JPH0335131B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vehicle mirror housing drive device that changes the support angle of the mirror housing by remote control from inside the vehicle.

(Prior Art) In general, mirrors attached to vehicles tend to have a large area in order to ensure a rearward visibility range. As a result, the mirror protrudes from the side of the vehicle body, causing the mirror to easily come into contact with other objects, for example, when entering and exiting a narrow garage or parking lot, when passing passenger cars, when putting a body cover on, etc.

Also, when entering a main road from an expressway approach road, or when changing lanes on a wide road with two or more lanes, the mirror must be tilted further outward than the mirror position on a general road. It is difficult to recognize a car diagonally behind you.

In order to eliminate these problems, the end of the mirror body on the vehicle body side is swingably supported, and a drive unit with a built-in motor and gear mechanism tilts the mirror part around the supported part. 2. Description of the Related Art Electric mirrors are known in which the angle can be changed or the position can be changed between a used position and a non-used position by remote control.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Incidentally, as described above, such an electric mirror device has a built-in motor, especially a DC motor that operates on battery power, so sparks are generated from the brush inside the motor during operation. This becomes a noise source for the radio receiver mounted on the vehicle, and since a reduction gear is used in the power transmission mechanism of the motor, space is required for it, and problems such as gear noise occur.

Furthermore, these drive mechanisms are required to be resistant to vibrations and the like, resulting in high costs.

Therefore, the present invention uses a shape memory alloy in the drive device in order to eliminate such problems, and its objective is to prevent noise from occurring in the radio receiver.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact, low-cost vehicle mirror housing drive device that does not generate gear noise and has excellent vibration resistance.

(Means and effects for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a base member that is provided on a vehicle body and has a support part, and a base member that is supported by the support part and that is connected between at least a storage position and a use position. In a vehicle mirror comprising a mirror housing that is rotatable in the mirror housing and a mirror housed in the mirror housing, a coil-shaped first coil is provided between the support portion and the mirror housing to urge the mirror housing toward the use position. A shape memory alloy and a coiled second shape memory alloy that urges the mirror housing toward the storage position are provided, and the first shape memory alloy and the second shape memory alloy are arranged concentrically. do. Therefore, since no motor is used for the drive device, no noise is introduced into the radio receiver, and since a reduction gear is not required, the device is compact and does not generate gear noise.

Furthermore, since the number of mechanical power transmission mechanisms can be reduced compared to the case where a motor is used, vibration resistance is excellent and cost is reduced.

(Embodiments) Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a rotation drive section of a door mirror, and FIG. 2 is a shape provided in this rotation drive section. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a memory alloy.

First, in order to make the explanation easier to understand, the explanation will be started from FIG.

Reference numerals 1 and 2 refer to first and second spiral leaf springs which are formed by spirally winding a shape memory alloy that has a linear shape and has a memory shape above the martensitic transformation temperature; 1 is a right-handed spiral leaf spring; is wound left-handed. Here, electrodes are connected to the inner end 1a and outer end 1b of the spiral leaf spring 1, and when the switch 3 is closed and the power terminals a and b are energized, the spiral leaf spring 1
A current flows through. As a result, the shape memory alloy itself heats up due to resistance heat generation and tries to return to its original shape, that is, a straight state. Therefore, at this time, if the inner end 1a is fixed and the outer end 1b is left free, the outer end 1b will be rotationally displaced in the direction of arrow A.

On the other hand, if electrodes are connected to the inner end 2a and outer end 2b of the spiral leaf spring 2, and the switch 4 is closed to energize the power terminals a and b,
A current flows through the spiral leaf spring 2 and it is heated. At this time, if the inner end 2a is fixed and the outer end 2b is left free, the outer end 2b will be rotationally displaced. Since the winding direction is opposite to that of the leaf spring 1, the outer end portion 2b is rotationally displaced in the opposite direction to the outer end portion 1b of the spiral leaf spring 1, that is, in the direction of the arrow. The first embodiment uses spiral leaf springs 1 and 2 made of this shape memory alloy.

