Active shutter vane for use in active vehicle grill systems

摘要

An active grill system for a vehicle includes a plurality of active shutter vanes rotatably coupled to frame portions, respectively. Each vane includes a hollow body portion having inner and outer wall portions extending between the first and second ends. The vane also includes a first solid end cap secured to the first end of the hollow body portion and a second solid end cap secured to the second end. The active shutter vane has reduced weight, increased torsional strength, and increased flexural rigidity when compared to active shutter vanes of the same shape and size with a single piece solid structure formed by an injection molding process. Moreover, the use of extrusion or drawing to form the hollow body portion reduces distortion associated with active shutter vanes of a single-piece solid configuration formed by an injection molding process.