FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(See section 10; rule 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION A GRILLE SHUTTER ASSEMBLY

APPLICANT
1) TATA MOTORS LIMITED
An Indian company having its registered office at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India And
2) TATA MOTORS EUROPEAN TECHNICAL CENTRE PLC,
18 Grosvenor Place, London, SW1X 7HS,
London, United Kingdom,
Nationality United Kingdom

INVENTORS Dr. Salvio CHACKO
of Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc, Commercial Department, International Automotive Research Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry,
CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a grille shutter assembly and particularly, but not exclusively, to a grille shutter assembly for a front end assembly of a vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to a grille shutter assembly, a front end of a vehicle, a vehicle, and a method of directing air through a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is an ongoing need to improve air flow control at a front end of a vehicle. The front end of vehicles typically includes a heat exchanger arrangement, also known as a cool pack. The heat exchanger arrangement includes a combination of heat exchangers such as an engine cooling system heat exchanger (radiator), a condenser for a HVAC system, a transmission oil cooler, a charge air cooler. The configuration and combination of the heat exchanger arrangement depends on the vehicle requirement.
Air ducts are defined in the front end of vehicles to provide an air flow supply to the heat exchanger arrangement. However, the position and configuration of the heat exchanger arrangement is generally dictated by other requirements at the front end of the vehicle, such as structural frame requirements. As such, the air flow to the cooling assembly is not optimal, and so the efficiency of the heat exchanger arrangement is restricted.
At least in certain embodiments, the present invention seeks to overcome or ameliorate at least some of the shortcomings associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a grille shutter assembly, a cooling assembly, a front end of a vehicle, a vehicle, and a method of directing air through a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end as claimed in the appended claims.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end comprising an air flow path through the grille shutter assembly; a first grille
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shutter configured to act on air flow through a first region of the air flow path; a second grille shutter configured to act on air flow through a second region of the air flow path; the first and second grille shutters being rotatable between closed and open conditions; wherein the first grille shutter is configured to direct air flow along the flow path in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter in the open condition.
In this manner, when in the open condition, the first grille shutter is configured to direct air flow along a first direction or vector and the second grille shutter is configured to direct air flow along a second, different direction or vector. The first and second directions or vectors may be resolved into their respective directional components. A component of the first direction or vector may be arranged in an opposing direction to a component of the second direction or vector.
By enabling an airflow in opposing angular directions it is possible to optimize the air flow to the cooling assembly. As such, the efficiency of the cooling assembly may be maximised.
The first grille shutter and the second grille shutter may be configured to direct air flow along convergent paths. In this manner air flow through the first region of the of the air flow path is directed towards air flow through the second region of the of the air flow path.
The first grille shutter and the second grille shutter may be configured to direct air flow along divergent paths. In this manner air flow through the first region of the of the air flow path is directed away from air flow through the second region of the of the air flow path.
The first grille shutter may be configured to rotate in an opposing direction to the second grille shutter when moved from the closed condition into the open condition. That is, the first grille shutter may be configured to rotate in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the second grille shutter when moved from the closed condition into the open condition.
The angular rotation of the first grille shutter and/or the second grille shutter between the closed condition and the open condition may be less than 90 degrees.
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The angular rotation of the first grille shutter between the closed condition and the open condition may be less than 90 degrees, and the angular rotation of the second grille shutter between the closed condition and the open condition may be greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.
The open condition of each of the grille shutters may be one of two or more open conditions.
The first grille shutter and second grille shutter may be configured to be independently operable.
The first grille shutter may be configured to be operable in the closed condition when the second grille shutter is in the open condition.
The first grille shutter and second grille shutter may be configured to be dependently operable.
The first grille shutter may comprise at least one first shutter vane and the second grille may comprise at least one second shutter vane.
One or each of the grille shutters may have a fully open condition in which the or each shutter vane extends substantially parallel to the air flow entering the grille shutter assembly.
