GB1576771A

GB1576771A - Screen for a cooling air inlet grille of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB1576771A
Application number: GB1278777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
Current assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
Priority date: 1976-04-13
Filing date: 1977-03-25
Publication date: 1980-10-15
Also published as: DE2713812B2; ES457111A1; FR2348076B1; DE2713812A1; IT1082395B; FR2348076A1; DE2713812C3

Description

(54) A SCREEN FOR A COOLING AIR INLET GRILLE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE (71) We, SOCIETE ANONYME AUTOMO BILES CITRON, a French Company, organised and existing under Articles 118 to 150 of the French Law on Commercial Companies, of 117 à 167, Quai André Cit roën, 75747 Paris, Cedex 15, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be per formed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to a removable screen for a cooling air inlet grille of a motor vehicle having an engine compart ment which is closable by a bonnet and into which cooling air flows through the grille, the screen comprising securing means for releasably holding it in a desired position behind the grille.

As is known, screens of the aforementioned kind are used mainly during cold periods to improve the combustion, efficiency and engine performance, more particularly during starting or travel at very high speed, by reducing the flow rate of cooling air.

Some screens have means for fastening them to the outer surface of the grille.

Such screens are unsightly and can easily be lost, damaged or stolen.

Other screens have means for fastening them behind the grille, between it and the engine. However, they are very often difficult to instal and, since they are not visible from the exterior when the engine bonnet is closed and are not easily visible even when the bonnet is open, they are easily forgotten by the users and may be left in position at the wrong time, after the cold period.

An object of the invention is to obviate these disadvantages and also provide the desired thermal regulation in a more regular efficient manner.

To this end, the present invention pro vides a removable screen for an air inlet grille of a motor vehicle having an engine compartment which is closable by a bonnet and into which cooling air flows through the grille, securing means being provided in the engine compartment for releasably holding the screen in a desired position be hind the grille, which screen comprises display means mounted directly on the screen for visually indicating the presence of the screen from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed.

The screen, of course, may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. In any case it is disposed inside, behind the grille, so as to be inaccessible from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed, and thus cannot be lost, damaged or stolen. The display means enable the user to check its presence or absence without having to open the bonnet, so that he cannot forget it when the cold period has passed.

Advantageously, the display means comprise a flange on the top part of the screen, the flange being adapted for insertion between the bonnet and the top edge of the grille when the screen is in the desired position, so that the front part of the flange is visible from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed. The resulting display means are extremely simple and efficient.

According to a preferred feature, in order to increase the visibility of the flange, the front part of the flange, which is visible from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed, bears a reflecting and/or brightly coloured means.

A screen embodying the invention may also be constructed so that the flange serves as an abutment for vertical location of the screen and bears on the top edge of the grille when the screen is in the desired position. In this case the flange, which shows the presence or absence of the screen behind the grille, also serves as an abutment and securing means for holding the screen at the desired height. Consequently the flange has two distinct functions, thus simplifying the construction.

Advantageously, a screen embodying the invention may have at least two rigid lateral flanges adapted to engage in two vertical slideways which are stationary with respect to the engine and guide the screen during its installation and removal.

The resulting securing means are extremely simple and reliable, thus greatly facilitating the positioning or removal of the screen.

Advantageously, when the vehicle comprises an "anti-re-cycling" shield dsiposed between the grille and the engine to prevent re-use of the air flow already used for cooling, the aforementioned slideways are secured to the shield. The slideways can be manufactured by cutting and bending two lateral parts of the sheet metal forming the shield, or can be secured thereto, e.g. by welding.

The screen, when rigid, may also be made of pressed sheet metal, preferably with reinforcing ribs for increasing its rigidity, or can be made of moulded plastics.

When the screen is flexible, it can, e.g.

comprise a web or the like tensioned between two rigid lateral edges for guiding it in the slideway.

In order to ensure more efficient thermal regulation, a screen embodying the invention may also have, in the central part of its bottom edge, a recess for improving the air flow distribution, the recess having a shape adapted to the type of aerodynamic flow of the cooling air. Such recess may have the shape of an arch extending on either side of the vertical axis of symmetry of the screen, via edges having a given cross-section.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings in which: FIGURE 1 diagrammatically shows the front part of a motor vehicle equipped with a screen embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 with the screen withdrawn; FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of the screen embodying the invention, positioned on an anti-recyling shield; and FIGURE 4 is an elevation of another embodiment of a screen according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 diagrammatically show a vertical engine compartment closable by a bonnet 4 and containing an engine 1, a fan 2 and an anti-recyling shield 5. The front wheels 3 of the vehicle are also shown.

A flexible, semi-flexible or rigid screen 8 is disposed between shield 5 and an air inlet grille 6 through which cooling air flows into the engine compartment, the grille 8 partially blocking the circular air oriflce 7 of shield 5. Screen 8 has at least two rigid lateral edges 9 engaging in two vertical slidways 10 secured to shield 5, e.g. by welding, or, if required, formed by pressing. When'the screen is rigid, it may also be made of pressed sheet metal. In the central part of the top edge 11 of the screen 8 there is a flange 12 for insertion between the front edge 13 of bonnet 4 when the latter is closed (Figure 1) and the top edge 14 of grille 6. Thus, the flange can serve as an abutment for the vertical location of screen 8. Flange 12 has a bent-over portion 15 giving it a hooked shape and disposed in front of the outer surface of the top edge 14 of grille 6. Consequently, portion 15 is completely visible from the exterior, even when bonnet 4 is closed, and indicates a presence of the screen behind the grille. In order to make the indication even more visible, portion 15 can be painted in bright colours, or a deflecting strip can be stuck thereto.