Reference numeral 5 in FIG. 1 is a mirror body. Reference numeral 6 denotes a mirror housing formed in the form of a case with a front opening having a substantially rectangular shape from the front, and a mirror 7 is held in the opening of the mirror housing 6 in such a manner as to close the opening.

On the other hand, reference numeral 8 designates a base member having an L-shaped cross section, which is provided with a vehicle body attachment part 8a in the vertical direction and a support part 8b for pivotally supporting the rotational drive part 9 and the mirror body 5 in the horizontal direction. Become. And this support part 8
b A short cylindrical support part 11 is provided upward perpendicularly to the top surface part 10, and this is connected to the bottom surface of the mirror housing 6,
The mirror body 5 is fitted into a hole 13a of a circular cap-shaped supported member 13 fixed at a position biased toward the vehicle body, and supports the mirror body 5 so as to be rotatable within a substantially horizontal plane about the support portion 11. The supported member 13 is inserted into a circular hole 6a provided on the bottom of the mirror housing 6 at a position biased toward the vehicle body, and the flange portion 12 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the supported member 13 is inserted into the hole 6a.
It abuts against a circular step portion 6b provided on the outer periphery and is fixed with a screw 17.

At this time, a ring-shaped space is provided between the support part 11 and the supported member 13, and the first and second rings made of the shape memory alloy described in FIG.
The spiral leaf springs 1 and 2 have their inner ends 1a and 2a above and below the outer peripheral surface of the support part 11, and the outer end 1b
and 2b are fixed to the upper and lower inner circumferential walls of the supported member 13 having a circular cap shape. The first and second spiral leaf springs 1 and 2 are arranged concentrically above and below.

In such a configuration, when the switch 3 provided in the vehicle interior is closed, the spiral leaf spring 1 provided in the upper part of the space deforms, and the mirror body 5 is rotated in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper (direction in which the mirror opens) with the support portion 11 as the center. Rotate to.

On the other hand, when the switch 3 is opened and the switch 4 is closed, the mirror body 5 rotates in the direction perpendicular to the page (the direction in which the mirror closes), and instead of driving the mirror by a conventional motor, the mirror housing is made of a shape memory alloy. can be driven.

By the way, in this embodiment, since a shape memory alloy is used in the shape of the spiral leaf spring, a space having a small height but a large lateral area can be effectively utilized as a space for installing a mirror drive device.

Incidentally, reference numeral 15 is a harness for finely adjusting the mirror surface 7, which is connected to the support part 8b, the groove 8d provided in the lower part, and the insertion hole 11a provided in the support part 11.
It connects the interior of the vehicle and the interior of the mirror housing 6 through the mirror housing 6.

3 and 4 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the rotational drive section of the mirror as in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing this rotational drive section. It is a figure showing the shape memory alloy provided in the part.

First, explanation will be given starting from FIG.

Reference numerals 20 and 21 are formed by winding a linear shape memory alloy into a coil spring shape, and both are wound in the same direction. These coil spring upper ends 21a, 21a,
When electrodes are provided on the lower ends 20b and 21b and the switches 22 and 23 are closed to energize the power terminals a and b, each coil spring 20 and 21
is heated by resistance heat generation and tries to return to its original shape, that is, a straight line state. At this time, the coil spring 20 has its lower end 20b connected to the coil spring 20.
If the upper end 21a of the coil 1 is fixed, the other ends thereof, that is, the upper end 20a of the coil 20 and the lower end 21b of the coil 21, will move in opposite directions (arrow C,
D direction).

In other words, the second embodiment uses two coil springs each made of a memory alloy wound in the same direction.

