JPH09226459A - Motor-driven storage door mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a backlash in the vertical direction in the rotation on the bracket side when storage is carried out so as to smooth the motion. SOLUTION: A main gear 21 is fixed in a mirror base 20, a main shaft 27 of a bracket 26 is fitted in an opening 22 in the center of the main gear 21 so as to be supported rotationally, and a restricting gear 47 gearing to the first gear group 23 of the main gear 21 and the first restricting unit are arranged on the bracket side, so that a using position of a door mirror is decided. A driving unit 45 containing a speed reducing gear group 44, a clutch plate 38, and a motor 42 is fixed on the bracket side, and a pinion gear 33 is geared to the second gear group 24 of the main gear 21. The second restricting unit is arranged between the upper face of the mirror base 20 and the lower face of the bracket 26.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric retractable door mirror mounted on a front door of a motor vehicle, and more particularly, it has a shock absorbing function of folding the door mirror forward or backward of a vehicle body in the event of collision with an obstacle. Regarding door mirrors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of electric retractable door mirror has been
Since it protrudes outside the vehicle body, it may collide with an obstacle during traveling. In the event of such a collision, a structure is employed in which the driving force transmission path is separated by interposing a clutch mechanism in the speed reduction system so that the rotational force on the mirror housing side due to the collision is not transmitted to the drive unit side. FIG. 9 shows a typical example thereof, in which a bracket 3 for fixing a mirror housing, a clutch pawl 4 and a clutch gear 5 are fitted on a main shaft 2 vertically formed on a mirror base 1, and a coil spring 6 is used to mount them. It has a structure in which it is elastically pressed to the 1 side. A metal ball bearing 7 is arranged between the mirror base 1 and the bracket 3 and fitted on the bracket 3 side, and is engaged with a circular recess 8 formed on the mirror base 1 side. The ball bearing 7 and the circular recess 8 determine the normal use position and the storage position of the door mirror. A structure for positioning a door mirror using such a ball bearing and a circular recess is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 526222. Further, in order to make the engaging force of the ball bearing 7 with respect to the circular recess 8 stronger, a hole is formed in the portion of the bracket 3 that supports the ball bearing 7, and a coil spring is housed in this hole so that the ball bearing 7 always faces the mirror base 1 direction. It is also proposed to have a structure in which the elastic force to

[0003]

In the above structure, when the bracket 3 is rotated from the use position to the storage position or from the storage position to the use position or when the bracket 3 is rapidly rotated by an external force, the ball bearing 7 is recessed. 8, the bracket 3 is pushed up slightly and moves accordingly. That is, the bracket 3 rattles up and down, which is not preferable for this type of device that requires smooth movement. Further, since the ball bearing 7 is arranged between the bracket 3 and the mirror base 1, the rotational torque thereof is large, and therefore the recess 8 with which the ball bearing 7 contacts may be worn. In order to prevent this wear, the part where the ball bearing 7 contacts must be made of metal. When a part or all of the mirror base 8 is made of metal, there is a problem that the weight increases.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and prevents rattling in the vertical direction during the pivotal movement of the door mirror, and makes it possible to use resin as the material of the mirror base. A retractable door mirror is provided.

[0005]

An electric retractable door mirror according to the present invention (Claim 1) is a mirror base which is formed substantially horizontally so as to project to the outside of the vehicle body of an automobile front door, and the upper surface of a horizontal plane of the mirror base. A main gear that is fixed to the mirror base and has a circular opening in the center, a cover portion that covers the main gear, and the main gear that hangs downward from the upper surface of the cover portion and is housed in the cover portion. A bracket which has a main shaft fitted in the opening and a flat surface portion formed around the cover portion, and is rotatably supported with respect to the mirror base about the main shaft as a central axis, and is attached to the bracket side. The final stage gear is arranged on the flat surface portion, the drive portion including the reduction gear group and the motor that mesh with the main gear,
A detent gear having a diameter smaller than that of the main gear, which is vertically movably supported by a support column erected on the plane portion of the bracket and is rotatably supported, and which engages with the main gear, and a lower surface of the detent gear. A first moderation portion formed between the flat surface portion and a concave-convex engagement portion that determines a door mirror use position, a storage position of the door mirror formed between the mirror base upper surface and the bracket flat surface portion, and 2nd which consists of the uneven | corrugated engagement part which determines a forward tilt position
A moderation part is provided.

