WO2019043317A1

WO2019043317A1 - Deformable flap and device for shutting off a motor vehicle front end air flow comprising at least one such deformable flap

Info

Publication number: WO2019043317A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/052048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas NORÉ; Sergio Da Costa Pito
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2017-08-28
Filing date: 2018-08-09
Publication date: 2019-03-07
Also published as: FR3070322B1; FR3070322A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a flap (5) for a device for shutting off a motor vehicle front end air flow, the flap (5) being in the form of a hollow profile section with a general cross-section in the form of an ellipse having a large axis (G) and a small axis (P), the hollow profile section comprising two walls (51) made from an elastically deformable material and the flap (5) being capable of being deformed, by bringing together or spacing two opposite portions (53) of the walls (51), arranged on the small axis (P) or on the large axis (G) of the ellipse, between a first active form and a second active form, the longitudinal extension of the first active form being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the second active form.

Description

DEFORMABLE SHUTTER AND DEVICE FOR SHUTTING OFF A FRONT AIR FLOW BEFORE A MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUCH SHUTTER

DEFORMABLE. The present invention relates to the field of devices for closing the intake of air from the front face of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shutter intended to form a set of shutters installed in this shutter device in particular to allow or block the passage of a flow of air through the shutter device.

The front faces of motor vehicles are generally composed of two main air inlets called high and low lane. These air intakes are usually separated by a bumper beam. Behind this bumper beam are placed heat exchangers of the motor vehicle, such as that used for the air conditioning of the passenger compartment, and / or that used for cooling the engine.

It is known to dispose in the air path passing through the main air inlets, and more generally the lower channel, a support frame having a multitude of flaps allowing or not the passage of this air flow through the frame support depending on the cooling needs of heat exchangers for example, thus forming a shutter device. This shutter device is sometimes called active calender shutter, or piloted air intake module. Such a shutter device can also be designated by the acronym AGS (for "Active Grid Shutter" in English).

The shutter device thus makes it possible to adjust the air flow through the air inlets and arriving at the heat exchangers as needed by varying the amount of air they receive. In addition, at high speed, shutters in the closed position can reduce the drag coefficient of the motor vehicle and thus improve aerodynamics of said motor vehicle. The shutter device thus reduces the energy consumption of the motor vehicle and therefore the pollution it can be caused to produce when the engine does not need to be cooled by the outside air.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown in side section a closure device according to the prior art. This closure device has a support frame 3 'having two lateral uprights (not shown) and two end cross members 33', thus defining an opening in which flaps 5 'are arranged. The flaps 5 'disposed inside the support frame 3' are pivotally mounted so as to take a multitude of angular positions to vary the flow of air towards the heat exchangers by pivoting between a closed position in which the flaps 5 'oppose the passage of the air flow and an open position in which the flaps 5 allow the flow of air through the support frame 3 '. However, when the flaps 5 'occupy an intermediate position as illustrated in Figure 1, they deflect the air flow illustrated by the arrows F because of the surface disposed downstream of the pivot axis in the air flow . Thus, the air flow may not reach the heat exchangers sufficiently, which can adversely affect the proper functioning of these heat exchangers and possibly cause overheating of certain components of the engine of the motor vehicle, for example, such heating may be detrimental to the operation of the heat exchangers. their proper functioning or cause premature wear of them.

It is therefore necessary to develop shutter devices to prevent air deflection when the shutters occupy an intermediate position so that the air flow can reach the heat exchangers without being deflected by the flaps of the shutter device.

An object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above.

Another object of the present invention, different from the previous objective is to provide a flap for forming a set of flaps for preventing the deflection of the air flow during its passage through a closure device which is simple Manufacturing.

