FR3079916A1 - DEVICE FOR REGULATING A FLOW OF AIR CIRCULATING WITHIN A HEAT EXCHANGER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND COOLING MODULE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for regulating (10) an air flow (F) intended to circulate through a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least two curtains (11), able to move according to an opening / closing direction (Z), at least two drive members (30), capable of driving said curtains (11) between a closed position (PF) closing the passage of the air flow (F) and a open position (PO) allowing the air flow (F) to pass, and a transmission system, said transmission system comprising: one or more pinions (21) capable of carrying out a rotational movement around an axis of rotation (Y), - two toothed rods (22) meshed in the pinion (21) to follow a sliding movement, the transmission system (20) being configured so that the sliding of the toothed rods (22) causes said drive members (30) to move along the opening / closing axis (Z).   

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for regulating a flow of air circulating within a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle and a cooling module provided with such a device. It is in particular intended for equipping a front face of a motor vehicle.

State of the art

There are known cooling modules for motor vehicles comprising two heat exchangers. A first heat exchanger has the function of cooling an auxiliary circuit of the vehicle, such as an air conditioning device or a charge air cooling device. A second heat exchanger is required to cool the vehicle engine. The heat exchangers are arranged on the front face of the vehicle, assembled and aligned in series to be successively traversed by the air flow entering through the grille of the vehicle. They typically include a heat exchange bundle, comprising tubes in which the fluid to be cooled circulates and through which the air from the shell passes.

In order to dissociate the cooling of the two heat exchangers and optimize the aerodynamic gain of each heat exchanger, the applicant recently proposed a device for regulating the air flow intended to circulate in the heat exchangers in an unpublished patent application. of the depositor. The regulating device comprises two curtains mounted in a frame and movable alternately in translation between two open and closed positions. By moving between these two positions, the curtains allow the regulating device to alternately pass or close the air flow passing through the grille of the motor vehicle. The displacement of the curtains is effected by means of a transmission system which guides the movement of said curtains in translation, as well as an actuator inducing movement in the transmission system.

The transmission system is equipped with a set of belts and pulleys, certainly well suited to devices requiring moderate opening and closing speeds and requiring, in addition, little effort, but little at high speeds. In addition, this type of transmission system does not guarantee a fixed output speed because it often involves slipping of the belts on the pulleys, which results in a modification of the transmission ratios. However, current regulation devices require high and constant curtain closing speeds.

The invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and for this purpose provides a device for regulating an air flow intended to circulate through a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least two curtains, suitable to move in an opening / closing direction, at least two drive members, capable of driving said curtains between a closed position blocking the passage of the air flow and an open position allowing the air flow to pass, and a transmission system, said transmission system comprising one or more pinions capable of performing a rotational movement about an axis of rotation, two toothed rods, meshed in the pinion to follow a sliding movement, the transmission system being configured so that the sliding of the toothed rods causes said drive members to move in the opening / closing direction.

In this way, there is a regulation device in which the pinion / toothed rod type transmission system makes it possible to limit slippage so that the output speed, that is to say the speed with which the drive members remains constant at low speed as well as at higher speed. Such a transmission system also makes it possible to transmit the forces effectively.

According to different characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

- Said pinion comprises a first toothing and said toothed rods comprise a second toothing, said second toothing conforming to said first toothing;

- the toothed rods are located on each side of the gable in a direction orthogonal to an extension plane of the curtains in the closed position;

- said drive members are fixedly connected to said toothed rods;

- said drive members are rigidly connected to the curtains;

- Each of the drive members comprises a drive bar linked to one of said curtains;

- said regulation device comprising at least one actuator configured to drive said transmission system;

- the gable and the toothed rods are split on each side of the curtains;

- said pinion is connected to the actuator by means of a motor shaft;

- Said drive shaft connects a first and a second of said pinions;

said regulating device comprises at least one curtain winding / unwinding shaft,

- said curtain winding / unwinding shaft comprises means for tensioning the curtains.

The invention also relates to a cooling module comprising a regulation device.

Advantageously, the module includes:

- a low temperature heat exchanger,

- a high temperature heat exchanger, the low temperature heat exchanger being positioned upstream of the control device and the high temperature heat exchanger being positioned downstream of the control device.

Presentation of the figures

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the description which follows, given with reference to the appended figures, in which:

- Figure 1a schematically illustrates, in side view, the front face of a vehicle comprising a cooling module equipped with a regulation device according to the invention;

- Figure 1b is a zoomed view of Figure 1a at the location of the control device;

- Figure 2 illustrates, in schematic front view, a control device according to the invention, the curtains are in the open position;

- Figure 3 illustrates, in schematic front view, a control device according to the invention, the curtains are in the closed position.

detailed description

FIG. 1a illustrates a device 10 for regulating an air flow F as well as a cooling module 1 according to the invention, according to a side view. The cooling module 1 extends in depth in a direction X intended to correspond to the longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle. The air flow F flows substantially parallel to the direction X. The module is configured to be fixed on a support, such as a chassis of the vehicle.

