Integral Driving Vane Assembly for Active Grille Shutters

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly process of active grille shutter devices is complicated by the hidden insertion of the driving vane, leading to potential damage and increased cycle time, and there is a need to simplify and robustify this process.

Innovation Solution

The driving vane is designed as a single, integral piece with a connection portion and lever, making it visible during assembly and reducing the number of parts, allowing for easier integration with the actuator and linkage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driving vane is inserted into the frame and actuator during assembly, then the active grille shutter device is assembled, but the driving vane is hidden by the linkage making it invisible to the operator which can lead to mishandling and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness of assembly processVSAvoidvisibility during assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional assembly sequence by first assembling the driving vane with the actuator to form a visible subassembly, then inserting this subassembly into the frame. This reversal makes the driving vane visible during the critical assembly phase, allowing the operator to see and properly handle it, thereby preventing mishandling and damage while maintaining assembly reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the driving vane is inserted into the frame and actuator during assembly, then the active grille shutter device is assembled, but the cycle time required for assembly is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness of assembly processVSAvoidassembly cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the assembly process into two distinct phases: first assembling the driving vane with the actuator to create a pre-assembled subassembly, then inserting this subassembly into the frame. This segmentation allows the operator to work with a visible, manageable component in the first phase, reducing errors and rework, thereby improving overall assembly efficiency despite the additional subassembly formation step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple parts are used to form the driving vane, then the assembly process can be more flexible, but the number of parts increases leading to increased manufacturing complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the driving vane and actuator into a single integrated subassembly that is inserted as one unit into the frame. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts from three (driving vane, actuator, frame) to two main components, simplifying the device structure, reducing manufacturing complexity, and lowering assembly costs while maintaining the necessary functional adaptability through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12583292B2Driving vane for an active grille shutter device

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS

AI summary

A driving vane for mounting on an active grille shutter device with an actuator, linkage and follower vanes, including: a connection portion for mounting on the actuator; and a lever for cooperating with the linkage in order to transmit a movement of the driving vane to at least one follower vane. The driving vane is made integral.