Each shutter vane may be rotatable about a pivot axis.
The or each first shutter vane and the or each second shutter vane may be configured to pivot about parallel axes.
Each of the shutter vanes may extend substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the grille shutter assembly in the closed condition.
The first grille shutter may be configured to rotate in the same direction as the second grille shutter when moved from the closed condition into the open condition. 4

The second shutter vane may be one of at least two second shutter vanes.
The first grille shutter may be spaced from the second grille shutter.
The first region of the flow path may be defined by a first duct, and the second region of the flow path may be defined by a second duct.
The first and second ducts may be spaced from each other.
The grille shutter assembly may comprise an actuator module configured to rotate the first and second grille shutters.
The actuator module may comprise a first actuator configured to rotate the first grille shutters and a second actuator configured to rotate the second grille shutters.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cooling assembly for a vehicle comprising the grille shutter assembly as described above and a heat exchanger arrangement, in which the first grille shutter and the second grille shutter are configured to direct air to the heat exchanger arrangement in the open condition.
The first grille shutter may be configured to direct air flow to a first part of the heat exchanger arrangement, and the second grille shutter may be configured to direct air flow to a second part of the heat exchanger arrangement.
The first part of the heat exchanger arrangement may be a first heat exchanger and the second part of the heat exchanger arrangement may be a second heat exchanger.
The first and second heat exchangers may comprise different ones selected from the group comprising an engine cooling system heat exchanger (radiator), a transmission fluid heat exchanger, a charge air cooler, and a HVAC condenser. The first shutter vane may be one of at least two first shutter vanes.
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The heat exchanger arrangement may comprise a heat exchanger and the first part and second part of the heat exchanger arrangement are parts of the same heat exchanger.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a front end of a vehicle comprising the grille shutter assembly as described above and/or the cooling assembly as described above.
The front end may comprise a front side, wherein the first grille shutter may be disposed above the second grille shutter on the front side.
The front end may comprise a structural cross-member, wherein the first grille shutter may be spaced from the second grille shutter by the structural cross-member.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a front end as described above.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of directing air through a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end, comprising providing an air flow path through the grille shutter assembly; providing a first grille shutter configured to act on air flow through a first region of the air flow path; providing a second grille shutter configured to act on air flow through a second region of the air flow path; rotating the first and second grille shutters between closed and open conditions; wherein the first grille shutter directs air flow along the flow path in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter in the open condition.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and/or stored on a machine readable medium, comprising program code instructions for implementing a method as described above.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium comprising the above computer program product.
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According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end comprising an air flow path through the grille shutter assembly; a first grille shutter configured to act on air flow through a first region of the air flow path; a second grille shutter configured to act on air flow through a second region of the air flow path; the first and second grille shutters being rotatable between closed and open conditions; wherein the first grille shutter is configured to rotate in an opposing direction to the second grille shutter when moved from the closed condition into the open condition.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end comprising an air flow path through the grille shutter assembly; a first grille shutter configured to act on air flow, a second grille shutter configured to act on air flow; wherein the first grille shutter is configured to direct air flow along the flow path in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter in the open condition.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation view of a front end of the vehicle of Figure 1;
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Figure 3A is a schematic front elevation view of part of a cooling assembly of the front end of the vehicle of Figure 2 according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3B is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the part of the cooling assembly of Figure 3A showing a heat exchange assembly and a grille shutter assembly, with the grille shutter assembly in a closed condition;
Figure 3C is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the part of the cooling assembly of Figure 3A showing a heat exchange assembly and a grille shutter assembly, with the grille shutter assembly in an open condition;
Figure 4A is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the grille shutter assembly showing a single vane representing a first grille shutter and a single vane representing a second grille shutter, with the first and second grille shutters in a closed condition;
Figure 4B is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the grille shutter assembly of Figure 4A, with the first and second grille shutters in an open condition;
Figure 5A is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the grille shutter assembly showing a single vane representing a first grille shutter and a single vane representing a second grille shutter, with the first and second grille shutters in a closed condition;
Figure 5B is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the grille shutter assembly of Figure 5A, with the first and second grille shutters in a first open condition;
Figure 5C is a schematic cross-sectional, side elevation view of the grille shutter assembly of
Figure 5A, with the first and second grille shutters in a second open condition; and
Figure 6 is a schematic view of part of a vehicle including a cooling assembly of Figures 1 to
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A vehicle 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The vehicle 10 shown is a truck. The truck is a commercial vehicle which is configured to carry goods, although the type of vehicle is not limited thereto. Alternative vehicles include coaches, vans, buses and automobiles.
