Actuation mechanism for active grille shutters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11505059-B2
Application number	US-202117207901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2021
Priority date	Apr 3, 2020
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism. The active grille system has vanes connected to a link arm. The vanes rotate between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by the link arm. Connected to the frame is an actuator that has a mover that provides force to a linear actuation mechanism that is connected to the link arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism comprising:
an active grille system having at least one moveable vane connected to a frame, wherein the at least one moveable vane rotates between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by a linear actuation mechanism;
wherein the linear actuation mechanism includes:
a barrel with a cavity that includes a first end aperture and a second end aperture;
a plunger having a plunger tip at one end, wherein the plunger is slidably positioned through the first end aperture of the barrel so that the plunger tip moves between a retracted position and an extended position;
a pusher positioned in the cavity and having a tip extending outside of the second end aperture, wherein the pusher exerts force on the plunger and moves the plunger between a plunger extended position, a free motion position and a plunger retract position;
wherein the pusher has a first cam surface facing toward the plunger;

one or more stops positioned radially within the cavity; and
a rotating cam position between the second end of the plunger and the pusher, wherein the rotating cam has a plunger face surface in contact with the second end of the plunger and a second cam surface in contact with the first cam surface on the pusher, the rotating cam rotates about an axis of the barrel in response to the first cam surface of the pusher acting on the second cam surface of the rotating cam, such that the rotating cam rotates between a stop position wherein the second cam surface engages the one or more stops and holds the plunger in the extended position and a retracted position where the rotating cam slides past the one or more stops allowing the plunger to move the retracted position, and

an actuator having a mover engageable with the tip of the pusher for providing force to the linear actuation mechanism thereby causing the at least one moveable vane to rotate between an open position and a closed position.

2. The active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the linear actuation mechanism further comprises:
a shaft of the plunger; and
a retraction spring circumscribing a portion of the shaft of the plunger positioned between a wall adjacent the first end aperture of the barrel and a spring bushing formed on the plunger, wherein the retraction spring biases the plunger tip toward the retracted position.

3. The active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid actuator.

4. An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism comprising:
an active grille system having at least one moveable vane connected to a frame, wherein the at least one moveable vane rotates between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by a linear actuation mechanism;
wherein the linear actuation mechanism includes:
a barrel with a cavity that includes a first end aperture and a second end aperture;
a plunger having a plunger tip at one end, wherein the plunger is slidably position through the first end aperture of the barrel so that the plunger tip moves between a retracted position and an extended position;
a pusher positioned in the cavity and having a tip extending outside of the second end aperture, wherein the pusher exerts force on the plunger and moves the plunger between a plunger extended position, a free motion position and a plunger retract position;
wherein the barrel includes a body that slides into a cap, where the plunger extends through the body and the pusher slides within the cap;
wherein the pusher has a first cam surface facing toward the plunger;
one or more stops positioned radially within the cavity; and
a rotating cam position between the second end of the plunger and the pusher, wherein the rotating cam has a plunger face surface in contact with the second end of the plunger and a second cam surface in contact with the first cam surface on the pusher, the rotating cam rotates about an axis of the barrel in response to the first cam surface of the pusher acting on the second cam surface of the rotating cam, such that the rotating cam rotates between a stop position wherein the second cam surface engages the one or more stops formed in the cavity of the barrel where the cap is located and holds the plunger in the extended position and a retracted position where the rotating cam slides past the one or more stops allowing the plunger to move the retracted position, and

an actuator having a mover engageable with the tip of the pusher for providing force to the linear actuation mechanism thereby causing the at least one moveable vane to rotate between an open position and a closed position.

5. An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism comprising:
an active grille system having at least one moveable vane connected to a frame, wherein the at least one moveable vane rotates between an open position and a closed position;
a linear actuation mechanism connectable to the at least one moveable vane, wherein the linear actuation mechanism includes:
a barrel with a cavity that includes a first end aperture and a second end aperture, wherein the barrel includes a body that slides into a cap;
a plunger having a plunger tip at one end, wherein the plunger is slidably position through the first end aperture of the barrel so that the plunger tip moves between a retracted position and an extended position and a pusher is positioned in the cavity and has a tip extending outside of the second end aperture, wherein the pusher exerts force on the plunger and moves the plunger between a plunger extended position, a free motion position and a plunger retract position;
the pusher has a first cam surface facing toward the plunger;
one or more stops positioned radially within the cavity; and
a rotating cam position between the second end of the plunger and the pusher, wherein the rotating cam has a plunger face surface in contact with the second end of the plunger and a second cam surface in contact with the first cam surface on the pusher, the rotating cam rotates about an axis of the barrel in response to the first cam surface of the pusher acting on the second cam surface of the rotating cam, such that the rotating cam rotates between a stop position wherein the second cam surface engages the one or more stops and holds the plunger in the extended position and a retracted position where the rotating cam slides past the one or more stops allowing the plunger to move the retracted position, and

an actuator having a mover engageable with the tip of the pusher for providing force to the linear actuation mechanism thereby causing the at least one moveable vane to rotate between an open position and a closed position.

6. The active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the linear actuation mechanism further comprises:
a shaft of the plunger; and
a retraction spring circumscribing a portion of the shaft of the plunger positioned between a wall adjacent the first end aperture of the barrel and a spring bushing formed on the plunger, wherein the retraction spring biases the plunger tip toward the retracted position.

7. The active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid actuator and the mover presses on the tip of the pusher.

8. An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism comprising:
an active grille system having at least one moveable vane connected to a link arm, wherein the at least one moveable vane rotates between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by the link arm;
an actuator having a mover for providing force to a linear ac

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Cowan Michael James
• Matthews Martin Robert

Classifications

• B60Y2400/404

  Electro-magnetic actuators, e.g. with an electromagnet not rotating for moving a clutching member · CPC title

• B60K11/085 Primary

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B60K1/00

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title