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DE-102017205790-B4 - Air damper device with soft end position entry and method for automatic initialization of an air damper device

DE102017205790B4DE 102017205790 B4DE102017205790 B4DE 102017205790B4DE-102017205790-B4

Abstract

Air flap device (10) for a motor vehicle (12), comprising: - a frame (14) which defines an air passage opening (16), - at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) which are movably mounted on the frame (14), projecting at least into the air passage opening (16), between two end positions of different coverage of the air passage opening (16), wherein at least one end position is defined as an end stop end position by a mechanical end stop (40, 42) which the air flap (18a, 18b, 18c) touches when the end position is reached, - a motion drive (26) which is in drive interaction with at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) in order to drive the at least one air flap (18a, 18b, 18c) to move at least to the end stop position, - a control device (32) for controlling the motion drive (26), - a data storage device (34) in communication with the control device (32), in which control parameters for the control of the motion drive (26) are stored, and - a movement position detection device (30) for detecting a movement position of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) within its range of movement between the end positions, wherein the control device (32) is configured to, when the movement position detection device (30) during a movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) to the end stop end position on the basis of a first set of control parameters stored in the data memory (34) Upon reaching a predetermined near-end-stop approach position (AS, AO), the motion drive is activated to continue the movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) based on a second set of control parameters stored in the data memory (34), wherein the second set of control parameters results in a lower drive torque and/or a lower drive speed of the motion drive (26) than the first set of control parameters, and wherein the end stops (40, 42) are assigned to the end positions of the different air flaps (18a, 18c), and wherein an end stop (42) for one air flap (18c) driven by the motion drive (26) of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) is arranged in the open position, and wherein an end stop (40) for another (18a) of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) is arranged in the closed position.

Inventors

  • Faisal Pasha
  • Domenico Solazzo

Assignees

  • Röchling Automotive SE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20170405

Claims (9)

  1. Air flap device (10) for a motor vehicle (12), comprising: - a frame (14) defining an air passage opening (16), - at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) which are movably mounted on the frame (14), projecting at least into the air passage opening (16), between two end positions of different coverage of the air passage opening (16), wherein at least one end position is defined as the end stop position by a mechanical end stop (40, 42) which the air flap (18a, 18b, 18c) contacts upon reaching the end position, - a drive mechanism (26) which is in drive communication with at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) in order to drive the at least one air flap (18a, 18b, 18c) to move at least to the end stop position, - a control device (32) for controlling the drive mechanism (26), - a data storage device (34) in a data transmission connection with the control device (32), in which control parameters for controlling the motion drive (26) are stored, and - a position detection device (30) for detecting the position of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) within its range of motion between the end positions, wherein the control device (32) is configured to, when the position detection device (30) detects, during a movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) towards the end stop position, that a predetermined near-end stop position (AS, AO) has been reached based on a first set of control parameters stored in the data storage device (34), initiate the motion drive to continue the movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) based on a second set of control parameters stored in the data storage device (34). to control, wherein the second set of control parameters results in a lower drive torque and/or a lower drive speed of the motion drive (26) than the first set of control parameters, and wherein the end stops (40, 42) are assigned to the end positions of the different air flaps (18a, 18c), and wherein an end stop (42) for an air flap (18c) driven by the motion drive (26) of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) is arranged in the open position, and wherein an end stop (40) for another (18a) of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) is arranged in the closed position.
  2. Air flap device (10) according Claim 1 , characterized in that the control device (32) is configured to, when the motion position detection device (30) detects, during a movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) towards the end stop position, a predetermined delay position (VS, VO) which is further away from the end stop position than the approach position (AS, AO), the motion drive (26) to continue the movement of the at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) based on the first control parameter set stored in the data memory (34). to control control parameter set, wherein the first control parameter set results in a lower drive torque and/or a lower drive speed of the motion drive (26) than the third control parameter set.
  3. Air flap device (10) according Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the movement of at least one of the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) between their end positions is a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (S1, S2, S3) of the air flap (18a, 18b, 18c), wherein the approach position (AS, AO) is located in a range of 3° to 8° before the end stop position, preferably at 4° before the end stop position.
  4. Air flap device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both end positions are defined as end-stop end positions by a mechanical end stop (40, 42) which the at least two air flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) contact upon reaching the end position, wherein a predetermined approach position (AS, AO) is defined before each end-stop end position and the air flap device (10) is adjusted with respect to each end position according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 is designed.
  5. A method for the automatic initialization of an air damper device (10) configured according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps, performed by the control device (32): - Actuating the motion drive (26) to move at least one of the at least two air dampers (18a, 18b, 18c) to an end-stop position based on an initialization control parameter set until the end-stop position is reached, - Detecting the reached end-stop position by means of the motion position detection device (30), - Determining the approach position (AS, AO) based on the detected end-stop position and distance information stored in the data memory (34) concerning the distance between the approach position (AS, AO) and the end-stop position, - Storing the determined approach position (AS, AO) in the data memory (34).
  6. Procedure according to Claim 5 , characterized in that it is performed for both end positions.
  7. Procedure according to Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that it further includes the step of determining a delay position (VS, VO) on the basis of the recorded end stop final position or the determined approach position (AS, AO) and a distance information stored in the data storage (34) concerning the distance between the delay position (VS, VO) and the end stop final position or between the delay position (VS, VO) and the approach position (AS, AO).
  8. Air flap device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 - 4 , characterized in that the control device (32) for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 5 - 7 is trained.
  9. motor vehicle (12) with an air flap device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 - 4 or according to Claim 8 .