Another object of the present invention, different from the aforementioned objectives, is to provide a flap preventing the deflection of the air flow when it occupies an intermediate position that is simple to install in the closure device. In order to at least partially achieve at least one of the aforementioned objectives, the present invention relates to a shutter for a shutter device for a flow of air from the front face of a motor vehicle, the flap being under the shape of a hollow profile of elliptical-shaped general section having a major axis and a small axis, the hollow section comprising two walls made of a resiliently deformable material and the flap being deformable by approximation or separation of two opposite portions of the walls arranged on the minor axis or on the major axis of the ellipse between a first active form and a second active form, the longitudinal extension of the first active form being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the second active form. Advantageously, the deformation of the flap between its first active form and its second active form makes it possible to modify its shape so as to prevent any deflection of the air flow when the flap occupies an intermediate position, that is to say when the flap is between his first and second active forms. Indeed, the movement of at least one of the opposite portions to allow the passage of the flap from its first to its second active form eliminates the surfaces of the pivoting flaps that deflect the air flow and limits the amount of air reaching the heat exchangers as is the case for the shutter devices of the prior art. The deformation of the shutter being made by a mechanical or electrical actuation. The flap may furthermore have one or more of the following characteristics taken alone or in combination.

Each wall has at least one portion of controlled bending primer, said bending controlled initiation portions being disposed facing each other to control the deformation of the flap between the first and the second active forms.

In one aspect, the controlled bending primer portion is disposed within the wall.

According to this aspect, the portion of controlled bending primer corresponds to a portion of lesser thickness, especially to a slot.

The controlled bending primer portions may be disposed at the center of the wall defined between the two opposite portions that can be moved closer or apart.

The deformable material used for the manufacture of the flap is chosen from TPE-E copolyester compounds, and in particular TPE-E 60 or TPE-E 45.

The two opposite portions that can be moved closer or apart each have a housing.

Each housing accommodates a rigid rod projecting from each end of the shutter.

In one aspect, the rigid rods extend over the entire length of the shutter.

According to a variant, the housings are arranged inside the hollow profile.

According to another variant, the housings are arranged outside the hollow section.

According to a first embodiment, the housings are arranged on the minor axis of the ellipse, the flap passing from the first active form to the second active form by moving the housings apart from each other.

According to a second embodiment, the housings are arranged on the major axis of the ellipse, the flap passing from the first active form to the second active form by bringing the housings closer to each other. The shutter is obtained by extrusion.

According to one aspect, at least one of the opposite portions having the housing intended to be arranged facing a front face of a shutter device in the installed state of the flap in the closure device is coextruded with a material having impact resistance greater than 50 J / m.

The two opposite portions having the housing can be coextruded.

The material used for the coextrusion is chosen from nylon 6 polyamide, nylon 6 reinforced with glass fibers, or polybutylene terephthalate reinforced with glass fibers.

The rigid rods may be made of a metallic material or a composite material.

In one aspect, the rigid rods have an identical diameter.

In another aspect, the rigid rods have a different diameter. The present invention also relates to a device for closing the air inlet of the front face of a motor vehicle having a support frame having two lateral uprights interconnected by two end cross members, at least one set of flaps such that defined above is installed inside the opening of the support frame, and the support frame comprises at least one actuator cooperating with at least one of the opposite portions of the flap in order to move this at least one portion so as to deform the flap between the first and second active forms.

The closure device may further have one or more of the following features taken alone or in combination.

According to one aspect, the support frame comprises an actuator having a control member connected to at least one rigid rod of each flap, the control member being configured to move the rigid rods so as to deform each flap between the first and the second. active forms.

In another aspect, the support frame comprises as many actuators as flaps.

The support frame further has complementary shapes disposed within the opening, said complementary shapes being configured to cooperate with the opposite portions of the flaps.

According to a particular embodiment, the complementary shapes are configured to cooperate with the rigid rods projecting from the housing. According to a first variant, the flaps are arranged in the support frame so that the longitudinal axis of the flaps extends parallel to the end crosspieces.

According to this first variant, the at least one actuator is disposed on a lateral upright of the support frame.

According to a second variant, the flaps are arranged in the support frame so that the longitudinal axis of the flaps extends parallel to the lateral uprights.

According to this second variant, the at least one actuator is disposed on an end cross member of the support frame.

According to a first embodiment of the first or second variant, the major axis of the ellipse extends perpendicularly to the end crosspieces when the flap is in the first active form, the flap thus allowing the passage of a air flow through the shutter device.

According to this first embodiment, the deformation of the shutter to the second active form allows the shutter to oppose the passage of the air flow through the shutter device.

According to a second embodiment of the first or second variant, the major axis of the ellipse extends parallel to the end crosspieces when the flap is in the first active form, the flap thus opposing the passage of the air flow through the shutter device.