The cooling module 1 comprises an upstream heat exchanger 2 (located on the left in FIG. 1 a) and a downstream heat exchanger 3 (located on the right in FIG. 1a) arranged in series according to the direction of flow of the air flow F passing through them. In other words, the cooling module 1 is configured to be placed on its support, so that the upstream heat exchanger 2 is crossed by the air flow F first and the downstream heat exchanger 3 second.

The upstream heat exchanger 2 is a cooling radiator, called low temperature, used to cool a coolant of a heat exchange loop, called low temperature, comprising, in particular, an air conditioning condenser and / or a charge air cooler. The downstream heat exchanger 3 is, for example, a high temperature cooling radiator intended to cool a coolant in a heat exchange loop comprising a vehicle engine. The air passing through this downstream exchanger 3 cools the engine coolant.

Each exchanger 2, 3 comprises, for example, a heat exchange bundle and collection chambers arranged laterally on either side of the bundle (not shown). The air flow F passes through the beam. It comprises a set of tubes parallel to each other, opening into the collection chambers, for the circulation of the coolant (not shown).

The cooling module 1 is advantageously configured to allow a flow of air in a substantially sealed manner between said heat exchangers 2, 3, that is to say that the upstream heat exchanger 2 and the downstream heat exchanger 3 are assembled together so that the downstream heat exchanger 3 is not directly traversed by air coming from outside the module. In other words, the air flow F passing through the downstream heat exchanger 3 comes from the air flow passing through the upstream heat exchanger 2. For this, the cooling module 1 can, for example, include means d tightness for guiding the entire air flow having passed through the upstream heat exchanger 2 to the downstream heat exchanger 3 without loss of air flow. These sealing means, not illustrated, may for example comprise a sheath arranged between the two heat exchangers 2,3.

To facilitate the passage of the air flow in the cooling module 1, in particular when the vehicle is stopped, the module advantageously comprises a motor-fan unit 10 capable of circulating the air in the cooling module

1. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the motor-fan group 4 is here arranged downstream of the downstream heat exchanger 3, the motor-fan group 4 being configured to draw air from an air inlet of the vehicle , which is preferably defined by its grille.

The cooling module 1 according to the invention further comprises a device 10 for regulating the air flow preferably arranged between the upstream heat exchanger 2 and the downstream heat exchanger 3. The regulating device 10 has a small thickness in the depth of the cooling module. The regulating device 10 controls the passage of the air flow F from the upstream heat exchanger 2 to the downstream heat exchanger 3 by means of roller blinds or curtains 11 that can be rolled up / down.

Alternatively, the cooling module 1 according to the invention may include a single heat exchanger, for example a cooling radiator, said regulating device 10 then being arranged upstream or downstream of said heat exchanger. In such a configuration, the air flow F passing through the heat exchanger comes from the air flow F passing through the regulation device or leads to said regulation device.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the regulating device 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in schematic front view. The device comprises two curtains 11 of generally rectangular shape. Each curtain 11 is delimited by a proximal border 11a, two lateral borders 11b, and a distal border 11c. Said lateral borders 11b are opposite and substantially parallel to a direction Z, orthogonal to the direction X, while said proximal border 11a and said distal border 11c are opposite and substantially parallel to a direction Y, orthogonal to the directions X and Z, the direction Z here representing the vertical.

In FIG. 2, the regulating device 10 is in the open position Po, that is to say that the curtains 11 let the air flow pass through. In this configuration, the proximal edges 11a of said curtains 11 are at a distance one from the other. More specifically, a first proximal border 11a is located near an upper upright of a frame 50 of the regulation device, in particular at a first open position P01, while a second proximal border 11a is located near of a lower upright of the frame 50, in particular at a second open position P02, opposite to P01 with respect to an axis passing through a dotted line Pf - Pf.

The regulating device 10 further comprises shafts 53 for winding / unwinding the curtains, connected to the frame 50 by articulation bearings 52.

Preferably, each curtain 11 is kept stretched by a tensioning means 54 connected to its distal edge 11c. The tensioning means 54 exert a force on the curtains 11, so that said curtains are continuously held taut. For example, the tensioning means 54 may be springs, in particular spiral springs, or any other means making it possible to keep said curtains 11 stretched. Preferably, each tensioning means 54 is linked on the one hand to the frame 50 and on the other hand, to the winding / unwinding shaft 53.

