Drive system for multiple movable systems

• US 8,544,581 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stokes, Peter John, Fenchak, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US13/079,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.3, 180/68.6, 180/69.24, 454/155, 454/307, 454/308, 454/309, 454/310, 454/311, 454/312, 454/313, 454/314, 454/315, 454/316, 454/317, 454/318, 454/319, 454/320, 454/321, 454/325, 454/326, 454/327, 454/330, 454/331, 454/332, 454/154, 49/891, 493/58, 49/741, 49/821, 49/861, 251/212
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/48 combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/486 with air passages, e.g. for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A system may include first and second louvers and a drive system. The first louver may be movable between first and second positions. The second louver may also be movable between first and second positions. At least one of the first and second louvers may be positioned proximate an opening in a vehicle, such as a grille, to control airflow therethrough. The drive system may drive at least one of the first and second louvers between the first and second positions. The drive system may include a first member connected to the at least one of the first and second louvers, and a rotatable member having a first arcuate guide. The first arcuate guide may slidably engage the first member. The rotatable member may rotate to cause movement of the at least one of the first and second louvers.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a first shutter assembly adapted to be mounted proximate a first opening in the vehicle and having a first louver movable between a first position allowing airflow through the first opening in the vehicle and a second position restricting airflow through the first opening;

a second shutter assembly adapted to be mounted to the vehicle proximate a second opening in the vehicle and having a second louver movable between a first position allowing airflow through the second opening and a second position restricting airflow through the second opening; and

a drive mechanism driving said first and second louvers between said first and second positions, said drive mechanism including;

a rotatable member including first and second arcuate grooves extending at least partially around a rotational center of said rotatable member;

a motor drivingly engaging said rotatable member;

a first connecting member having a first portion slidably engaging said first arcuate groove and a second portion connected to said first louver, said first connecting member moving said first louver between said first and second positions in response to relative movement between said first arcuate groove and said first portion of said first connecting member; and

a second connecting member having a first portion engaging said second arcuate groove and a second portion connected to said second louver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first shutter assembly includes a second louver, said first connecting member being drivingly coupled to said second louver to move said second louver between said first and second positions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of said first arcuate groove includes a non-constant radius.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least another portion of said first arcuate groove includes a constant radius.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein rotation of said rotatable member between a first angular position and a second angular position causes movement of one of said first and second connecting members relative to the other of said first and second connecting members.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein rotation of said rotatable member between a first angular position and a second angular position causes concurrent movement of said first and second connecting members.

7. A system comprising:

a first louver movable between first and second positions;

a second louver movable between first and second positions; and

a drive system driving said first and second louvers between said first and second positions, said drive system including first and second members connected to said first and second louvers, respectively, and a rotatable member having a first arcuate guide slidably engaging the first member and a second arcuate guide slidably engaging the second member and rotating to cause movement of said first and second louvers,

wherein said first louver is adapted to be mounted proximate a first opening in a vehicle and allows airflow through the first opening in said first position and restricts airflow through the first opening in said second position, and wherein said second louver is adapted to be mounted proximate a second opening in the vehicle and allows airflow through the second opening in said first position and restricts airflow through the second opening in said second position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first and second arcuate guides are generally aligned with each other.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first and second arcuate guides are at least partially misaligned with each other.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said first arcuate guide includes a constant radius and at least a portion of said second arcuate guide that is angularly aligned with said portion of said first arcuate guide includes a non-constant radius.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said first arcuate guide includes a first end and a second end, said first end being disposed at a first distance from an axis of rotation of said rotatable member, said second end being disposed at a second distance from said axis of rotation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein rotational movement of said rotatable member causes corresponding linear movement of said first member.

13. A system comprising:

a first louver movable between first and second positions;

a second louver movable between first and second positions; and

a drive mechanism driving said first and second louvers between said first and second positions and including a motor, a shaft driven by said motor, a drive member coupled to said shaft, and first and second links connecting said drive member with said first and second louvers, respectively, said drive member being rotatable about an axis extending through said shaft and including a first arcuate slot slidably engaging said first link and a second arcuate slot slidably engaging said second link such that said first and second links move linearly in response to rotation of said drive member.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the drive member includes a first side in which said first arcuate slot is disposed and a second side in which said second arcuate slot is disposed, said first and second arcuate slots extending around said axis and each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said first and second arcuate slots both being a first radial distance from said axis and said second ends of said first and second arcuate slots both being a second radial distance from said axis.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second links simultaneously engage said first and second arcuate slots at said first ends when said drive member is at a first predetermined rotational position relative to said first and second links, said first predetermined rotational position corresponding to said first positions of said first and second louvers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first and second links simultaneously engage said first and second arcuate slots at said second ends when said drive member is at a second predetermined rotational position relative to said first and second links, said second predetermined rotational position corresponding to said second positions of said first and second louvers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first arcuate slot includes a first intermediate location disposed at a third radial distance from said axis, and said second arcuate slot includes a second intermediate location disposed at a fourth radial distance from said axis, said third radial distance is less than said first radial distance and greater than said second radial distance, said fourth radial distance is less than said third radial distance and greater than said second radial distance, and wherein said first and second links simultaneously engage said first and second arcuate slots at said first and second intermediate locations, respectively, when said drive member is at a third predetermined rotational position relative to said first and second links.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said third predetermined rotational position corresponds to a third position of said first louver and a fourth position of said second louver.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second arcuate slots extend only partially through a thickness of said drive member such that said first arcuate slot extends only through said first side of said drive member and said second arcuate slot extends only through said second side of said drive member.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said first and second arcuate slots each include variable-radius portions and constant-radius portions, wherein at a predetermined rotational position of said drive member, said first link engages said variable-radius portion of said first arcuate slot and said second link engages said constant-radius portion of said second arcuate slot.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein rotation of said drive member causes no corresponding movement of said first louver while said first link slidably engages said constant-radius portion, and wherein rotation of said drive member causes corresponding movement of said second louver while said second link slidably engages said variable-radius portion.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said first louver is adapted to restrict airflow through a first opening in a vehicle in the first position and allow airflow through the first opening in the second position.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said second louver is adapted to restrict airflow through a second opening in a vehicle in the first position and allow airflow through the second opening in the second position.