Jalousie for a vehicle

• US 7,992,664 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kunststoff Schwanden AG
• Original Assignee: Kunststoff Schwanden AG
• Inventors: Kiener, Albert, Küsperth, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Hau V
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US12/235,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.4
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

The jalousie for the control of the air flow through the engine cooler of a vehicle has rotatable fins (2), which are supported on one side in an outer housing ring (47) provided for the connection with the engine cooler of the vehicle and on the other side in an inner supporting ring (4). The swivelling of the fins (2) occurs with an adjusting ring (45), whose engaging portions (46) work together with counter-engaging portions (10) provided at the fin ends. The adjusting ring (45) with its engaging portions (46) and the counter-engaging portions (10) of the fins (2) are enclosed together on all sides in a hollow space (49) circumferentially extending around along the adjusting ring (13, 45) for the protection against contaminants and consequently for its safe function, which is limited by two profile rings (47, 50) interlocking with each other all around.

Claims

1. Jalousie for controlling the airflow through an engine cooler of a vehicle, whose fins (2,22) are supported swivel-mounted in an outer housing ring (3,47), which is provided for connection to the engine cooler of the vehicle, on one side and in an inner supporting ring (4) on the other side, whereat the fins (2) have at one of their ends counter-engaging means (10) for engaging means (11,46) for their swivel drive, which are provided in a circumferentially extending adjusting ring (13,45) movable in circumferential direction, and wherein the counter-engaging means (10) and the engaging means (11,46) are enclosed on all sides in a common hollow space (49) circumferentially extending along the adjusting ring (13,45).

2. Jalousie according to claim 1, wherein a larger number of the fins (2) are rotatable between a maximum opened and a fully closed position through a continuous mechanical coupling with a servo drive controlled through a signalling device and a smaller number of the fins (22) are supported freely rotatable in the airflow of the vehicle, independent of such coupling wherein they are rotatable into a closed position under their own excentric weight or an external weight (56).

3. Jalousie according to claim 2, wherein the freely rotatable fins (22) can be swivelled freely depending on the angular position or the adjusted position of the adjusting ring (45), in which a dog (57) is provided on the adjusting ring (45) for each rotatable fin (22) and at least one cam (62, 63) is provided on the freely rotatable fins (22) in such a way that the dog (57) rests against at least one of the cams (62, 63) in one of the opened fins (2) corresponding to the adjusted position of the adjusting ring (45) in such a way that the corresponding fins (22) are locked in the opened position.

4. Jalousie according to claim 2, wherein at least one cam (62, 63) is provided on the freely supported fins (22) that can be swivelled and a follower (58) is provided on the adjusting ring (45) in the area of these fins (22) so that the follower (58) abuts against the cam (63) during an adjusting movement of the fins (2) that are in continuous engagement with the adjusting ring (45).

5. Jalousie according to claim 1, wherein the circumferentially extending hollow space (49) is limited by a channel-shaped cross-section area both of the housing ring (47) as well as of a chamber ring (50).

6. Jalousie according to claim 1, wherein the circumferentially extending hollow space(49) enclosing the counter-engaging means (10) and engaging means (11,46) is connected to a channel (69) circumferentially extending around in parallel to it and opening into an exit area (75, 76) at least in the lowest area of the jalousie through several openings (66,67).

7. Jalousie according to claim 1, wherein the engaging means (11,46) of the adjusting ring (13,45) consist of teeth (70) in series in circular direction, which are in continuous, intermeshing engagement with a toothed engaging area (12) running in the form of an arc of a circle of a steering head (10) forming a counter-engaging means, which is thus provided on the mechanically coupled fins (2).

8. Jalousie according to claim 7, wherein openings (66) are provided in the gaps between the teeth (70) of series of teeth (71,72) of the adjusting ring (45).

9. Jalousie according to claim 8, wherein at least one opening (67) is provided between the rows of teeth (71,72) in a profile wall (73) of the adjusting ring (45).

10. Jalousie according to claim 1, wherein a sealing collar (18, 19;

55) is provided at ends of the fins (2,22) respectively covering its bearing area and butting against the housing ring (3, 47) and the supporting ring (4) with a sealing lip (28).