Apparatus for opening and closing air flap for vehicle

1. An apparatus for opening and closing an air flap for a vehicle, comprising:

a coolant temperature sensor provided at a predetermined position of an engine to measure a coolant temperature of the engine;

a control unit comparing a measurement value input from the coolant temperature sensor with a reference value stored therein, thus outputting a control signal;

an actuator rotating forwards or backwards in response to the control signal of the control unit;

a power transmission unit connected to the actuator to transmit rotating force of the actuator; and

a flap unit installed in an opening of a front end module carrier which extends from a radiator grill to a cooling module, and being selectively movable in a vertical direction in the opening by power transmitted from the power transmission unit to the flap unit to open or close the opening, thus permitting or preventing an inflow of air into the cooling module,

wherein the flap unit comprises:

guide columns provided in the opening to extend in a vertical direction thereof, and spaced apart from each other at regular intervals in a widthwise direction of the opening;

an upper flap provided on a side of each of the guide columns, fitted into the opening in such a way as to move vertically, and occupying about half of an area of the opening; and

a lower flap provided on an opposite side of each of the guide columns, fitted into the opening in such a way as to move vertically, and occupying a remaining about half of the area of the opening.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein when the measurement value of the coolant temperature sensor is smaller than the reference value, the control unit transmits the control signal to the actuator so that the flap unit closes the opening and when the measurement value of the coolant temperature sensor is larger than the reference value of the control unit, the control unit transmits the control signal to the actuator so that the flap unit opens the opening in order to prevent the engine from overheating.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the upper flap includes at least an air hole therein.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the lower flap includes at least an air hole therein.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power transmission unit comprises:

a rotating shaft connected to the actuator;

at least one pinion gear provided on at least one position of the rotating shaft; and

a rack gear provided on each of the upper and lower flaps to engage with the pinion gear therebetween.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the upper flap includes a sealing plate at a lower portion thereof to receive the at least one pinion gear therein.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , wherein a guide rail protrudes from each of the guide columns, and a guide groove is formed in at least one of the upper and lower flaps so that the guide rail is fitted into the guide groove.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the lower flap includes a sealing plate at an upper portion thereof to receive at least one pinion gear therein.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the rotating shaft is rotatably installed to pass through the guide columns, the pinion gear being provided on each of opposite ends of the rotating shaft.