Compound shutter system

A vehicle comprising:

• 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 first grille opening and a second grille opening, wherein the second grille opening is disposed remotely from the first grille opening and each grille opening is positioned to permit the airstream to pass through on the way to the heat exchanger;
• and
• a compound shutter system for controlling an airstream through the first and second grille openings, the shutter system including:
• a first shutter assembly disposed in the first grille opening and having at least one louver operable to selectively open and close the first shutter assembly;
• a second shutter assembly disposed in the second grille opening and having at least one louver operable to selectively open and close the second shutter assembly;
• a drive element, wherein the drive element operatively connects the first shutter assembly and the second shutter assembly and automatically coordinates operation of the first and second shutter assemblies;
• a mechanism configured to coordinate simultaneous, non-sequential operation of the first shutter assembly and the second shutter assembly, wherein the first shutter assembly is operated between and inclusive of a fully opened and a fully closed position in a predetermined direction, and the second shutter assembly is operated via the drive element between and inclusive of a fully opened and a fully closed position in a direction that is opposite the predetermined direction;
• and
• an electronic controller programmed to regulate the mechanism in response to a temperature of the fluid.