. When a fin becomes abnormal (stuck or detached), the locking structure prevents the linkage member from moving, and this restriction is detected by the control unit through monitoring the driving device's operation, thereby enabling indirect detection of fin abnormalities.
2Measurement precision
If the locking structure restricts movement when motive power transmission is cut off, then the abnormality detection precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure is designed to automatically activate when motive power transmission between the driving device and a fin is cut off due to abnormality. The first locking portion on the abnormal fin and the second locking portion on the linkage member engage automatically without external intervention, restricting movement and enabling self-detection of the abnormality through the control unit's monitoring of the driving device operation.
3Device complexity
If turn restriction portions are used for abnormality detection, then the detection mechanism is simpler, but the uppermost and lowermost fins cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure with first locking portions on all fins and a second locking portion on the linkage member provides a universal detection mechanism that works for all fins regardless of position. Unlike turn restriction portions that rely on adjacent fins for detection, the locking structure enables the control unit to detect abnormalities in any fin by monitoring whether the linkage member can move freely when the driving device operates, thus achieving multi-functional detection coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A grille shutter device including: a plurality of fins; a linkage member configured to link the fins such that the fins move together; a driving device configured to move one of the fins; an abnormality detection unit configured to detect an abnormality of the fin according to an operating state of the driving device; and a locking structure including a first locking portion being a part of each of the fins and a second locking portion being a part of the linkage member, wherein: in a motive power transmission cut-off state, a movement of the linkage member is restricted by an abutment of the second locking portion against a first locking portion of an abnormal fin.