The vehicle 10 comprises a vehicle front end 20. The vehicle front end 20 has a front end assembly 21. The front end assembly 21 includes a front panel assembly and a front bumper assembly. The front end assembly 21 has a front side 22. The front side 22 defines a front
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face of the vehicle. The term 'front side' in the present description refers to the side of the vehicle which faces the direction of travel of the vehicle during normal operation.
The front bumper assembly is disposed at a lower portion of the vehicle front end 20. The front panel assembly is disposed above the front bumper assembly. A windscreen 23 is disposed at an upper portion of the vehicle front end 20.
The front end assembly 21 comprises a frame. The frame is a structural configuration of the front end assembly 21. The frame comprises structural components, including a crossmember 24. The cross member 24 extends in a width-ways direction of the front end assembly 21 and substantially parallel with a lateral axis of the vehicle 10.
The front end assembly 21 comprises a cooling assembly 30. The cooling assembly 30 includes a heat exchanger arrangement 40 and a grille shutter assembly 50. The heat exchanger arrangement is also known as a 'cool pack'. The grille shutter assembly 50 is disposed between the front side 22 and the heat exchanger arrangement 40. The grille shutter assembly 50 directs air flow to the heat exchanger arrangement 40. The grille shutter assembly 50 is movable between a closed condition, in which air flow through the grille shutter assembly 50 to the heat exchanger arrangement 40 is restricted, and an open condition in which air flow is directed to flow through the grille shutter assembly 50 to the heat exchanger arrangement 40.
Referring to Figures 3B and 3C, the heat exchanger arrangement 40 comprises a first heat exchanger 41 and a second heat exchanger 42. The first heat exchanger 41 acts as a first part of the heat exchanger arrangement 40. The second heat exchanger 42 acts as a second part of the heat exchanger arrangement 40. In the present embodiment the first heat exchanger 41 is an upper heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger 42 is a lower heat exchanger. The terms 'upper' and 'lower' are intended to represent relative distances from a surface on which the vehicle stands in normal use. In the present embodiment the first, upper, heat exchanger 41 is disposed above the second, lower, heat exchanger 42. However, in embodiments the first heat exchanger is below the second heat exchanger, or the first and second heat exchangers 41, 42 may be adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction.
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In the present embodiment, the first heat exchanger 41 is an engine cooling system heat exchanger (radiator). The second heat exchanger 42 is a HVAC condenser. However, it will be understood that each of the first and second heat exchangers 41, 42 may be a different heat exchanger, for example the first and second heat exchangers 41, 42 may include different ones selected from the group comprising an engine cooling system heat exchanger (radiator), a transmission fluid heat exchanger, a charge air cooler, and a HVAC condenser. The number of heat exchangers may differ.
Although in the embodiments described herein the heat exchanger arrangement comprises the first heat exchanger 41 acting as a first part of the heat exchanger arrangement 40, and the second heat exchanger 42 acting as a second part of the heat exchanger arrangement 40, in alternative embodiments the first and second parts of the heat exchanger define parts of the same heat exchanger. Such a heat exchanger is, for example, one selected from the group comprising an engine cooling system heat exchanger (radiator), a transmission fluid heat exchanger, a charge air cooler, and a HVAC condenser.
