JP2017043174A - Grille shutter device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grille shutter device capable of preventing an opening/closing member from moving to a closing direction side from a half-opened position.SOLUTION: A grille shutter device 10 comprises: a movable fin 11 which is provided inside a grille opening of a vehicle body front part and can open and close to change the amount of air flowing into a vehicle body; an electric motor M connected to the movable fin 11 through a power transmission mechanism 17; and a control unit 21 for performing drive control of the electric motor M so as to drive and control the movable fin 11 to any of a fully closed position, a fully opened position, and a half-opened position therebetween. When driving the movable fin 11 to the half-opened position, the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to a position on a closing direction side from the half-opened position if the current position of the movable fin 11 is located at a position on an opening direction side from the half-opened position, and then drives the movable fin 11 to the half-opened position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a grill shutter device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a grill shutter device that can open and close an opening / closing member provided in a grill opening at the front of a vehicle body by a driving force of a drive source and change the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body (in an engine room) from the grill opening. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In this grill shutter device, for example, during high speed traveling, the aerodynamic performance (for example, “Cd value”) can be improved by limiting the amount of air flowing into the engine room with the opening / closing member in the fully closed position. . Further, when the engine is started, the warm-up time can be shortened by suppressing the amount of air flowing into the engine room with the opening / closing member in the fully closed position, that is, the amount of air striking the radiator. When the engine temperature tends to rise, the engine temperature can be appropriately managed by increasing the amount of air flowing into the engine room with the opening / closing member at the fully open position. Also, for example, when the engine temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature even when the opening / closing member is in the half-open position between the fully open position and the fully closed position, the amount of air that flows into the engine room with the opening / closing member in the half-open position (the amount of air hitting the radiator) ) To the minimum necessary, aerodynamic performance can be improved as much as possible while maintaining the engine temperature at an appropriate temperature.

JP2015-93665A

  By the way, when the driving source is stopped and stopped at the half-open position, the opening / closing member is slightly in the direction (driving direction) in which the opening / closing member has been driven until just before by the play of the power transmission mechanism that connects the opening / closing member and the driving source. And may move in the driving direction due to traveling wind, vibration, or the like. Therefore, for example, when the opening / closing member is driven from the fully open position to the half-open position in the closing direction, the opening / closing member may move to the closing direction side from a preset (target) half-open position. This causes, for example, the amount of air flowing into the engine room to be less than the necessary minimum, and as a result, the engine temperature cannot be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a grille shutter device capable of preventing the opening / closing member from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position. There is.

  A grill shutter device that solves the above-described problems is provided in a grill opening at a front portion of a vehicle body, and can be opened and closed to change an amount of air flowing into the vehicle body, and a power transmission mechanism is connected to the opening and closing member. A drive source connected to each other, and a control unit that can drive and control the drive source, and can control the drive of the opening / closing member to a fully closed position, a fully open position, or a half-open position therebetween, When the control unit drives the opening / closing member to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is on the opening direction side of the half-opening position, the control unit moves the opening / closing member to the position on the closing direction side of the half-opening position. After that, the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is closer to the opening direction than the half-opening position, the control unit causes the opening / closing member to be closer to the closing direction than the half-opening position. Then, the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, so that the opening / closing member can be prevented from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position. That is, when the driving source is stopped, the opening / closing member can move slightly in the direction (driving direction) that has been driven until just before by the backlash of the power transmission mechanism. There is a risk of moving in the driving direction. However, in the above configuration, even if the current position of the opening / closing member is located on the opening direction side of the half-open position, the opening / closing member is finally driven in the opening direction and stopped at the half-open position. It can prevent moving to the close direction side rather than a half-open position.

  In the grille shutter device, when the control unit drives the open / close member to the half-open position, if the current position of the open / close member is closer to the open direction than the half-open position, the control unit sets the open / close member to the half-open position. It is preferable to drive to a position between the fully closed position and then drive the open / close member to the half open position.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is located on the opening direction side with respect to the half-open position, the controller first causes the opening / closing member to be moved to the half-open position and the fully-closed position. Then, the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, so that unnecessary driving can be reduced compared to the case where the opening / closing member is first driven to the fully-closed position. As a result, for example, the opening / closing member can be driven to the half-open position in a short time. For example, low power consumption can be achieved. Further, for example, durability can be improved.

  In the grill shutter device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing member from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position.

The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the vehicle by which the grille shutter apparatus in one Embodiment is mounted. The control block diagram of the grille shutter device in one embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the half-open drive process in one Embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the half-open drive process in one Embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the half-open drive process in one Embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the half-open drive process in one Embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the half-open drive process in one Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the end position drive process in one Embodiment. Each wave form diagram for explaining end position drive processing in one embodiment. The graph which shows the temperature addition amount in one Embodiment. The graph which shows the voltage addition amount in one Embodiment. Each wave form diagram for explaining end position drive processing in another example. The flowchart for demonstrating the initialization process in another example. The flowchart for demonstrating the check process in another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the grill shutter device will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, an engine room 3 formed inside the vehicle body 2 accommodates an engine 4 and a radiator 5 for cooling the engine 4. A fan 6 is provided between the engine 4 and the radiator 5. In addition, a grill opening 7 is formed in the front portion of the vehicle body 2 (left end portion in FIG. 1) to communicate the external space ahead of the vehicle and the internal space of the vehicle body 2 (engine room 3). The radiator 5 is arranged in front of the engine 4 so that air flowing from the grill opening 7 into the engine room 3 is hit.

