# US 8,739,744 B2 · Compound shutter system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,744 B2 - Document ID: US8739744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/878,343 - Filed: 2010-09-09 - Published: 2012-03-15 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-09 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Scott P. Charnesky; Kyle C. Smith; Jeffrey L. Konchan - Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky; Kyle C. Smith; Jeffrey L. Konchan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739744B2 ## CPC - B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds} - B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor - F01P 7/12: by thermostatic control - E06B 7/08: Louvre doors, windows or grilles {(shutters E06B9/04; louvre awnings E04F10/08 - E04F10/10)} - F01P 7/10: by throttling amount of air flowing through liquid-to-air heat exchangers - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A compound shutter system includes a first shutter assembly having at least one louver operable to selectively open and close the first shutter assembly. The compound shutter system also includes a second shutter assembly disposed remotely from the first shutter assembly. The second shutter assembly includes at least one louver operable to selectively open and close the second shutter assembly. The compound shutter system additionally includes a drive element. 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 vehicle employing the compound shutter system is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compound shutter system comprising: a first shutter assembly having at least one louver operable to selectively open and close the first shutter assembly; a second shutter assembly disposed remotely from the first shutter assembly, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shutter system of claim 1, wherein the drive element is a push-pull cable which operates the second shutter assembly automatically when the first shutter assembly is operated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shutter system of claim 1, wherein the drive element is a torque-type cable which operates the second shutter assembly automatically when the first shutter assembly is operated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shutter system of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the mechanism to control an airstream in a vehicle through a first grille opening and through a second grille opening that is disposed remotely from the first grille opening, such that the first shutter assembly is disposed in the first grille opening and the second shutter assembly is disposed in the second grille opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The shutter system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, and the controller is configured to regulate the mechanism according to a load on the engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The shutter system of claim 5, wherein the engine is cooled by a fluid circulated through a heat exchanger, and the vehicle includes a sensor adapted to sense a temperature of the fluid and configured to communicate the temperature to the controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The shutter system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the mechanism to cool the fluid circulated through the heat exchanger according to the sensed temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the drive element is a push-pull cable, and the push-pull cable operates the second shutter assembly automatically when the first shutter assembly is operated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the drive element is a torque-type cable, and the torque-type cable operates the second shutter assembly automatically when the first shutter assembly is operated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the mechanism according to a load on the engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle includes a sensor adapted to sense the temperature of the fluid and configured to communicate the temperature to the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the mechanism to cool the fluid circulated through the heat exchanger according to the sensed temperature of the fluid.