The grille shutter assembly 50 has an air flow path 51. The air flow path 51 defines a flow path along which air is able to pass between the front side 22 and the heat exchanger arrangement 40. The air flow path 51 has a first region 52 and a second region 53. The first region 52 is defined by a first duct, and the second region 53 is defined by a second duct. In the present embodiment the first region 52 is an upper region and the second region 53 is a lower region of the air flow path 51. However, the configuration of the regions of the air flow path 51 may differ. In embodiments, the first and second regions 52, 53 of the air flow path 51 may form different regions of the same duct.
The first and second ducts are elongate and extend in a width-ways direction along the front end assembly 21, i.e. in a direction substantially parallel with a lateral axis of the vehicle 10. The upper and lower ducts are defined within the front end assembly 21. The first, upper, duct is spaced from the second, lower, duct. The first duct is defined by an opening in the front end assembly 21. The second duct is defined by an opening in the front end assembly 21. The openings extend through the front end assembly 21. The first and second ducts are spaced apart by the cross-member 24.
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The grill shutter assembly 50 comprises a first grille shutter 54 and a second grille shutter 55. The first grille shutter 54 is disposed in the first region 52 of the air flow path 51. The second grille shutter 55 is disposed in the second region 53 of the air flow path 51. The first grille shutter 54 is configured to affect air flowing to the first region 52, and the second grille shutter 55 is configured to affect air flowing to the second region 53.
A schematic view of part of the front end 20 of the vehicle 10 is shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C. A front face of the cooling assembly 30 is shown in Figure 3A with the first and second regions 52, 53 of the air flow path 51 defined therein. The first grille shutter 54 is in the first region 52 and the second grille shutter 55 is in the second region 53. In the present embodiment the first grille shutter 54 is an upper grille shutter and the second grille shutter 55 is a lower grille shutter. However, the configuration of the grille shutters may differ.
The first and second grille shutters 54, 55 are movable between an open condition and a closed condition. That is, the grille shutter is configured to restrict air flow through the grille shutter in the closed condition, and the grille shutter is configured to direct air flow through the grille shutter in the open condition. The first and second grille shutters are shown in the closed condition in Figure 3B, and in an open condition in Figure 3C.
The grille shutter assembly 50 includes a support 56. The first grille shutter 54 is mounted on the support 56. The first grille shutter 54 extends from the support 56 across the first region 52. The second grille shutter 55 is mounted on the support 56. The second grille shutter 55 extends from the support 56 across the second region 53. In the present embodiment the support comprises a central column 57. The grille shutters 54, 55 may be cantilevered or supported at both ends.
The first grille shutter 54 comprises first shutter vanes 58. The second grille shutter 55 comprises second shutter vanes 59. In Figures 3A-3C the first grille shutter 54 has three first shutter vanes 58a, 58b, 58c and the second grille shutter 53 has three second shutter vanes 59a, 59b, 59c. However, the number of vanes may differ. It will be understood that the number of vanes may be dependent on the dimensions of the first and second regions 52, 53, the desired size of each shutter vane, and the depth of the first and second regions 52, 53 in an air flow direction. In Figures 4A and 4B an embodiment of the grille shutter assembly 50
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has a single first grille shutter vane 58 and a single second shutter vane 59. The number of first shutter vanes 58 and second shutter vanes 59 may differ from each other. For example, in an embodiment the first grille shutter 54 has two first shutter vanes and the second grille shutter 55 has four second shutter vanes.
Each shutter vane 58, 59 is elongate and extends across the airflow path 51. Each shutter vane 58, 59 extends substantially horizontally, that is substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle 10 stands in normal use. Each shutter vane 58, 59 is rotatable about a pivot axis 60. The pivot axis 60 of each shutter vane 58, 59 is defined midway along the height of each shutter vane 58, 59. The height of the shutter vane is defined as the length of the shutter vane in a normal direction to the pivot axis 60. The pivot axis 60 of each shutter vane 58, 59 is defined by a shaft portion 61 by which the shutter vane 58, 59 is supported.
