DE3535840A1 - Self-cleaning outside rearview mirror for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of this outside rearview mirror, the mirror body has passages (2) and/or is composed of separate components. The slipstream or the air expelled from the passenger compartment or the compressed air carried and/or an appropriate mixture (3) thereof flows through the passages (2) and/or through the apertures between the separate components of the mirror body and removes visibility-impairing particles of water and dirt from the mirror surface. Visibility is therefore improved in appropriate weather conditions. The air resistance of the outside rearview mirror is simultaneously reduced. <IMAGE>

Description

Self-cleaning exterior rear-view mirror for vehicles

The invention relates to a self-cleaning exterior rearview mirror for vehicles of all types, where the observation of the traffic behind an outside mirror is required.

illit of the pollution problem of the exterior mirrors on vehicles deals with a number of patents and utility models. Essentially acts There are three groups of inventions: - mechanical - thermal - aerodynamic Solutions.

A group of mechanical solutions has different types of linear (DE GM 7438516) or curved (DE OS 3028318, DE GM 7623189, DE GM 7908485) or rotating (DE OS 2328644) wiper blades. Other suggestions are e.g. canopies with rain gutters (DE OS 3343956), by the suction of the airstream irregularly moving textile flags (DE OS 2929145, DE OS 3025121, DE GM 8410186) as well as different versions of spray cleaners (DE GM 8329816).

The thermal solutions that remove mirror pollution from the The aim is to prevent heating of the mirror, make the view through the accelerated Restores the evaporation effect. With the known Solutions there are different types of electrical heaters (DE OS 2537652, DE OS 2927954, DE GM 7437400, DE Gti 6221422, DE GM 8311023, DE GM 7505177, DE G 7919893, DE GM 8214252).

Finally, a group of solutions is known that reduce the wind or make use of the compressed air that is carried along. On the one hand, this is various wind deflectors for retrofitting, on the other hand to be in the housing Air ducts integrated in the mirror (DE GH 7618252, DE GM 8335506, DP 1035499). In both cases the airflow is diverted practically parallel to the mirror surface, in order to pull dirt particles away from the mirror surface or to keep them away.

The known solutions have a number of disadvantages.

The mechanical solutions are compared to a mirror without a cleaning device technically complex and therefore prone to failure and expensive.

The thermal solutions primarily place a visual obstruction ahead through ice and rainwater. They don't take into account the fact that a Visual obstruction can also occur due to dirt particles. Instead of being removed too the dirt particles remain due to the increased evaporation effect stick to the mirror surface.

The main disadvantages of aerodynamic solutions are that that the wind in the area of the mirror is practically 90 degrees to its original Direction is diverted and thus causes uncontrollable turbulence, which in turn can promote pollution instead of eliminating it.

The invention belongs to the group of aerodynamic solutions. It sets itself apart from the known solutions of this group through this from that with her no significant turbulence occur.

With the invention, the airflow is in the area of the outside rearview mirror only slightly deflected from the original direction of flow. Through this On the one hand, air is applied evenly to the entire mirror surface guaranteed and on the other hand a disturbing turbulence of the airstream in the area of the outside rearview mirror is significantly reduced.

This is achieved according to the invention in that either the undivided (Monolithic) mirror body has openings, or the split mirror body is composed of separate individual pieces, with between the individual pieces Openings arise. The airflow, the compressed air carried or the exhaust air of the Passenger cell or its suitable mixture flows through the openings of the undivided (Monolithic) mirror body (claim 1) or through the openings between the separate individual pieces of the split mirror body (claim 2) through and tears l Water and / or dirt particles, which improves visibility.

An additional advantage of the invention is the degradation the air resistance in the area of the outside rearview mirror.

The reduction in the usable mirror surface due to the openings in the case of the undivided (monolithic) mirror body (claim 1) represents the corresponding Dimensioning does not represent any significant impairment of the t: year perception suitable, for example blind-like arrangement of the separate individual pieces of the split mirror body (claim 2) there is no reduction in the usable mirror surface on.

According to the invention, the separate individual pieces of the split mirror body to adjust the view to the respective driver position arranged adjustable be (claim 3).

In the following, both main claims of the invention are grounded on the basis of, respectively a drawing showing only one possible embodiment is explained in more detail. It shows - each in a perspective view (partially in section) - Figure 1 an undivided (monolithic) mirror body according to the invention according to claim 1 and figure 2 a split mirror body according to the invention according to claim 2.

In Figure 1, a self-cleaning exterior rearview mirror is shown, which consists of an undivided (monolithic) mirror body (1).

This undivided (monolithic) mirror body (1) has a number of openings (2) suitable cross-section, through which the wind or the compressed air carried or the exhaust air from the passenger compartment bzr. their suitable Mixture (3) flows through and water and / or dirt particles from the = mirror surface carries away or keeps away.

In Figure 2, a self-cleaning exterior rearview mirror is shown, which consists of a split mirror, which consists of a number of lamellar Individual pieces (4) is composed. Openings (5) are created between them the airflow or the compressed air carried or the exhaust air from the passenger compartment or their suitable mixture (3) flows through and water and / or dirt particles entrains or keeps away from the mirror surface.

Claims (3)

Claims 1. Self-cleaning exterior rear-view mirror for vehicles the pollution of the mirror surface by the airstream or the / exhaust air the passenger compartment or the compressed air carried or its suitable mixture (3) is prevented, characterized in that the undivided (monolithic) mirror body (1) has openings (2) through which the airflow or the exhaust air from the passenger compartment or the entrained compressed air or its suitable mixture (3) flows through and thus entrains or keeps away water and / or dirt particles. 2. Self-cleaning exterior rear-view mirror for vehicles that are dirty the mirror surface by the airstream or the exhaust air from the passenger compartment or the compressed air carried bzrJ. whose suitable mixture (3) is prevented by this characterized in that the mirror body consists of individual mirror elements (4) in such a way is composed that between them openings (5) arise through which the airstream or the exhaust air from the passenger compartment or the compressed air carried or J. their suitable Mixture (3) flows through and thus entrains water and / or dirt particles bzuJ. keep away. 3. Self-cleaning exterior rearview mirror for vehicles according to claim 2, characterized in that the separate individual pieces of the mirror body (4) arranged to adjust the view to the respective driver position are.