JPH0512112Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a door mirror for a vehicle.
This invention relates to an electrically foldable door mirror whose mirror body is automatically stopped at a neutral position or a retracted position.

[Prior Art] In general, the door mirrors of automobiles protrude more from the left and right side lines than the fender mirrors, so when entering a garage or entering a narrow space, it is difficult to avoid collisions with the garage wall or oncoming vehicles. There is always a risk of contact. To avoid this danger, simply tilt the mirror body forward or backward.
Instead of manually raising and lowering the door mirror, there are electrically foldable door mirrors that rotate the mirror body forward or backward and keep it in a folded (retracted) state by operating a switch from the driver's seat. This type of door mirror has a pinion on the output shaft of the electric means built into the mirror body, and this pinion meshes with a clutch gear attached to the top of the shaft that serves as the rotation axis of the mirror body. Clutches are interposed between the lower surface of the frame at the shaft insertion position and the opposing surface on the base side, and coil springs are installed around the outer periphery of the shaft to apply a meshing force to both clutches. Then, the electric means in the mirror body is driven to rotate the mirror body relative to the shaft, and the rotation of the mirror body is controlled using a slide contact placed at the upper end of the shaft.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional electrically foldable door mirror has problems in that it not only has a large number of parts, which increases costs, but also requires a large number of assembly steps, resulting in poor workability. Furthermore, since sliding contacts and the like are used, high accuracy of parts and high level of assembly work are required, but electrical failures such as shorts or instantaneous interruptions may occur when the door mirror is operated.

The object of the present invention is to solve problems in terms of cost and assembly by reducing the number of parts, and to provide an electrically retractable door mirror with a simple structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has a base plate fixed to the upper surface of an outwardly extending portion of a base fixed to a door panel of a vehicle, a shaft inserted through the base plate, and a shaft centered on the shaft. A mirror body that can be tilted forward and backward along the vehicle body is attached to the frame, and a drive means is disposed within the mirror body, and this drive means is controlled by a drive circuit equipped with a current detection circuit to move the mirror body. The electrically retractable door mirror is configured to rotate between a neutral position and a retracted position around a shaft, and to stop and hold the mirror body at each of the positions, the shaft having a pinion fixed to the output shaft of the drive means. A clutch is meshed with a clutch gear attached to the base, and a plurality of concave spherical seats are formed on the lower surface of the clutch gear and the upper surface of the base side, respectively, and balls are fitted into the concave spherical seats. A plurality of concave ball seats are formed on either the upper surface or the lower surface of the frame to which the mirror body is fixed, and the ball locking convex portion having a plurality of inclined surfaces in the circumferential direction is formed on the other side to form the concave ball. A clutch in which a ball is fitted in the seat and the ball locking convex portion is formed, and a coil spring is further arranged between a washer provided on the upper part of the shaft and a socket portion integrated with the frame. The electrically retractable door mirror is characterized in that the clutch gear and the base plate and the clutch gear and the frame are respectively biased.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on the illustrated example.

In the following embodiments, only the right side door mirror is shown, and since the structure and function of the left side door mirror are symmetrical to the right side door mirror, drawings and explanations thereof are omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part. In the figure, numeral 1 is a base fixed to the door panel or triangular window of the vehicle, 2 is a shaft erected on the overhang of the base,
3 is a mirror body mounted so as to be rotatable around the shaft 2; 4 is a frame of the mirror body 3; 5 is a socket formed on the frame 4 to be inserted into the shaft 2; 6 is a socket mounted on the frame 4. a motor connected to a reduction gear mechanism 7; a pinion 8 fixed to an output shaft 9 of the reduction gear mechanism; 1;
0 is a harness for folding the mirror body and adjusting the mirror angle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 1 has a projecting portion 11 that projects outward from the vehicle. A base plate 12 is fixed to the upper surface of the projecting portion 11, and the shaft 2 is inserted into a through hole 12a provided in the base plate 12. and install it.

Further, a disc-shaped clutch receiver 13 is fixed to the periphery of the through hole 12a of the base plate 12, as shown in FIG. A concave spherical seat 14 is provided. A ball 15 is disposed on the concave spherical seat 14, and the ball is fitted into a concave spherical seat 17 provided at a position corresponding to the ball 15 on the lower surface of the clutch gear 16 attached to the shaft 2.
A clutch portion A18 is formed. Furthermore, the shaft 2 to which the clutch gear 16 is attached is attached to the frame 4.
The upper surface of the clutch gear 16 and the lower surface of the frame 4 are connected to the clutch portion B.
19. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower surface of the frame 4 has a concave spherical seat 20 divided into several equal parts (three equal parts in this figure).
is formed and a ball 21 is fitted therein, and when the mirror body 3 is in the neutral position, this ball 21 is provided on the upper surface of the clutch gear 16 and has an inclined surface 22 in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. It is locked to the shoulder 24 of the locking convex part 23, and moves the mirror body 3 in the upward direction along the inclined surface 22,
On the other hand, when the ball 21 is rotated from the rearward position to the neutral position, the ball 21
2 and comes into contact with the shoulder 24 of the locking convex portion 23, thereby preventing further rotation.

