Grille shutter actuator

摘要

An actuator for opening and closing grille shutters includes a drive unit, a wheel driven by the drive unit, and a pair of shafts attached to the wheel and configured for driving the grille shutters to open or close. At least one of the shafts is pivotally coupled to the wheel so that an angle formed between the shafts and the wheel is adjustable.

主权项

1. An actuator for an engine cooling module, comprising:
a drive unit; a wheel driven by the drive unit and having a first connecting part and a second connecting part on opposite sides of the wheel; a first actuation shaft coupled to the first connecting part of the wheel by a first pivotable coupling and configured to rotate in response to the drive unit driving the wheel; and a second actuation shaft coupled to the second connecting part of the wheel and configured to rotate in response to the drive unit driving the wheel; and further comprising a housing enclosing the drive unit and the wheel, wherein the housing includes a first end wall having an opening, a second end wall having an opening, and a side wall connecting the first and second end walls; the first and second actuation shafts extend out of the housing via the openings in the first and second end walls, respectively; and an annular flange integrally extending from a periphery of each of the openings, each annular flange having an axis coaxial with an axis of a respective one of the first and second actuation shafts, whereby maintaining predetermined orientation of the axes of the first and second actuation shafts with respect to a rotational axis of the wheel.