According to this second embodiment, the deformation of the flap towards the second active form allows the shutter to allow the flow of air to pass through the shutter device.

In one aspect, the actuator is configured to allow the displacement of a rigid rod to deform the flap between the first active form and the second active form, the other rigid rod being held fixed in the opening of the support frame.

In another aspect, the actuator is configured to allow the displacement of the two rigid rods to deform the flap between the first active form and the second active form.

According to a particular embodiment, the actuator is configured to move two opposite portions belonging to the same axis of the ellipse to deform the flap between the first active form and the second active form.

According to another particular embodiment, the actuator is configured to move a portion belonging to the major axis of the ellipse and a portion belonging to the minor axis of the ellipse in order to deform the flap between the first active form and the second form. active.

In the closed position, the ends of the flaps touch each other so as to increase the tightness of the support frame. Other advantages and features of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustration and without limitation, and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in side section of a shutter device having shutters in an intermediate position according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of a closure device according to the invention,

FIG. 3A is a schematic representation in side section of a flap in a first active form according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 3B is a schematic representation in side section of the shutter of FIG. 3A in an intermediate form,

FIG. 3C is a schematic representation in side section of the flap of FIG. 3A in a second active form,

FIG. 4A is a schematic representation in side section of a flap in a first active form according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 4B is a schematic representation in side section of the shutter of FIG. 4A in an intermediate form,

FIG. 4C is a schematic representation in side section of the flap of FIG. 4A in a second active form,

• Figure 5 is a schematic side sectional representation of a flap in a first active form according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic representation in side section of the closure device of FIG. 2, having shutters in an active form allowing the passage of a flow of air through the closure device,

FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic representation in side section of the closure device of FIG. 6A when the shutters occupy an intermediate shape, and

FIG. 6C is a diagrammatic representation in side section of the closure device of FIG. 6A when the flaps occupy an active form opposing the passage of the air flow through the closure device.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same numerical references.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In the following description, reference is made to first and second active forms of the shutter, and to a first, a second and a third set of shutters. It is a simple indexing to differentiate and name close but not identical elements. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element with respect to another and it is easy to interchange such denominations without departing from the scope of the present description. This indexing does not imply either an order in time for example to appreciate the arrangement of the shutters in the shutter device or the operation of the shutter device.

In the following description, reference is made to an orientation as a function of the Longitudinal, Vertical and Height axes as defined arbitrarily by the trihedron H, L, V, in particular represented in FIG. 2 and partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 6A. at 6C. The choice of the names of these axes is not limiting the orientation that can take the shutter device in its application to a motor vehicle.

Furthermore, "upstream" is defined in the following description by the direction of the air flow, illustrated by the arrows F in FIGS. 1 and 6A to 6C. A first element disposed upstream of a second element is then located before the second element in the air flow. Similarly, "downstream" is also defined in the following description, according to the direction of propagation of the air flow. Thus, a first element disposed downstream of a second element is then located after the second element in the air flow.

In addition, "high speed" in the following description means a speed greater than 70 km / h.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a closure device 1 of air inlet of the front face of a motor vehicle. The closure device 1 has a support frame 3 having two lateral uprights 31 interconnected by two end crosspieces 33 thus defining an opening. Furthermore, at least one set of flaps 5 is installed inside the opening of the support frame 3. According to the particular embodiment represented here and optionally, the support frame 3 has a reinforcing element 9 configured to to compensate for the bending forces imposed on the flaps 5. In addition, the support frame 3 presents according to this particular embodiment a first 50a, a second 50b and a third 50c sets of flaps 5.

Referring to Figures 3A to 5, there is shown in side section a flap 5 to be installed in the opening of the support frame 3 to form the flap assembly 5 of the closure device 1 according to different embodiments. The flap 5 is in the form of a hollow section of elliptical cross-section having a major axis G and a minor axis P. The hollow section comprises two walls 51 made of an elastically deformable material so that the flap 5 is deformable by approximation or separation of two opposite portions 53 of walls 51 disposed on the minor axis P (FIGS. 4A to 4C) or on the major axis G (FIGS. 3A to 3C and 5) of the ellipse between a first active form and a second active form, the longitudinal extension of the first active form being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the second active form. Advantageously, the passage of the first active form to the second active form is by deformation of the flap 5 and not by pivoting. Thus, unlike the prior art described above with reference to FIG. 1, the flow of air passing through the closure device 1 is no longer deflected by the surface of the flap 5 'disposed downstream from the axis pivoting when the flap 5 occupies an intermediate shape between the first and second active forms as will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 6A to 6C.