Each first shutter vane 58 is rotatable about its pivot axis 60. When the first grille shutter 54 is in its closed condition, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the first shutter vanes 58 are configured to restrict airflow through the first region 52 of the air flow path 51. When the second grille shutter 55 is in its closed condition, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the second shutter vanes 59 are configured to restrict airflow through the second region 53 of the air flow path 51.
Adjacent shutter vanes 58, 59 abut each other in the closed condition. End shutter vanes 58, 59 abut a peripheral surface. In the present embodiment, adjacent shutter vanes 58, 59 overlap in the closed condition. That is, each shutter vane 58, 59 has distal edges 62. The distal edges 62 of adjacent shutter vanes 58 overlap in the closed condition. In alternative embodiments, adjacent shutter vanes 58, 59 overlap but do not abut each other, or are slightly spaced from each other by a gap.
In the closed condition, the shutter vanes 58, 59 extend in a substantially normal direction to the air flow flowing to the front end 20 of the vehicle 10. Air flow is demonstrated by dashed arrow lines in the figures. As such, air flow through the grille shutter assembly is restricted. Flow through the first region 52 is restricted by the first grille shutter 54 and flow through the second region 53 is restricted by the second grille shutter 55. As such, air is restricted from flowing to the heat exchanger arrangement 40.
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The first grille shutter 54 is movable between the closed condition and the open condition. Movement of the grille shutters is represented by solid arrow lines in the figures. When the first grille shutter 54 is moved, each first shutter vane 58 rotates about its axis. The first grille shutter 54 is operated by an actuator module 80. The second grille shutter 55 is movable between the closed condition and the open condition. When the second grille shutter 55 is moved, each second shutter vane 59 rotates about its axis. The second grille shutter 55 is operated by the actuator module 80. In the present embodiment, the actuator module 80 comprises one actuator which is configured to operate both the first and second grille shutters 54, 55. In such an arrangement, the actuator may act on one grille shutter 54, 55, with the other grille shutter 54, 55 being mechanically linked thereto. Alternatively, the actuator module 80 comprises separate actuators for each grille shutter 54, 55. Each shutter vane may be operable by individual actuators.
Referring to Figure 6, the actuator module 80 is operable to move the grille shutters of the grille shutter assembly 50 between the open and closed conditions. The actuator module 80 may include a stepper motor. A control module 70 is configured to operate the actuator module 80. The control module 70 includes a processor and a memory. The control module 70 is operable to operate the actuator module 80. The control module 70 is operable to operate the actuator module 80 in response to an input, for example from a sensor 90.
The first shutter vanes 58 are configured to move synchronously. That is, movement of one first shutter vane causes movement of the remaining first shutter vanes. The angular position of the first shutter vanes 58 are aligned. The second shutter vanes 59 are configured to move synchronously. That is, movement of one second shutter vane causes movement of the remaining second shutter vanes. The angular position of the second shutter vanes 59 are aligned.
In the open condition, the first and second grille shutters 54, 55 are configured to direct air flow along the air flow path 51 in an opposing angular directions. Such a configuration is shown in Figure 3C. That is, the air flow through the first grille shutter 54 and the second grille shutter 55 have opposing vectors with respect to each other in a direction normal to the air flow direction flowing to the front end of the vehicle 10.
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The first grille shutter 54 and the second grille shutter 55 are configured to direct air flow along convergent paths in the open condition. That is, air flowing through the first grille shutter 54 and second grille shutter 55 are directed towards each other. In an alternative open condition,
the first grille shutter 54 and the second grille shutter 55 are configured to direct air flow along divergent paths.