  In the present embodiment, the grill opening 7 is formed below the bumper 8. A front grille 9 constituting a design surface (lower grille) is attached to the grill opening 7. The vehicle 1 according to this embodiment includes a grill shutter device 10 that can change the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body 2, that is, the engine room 3 from the grill opening 7.

  The grill shutter device 10 is provided in the grill opening 7, specifically, between the grill opening 7 and the radiator 5, and is a movable fin as an opening / closing member that can be opened and closed to change the amount of air flowing into the engine room 3. 11 and an actuator 12 that opens and closes the movable fin 11.

  More specifically, the movable fin 11 of the present embodiment has a rotating shaft 11a and a pair of fin portions 11b extending in a direction away from each other about the rotating shaft 11a, and the rotating shaft 11a is substantially a square. It is rotatably supported inside a frame 13 formed in a frame shape. A pair of the movable fins 11 according to the present embodiment are arranged side by side. The upper end of the frame 13 is fixed to the bumper reinforcement 14 and disposed in the grill opening 7 so that the rotation shaft 11a is along the vehicle width direction.

  The movable fin 11 is rotated to the center of the rotation shaft 11a, and the fin portion 11b is brought into a substantially horizontal state to be in a fully open position. Further, the movable fin 11 is turned to the fully closed position by being turned about the turning shaft 11a and the fin portion 11b being in a substantially vertical state. Further, the movable fin 11 is rotated about the rotation shaft 11a, and the fin portion 11b is inclined at a preset angle, so that the movable fin 11 is in a half-open position between the fully closed position and the fully opened position. The As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the frame 13 of the present embodiment engages with the movable fin 11, thereby opening and closing the movable fin 11 in the opening / closing operation range (between the fully open position and the fully closed position). A restricting portion 13a is provided for restricting the exceeding operation. As a result, when the movable fin 11 reaches the end position, which is the fully closed position or the fully open position, the movable fin 11 is engaged (contacted) with the restricting portion 13a, so that the operation exceeding the open / close operation range between the both end positions is restricted. Yes.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the actuator 12 of the present embodiment includes an electric motor M as a drive source for rotationally driving its own rotary shaft 16 and the rotary shaft 16, and the output thereof is movable fin 11. And a power transmission mechanism 17 composed of a plurality of gears and the like that are connected to each other, and the electric motor M is driven to open and close the movable fins 11. The actuator 12 has a rotation sensor 18 made of a Hall IC at a position facing a sensor magnet (not shown) that rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 16. The rotation sensor 18 outputs a rotation axis pulse signal P corresponding to the rotation position of the rotation axis 16 (specifically, at an H level for every fixed rotation angle).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the grille shutter device 10 can drive and control the electric motor M to drive and control the movable fin 11 to any one of a fully closed position, a fully opened position, and a half-open position therebetween. A control unit 21 is provided.

  A battery power source (not shown) is connected to the control unit 21 of the present embodiment, and various types of vehicle-related items such as an ignition signal IG when the ignition switch is turned on, the vehicle speed V, the cooling water temperature Tw of the engine 4, the outside air temperature Ta, and the like. Vehicle information signal S and the rotating shaft pulse signal P are input. Then, the control unit 21 supplies driving power to the electric motor M based on the vehicle information signal S, the rotation shaft pulse signal P, and the like to move the movable fin 11 in the fully closed position, the fully open position, and the half open position. Is driven (turned). For example, the control unit 21 improves the aerodynamic performance (for example, “Cd value”) by restricting the amount of air flowing into the engine room 3 with the movable fin 11 in the fully closed position during high-speed traveling. Further, for example, when the engine temperature (cooling water temperature Tw) tends to increase, the control unit 21 increases the amount of air flowing into the engine room 3 with the movable fin 11 in the fully open position, thereby reducing the engine temperature. Manage appropriately. Further, for example, when the control unit 21 can maintain the engine temperature at an appropriate temperature even when the movable fin 11 is in the half-open position, the amount of air that flows into the engine room 3 with the movable fin 11 in the half-open position (the amount of air that hits the radiator 5). ) To the minimum necessary, aerodynamic performance is improved as much as possible while maintaining the engine temperature at an appropriate temperature.

  Here, when the control unit 21 of the present embodiment drives the movable fin 11 to the half-open position, the current position of the movable fin 11 is a position closer to the opening direction than the half-open position (to be moved from now on) (for example, fully open). Position), the movable fin 11 is driven to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position (see FIG. 4), and then the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position (see FIG. 5) to stop the electric motor M. Let When the movable fin 11 is driven to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position, the control unit 21 of the present embodiment drives the movable fin 11 to a position between the half-open position and the fully closed position (fully closed position). Do not drive until).

  Further, when the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to the half-open position, the current position of the movable fin 11 is in a position (for example, a fully-closed position) closer to the closing direction than the half-open position (to be moved from now on). Then, the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position so that the movable fin 11 does not pass the half-open position (see FIG. 6), and the electric motor M is stopped.