Description

The present invention relates to an air flap device for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a frame that defines an air vent opening, - at least one air flap which is movably mounted on the frame, projecting at least into the air passage opening, between two end positions of different coverage of the air passage opening, wherein at least one end position is defined as an end stop end position by a mechanical end stop which the air flap touches when reaching the end position, - a motion drive which is in drive interaction with the at least one air damper in order to drive the at least one air damper to movement at least to the end stop position, - a control device for controlling the motion drive, - a data storage device in communication with the control device, in which control parameters for controlling the motion drive are stored, and - a movement position detection device for detecting a movement position of at least one air flap within its range of movement between the end positions. Such air flap devices are used in numerous motor vehicles, usually in the area of the vehicle's front, which is exposed to the airflow during forward travel. By changing the position of the air flap, the amount of air flowing into the vehicle's engine compartment can be altered. This allows, for example, the warm-up phase of an internal combustion engine to be shortened during a cold start by reducing or even closing the air passage opening, thus having a beneficial effect on the vehicle's pollutant emissions. Typically – as is also the case with the present invention – the coverage of the air passage opening by the at least one air flap is minimal in one of the end positions and maximal in the other end position. For cost reasons, simple actuators are often used, which drive the air flap in one direction of movement until it touches a mechanical end stop and is prevented from continuing its movement by the end stop. The problem is that the air flaps hit the end stop without any braking and are abruptly decelerated by it against the continuing driving force of the actuator. This high magnitude of deceleration places considerable mechanical stress on the air flaps, negatively impacting their service life and usable operating time. Although damping components, such as elastomeric damping components, can be used near the end position, these components are contacted by the air damper or a component coupled to the air damper for common movement before reaching the end position and are compressed against the material elasticity of the damping component under the influence of the driving force. As the compression of the damping component progresses, the force resulting from the elastic deformation of the damping component also increases, so that the air damper impacts the end stop with a braking effect. However, this solution means another component on the air flap device, which, due to its intended purpose, is subject to high wear, so that the problem of the usable service life being impaired by dynamic loads is only shifted from one component to another. The DE 10 2012 103 464 A1 Disclosing a control device for an air flap assembly, wherein the air flaps are controlled in such a way that they are decelerated before reaching their end position. From the DE 10 2013 225 629 B3 Furthermore, a control device for an air flap assembly has become known in which the air flaps are also controlled in such a way that they are decelerated before reaching their end position. Stops for different air flaps are arranged on the frame in their closed position. From the US 2013/0247862 A1 An air flap device is known in which the air flaps are controlled in such a way that they are decelerated before reaching their end position. Stops for different air flaps in their closed position are also formed on the frame. It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop an air flap device for a motor vehicle, as mentioned above, in such a way that, without additional components such as elastomeric damping components and the like, the mechanical stress on the at least one air flap due to dynamic processes in the operation of the air flap device is reduced or completely avoided. This problem is solved by an air flap device according to claim 1. A control parameter set can comprise only one control parameter or several control parameters, depending on how the motion drive is to be controlled by the control device. The drive torque and/or the drive speed of the motion drive caused by the second control parameter set can be constant over the duration of the air damper movement between the approach position and the end stop position, or they can follow a curve defined by the second control parameter set. In the latter case, at least the average value of the drive torque and/or drive speed over the duration of their application between the approach position and the end stop position is lower. Preferably, the drive torque and/or drive speed decreases