JP2019137337A - Grille shutter device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a grille shutter device which can easily remove a foreign matter.SOLUTION: In an open state that an opening 18 is opened, a biting prevention rib 20E, which is extended in a substantially vehicle vertical direction, is provided between a lower end part 20AJ of a fin 20 and a bearing part 22E. Consequently, even if a foreign matter ST enters toward the bearing part 22E from the opening 18 in the open state during travel of a vehicle, further entry of the foreign matter is suppressed by the biting prevention rib 20E. Even if the fin 20 is temporarily moved from the open state to a closed state in the state that the foreign matter ST enters from the opening 18 and remains at the bearing part 22E, the foreign matter ST is brought into contact with the fin 20 and the biting prevention rib 20E, whereby further movement of the fin 20 is suppressed. That is, by positively stopping movement of the fin 20, biting of the foreign matter ST between the fin 20 and the bearing part 22E can be prevented. Thus, the foreign matter ST can be easily removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a grill shutter device.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses a grill shutter device. This grill shutter device is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle and has a plurality of openings that open in the vehicle front-rear direction, a plurality of fins that respectively open and close the openings, and the fins in an open state and a closed state And a transmission mechanism for moving between the two. Thereby, since the said opening part can be closed or opened according to the operation condition of a power unit etc., air can be taken in appropriately.

JP 2014-24474 A

  By the way, depending on the power unit of the vehicle, in order to take in more air, it is necessary to provide the opening not only in the vehicle width direction center in the vehicle front portion but also in the vehicle width direction outer side. It is desirable to provide a grill shutter device at the opening portion on the vehicle width direction outer side at the front portion of the vehicle so that air can be appropriately taken in according to the operation state of the power unit or the like. However, in general, the design surface on the vehicle width direction outer side in the front portion of the vehicle has a large curvature toward the vehicle side surface. Therefore, since it is difficult to secure the space of the bearing portion that pivotally supports the fin in the vehicle width direction outside in the vehicle width direction outside, the configuration in which the bearing portion is provided at a position corresponding to the back surface of the fin in the closed state. Conceivable. In this case, when the fin is in the open state, the bearing portion is exposed from the opening portion, so that foreign matter may enter through the opening portion and stay on the bearing portion when the vehicle is traveling. If the fin is moved to the closed state in this state, there is a possibility that foreign matter is caught between the fin and the bearing portion, and the foreign matter cannot be easily removed. Therefore, the above prior art has room for improvement in this respect.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a grille shutter device that can easily remove foreign matter.

  The grille shutter device according to this aspect is provided with an opening provided in a part of a design surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle width by the operation of a drive link that is provided in the opening and interlocked with the actuator. A fin having a surface continuous with the design surface in a closed state in which the opening is opened and closed with the direction as an axial direction and the opening is closed, and the opening is provided on the vehicle rear side of the opening. It is formed in a substantially frame shape so as to surround and supports the actuator, the drive link and the fin, protrudes toward the back surface of the fin in the closed state, and can turn the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the fin A frame provided with a bearing portion for supporting the fin, an end portion on the vehicle front side of the fin in the open state where the opening portion is opened, and the bearing portion of the frame And a, and preventing ribs bite which extends substantially along the vehicle vertical direction between the.

  According to this aspect, the fin is provided inside the opening provided in a part of the design surface of the front portion of the vehicle. The fin opens and closes the opening with the vehicle width direction as an axial direction by the operation of a drive link that works in conjunction with the actuator, and has a surface that is continuous with the design surface when the opening is closed. The fin, the actuator, and the drive link are supported by a frame provided on the vehicle rear side of the opening. The frame is formed in a substantially frame shape so as to surround the opening, and the fin in the closed state is used. A bearing portion that protrudes toward the back surface and rotatably supports an outer portion of the fin in the vehicle width direction is provided. Therefore, even in a region where the space on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is limited, the fins can be rotatably supported without changing the design surface.

  Here, in the open state in which the opening is opened, a biting prevention rib extending substantially along the vehicle vertical direction is provided between the end portion of the fin on the vehicle front side and the bearing portion. Therefore, even when foreign matter enters from the opening in the open state toward the bearing when the vehicle is running, further intrusion of foreign matter is suppressed by the biting prevention rib. That is, foreign matter can be prevented from being caught between the fin and the bearing portion.