  More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the control unit 21 performs a half-open drive process when driving the movable fin 11 to the half-open position. That is, the control unit 21 first determines in step 101 of the half-open drive process whether or not the current position of the movable fin 11 is on the opening direction side of the half-open position (which is scheduled to be moved). If it is determined that the position is on the direction side (for example, the fully open position), the process proceeds to step 102. The current position of the movable fin 11 is estimated by the rotation axis pulse signal P described above.

In step 102, the control unit 21 supplies driving power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the closing direction, and the process proceeds to step 103.
In step 103, the control unit 21 has reached a preset pre-target position where the movable fin 11 is closer to the closing direction than the half-open position and is between the half-open position and the full-close position (FIG. 4). If it is determined that the reference is made, the process proceeds to the next step 104, the supply of drive power to the electric motor M is stopped, and the process proceeds to step 105. In Step 101, when the control unit 21 determines that the current position of the movable fin 11 is not in a position on the opening direction side of the half-open position (to be moved in the future) (for example, in the fully closed position). Also proceeds to step 105.

In step 105, the control unit 21 supplies driving electric power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the opening direction, and the process proceeds to step 106.
When the control unit 21 determines in step 106 that the movable fin 11 has reached the half-open position that is the true target position (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step 107 and applies to the electric motor M. The supply of drive power is stopped, and the half-open drive process is ended (end).

  Further, here, when the control unit 21 of the present embodiment drives the movable fin 11 to the end position which is the fully closed position or the fully open position, the control unit 21 is at the rotational position of the rotating shaft 16 stopped by the action of the restricting portion 13a. The rotating shaft 16 is stopped at a stress relaxation position that is a rotational position before a certain lock position. In other words, in the grill shutter device 10, the movable fin 11 is engaged (contacted) with the restricting portion 13 a, so that the movement of the movable fin 11 beyond the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position is restricted. Yes. However, if the drive power is continuously supplied to the electric motor M, the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotary shaft 16 are bent even after the movable fin 11 is engaged with the restricting portion 13a. After being slightly rotated, it is stopped (at the locked position) by the action of the restricting portion 13a. On the other hand, when the movable fin 11 is driven to the end position, the control unit 21 according to the present embodiment stops the rotary shaft 16 at the stress relaxation position that is the rotation position before the lock position. .

  Specifically, when the control unit 21 of the present embodiment drives the movable fin 11 to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position, after driving the rotary shaft 16 to the lock position, the controller 21 to the stress relaxation position. The rotary shaft 16 is driven in reverse to stop. Further, the controller 21 increases the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position as the outside air temperature Ta is higher. Further, the controller 21 determines that the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position is an outside air temperature (0 ° C. or less in the present embodiment) where the movable fin 11 is likely to be fixed by freezing (this embodiment is 0 ° C. or less). In the embodiment, it is increased by a certain amount). Further, the control unit 21 increases the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M is higher, that is, as the voltage of a battery power source (not shown) is higher. Moreover, the control part 21 makes the said stress relaxation position the position between the rotation position of the rotating shaft 16 when the movable fin 11 starts engagement with the control part 13a, and the said lock position.

  Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 performs an end position driving process when driving the movable fin 11 to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position. That is, the control unit 21 first obtains the outside air temperature Ta and the applied voltage E to the electric motor M (that is, the voltage of the battery power source) in step 201 of the end position driving process, and in the next step 202, determines the reverse drive amount. calculate.

  At this time, the control unit 21 of the present embodiment adds a temperature addition amount corresponding to the outside air temperature Ta to a basic preset basic reverse rotation drive amount, and further adds a voltage addition amount corresponding to the applied voltage E. Thus, the reverse drive amount is calculated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the temperature addition amount increases as the outside air temperature Ta increases, and increases by a constant amount (amount from the broken line to the solid line) when the outside air temperature Ta is 0 ° C. or less. This is the combined amount of elements.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the amount of voltage addition is set to an amount that increases as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M (that is, the voltage of the battery power supply) increases.
In the next step 203, the control unit 21 supplies driving electric power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the direction toward the end position (forward rotation), and the process proceeds to step 204.

  If it is determined in step 204 that the lock current has been detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step 205, stops the supply of drive power to the electric motor M, and proceeds to step 206.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the current flowing through the electric motor M gradually increases as the load increases from the timing t <b> 1 when the movable fin 11 is engaged with the restricting portion 13 a. Then, when the rotating shaft 16 is stopped (locked) by the action of the restricting portion 13a (timing t2) and a certain time has elapsed after reaching the locking current (timing t3), the control unit 21 detects the locking current. Determination is made, and the supply of drive power to the electric motor M is stopped. The upper waveform in FIG. 9 indicates the timing at which the control unit 21 supplies drive power to the electric motor M.

  Next, in step 206, the control unit 21 supplies driving electric power (in the reverse direction) to the electric motor M so as to drive in the reverse direction (reverse) to the direction driven in step 103, and the process proceeds to step 207.

  In step 207, if the control unit 21 determines that the electric motor M is driven so that the rotation shaft 16 is reversed by the calculated reverse rotation drive amount (so that the rotation shaft 16 reaches the stress relaxation position), the next step The process proceeds to 208, the supply of driving power to the electric motor M is stopped, and the end position driving process is ended (end).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, since the rotation shaft 16 is subjected to a stress in the reverse rotation direction, the rotation shaft 16 is rotated by the reverse rotation amount (up to the stress relaxation position) (reverse rotation). ) Driving time is extremely short. That is, at this time, the control unit 21 is set so as to supply driving electric power to the electric motor M for a very short time, which is a time considering that stress in the reverse rotation direction is applied to the rotating shaft 16.