The first grille shutter 54 is configured to rotate in an opposing direction to the second grille shutter 55 when moved from the closed condition into the open condition. For example, as shown by solid arrow lines in Figures 3B and 4A, the first grille shutter 54 rotates in an anticlockwise direction and the second grille shutter 55 rotates in a clockwise direction. The grille shutters 54, 55 are rotated until the open condition is achieved. In the open condition air is able to flow through the shutter assembly 50. Air flow to the first region 52 passes through the first region 52 and is directed by the first grille shutter 54. Due to the alignment of the first shutter vanes 58, the air is directed at the first part 41 of the heat exchanger arrangement 40. Air flow to the second region 53 passes through the second region 53 and is directed by the second grille shutter 55. Due to the alignment of the second shutter vanes 59, the air is directed at the second part 42 of the heat exchanger arrangement 40. As such the efficiency of the heat exchange arrangement 40 may be improved.
The angular rotation of the first grille shutter 54 and the second grille shutter 55 from the closed condition to the open condition is less than 90 degrees.
It will be understood that the grille shutter assembly 50 may have more than one open condition. For example, the grille shutter assembly 50 is configured in one embodiment to have a fully open condition in which the or each shutter vane 58, 59 for the first and second grille shutters 54, 55 extends substantially parallel to the air flow entering the grille shutter assembly 50. The grille shutter assembly 50 may have a first open condition in which, for example, the shutter vanes 58, 59 rotate by 60 degrees and a second open condition in which, for example, the shutter vanes 58, 59 rotate by 80 degrees. Open conditions are shown in Figures 3C and 4B.
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In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, the first grille shutter 54 is configured to rotate in the same direction as the second grille shutter 55 when moved from the closed condition into the open condition. In such an embodiment, the angular rotation of the first grille shutter 54 between the closed condition (Figure 5A) and the open condition (Figure 5C) is less than 90 degrees, and the angular rotation of the second grille shutter 55 between the closed condition and the open condition is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. As such, it is possible for the grille shutters to rotate in the same direction, and therefore possibly overlap in the same arrangement in the closed condition, whilst enabling the first grille shutter 54 to direct air flow along the flow path 51 in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter 55 in the or each open condition. In such a configuration, movement of one grille shutter may be stopped after a first predetermined angular rotation, and movement of the other grille shutter may be stopped after as second predetermined angular rotation.
Although in the figures the first and second grille shutters are shown to be symmetrical in the open condition, it will be understood that they may be non-symmetrical in one or more open conditions. In such an arrangement, the angle of rotation of the first and second grille shutters may differ.
Although in the above described embodiments, the first and second shutter grilles 54, 55 are dependently operated, it will be understood that in alternative embodiments, the first and second grille shutters 54, 55 are independently operated. As such, in embodiments one of the first and second shutter grilles 54, 55 is operable in its closed condition when the other of the first and second shutter grilles 54, 55 is operable in its open condition.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.
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Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features, whether described or not.
Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features 5 may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore 10 referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.
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WE CLAIMS
1. A grille shutter assembly (50) for a vehicle front end (20) comprising:
an air flow path (51) through the grille shutter assembly; a first grille shutter (54) configured to act on air flow through a first region (52) of the air flow path;
a second grille shutter (55) configured to act on air flow through a second region (53) of the air flow path;
the first and second grille shutters being rotatable between closed and open
conditions;
wherein:
the first grille shutter is configured to direct air flow along the flow path in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter in the open condition.
2. The grille shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first grille shutter (54) and the second grille shutter (55) are configured to direct air flow along convergent paths.
3. The grille shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first grille shutter (54) and the second grille shutter (55) are configured to direct air flow along divergent paths.
4. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) is configured to rotate in an opposing direction to the second grille shutter (55) when moved from the closed condition into the open condition.
5. The grille shutter assembly of claim 4, wherein the angular rotation of the first grille shutter (54) and/or the second grille shutter (55) between the closed condition and the open condition is less than 90 degrees.
6. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) is configured to rotate in the same direction as the second grille shutter (55) when moved from the closed condition into the open condition.
