JPH0610671A - Variable grille unit for radiator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a variable grille unit whose structure is simple and downsized. CONSTITUTION:A variable grille unit consists of a thermowax element 21 to open/close a grille by the thermal expansion/contraction of a built-in wax a heater element 30 to expand the wax 23 of this thermo wax element 21, and a control part 33 to control the electrification of this heater element based on the water temperature information of a water temperature sensor 34 mounted on a radiator. The control part 33 electrifies the heater element 30 based on the water temperature information of the water temperature sensor 34, and the thermo wax element 21 moves the grille by the heating action of the heater element 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved variable grill unit for a radiator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A variable grill whose opening area can be changed is disposed in front of a radiator for the purpose of adjusting the amount of ventilation to the radiator. It is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-34015 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-50934. It is known in the bulletins.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
No. 5 is characterized in that the action of the thermostat is transmitted to the radiator shutter via the flexible connecting member and the link mechanism, so that the flexible connecting member is an obstacle. If the bendable connecting member is shortened in order to avoid this, the position of the thermostat is limited this time and layout is restricted, which is not preferable. Moreover, since the thermostat and the radiator shutter are mechanically connected,
The opening / closing operation of the radiator shutter is restricted.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-50934 discloses that a motor is used as a driving source to open and close a shutter. If the worm, the wheel and the link lever are used as the transmission members as shown in FIG. 4 of the publication, the device space becomes large and the number of parts also becomes large. If the transmission member that also serves as the speed reduction mechanism is omitted, the motor itself becomes large this time.

As described above, in the conventional technique, there are inconveniences that the transmission member is an obstacle and the size of the drive source is large. An object of the present invention is to provide a variable grill unit having a simple structure and a small size.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a grill having a variable grill unit movably attached to a vehicle body and a thermo wax element for opening and closing the grill by thermal expansion and contraction of a built-in wax. And a heater element for expanding the wax of the thermowax element, and a control unit for controlling the energization of the heater element based on the water temperature information of a water temperature sensor attached to the radiator.

[0007]

The controller energizes the heater element based on the water temperature information from the water temperature sensor, and the heating action of the heater element causes the thermowax element to expand the built-in wax to move the grill.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a partial view of a passenger car equipped with a variable grill unit of the present invention, in which a bumper 2 and a hood 3 at a front portion of a vehicle body 1 are provided.
A variable grill unit 10 is attached between the and.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the variable grill unit according to the present invention. The variable grill unit 10 includes a grill 12 (an elongated front plate 13, a bracket 14 and a lever 15) locked to the vehicle body by a pin 11. ), A grill actuator 20 attached downward to a front bulkhead 16 that is hung on the vehicle body side, a control unit and various sensors described below.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of the grill actuator according to the present invention and an example of arrangement of the control unit and various sensors. The grill actuator 20 shown in a downward state in order to match with FIG. And a heater element 30. The thermowax element 21 is composed of a durable housing 22 in which a wax 23, a diaphragm 24, a semi-fluid 25, a rubber piston 26, a backup plate 27 and a piston rod 28 which are expanded by heat from the outside are arranged in series.

A heater element 30 is brought into contact with the vicinity of the wax 23 of the housing 22, and the heater element 30 is housed together with the housing 22 in an actuator case 31.

Therefore, by energizing the heater element 30, the wax 23 expands and pushes down the diaphragm 24, the semi-fluid 25, the rubber piston 26 and the backup plate 27, and as a result, the piston rod 28 is moved in the direction of the arrow. You can When the energization is stopped, the piston rod 28 retracts in the direction opposite to the arrow.

The temperature of the heater element 30 is controlled by the control unit 33, and for this purpose, the control unit 33 has a water temperature sensor 34, a vehicle speed sensor 35, and an engine speed sensor 3.
6. The gear position sensor 37 sends water temperature, vehicle speed, engine speed, and transmission gear position information.

The operation of the variable grill unit having the above structure will be described below. FIG. 4 is a control flow chart of the variable grit unit of the present invention, in which the time T is cleared in ST01 (meaning of step No. 1. The same applies hereinafter), and the initial setting value A0 is set to the grill switching setting value A, and Clear the flag F.

The water temperature Tw is read in ST02, and ST03
Then, it is determined whether or not the water temperature Tw is higher than the grill switching set value A. If the water temperature Tw is smaller than the set value A for grill switching, no (represented by N), that is, there is no need to further lower the water temperature Tw, so the grill is closed. Specifically,
The control unit 33 stops the energization of the heater element 30, retracts the piston rod 28, and closes the grill 12 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the water temperature Tw is greater than the grill switching set value A in ST03, the water temperature Tw must be lowered, ie, YES (represented by Y), so in ST031, the control unit 33 energizes the heater element 30. , Advance the piston rod 28, and open the grill 12. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 2. As the piston rod 28 moves forward, the grill 12 opens, and the outside air is taken in as indicated by the arrow, which actively cools the radiator (not shown).

