Grille for a Vehicle, in Particular a Commercial Vehicle as Well as a Vehicle

Abstract

A grille for a vehicle is disclosed. The grille is configured to be arranged in front of at least one heat exchanger of the vehicle and includes a plurality of grille bars arranged at a distance from one other. A respective portion of each of the plurality of grille bars is airfoil-shaped.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A grille for a vehicle, wherein the grille is configured to be arranged in front of at least one heat exchanger of the vehicle, comprising: a plurality of grille bars, wherein the plurality of grille bars are disposed at a distance from one other and wherein a respective portion of each of the plurality of grille bars is airfoil-shaped.

10. The grille according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of grille bars is pivotable about a pivot axis such that an angle between a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the at least one of the plurality of grille bars is adjustable.

11. The grille according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of grille bars are disposed on top of each other in relation to a vertical direction of the vehicle.

12. The grille according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of grille bars are pivotable in a graduated manner.

13. The grille according to claim 9, wherein, in a closed position, the plurality of grille bars create a continuous surface with a vehicle hood.

14. A vehicle, comprising: at least one heat exchanger; and a grille with a plurality of grille bars, wherein the plurality of grille bars are disposed at a distance from one other, wherein a respective portion of each of the plurality of grille bars is airfoil-shaped, and wherein the grille is disposed in front of the at least one heat exchanger.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the at least one heat exchanger has a front surface against which air is flowable due to a forward movement of the vehicle and wherein the front surface extends in a plane extending diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of grille bars are configured to guide the air such that a flow of the air is homogenously distributed on the at least one heat exchanger.

17. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of grille bars is pivotable about a pivot axis such that an angle between a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the at least one of the plurality of grille bars is adjustable.

18. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of grille bars are disposed on top of each other in relation to a vertical direction of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of grille bars are pivotable in a graduated manner.

20. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein, in a closed position, the plurality of grille bars create a continuous surface with a vehicle hood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an engine hood and a grille for a commercial vehicle, the grille being arranged in front of a heat exchanger unit of the vehicle and comprising a plurality of grille bars arranged at a distance from one another, wherein at least a portion of the respective grille bars are airfoil-shaped;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the engine hood and the grille;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of one of the grille bars;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the grille bar according to FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the grille bar according to FIGS. 3 and 4;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the engine hood, the grille, and the heat exchanger unit, wherein the engine hood is shown in a transparent manner;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the heat exchanger unit and the grille bars;

[0022] FIG. 8 is part of a schematic perspective view of the commercial vehicle, wherein the grille is closed;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the commercial vehicle, wherein the grille is closed;

[0024] FIG. 10 is part of a schematic side view of the commercial vehicle, wherein the grille is open;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the commercial vehicle, wherein the grille is open; and

[0026] FIG. 12 is part of a schematic perspective view of the commercial vehicle, wherein the grille is open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the figures the same element or elements having the same functions are indicated with the same reference sign.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an engine hood 10 for a vehicle in the form of a commercial vehicle, in particular a truck. The truck can be seen in FIGS. 8 to 12 and is designated by 46. The truck 46 comprises a driver's cab 48 and an engine compartment arranged in front of the driver's cab 48 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The engine compartment is covered by the engine hood 10 at least partially. The truck 46 also comprises an engine arranged in the engine compartment, the engine serving to drive the truck 46. For example, the engine is configured as an internal combustion engine.

[0029] Moreover, FIG. 1 shows a grille 12 of the truck 46, the grille 12 being also referred to as a “radiator grille”. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the grille 12 is arranged in front of a heat exchanger unit 14 of the truck, the heat exchanger unit 14 comprising a plurality of heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20. The heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20 overlap each other and serve to cool a fluid flowing through the heat exchangers 16, 18, 20 respectively. The heat exchangers 16, 18, 20 are also referred to as “primary heat exchangers” and serve to cool, for example, at least one component of a power train and/or at least one electrical component of the truck 46. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the heat exchangers 16, 18, 20 can be part of an air conditioning system configured to supply the interior of the driver's cab 48 with cooled air. The respective fluid flowing through the heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20 respectively can be cooled by a heat transfer from the fluid via the respective heat exchanger 16, 18 and 20 to air flowing against and around the heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20.