Reference numeral 25 in FIG. 3 is a mirror main body, which differs from the mirror main body 5 shown in FIG. 1 in a supporting portion 8c and a rotation driving portion 26. That is, the support portion 8c is the first
The protrusion toward the outside of the vehicle body is smaller than that of the support portion 8b shown in the figure. An elongated cylindrical support part 28 is provided on the upper surface part 27 of the support part 8c upwardly perpendicular to the surface. On the other hand, a supported member 29 fixed at a position biased toward the vehicle body side on the bottom surface of the mirror housing 6 in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment has double walls 29a and 29b.
It is a cylindrical body having approximately the same length (height) as the support part 28, and the support part 28 is fitted into this hole 29c, so that the mirror body 25 can freely rotate together with the supported member 29 in a substantially horizontal plane. Supported.

The coil springs 20 and 21 made of shape memory alloy shown in FIG.
0 are successively inserted and compressed and provided concentrically above and below. The lower end 20b of the coil spring 20 and the upper end 21a of the coil spring 21 are connected to an inner wall 29b.
The respective holes 29b-1 and 29b provided in
-2 to the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 28, while the upper end 20a of the coil spring 20 and the lower end 21b of the coil spring 21 are fixed to the upper and lower outer walls of the supported member 29, respectively. Reference numeral 31 is a ring plate provided to prevent the coil springs 20, 21 from interfering with each other.

With such a configuration, also in this embodiment, the mirror can be driven by the shape memory alloy in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

By the way, in this second embodiment, shape memory alloys are used as coil springs, and they are arranged in rows in the length direction, so a space is created that has a narrow lateral area but a high height, contrary to the case of the first embodiment. Can be used effectively.

5 and 6 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view showing the rotational drive section of the mirror as in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a figure showing the shape of the shape memory alloy provided in the part.

First, explanation will be given from FIG.

Reference numerals 40 and 41 are formed by winding a memory alloy whose shape is memorized in a linear shape into a coil shape.
They are wound once in opposite directions. When electrodes are provided on the upper ends 40a, 40a and the lower ends 40a, 40b of these coils 40, 41, and the switches 42 and 43 are closed to energize the power terminals a, b, each coil 40, 41 is heated by resistance. When heated, it tries to return to its original shape, i.e., straight. At this time, the lower end 40 of each coil 40, 41
If b and 41b are fixed, their upper ends 4
0a and 40a are because the winding direction of the coil is opposite,
Rotationally displaced in mutually opposite directions (directions of arrows E and F). The third embodiment uses two coils formed by winding this shape memory alloy in opposite directions.

Reference numeral 45 in FIG. 5 is a mirror body, which is slightly different from the mirror body 5 shown in FIG. 1 in the shape of a supported member 46 rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the support portion 44. That is, the supported portion 46 of the third embodiment
Two concentric grooves 46a and 46b are provided on the lower surface of a ring plate having a flange portion 47 on its outer peripheral surface. Then, insert the coil 40 into this inner groove 46a,
The upper end 40a is attached to the supported member 46, and the lower end 40a is attached to the supported member 46.
0b is fixed to the support portion 8d. On the other hand, the outer groove 4
The coil 41 is inserted into 6b, and its upper end 41a
to the supported member 46, and the lower end 41b to the supporting part 8d.
sticks to. Coil 40 and coil 41 are arranged concentrically.

Incidentally, the coils 40 and 41 of the third embodiment can further reduce the space in the height direction compared to the spiral plate springs 1 and 2 of the first embodiment.

7, 8 and 9 are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view showing a mirror rotation mechanism, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing a shape memory alloy. FIG.

First, explanation will be given from FIG.