  The grill shutter apparatus according to the first aspect has an excellent effect that foreign matters can be easily removed.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the vehicle which has the grill shutter apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which looked at the closed state of the grille shutter apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment from the vehicle front side. It is a perspective view which shows the state which looked at the closed state of the grille shutter apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment from the vehicle rear side. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the state cut | disconnected along the AA in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view corresponding to Drawing 4 which shows the state where the grill shutter device concerning one embodiment is an open state. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating a state in which foreign matter has entered in the grill shutter device according to the embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the state cut | disconnected along the BB line in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a grill shutter device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that arrows FR, UP, and OUT appropriately shown in the drawings respectively indicate the front direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, and the outside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. Hereinafter, when simply using the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the left-right direction of the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and the up-down direction of the vehicle are shown. To do.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 1, a front bumper cover 14 is provided at the front portion of the vehicle 12. The front bumper cover 14 constitutes a part of the design surface of the vehicle body appearance, and covers the front bumper absorber and the front bumper reinforcement (both not shown) from the front side of the vehicle. The design surface of the vehicle front portion of the vehicle 12 is curved in a convex shape toward the vehicle front side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the front bumper cover 14 is formed to be thin with resin as an example.

  A pair of side grills 16 are provided on the outer side of the front bumper cover 14 in the vehicle width direction and on the lower side of the vehicle, respectively. Each side grill 16 is formed in a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and is provided with a grill shutter device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the grill shutter device 10 includes an opening 18, fins 20, and a frame 22. The side grill 16 is formed along the front bumper cover 14 (see FIG. 1), and has a design surface with a curvature that is greatly curved toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

(Aperture)
A plurality of openings 18 are formed in the side grill 16. Each opening 18 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is open in the vehicle front-rear direction and has the vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction when viewed from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle width direction outer side of the opening 18 is curved toward the vehicle rear side along the side grill 16. The plurality of openings 18 are spaced apart in the vehicle vertical direction.

(flame)
A frame 22 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the opening 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape so as to surround the plurality of openings 18. Specifically, the upper frame portion 22A provided on the vehicle upper side, the lower frame portion 22B provided on the vehicle lower side, the outer frame portion 22C provided on the vehicle width direction outer side, and the vehicle width direction inner side. And an inner frame portion 22D provided on the inner side. 22 A of upper side frame parts are extended in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle upper side rather than the opening part 18 arrange | positioned in the vehicle upper side among the opening parts 18 provided in multiple numbers, are protruded to the vehicle upper side, and are side grilles. A plurality (two in the present embodiment) of upper coupling portions 22AA, which are coupled to the 16 vehicle upper sides, are separated in the vehicle width direction.

  The lower frame portion 22B extends substantially in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle lower side from the opening portion 18 arranged on the vehicle lower side among the plurality of openings 18, and the vehicle vertical direction is an approximately plate thickness direction. It is formed in a rectangular plate shape. Accordingly, the upper frame portion 22A and the lower frame portion 22B are provided facing each other in the vehicle vertical direction.

  The outer frame portion 22C extends substantially in the vehicle vertical direction outside the plurality of openings 18 in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle frame width of the upper frame portion 22A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle width of the lower frame portion 22B. An end portion on the outer side in the direction is connected in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle. The end of the outer frame portion 22C on the vehicle front side is in contact with the back surface 16A of the side grill 16.

  The inner frame portion 22D extends substantially vertically in the vehicle width direction on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the plurality of openings 18, and the vehicle width of the upper frame portion 22A on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and the lower frame portion 22B. An end portion on the inner side in the direction is connected in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle. As described above, the frame 22 is formed in a rectangular frame shape opened in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  Bearing portions 22E are formed on the outer frame portion 22C and the lower frame portion 22B. A plurality of the bearing portions 22 </ b> E are provided, and each of the bearing portions 22 </ b> E is provided one by one corresponding to the plurality of openings 18. Further, the bearing portion 22E is supported by bearing support portions 22EA and 22EB which protrude along the back surface of the vehicle width direction outer side portion 20AG of the fin 20 which will be described later and toward the back surface of the fin 20 in the closed state which will be described later. ing. Of the plurality of openings 18, a bearing 22E provided in the opening 18 on the vehicle lower side is supported by a bearing support 22EB provided in the lower frame part 22B, and the other openings 18 are provided. The bearing part 22E provided in the outer frame part 22C is supported by a bearing support part 22EA provided in the outer frame part 22C.

(fin)
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of fins 20 are provided inside the frame 22. The fin 20 includes a fin body 20A, an inner support 20B, and an outer support 20C (see FIG. 3). The fin body portion 20A is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the vehicle longitudinal direction as the plate thickness direction and the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction, and an inner support portion 20B is provided at the inner end in the vehicle width direction. ing. Further, the fin body portion 20A has a side surface 20D whose curvature is greatly curved toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction along the design surface of the side grille 16 in the closed state in which the opening 18 shown in FIG. 2 is closed. have. That is, the side surface 20D is a surface continuous with the design surface of the front portion of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, five fin body portions 20A configured as described above are provided as an example.