In FIG. 3, the regulating device 10 is in the closed position Pf. The curtains 11 extend in a plane, called the curtain extension plane in the closed position. Said extension plane of the curtains in the closed position is oriented in the direction Z, corresponding to the opening / closing direction of the curtains, and in the direction Y. In other words, said extension plane of the curtains in the closed position extends transversely to the air flow F. In this configuration, the respective proximal edges 11a of the curtains 11 are in contact with one another at the level of the dotted line Pf - Pf. The curtains 11 therefore close off the passage of the air flow F which circulates perpendicular to the plane of extension of the curtains in the closed position.

The regulating device 10 is configured so that said curtains 11 are able to move in the opening / closing direction Z, in said curtain extension plane in the closed position. In other words, the device can adopt, alternately the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. To this end, the regulation device 10 comprises a transmission system 20 and at least two drive members 30 connected to said transmission system. 20.

The characteristics and the operating principle of the transmission system 20 are described below.

The transmission system 20 comprises pinions 21. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1b, said pinions 21 comprise a peripheral edge 21a and a toothing 21b located on said peripheral edge 21a. The pinions 21 are capable of pivoting, clockwise or, conversely, counterclockwise, about an axis of rotation oriented in the direction Y.

To this end, the regulating device 10 preferably comprises at least one actuator 40 configured to drive said transmission system 20. The actuator comprises a motor shaft 41, movable in rotation around the axis of rotation of said pinions 21 The actuator 40 further comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or more generally any motor member making it possible to induce a rotational movement of the motor shaft 41. The motor shaft 41 is in connection with the pinions 21. Preferably, the the drive member of the actuator 40 is located outside the frame 50.

Preferably, said drive shaft 41 is a cylindrical rod extending between two lateral uprights of the frame 50, and along the dotted line Pf - Pf. Preferably, an inner border of the pinions 21 conforms with the drive shaft 41, c that is to say that said inner border follows the contour of the drive shaft 41, so that said pinions 21 can be guided in rotation by the drive shaft 41. The drive shaft 41 is articulated on bearings 44, linked to frame 50.

The transmission system 20 further comprises toothed rods 22 substantially parallel to the direction Z. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1b, each toothed rod 22 has a toothing 22a and a flat edge 22b. Said toothed rods 22 are meshed two by two on said pinions 21 by means of their respective toothing 22a. In other words, the toothing 22a of the toothed rods 22 conforms precisely to the toothing 21b of the pinions 21. The toothed rods 22 are located on either side of the pinions 21 in the direction X. Thus, in FIG. 2, the first toothed rods 22, the teeth 22a of which appear at a position Pt2, are connected to a first curtain 11 situated below the dotted line Pf Pf, while second toothed rods 22, the plane edge of which 22b appears at a position Pu, are connected to a second curtain 11 located above the dotted line Pf - Pf.

When the pinions 21 rotate, the toothed rods 22 whose teeth 22a appear at the position Pt2 slide in the direction of the upper upright of the frame 50, that is to say towards the position Pu, while simultaneously the toothed rods 22 whose flat edges 22b appear at the position Pu slide towards the lower upright of the frame 50, that is to say the position Pt2. The toothed rods 22 associated with the same pinion are therefore capable of carrying out symmetrically opposite translational movements in the direction Z.

Advantageously, the pinions 21 and a pair of corresponding toothed rods 22 are located symmetrically on each side of said curtains 11. In this configuration, when the actuator 40 is in operation, the transmission system 20 is capable of driving the organs of drive 30, to which it is connected, maintaining the horizontality of said drive members with respect to direction Y.

As mentioned above, the regulating device 10 also comprises at least two drive members 30. Their characteristics and their operation are described below.

Generally, said drive members 30 are connected to the transmission system 20. More specifically, here, each drive member 30 is connected to one of said toothed rods 22, so that any sliding of said toothed rods 22 according to direction Z causes a translational movement of said drive members 30 in the same direction.

In such a configuration, the transmission system 20 being "toothed", by means of the pinion and the corresponding toothed rods, it makes it possible to limit the slip when the actuator 40 is in operation. The transmission system 20 therefore makes it possible to keep the speed with which the drive members are driven constant. This also makes it possible to efficiently transmit the forces. For example, a toothed rod 22 whose toothing 22a moves from the position Pti to the position Pt2 induces an equivalent displacement of the drive member 30 to which it is connected from a distal position, close to the winding shaft / unwinding 53, towards a proximal position, close to the motor shaft 41.

