GB2337499A

GB2337499A - Rear view mirrors for articulated vehicle to aid reversing

Info

Publication number: GB2337499A
Application number: GB9910646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Arthur Salt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-09
Filing date: 1999-05-07
Publication date: 1999-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-07
Also published as: GB2337499B; GB9809828D0; GB9910646D0

Abstract

A rear view system 20 for an articulated vehicle comprising front 12 and rear 14 parts comprises a first mirror 22 mounted adjacent the rear part 14 of the vehicle for reflecting an image of a view adjacent the rear part of the vehicle, and a second mirror 24 mounted adjacent the rear part 14 for reflecting said image reflected by the first mirror 22 to a driving position 16 in the front part 12 of the vehicle.

Description

2337499 REAR VIEW SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLE The present invention

relates to rear view systems for articulated vehicles and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to rear view systems for viewing adjacent the rear part of the articulated vehicle whilst the vehicle is reversing.

When an articulated vehicle is reversing, the driver of the vehicle is often unable to see clearly along both sides of the rear part of the vehicle, unless both the front and rear parts of the vehicle are aligned. In such situations, conventional cab mirrors are used to view the sides of the rear part of the vehicle, for example the trailer of an articulated lorry.

The known arrangements of this type suffer from the drawback that the view provided is inadequate, with the consequence that a driver of a vehicle is often required by legislation to have someone giving directions while the vehicle is being reversed.

Attempts have been made to overcome this drawback using closed circuit camera and display devices. However, these suffer from the drawback that they are expensive and require complex maintenance. Alternatively proximity sensors at the back of the rear part of the vehicle offer an audible warning when potential obstructions are close by. Such systems are similarly expensive and require interpretation of the audible warning to determine whether an obstacle is in the line of vehicle movement.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art.

1 k According to an aspect of the present invention, theie' bs provided a rear view system for an articulated Vehicle. comprising front and rear parts, the system_coinpXi!iiig:- X, -------1 1 1 1 1 1 a) b) first mirror means mounted in use adjacent said rear part of the vehicle for reflecting an image of a view adjacent said rear part of the vehicle; and second mirror means mounted in use adjacent said rear part of the vehicle for reflecting said image reflected by said first mirror means to a driving position in the front part of the vehicle.

By providing a rear view system as defined above, when an articulated vehicle is reversing the driver of the vehicle is able to see along a side of the vehicle normally obscured due to the angle of articulation of the front and rear parts of the vehicle. This provides the advantage of reducing the cost of the system.

The first or second mirror means may either or both comprise a single mirror.

The first and/or second mirror means may comprise at least one respective mirror mounted adjacent each lateral side of said rear part of the vehicle.

The first and/or second mirror means may comprise at least one convex mirror.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an articulated vehicle comprising:

front part; rear part; and rear view system as defined above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an articulated vehicle having a rear view system embodying the present invention; 1 Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle of Figure 1 showing examples of angles of articulation and resultant driver positions; and Figure 3 is a schematic end view of the rear part of the articulated vehicle of Figure 1.

Referring to figure 1, an articulated vehicle 10, comprises front part 12 such as a cab or car and a rear part 14 such as a trailer or caravan. Driver 16 is located in the driving position in front part 12. Mounted adjacent the rear part of the vehicle is rear view system 20, which comprises, on each lateral side of the rear part 14, a f irst convex mirror 22, and a second convex mirror 24.

In Figure 2, line of sight 26 shows the view of driver 16 when the front 12 and rear 14 parts of the vehicle are aligned. Driver locations 28 and 30, indicate the driver's ability to see along the side of the rear 14 of vehicle 10 by lines of sight 32 and 34 respectively.

In order that a driver 16can see along the side of the rear part 14 of articulated vehicle 10 the image of the view from that side is first reflected in the first mirror 22. This image is then reflected again in the second mirror 24 which is visible to the driver 16. As the front and rear parts of the vehicle are articulated the driver may become positioned at locations 28 and 30. The driver is able to see the image of adjacent the rear 14 of vehicle 10 at these locations. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the mirrors 22, 24 on the opposite side of the rear part 14 operate in a similar manner when the rear part 14 is articulated in the opposite direction relative to the front part.

It will be appreciated by the persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations 1 and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1.

a) A rear view system for an articulated vehicle comprising front and rear parts, the system comprising:first mirror means mounted in use adjacent said rear part of the vehicle for reflecting an image of a view adjacent said rear part of the vehicle; and second mirror means mounted in use adjacent said rear part of the vehicle for reflecting said image reflected by said first mirror means to a driving position in the front part of the vehicle.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first mirror means comprises a single mirror.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second mirror means comprises a single mirror.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first mirror means comprises at least one respective mirror mounted adjacent each lateral side of said rear part of the vehicle.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said second mirror means comprises at least one respective mirror mounted adjacent each lateral side of said rear part of the vehicle.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first mirror means comprises at least one convex mirror.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second mirror means comprises at least one convex mirror.

8. A rear view system for an articulated vehicle comprising front and rear parts, the system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An articulated vehicle comprising: a front part; a rear part; and a rear view system according to any one of the preceding claims.