GB2524887A

GB2524887A - Flow regulating device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2524887A
Application number: GB1503561.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neelakanth Hunagund; Nagasrawan Katta
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2015-03-03
Filing date: 2015-03-03
Publication date: 2015-10-07
Also published as: GB201503561D0

Abstract

A flow regulating device (10, Fig.1) for regulating an air flow through a compartment of a vehicle, the flow regulating device comprising at least one roller (22) rotatable about a rotation axis (24); and at least one shutter (34) having a plurality of lamellas 36, 38 mutually articulated to each other, the shutter being configured to be wound onto and unwound from the roller by rotating the roller about the rotation axis; wherein first ones 36 of the lamellas are made of a first plastic material and second ones 38 of the lamellas are made of a second plastic material being different from the first plastic material. The segments or lamellae may be manufactured of polypropylene, or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. The first and second louvres may be arranged alternately and the rotation axis may be orientated upright in the vehicle.

Description

Flow Regulating Device for a Vehicle, in particular a Motor Vehicle The invention relates to a flow regulating device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a flow regulating device for regulating an air flow through a compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, can be found in US 8 627 911 B2. The flow regulating device comprises a roller which is rotatable about a rotation axis. Moreover, the regulating device comprises at least one shutter which has a plurality of lamellas mutually articulated to each other. In other words, the lamellas are pivotably connected with each other. The shutter and, thus, the lamellas are configured to be wound onto and unwound from the roller by rotating the roller about the rotation axis. For example, by rotating the roller into a first direction of rotation the shutter and, thus, the lamellas are wound onto the roller. By rotating the roller in a second direction of rotation being opposite the first direction of rotation the shutter and, thus, the lamellas are unwound from the roller.

Furthermore, US 2011/0232865 Al shows a cooling device for a motor vehicle, the cooling device comprising a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger that is offset to the first heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. Moreover, the cooling device comprises a flow regulating device in an intermediate space between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the flow regulating device including a cooling air through flow-capable cross-sectional area with a variable permeability to the cooling air.

Furthermore, DE 103 06 158 Al shows a flow regulating device for regulating an air flow through a compartment of a motor vehicle, the flow regulating device comprising a plurality of inherently stable lamellas which are rotatable about respective rotation axis.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow regulating device of the aforementioned kind, by means of which flow regulating device a flow of air through a compartment of a vehicle can be regulated in a particularly advantageous way.

This object is solved by a flow regulating device having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide a flow regulating device of the kind indicated in the preamble of the patent claim 1, by means of which flow regulating device a flow of air through a compartment of a vehicle can be regulated in a particular advantageous way, according to the present invention first ones of the lamellas of the shutter are made of a first plastic material, wherein second ones of the lamellas are made of a second plastic material which is different from the first plastic material. By using at least two different plastic materials at least a portion of the compartment can be sealed by the shutter particularly effectively so that the flow of air through the compartment can be avoided or kept particularly low by means of the flow regulating device. Moreover, an advantageous stiffness of the shutter can be realized by using the different plastic materials thereby realizing a so-called bi-material design of the shutter. Furthermore, the shutter can be wound onto the roller particularly advantageously.

Preferably, the first plastic material is polypropylene. Moreover, preferably, the second plastic material is an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM).

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the first lamellas and the second lamellas are arranged alternately. This means, with respect to a direction of extension of the shutter, a first one of the second lamellas is arranged adjacent to a first one of the first lamellas. Moreover, a second one of the first lamellas is arranged adjacent to the first second lamella. Moreover, a second one of the second lamellas is arranged adjacent to the second first lamella and so on. Thereby, a particularly advantageous stiffness and sealing effect of the shutter can be realized.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a flow regulating device for a vehicle, the flow regulating device comprising first lamellas made of a first plastic material, and second lamellas made of a second plastic material being different from the first plastic material; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of the flow regulating device; Fig. 3 part of a schematic sectional view of the flow regulating device; Fig. 4 part of a further schematic sectional view of the flow regulating device; and Fig. 5 a schematic front view of a shutter of the flow regulating device.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows a flow regulating device 10 for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle such as a passenger vehicle. The flow regulating device 10 is used for regulating an air flow through a compartment of the vehicle. In particular, the flow regulating device 10 is used for regulating a flow of air into the compartment which is configured as an engine compartment of the vehicle.

The vehicle comprises a motor which is configured as, for example, an internal combustion engine, the motor being arranged in the engine compartment. The vehicle further comprises a cooling circuit through which cooling water for cooling the internal combustion engine can flow. This means the internal combustion engine is arranged in the cooling circuit.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, a cooling unit in the form of a radiator 12 of the vehicle is also arranged in the cooling circuit so that the cooling water can flow through the radiator 12.

By cooling the internal combustion engine the cooling water is heated. After cooling the internal combustion engine the cooling water can flow through the radiator 12 by means of which the cooling water is cooled.

Moreover, the vehicle comprises at least one compressor by means of which air flowing through an intake system of the internal combustion engine can be compressed. By compressing the air, the air is heated. The vehicle comprises a cooling unit in the form of a charge air cooler 14 configured to cool the compressed air. Furthermore, the vehicle comprises an HVAC system (HVAC -heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) by means of which the interior of the vehicle can be heated and cooled. In other words, the HVAC system is configured to cool and heat air fed into the interior. The HVAC system comprises a refrigeration circuit through which a refrigerant can flow. A condenser 16 is arranged in said refrigeration circuit and configured to cool the refrigerant thereby condensing the refrigerant. The radiator 12, the charge air cooler 14 and the condenser 16 form a cooling module 18 which is arranged in said engine compartment. For example, the cooling module 18 is arranged in front of the internal combustion engine with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The engine compartment is bounded by a hood in the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top. By reducing the drag of the vehicle, the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine can be reduced. As will be explained in the following, the flow regulating device 10 is used to reduce the drag of the vehicle in a need-based manner.

The flow regulating device 10 comprises four box assemblies 20 each having a roller 22 which is rotatable about a rotation axis 24. As can be seen from Fig. 2 the respective rotation axis 24 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The flow regulating device 10 further comprises an actuator 26 which is configured as, for example, an electric motor. The actuator 26 is configured to drive a shaft 28 which is connected to gear wheels 30 in a rotationally fixed manner. The gear wheels 30 mesh with further gear wheels 32 so that the gear wheels 32 can be driven by the gear wheels which can be driven by the actuator 28 via the shaft 28. Thereby, all four rollers 22 can be rotated about the respective rotation axis 24 by means of the actuator 26.

The respective curtain box assembly 20 further comprises at least one shutter 34. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the respective shutter 34 comprises a plurality of first lamellas 36 and second lamellas 38. The lamellas 36 and 38 are inherently stable and mutually articulated to each other. This means the lamellas 36 and 38 are pivotably connected with each other. Moreover, the shutter 34 is configured to be wound onto and unwound from the respective roller 22 by rotating the respective roller 22 about the respective rotation axis 24.

For example, with respect to Fig. 5, the left or right first lamella 36 is connected to one of the rollers 22. Since the lamellas 36 and 38 are mutually articulated to each other, the lamellas 36 and 38 and, thus, the shutter 34 is wound onto the corresponding roller 22 when the corresponding roller 22 is rotated about its rotation axis 24. Thus, by rotating the rollers 22 by means of the actuator 26 the respective shutters 34 can be wound onto the respective rollers 22 and unwound from the respective rollers 22 simultaneously. Thereby, the respective shutter 34 is movable between at least one covering position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and at least one uncovering position. In the covering position at least a portion of the cooling module 18 is covered by the respective shutter 34 since the shutter 34 overlaps said portion of the cooling module 18 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Thus, a flow of air through said portion and into the engine compartment is avoided by means of the shutter 34.

In the uncovering position said portion of the cooling module 18 is released by the shutter 34 since said portion is not covered by the shutter 34 in the uncovering position. Thus, in the uncovering position, air can flow through said portion of the cooling module 18 and into the engine compartment.

Fig. 3 shows two of the shutters 34 partially. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the respective shutter 34 comprises a housing 40 in which the respective roller 22 is arranged. In the uncovering position at least a portion of the shutter 34 is wound onto the roller 22 and, thus, arranged in the housing 40. However, in the covering position, said portion of the shutter 34 is unwound from the roller 22 and, thus, arranged outside the housing 40.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 5, the respective shutter 34 is designed as a curtain, in particular a plastic rolling curtain by means of which the drag of the vehicle can be reduced so that fuel economy can be increased. For example, the shutter 34 is moved into the covering position when there is no need or a little need only to cool the cooling water by means of the radiator 12. In the covering position, the drag of the vehicle is reduced with respect to the uncovering position.

For example, when the temperature of the internal combustion engine and/or the cooling water reaches or exceeds 100°C and/or when the compressed air needs to be cooled by means of the charge air cooler 14, the shutter 34 is moved from the covering position into the uncovering position so that the cooling water can be cooled by the radiator 12 and/or the compressed air can be cooled by the charge air cooler 14.

