Automatically actuated grill block - Mk3

[GilRocha]

Amazing Thread! Can't wait for more updates

[Daox]

Thanks Gil. I hope to have more soon.

[Rosieuk]

Looks good but I think you might have missed an idea. If your vehicle(s) are anything like mine they have an electric rad fan controlled by a thermo switch. Mine kicks in at 96c and turns off at 90c. Why not use this switch as the trigger (better in high ambient)? Alternatively use the signal from the temperature gauge sender to open it in a graduated way (better in variable/low ambient)?
It's simpler than using an arduino as a controller and you can guarantee if the computer throws a wobbly it'll jam in the worst possible position. It might be an idea also to code it so that there is a fail shut or fail open option (maybe in the code, or a spring with two different fittings).
It's kind of depressing that they were using radiator blocking vanes on aircraft engines in the 30s, and cars are only now catching up.

..ah, pretty much what you were doing anyway..

[teoman]

FreaksX, ELF drone, Octopus bricks Freaduino UNO Rev1.8 MB_EFUNO FreaksX, ELF drone, Octopus bricks

I am particularly fond of this clone for the arduino, accepts up to 16 v, and has 1.8A of power for the servos and it already has the pins so you just plug the servo on to the board.

It is a bit more expensive than the arduino clones (i buy them for 3.5$) and last time i got these for about 16 usd. On aliexpress or dx.

[Sjoegerd]

It's pretty cool! Peugeot has something similar in their newer cars.



It is part nr 20 in the picture, multiple plastic flaps connected together with a rod. Works somehow similar like your automatic grill block.

[ThermionicScott]

Probably just a matter of time before all ICE cars get active shutters. It's a great idea for so many reasons.

(The thermostat in air-cooled Volkwagens worked similarly -- when the engine was cold, the thermostat pulled shut flaps in the fan shroud, forcing the cooling air to bypass the heads and cylinders.)

[teoman]

Btw, if you have not aeromodded your car, in the winter when you turn the heat on but have the fan off, you get heat in to the cabin. (Could also work with aeromods).

[Daox]

Last night I threw a new lower grill block on the Insight. This grill block will be modified to accept the actuated grill block.





I'll have to cut an opening in it and mount it. I'm not sure if it'll mount to the coroplast or the wooden blocks yet.

[ECO-AKJ]

Looking good!

[Daox]

Thanks FordMan!

I updated the design for the grill block over lunch. I widened the flanges for easier mounting, added holes for mounting, and a few other little tid bits that'll make it work better and print easy. The added holes should make it very easy to bolt up to the coroplast block. With the printed block mounted to the corolpast, I can just screw the whole thing in place.

I'm still debating weather to print them all out again (probably 2 days of printing) or just attempt to use what I already have made. Of course, I still have the electronics to work out as well.