GB2515642A

GB2515642A - Adjustable grille for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2515642A
Application number: GB1408980.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rahul Manekar; Santhosh Doddamani; Kripesh Krishnadas; Amey Godse; Anushekhar Grandhi; B N Prasanth
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2014-05-21
Filing date: 2014-05-21
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Also published as: GB201408980D0

Abstract

An adjustable grille 1 for a vehicle, the grille 1 having a frame 2 and a shutter arrangement, comprising at least one shutter member 4, for air to flow through the grille 1, the shutter member(s) 4 being rotatable around a pivot axis (A), and having at least two forefronts 6 & 7 that run mainly parallel to the pivot axis (A) and are non-parallel to each other; where the forefronts 6 & 7 are adjustable to enhance the functionality of the adjustable grille 1. The forefronts 6 & 7 preferably have a multitude of openings 8, and/or light elements, preferably in different colours. The forefronts 6 & 7 preferably have the outer contour of a polygon, preferably a triangle, with an angle of between 60 and 90 degrees.

Description

Adjustable Grille for a Vehicle The invention relates to an adjustable grille for a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Virtually all vehicles feature a grille, in particular a front bumper grille. Usually this grille is fixed. The grille is one of the important parts in deciding the looks of the car and also influences the cooling of the engine by controlling the airflow through the grille that usually is used to cool the engine.

The US 201 0/02433452 Al describes a movable grille shutter device for vehicle which includes a case that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle body and a plurality of louvers arranged in the case. The louvers are allowed to change between a fully opened and closed orientation for permitting and preventing, respectively, an airflow through a front grille opening into an engine compartment.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the functionality of a grille with movable shutter members.

According to the invention, there is provided a grille for a vehicle according to independent claim 1.

Further advantages and embodiments are set out according to the dependent claims, the

detailed description and the figures.

An inventive adjustable grille for a vehicle comprises a frame and a grille shutter arrangement that is arranged in a grille opening for air to flow through the grille. Thereby, the grille shutter arrangement comprises at least one shutter member that is arranged on the frame and rotatable around a pivot axis. In order to increase the functionality of the grille, at least two forefronts of the shutter member run mainly parallel to the pivot axis and are are at least partially orientated non-parallel to each other. The two forefronts are adjustable, that is they can be orientated, mainly parallel to the grille opening. The shutter member may be a slit or a louver, for example. The grille can be the front grille of a vehicle, in particular a front bumper grille. So, different forefronts of a shutter member can be oriented towards the inlet surface of the opening, in particular towards a front of the vehicle, by rotation around the pivot axis. This gives the advantage that the aerodynamics of the grille and hence the cooling of an engine behind the grille is adjustable. The grille can be integrated in the car permanently without affecting the design and appearance of the car. Furthermore, the appearance of the grille can be changed by the orientation of the two forefronts without changing the aerodynamics of the grille if the shutter members have a different appearance but identical or similar aerodynamics.

The different forefronts can be provided with different colours or a different appearance, so that the driver knows to which mode the grille is set without checking preferences inside the car. Here, the different appearances of the different forefronts can reflect for example different cooling requirements in different driving modes of the vehicle. For example, a red colour can be used to mark e.g. the forefront with the maximal airflow which is potentially required e.g. in a sport driving mode where, for example, an engine of the vehicle gets warmer than in another driving mode. So, in particular, a person outside the car can assess a driving behaviour of the vehicle more easily.

The adjustable grille may also comprise a drive mechanism, that can be activated either manually and/or automatically to rotate the shutter member.

According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustable grille comprises a multitude of openings in at least one of the forefronts, where the openings allow air tor flow through the respective forefront. This gives the advantage that air may flow through the forefront even if it is adjusted mainly parallel to the grille opening. Here, the airflow through the opening can be set very precisely by modifying the openings in the forefront. So, depending on predetermined modifications of the openings, the airflow through one respective forefront, or one respective type of forefront, is set. The openings may also include filter elements, so that the air flowing through the forefront is filtered or cleaned.

In a further embodiment, the adjustable grille comprises a multitude of openings in two or more of the forefronts, where the openings of the respective forefronts are of different shape and/or size and/or orientation and/or position. This enables a fine-tuning of the airflow through the grille by choosing the right forefront depending on the driving situation and/or the cooling requirements at-hand.