In the electric retractable door mirror according to the present invention (claim 2), a clutch plate is arranged between the gears forming the reduction gear group.

Further, in the electric retractable door mirror according to the present invention (Claim 3), the teeth of the main gear are separated into a first tooth group and a second tooth group in a plane portion, and the first tooth group is the moderation. It meshes with a group of teeth formed on a part of the gear, and the second
The tooth group has a structure in which it meshes with the final gear,
The moderation part is composed of an arm part formed on the moderation gear, a protrusion formed on the lower end of the arm part, and a recess formed on the flat surface of the bracket. The number of the tooth groups and the first tooth group are set so that the rotation of the moderation gear is one rotation or less.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 to FIG.
Is mounted almost horizontally by projecting outward from the vehicle body of the automobile front door with a mirror base. Reference numeral 21 denotes a main gear fixedly formed on the horizontal upper surface of the mirror base 20 and having a diameter of about 3 cm. 22 is the main gear 2
1 is a circular opening formed in the center of 1. Main gear 21
Is divided into a first tooth group 23 located on the vehicle body side and a second tooth group 24 located on the opposite side to the first tooth group 23.
No teeth are provided between 3 and 24. As an example, the number of teeth of the first tooth group 23 can be 3, and the number of teeth of the second tooth group 24 can be 18. Reference numeral 25 is a convex portion formed adjacent to the main gear 21 on the horizontal plane of the mirror base 20 for determining the storage position and the forward tilting position. Each of the above parts can be integrally molded with resin.

A bracket 26 is attached to the upper surface of the mirror base 20, and is formed around the cover portion 27 that covers the main gear 21, the main shaft 28 that hangs downward from the upper surface of the cover portion 27, and the cover portion 27. It has a flat portion 29. The main shaft 28 is inserted into the opening 22, the lower surface of the flat surface portion 28 is brought into contact with the horizontal surface of the mirror base 20, and is supported rotatably with respect to the mirror base 20 with the main shaft 28 of the bracket 26 as a central axis. Windows 30 and 31 are formed in the cover portion 27 on the vehicle body side and outside the vehicle body, respectively. Although the main gear 21 is covered with the cover portion 27, the first tooth group 23 appears in the window 30 and the second tooth group 24 appears in the window 31. 3
2 (FIG. 2) is an arcuate groove formed around the main gear 21 on the lower surface of the bracket 26, and the convex portion 25 is located therein. The convex portion 25 moves in the groove 32 and contacts both ends of the groove 32 to determine the storage position and the maximum forward tilt position of the door mirror. The convex portion 25 and the groove 32 constitute a second moderation portion. Bracket 26
The main part can be integrally molded with resin. A mirror housing (not shown) is fixed to the bracket 26, and a mirror and a tilt drive unit for controlling the tilt of the mirror are attached to the mirror housing.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a pinion gear that meshes with the second tooth group 24 in the window 31, and the lower end of the central shaft 34 thereof is fitted into and supported by a hole 35 formed in the flat surface portion 29 of the bracket 26. The pinion gear 33 is rotatably supported by a shaft 34. In this example, the diameter of the pinion gear 33 is 1 cm,
The number of teeth is set to 10. 36 is the pinion gear 3
The helical gears arranged on the upper part of 3 have four mountain-shaped projections 37 formed at equal intervals on the upper surface thereof. Denoted at 38 is a clutch plate having four valley-shaped recesses 39 on its lower surface.
9 and the protrusion 37 are engaged with each other and are connected to each other. 40 is a worm gear that meshes with the helical gear 36, 41 is a helical gear that is integrally connected to the worm gear 40, 4
Reference numeral 2 is a motor, and 43 is a worm gear fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 42, which meshes with the helical gear 41. The various gears constitute a reduction gear group 44, and the gear group 44 and the motor 42 constitute a drive unit 45. The drive unit 45 is attached to the bracket 26. Motor 4 of drive unit 45
Each part except 2 can be formed of resin.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a support column formed substantially vertically in the plane portion 29 of the bracket 26 near the window 30. Reference numeral 47 denotes a moderation gear rotatably fitted to the support column 46 for the first tooth group of the main gear 21. It has a group of teeth 48 (four in this example) that mesh with 23. The tooth group 48 is profitable within a range of approximately 45 degrees of the moderation gear 47, and the other portions are formed in a plane. Reference numeral 49 denotes an arm portion provided at a substantially intermediate position of the plane portion of the moderation gear 47, and a protrusion 50 is formed on the lower surface thereof. The flat surface portion 2 of the bracket 26 with which the protrusion 50 faces
A concave portion 51 (FIG. 3) is formed in 9 and the projection 50 engages with this concave portion 51, and the rotational position of the moderation gear 47 is regulated. The arm portion 49, the protrusion 50, and the concave portion 49 make the first
The moderation part is configured. Reference numeral 52 denotes a coil spring fitted on the support column 46 above the moderation gear 47.
7 is elastically urged downward. When the protrusion 50 moves out of the recess 51 and moves on the flat surface 29, the moderation gear 47 is moved slightly upward against the spring force of the coil spring 52.