In order to regulate the flow of air through the engine compartment particularly advantageously by means of the air regulating device 10 the first lamellas 36 are made of a first plastic material, wherein the second lamellas 38 are made of a second plastic material being different from the first plastic material. Preferably, the first plastic material is polypropylene, wherein the second plastic material is EPDM. Thereby, the shutter 34 can be wound onto the respective roller 22 particularly effectively. Moreover, an advantageous sealing effect of the shutter 34 can be realized so that, in the covering position, a flow of air through said portion covered by the shutter 34 can be kept particularly low or avoided. In other words, the shutter 34 allows for realizing a 100 % sealing of the engine or cooling compartment. Moreover, a particularly low packaging space of the shutter 34 and, thus, the flow regulating device 10 can be realized thereby reducing total under hood front and packaging space.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 the flow regulating device 10 is arranged or packaged horizontally since the direction of movement of the respective shutter 34 extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Alternatively, the shutter 34 can be arranged or packaged vertically so that the direction of movement of the shutter 34 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The respective lamellas 36 and 38 are inherently stable and also referred to as flaps or blades which allow for realizing a particularly efficiency with respect to regulating the flow of air through the engine compartment. By means of the flow regulating device 10 an at least substantially fully closed compartment of the vehicle can be realized so that aerodynamic drag can be kept to a minimum. In comparison with flaps which cannot be wound onto a roller the installation space or package space required by the respective shutter 34 can be kept particularly low. Moreover, the required space for moving the shutter 34 can be kept to a minimum so that the flow regulating device 10 can be arranged very closely to the cooling module 18 so that the space 42 between the cooling module 18 and the flow regulating device 10 can be kept to a minimum, in particular below 5 millimeters.

Moreover, the engine compartment can be insulated by the flow regulating device 10 in a particularly advantageous manner. Thus, the engine compartment and, thus, the engine can be kept warm in cold countries in winter seasons since the cooling module 18 can be closed or sealed all around by the flow regulating device 10. Thus, the respective shutters 34 can act as curtains which can be used to heat up the internal combustion engine particularly fast in the respective covering positions. Thus, preferably, the respective shutter 34 is moved on the basis on the engine's and charge air cooler's 14 requirements.

For example, the flow regulating device 10 comprises a spiral gear or a spiral bevel gear via which the respective rollers 22 are drivable by the actuator 26. Moreover, the respective shutter 34 configured as a curtain which can be wound onto the cylindrical roller 22 in a spiral form. Thus, the packaging space can be kept particularly low and a % sealing can be realized.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 4, the respective box assembly 20 which is also referred to as curtain box assembly comprises a frame 44 which is also referred to as a curtain frame. The frame 44 serves to guide the shutter 34 when the shutter 34 is moved between the covering position and the uncovering position. For guiding the shutter 34, the respective box assembly 20 comprises at least one guide element 46 attached to the shutter 34. For example, at least one guide element 46 is attached to each of the lamellas 36 and 38. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the respective guide element 46 engages a corresponding guideway arranged in the frame 44 so that the respective guide element 46 and, thus, the shutter 34 is guided along the guide way of the frame 44.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, the first lamellas 36 and the second lamellas 38 are arranged alternately. This means that, from left to right, a first one of the second lamellas 38 is arranged adjacent to a first one of the first lamellas 36. Moreover, a second one of the first lamellas 36 is arranged adjacent to the first second lamella 38. Moreover, a second one of the second lamellas 38 is arranged adjacent to the second first lamella 36 and so on. Thus, a particularly advantageous sealing effect and stiffness of the shutter 34 can be realized.

List of reference signs flow regulating device 12 radiator 14 charge air cooler 16 condenser 18 cooling module curtain box assembly 22 roller 24 rotation axis 26 actuator 28 shaft gearwheel 32 further gear wheel 34 shutter 36 first lamella 38 second lamella housing 42 distance 44 frame 46 guide element

Claims

Claims A flow regulating device (10) for regulating an air flow through a compartment of a vehicle, the flow regulating device (10) comprising: -at least one roller (22) rotatable about a rotation axis (24); and -at least one shutter (34) having a plurality of lamellas (36, 38) mutually articulated to each other, the shutter (34) being configured to be wound onto and unwound from the roller (22) by rotating the roller (22) about the rotation axis (24); characterized in that first ones (36) of the lamellas (36, 38) are made of a first plastic material and second ones (38) of the lamellas (36, 38) are made of a second plastic material being different from the first plastic material.
2. The flow regulating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first plastic material is polypropylene.
3. The flow regulating device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second plastic material is an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.
4. The flow regulating device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lamellas (36) and the second lamellas (38) are arranged alternately.
5. The flow regulating device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that rotation axis (24) is oriented upright in the vehicle.