FR2842775A1 - Exterior rear view mirror for motor vehicle has air intake in front of mirror housing to cause peripheral air flow around mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

The exterior rear view mirror (1) for a motor vehicle has a mirror (3) and a housing with an opening (4) in the periphery of the mirror to cause an airflow in a direction perpendicular to the mirror. The mirror has an air intake connected to the opening and having a vertical section with a width less than five millimeters. The intake can be formed in the front of the mirror housing.

Description

EXTERNAL REVIEW SYSTEM FOR UTILITY VEHICLES

OR AUTOMOBILES

  The present invention relates to the field of rear-view mirrors, and more particularly to an exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles comprising an exterior rear view mirror comprising a mirror and having at least one slot opening into the periphery of the mirror, so as to produce a flow air in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mirror, the system further comprising an air intake connected to

said slot.

  When using a utility vehicle, the driver encounters two problems related to the presence, shape, position and large dimensions of the mirrors: on the one hand, the dirt on the windows, which is a hindrance to visibility and aesthetics; secondly, the entry of insects into the cabin when the windows are down, presenting

also discomfort.

  In the context of motor vehicles, the drawbacks encountered are of different natures. The first problem is the induced noise originating on the one hand, from the vortex emission due to the wake of the rear-view mirror and on the other hand, from the noise caused by the impact on the glass of the detached layer downstream of the rear-view mirror, it that is to say at the rear of the mirror relative to the direction of advance of the vehicle. To a lesser extent, the second problem concerns the resistance to the advance of the vehicle (drag)

  which plays directly on the consumption of the vehicle.

  Today, most of the possibilities offered to satisfy the specifications in terms of soiling, insect penetration, direct or indirect noise, induced trails, are modifications of

  forms or location of mirrors.

  However, such devices have constraints that are often contradictory with the imperatives of ergonomics, visibility or style. It has also been shown that localized fluid injection makes it possible to modify the take-off flows prevailing downstream of the mirrors. Patent US5903389 refers to this type of system. The object of the invention relates to an exterior mirror, the housing of which consists of a plurality of air ducts, which are connected to an air source by means of a distribution chamber, as well as guides. 'air (fin type), so as to form swirling air flows. This system thus makes it possible to reduce the dirt on the mirror of the rear view mirror and the corresponding side window and to reduce the

noises induced by the mirror.

  However, this system requires changes in the shape of the mirror housing, which also contradict style requirements. In addition, it does not provide a solution to the problem specific to commercial vehicles, namely the entry of insects into the cabin.

when the windows are down.

  The present invention intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an external rear view system, for commercial vehicles or motor vehicles, diffusing air flows through the slots provided in the rear view mirror and distributed so that the unstuck flows prevail. downstream of the mirror

are changed or moved.

  To do this, the present invention is of the type described above and it is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that the slot opening into the periphery of the mirror has at least one vertical segment

  whose width is less than 5 millimeters.

  Preferably, the slit is formed only along

from one of the vertical edges.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slot will be formed only along the outer vertical edge. The flow created downstream of the mirror is thus

modified or moved.

  The air used to control the flow of the flow created downstream of the mirror comes from a

  air intake outside the vehicle.

  The position of the air intake depends on the geometry of the vehicle. In addition, it is arranged so as to be located in an overpressure zone of the vehicle. In a first embodiment of the invention, the air intake is constituted by an opening

  suction formed on the front side of the mirror.

  In a second embodiment of the invention, the mirror comprises a suction part having an air intake opening on the front face of the mirror, and a shape defining a slot with the mirror housing, opening to the back of the

mirror.

  In a third embodiment of the invention, the air intake is arranged on the surface of said vehicle, said air intake being connected to the slot by

a conduit.

  Advantageously, the conduit constitutes a support for

  fixing the rear view mirror to the vehicle.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the air intake is arranged in the lower part of the

  vehicle, and connected to the slot by a conduit.

  In a final embodiment of the invention, the air intake is constituted by a

  connection with a vehicle ventilation system.

  Depending on the type of application chosen, the air jets can be either direct or pulsed. In the latter case, and according to a first configuration of the invention, the flow of forced air is obtained by means of a

  propeller arranged in a part of the rear view system.

  Advantageously, the propeller is motorized.

  In a second configuration of the invention, the

  Forced air flow is obtained by means of an actuator.

  Advantageously, the actuator is an electric actuator, either driven by an electric motor, or

  electromagnetic shutter type.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  description, given below for purely explanatory purposes, in

  with reference to the appended figures: - Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a rear-view mirror for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a rear view mirror for a utility vehicle according to another embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of an exterior rear view system according to the invention; and - Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of an exterior rear view system according to another configuration of the invention. An exterior mirror (1) for a motor vehicle according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 1, consists of a housing (2) in which a mirror (3) is fixed. The mirror (1) has at least one slot (4)

  disposed at the outer periphery (5) of said mirror (3).