Next, the operation of the grill shutter device 10 configured as described above will be described.
For example, when the control unit 21 determines that the engine temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature even when the movable fin 11 is set to the half-open position, the half-open drive process is executed.

  At the time of the half-open driving process, for example, if the current position of the movable fin 11 is located at a position (for example, a full-open position) closer to the opening direction than the half-open position (to be moved in the future), as shown in FIG. The fin 11 is driven to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position, and then the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position as shown in FIG.

  Further, at the time of this half-open driving process, for example, if the current position of the movable fin 11 is at a position closer to the closing direction (for example, a fully-closed position) than the half-open position (to be moved from now on), as shown in FIG. The movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position so as not to pass the half-open position.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the movable fin 11 driven to the half-open position as described above is in a direction that has been driven until just before by the backlash of the power transmission mechanism 17 including a plurality of gears and the like, and is opened more than the half-open position. It becomes a state where it can move slightly in the direction, and becomes a state where it does not move in the closing direction from the half-open position.

  Further, for example, when the control unit 21 determines that the vehicle is traveling at a high speed or the engine temperature (cooling water temperature Tw) is increasing, the movable fin 11 is driven to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position. The end position driving process is executed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the rotating shaft 16 is driven to the locked position (timing t2), and then the rotating shaft 16 is reversed to the stress relaxation position (by the reverse driving amount) (timing t4).

Next, the characteristic effects of the above embodiment will be described below.
(1) When the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position, if the current position of the movable fin 11 is located on the opening direction side with respect to the half-open position, the movable fin 11 is driven to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position. Then, since the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position, it is possible to prevent the movable fin 11 from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position. That is, when the drive of the electric motor M is stopped, the movable fin 11 can move slightly in the direction (drive direction) that has been driven until just before by the play of the power transmission mechanism 17 including a plurality of gears. There is a risk of moving in the driving direction due to traveling wind or vibration. However, in the above configuration, even if the current position (before driving) of the movable fin 11 is located on the opening direction side of the half-open position, the movable fin 11 is finally driven in the opening direction and stopped at the half-open position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the movable fin 11 from moving to the closing direction side from the half-open position. As a result, it is possible to avoid that the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body 2 (engine room 3) becomes smaller than the set amount, and thus the engine temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

  (2) As described above, when the movable fin 11 is first driven to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position, the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to a position between the half-open position and the fully-closed position ( Therefore, unnecessary driving can be reduced as compared with the case where the movable fin 11 is first driven to the fully closed position. As a result, for example, the movable fin 11 can be driven to the half-open position in a short time. For example, low power consumption can be achieved. Further, for example, durability can be improved.

  (3) When the movable fin 11 is driven to the half-open position, if the current position of the movable fin 11 is closer to the closing direction than the half-open position, the movable fin 11 is moved to the half-open position so as not to pass the half-open position. Since it is driven, it is possible to prevent the movable fin 11 from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position. That is, for example, in the control in which the movable fin 11 reaches the half-opened position while adjusting the position of the movable fin 11 after passing the half-opened position, the movable fin 11 is finally driven in the closing direction to the half-opened position. Although there is a possibility of being stopped, this is avoided, and the movable fin 11 can be prevented from moving to the closing direction side from the half-open position. As a result, it is possible to avoid that the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body 2 (engine room 3) becomes smaller than the set amount, and thus the engine temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

  (4) When the movable fin 11 is driven to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position, the stress that is the rotation position before the lock position that is the rotation position of the rotation shaft 16 that is stopped by the action of the restricting portion 13a. Since the rotary shaft 16 is stopped at the relaxed position, it is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotary shaft 16. Specifically, for example, in the control of simply stopping the rotating shaft 16 at the locked position, even after the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restricting portion 13a, the member (power transmission from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16). When the mechanism 17 or the like is bent, the rotating shaft 16 is slightly rotated and then stopped (at the locked position) by the action of the restricting portion 13a. Therefore, for example, in the control in which the rotation shaft 16 is simply stopped at the lock position, a large stress is still applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotation shaft 16, for example, the members (the movable fin 11 and the power transmission). There is a risk that the mechanism 17 or the like) is plastically deformed. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the rotary shaft 16 is stopped at the stress relaxation position, which is the rotational position before the lock position, so that a large stress is still applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotary shaft 16. This can be suppressed, and as a result, plastic deformation of the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 can be suppressed.

  (5) When the movable fin 11 is driven to the end position which is the fully closed position or the fully open position, after the rotary shaft 16 is driven to the lock position, the rotary shaft 16 is reversely driven to the stress relaxation position and stopped. Therefore, specifically, it is possible to prevent the member from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 from being subjected to a large stress.

  (6) Since the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position increases as the outside air temperature Ta increases, the reverse drive amount can be set to a suitable value. That is, the amount by which the rotating shaft 16 rotates to the locked position after the movable fin 11 starts to engage the restricting portion 13a is such that the higher the outside air temperature Ta, the lower the resistance of the lubricating oil, and the rotating shaft 16 rotates at a higher speed. Since it becomes easy to bend and a member bends, it increases, so that outside temperature Ta is high. Therefore, for example, if the reverse drive amount is constant, the amount of rotation from the position of the rotating shaft 16 to the stress relaxation position when the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restricting portion 13a increases as the outside air temperature Ta increases. As a result, there is a possibility that the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 remain under great stress compared to when the outside air temperature Ta is low. On the other hand, since the reverse drive amount increases as the outside air temperature Ta increases, the rotation amount from the position of the rotary shaft 16 to the stress relaxation position when the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restricting portion 13a is constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 due to the high temperature.