Preferably, the drive members 30 are rigid drive bars. Said drive bars 30 interconnect, two by two, said toothed rods 22 and are able to be guided in translation by said toothed rods 22. Said drive bars 30 are directly linked to said curtains 11, so that any movement of translation of said drive bar in the direction Z induces a movement of translation of said curtain 11 in the same direction. Said drive bars 30 can be rigidly connected to the curtains 11. Alternatively, said drive bars 30 can be flexibly connected to the curtains 11. In addition, the drive members 30 being kept horizontal by the presence of a pinion 21 and corresponding rods 22 on each side of the curtains 11, the edges 11a are consequently kept horizontal. This also makes it possible to symmetrically distribute the forces at the level of the drive members 30.

As can be better seen in the example illustrated in FIG. 1b, the toothed rod 22 located in the upper part (on the left in the drawing) is straight and the associated drive bar 30 is hooked to an upper end of said toothed rod 22. The toothed rod 22 located in the lower part (on the right in the drawing) has an L-shaped configuration, the large branch of the L having the toothing and the small branch ending in the extension of the other toothed rod 22 The drive bar 30 associated with the toothed rod 22 in L is located at the free end of said small branch of L, so that the two curtains 11 are substantially in the same plane.

As a variant, said drive members 30 may be pins fixedly connected on the one hand to the transmission system 20 and on the other hand to the curtains 11. The pawns are provided on either side of each of the curtains 11 , each proximal corner of the curtains then being fixed to said pins.

The principle of closing the curtains 11 is as follows.

When the actuator 40 is activated, the pinions 21 perform a rotational movement around its axis of rotation. This rotational movement of the pinions 21 induces a translational movement of the toothed rods 22 which are respectively associated with them in the direction Z. As illustrated in FIG. 3, said toothed rods 22 whose teeth 22a are initially located at a position Pt2 move from the position Pt2 towards the position Pu, and, conversely, the toothed rods 22 whose flat edges 22b are initially located at the position Pu move from said position Pu towards the position Pt2.

Incidentally, the drive members 30 connected to said toothed rods 22 are simultaneously guided in translation in opposite directions and drive the curtains 11 in their movement. By moving, the drive members 30 guide said curtains 11, so that their proximal edges 11a, initially located at positions P01 and P02, reach the closed position Pf and are in contact with one another.

The two pinions 21 being simultaneously driven by the motor shaft 41, the curtains 11 are guided symmetrically relative to one another during their movement. The distance separating the two curtains 11, in particular their proximal edges 11a, remains equal on either side of the dotted line Pf - Pf throughout their displacement. When the curtains 11 are in contact, they do not let the air flow F circulating perpendicular to the plane of extension of the curtains in the closed position.

Conversely, the curtains 11 are able to return to their original position (as illustrated in FIG. 2) by moving in the opening / closing direction Z, for example when the actuator 40 is no longer in operation. In fact, the tensioning members 54 of the curtains continually exerting a force on the curtains 11, said curtains 11 wind again around their respective winding / unwinding shaft 53 and the elements of said transmission system 20 as well as the drive members 30 return to their original position.

Claims (9)

1. A device for regulating (10) an air flow (F) intended to circulate through a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least two curtains (11), capable of moving in a direction d '' open / close (Z), at 5 at least two drive members (30) capable of driving said curtains (11) between a closed position (Pf) blocking the passage of the air flow (F) and an open position (P _Q ) letting the flow of air pass air (F), and a transmission system, said transmission system comprising: one or more pinions (21) capable of carrying out a rotational movement about an axis of rotation (Y), - two toothed rods (22) meshed in the pinion (21) to follow a sliding movement, the transmission system (20) being configured so that the sliding of the toothed rods (22) causes a displacement of said drive members ( 30) along the opening / closing axis 15 (Z). 2, regulating device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said pinion (21) comprises a first toothing (21b) and said toothed rods (22) comprise a second toothing (22a), said second toothing (22a) conforming to said first toothing (21b). 20 3. Regulating device (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the toothed rods (22) are located on each side of the pinion (21) in a direction (X) orthogonal to a plane of extension of the curtains in closed position. 4. Regulating device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said drive members (30) are fixedly connected. 25 to said toothed rods (22). 5. Regulating device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the drive members (30) are rigidly connected to the curtains (11). 6. Regulating device (10) according to claim 5, wherein each of the 30 drive members (30) comprises a drive bar (32) linked to one of said curtains (11). 7. Regulating device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one actuator (40) configured to drive said transmission system (20). 8. Regulating device (10) according to claim 7, wherein said pinion 5 (21) is connected to the actuator (40) via a motor shaft (41). 0. A regulating device (10) according to claim 1, in which a motor shaft (41) connects a first and a second of said pinions (21). 10. Cooling module comprising: - a low temperature heat exchanger (2), 10 - a high temperature heat exchanger (3), and - a regulation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims arranged between the two exchangers (2,3), the low temperature heat exchanger (2) being positioned upstream of the regulation device (10) and l 'high temperature heat exchanger (3) being positioned downstream of the regulating device (10).