Further, the clutch gear 16 is installed so as to constantly mesh with the pinion 8, and the clutch gear 16 is attached to the socket portion 5.
A coil spring 27 is compressed on the outer periphery using a washer 25 and a plate 26, and applies meshing force to the clutch gear 16 and the base plate 12, and to the clutch gear 16 and the frame 4.

On the other hand, a stopper 2 is provided on the base plate 12 and the frame 4 to prevent the mirror body 3 from tilting backward.
8 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, this stopper 28 consists of a protrusion 29 provided on the lower surface of the socket portion 5 of the frame 4, and a receiving portion 30 provided on the plane of the base plate 12 and on the rotation radius of the protrusion 29. When the frame (mirror body) rotates in the backward tilting direction, the projecting piece 29 comes into contact with the receiving part 30 and is configured to stop the backward tilting. Then, as mentioned above, the mirror body 3 is moved to the stopper 28.
When the rearward tilting is stopped by , or when the ball 21 rotates from the rearward tilting position toward the neutral position and comes into contact with the locking convex portion 23 and stops at the neutral position, the driving current of the motor increases. This is configured to automatically cut off the drive power to the motor using a current detection circuit inserted into the drive circuit.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the mirror body 3 is in an upright state, that is, in a normal position (neutral position), and the ball 21 fitted on the lower surface of the frame 4 is
Shoulder 24 of the locking convex portion 23 on the upper surface of the clutch gear 16
It is locked in. Now, when tilting the mirror body 3 backward from the neutral position, the pinion 8 rotates when the motor 6 is driven by an appropriate switching operation, but the clutch gear 16 is pressed against the base plate 12 and the frame 4 by the spring 27. Therefore, the clutch gear 16 does not rotate, and the pinion 8 revolves in the same direction as the rotation. Since the pinion 8 is attached to the frame 4 of the mirror body 3 via the reduction gear mechanism 7, as the pinion 8 revolves, the frame 4
The ball 21 fitted on the bottom surface is the clutch gear 16
The mirror body 3 moves upwardly on the inclined surface of the upper surface, and at the same time, the mirror body 3 rotates about the shaft 2 in the backward tilting direction. When the rotation of the motor 6 is stopped at an arbitrary position, the clutch gear 16 and the pinion 8 remain engaged with each other, and the tilting at that position is maintained. Further, when it is necessary to tilt to the rearward tilting limit, the tilting is continued by continuing to drive the motor 6. When the mirror body 3 rotates to the rearward tilt limit, a protruding piece 29 formed protruding from the frame 4
When the mirror body 3 comes into contact with the receiving part 30 provided on the base plate 12 and the backward tilting of the mirror body 3 is stopped, the current value of the motor 6 increases at this point, and this current value is incorporated into the motor drive circuit. The current detection circuit detects this, stops the motor 6, and the mirror body 3 is kept tilted at the rearward limit position.

On the other hand, when the mirror body 3 is at any rearward tilting position or at the rearward tilting limit position, if the switch is operated to reverse the motor 6, the pinion 8 will revolve while rotating in the opposite direction to the backward tilting direction. ,
A ball 21 fitted on the lower surface of the frame 4 moves downwardly on an inclined surface 22 on the upper surface of the clutch gear 16, and the mirror body 3 rotates toward the neutral position. Then, the mirror body 3 rotates to the neutral position, and the ball 21 fitted on the lower surface of the frame 4 moves to the locking convex portion 2 on the upper surface of the clutch gear 16.
When the mirror body 3 comes into contact with the shoulder 24 of the mirror body 3 and stops rotating, the current value of the motor increases, and the current detection circuit built into the motor drive circuit detects this current value and stops the motor 6. The mirror body 3 is held at the neutral position.

The clutch mechanism of the present invention can continuously rotate the mirror body from a forward tilted position to a rearward tilted position when powered. That is, by operating the switch, the ball 21 located on the wall of the shoulder 24 can perform a series of operations in which it climbs the slope 22 of the locking convex portion 23, falls from the apex, and then climbs the slope 22 again. The mirror body can be continuously rotated from a forward tilted position to a neutral position to a rearward tilted position.