  (7) Since the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position is increased when the outside air temperature (in this embodiment, 0 ° C. or less) at which the movable fin 11 is likely to be fixed by freezing, The reverse drive amount can be set to a suitable value. That is, when the movable fin 11 is fixed by freezing, it is considered that the member from the movable fin 11 to the rotary shaft 16 remains stressed for a long time. There is a risk of plastic deformation. On the other hand, since the reverse drive amount is increased when the movable fin 11 is at an outside temperature where the possibility that the movable fin 11 is fixed due to freezing is high, the reverse rotation amount is rotated from the movable fin 11 even when the movable fin 11 is fixed due to freezing (for a long time). Since it is possible to apply a smaller stress to the members up to the shaft 16, it is possible to prevent the members from being plastically deformed.

  (8) Since the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position increases as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M increases, the reverse drive amount can be set to a suitable value. That is, the amount by which the rotating shaft 16 rotates to the lock position after the movable fin 11 starts to engage the restricting portion 13a is that the rotating shaft 16 rotates at a higher speed as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M is higher. Therefore, the higher the applied voltage E to the electric motor M, the greater. Therefore, when the reverse drive amount is constant, the rotation amount from the rotation position of the rotating shaft 16 to the stress relaxation position when the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restricting portion 13a is the applied voltage E to the electric motor M. The higher the value, the larger the number, and there is a risk that a greater stress is applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 than when the applied voltage E to the electric motor M is low. On the other hand, since the reverse drive amount increases as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M increases, from the position of the rotating shaft 16 when the movable fin 11 starts engaging with the restricting portion 13a to the stress relaxation position. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a large stress from being applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16.

  (9) Since the stress relaxation position is a position between the rotation position of the rotary shaft 16 and the lock position when the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restricting portion 13a, the movable fin 11 is positioned at the end position. In the case of driving up to, a small stress can be applied while suppressing a large stress from being applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16. Thereby, it can avoid stopping in the state (state which has not reached the end position) where movable fin 11 is not engaged with restricting part 13a, and movable fin 11 was engaged with restricting part 13a reliably. The state can be stopped at the end position (fully closed position or fully opened position).

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, when the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position, after driving the rotary shaft 16 to the lock position, the control unit 21 moves the rotary shaft 16 to the stress relaxation position. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control may be changed to another control if the rotary shaft 16 is finally stopped at the stress relaxation position, which is the rotational position before the lock position.

  For example, when the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the control unit 21 drives the rotary shaft 16 to the stress relaxation position and stops it without reaching the lock position. Processing may be executed.

  Specifically, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 12, the control unit 21 controls the electric motor M at a timing tz before the rotation shaft 16 is stopped (locked) by the action of the regulating unit 13a (the timing t2). The supply of driving power to may be stopped.

  Even if it does in this way, it can suppress that a big stress remains on the member from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16. FIG. Moreover, if it does in this way, an extra drive can be reduced compared with the said embodiment, for example. As a result, for example, low power consumption can be achieved. Further, for example, durability can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 21 is a control for driving the rotary shaft 16 to the lock position and then stopping the stress relieving position by driving it in reverse by a reverse drive amount calculated in advance. In order to prevent the rotation shaft 16 from reaching the lock position, the control unit 21 needs to directly control the position of the rotation shaft 16 not at the reverse drive amount but at the stress relaxation position.

  Therefore, in this example, for example, the control unit 21 causes the movable fin 11 to reach the lock position at a preset initialization timing and stores the lock position (or a stress relaxation position based on the lock position). It is preferable to perform an initialization process. In this initialization process, the control unit 21 causes the movable fin 11 to reach the locking positions in both the opening direction and the closing direction, and stores the locking positions in both directions. In addition, the initialization process is performed by determining whether or not the distance between the lock positions stored in both directions is within a preset allowable range, and determining whether or not there is an abnormality if the interval is not within the allowable range. It may be included.

  More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the control unit 21 performs an initialization process at a preset initialization timing described later. That is, the control unit 21 first supplies drive power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the opening direction in step 301 of the initialization process, and proceeds to step 302.

  In step 302, when the control unit 21 determines that the lock current has been detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step 303 to stop the supply of drive power to the electric motor M and temporarily store the open-side lock position. The process proceeds to step 304.

In step 304, the control unit 21 supplies driving electric power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the closing direction, and the process proceeds to step 305.
In step 305, when the control unit 21 determines that the lock current has been detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step 306 to stop the supply of drive power to the electric motor M and temporarily store the closed lock position. The process proceeds to step 307 as abnormality detection processing.

  In step 307, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the interval (that is, the number of pulses of the rotation axis pulse signal P) to be stored (temporarily stored) is within a preset allowable range. If it is determined that it is within the allowable range, the process proceeds to step 308, where the temporarily stored lock position is formally stored, and the initialization process ends (end).

