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EP-3941770-B1 - DEVICE FOR REGULATING A COOLING AIR FLOW IN A VEHICLE

EP3941770B1EP 3941770 B1EP3941770 B1EP 3941770B1EP-3941770-B1

Inventors

  • RICCIO, Ugo
  • TORLUCCIO, ANTONIO
  • RICCIO, Aniello
  • SELLITTO, Andrea

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200311

Claims (14)

  1. A device for regulating or controlling an air flow in a vehicle compartment, for example the engine compartment of a motor car, comprising: - at least one wing (2) connectable to an air flow opening for a compartment of a motor car and movable between a position for closing and a position for opening the air flow opening; - a drive module (3) configured to apply a predetermined thrust force; - a transmission apparatus (4) adapted to transmit the thrust force from the drive module (3) to the at least one wing (2) to bring the wing (2) at least from the closed position to the open position; the drive module (3) comprising at least a first actuator (5) made of a shape-memory alloy configured to apply the thrust force when the first actuator (5) reaches a predetermined temperature, and at a second actuator (8) configured to apply an opposing force to oppose the thrust force, the regulating device comprising a slide (9) which is guided in translation in parallel with the thrust force and which is interposed between the first actuator (5) and the second actuator (8) in such a way that the first actuator and the second actuator (8) operate on opposite sides of the slide (9), the regulating device being characterized in that the drive module (3) comprises a first frame (3a) configured to house the at least first actuator (5) and/or the second actuator (8) and/or the slide (9) and wherein the device comprises a second frame (4a) containing the transmission apparatus (4).
  2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slide (9) is housed in the first frame (3a) in such a way as to divide the inside of the first frame (3a) into a first compartment (12) containing the at least first actuator (5) and a second compartment (13) containing the at least second actuator (8), the first compartment (12) being preferably disposed centrally, with two second compartments (13) disposed on opposite sides of the first compartment (12).
  3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one wing (2) is mounted on the second frame (4a) and wherein the first and the second frame (4a) are in communication with each other through a slideway (6) in which a pusher (7) of the transmission apparatus (4) is inserted.
  4. The machine according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the first frame (3a) and the second frame (4a) are joined to each other separably.
  5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first actuator (5) comprises at least one thrust spring (5a), preferably a helical spring.
  6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the thrust spring (5a) is a compression spring.
  7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first actuator (5) comprises a plurality of thrust springs (5a), disposed in parallel.
  8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the second actuator (8) comprises at least one opposing spring (8a).
  9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (9) is guided in translation in parallel with the thrust force by one or more guide pins (10) and is preferably cup-shaped.
  10. The device according to claims 5 and 8, wherein the at least one thrust spring (5a) and/or the at least one opposing spring (8a) are disposed around respective guide pins (10) for guiding the slide (9).
  11. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one wing (2) is rotatable about a respective axis of rotation (X), preferably fixed, and wherein the transmission apparatus (4) comprises a pusher (7) having: - a first portion, provided with first engagement means, for example a rack profile; - a second portion, opposite to the first potion and facing towards the drive module (3); the wing (2) comprising second engagement means, for example a gear, configured to engage with the first engagement means in such a way that a movement of the pusher (7) brings the wing (2) from the closed position to the open position by rotation about the respective axis of rotation (X).
  12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the second portion of the pusher (7) is fixed or fixable to the slide (9).
  13. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the shape memory alloy comprises nickel and titanium, the shape memory alloy being configured to show a change of state at a temperature between 25°C and 75°C.
  14. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising an air supply duct (14) configured to feed the at least one actuator (5) with a hot air flow from the vehicle compartment, preferably from the engine.

Description

Technical field This invention addresses the automotive sector, in particular, a device for regulating and/or controlling a hot air flow generated by a component of a vehicle, specifically, a motor car during its operation. Background art Generally speaking, a vehicle comprises different components which, during their operation, generate heat inside the compartment or housing in which each is located. The typical example is the engine, which generates heat in the engine compartment; another example is the brakes, which generate heat that may be confined to a duct where the brakes are housed. During normal operation, a motor car engine generates a considerable amount of heat which, if not correctly dissipated, may lead to serious damage to the engine itself and to other vehicle parts and components adjacent to the engine, especially those located in the engine compartment. At the same time, the engine has to work at an optimum temperature of its own and the temperature in the compartment that houses the engine also has to remain at an optimum level. For this purposes, devices have been developed which allow varying the inflow and outflow of air into and out of the engine compartment, so as to facilitate heat exchange with the outside atmosphere, thereby preventing unwanted overheating or excessive cooling. Devices are known which comprise flaps or wings that move in such a way as to cover and uncover through slots or openings that allow air to flow from the inside of the engine compartment or generic space to the outside atmosphere, thus promoting the extraction of heat from the engine compartment. Generally speaking, the through slots are, for example, provided on the bodywork of the motor car in proximity to the engine compartment and the wings are applied thereon. Prior art devices, however, are relatively inefficient in that they necessitate implementing complex and cumbersome activating mechanisms, principally electrohydraulic or electromechanical, to control the movement of the wings correctly and according to the need to cool the engine compartment or other space involved. In document DE10137175 is disclosed an engine cover for a motor vehicle comprises at least one aeration and/or ventilation opening, a closing element for closing the aeration and/or ventilation opening and adjusting devices for adjusting the position of the closing element relative to the opening to close and/or open the aeration and/or ventilation opening; the adjusting devices have a reciprocating piston adjusting cylinder in which the piston interacts with the cylinder housing via an adjusting element fixed in the reciprocating piston cylinder and made of a memory alloy for temperature-dependent adjustment. Disclosure of the invention In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this disclosure is to propose a device for regulating the cooling air flow in a vehicle to overcome at least some of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the aim of this disclosure is to provide a device for regulating and controlling the cooling air flow in a compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor car, and which is structurally simple, light in weight and manageable, while at the same time maintaining a high level of efficiency and reliability. The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a device for regulating an air flow in a compartment of a motor car - for example the engine compartment - comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims. This disclosure describes a preferred embodiment of a device for controlling a cooling flow in an engine compartment of a motor car and which comprises: at least one wing connectable to an air inflow opening of an engine compartment of a motor car and movable between a position for closing and a position for opening the air inflow opening; a drive module configured to apply a predetermined thrust force; and a transmission apparatus capable of transmitting the thrust force from the drive module to the wing to move the wing from the closed position to the open position. The drive module comprises at least one actuator made of a shape-memory alloy such that the thrust force is applied when the actuator reaches a predetermined temperature. Brief description of the drawings Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred embodiment of a device for cooling an engine compartment of a vehicle, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view, partly in blocks, of the device according to this disclosure, for regulating the air flow in a compartment of a motor car;Figures 2A and 2B show two distinct operating conditions of a component of the device according to this disclosure. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention The numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings denotes