On the other hand, the flap 5 is obtained by extrusion and according to the particular embodiments represented here, the deformable material used for the manufacture of the shutter 5 is chosen from TPE-E copolyester compounds, and in particular TPE-E 60 or TPE-E 45. Advantageously, such a material has good elastic deformation properties and good resistance to thermal variations and humidity in particular.

In addition, the two opposing portions 53 that can be moved closer or apart each have a housing 57 for receiving a rigid rod 59 that can project from each end of the flap 5 according to the particular embodiments shown here. According to another embodiment not shown here, the housings 57 are intended to cooperate with complementary shapes arranged on the support frame 3.

The rigid rods 59 extend over the entire length of the flap 5. However, according to other variants not shown, the rigid rods 59 may extend only over a portion of the length of the flap 5. Advantageously, the rigid rods 59 are made of a metallic material or a composite material. The use of such materials for the production of rigid rods 59 makes it possible to give them good resistance to the torsion forces associated with the air flow and good impact resistance while limiting the total mass of the flap 5. According to the particular embodiments shown here, the rigid rods 59 have the same diameter D. However, according to other embodiments not shown, the rigid rods 59 may have a different diameter D. For example, the rigid rod 59 intended to be installed at the level of the front face of the support frame 3, and therefore upstream in the air flow, may have a diameter D greater than that of the other rigid rod 59, arranged in downstream in the air flow, to have a better resistance to bending due to the air flow, especially when the motor vehicle is moving at a high speed.

Moreover, in order to guarantee and control the flexion of the walls 51 to allow the passage of the first to the second active form, each wall 51 may have at least one portion of controlled bending primer 55. According to the embodiments shown here, the flap 5 has two portions of controlled bending primer 55 disposed opposite one another on each wall 51 forming the flap 5. However, according to other embodiments not shown here, the portions of Controlled bending primer 55 may be disposed at other locations of the walls 51. In addition, the flap 5 may have a greater or lesser number of controlled bending primer portions 55. On the other hand, the portion of controlled bending primer 55 is disposed within the wall 51 and corresponds to a portion of lesser thickness, including a slot, according to the particular embodiments shown here. According to other embodiments not shown here, the controlled bending primer portions 55 may be disposed outside the hollow profile. On the other hand, still according to embodiments not shown, the portions of controlled bending primer 55 may have other shapes than a slot shape. Moreover, the portions of controlled bending primer 55 are disposed at the center of the wall 51 defined between the two opposite portions 53 that can be moved closer together or apart. According to other embodiments not shown here, the controlled bending primer portions 55 may be disposed at other places than at the center of the walls 51 of the shutter 5.

In order to improve the impact resistance of the flap 5 and also to prevent any tears that may occur in the housings 57, at least one of the opposite portions 53 having the housing 57 intended to be arranged opposite a face before the shutter device 1 in the installed state of the shutter 5 in the shutter device 1 is coextruded with a material having an impact strength greater than 50 J / m. To facilitate the installation of the flap 5 in the support frame 3, the two opposite portions 53 having the housing 57 are coextruded. Thus, the mounting of the flap 5 in the support frame 3 can be achieved without worrying about the subsequent arrangement of the front face or the rear face of the shutter device 1 in the mounted state of this shutter device 1 in the vehicle automobile. Furthermore, the material used for the coextrusion may be chosen from nylon 6 polyamide, nylon 6 reinforced with glass fibers, or polybutylene terephthalate reinforced with glass fibers. Indeed, such materials have an impact strength greater than 50 J / m and are compatible with a method of manufacturing the flap 5 by extrusion. Furthermore, the coextrusion of at least the portion 53 intended to be arranged opposite the front face of the closure device 1 also makes it possible to increase the resistance of the flap 5 to the bending forces that may be imposed on it by the flow. during the use of the motor vehicle, and in particular at high speed. With reference to FIGS. 3A to 4C, there is shown the flap 5 in lateral section according to a first embodiment (FIGS. 3A to 3C) and a second embodiment (FIGS. 4A to 4C). According to these first and second embodiments, the housings 57 are arranged inside the hollow section. As shown in these figures, the controlled bending primer portions 55 correspond to ribs whose walls touch when these controlled bending primer portions 55 are furthest apart from each other when the flap 5 is in its first or second active form. Moreover, these ribs open progressively when the walls 51 bearing these controlled bending primer portions 55 are brought together under the effect of the displacement of at least one portion 53. According to these first and second embodiments, the stems rigid members 59 may be inserted into the housings 57 during the extrusion process, or after extrusion of the shutter 5.

With reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, there is shown the flap 5 in its first active form (FIG. 3A), in an intermediate form (FIG. 3B) and in its second active form (FIG. 3C). According to the direction of installation of the flap 5 in the support frame 3, the first active form or the second active form of the flap 5 allows the closure of the opening of the support frame 3 to prevent the passage of the air flow through the shutter device 1. According to this first embodiment, the housings 57 are arranged on the major axis G of the ellipse when the flap 5 is in its first active form. Furthermore, the flap 5 passes from the first active form to the second active form by bringing the housings 57 closer to each other, as illustrated by the arrows A (visible in FIGS. 3B and 3C) indicating the direction of movement. opposite portions 53. According to the particular embodiment shown here, the two opposite portions 53 move. However, according to another embodiment not shown here and which will be developed in more detail later, only one portion 53 can move and the other portion 53 is held fixed in the support frame 3. With reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C, there is shown the flap 5 in its first active form (FIG. 4A), in an intermediate form (FIG. 4B) and in the second active form (FIG. 4C). According to this second embodiment, the housings 57 are arranged on the small axis P of the ellipse when the flap 5 is in the first active form. On the other hand, the flap 5 goes from the first active form to the second active form by moving the housings 57 away from each other, as illustrated by the arrows A (visible in FIGS. 4A and 4B) indicating the direction of movement. opposite portions 53.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown the flap 5 according to a third embodiment in the first active form for example. According to this third embodiment, the housings 57 are arranged outside the hollow section. Furthermore, the housing 57 has a narrowed opening so as to maintain the rigid rods 59 inside the housing 57. This narrowed opening may optionally be chamfered so as to facilitate the insertion of the rigid rods 59 in their housing 57 respectively. According to this third embodiment, the housings 57 are arranged on the major axis G of the ellipse. However, according to a variant not shown, the housings 57 may be arranged on the minor axis P of the ellipse.

With reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C, the kinematics of passage of flaps 5 from their first active form to their second active form are represented when these flaps 5 are installed in the opening of support frame 3 in order to form the closure device 1 of Figure 2.

In order to allow the fastening of the flaps 5 in the opening of the support frame 3, the support frame 3 also has complementary shapes (not shown) disposed inside the opening defined by the lateral uprights 31 and the sleepers. end 33. The complementary shapes are configured to cooperate with the opposing portions 53 of the flaps 5.

According to a particular embodiment, the complementary shapes are configured to cooperate with the rigid rods 59 projecting from the housings 57. More specifically, the complementary shapes may be in the form of grooves in order to allow the displacement of the end of at least one rigid rod 59 to allow the passage of the flap 5 of its first active form to its second active form. In the case where only one of the portions 53 is movable, the complementary shape accommodating the end of the rigid rod 59 disposed at the fixed portion 53 may correspond for example to a single orifice. Advantageously, the use of complementary shapes on the support frame 3 makes it possible to guide the displacement of the ends of the rigid rods 59 when the flap 5 passes from the first active form to the second active form and vice versa. Returning to FIG. 2, the support frame 3 further comprises at least one actuator 7 cooperating with at least one of the opposite portions 53 of the flap 5 in order to move this at least one portion 53 so as to deform the flap 5 between the first and second portions 53. and the second active forms. According to a first aspect, the support frame 3 comprises an actuator 7 having a control member connected to at least one rigid rod 59 of each shutter 3. According to this first aspect, the control member is configured to move the rigid rods 59 of so as to deform each flap 5 between the first and the second active forms. According to a second aspect, the support frame 3 comprises as many actuators 7 as flaps 5. In this second aspect, the passage between the first active form and the second active form of each flap 5 is controlled by a specific actuator 7 and the deformation of the different flaps 5 disposed in the opening of the support frame 3 may be different depending on the eventual needs of the heat exchangers disposed downstream of the closure device 1 in the air flow.