  If the control unit 21 determines in step 307 that the abnormality is not within the allowable range, the control unit 21 proceeds to step 309, for example, restricts the subsequent operation of the grille shutter device 10 or turns on a warning lamp. An abnormal process such as performing is executed, and the initialization process is ended (end).

  In this way, since the initialization process is performed at a preset initialization timing, the accuracy of the stored lock position (or the stress relaxation position based on the lock position) can be increased. That is, for example, if the control unit 21 stores the lock position in advance before each member is assembled, there is a possibility that the stored lock position and the actual lock position are shifted due to component accuracy of each member, assembly error, or the like. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the initialization process is performed at a preset initialization timing in a state in which each member is assembled, so that the accuracy of parts, the assembly error, and the like of each member are reflected. The lock position (or the stress relaxation position based on the lock position) can be stored at any time.

  In the initialization process, the movable fin 11 is made to reach the lock position in both the opening direction and the closing direction and the lock position (or stress relaxation position) in both directions is stored. It is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 even when driven to the fully open position.

  Further, since the initialization process includes an abnormality detection process (step 307), it is possible to detect that some failure has occurred in the grille shutter device 10. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the movable fin 11 from repeating an abnormal operation.

  Further, here, the preset initialization timing is executed, for example, when a battery power source (not shown) is connected to the control unit 21 or when the ignition signal IG is input ten times, or when the previous initialization process is executed. It may be when a week has passed since then. Further, for example, the preset initialization timing includes a time when the control unit 21 causes the movable fin 11 to reach the lock position at a preset check timing and the lock position is not within the normal range stored in advance. It may not be included when it is in the normal range. The preset check timing may be, for example, when the ignition signal IG is input ten times, or when one week has elapsed since the previous initialization process was executed.

  More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 may perform the check process at a preset check timing such as when the ignition signal IG is input ten times. That is, the control unit 21 first supplies drive power to the electric motor M to drive the movable fin 11 in the closing direction in step 401 of the check process, and the process proceeds to step 402. In this example, the movable fin 11 before this check process is performed (that is, before the tenth ignition signal IG is input) is brought into the fully open position by the fully open stop process performed when the vehicle 1 is stopped. Yes.

  If it is determined in step 402 that the lock current has been detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step 403, stops the supply of drive power to the electric motor M, and proceeds to step 404.

  In Step 404, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the value (number of pulses) of the rotation axis pulse signal P when driven from the fully closed position to the fully open position (lock position) is in the normal range as described above. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the amount of deviation is small with respect to the value of the rotation axis pulse signal P predicted by the control unit 21, and if it is determined that the value is not within the normal range, the initialization process is executed. If the control unit 21 determines that it is in the normal range (the deviation amount is small), it determines that it is not the initialization timing, and ends the check process without executing the initialization process.

  In this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the movable fin 11 from being driven frequently because the initialization process is performed more than necessary even though it is not necessary to perform the initialization process.

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, when the control part 21 drives the movable fin 11 to a half-open position, if the current position of the movable fin 11 exists in the position of an opening direction side rather than a half-open position, first, the movable fin 11 will be a half-open position. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable fin 11 may be first driven to the fully closed position.

  In the above embodiment, when the control unit 21 drives the movable fin 11 to the end position that is the fully closed position or the fully open position, the control unit 21 starts from the lock position that is the rotational position of the rotating shaft 16 that is stopped by the action of the restricting unit 13a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotary shaft 16 may be stopped at the lock position.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 21 increases the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position as the outside air temperature Ta increases. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reverse drive amount is Such correction may not be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 21 performs the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position at an outside air temperature (0 ° C. or less in the above embodiment) where the movable fin 11 is likely to stick due to freezing. Although there is an increase (a fixed amount in the above embodiment), the present invention is not limited to this, and the reverse drive amount may not be corrected. Moreover, you may set other temperature, such as -3 degrees C or less, for example, outside temperature with high possibility that the above-mentioned movable fin 11 will adhere by freezing. Further, the amount to be increased may be different depending on the outside air temperature, for example, it is increased as the outside air temperature is lower.

  In the above embodiment, the controller 21 increases the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position as the applied voltage E to the electric motor M increases. The drive amount may not be corrected.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 21 sets the stress relaxation position as a position between the rotation position of the rotary shaft 16 and the lock position when the movable fin 11 starts to engage with the restriction unit 13a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the movable fin 11 may be changed to the rotational position of the rotating shaft 16 when starting engagement with the restricting portion 13a or to a position where the movable fin 11 is not engaged slightly before. As described above, when the stress relaxation position is the rotational position of the rotating shaft 16 when the movable fin 11 starts to engage the restricting portion 13a or the position where the movable fin 11 is not slightly engaged, the movable fin 11 is positioned at the end position. Even if driven, the members from the movable fin 11 to the rotating shaft 16 can be in a state where no stress is applied at all.

  In the above embodiment, the movable fin 11 is described so as to be directly engaged with the restricting portion 13a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a restricted portion that rotates integrally with the movable fin 11 is provided. It is good also as a structure which engages with a control part via it (namely, it engages indirectly).