Reference numeral 50 includes a connecting member 52 provided at the center of one side of a disk 53, and a cylindrical body 54 formed on the other side, and a coil spring 55 made of a shape memory alloy is wound around the outer peripheral surface of this cylindrical body 54. Part 5
5a fixed to a part of the disk 53, and the disk 5
A connecting member 57 is provided at the center of one side of 6, and a cylinder 58 having a slightly smaller diameter than the cylinder 54 is formed on the other side, and a coil spring 59 made of a shape memory alloy is inserted into this cylinder. After inserting the cylindrical body 58 into the cylindrical body 54 with one end 59a fixed to a part of the disk 56 facing the other end 55 of each of the coil springs 55 and 59,
Disks 56 and 5 facing b and 59b, respectively
This mirror drive member is fixed to a part of 3.
By the way, the shape of the coil spring 55 is memorized in the state shown in FIG. 8, that is, in the contracted state.
The shape is stored in the state shown in the figure, that is, in the expanded state. Coil spring 55 and coil spring 59 are arranged concentrically.

Therefore, now both ends 55a of the coil spring 55
and 55b, and when the power terminal is energized by the switch 60, the coil spring 55 self-heats due to resistance heat generation, and the cylinder 58 becomes contracted as shown in FIG. , and the mirror drive member retracts.
At this time, the coil spring 59 is plastically deformed into a contracted state. In response to this, when the switch 60 is opened, electrodes are provided at both ends 59a and 59b of the coil spring 59, and the switch 61 is energized, the coil spring 59 self-heats due to resistance heat generation, expands as shown in FIG. 9, and the cylinder body 58 becomes a cylinder. Most of its length protrudes beyond body 54, and drive member 50 is elongated.

The fourth embodiment utilizes the expansion and contraction of a coil spring made of this shape memory alloy.

Reference numeral 65 in FIG. 7 is a mirror body, and a portion 66 of the housing 6 on the vehicle body side is rotatably provided at the tip of the base member 8, and the driving member 50 is attached to each of the base member 8 and the mirror body 65. Tilt the vehicle sideways slightly towards the rear,
The connecting parts 52 and 57 are attached.

In such a configuration, when the switch 60 is closed, the driving member 50 is contracted, and the mirror body is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. extends, the mirror body 65 rotates in the direction of arrow G, and enters the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, that is, the used state.

In addition, the reference numeral 67 indicates the rear surface of the mirror portion 7, and the housing 6.
It is provided inside the mirror to finely adjust the angle of the mirror surface.

In this way, in the fourth embodiment, the mirror housing can be driven by attaching the mirror body 65 rotatably to the base member 8 and by providing the driving member 50 at an appropriate position between the mirror body and the base member 8. The space of the housing 6 is not limited.

Although the present embodiment has been described using a door mirror as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a fender mirror.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention provides the following effects.

First, since no motor is used to drive the mirror body, no noise is generated in the radio receiver.

Second, since no motor is used, there is no need for a reduction gear, etc., and the space of the mirror housing can be reduced. Furthermore, the mirror can be driven quietly without any gear noise or the like.

Thirdly, the structure of the power transmission mechanism is simple, has excellent vibration resistance and durability, and can reduce costs.

Fourth, change the shape of the shape memory alloy appropriately (first
~Fourth Embodiment) By doing so, the shape of the drive section can be changed and the surplus space can be used effectively.

Fifth, since the first shape memory alloy and the second shape memory alloy are arranged concentrically, they can be stored compactly in the mirror device, making it possible to obtain a structure suitable for vehicle mirrors with limited space. can.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show a first embodiment of the invention. Figures showing the third embodiment, and Figures 7 to 9 are diagrams showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. And in the drawing, 1, 2, 20, 21, 40, 4
1, 51, 59 are shape memory alloys, 6 is a mirror housing, 8 is a base member, 8b is a support part, 5, 2
5, 45, and 65 are mirror bodies.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A base member provided on a vehicle body and having a support portion; a mirror housing supported by the support portion and rotatable between at least a storage position and a use position;
In this vehicle mirror comprising a mirror housed in the mirror housing, a coil-shaped first shape memory alloy is disposed between the support portion and the mirror housing, and biases the mirror housing toward the use position; 1. A drive device for a mirror housing for a vehicle, characterized in that coil-shaped second shape memory alloys are provided for biasing toward a storage position, and the first shape memory alloy and the second shape memory alloy are arranged concentrically.