  The plurality of fin main body portions 20A are arranged side by side in the vehicle vertical direction so as to close the plurality of openings 18 in the closed state (hereinafter, arranged from the vehicle lower side to the vehicle upper side). The respective fin main body portions 20A are sequentially designated as “first fin main body portion 20AA”, “second fin main body portion 20AB”, “third fin main body portion 20AC”, “fourth fin main body portion 20AD”, and “fifth fin main body portion”. 20AE "). That is, each surface normal direction (direction) of the plurality of fin main body portions 20A is substantially the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, as described above, the vehicle front side surface 20D of each fin main body 20A is formed so that the in-plane direction thereof is continuous with the design surface of the side grille 16 in a state where the fin body portions 20A are arranged side by side in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle. Has been. In other words, the side surface 20D constitutes a part of the design surface of the front portion of the vehicle in a state where the plurality of fin main body portions 20A are arranged substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle. This state of the fin 20 corresponds to the “closed state” described in claim 1.

(Inner support part)
The inner support portion 20B includes a first inner support portion 20BA, a second inner support portion 20BB, and a third inner support portion 20BC. The first inner support portion 20BA is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape that is erected on the vehicle rear side along the plate thickness direction of the fin main body portion 20A with the vehicle width direction as the plate thickness direction. The first inner support portion 20BA is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the first bearing wall portion 22DA that protrudes toward the front side of the vehicle with the substantially vehicle width direction formed in the inner frame portion 22D of the frame 22 as the plate thickness direction. Has been.

  The second inner support portion 20BB is provided at an end of the first inner support portion 20BA on the vehicle rear side, and the width direction of the first inner support portion 20BA, that is, the vehicle width direction as a vehicle width direction. It is formed in a cylindrical shape extending inward. The second inner support portion 20BB is inserted into a bearing cut 22DB whose outer end in the vehicle width direction is opened toward the front side of the vehicle in the first bearing wall portion 22DA. Is supported by a second bearing wall portion 22DC that is formed on the inner frame portion 22D of the frame 22 and faces the first bearing wall portion 22DA. Therefore, the second inner support portion 20BB can be rotated with the vehicle width direction as an axial direction.

  The third inner support portion 20BC is inserted into an end portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the second inner support portion 20BB, and a fin arm portion (not shown) protruding substantially toward the front side of the vehicle is formed. . The third inner support portion 20BC is fitted to the second inner support portion 20BB with a claw (not shown). When the fin arm portion is displaced in the vehicle vertical direction, the second inner support portion 20BC is interlocked with the second inner support portion 20BC. 20BB is rotated.

(Outer support part)
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer support portion 20C is provided at a position separated from the back surface of the fin body portion 20A in the vehicle width direction outer portion 20AG and the edge portion 20AH on the vehicle width direction outer side. The outer support portion 20C is pivotally supported by a bearing portion 22E that protrudes toward the vehicle rear side and is formed on the frame 22. Specifically, the outer support portion 20C is supported by the bearing portion 22E with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction, and the bearing portion 22E and the second inner support portion 20BB of the inner support portion 20B are on the same axis. Has been placed.

(Biting prevention rib)
As shown in FIG. 4, the fin 20 is provided with a biting prevention rib 20E. The biting prevention rib 20E is formed so as to connect the lower end portion 20AJ of the fin body portion 20A of the fin 20 in the closed state and the portion pivotally supported by the bearing portion 22E of the outer support portion 20C in the vehicle front-rear direction. ing. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5, between the end portion (lower end portion 20 </ b> AJ) of the fin main body portion 20 </ b> A in the fin 20 in the opened state and the bearing portion 22 </ b> E formed on the frame 22. It extends along the vehicle vertical direction. The biting prevention ribs 20E are provided on the first fin main body 20AA, the second fin main body 20AB, the third fin main body 20AC, the fourth fin main body 20AD, and the fifth fin main body 20AE, respectively. The biting prevention rib 20E is provided only in the portion where the outer support portion 20C of the fin main body portion 20A is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the biting prevention rib 20E is provided in other portions. Not provided.

(Actuator)
As shown in FIG. 2, an actuator 30 is provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the inner frame portion 22 </ b> D of the frame 22. The actuator 30 has a rotation shaft S that can rotate with the vehicle width direction as an axial direction, and is electrically connected to a control device 32. The control device 32 is mainly configured by a computer having a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM (all not shown) and the like, and a power unit cooling water temperature sensor and a vehicle speed sensor (none shown) are provided on the input side. ) Is connected to the input side of the control device 32. On the other hand, an actuator 30 is connected to the output side of the control device 32.