According to a particular embodiment, actuator 7 can be configured to allow the displacement of a rigid rod 59 to deform the flap 5 between the first active form and the second active form, the other rigid rod 59 being held fixed in the opening of the support frame 3. According to a variant, the actuator 7 can be configured to allow the two rigid rods 59 to move in order to deform the flap 5 between the first active form and the second active form. Furthermore, the actuator 7 may be configured to move two opposite portions 53 belonging to the same axis of the ellipse to deform the flap 5 between the first active form and the second active form. According to a variant not shown, the actuator 7 may be configured to move a portion 53 belonging to the major axis G of the ellipse and a portion 53 belonging to the minor axis P of the ellipse to deform the flap 5 between the first form active and the second active form. The kinematics illustrated by the sequence of FIGS. 6A, 6B and then 6C in this order corresponds to the kinematics of the flaps 5 described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C installed in the opening of the support frame 3 so as to form the closure device 1 of Figure 2. According to this particular embodiment, the flaps 5 are arranged in the support frame 3 so that the longitudinal axis of the flaps 5 extends parallel to the end cross members 33, that is, that is to say along the axis L of the trihedron shown in FIG. 2. When the flaps 5 are installed in this way in the support frame 3, the at least one actuator 7 is disposed on a lateral upright 31 or on an element of reinforcement 9 (as shown in Figure 2) of the support frame 3. The arrangement of the actuator 7 may depend on the number of sets of flaps 5 forming the shutter device 1 to result for example. According to the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6A, the long axis G of the ellipse extends perpendicular to the end cross members 33 when the flap 5 is in the first active form, the flap 5 thus allowing the passage of a flow of air through the closure device 1 Furthermore, the deformation of the flap 5 to the second active form allows the flap 5 to oppose the passage of the air flow through the closure device 1, as shown with reference to Figure 6C. Moreover, in the closed position, the ends of the flaps 5 touch each other so as to increase the tightness of the support frame 3. With reference to FIG. 6B, when the flaps 5 are in their intermediate form, the air flow illustrated by the arrows F is not deviated unlike the sealing devices of the prior art. Thus, the air flow can reach the heat exchangers and thus allow their good operability.

The kinematics illustrated by the sequence of FIGS. 6C, 6B and 6A in this order, illustrates the kinematics of the flaps 5 described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C installed in the opening of the support frame 3 in order to form the closure device 1 of FIG. According to this variant, the longitudinal axis of the flaps 5 extends parallel to the end crosspieces 33 also., that is to say along the L axis of the trihedron shown in FIG. , the actuator 7 is disposed on a lateral upright 31 or on a reinforcing element 9. According to this variant, the major axis G of the ellipse extends perpendicularly to the end cross-members 33. According to the embodiment of FIG. 6C, the flaps 5 are in their first active form and thus oppose the passage of the air flow through the closure device 1. The deformation of the flap 5 to its second active form ensures the passage of the airflow through the device shutter 1, as shown with reference to Figure 6A. As before, when the flaps 5 are in their intermediate form, with reference to FIG. 6B, they allow the passage of the air flow through the closure device 1 without deflecting it, as illustrated by the arrows F. This therefore makes it possible to ensure the good operability of the heat exchangers arranged downstream of this closure device 1.

According to a variant not shown here, the flaps 5 may be arranged in the support frame 3 so that the longitudinal axis of the flaps 5 extends parallel to the lateral uprights 31, that is to say along the axis H of the trihedron shown with reference to FIG. 2. According to this variant, the at least one actuator 7 can be arranged on an end cross member 33 of the support frame 3. According to this variant, the major axis G of the ellipse can be placed perpendicular to the end cross members 33. In such an arrangement, the flap 5 allows the passage of the air flow through the closure device 1 when in its first active form as before. In addition, the flap 5 also opposes the passage of the air flow through the closure device 1 when in its second active form. According to yet another variant that can be applied as well when the longitudinal axis of the flap 5 is arranged parallel to the end crosspieces 33 that parallel to the lateral uprights 31, the major axis G of the ellipse can extend parallel to the sleepers end 33 when the flap 5 is in the first active form. In this first active form, the shutter 5 opposes the passage of the air flow through the shutter device 1. On the other hand, the deformation of the shutter 5 to the second active shape allows the shutter 5 to allow the passage of the air flow through the shutter device 1.

