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US 9,586,625 B2Granted
Vehicle engine compartment louver carrier with integrated ducting
AssigneeMagna International Inc.
InventorsMichael W. Crane, Thomas Pilette, Norman Guschewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier for an automobile with integrated active ducting, and a method of making a louver therefor. The carrier includes at least one aperture, and at least one louver rotatably mounted in the aperture. Also attached to the carrier is an actuator, and the actuator is connected to the louver. The actuator is operable for moving the louver between an open position and a closed position such that when the louver is in the open position, air flow passes through the aperture.
Claims42
A component for a vehicle having integrated active ducting, comprising:
- at least one aperture;
- at least one louver rotatably mounted in said at least one aperture, wherein said at least one louver has a body portion formed of thermoplastic material, a support spine formed of metal and integrally formed within said body portion, said support spine operable for increasing the rigidity of said body portion;
- a first seal connected to said body portion;
- and
- a second seal connected to said body portion said first seal and said second seal operable for providing a sealing function when said at least one louver is in said closed position;
- a first lip formed as part of said body portion, the first lip extends behind and supports the first seal;
- a second lip formed as part of said body portion on an opposite side of each of said at least one louver in relation to the first lip, the second lip extends behind and supports the second seal;
- and
- an actuator connected to said at least one louver, operable for moving said at least one louver between an open position and a closed position such that when said at least one louver is in said open position, air flow passes through said at least one aperture, and when said at least one louver is in said closed position, air flow is substantially prevented from moving through said at least one aperture.
6 more elements
A carrier having integrated ducting, comprising:
- a plurality of upper apertures formed as part of said carrier;
- a plurality of lower apertures formed as part of said carrier;
- a plurality of louvers, a portion of said plurality of louvers mounted in each of said plurality of upper apertures, and a portion of said plurality of louvers mounted in each of said plurality of lower apertures, said plurality of louvers operable for movement between an open position and a closed position wherein said plurality of louvers each have a body portion formed of thermoplastic material, a support spine formed of metal and integrally formed within said body portion, said support spine operable for increasing the rigidity of the body portion;
- a first seal and a second seal on each body portion of the plurality of louvers;
- a first lip formed by the body portion of each of said plurality of louvers, wherein the first seal is connected to the first lip so that the first lip extends behind a portion of the first seal and supports the first seal and a second lip formed by the body portion of each of the plurality of louvers on an opposite side of each of said plurality of louvers in relation to the first lip, wherein the second seal is connected the second lip so that the second lip extends behind a portion of the second seal and supports the second seal;
- an upper vertical mount dividing said plurality of upper apertures;
- a lower vertical mount dividing said plurality of lower apertures;
- a plurality of connecting portions, one of said plurality of connecting portions operable for connection with a first end of one of said plurality of louvers, one or more of said plurality of connecting portions operable for connection with said upper vertical mount, and one or more of said plurality of connecting portions operable for connection with said lower vertical mount;
- a link mechanism connected to each of said plurality of louvers;
- an actuator connected to said link mechanism operable for moving said link mechanism such that said plurality of louvers are moved between said open position and said closed position;
- and
- a slip coat connected to each of said plurality of louvers, said slip coat operable for reducing friction between one of said plurality of louvers and another of said plurality of louvers, preventing binding between each of said plurality of louvers.
9 more elements
A method for making a louver used for an integrated active ducting system, comprising the steps of:
- providing a body portion formed of thermoplastic material;
- providing a support spine formed of metal and integrally formed within the body portion;
- providing first seal connected to said body portion;
- providing a second seal connected to said body portion;
- providing a slip coat, a portion of said slip coat connected to said first seal, and a portion of said slip coat connected to said second seal;
- providing a first lip formed as part of said body portion, said first seal connected to said first lip such that the first lip extends behind and supports the first seal;
- providing a second lip formed as part of said body portion, said second seal connected to said second lip on an opposite side of the louver in relation to the first lip such that the second lip extends behind and supports the second seal;
- and
- coextruding said body portion, the support spine, said first seal, said second seal, and said slip coat simultaneously such that said body portion, the support spine, said first seal, said second seal, and said slip coat are connected together to form a single louver.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.