Reference numeral 53 is a case formed on the bracket 26, in which the drive unit 35, the motor 42, the moderation gear 47 and the like are housed. The upper end of the column 46 abuts on the case 53, and is fixed by a screw 54 from the outside of the case 53. The coil spring 52 is sandwiched between the moderation gear 47 and the case 53 and compressed.

FIG. 4 shows a concrete structure of the clutch mechanism portion. 55 is a columnar portion provided on the upper part of the pinion gear 33, and 56 is a flange portion formed between the columnar portion 55 and the lower gear portion. is there. The helical gear 36 is the pinion gear 3
3 is disposed on the upper portion of the column 3 and is supported by the collar portion 56, and the column portion 55
It is attached so as to be rotatable around. The clutch plate 38 is rotatably supported by the shaft 34 at its center and vertically movable, and further has a cylindrical portion 57 at its center.
This cylindrical portion 57 is rotatably fitted in a circular opening 58 at the center of the helical gear 36. A square projection 59 is provided at the center of the upper end of the pinion gear 33, while the projection 59 is provided at the center of the lower surface of the clutch plate 38.
A quadrangular concave portion 60 that fits in is formed. The projection 59 and the recess 60 mechanically couple the two. 61 is a coil spring fitted on the shaft 34,
The washer 62 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 34 and the clutch plate 3
It is in a state of being compressed between 8 and. That is, the coil spring 61 always applies a downward elastic force to the clutch plate 38. The upper end of the shaft 34 is the case 5
Fixed to 3.

In FIG. 5, the flat surface portion 2 of the bracket 26 is shown.
In FIG. 9, three concave portions 51 corresponding to the convex portions 25 provided at the lower end of the arm portion 49 of the moderation gear 47 are formed at regular intervals on a concentric circle centered on the column 46. These recesses are referred to as 51a, 41b and 51c. Recesses 5 at both ends
The angles of 1a and 51c with respect to the center of the support column 46 are about 90 °, and they rotate in this range. That is, the rotation of the moderation gear 47 is set within the range of one rotation or less. This is to reduce the rotation space of the arm 49.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG.
Shows the case where the door mirror is in the normal use position. The first tooth group 23 of the main gear 21 meshes with the tooth group 48 of the moderation gear 47, and the projection 50 of the arm 49 is engaged with the central recess 51b. By this engagement, the rotation position of the moderation gear 47 with respect to the main gear 21 is fixed, and the position of the bracket 26 is fixed. The positions of the protrusion 50 and the recess 51b are set so that this fixed position becomes the normal use position.

