Vehicle active side vent system

Abstract

An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

1 . A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first active side vent system associated with a first side of the vehicle and comprising:
 a first housing disposed in a first side vent opening defined by a first recessed surface in a first rear portion of a first front fender of the vehicle, and 
 a first set of louvers disposed in the first housing and configured to pivot between open and closed positions such that in the open position, none of the first set of louvers extends beyond a first outer surface of the first front fender. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an active airflow control system comprising:
 a second housing, and 
 a second set of louvers disposed in the second housing and configured to pivot between open and closed positions; and 
   an actuator system configured to perform coordinated control of the pivoting of the first and second sets of louvers.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the active airflow control system is a second active side vent system associated with an opposing second side of the vehicle and wherein:
 the second housing is disposed in a second side vent opening defined by a second recessed surface in a second rear portion of a second front fender of the vehicle, and   the second set of louvers are disposed in the second housing and configured to pivot between the open and closed positions such that in the open position, none of the second set of louvers extends beyond a second outer surface of the second front fender.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator system comprises (i) a single actuator and a linkage or (ii) a plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising first and second ducts configured to direct airflow from at least one air source to the first and second side vent openings, respectively, wherein the airflow exits the vehicle when the first and second sets of louvers are in the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one air source comprises first and second wheel wells associated with the first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one air source comprises a powertrain compartment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a front active grille shutter (AGS) system comprising:
 a third housing disposed in a front grille opening of the vehicle, and   a third set of louvers disposed in the front grille opening and configured to pivot between (i) an open position during which air flows through the front grille opening and into a powertrain compartment of the vehicle and (ii) a closed position during which airflow through the front grille opening and into the powertrain compartment is mitigated,   wherein the actuator system is configured to perform coordinated control of the pivoting of the first, second, and third sets of louvers.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator system comprises (i) a single actuator and a linkage or (ii) a plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each louver of the first and second sets of louvers comprises a non-centralized pivot shaft such that, in the closed position, the first and second sets of louvers are substantially flush with the first and second recessed surfaces of the first and second front fenders, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each louver of the first and second sets of louvers comprises a centralized pivot shaft such that, in the closed position, the first and second sets of louvers are not substantially flush with the first and second recessed surfaces of the first and second front fenders, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the active airflow control system is a front active grille shutter (AGS) system wherein:
 the second housing is disposed in a front grille opening of the vehicle, and   the second set of louvers are disposed in the front grille opening and configured to pivot between (i) the open position during which air flows through the front grille opening and into a powertrain compartment of the vehicle and (ii) the closed position during which airflow through the front grille opening and into the powertrain compartment is mitigated.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator system comprises (i) a single actuator and a linkage or (ii) a plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one duct configured to direct airflow from at least one air source to the first and second side vent openings, respectively, wherein the airflow exits the vehicle when the first and second sets of louvers are in the open position. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one air source comprises a first wheel well associated with the first side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one air source comprises the powertrain compartment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a second active side vent system associated with an opposing second side of the vehicle and comprising:
 a third housing disposed in a second side vent opening defined by a second recessed surface in a second rear portion of a second front fender of the vehicle; and   a third set of louvers disposed in the third housing and configured to pivot between open and closed positions such that in the open position, none of the third set of louvers extends beyond a second outer surface of the second front fender,   wherein the actuator system is configured to perform coordinated control of the pivoting of the first, second, and third sets of louvers.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator system comprises (i) a single actuator and a linkage or (ii) a plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising at first and second ducts configured to direct airflow from at least one air source to the first and second side vent openings, respectively, wherein the airflow exits the vehicle when the first and second sets of louvers are in the open position, and
 wherein the at least one air source comprises at least one of (i) the powertrain compartment and (ii) first and second wheel wells associated with the first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each louver of the first and third sets of louvers comprises a non-centralized pivot shaft such that, in the closed position, the first and third sets of louvers are substantially flush with the first and second recessed surfaces of the first and second front fenders, respectively. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each louver of the first and third sets of louvers comprises a centralized pivot shaft such that, in the closed position, the first and third sets of louvers are not substantially flush with the first and second recessed surfaces of the first and second front fenders, respectively.