[0030] In FIGS. 6 and 7, air flowing against and around the heat exchanger unit 14 is illustrated by directional arrows. This airflow is effected by a forward movement of the truck 46. In other words, air flows around the grille 12 and against and around the primary heat exchangers when the truck 46 moves forward.

[0031] The engine hood 10 and the grille 12 are highly engineered to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics and, thus, to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the truck. Though highly modified, the engine hood's 10 and the grille's 12 exterior retains the same basic layout as a traditional heavy duty truck, and thus the same terms can be used to refer to the engine hood 10, the grille 12 and/or body panels of the truck.

[0032] The primary heat exchangers form a bank of heat exchangers, the bank of heat exchangers being centrally located at the front of the truck 46 underneath the engine hood 10, but not directly attached to the engine hood 10. This location is traditionally where a vehicle's heat exchangers for power train, electrical, and climate control cooling systems are located.

[0033] To balance the cooling requirements necessary for the truck's operation with that of the exterior shape necessary to realize advantageous aerodynamics, the bank of heat exchangers is engineered so that it may be installed at an angle in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In other words, the heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20 each have a front surface 22 against which the air flows due to the forward movement of the truck 46, the respective front surface 22 extending in an imaginary plane extending diagonally to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The active grille may be equally applicable for a vertically mounted heat exchanger or heat exchangers.

[0034] As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the respective heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20, in particular the respective front surfaces 22 ascend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the front towards the rear of the truck. Typically, heat exchangers are installed in such a way that the respective front surface 22 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In other words, usually, heat exchangers are installed in a vertical manner. By arranging the heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20 in such a way that the respective front surface 22 extends angularly in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the truck 46 can be realized.

[0035] As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the grille 12 comprises a plurality of grille bars 24 substantially extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The grille bars 24 are arranged at a distance from one another and on top of each other in relation to the vertical direction of the vehicle. The grille 12 further comprises lateral mounting elements 26 on which the grille bars 24 are mounted. For example, the grille 12 is attached to the engine hood 10 by the mounting elements 26.

[0036] The engine hood 10 is engineered such that, as one assembly, it is responsible for performing multiple functions integral to the truck's operation. The engine hood 10 comprises highly engineered external and interior surfaces that are assembled together in order to form one integrated hood assembly. The engine hood 10 can be formed in one piece. The engine hood 10 is engineered to manage both internal and external airflows around and within the truck's exterior surface to optimize both aerodynamic and cooling system performance. The exterior of the engine hood 10 is engineered with a priority placed on aerodynamic and cooling system airflow optimization. Its external surfaces are engineered to aerodynamically guide external airflow over and around its external surfaces through the use of optimal radii and continuous surfaces where the traditional facets of the hood come together, i.e.: front of hood, to upper hood, to side fender surfaces, to cowl, to rain tray area. The end result is a continuous external surface with little to no surface transitions that may disturb the airflow.

[0037] The engine hood 10 comprises a front surface 28 which is also referred to as a “leading surface” of the engine hood 10. The leading surface of the engine hood 10 guides oncoming airflow both up and over its surface onto an upper surface 30 of the engine hood 10 as well as around and to the sides of its surface onto side surfaces 32 of the engine hood 10. Additionally, the leading surface guides oncoming airflow into airflow inlets 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 of the engine hood 10. In other words, the inlets 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are through openings through which air can flow due to, for example, a forward movement of the truck 46.