When the door mirror is rotated from the use position to the storage position, the motor 42 is turned on by operating a switch inside the vehicle. The rotational force (normal rotation) of the motor 42 is decelerated via the path of the worm gear 43, the helical gear 41, the worm gear 40, the helical gear 36, the clutch plate 38, and the pinion gear 33, and is applied to the main gear 21. That is, at this time, since the clutch mechanism is in the engaged state, the rotational force applied to the helical gear 36 is applied to the projection 37 and the recess 39.
The torque is transmitted to the clutch plate 38 via the coupling portion, and the rotational force of the clutch plate 38 is transmitted to the pinion gear 33. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the pinion gear 33 rotates in the forward direction as indicated by the arrow, and the rotational force is applied to the main gear 21. Since the main gear 21 is fixed to the mirror base 20, it cannot rotate. Therefore, the pinion gear 33, that is, the bracket 26 side, rotates forward about the main shaft 27. By this rotation, the moderation gear 47 also rotates forward. During this rotation, the protrusion 50 of the moderation gear 47 is disengaged from the recess 51b. The engagement force between the protrusion 50 and the recess 51b is set so that the engagement force is released by the rotational force of the pinion gear 33. First tooth group 2
When the meshing of 3 and the tooth group 48 is disengaged, the protrusion 50 engages with the recess 51a, and the moderation gear 47 stops. After that, the pinion gear 33 also rotates, the projection 25 comes into contact with one end of the groove 32 and stops, and this position is detected by another position detecting means (not shown), the drive of the motor 42 is turned off, and the bracket 26 is rotated. Motion stops. At this time, the pinion gear 33
Is located near the lower end of the second tooth group 24 of the main gear 21 (FIG. 7).

When the door mirror is rotated from the storage position to the use position, the motor 42 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the pinion gear 33 rotates in the reverse direction, and the bracket 26 also rotates in the reverse direction. During this rotation, the first tooth group 23 meshes with the tooth group 48, the protrusion 50 of the moderation gear 47 comes off from the recess 51a,
The moderation gear 47 rotates in the reverse direction. When the projection 50 engages with the recess 51b, this position is detected by the position detecting means, the motor 42 is turned off, and the bracket 26 stops at the use position.

Next, with the door mirror in the use position,
When the door mirror collides with an obstacle from behind and a sudden and strong forward force is applied to the door mirror, as shown in FIG.
A reverse rotational force in the direction indicated by the arrow is applied to 6 through the mirror housing, and this rotational force causes the pinion gear 33 and the clutch plate 38 to rapidly reversely rotate. Due to this abrupt and strong rotational force, the trough-shaped recess 39 of the clutch plate 38 is pushed up by the mountain-shaped projection 37 of the helical gear 36, and the clutch plate 38 rotates with the engagement with the helical gear 36 being released.
Thus, the rotational force due to this impact is not transmitted to the helical gear 36, and there is no possibility that the helical gear 36 and the worm gear 40 will be destroyed by this rotational force. On the other hand, in the middle of the forward rotation of the bracket 26 due to the applied rotational force, the tooth group 48 of the moderation gear 47 is disengaged from the first tooth group 23, and the projection 50 is engaged with the recess 51c and stopped. After that, the bracket 26 also rotates forward and the convex portion 25 comes into contact with the left end (FIG. 8) of the groove 32 and stops. This position is the maximum forward tilt position. At this time, the pinion gear 33 is located near the upper end of the second tooth group 24 of the main gear 21 (FIG. 8).

When the door mirror is returned from the forward tilted position to the use position, the motor 42 is turned on to rotate normally and the bracket 26 is rotated normally via the pinion gear 33. From the middle of rotation, the tooth group 48 of the moderation gear 47 meshes with the first tooth group 23, and the protrusion 50 of the moderation gear 47 has the projection 5 thereof.
It deviates from 1c and rotates forward. After that, the protrusion 50 becomes the recess 51b.
To reach the retracted position. This position is detected by the position detecting means, and the motor 42 is automatically turned off. The three concave portions 51a, 51b provided on the flat surface 29,
Of the 51c, the recesses 51a and 51b are provided to keep the position of the moderation gear 47 with respect to the main gear 21 constant when the door mirror is stored and when the door mirror is tilted forward.

When the door mirror is in the use position, the clutch plate 38 is also applied when the door mirror collides with an obstacle from the front and a rear impact force is applied to the door mirror.
Is disengaged from the helical gear 36, and its rotational force is cut off here.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the positioning of the bracket with respect to the mirror base is performed by the first and second detent portions, the bracket does not move up and down with respect to the mirror base, and the door mirror. The storage operation of can be performed smoothly.

