Active Grille Shutter Vane Protection for Over-Rotation Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active grill shutters (AGS) face issues with vane deformation due to over-rotation, leading to compromised sealing and increased leakage, as existing solutions focus on manufacturing precision and reduced rotation angles without providing adequate protection against over-rotation.
Innovation Solution
An AGS with a vane protection structure featuring a positioning tab and rotation shaft connected to an electrical motor, limiting ribs with abutment edges and weakening holes or grooves that absorb energy from collisions, preventing over-rotation and maintaining sealing integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturing precision is improved and rotation angle of the electrical motor is reduced, then vane deformation is prevented, but the structure complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protection structure with weakening holes or grooves on the positioning tab that is designed to deform beforehand at a predetermined location. This cushioning structure absorbs excessive collision energy between the vane and grill body, preventing vane deformation and maintaining sealing integrity without requiring higher manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the positioning tab by adding weakening holes or grooves, which alter the deformation characteristics of the component. This allows the positioning tab to deform in a controlled manner at specific locations, absorbing energy and protecting the vane from over-rotation damage
2Reliability
If the vane rotation angle is limited to prevent over-rotation, then sealing is maintained, but the torque transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure with weakening holes/grooves acts as a cushioning element that absorbs excessive torque through controlled deformation. This allows the vane to rotate through the full required angle for optimal torque transmission while the protection structure prevents damage from accidental over-rotation, maintaining both power efficiency and sealing reliability
3Reliability
If the vane protection structure is added to prevent over-rotation, then vane deformation is avoided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure is implemented locally on the positioning tab through weakening holes or grooves at specific locations, rather than redesigning the entire vane system. This localized approach provides effective protection against over-rotation while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The protection structure is merged with the existing positioning tab component, combining the positioning function and the protection function into a single integrated element. This eliminates the need for separate protection mechanisms and reduces overall structural complexity
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 vane protection structure effectively absorbs excessive torque, preventing deformation and ensuring reliable sealing and functionality of the AGS without increasing manufacturing costs or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a vane protection structure which is a set of weakening holes provided on the positioning tab or a set of weakening grooves provided on the abutment edge, and which is capable of deforming so as to absorb the energy produced by a collision between the vane and the grill body
Data Source
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AI summary
An active grill shutter with a vane protection structure, comprising vanes (1) and a grill body (3), wherein the vanes (1) are provided with a positioning tab (11), the grill body (3) is provided with a set of limiting ribs (32) that limit the rotation angle of the positioning tab (11), the set of limiting ribs (32) comprises an abutment edge (3211), at least one of the abutment edge (3211) and the positioning tab (11) is provided with the vane protection structure which is capable of deforming so as to absorb the energy produced by a collision between the vanes (1) and the grill body (3), buffer, and prevent the vanes (1) from over-rotating.