  In the above embodiment, the open / close member is the movable fin 11 having the rotation shaft 11a and the pair of fin portions 11b. However, the open / close operation can be performed to change the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body 2 (engine room 3). If so, it may be changed to another opening / closing member.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and other examples will be described below together with the effects thereof.
(A) In the grill shutter device according to claim 1 or 2, when the control unit drives the opening / closing member to a half-open position, the current position of the opening / closing member is set to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-open position. If it exists, the said opening / closing member will be driven to a half open position so that the said opening / closing member may not pass the said half open position, The grill shutter apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is closer to the closing direction than the half-open position, the controller prevents the opening / closing member from passing the half-open position. Since the opening / closing member is driven to the half-open position, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing member from moving toward the closing direction from the half-open position. That is, for example, in the control in which the opening / closing member reaches the half-opened position while adjusting the position of the opening / closing member after the opening / closing member passes the half-opening position, the opening / closing member is finally driven in the closing direction and stopped at the half-opening position. Although there is a possibility, this is avoided and it can prevent that an opening-and-closing member moves to a close direction side rather than a half-open position. As a result, it is possible to avoid the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body from becoming smaller than the set amount, and thus the engine temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

  (B) an opening / closing member provided in a grille opening at the front of the vehicle body and capable of opening and closing to change the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body; and by directly or indirectly engaging the opening / closing member, A regulating unit for regulating an operation exceeding an opening / closing operation range of the opening / closing member, an electric motor having a rotating shaft coupled to the opening / closing member, and a control unit for controlling driving of the electric motor, the control unit comprising: When the opening / closing member is driven to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the stress relaxation position that is the rotational position before the lock position that is the rotational position of the rotating shaft that is stopped by the action of the restricting portion A grill shutter device characterized in that the rotating shaft is stopped.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the control unit rotates the rotation shaft before the lock position that is the rotation position of the rotation shaft that is stopped by the action of the restriction unit. Since the rotation shaft is stopped at the stress relaxation position, which is a position, it is possible to suppress a large stress from being applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotation shaft. Specifically, for example, in the control of simply stopping the rotating shaft at the lock position, even after the opening and closing member starts engaging with the restricting portion, the members from the opening and closing member to the rotating shaft are bent, respectively. The rotating shaft is slightly rotated and then stopped (at the locked position) by the action of the restricting portion. Therefore, for example, in the control in which the rotation shaft is simply stopped at the lock position, a large stress is still applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotation shaft, and for example, the member may be plastically deformed. . On the other hand, in the above configuration, since the rotation shaft is stopped at the stress relaxation position, which is the rotation position before the lock position, it is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotation shaft. As a result, it is possible to prevent the members from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft from being plastically deformed.

  (C) In the grill shutter device according to (b) above, the control unit drives the rotating shaft to the lock position when driving the opening / closing member to an end position that is a fully closed position or a fully opened position. The grille shutter device is characterized in that the rotary shaft is driven in reverse to stop at the stress relaxation position.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the rotation shaft is driven to the lock position by the control unit, and then the rotation shaft is reversely driven to the stress relaxation position. Therefore, since it is stopped, it can suppress that the big stress is kept on the member from an opening-and-closing member to a rotating shaft.

  (D) In the grill shutter device described in (b) above, the control unit increases the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position as the outside air temperature increases. .

  According to the configuration, the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position is increased by the control unit as the outside air temperature is higher, so the reverse drive amount can be set to a suitable value. That is, the amount by which the rotating shaft rotates to the locked position after the opening / closing member starts to engage with the restricting portion is such that the higher the outside air temperature, the lower the resistance of the lubricating oil, and the rotating shaft rotates at a high speed. Since it becomes easy to bend, it increases, so that outside temperature is high. Thus, for example, if the reverse drive amount is constant, the amount of rotation from the position of the rotation shaft to the stress relaxation position when the opening / closing member starts to engage with the restricting portion increases as the outside air temperature increases. Compared to when the temperature is low, there is a risk that the member from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft may remain heavily stressed. On the other hand, since the reverse drive amount increases as the outside air temperature increases, the rotation amount from the position of the rotation shaft to the stress relaxation position when the opening / closing member starts to engage with the restricting portion should be made almost constant. As a result, it is possible to suppress a large stress from being applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft based on the high temperature.

  (E) In the grill shutter device according to the above (b) or (d), the control unit may fix the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position by the opening / closing member being frozen. A grill shutter device characterized by being increased when the outside air temperature is high.

  According to this configuration, the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position is increased by the control unit when the open / close member is likely to be stuck due to freezing, so the reverse drive amount Can be set to a suitable value. That is, if the opening / closing member is fixed by freezing, it is considered that stress is applied to the member from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft for a long time, and the member from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft is plastically deformed even by a small stress. There is a fear. On the other hand, the reverse drive amount is increased when the opening / closing member is at an outside air temperature that is highly likely to be fixed due to freezing. Therefore, even when the opening / closing member is fixed due to freezing (for a long time), Since it is possible to apply a smaller stress to the member, it is possible to suppress the member from being plastically deformed.

  (F) In the grille shutter device according to any one of (b) to (e), the control unit applies a reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position to the electric motor. A grill shutter device characterized by increasing the voltage as the voltage increases.