Returning to FIG. 4, one unit time is added to the time T in ST06, and the new setting value A1 (A1 is a value smaller than A0) is replaced with the grill switching setting value A in ST07. In ST08, the progress of time T is checked. That is, ST02 → ST08 is repeated a plurality of times until a certain time a is exceeded.

After that, in ST09, it is checked whether or not the water temperature Tw is lower than the initial set value A0. There is no problem if the water temperature Tw is smaller than the initial set value A0, but there is a problem if the water temperature Tw is larger than the initial set value A0. That is, the grill 12
It means that the water temperature does not drop even though a certain time has passed from closing to opening. Therefore, in ST091, an alarm lamp is continuously turned on to call attention.

If the water temperature Tw is lower than the initial set value A0, the flag F is changed to 1 in ST10 and the process returns to ST02. If the water temperature Tw is lower than A in ST03, the grill is closed, but in other cases, the process proceeds to ST04, where ST04 is set.
Take the route to 1. In ST041, it is checked whether the water temperature Tw is smaller than B which is a set value larger than A. If the water temperature Tw is higher than the higher set value B, there is a problem. That is, it means that the water temperature Tw is abnormally high even though the grill is open. Therefore, in ST042, the alarm lamp is intermittently turned on to call attention.

When the water temperature Tw is lower than the set value B, S
Return to T02, and then S until the determination in ST03 becomes N.
The routine of T02 → ST03 → ST04 → ST041 is repeated.

Thus, in this embodiment, ST091 and ST0
The alarm means 42 monitors the abnormal rise in water temperature. As a result, for example, the mechanical side failure such as deformation of the lever 15 in FIG. 2, breakage of the pin 11, dropping of the grill actuator 20 from the front bell head 16, failure of the heater element 30, electrical contact such as poor contact of electric wires, etc. The failure of can be detected quickly.

FIG. 6 is a correspondence diagram for controlling the grid according to the present invention in accordance with the vehicle speed. The horizontal axis represents the vehicle speed V and the vertical axis represents the grill switching set value A, where A is a curve on the upper right side. Is. That is, as the vehicle speed V increases, the set value A for grill switching is increased to increase the rate of closing the grill during high speed traveling. According to this, the traveling air resistance is reduced by closing the grill during high speed traveling. Can be reduced. It should be noted that B, A0, and A1 are the reference values of the set values described in FIG.

The thermowax element 21 and the heater element 30 are combined into one actuator case 31.
The device can be made compact by incorporating it in the. However, since it is sufficient that they are in contact with each other so as to be able to transfer heat, they may be assembled by a coupling means such as a tie rod instead of the actuator case 31.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the variable grill unit includes a grill movably attached to the vehicle body,
A thermowax element that opens and closes this grill by thermal expansion and contraction of the built-in wax, a heater element that expands the wax of this thermowax element, and the energization of this heater element based on the water temperature information of a water temperature sensor attached to the radiator. Since it is configured with a control unit that controls, it is possible to replace the conventional wire and complicated link mechanism with a very simple device, and also replace the conventional motor with a small heater and thermo wax element. The simplification and downsizing can be easily achieved.

Since the heater element and the control unit, and the control unit and the water temperature sensor are electrically connected to each other, these devices can be arranged freely, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the failure can be easily detected electrically. I can do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a partial view of a passenger car equipped with a variable grill unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a variable grill unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a grill actuator according to the present invention and an arrangement example of a control unit and various sensors.

FIG. 4 is a control flow chart of the variable grit unit of the present invention.

5 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a corresponding view for controlling the grid according to the present invention according to the vehicle speed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Variable grill unit, 11 ... Pin, 12 ... Grill, 20 ... Grill actuator unit, 21 ... Thermo wax element, 23 ... Wax, 28 ... Piston rod, 30 ... Heater element, 31 ... Actuator case, 33 ... Control part, 34 ... Water temperature sensor.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A variable grill unit arranged in front of a radiator for the purpose of adjusting a ventilation amount to a radiator, wherein the variable grill unit includes a grill movably attached to a vehicle body and the grill. Thermo-wax element that opens and closes due to thermal expansion and contraction of built-in wax, heater element that expands the wax of this thermo-wax element, and control that controls energization to this heater element based on the water temperature information of the water temperature sensor attached to the radiator A variable grill unit for radiators, which is characterized by consisting of 2. The variable grill unit for a radiator according to claim 1, wherein the thermowax element and the heater element are incorporated in one actuator case.