In another embodiment, the adjustable grille comprises two or more shutter members by means of which the grille opening can essentially be covered. The respective pivot axes of the shutter members are orientated parallel to each other and each shutter member comprises a forefront with the same features, in particular aerodynamic features, in particular openings, as at least one forefront of each of the other shutter members. Here, different shutter member shutter elements can have different sizes or forms. This gives the advantage that the shutter elements can cover a larger grille opening than a single shutter element without needing much space for the rotation. Furthermore, the grille can be adapted to fit the requirements, i.e. the form or shape, of the vehicle ad hand.

Furthermore, the forefronts of neighbouring shutter elements may be very close to or even touching each other when they are orientated parallel to the grille opening. Then, an uncontrolled airflow between the individual shutter elements can be prevented and a visual appearance of the grille is improved.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the outer contour of a cross section of the shutter member perpendicular to the pivot axis is that of a polygon, in particular that of a triangle. The size of the polygon, in particular of the triangle, corresponds, or corresponds at least to some extent, to the forefronts of the shutter member. So, the shutter member has the form of a cylinder with a polygonal base, where the base is orientated perpendicular to the pivot axis. The shell or surface of the cylinder that is orientated parallel to the pivot axis forms the different forefronts. Here, the cylinder does not need to be "closed" on every side, i.e. there may be one or more surfaces corresponding to a specific side of the polygonal base that are left out, i.e. no forefront corresponds to them. This form gives the advantage that several forefronts can be combined in one shutter element very easily. If the polygon is a triangle, the shutter element can be arranged very close to other shutter elements while still being rotatable.

According to another embodiment, the forefronts are sheet-like and attached to each other at an edge parallel to the pivot axis so that the shutter member has a v-shape in a cross section perpendicular to the pivot axis. In particular, the angle between the forefronts is less than 90°, in particular 60°. Thi s gives the advantage of a light weight shutter element with three qualitatively different main orientations. First, each of the two forefronts may be orientated parallel to the grille opening, resulting in two different sets of aerodynamic characteristics of the forefront. The third qualitatively different orientation is when the point or edge of the v is orientated to the inlet surface of the opening, that is, for instance, to the front of the vehicle. The same or very similar aerodynamics can be achieved by orientating the point of the v away from the inlet surface of the opening, that is, for instance, to the back of the car. Also, these different main orientations result in a different look of the grille.

According to a further embodiment, the forefronts have light elements, in particular light elements with different respective colours on each of the forefronts. In particular, the light elements can be arranged in a repetitive pattern, for instance around the openings of the forefronts. The light elements can be e.g. LED lights. This gives the advantage that the forefronts are distinguishable from each other more easily, especially when it is dark.

Furthermore, the visual appearance of the grille, and hence of the vehicle or car, can be improved.

By considering the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the teachings of the present invention can be readily understood, and at least some additional specific details will appear. Herein: Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a grille with shutter elements in a first position; Fig. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 with the shutter members in a second position; and Fig. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 with shutter members in a third orientation.

In the figures, same elements or elements with the same functions are marked with the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an adjustable grille with shutter members orientated in a first orientation or position. Here, the grille 1 has a frame 2 that, in the current example, has a rectangular form with rounded corners. The frame mainly extends into an x-and in a y-direction. The inside of the frame 2 forms a grille opening 3 which, as the frame 2 also extends in the z-direction to a certain amount, has an inlet surface on the side of the frame 2 that faces the observer of the Fig. 1. So, the inlet surface is orientated in a positive z-direction in the present example. The frame 2 has a shutter arrangement in the grille opening 3. This shutter arrangement consists -in the present example -of five shutter members 4 that are attached via shafts 5 to the opposing sides of the frame 2 that extend in the y-direction. These shafts 5 run parallel to respective pivot axis A of the shutter members 4. As a consequence the shutter members 4 are rotatable around the pivot axis A via the shafts 5. In the present example, each shutter member 5 is identical to the other shutter members 5 and they all feature a V-shape in a cross section perpendicular to the pivot axis A. In the orientation of the shutter elements 5 that is depicted in Fig. 1, the point or edge of the V is oriented in a positive z-direction, that is, towards the inlet surface of the opening 3. Here, each shutter element 4 has a first foreside 6 that is presently oriented upwards in positive y-direction and a second forefront 7 that is presently orientated in negative y-direction in Fig. 1. First forefront 6 and second forefront 7 in the current example each feature a line or row of openings 8 that, in the present example, are quadratic for the first forefront 6 and round for the second forefront 7. As the two forefronts 6, 7 are not orientated parallel to the opening 3 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and there is a relatively large distance between the shutter members 4 that forms air slots. So, air will flow mainly through the slots between the shutter members and not to the openings 8 of the shutter members 4 here.

