Sequential Louvre Blind Switching With One Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern motor vehicles require separate actuators for each louvre blind in the engine compartment, complicating the sequential switching of main and secondary louvre blinds for airflow control.
Innovation Solution
A system using a single actuator with a coupling rod and link rod, featuring a part-circular sliding guide and eccentric pins, allows synchronous rotation of slats for both main and secondary louvre blinds, enabling sequential switching by converting rotary movement into linear and rotary movements to control multiple blinds with a single actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate actuator is used for each louvre blind, then each louvre blind can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple actuator functions into a single actuator by using a common drive shaft with eccentric pins that can selectively engage with different coupling rods. This merging approach reduces the number of actuators from multiple separate units to one integrated unit while maintaining the capability to control multiple louvre blinds independently through selective engagement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator is designed with multi-functionality to control both main and secondary louvre blinds. The actuator includes a drive shaft with multiple eccentric pins that can engage with different coupling rods, allowing one actuator to perform the functions previously requiring multiple separate actuators. The magnetic coupling mechanism enables selective engagement with different blinds based on control signals.
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
This solution simplifies the control of multiple louvre blinds by using a single actuator, reducing complexity and enhancing efficiency in airflow management within the engine compartment, allowing for synchronized opening and closing of main and secondary louvre blinds based on temperature and speed data.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator has an eccentric pin which is parallel to its axis of rotation and which engages into the part-circular sliding guide of the link rod so that upon rotation of the axis of the actuator the link rod is displaced in a linear movement
Implementation Method 2
The coupling can be in the form of a magnetic coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A device for sequentially switching at least one first and at least one second Venetian blind, the slats of which can each be synchronously rotationally moved by means of at least one coupling rod in order to open and close the blinds. The device includes an actuator for generating a rotational movement of the slats through 80° to 90°, a coupling for rotatably coupling the actuator to a slat of the first blind, a link rod which has a partially-circular link, and a transmission rod. The actuator has an eccentric pin parallel to its axis of rotation which engages in the partially-circular link of the link rod, and the linear movement of the link rod is transmitted to the coupling rod of the at least second blind.