GB2374578A

GB2374578A - A parking mechanism for a vehicle mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2374578A
Application number: GB0109352A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emmanuel Courbon; George James Wyers; Nicolas Podgaietsky
Original assignee: TRUCK LITE RAYDYOT CO Ltd
Current assignee: TRUCK LITE RAYDYOT CO Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-17
Filing date: 2001-04-17
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: GB0109352D0

Abstract

The invention provides a non-rising clutch arrangement, particularly for commercial vehicles, that is capable of locating the mirror arm of an external rear view mirror in both a working and a parking position (27, 28 respectively in Fig.2). The clutch arrangement comprises of an arm (12), a segmented intermediate ring member (13) with flexible links (29) and a conical member (14) which is urged onto the intermediate ring member by a spring (15). The arrangement is encased by a bracket (16) and the complete assembly locked together with a push on fix clip (17). The conical member may be integral with the arm and the intermediate ring member may be of a split-toothed construction.

Description

VEHICLE MIRROR PARKING This invention relates to a motor vehicle's mirror non-rising clutch particularly for commercial vehicles that is capable of locating the mirror and the mirror arm assembly in its working position and also locating it in a parking position.

Mirror and mirror arm assemblies are legally required to have the ability of folding forwards and backwards when subject to a force consisting of a fifteen pounds weight on a metre long pendulum raised to a sixty degree swing.

The reason for locating the mirror arm assembly in the parking position is when transporting the vehicle or negotiating narrow gateways the mirror arms could swing outwards and cause damage to the mirrors.

The intermediate inner ring clutch member is designed to aid assembly and can only be located in one angular position by the three wedge shape designed locations on the housing wall. This is due to the three radial locations having dissimilar angles of arc, but adding up to three hundred and sixty degrees or alternatively different width locations spaced equally around the housing wall.

This allows the angular positioning of the clutch indents on top of the intermediate inner ring to position the mirror arm on the matching half of the clutch body to produce the working and parking arm angles which become a foolproof position to any clutch assembler.

All locations are pressure wedged to the inside of the outer casing to prevent mirror arm movement such as backlash in the system.

According to the invention a mirror mechanism comprising of a bracket, an arm pivoted on the bracket for angular movement and a clutch mechanism for normally holding the arm in two predetermined positions relative to the bracket in which the clutch mechanism

comprises of an intermediate ring member which is axially moveable relative to the bracket, but is angularly fast relative to the bracket by provision of radial recesses on the outer surface of the intermediate ring member engaging in recesses in the bracket casing or visa-versa.

The said intermediate ring member also having teeth co-operable with recesses on the arm or visa-versa so as to hold the arm angularly fast to the intermediate ring member and a spring with a conical member forcing the intermediate ring member into engagement of the recesses, the said intermediate ring member is radially slit or made as a ring of segments flexibly linked so as to allow limited radial movement when the spring acts via the conical member on the intermediate ring member.

Release for angular movement of arm is affected when the applied load (break out force) overcomes the spring to allow the intermediate ring member to move axially to a disengaged position.

In one example of the invention the intermediate ring member may have equally spaced radial recesses extending along its length and engaged in longitudinal teeth in the bracket, so that the intermediate ring member can move axially but remain in angular engagement with the bracket. One end face of the intermediate ring member may then have radial teeth engaging with recesses on the arm when the intermediate ring member is in the appropriate axially position to which it is normally spring urged by a conical member. However, the position of the teeth and recesses can be controlled to reproduce the two positions of the arm, i. e. working position and parking position throughout the complete three hundred and sixty degree arc making the assembly of the clutch foolproof.

The angular arrangement that makes this possible is that the angle between the parking and working location is angularly small enough to be always well within the base angle of one hundred and twenty degrees and the remaining two dissimilar angles. This means that ideal stability can be achieved by having three point location between the intermediate ring member and the arm in both parking and working locations. Also this aids assembly location with their dissimilar

angles.

The same angular arrangement applies to the matching bracket and preferably all of the teeth and recesses are tapered or wedge shaped and the parts are arranged so that the spring, preferably one and the same spring, urges engagement in both axial and radial direction so as to lock the intermediate ring member in both directions i. e. to the bracket and to the arm. Also the segments of the ring member are linked together to aid assembly and to control movement.

Each tooth may be split into separate parts which are spring urged apart so as to achieve better engagement, alternatively, the tooth shape may be such as to enable it to be driven a variable distance thus allowing for wear and achieve mating.

One embodiment of the invention and various alternatives will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :- Figure. 1. is a perspective view of a complete rear view mirror system with non-rising clutch ringed and friction joint also ringed.

Figure 2 shows arm in working and parking position.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a typical arrangement of a non-rising clutch with a separate intermediate (conical) ring member.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of another non-rising clutch arrangement where the conical member becomes an integral part of the arm.

Figure 5 shows a part perspective of the intermediate ring member with a split tooth arrangement.

Referring to the drawings Fig 1 is a complete mirror system comprising of a non-rising clutch'ringed'10 and a standard hinged joint'ringed'11 both supporting mirror 18.

A plan view on the cab and trailer (part view) Fig 2 shows both the working position 27 and parking position 28 of the mirror/arm assembly.

The clutch arrangement Fig 3 comprises of an arm 12, a segmented intermediate ring member 13 with flexible links 29 and conical part 14 urged on by spring 15, encased by bracket 16 and the complete assembly locked together with a push on fix clip 17.

The alternative arrangement Fig 4 comprises of an integral cone and arm 19, a segmented intermediate ring member 20 with flexible links 30 urged on by spring 21, encased by bracket 22 and the complete assembly locked together with a push on fix clip 23.

Fig 5 shows the intermediate ring member 24 with split teeth 25 to provide an alternative way of taking up wear. To retain segmental relationship flexible links 26 are added to the arrangement.

Claims

CLAIMS A mirror arm clutch mainly used on commercial vehicles that allows the mirror arm to be located in both the working and parking position. The parking location being necessary to avoid damage due to the arm swinging out when negotiating narrow gateways etc.
2. A clutch as claimed in Claim. 1. wherein the segmented linked intermediate inner ring clutch member has teeth or recesses of a tapered or of a wedge shape urged on by a spring loaded conical member, which allows for tooth wear.
3. A clutch as claimed in Claim. 1. wherein the segmented and linked intermediate inner ring member has radial teeth acting on the outer case recesses or visa-versa are positioned with dissimilar angles to aid foolproof assembly.
4. A clutch as claimed in Claim. I. wherein the segmented linked intermediate inner ring member has radial teeth acting on the outer case recesses or visa-versa are made of dissimilar width teeth and recesses to aid foolproof assembly.
5. A clutch as claimed in Claim. 1. wherein the segmented linked intermediate inner ring member has split teeth as an alternative way of taking up wear.