Fig. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 with the second forefronts 7 oriented parallel to the opening 3, i.e. parallel to the x-y-plane. So, the forefronts 7 are oriented towards the inlet surface of the opening 3. The observer of Fig. 2 thus sees the shutter members 4 with their respective forefronts 7 from a perspective by which an air flowing through the opening 3 would "see" the forefronts 7. Here, as the slots between the individual shutter members 4 are closed, the air would flow through the openings S of the forefronts 7. The openings 8 of the second forefronts 7 have a round shape in the present

example.

Fig. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 similar to Fig. 2. The difference is that here it is not the second forefronts 7 of the shutter members 4 but the first forefronts 6 of the shutter members 4 that face the observer. In this example, the openings 8 of the shutter members 4 have a different shape than in Fig. 2, namely they are squares.

Furthermore, the first forefronts 6 may have e.g. a different colour, so that the orientation of the shutter members 4 can be understood at a glance by any observer of the grille 1, in particular when it is integrated in a vehicle. Thus, by orientating the different forefronts 6, 7 or the point 9 towards the front, i.e. in positive z-direction, in the direction of an inlet surface of the opening 3, the aerodynamic and optical characteristics of the grille 1 can be adjusted flexibly depending on the situation and/or the deem of the driver.

List of reference signs 1 grille 2 frame 3 opening 4 shutter member shaft 6 first forefront 7 second forefront S opening 9 point A pivot axis

Claims

Claims An adjustable grille (1) for a vehicle, the grille (1) having a frame (2) and a grille shutter arrangement arranged in a grille opening (3) for air to flow through the grille (1), whereby the grille (1) shutter arrangement comprises at least one shutter member (4) being arranged on the frame (2) and rotatable around a pivot axis (A), characterised by at least two forefronts (6, 7) of the shutter member (4) that run mainly parallel to the pivot axis (A) and are non-parallel to each other, where the two forefronts (6, 7) are adjustable mainly parallel to the grille opening (3).
2. The adjustable grille (1) according to claim 1, characterised by a multitude of openings (8) in at least one of the forefronts (6, 7), where the openings (8) allow air to flow through the forefront (6, 7).
3. The adjustable grille (1) according to claim 2, characterised by a multitude of openings (8) in two or more of the forefronts (6, 7), where the openings (8) of the respective forefronts (6, 7)are of different shape and/or size and/or orientation and/or position.
4. The adjustable grille (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by two or more shutter members (4) by means of which the grille opening (3) can essentially be covered, with their respective pivot axes (A) oriented parallel to each other, where each shutter member (4) comprises a forefront (6, 7) with the same features, in particular aerodynamic features, in particular openings (8), as a forefront (6, 7) of each of the other shutter members (4).
5. The adjustable grille (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the outer contour of a cross section of the shutter member (4) perpendicular to the pivot axis (A) is that of a polygon, in particular that of a triangle, and the sides of the polygon, in particular of the triangle, correspond, or correspond at least to some extent, to the forefronts (6, 7).
6. The adjustable grille (1) according to claim 5, characterised by the forefronts (6, 7) being sheet-like and attached to each other at an edge parallel to the pivot axis (A) so that the shutter member (4) has a V-shape in a cross section perpendicular to the pivot axis (A), in particular with the angle between the forefronts (6, 7) being less than 90°, in particular 60°.
7. The adjustable grille (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the forefronts (6, 7) having light elements, in particular light elements with different respective colours.