US-12617267-B2 - Device for regulating an air flow

US12617267B2US 12617267 B2US12617267 B2US 12617267B2US-12617267-B2

Abstract

A device ( 2 ) for regulating an air flow for a front end module ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle, comprising a closing element ( 4 ) for closing air inlets ( 38 ) of a front end module ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle, a guide element ( 6 ) for guiding the closing element ( 4 ) during an opening and a closing movement of the closing element ( 4 ), a first and a second control element ( 8 a, 8 b ) for controlling an opening and a closing movement of the closing element ( 4 ), a first and a second drive element ( 10 a, 10 b ) for driving an opening and a closing movement of the closing element ( 4 ), wherein the first and second control elements ( 8 a, 8 b ) comprise a multi-part integrated tension and tolerance compensation mechanism ( 12 ) for compensating a variable pretension of the first and second drive elements ( 10 a, 10 b ) in order to ensure a substantially constant tension of the closing element ( 4 ).

Inventors

Ralf Schmidt
Daniel Knorr
Gaoming Zhao
Tobias Tegethoff
Steffen Höwelkröger

Assignees

HBPO GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20210305
Priority Date: 20200323

Claims (20)

1 . A device for regulating an air flow for a front end module of a motor vehicle, comprising: a closing element for closing air inlets of the front end module of the motor vehicle, a guide element for guiding the closing element during an opening and a closing movement of the closing element, a first and a second control element for controlling the opening and the closing movement of the closing element, a first and a second drive element for driving the opening and the closing movement of the closing element, wherein the first and second control elements each comprise a multi-part integrated tension and tolerance compensation mechanism for compensating a variable pretension of the first and second drive elements to ensure a substantially constant tension of the closing element, wherein the first and second control elements each have a receiving element which is arranged at a respective end of the first and second control element and each receiving element has a receiving region for receiving a respective one of the first and second drive elements, wherein the control elements each have a connecting element for connecting the receiving elements to the guide element, it being possible for the connecting elements to be connected to the guide element, wherein the tension and tolerance compensation mechanism has at least one elastic element for compensating for a variable prestress, wherein the tensioning and tolerance mechanism has at least one front retaining point and one rear retaining point for fixing a front end and a back end of the elastic element, wherein the rear retaining point is arranged inside one of the connecting elements, wherein a frame is provided for receiving the-diverting elements, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of support blades extending across an opening of the frame to support the closing element during closing movement, wherein more than two front or rear retaining points are provided to ensure the adjustment of different spring prestressing forces, wherein the front or rear retaining points are symmetrically arranged along a sectional plane of at least one of the receiving elements or the connecting elements.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tension and tolerance compensation mechanism is operatively connected to the drive elements.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring force of the elastic element is between 28 and 22 N.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one front retaining point is arranged on the interior of one of the receiving elements, which partially encloses the at least one front retaining point.
5 . The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the receiving elements or connecting elements have limitation elements for limiting a working area of the elastic elements.
6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second control elements are shaped in such a way that a diameter increase and diameter decrease of the guide element caused by the winding and unwinding of the closing element is compensated to minimize a difference in web speed when the guide element is wound and the drive elements are unwound and when the drive elements are wound and the guide element is unwound.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second control elements have a varying diameter to compensate for a diameter increase and diameter decrease of the guide element caused by the winding and unwinding of the closing element.
8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second control elements have a winding spiral for receiving the drive elements.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second control elements have a constant diameter.
10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second control elements have a winding spiral for receiving the drive elements, the winding spiral having a variable pitch for compensating for a diameter increase and diameter decrease of the guide element caused by the winding and unwinding of the closing element.
11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a first and a second diverting element are provided for deflecting the first and second drive elements respectively.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the frame or the guide element is connected to the closing element in at least a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, the closing element being connected releasably at least to the frame or the guide element via a clamping connection.
13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a mounting element is provided for connecting at least one of the frame or the guide element to the closing element, the mounting element having at least one slot recess for insetting the closing element.
14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting element is formed in a plurality of parts.
