VARIABLE-BIAS SHUTTER
First Claim
1. A variable-bias shutter system for controlling an airstream through an entryway, the shutter system comprising:
- a plurality of louvers, each louver having a pivot axis and a louver face configured to be variably exposed to the airstream, wherein each face includes a first portion arranged to one side and a second portion arranged to the other side of the respective pivot axis; and
a mechanism configured to select a position for the shutter system between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed by rotating in tandem each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis;
wherein an area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is smaller than an area of the second portion when the shutter system is substantially closed and the area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is larger than the area of the second portion when the shutter system is not closed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variable-bias shutter system for controlling an airstream through an entryway includes a plurality of louvers. Each louver has a pivot axis and a louver face that includes a first portion arranged to one side and a second portion arranged to the other side of the respective pivot axis. The shutter system also includes a mechanism configured to select a position for the shutter system by rotating in tandem each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis. An area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is smaller than an area of the second portion when the shutter system is substantially closed. Additionally, the area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is larger than the area of the second portion when the shutter system is not closed. A vehicle employing the variable-bias shutter system is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable-bias shutter system for controlling an airstream through an entryway, the shutter system comprising:
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a plurality of louvers, each louver having a pivot axis and a louver face configured to be variably exposed to the airstream, wherein each face includes a first portion arranged to one side and a second portion arranged to the other side of the respective pivot axis; and a mechanism configured to select a position for the shutter system between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed by rotating in tandem each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis; wherein an area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is smaller than an area of the second portion when the shutter system is substantially closed and the area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is larger than the area of the second portion when the shutter system is not closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine cooled by a circulating fluid; a heat exchanger configured to cool the fluid via an airstream after the fluid cools the engine; a grille defining a grille opening positioned to permit the airstream to pass through on the way to the heat exchanger; and a variable-bias shutter system for controlling the airstream through the grille opening, the shutter system having; a plurality of louvers, each louver having a pivot axis and a louver face configured to be variably exposed to the airstream, wherein each face includes a first portion arranged to one side and a second portion arranged to the other side of the respective pivot axis; and a mechanism configured to select a position for the shutter system between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed by rotating in tandem each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis; wherein an area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is smaller than an area of the second portion when the shutter system is substantially closed and the area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is larger than the area of the second portion when the shutter system is not closed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A variable-bias shutter system for controlling an airstream through an entryway, the shutter system comprising:
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a plurality of louvers, each louver having a pivot axis and a louver face configured to be variably exposed to the airstream, wherein each face includes a first portion arranged to one side and a second portion arranged to the other side of the respective pivot axis; and a mechanism configured to select a position for the shutter system between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed by rotating in tandem each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis; wherein; an area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is smaller than an area of the second portion when the shutter system is substantially closed and the area of the first portion that is exposed to the airstream is larger than the area of the second portion when the shutter system is not closed; the airstream is used to bias the shutter system to maintain the fully closed position when the smaller area of the first portion is exposed to the airstream and is used to bias the shutter system toward the fully opened position when the larger area of the first portion is exposed to the airstream; and the second portion of each louver is configured to screen from the airstream at least a segment of the first portion of an adjacent louver when the shutter system is fully closed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification