GB2282358A

GB2282358A - Cleaning vehicle mirrors

Info

Publication number: GB2282358A
Application number: GB9419029A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elio Lupo
Original assignee: Gilardini SpA
Current assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1993-10-01
Filing date: 1994-09-21
Publication date: 1995-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-21
Also published as: GB9419029D0; ES2115469B1; FR2710594A1; ES2115469A1; ITTO930720A1; ITTO930720A0; DE4435030A1; IT1260689B; GB2282358B

Description

1 2282358 A REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR A VEHICLE, PROVIDED WITH A DEVICE FOR

REMOVING WATER AND DIRT FROM THE REFLECTING SHEET is The present invention relates to an external rear view mirror for a vehicle, provided with a device for removing water and dirt from the reflecting sheet of the mirror itself.

Rear view mirrors are known having an electrically operated cleaning element which can wipe the face of the reflecting sheet. There are also known rear view mirrors in which the reflecting sheet is mounted on piezoelectric elements which, by vibrating at high frequency, cause the removal of water and dirt from the sheet itself.

The first arrangement described is, because of size reasons, only applicable to mirrors of large dimensions such as those for industrial vehicles, and in any case is rather complex, expensive and easily subject to breakdowns. The second arrangement is also expensive and not sufficiently effective.

Finally, there are known rear view mirrors in which the reflecting sheet is electrically heated; it is evident that this latter arrangement although undoubtedly effective for eliminating water, is entirely ineffective 2 on solid particles and dirt.

The object of the present invention is the production of an external rear view mirror for a vehicle provided with a device for the removal of water and dirt from a reflecting sheet of the mirror itself, which will be free from the disadvantages associated with known mirrors described above.

The said object is achieved by the present invention in that it relates to an external rear view mirror f or a vehicle, of the type comprising a hollow body, a reflecting sheet housed in the said body, and a device for the removal of water and dirt from a front surface of the said reflecting sheet, characterised in that the said device includes means for generating a stream of air and means f or guiding the said airstream towards the said front surface of the said reflecting sheet.

For a better understanding of the present invention a preferred embodiment will hereinafter be described purely by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the attached drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an external rear view mirror for a motor jeh-Jele formed acccrding to the principles of the present invention; k 3 Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a variant of a detail of figure 2, on an enlarged scale; and Figure 4 is a plan view from above of a further variant of the embodiment of the same detail of Figure 3.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, an external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle is generally indicated with the reference 1.

The mirror 1 essentially comprises a hollow body 2 fixed to a support arm 3 which can be f ixed to a door of the vehicle, and a reflecting sheet 4 housed in a frontal aperture 5 of the body 2. The sheet 4 is f ixed to support plate 6 securely f ixed to the body 2 in orientable manner by means of a known support orientation unit 7 which is therefore not described detail.

an and in The mirror further includes a device 8 for removal of water and dirt from a front surface 9 of the sheet 4.

According to the present invention the device 8 includes a centrifugal fan 10 which is housed with a vertical axis A in the interior of the body 2 at the shoulders of the sheet 4 and close to a side wall 11 of the body 2 adjacent the support arm 3. Fan 10, known per se, 4 comprises a rotor 12 and an outer casing 13 defining a spiral 14 conveying the airstream generated by the f an 10. The spiral 14 is extended by an outlet duct 16 extending between the wall 11 of the body 2 and the sheet 4; the duct 16 defines a 900 curve in such a way as to guide the stream onto the sheet 4. For this purpose, this duct terminates in a nozzle 17 the transverse section of which progressively reduces in width but elongates in height towards a mouth section in such a way io as to diffuse the stream over the whole of the surface 9.

The nozzle 17 is conveniently orientated in a direction slightly converging on the sheet 4.

is The rotor 12 is connected to an electric motor 19 operable to drive it in rotation. The motor 19 is conveniently operable by means of a switch 20 positioned within the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The fan 10 and the motor 19 are rigidly fixed to the support plate 6.

The operation of the device 8 is as follows. When the electric motor 19 is driven the airstream generated by the fan 4 is delivered from the nozzle 17 towards the surface 9 of the sheet 4, thus causing removal of water and dirt. Eecause of the form and orientation of the nozzle 17 the airstream is diffused in such a way as to f low over the whole of the surface 9 of the sheet 4 substantially across the entirety of its height.

r AC, is In the variant illustrated in figure 3 the nozzle 17 is mounted on the outlet of the duct 16 in a rotatable manner by means of a pin 25 having an axis parallel to the axis A. The nozzle 17 is subject to the load of the resiliant element operable to maintain it orientated towards a lateral portion of the sheet 4 adjacent the wall 11 of the body 1 (position illustrated in broken outline in figure 3). This resiliant element can be constituted, for example, by a substantially U-shape flexing spring 26 integrally formed with the duct 16 on an outer side of the outlet section of the duct itself, and co-operating with an inlet edge 27 of the nozzle 17.

During startup the nozzle is displaced from the position described, by the effect of the pressure forces, in such a way as to orientate the airstream towards a portion of the sheet 4 opposite the nozzle itself, or rather in a direction substantially parallel to the surface 9 (which position is illustrated in solid outline in Figure 3). In use, by the combined effect of the pressure forces of the airstream and the resilient force of the spring 26 the nozzle 17 tends to oscillate about its axis between the said two positions and therefore periodically to displace the zone of impact of the airstream on the sheet 4. The surface 9 of the sheet 4 is therefore periodically brushed, by the airstream, thus increasing the effectiveness of the device S.

is 6 In the variant embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, characterised by greater simplicity and production economy, the nozzle 17 is replaced by a movable wall or deflector 30 hinged to an outer end portion of the duct 16. The deflector 30 is subject to the resilient load of the spring 31 which tends to maintain it orientated towards the lateral portion of the sheet 4 adjacent the wall 11 of the body 2. The operation is substantially similar to that described above; the deflector diffuses the airstream and oscillates, in use, in such a way as periodically to displace the zone of impact of -the stream on the sheet 4.

From a study of the characteristics of the mirror formed according to the principles of the present invention, the advantages which it achieves are evident. In particular, the device 8 makes it possible to remove dirt and dust in a simple and effective manner, is economical to produce and reliable.

Finally, it is clear that the mirror 1 described can have modift i cations and variations introduced thereto, which do not depart from the ambit of protection of the present invention.

11 7 In particular, the centrifugal fan can be replaced by any other means operable to generate an airstream; this stream can be guided towards the reflecting sheet by any fixed or movable means. Finally, heating means can be provided for the airstream, for example, resistive heaters housed in the end portion of the spiral or in the nozzle, for the purpose of encouraging the evaporation of water and/or defrosting of the sheet.

8

Claims

1. An external rear view mirror (1) for a vehicle, of the type comprising a hollow body (2), a reflecting sheet (4) housed in the said body (2) and a device (8) f or the removal of water and dirt from a face (9) of the said reflecting sheet (4), charactarised in that the said device includes means (10) for generating a stream of air, and guide means (16), (17) for guiding the said airstream towards the said face (9) of the said reflecting sheet (4).

2. A mirror according to claim 1, characterised in that the said airstream generator means (10) are housed within the said body (2).

3. A mirror according to claim 1, characterised in that the said airstream generator means comprise a fan (10).

4. A mirror according to claim 3, characterised in that the said fan (10) is a centrifugal fan.

5. A mirror according to claim 4, characterised in that the said means for guiding the said airstream comprise an outlet duct (16) of the said fan (10) extending between the said reflecting sheet (4) and a sidewall (11) of the said body (2).

c 9

6. A mirror according to claim 5, characterised in that the said outlet duct (16) opens into a nozzle (17) operable to direct the said airstream onto the said f ront surface (9) of the said sheet.

7. A mirror according to claim 6, characterised in that the cross section of the said nozzle (17) progressively reduces in width and increases in height as it approaches a mouth portion of the nozzle (17) itself.

8. A mirror according to any preceding cl aim, characterised in that the said guide means for the said airstream include a movable element (17,30) operable to direct the said airstream towards a periodically variable portion of the said face (9) of the said sheet (4).

9. A mirror according to claim 8, characterised in that the said movable element (17,30) is fixed to the said outlet duct (16) of the said fan (10) by resilient means (26,31).

10. A mirror according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterised in that the said movable element (17,30) is pivotaly connected to a terminal portion of the said outlet duct (16).

11. A mirror according to any of claims from 8 to 10, characterised in that the said movable element is constituted by the said nozzle (17).

12. A mirror according to any of claims from 8 to 10, characterised in that the said movable element is a deflector (30).

13. An external substantially as attached drawings rear view mirror for a vehicle, described and illustrated in the