GB2121734A

GB2121734A - Motor vehicle radiator grille

Info

Publication number: GB2121734A
Application number: GB08215379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham John Douglas
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1982-05-26
Filing date: 1982-05-26
Publication date: 1984-01-04

Abstract

The grille (1) comprises at least one louvre (2-5) having a forwardly- facing surface (6-9) for directing air through the grille, and a rearwardly- facing surface (13-16) formed from a sound-absorbing material such as a foamed plastics. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Radiator grille This invention relates to radiator grilles for motor vehicles.

Conventional radiator grilles for motor vehicles comprise one or more louvres having a forwardlyfacing surface for directing air through the grille into the engine compartment of the motor vehicle.

In order to reduce noise emission levels from motor vehicles it is known to provide sound absorbing material on the inner surfaces of the walls of the engine compartment.

According to the present invention there is provided a radiator grille for a motor vehicle comprising at least one louvre having a forwardly-facing surface for directing air through the grille, and a rearwardly facing surface formed from a sound-absorbing material.

By forming the rearwardly-facing surface of the or each louvre of the grille from a sound-absorbing material, emission of noise from the engine compartment can be reduced even further, but without affecting the flow of air through the grille.

Preferably the rearwardly facing surface of the or each louvre is formed from a foamed plastics material such as a polyurethane foam. The forwardly-facing surface of the louvre may be formd from a rigid plastics material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa front view of a radiator grille in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line A-A of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a radiator grille 1 comprises a set of parallel louvres 2,3,4,5 arranged in a conventional manner to extend across the front of the engine compartment of a vehicle.

Each louvre has a forwardly-directed surface 6,7,8,9,10 formed from a sheet of rigid plastics material such as a reinforced polyester resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, or polypropylene.

(Suitable materials will be well known to persons skilled in the art). The forwardly-directed surfaces 6-9 of the louvres are formed integrally with uprights 12 as a unitary moulding.

Each louvre 2-5 has a rearwardly directed surface 13-16 formed from a sound-absorbing material. In the illustrated grille, this material is a foamed plastics material such as a polyurethane foam.

(Other suitable materials will be known to those skilled in the art). This material may be moulded on to the sheet 12, and/or secured thereto by an adhesive.

The rearwardly directed surfaces 13-16 are shaped so as not to interfere with the flow of air through the grille over the forwardly-directed surfaces of the louvres 2-5. Nevertheless the sound absorbing material absorbs noise from the engine (not shown) and therefore contributes to the overall reduction in the emission of noise from the engine compartment.

1. A radiator grille for a motor vehicle comprising at least one louvre having a forwardly4acing surface for directing air through the grille, and a rearwardly facing surface formed from a soundabsorbing material.

2. A radiator grille according to claim 1 wherein the rearwardly facing surface is formed from a foamed plastics material.

3. A radiator grille according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the forwardly-facing surface is formed from a rigid plastics material.

4. A radiator grille substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Radiator grille This invention relates to radiator grilles for motor vehicles. Conventional radiator grilles for motor vehicles comprise one or more louvres having a forwardlyfacing surface for directing air through the grille into the engine compartment of the motor vehicle. In order to reduce noise emission levels from motor vehicles it is known to provide sound absorbing material on the inner surfaces of the walls of the engine compartment. According to the present invention there is provided a radiator grille for a motor vehicle comprising at least one louvre having a forwardly-facing surface for directing air through the grille, and a rearwardly facing surface formed from a sound-absorbing material. By forming the rearwardly-facing surface of the or each louvre of the grille from a sound-absorbing material, emission of noise from the engine compartment can be reduced even further, but without affecting the flow of air through the grille. Preferably the rearwardly facing surface of the or each louvre is formed from a foamed plastics material such as a polyurethane foam. The forwardly-facing surface of the louvre may be formd from a rigid plastics material. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa front view of a radiator grille in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line A-A of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a radiator grille 1 comprises a set of parallel louvres 2,3,4,5 arranged in a conventional manner to extend across the front of the engine compartment of a vehicle. Each louvre has a forwardly-directed surface 6,7,8,9,10 formed from a sheet of rigid plastics material such as a reinforced polyester resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, or polypropylene. (Suitable materials will be well known to persons skilled in the art). The forwardly-directed surfaces 6-9 of the louvres are formed integrally with uprights 12 as a unitary moulding. Each louvre 2-5 has a rearwardly directed surface 13-16 formed from a sound-absorbing material. In the illustrated grille, this material is a foamed plastics material such as a polyurethane foam. (Other suitable materials will be known to those skilled in the art). This material may be moulded on to the sheet 12, and/or secured thereto by an adhesive. The rearwardly directed surfaces 13-16 are shaped so as not to interfere with the flow of air through the grille over the forwardly-directed surfaces of the louvres 2-5. Nevertheless the sound absorbing material absorbs noise from the engine (not shown) and therefore contributes to the overall reduction in the emission of noise from the engine compartment. CLAIMS