The various embodiments described above are given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. Indeed, it is quite possible for those skilled in the art to use other materials than those mentioned for the manufacture of the shutter 5, for the coextrusion thereof, or for the composition of the rigid rods 59 without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, one skilled in the art can quite use a pin or a finger cooperating with the housing 57 of the flap 5 and intended to be moved by the at least one actuator 7 to allow the passage of the flap 5 of the first active form to the second active form.

Thus, obtaining a shutter device 1 to prevent the deflection of the air flow when the flaps 5 are in an intermediate shape is possible thanks to the implementation of a set of deformable flaps 5 such that previously described.

Claims

claims

1. Shutter (5) for a closure device (1) for a flow of air from the front face of a motor vehicle, the flap (5) being in the form of a hollow profile of general section in elliptical shape having a major axis (G) and a minor axis (P), characterized in that the hollow profile comprises two walls (51) made of an elastically deformable material and that the flap (5) is deformable by approximation or separation of two opposite portions (53) of walls (51) disposed on the minor axis (P) or on the major axis (G) of the ellipse between a first active form and a second active form, the longitudinal extension of the first active form being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the second active form.

2. Shutter (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each wall (51) has at least one portion of controlled bending primer (55), said controlled bending initiation portions (55) being arranged opposite from each other to control the deformation of the flap (5) between the first and the second active forms.

3. Shutter (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two portions (53) opposite may be spaced apart or spaced apart each have a housing (57).

4. Shutter (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that each housing (57) accommodates a rigid rod (59) projecting from each end of the flap (5).

5. Shutter (5) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the housings (57) are arranged on the minor axis (P) of the ellipse, the flap (5) passing from the first form active in the second active form by removal of housing (57) from each other.

6. Shutter (5) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the housings (57) are arranged on the major axis (G) of the ellipse, the flap (5) passing from the first form active in the second active form by reconciliation housing (57) one of the other.

7. Shutter (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is obtained by extrusion.

8. Shutter (5) according to claim 7 taken in combination with one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one of the portions (53) opposite having the housing (57) to be arranged facing a front face of a shutter device (1) in the installed state of the shutter (5) in the shutter device (1) is coextruded with a material having an impact resistance greater than 50 J / m.

9. Device for closing the air intake (1) of the front face of a motor vehicle having a support frame (3) having two lateral uprights (31) interconnected by two end crosspieces (33), characterized in that at least one flap assembly (5) according to any one of the preceding claims is installed within the opening of the support frame (3), and in that the support frame (3) comprises at least an actuator (7) cooperating with at least one of the opposite portions (53) of the flap (5) in order to move this at least one portion (53) so as to deform the flap (5) between the first and the second active forms.

10. Shutter device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the support frame (3) further has complementary shapes disposed within the opening, said complementary shapes being configured to cooperate with the portions. (53) opposite flaps (5).

11. Shutter device (1) according to claim 10 taken in combination with claim 4, characterized in that the complementary shapes are configured to cooperate with the rigid rods (59) projecting from the housing (57).

12. Shutter device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the flaps (5) are arranged in the support frame (3) so that the longitudinal axis of the flaps ( 5) extends parallel to the end crosspieces (33).

Shutter device (1) according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the shutters (5) are arranged in the support frame (3) so that the longitudinal axis of the shutters ( 5) extends parallel to the lateral uprights (31).

14. Shutter device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the major axis (G) of the ellipse extends perpendicularly to the end cross members (33) when the flap (5) is in the first active form, the flap (5) thus allowing the passage of a flow of air through the closure device (1).

15. Shutter device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the major axis (G) of the ellipse extends parallel to the end crosspieces (33) when the flap ( 5) is in the first active form, the flap (5) thus opposing the passage of the air flow through the closure device (1).