  Said slot (4) has at least one vertical segment whose

  the width is less than 5 millimeters.

  According to other configurations (not shown) the slots can also cover the entire periphery of said mirror (3), the interior part, the part

  upper or lower part of said rear view mirror (1).

  2 shows an exterior mirror for a utility vehicle, consisting of a housing (2) in which is fixed a mirror (3), and a mounting bracket (6) for fixing said mirror to said vehicle. As previously, it has at least one slot (4) disposed at the outer periphery (5) of said mirror (3) according to a preferred embodiment, and having at least one vertical segment of width

less than 5 millimeters.

  According to other configurations (not shown), the slots may also cover, regularly or not, the entire periphery of said mirror (3), the interior part, the top part or the bottom part of the mirror. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the exterior rearview system of utility vehicles or automobiles according to the invention. To do this, said exterior mirror (1) is connected to an air intake (7) by means of a duct (8) for conveying air, said duct (8) being disposed in an existing recess of said vehicle . In a first embodiment of the invention, the air intake (7) may be arranged on the surface of said vehicle. Said air intake (7) may in particular be arranged on the hood, the lateral parts or the roof

of said vehicle.

  Let's take the example of this last location of

said air intake (7).

  In the case of a utility vehicle, the air will be conveyed by means of said duct (8) disposed in the uprights of the windshield of said vehicle, then continuing in the mounting bracket of said

  mirror (1) on said vehicle.

  In the case of a motor vehicle, the air will be conveyed by means of said duct (8) disposed in the uprights of the windshield of said vehicle, to arrive

  directly at the foot of said mirror (1) of said vehicle.

  In a second embodiment of the invention, the air intake (7) may be arranged in the part

  lower (base) of said vehicle.

  In the case of a utility vehicle, the air will be conveyed by means of said duct (8) disposed in the recesses existing under the hood of said vehicle, to then continue in the mounting support of said

  mirror (1) on said vehicle.

  In the case of a motor vehicle, the air will be conveyed by means of said conduit (8) disposed in the recesses existing under the hood of said vehicle, to arrive directly at the foot of said rear view mirror (1) of said vehicle. In a third embodiment, the air intake (7) will be constituted by means of a connection with a

  vehicle ventilation system.

  Figure 4 shows the rear view system

  exterior according to the invention diffusing a pulsed air flow.

  To do this, a motorized propeller (9) is disposed in said duct (8), between said air intake (7) and said

rear view mirror (2).

  In the same way, replacing the propeller (9),

we can use an actuator.

  Advantageously, said actuator will be electric, either of the electromagnetic shutter type, or driven

by an electric motor.

  According to another configuration of the invention, not illustrated, said air intake (7) will be constituted by a suction opening formed on the front part of said

rear view mirror (1).

  According to a last configuration of the invention, said mirror (1) will have a suction part having an air intake opening (7) on its front part, and a shape defining a slot with the housing

  (2) of said mirror (1), opening at the rear of the latter.

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variants of the invention without for

as well go beyond the scope of the patent.

Claims (13)

  1. Exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles comprising an exterior mirror (1) comprising a mirror (3), said mirror (1) having at least one slot (4) opening into the periphery of said mirror (3) to produce a air flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mirror (3), said system comprising an air intake (7) connected to said slot (4), characterized in that said slot (4) has at least one vertical segment of which the width is less than 5 millimeters.   2. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that said air intake (7) is constituted by a suction opening formed on the front face of said mirror (1).   3. Exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a suction part having an air intake opening on the front face of said rear view mirror (1), and a shape defining a slot with the housing (2) of said mirror (1), opening to the rear of said mirror (1).   4. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that said air intake (7) is disposed on the surface of said vehicle, said air intake (7) being   connected to said slot (4) by a conduit (8).   5. External rearview system of utility or motor vehicles according to claim 4, characterized in that said conduit (8) constitutes a support   fixing (6) of said mirror (1) on said vehicle.   6. Exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that said air intake (7) is constituted by a connection with a ventilation system of said vehicle.   7. Exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that said air intake (7) is disposed in the lower part of said vehicle, and connected to   said slot (4) by a conduit (8).   8. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that said slot (4) is formed only   along one of the vertical edges of said mirror (3).   9. Exterior rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 8, characterized in that said slot (4) is formed only   along the outer vertical edge (5) of said mirror (3).   10. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a   propeller (9) intended to generate a pulsed air flow.   11. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 10,   characterized in that the propeller (9) is motorized.   12. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to any one of   claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a   actuator. 13. External rear view system for commercial or motor vehicles according to claim 12, characterized in that said actuator is electric, either of the electromagnetic shutter type, or driven by a   electric motor, intended to generate a forced air flow.