Shutter control system

Claim 2

A shutter control system for controlling the air flow over radiator and condenser elements in an automotive vehicle having an air conditioning system comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers, said louvers being shiftable between opened and closed positions, and being normally biased to an open position; first actuator means for shifting said louvers to a closed position in response to engine temperature; and second actuator means for shifting said louvers toward an open position when said louvers are closed by said first actuator means.

Claim 3

The shutter control assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second actuator means are adapted for operation by a source of fluid pressure and further including: conduit means for connecting said first and said second actuator means to a common source of fluid pressure; first valve means in said conduit means for controlling fluid pressure therein in response to engine temperature; and second valve means associated with said second actuator means and said connecting means for controlling the application of fluid pressure to said second actuator means in response to operation of the air conditioning system.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first valve means is a thermally responsive valve adapted for connection between a source of fluid pressure and said first actuator means, said valve being adapted to close when the vehicle engine has reached a predetermined temperature thereby blocking the flow of fluid pressure therethrough.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second valve means includes a solenoid valve in said connecting means between said first valve means and said second actuator, said solenoid valve being normally closed and operable to apply the source of fluid pressure to said second actuator means in response to operation of the air conditioning compressor.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and said second valve means comprise a thermally responsive valve and a solenoid valve respectively, said thermally responsive valve sensing engine temperature to control the application of fluid pressure to said first and said second actuator means in response to engine temperature changes and said solenoid valve being operative to control the application of fluid pressure to said second actuator in response to operation of the air conditioner compressor.

Claim 7

In an air conditioning system for a vehicle having an air conditioning compressor with electrically operated clutch means and a condenser, engine cooling means including a radiator, and air flow control means for said radiator and said condenser, said air flow means comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers adapted for conjoint movement; control means associated with said louvers for moving same between open and closed positions; first pressure-responsive actuator means connected to said control means for moving said shutters to a closed position; second pressure-responsive actuator means connected to said control means for moving saId shutters toward an open position; fluid pressure control means adapted to connect said first and said second actuator means to a source of fluid pressure, said control means being adapted to apply fluid pressure to said first and said second control means when the vehicle engine is below a predetermined temperature; normally closed solenoid valve means operatively connected between said fluid control means and said second actuator; means electrically connecting the electrically operated clutch means to said solenoid valve for opening said valve means when said clutch is operated to apply said fluid pressure to said second actuator means thereby urging said louvers toward an open position when said clutch is energized.

Claim 8

In an air conditioning system for a vehicle having an air conditioning compressor with electrically operated clutch means and a condenser, engine cooling means including a radiator, and air flow control means for said radiator and said condenser, said air flow means comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers adapted for conjoint movement; control means associated with said louvers for moving same between open and closed positions; first pressure-responsive actuator means connected to said control means for moving said shutters to a closed position; second pressure-responsive actuator means connected to said control means for moving saId shutters toward an open position; fluid pressure control means adapted to connect said first and said second actuator means to a source of fluid pressure, said control means being adapted to apply fluid pressure to said first and said second control means when the vehicle engine is below a predetermined temperature; normally closed solenoid valve means operatively connected between said fluid control means and said second actuator; means electrically connecting the electrically operated clutch means to said solenoid valve for opening said valve means when said clutch is operated to apply said fluid pressure to said second actuator means thereby urging said louvers toward an open position when said clutch is energized.

Claim 9

A shutter system for controlling cooling air flow over radiator and air conditioner condenser elements of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers cooperably shiftable between closed and opened conditions; biasing means operably associated with said shutter assembly to bias said louvers toward the opened condition for cooling air flow over the radiator and condenser elements; first actuating means arranged and operably connected to said shutter assembly to shift said louvers to the closed condition against the bias of said biasing means, to thereby impede cooling air flow over the radiator element; second actuating means arranged and operably connected to said shutter assembly in a manner to oppose said first actuating means and tend to shift said louvers to the opened condition; said second actuating means and said biasing means having a combined force greater than that of said first actuating means to shift said louvers toward the open condition against the force of said first actuating means.

Claim 10

A shutter system for controlling cooling air flow over radiator and air conditioner condenser elements of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers cooperably shiftable between closed and opened conditions; biasing means operably associated with said shutter assembly to bias said louvers toward the opened condition for cooling air flow over the radiator and condenser elements; first actuating means arranged and operably connected to said shutter assembly to shift said louvers to the closed condition against the bias of said biasing means, to thereby impede cooling air flow over the radiator element; second actuating means arranged and operably connected to said shutter assembly in a manner to oppose said first actuating means and tend to shift said louvers to the opened condition; said second actuating means and said biasing means having a combined force greater than that of said first actuating means to shift said louvers toward the open condition against the force of said first actuating means.

Claim 11

The shutter system in claim 7 including means to limit the amount of opening of said louvers under the combined force of said biasing means and said second actuating means to thereby allow condenser cooling without significant radiator cooling.

Claim 12

The shutter system in claim 8 wherein said means to limit louver opening comprises a lost motion connection between said second actuating means and said shutter assembly.

Claim 13

The shutter system in claim 9 wherein said lost motion connection allows said first actuating means to close said shutter assembly without having to overcome said second actuating means.

Claim 14

A shutter system for controlling cooling air flow over radiator and air conditioner condenser elements of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers cooperably shiftable between closed and opened conditions; direct force applicator means arranged to close said louvers; counterforce applicator means arranged to open said louvers; lost motion means between said direct force applicator means and said counterforce applicator means adapted to allow said direct force applicator means to close said louvers without having to overcome said counterforce applicator means, and said lost motion means being adapted to allow limited opening of said louvers by allowing said counterforce applicator means to partially shift before overcoming said direct force applicator means and reopening said louvers.

Claim 15

A shutter system for controlling cooling air flow over radiator and air conditioner condenser elements of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a shutter assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers cooperably shiftable between closed and opened conditions; direct force applicator means arranged to close said louvers; counterforce applicator means arranged to open said louvers; lost motion means between said direct force applicator means and said counterforce applicator means adapted to allow said direct force applicator means to close said louvers without having to overcome said counterforce applicator means, and said lost motion means being adapted to allow limited opening of said louvers by allowing said counterforce applicator means to partially shift before overcoming said direct force applicator means and reopening said louvers.

Claim 16

The system in claim 11 wherein said counterforce applicator means comprises a combination of actuator means and biasing means.

Claim 17

The system in claim 11 including engine sensor control means operably connected with said direct force applicator means for activation thereof; and second control means adapted to be associated with the vehicle air conditioner and operably associated with said counterforce applicator means for activation thereof.