[0038] The engine hood 10 is engineered with the air inlet 34 centrally located on the leading surface, the air inlet 34 providing airflow to the primary heat exchangers. This inlet 34 is also referred to as a “primary cooling air inlet” since it allows air flowing against and around the primary heat exchangers. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the grille 12, in particular the grille bars 24 are arranged in the air inlet 34. The primary cooling air inlet (air inlet 34) positively mates with at least one duct not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the duct feeding air to the primary heat exchangers.

[0039] The grille 12 is a multi-bar grille assembly that is engineered to provide optimal airflow distribution to main cooling openings of the primary heat exchangers. The multi-bar grille assembly, i.e., the grille 12, is installed onto the engine hood 10 and functions as an integral part of the primary cooling air inlet.

[0040] As can be seen from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the respective grille bar 24 is airfoil-shaped in order to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the truck. The grille bars 24 are designed to close off and make continuous the hood 10 surface (or A-surface) to minimize any geometry interference to the flow as the flow is directed around the grille 12 away from the stagnation region. Minimal geometry interference on high speed flow is crucial in achieving low drag. The gaps between the grille bars 24 are optimized to allow sufficient cooling air flow at highway speeds or when cruise control is activated, with the lowest grille bar 24 always kept open. In high horsepower conditions the grille bars will rotate to the open position to maximize airflow through the heat exchangers to provide maximum cooling performance and minimum fan ON events where the grille bars 24 are shaped like an airfoil with varying orientation from top to bottom as shown in FIG. 7. The grille bars' orientation increases by 10° from vertical, per each grille bar 24 and in a graduated manner, from top to bottom. The grille bars' airfoil shape and orientation achieve minimal pressure drop across the grille 12 improving cooling air flow and homogenous distribution of flow on the heat exchangers 16, 18 and 20. In other words, the grille bars 24 are airfoil-shaped in order to provide an efficient turning vane that guides the oncoming air from its oncoming velocity to one that is, preferably, at least substantially perpendicular to the main cooling openings and, thus, the front surfaces 22 with little to no pressure drop. In other words, the oncoming air is guided by the grill bars 24 in such a way that the air flows at least substantially perpendicularly to the respective imaginary plane in which the respective front surface 22 is arranged.

[0041] Additionally, the grille 12 can be engineered such that the grille bars 24 are moveable in both height and angle in order to optimize the relationship between cooling and aerodynamics of the truck, either independently or dependently, in either a passive or active manner, controlled either manually or automatically.

[0042] This means the grille bars 24 are pivotable about a pivot axis in relation to the mounting elements 26 in such a way that an angle between the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the grille bars 24 can be adjusted. The grille bars 24 can be adjusted, for example, manually. Alternatively, at least one actuator, in particular an electrical or electro-pneumatic actuator can be provided by means of which the grille bars 24 can be pivoted. For example, the grille bars 24 can be pivoted independently or dependently.

[0043] Moreover, the grille bars 24 can be translationally moveable in relation to each other in such a way that the distance between the grille bars 24 can be adjusted with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0044] The airflow's path to and through the heat exchanger 16, 18 and 20 is as follows: the air flows over a bumper 44 (FIG. 1) and onto the engine hood 10, where it is guided towards the primary cooling inlet (air inlet 34). As the air encounters the grille bars 24 and the grille assembly, the direction of the airflow changes as it flows over the airfoil-shaped grille bars 24. After flowing over the grille bars 24, the air continues to flow a short distance through the duct positively mating with the primary cooling air inlet. The airflow then encounters the bank of heat exchangers (heat exchanger unit 14), which it flows through to enable the heat exchange that allows the truck systems to be cooled. After exiting the bank of heat exchangers, the air flows through a fan shroud, past a fan of the truck 46 and out into the underhood area.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows the truck 46 in a schematic perspective view, wherein the grille 12, i.e., the grill bars 24, are closed. FIG. 9 shows the truck 46 in a schematic front view, wherein the grille 12 is closed. FIGS. 10 to 12 show the truck 46 with the grille 12 being open so that air can flow through the air inlet 32.