7. The grille shutter assembly of claim 6, wherein the angular rotation of the first grille shutter (54) between the closed condition and the open condition is less than 90 degrees, and the angular rotation of the second grille shutter (55) between the closed condition and the open condition is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.
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8. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the open condition of each of the first and/or second grille shutters (54, 55) is one of two or more open conditions.

9. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) and second grille shutter (55) are configured to be independently operable.
10. The grille shutter assembly of claim 9, wherein the first grille shutter (54) is configured to be operable in the closed condition when the second grille shutter (55) is in the open condition.
11. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) and second grille shutter (55) are configured to be dependently operable.
12. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) comprises at least one first shutter vane (58) and the second grille (55) comprises at least one second shutter vane (59).
13. The grille shutter assembly of claim 12, wherein one or each of the grille shutters (54, 55) has a fully open condition in which the or each shutter vane (58,59) extends substantially parallel to the air flow entering the grille shutter assembly (50).
14. The grille shutter assembly of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the or each first shutter vane (58) and the or each second shutter vane (59) are configured to pivot about parallel axes.
15. The grille shutter assembly of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein each of the shutter vanes (58, 59) extends substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the grille shutter assembly (50) in the closed condition.
16. The grille shutter assembly of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the first shutter vane
(58) is one of at least two first shutter vanes (58a, 58b, 58c).
17. The grille shutter assembly of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the second shutter vane
(59) is one of at least two second shutter vanes (59a, 59b, 59c).
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18. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first grille shutter (54) is spaced from the second grille shutter (55).
19. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first region (52) of the air flow path (51) is defined by a first duct, and the second region (53) of the flow path is defined by a second duct.
20. The grille shutter assembly of any preceding claim, comprising an actuator module (80) configured to rotate the first and second grille shutters (54, 55).
21. A cooling assembly (30) for a vehicle (10) comprising the grille shutter assembly (50) according to any preceding claim and a heat exchanger arrangement (40), in which the first grille shutter (54) and the second grille shutter (55) are configured to direct air to the heat exchanger arrangement in the open condition.
22. The cooling assembly of claim 21, wherein the first grille shutter (54) is configured to direct air flow to a first part (41) of the heat exchanger arrangement (40), and the second grille shutter (55) is configured to direct air flow to a second part (42) of the heat exchanger arrangement.
23. The cooling assembly of claim 22, wherein the first part (41) of the heat exchanger arrangement (40) is a first heat exchanger and the second part (42) of the heat exchanger arrangement is a second heat exchanger.
24. The cooling assembly of claim 23, wherein the heat exchanger arrangement (40) comprises a heat exchanger and the first part (41) and second part (42) of the heat exchanger arrangement are parts of the same heat exchanger.
25. A front end (20) of a vehicle (10) comprising the grille shutter assembly (50) according to any of claims 1 to 20 and/or the cooling assembly (30) according to any of claims 22 to 25.
26. The front end according to claim 25, comprising a front side (22), wherein the first grille shutter (54) is disposed above the second grille shutter (55) on the front side.
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27. The front end according to claim 26, comprising a structural cross-member (24), wherein the first grille shutter (54) is spaced from the second grille shutter (55) by the structural cross-member.

28. A vehicle (10) comprising a front end according to any of claims 25 to 27.
29. A method of directing air through a grille shutter assembly (50) for a vehicle front end (20), comprising:
providing an air flow path (51) through the grille shutter assembly (50); providing a first grille shutter (54) configured to act on air flow through a first region (52) of the air flow path;
providing a second grille shutter (55) configured to act on air flow through a second region (53) of the air flow path;
rotating the first and second grille shutters between closed and open
conditions;
wherein:
the first grille shutter directs air flow along the flow path in an opposing angular direction to the second grille shutter in the open condition.
30. A grille shutter assembly, a cooling assembly, a front end of a vehicle, a vehicle, or a method of directing air through a grille shutter assembly for a vehicle front end substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.