Magna Exteriors Gmbh

Braendon Robert Lindberg

Martin Robert Matthews

Ross J Parpart

Anthony John Povinelli

Daniel Vander Sluis

Jeffrey B Manhire

Yao Wang

Michael McAfee

Michael James Cowan

Larry R Erickson

Bernd Knauer

Stefan Kleinfeld

Thomas E Cobb

Michael Zorn

Ted E Peterson

Jeffrey E May

Rosen Rusev

Sohan Shintre

A method of in tool formation and assembly of an active grille shutter system, followed by an automated testing process. The method includes providing a tool having a plurality of sliders that assist in the formation and assembly of the active grille shutter system. The components of the active grille shutter system are individually formed in a single tool, with each of the components being spaced apart from each other. After formation of the components a number of sliders and an end of arm tool push the components together to form the assembled active grille shutter system. The end of arm tool then takes the assembled active grille shutter system to a testing station where the operation is checked.

Active grille shutter in-tool assembly

A kinematic linkage assembly for an active grille shutter system having a frame connectable to a vehicle and forming an aperture. A kinematic linkage assembly with a plurality of vanes each moveable between an open position, an intermediate position, and a closed position. The rotation force from an actuator is transmitted across the first vane of the plurality of vanes to the first link at the first connection.

Linkage for improved diagnostics for kinematic assembly

An active aero panel assembly including at least one deployable panel, at least one drive mechanism, and at least one actuator. The active aero panel assembly improves aerodynamics.

Active aero panel

A manufacturing process for an active grille shutter arrangement including in-mold assembly of an active aero hinge modular frame that allows for the joining of multiple components that are to be assembled directly out of the molding process tooling. These components could be the vane end pivots, vane end stops, drive linkages, frame end stops, etc. Final assembly of the system is facilitated by geometrical considerations and molding material considerations in the in-mold assembly (IMA) design.

Active aero system in-mold assembly hinge modular frame

An active aerodynamic assembly that includes a lift gate having a cavity formed between two panels. An aperture of formed on the outer panel providing access to the cavity. A frame connected to the lift gate within the cavity. A spoiler slidably connected to the frame and moveable along the deployment axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. At least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and the frame that is driven by the actuator along one of the plurality of tracks on the frame. There is also a moveable D pillar contained with the cavity that moves between a stowed position within the cavity and an extended position such that a winglet of the moveable D pillar extends outside of the cavity past the outside surface of the lift gate.

Active D pillar integrated into a lift gate spoiler

An active liftgate spoiler used on a liftgate of a vehicle. The liftgate has an upper surface and is typically a rear liftgate or hatch on the rear side of the vehicle. A housing is connected to the upper surface of the liftgate. There is a moveable panel connected to the housing using a connection. The connection is formed by a four bar linkage that forms a portion of the connection between the moveable panel and the housing. An actuator, which in one embodiment is a single rotary actuator is connected to the four bar linkage and causes the movement of the moveable panel.

Active aerodynamics liftgate spoiler design with multi 4 bar kinematic linkages

An active front wheel deflector assembly () including a deflector panel () moveable between a stowed position and at least one deployed position wherein the deployment of the deflector panel () moves the deflector panel () into an airflow to direct air and improves aerodynamics. The active front wheel deflector assembly () combines linear actuation with rotational motion.

Active front wheel deflector assembly

A non-backdrivable clutched module for a bi-directional actuator such as actuators used for active aerodynamics on vehicles. The module has both a stopper mode and a clutch mode. During the stopper mode a back-driving force gets diverted away from the actuator using a locking bearing member. If the force is too great a clutch mode will disengage the back-driving force completely from the shaft connected to the actuator, thereby preventing damage to the actuator.

Active aerodynamics non-backdriveable clutch device

An active front deflector assembly for a vehicle capable of moving between an extended position and a retracted position or any position there between. The active front deflector assembly has a cross member for attaching to an underbody of a vehicle. The frame member also includes a plurality of slip joint connections for connecting to the underbody of the vehicle. The cross member is a fixed link of an actuator link assembly that has an actuator, drive link, floating link and a blade.

Active front deflector-flat panel

An active liftgate spoiler () used on a liftgate () of a vehicle (). The liftgate has an upper surface () and is typically a rear liftgate or hatch on the rear side of the vehicle. A housing () is connected to the upper surface of the liftgate. There is a moveable panel () connected to the housing using a connection. The connection is formed by a four bar linkage (') that forms a portion of the connection between the moveable panel and the housing. An actuator (), which in one embodiment is a single rotary actuator is connected to the four bar linkage and causes the movement of the moveable panel.

An active aerodynamic application torque link system including a four bar linkage having a fixed link, driven link, follower link and coupler. The fixed link has a follower link aperture and a driven link aperture. The follower link has a first end rotatably connected to the follower link aperture of the fixed link and a second end of the follower link is connected to the coupler. The driven link is rotatably connected at a first end to the coupler and coupled at a second end to a torque transfer tube that has a cross sectional shape of a four sided polygon with four radial facets. The four sided torque transfer tube is rotatably connected to the driven link aperture of the fixed link. The four bar linkage is used in a number of different applications by connecting the coupler with different components.

Active aerodynamic application torque driven links

An active grille shutter arrangement having an assembled modular frame with a plurality of primary frame pieces formed by extrusion. Each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces has a first end, a second end and at least one key slot extending between the first end and the second end. Each of the plurality of frame pieces also includes a hollow bore extending through the each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces forming an aperture at the first end and an aperture at the second end. When the modular frame is assembled there is an upper frame portion and lower frame portion, both formed from one of the plurality of primary frame pieces. The arrangement also includes a number of alternate frame and vane pieces that allow several different active grille shapes and configurations to be formed.

Active grille, scalable design

The present invention is directed to a 4-bar kinematic link component and method for forming the 4-bar kinematic link using a single rotary molding tool. The invention eliminates the need to form individual components of the bracket from several different tools, which will then requires additional assembly steps. The 4-bar kinematic link is formed from two different materials each having a different in mold shrinkage value. This allows for hinge pins to be formed through a base component in a way that will prevent sticking of the components together thereby allowing the parts to have it relative to one another using the hinge pin. The final component is a 4-bar kinematic link that can be used as a 4 bar link mechanism for providing motion.

In mold assembly of two hinges

An active wheel air deflector arrangement for attachment to a motor vehicle, which comprises at least one actuator, wheel air deflectors for the front wheels of the motor vehicle, and swivelable holders for the wheel air deflectors, wherein the wheel air deflectors are reversibly mounted on the holder.

Growing community of inventors

Metamora, MI, United States of America

Braendon Robert Lindberg