Further, according to the present invention, the moderation gear can reduce the torque by a gear ratio with respect to the main gear. Therefore, it becomes possible to form the protrusion at the lower end of the arm portion of the moderation gear and the concave portion of the flat portion with which the gear engages with resin, and it is possible to reduce the weight as compared with the conventional component formed of metal.

Further, according to the present invention, since the clutch mechanism is arranged between the gears forming the reduction gear group, the rotating torque of the helical gear coupled to the clutch plate can be made smaller than the conventional one. The clutch plate, the helical gear, and the gears forming the reduction gear group can be made of resin. As a result, the weight of the door mirror can be further reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the teeth of the main gear are separated into two groups, the first group of teeth and the second group of teeth, and the first group of teeth meshes with the group of teeth of the moderation gear, and the door mirror is stored. Since the number of teeth and the angle of the first gear group and the gear group of the moderation gear are set so that the rotation of the moderation gear is 1 rotation or less at the time of forward and forward tilting, the rotation range of the arm portion of the first moderation portion is rotated once. Therefore, it is possible to make the arm portion project from the surface of the moderation gear, and the projection at the lower end of the arm portion and the recessed portion of the bracket flat surface portion can be engaged more reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing an electric retractable door mirror according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bracket in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a clutch mechanism portion in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a moderation gear portion in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a main part plan view for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a main part plan view for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a main-portion plan view for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 20 ...... Mirror base 2, 28 ...... Main shaft 3, 26 ...... Bracket 21 ...... Main gear 23 ...... First tooth group 24 ...... Second tooth group 25 ...... Convex Part 32 ……… Groove 33 ……… Pinion gear 36, 41 ……… Helical gear 37, 50 ……… Projection 38 ……… Clutch plate 39, 51 ……… Recess 40, 43 ……… Worm gear 42 …… … Motor 44 ………… Reduction gear group 45 ………… Drive section 47 ………… Moderation gear 48 ………… Tooth group 49 ………… Arms 53 ………… Case

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mirror base (20) which is formed substantially horizontally so as to project to the outside of a vehicle front door, and which is fixed to the mirror base (20) on the upper surface of a horizontal plane of the mirror base (20). A main gear (21) having a circular opening (22) in the center, a cover portion (27) covering the main gear (21), and the cover portion (2) hanging downward from the upper surface of the cover portion (27).
7) having a main shaft (28) fitted into the opening (22) of the main gear (21) housed inside and a flat surface portion (29) formed around the cover portion (27), A bracket (26) rotatably supported on the mirror base (20) about the main shaft (28) as a central axis, and a final stage gear (33) attached to the bracket (26) side is the main gear. A drive unit (4) including a reduction gear group (44) meshing with (21) and a motor (42).
5), which is disposed on the flat surface portion (29) and is provided on the bracket (2
6) It is smaller than the main gear (21) that is vertically movable on a support (46) that is planted on the flat surface (29), is rotatably supported, and meshes with the main gear (21). A moderation gear (47) having a diameter, a first moderation part formed between a lower surface of the moderation gear (47) and the flat surface part (29), and a concave-convex engagement part for determining a use position of the door mirror; An electric motor comprising a second moderation portion, which is formed between the upper surface of the base (20) and the lower surface of the bracket flat portion (29), and includes a concave-convex engaging portion that determines a storage position and a forward tilting position of the door mirror. Retractable door mirror 2. The electric retractable door mirror according to claim 1, wherein a clutch plate (38) is arranged between the gears forming the reduction gear group (44). 3. The teeth of the main gear (21) are separated into a first tooth group (23) and a second tooth group (24) at a plane portion, and the first tooth group (23) is the moderation gear (23). 47) has a structure in which it meshes with a tooth group (48) formed in a part thereof, the second tooth group (24) meshes with the final stage gear (33), and the first detent portion has the detent gear ( 47), an arm portion (49), a protrusion (50) formed at the lower end of the arm portion (49), and a recess (51) formed in the bracket flat surface portion (29). The rotation of the moderation gear (47) is 1 when the door mirror is retracted and when it is tilted forward.
The tooth group (48) and the first tooth group (2
The electric retractable door mirror according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of 3) is set.