(Drive link)
A drive link 26 is provided on the vehicle front side of the inner frame portion 22D of the frame 22. The drive link 26 includes a link main body portion 26A, a fin connection portion 26B, and an actuator connection portion 26C. 26 A of link main-body parts are made into the prism which extended in the vehicle up-down direction substantially from the upper end part to the lower end part of inner side frame part 22D, and, specifically, the vehicle upper side is extended in the vehicle up-down direction, and The vehicle lower side is extended outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes to the vehicle lower side.

  The fin connecting portion 26B extends from the link main body portion 26A so as to connect the link main body portion 26A and the third inner support portion 20BC of the fin 20 substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction. Although not shown, the fin connecting portion 26B is rotatably fitted to the fin arm portion of the third inner support portion 20BC of the fin 20 via a claw portion. The fin connecting portions 26B are provided corresponding to all of the plurality of fins 20, respectively.

  The actuator connecting portion 26C extends from the link main body portion 26A so as to connect the link main body portion 26A and the rotation shaft S of the actuator 30 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The actuator connecting portion 26C is fitted to the rotation shaft S of the actuator 30 through a claw portion (not shown) so as to be rotatable. Therefore, when the rotation axis S of the actuator 30 rotates, the drive link 26 moves in the vehicle vertical direction in conjunction with this. That is, when the drive link 26 moves from the closed state shown in FIG. 2 to the vehicle upper side, the third inner support portion 20BC of the fin 20 rotates to the vehicle upper side, so that the fin 20 rotates to the vehicle upper side. Thus, the open state is established (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, when the drive link 26 is moved to the vehicle lower side from the open state, the fin 20 is rotated to the vehicle lower side to be in the closed state shown in FIGS.

(Action / Effect)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, fins 20 are provided inside the opening 18 provided in a part of the design surface of the front portion of the vehicle. The fin 20 opens and closes the opening 18 with the vehicle width direction as an axial direction by the operation of the drive link 26 interlocked with the actuator 30, and has a surface continuous with the design surface in the closed state where the opening 18 is closed. Yes. The fin 20, the actuator 30, and the drive link 26 are supported by a frame 22 provided on the vehicle rear side of the opening 18. The frame 22 is formed in a substantially frame shape so as to surround the opening 18. A bearing 22E (see FIG. 3) is provided that protrudes toward the back surface of the fin 20 in the closed state and supports the outer side of the fin 20 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the fin 20 can be rotatably supported without changing the design surface even in a region where the space outside the vehicle width direction is limited.

  Here, in the open state in which the opening 18 is opened, a biting prevention rib 20E extending substantially along the vehicle vertical direction is provided between the lower end portion 20AJ of the fin 20 and the bearing portion 22E. . Therefore, even when foreign matter ST enters from the opening 18 in the open state toward the bearing 22E when the vehicle is traveling, the intrusion of further foreign matter ST is suppressed by the biting prevention rib 20E. Even if the fin 20 is moved from the open state to the closed state with the foreign matter ST entering from the opening 18 and staying on the bearing portion 22E, as shown in FIG. The foreign substance ST abuts and further movement of the fin 20 is suppressed. In other words, by positively stopping the movement of the fin 20, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter ST from being caught between the fin 20 and the bearing portion 22E. Thereby, the foreign material ST can be easily removed.

  In this embodiment, the biting prevention rib 20E is formed so as to connect the lower end portion 20AJ of the fin 20 and the portion pivotally supported by the bearing portion 22E in the outer support portion 20C in the vehicle front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which one is extended from the other to the other and not connected to the other.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Grill shutter apparatus 18 Opening part 20 Fin 20AJ Lower end part (the edge part of the vehicle front side of the fin of an open state)
20D side surface (surface continuous with the design surface of the fin)
20E Biting prevention rib 22 Frame 22E Bearing portion 26 Drive link 30 Actuator

Claims (1)

An opening provided in a part of the design surface on the vehicle width direction outer side in the vehicle front part;
It is provided in the opening and has a surface continuous with the design surface in a closed state in which the opening is opened and closed and the opening is closed with the vehicle width direction as an axial direction by operation of a drive link interlocking with an actuator. Fins,
The opening is provided on the vehicle rear side, is formed in a substantially frame shape so as to surround the opening, supports the actuator, the drive link, and the fin, and faces the back surface of the closed fin. And a frame provided with a bearing portion that protrudes and supports an outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the fin so as to be rotatable.
A biting prevention rib extending substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle between the end portion of the fin on the vehicle front side and the bearing portion of the frame in the open state in which the opening is opened;
Grill shutter device having