Figure 4, where like references denote like elements, shows a specially-shaped screen 8. More particularly, the central part of the bottom edge 16 of the screen has a recess 17, having an arched shape, for improving the distribution and aerodynamic flow of the air sucked by the fan.

The screen also has two arched stiffening ribs 18, which are, e.g. pressed if the screen is made of sheet metal, or are moulded if the screen is made of plastics.

The vertical location of the screen 8 may be performed by stop abutments at the bottom ends of slideways 10, which stop abutments either act alone or supplement the action of the flange 12.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A removable screen for an air inlet grille of a motor vehicle having an engine compartment which is closable by a bonnet and into which cooling air flows through the grille, securing means being provided in the engine compartment for releasably holding the screen in a desired position behind the grille, which screen comprises display means mounted directly on the screen for visually indicating the presence of the screen from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed.

2. A screen according to claim 1, wherein the display means comprise a flange on the top part of the screen, the flange being adapted for insertion between the bonnet and the top edge of the grille when the screen is in the desired position, so that the front part of the flange is visible from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed.

3. A screen according to claim 2, wherein the front part of the flange, which is visible from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed, bears a reflecting and/or bright-coloured means.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. lateral flanges adapted to engage in two vertical slideways which are stationary with respect to the engine and guide the screen during its installation and removal. The resulting securing means are extremely simple and reliable, thus greatly facilitating the positioning or removal of the screen. Advantageously, when the vehicle comprises an "anti-re-cycling" shield dsiposed between the grille and the engine to prevent re-use of the air flow already used for cooling, the aforementioned slideways are secured to the shield. The slideways can be manufactured by cutting and bending two lateral parts of the sheet metal forming the shield, or can be secured thereto, e.g. by welding. The screen, when rigid, may also be made of pressed sheet metal, preferably with reinforcing ribs for increasing its rigidity, or can be made of moulded plastics. When the screen is flexible, it can, e.g. comprise a web or the like tensioned between two rigid lateral edges for guiding it in the slideway. In order to ensure more efficient thermal regulation, a screen embodying the invention may also have, in the central part of its bottom edge, a recess for improving the air flow distribution, the recess having a shape adapted to the type of aerodynamic flow of the cooling air. Such recess may have the shape of an arch extending on either side of the vertical axis of symmetry of the screen, via edges having a given cross-section. In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings in which: FIGURE 1 diagrammatically shows the front part of a motor vehicle equipped with a screen embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 with the screen withdrawn; FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of the screen embodying the invention, positioned on an anti-recyling shield; and FIGURE 4 is an elevation of another embodiment of a screen according to the invention. Figures 1 and 2 diagrammatically show a vertical engine compartment closable by a bonnet 4 and containing an engine 1, a fan 2 and an anti-recyling shield 5. The front wheels 3 of the vehicle are also shown. A flexible, semi-flexible or rigid screen 8 is disposed between shield 5 and an air inlet grille 6 through which cooling air flows into the engine compartment, the grille 8 partially blocking the circular air oriflce 7 of shield 5. Screen 8 has at least two rigid lateral edges 9 engaging in two vertical slidways 10 secured to shield 5, e.g. by welding, or, if required, formed by pressing. When'the screen is rigid, it may also be made of pressed sheet metal. In the central part of the top edge 11 of the screen 8 there is a flange 12 for insertion between the front edge 13 of bonnet 4 when the latter is closed (Figure 1) and the top edge 14 of grille 6. Thus, the flange can serve as an abutment for the vertical location of screen 8. Flange 12 has a bent-over portion 15 giving it a hooked shape and disposed in front of the outer surface of the top edge 14 of grille 6. Consequently, portion 15 is completely visible from the exterior, even when bonnet 4 is closed, and indicates a presence of the screen behind the grille. In order to make the indication even more visible, portion 15 can be painted in bright colours, or a deflecting strip can be stuck thereto. Figure 4, where like references denote like elements, shows a specially-shaped screen 8. More particularly, the central part of the bottom edge 16 of the screen has a recess 17, having an arched shape, for improving the distribution and aerodynamic flow of the air sucked by the fan. The screen also has two arched stiffening ribs 18, which are, e.g. pressed if the screen is made of sheet metal, or are moulded if the screen is made of plastics. The vertical location of the screen 8 may be performed by stop abutments at the bottom ends of slideways 10, which stop abutments either act alone or supplement the action of the flange 12. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A removable screen for an air inlet grille of a motor vehicle having an engine compartment which is closable by a bonnet and into which cooling air flows through the grille, securing means being provided in the engine compartment for releasably holding the screen in a desired position behind the grille, which screen comprises display means mounted directly on the screen for visually indicating the presence of the screen from outside the vehicle when the bonnet is closed.

4. A screen according to claim 2 or 3,

wherein the flange serves as an abutment for verical location of the screen and bears on the top edge of the grille when the screen is in the desired position.

5. A screen according to any preceding claim, which has at least two rigid lateral flanges adapted to engage in two vertical slideways which are stationary with respect to the engine.

6. A screen according to claim 5, wherein the slideways are secured to an "anti-recycling" shield disposed between the grille and the engine to prevent re-use of the air flow already used for cooling.

7. A screen according to any preceding claim, which has, in the central part of its bottom edge, a recess for improving the air flow distribution.

8. A screen substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.