  According to this configuration, the reverse drive amount from the lock position to the stress relaxation position is increased by the control unit as the applied voltage to the electric motor is higher, so the reverse drive amount is set to a suitable value. Can do. That is, the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft to the locked position after the opening / closing member starts engaging the restricting portion is such that the higher the applied voltage to the electric motor, the faster the rotating shaft rotates. The higher the applied voltage, the greater. Therefore, for example, when the reverse drive amount is constant, the rotation amount from the rotation position of the rotation shaft to the stress relaxation position when the opening / closing member starts to engage with the restricting portion is high in the applied voltage to the electric motor. As the voltage applied to the electric motor is low, there is a risk that the member from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft may remain heavily stressed. On the other hand, since the reverse drive amount increases as the applied voltage to the electric motor increases, the rotation amount from the position of the rotation shaft to the stress relaxation position when the opening / closing member starts to engage the restricting portion is constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the member from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft due to the applied voltage.

  (G) In the grille shutter device according to any one of (B) to (F), the control unit sets the stress relaxation position when the opening / closing member starts to engage with the regulation unit. A grille shutter device characterized by being positioned between the rotational position of the rotary shaft and the lock position.

  According to the configuration, the stress relaxation position is set by the control unit between the rotation position of the rotation shaft and the lock position when the opening / closing member starts to engage with the restricting unit. When driving to the end position, a small stress can be applied while suppressing a large stress from being applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid stopping in a state where the opening / closing member is not engaged with the restricting portion (a state where the opening / closing member has not reached the end position), and the opening / closing member is reliably engaged with the restricting portion. Can be stopped.

  (H) In the grill shutter device described in (b) above, when the control unit drives the open / close member to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the stress relaxation is performed without reaching the lock position. A grill shutter device, wherein the rotating shaft is driven to a position and stopped.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing member is driven to the fully closed position or the end position that is the fully open position, the control unit drives the rotary shaft to the stress relaxation position and stops without reaching the lock position. Therefore, it can be suppressed that a large stress remains on the members from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft. Further, in this case, for example, unnecessary driving can be reduced as compared with a case where, after the rotating shaft is driven to the lock position, the rotating shaft is reversely driven to the stress relaxation position and stopped. As a result, for example, low power consumption can be achieved. Further, for example, durability can be improved.

  (R) In the grill shutter device according to (H), the control unit performs an initialization process of storing the lock position by causing the opening / closing member to reach the lock position at a preset initialization timing. A grill shutter device characterized in that:

  According to this configuration, since the control unit performs an initialization process for storing the lock position by causing the opening / closing member to reach the lock position at a preset initialization timing, the accuracy of the stored lock position is increased. Can be high. That is, for example, if the lock position is stored in advance before each member is assembled, the stored lock position may be shifted from the actual lock position due to component accuracy of each member, assembly error, or the like. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the initialization process is performed at a preset initialization timing in a state in which each member is assembled, so that the accuracy of parts, the assembly error, and the like of each member are reflected. The lock position can be stored at any time.

  (Nu) In the grill shutter device described in (i) above, in the initialization process, the control unit causes the opening / closing member to reach the locking positions in both the opening direction and the closing direction to set the locking positions in both directions. A grill shutter device characterized by memorizing.

  According to this configuration, in the initialization process, since the opening / closing member is reached to the locking position in both the opening direction and the closing direction and the locking position in both directions is stored, the opening / closing member is also driven to the fully closed position. Even when driven to the fully open position, it is possible to prevent a large stress from being applied to the members from the opening / closing member to the rotating shaft.

  (L) In the grill shutter device described in (n) above, the initialization process determines whether the interval between the lock positions stored in both directions is within a preset allowable range, and the allowable range is determined. A grille shutter device comprising an abnormality detection process for determining an abnormality when not present.

  According to the same configuration, the initialization process determines whether the interval between the lock positions stored in both directions is within a preset allowable range, and determines that the abnormality is abnormal when the interval is not within the allowable range. Since the detection process is included, it is possible to detect that some failure has occurred in the grill shutter device. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing member from repeating an abnormal operation.

  (W) In the grill shutter device according to (N) or (L), the preset initialization timing is such that the control unit reaches the open / close member to the lock position at a preset check timing. A grill shutter device characterized by including a time when the lock position is not within a normal range stored in advance and not including a time within the normal range.

  According to the configuration, the preset initialization timing includes a time when the control unit causes the opening / closing member to reach the lock position at a preset check timing, and the lock position is not within the normal range stored in advance. Since it does not include the time in the normal range, for example, it can be avoided that the initialization process is performed more than necessary and the opening / closing member is frequently driven.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Vehicle body, 7 ... Grill opening part, 11 ... Movable fin (opening-closing member), 17 ... Power transmission mechanism, 21 ... Control part, M ... Electric motor (drive source).

Claims (2)

An opening / closing member provided in a grille opening at the front of the vehicle body and capable of opening and closing to change the amount of air flowing into the vehicle body;
A drive source coupled to the opening / closing member via a power transmission mechanism;
The drive source is drive-controlled, and includes a control unit capable of driving and controlling the open / close member at any of a fully closed position, a fully open position, and a half-open position therebetween,
When the control unit drives the opening / closing member to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is closer to the opening direction than the half-opening position, the controller opens the opening / closing member to a position closer to the closing direction than the half-opening position. A grill shutter device, wherein the opening / closing member is driven to a half-open position. The grill shutter device according to claim 1,
When the control unit drives the opening / closing member to the half-open position, if the current position of the opening / closing member is in a position closer to the opening direction than the half-open position, the control unit moves the opening / closing member between the half-open position and the fully-closed position. A grill shutter device characterized in that the opening / closing member is driven to a half-open position.

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