Next, the cases of manual folding and impact avoidance will be described. In this state, the electric drive means is not operating, so the pinion and clutch gear cannot rotate. Rotational torque is generated between the pinion 8 and the clutch gear 16 in order to rotate the shaft 2 due to the external force transmitted from the body 3 to the frame 4 to the socket portion 5.

Then, against the elastic force of the coil spring 27, the ball 15 and the concave spherical seats 14, 17 are disengaged, and the clutch 18 is released, and the mirror body 3 becomes free with respect to the base 1, and the front or Lean backwards.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the clutch gear 1
Clutch part B19 between the upper surface of 6 and the lower surface of frame 4
In this method, a concave spherical seat 20 is formed on the lower surface of the frame 4, and the ball 21 is fitted therein to move the inclined surface 22 on the upper surface of the clutch gear 16. However, as shown in FIG. Of course, there is no problem in forming the seat 31 and fitting the ball 32 thereinto, and forming the inclined surface 33 and the locking projection 34 on the lower surface of the frame 4.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that various changes and modifications can be made.

As described above, the present invention has an electric clutch mechanism in which a ball is fitted into a locking convex portion having an inclined surface on the upper surface side (or lower surface of the frame) of one clutch gear, and on the other hand, on the lower surface side of the clutch gear By installing a manual clutch mechanism in the front, one clutch gear can be used for both electric and manual operation, reducing the number of parts.
Costs have been reduced by simplifying parts management and assembly work.

In addition, since the mirror body can be rotated all at once from the forward tilted position to the rearward tilted position when powered, even if the mirror body is exposed in the forward tilted position, it will be rotated in a series so that it is not exposed. It is easy to exhibit stain resistance.

Furthermore, when it rotates from the rearward tilted position to the neutral position, it automatically stops at the neutral position, allowing different rotational movements to be performed using the same locking protrusion and ball. The number of parts has also been reduced.

Furthermore, the clutch mechanism uses conventional balls to reduce costs, while sliding on the inclined surface during electric drive, so that the mirror body can be rotated smoothly. be.

In addition, since the ball is moved in and out of the concave ball seat during manual operation, and slides on an inclined surface during electric operation, the frame and base should be made of inexpensive material rather than expensive sintered material, and at least have locking protrusions and recesses. Since it is only necessary to ensure the flesh pressure of the ball seat, further cost reduction is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the door mirror of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support portion of the mirror body and base plate, and Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the door mirror of the present invention.
This figure is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the mirror body has been moved to a movable position, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the clutch portion. 1...Base, 2...Shaft, 3...Mirror body, 4...Frame, 5...Socket part, 6
... Motor, 7 ... Reduction gear mechanism, 8 ... Pinion, 9 ... Output shaft, 10 ... Harness, 11 ...
Overhanging portion, 12...Base plate, 13...
Clutch receiver, 14, 17, 20, 31... Concave ball seat, 15, 21, 32... Ball, 16... Clutch gear, 18... Clutch part A, 19... Clutch part B, 22, 33... Inclined Face, 23, 34...
...Locking convex part, 24...Shoulder, 25...Washer,
26...Plate, 27...Coil spring,
28...stopper, 29...protrusion, 30...receptacle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A base plate is fixed to the upper surface of a projecting part extending outward from a base fixed to a door panel of a vehicle, etc., and a shaft is inserted through this base plate.
A mirror body that can be tilted back and forth along the vehicle body around this shaft is attached to the frame, and a driving means is disposed within the mirror body, and this driving means is controlled by a driving circuit equipped with a current detection circuit. The electrically retractable door mirror is configured to rotate the mirror body around a shaft between a neutral position and a retracted position, and to stop and hold the mirror body at each of the positions, wherein a pinion is connected to the output shaft of the driving means. The clutch is fixed and meshed with a clutch gear attached to the base of the shaft, and a plurality of concave spherical seats are formed on the lower surface of the clutch gear and the upper surface of the base side, respectively, and balls are fitted into the concave spherical seats. On the one hand, a plurality of concave spherical seats are formed on either the upper surface of the clutch gear or the lower surface of the frame to which the mirror body is fixed, and on the other side, the ball locking convex portion having a plurality of inclined surfaces in the circumferential direction is formed. a clutch in which a ball is fitted in the concave ball seat and the ball locking convex portion; An electrically retractable door mirror characterized in that a coil spring is provided to bias the clutch gear and base plate, as well as the clutch gear and frame, respectively.