15 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the frame or the guide element bas a recess, arranged on a longitudinal side, for the insertion of the closing element and of the mounting element.
16 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the recess is of wedge-shaped configuration and the mounting element is configured at least partially to correspond in shape to the wedge-shaped recess, in order to prevent the closing element from being pulled out in the loading direction of the closing element.
17 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting element is formed in three parts, the mounting element having a first cuboidal part and a second and third part which are formed at least partially in a shape-corresponding manner with respect to the recess.
18 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting element has a recess for the partial insertion of the closing element.
19 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive elements are in the form of cable pulls.
20 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element is formed in the form of a winding shaft onto which the closing element can be wound during an opening movement and from which the closing element can be unwound during a closing movement.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a national stage application of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/055643 filed May 5, 2021 which claims priority to German application 10 2020 107 958.3 filed Mar. 23, 2020. SUMMARY The present invention relates to a device for regulating an airflow for a front module of a motor vehicle, and to a motor vehicle comprising such a device. In modern motor vehicles, fresh air flowing through a radiator grille of the vehicle or through the openings of the radiator grille is channelled and directed onto a cooling module of the vehicle. In particular, this targeted channelling of the air flow onto the cooling module can ensure that, according to the design/configuration of the cooling module, for example an engine of the vehicle and/or charge air for this engine, can be efficiently cooled and/or the interior of the vehicle can be efficiently air-conditioned. Adversely, turbulent flows are generated by the inflowing air flow, which counteract the locomotion of the vehicles concerned and lead to reduced ranges or increased fuel consumption. In order to solve this problem, roller blind systems are known from the prior art which can close the air inlets arranged within the engine compartment if required and can thus reduce the generation of turbulent flows. However, the systems known from the prior art for regulating an air flow for a front end module of a motor vehicle often have the problem that a constant material tension of the closing means/elements can only be ensured with difficulty, which leads to the fact that the air inlets arranged within the engine compartment can only be closed insufficiently well in some cases and thus the generation of turbulent flows can also only be reduced insufficiently. The reasons for the insufficiently constant material stresses are usually component-specific tolerances, diameter differences when winding and unwinding the roller blind systems and, in particular, signs of wear on individual components. It is therefore the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of known devices for regulating an air flow for a front end module of a motor vehicle. In particular, it is the task of the invention to provide a device for regulating an air flow for a front-end module of a motor vehicle, which device enables the most effective and reliable reduction of turbulent flows possible in a structurally simple and inexpensive manner, and is designed/configurated in a particularly flexible and adaptable manner. The foregoing problem is solved by a device having the features of the independent device claim and a motor vehicle comprising such a device. Further features and details of the invention result from the respective sub claims, the description and the drawings. According to the invention, there is a device provided for regulating an air flow for a front end module of a motor vehicle, comprising a closing means/element for closing air inlets of a front end module of a motor vehicle, a guide means/element for guiding the closing means/element during an opening and a closing movement of the closing means/element, a first and a second control means/element for controlling an opening and a closing movement of the closing means/element, and a first and a second drive means/element for driving an opening and a closing movement of the closing means/element. According to the invention, the device for regulating air flow is characterized in this respect in that the first and second control means/elements comprise a multi-part integrated tension and tolerance compensation mechanism for compensating a variable bias of the first and second drive means/elements to ensure a substantially constant tension of the closing means/element. The present device for regulating air flow for a front end module of a motor vehicle can preferably be arranged in the front region of a motor vehicle, in particular, between a radiator grille or a front hood and a motor vehicle cooling module. In addition to an application in passenger cars and trucks, the device according to the invention can equally be applied in other motorized motor vehicles, such as ships or flying objects or the like. Preferably, an opening operation and a closing operation of a closing means/element may be performed by an interaction between the subject control means/elements, the drive means/elements and the guide means/element according to the invention in order to close or open air inlets arranged along a motor vehicle height. Such air inlets may be formed, for example, in the form of brake air ducts or supply air ducts for the engine compartment or for an air conditioning system or the like. According to the invention, the present guide means/element is preferably arranged between the first and the second control means/element, in particular, directly between the first and the second control means/element. In the context of the invention, an open position i