JPH1081176A - Vehicular outer mirror device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular outer mirror device capable of easily returning its shaft that has turned over its predetermined turning range to its original position. SOLUTION: An outer mirror device comprises a shaft 2 which carries through its flange part 6 at its one side an outer mirror and is urged by an urging means, a drive mechanism for rotating the shaft, and a case adapted to be fixed on the body of a vehicle for receiving therein the shaft 2 and the drive mechanism. The flange part 6 is formed at its flange face 6a with arcuate grooves 11 and 12, into which balls arranged on the top of the case are engaged to thereby rotate the shaft 2 within its predetermined range between the used position and the retracted position. The flange part 6 is further formed at its flange face 6a with gradient grooves 6b and 6c connected to one ends of the grooves 11 and 12 respectively. The bottoms of the gradient grooves 6b and 6c are inclined in the direction where the balls that have got onto there from the ends of the respective grooves 11 and 12 by the rotation of the shaft 2 over its predetermined range roll back into the grooves 11 and 12 by urging force of the urging means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a vehicle outer mirror device for rotating a shaft carrying an outer mirror between a use position and a storage position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an outer mirror device for a vehicle in which a shaft carrying an outer mirror is rotated between a use position and a storage position. This outer mirror device for a vehicle carries an outer mirror via a flange portion provided on one side, and a shaft urged in one direction by urging means, a driving mechanism for rotating and driving the shaft, A case accommodating the shaft and the drive mechanism and fixed to the vehicle body. Then, a ball provided on the upper surface of the case is engaged with an arc-shaped groove formed on the flange surface of the flange portion to rotate the shaft to a predetermined range between the use position and the storage position. ing. As a prior art relating to such a vehicle outer mirror device, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-73504 has been filed by the same applicant.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional outer mirror device for a vehicle, when the outer mirror comes into contact with a standing tree or a telephone pole and the shaft rotates beyond a predetermined range, the motor built into the device main body is rotated. When the shaft is returned to the original position, the shaft cannot be easily returned. That is, in the conventional outer mirror device for a vehicle, since the flange surface on which the arc-shaped groove is formed is flat, the shaft rotates beyond a predetermined range and the ball rides on the flange surface from the end of the groove. Then, a large sliding resistance between the ball and the flange surface acts to make the ball difficult to move, and it is difficult to return the shaft to the original position only by the driving force of the motor.

If a motor with a large output is provided, it is easy to return the shaft to the original position. However, the motor with a large output is large in size, the size of the outer mirror device body is increased, and the cost is increased. Become.

An object of the present invention is to provide an outer mirror device for a vehicle which can easily return a shaft rotated beyond a predetermined rotation range to an original position without providing a motor having a large output. It is in.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned object, an outer mirror is supported via a flange portion provided on one side, and one direction is provided by an urging means. A shaft formed on a flange surface of the flange portion, the shaft including: a shaft biased to the shaft; a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the shaft; and a case that houses the shaft and the drive mechanism and that is fixed to a vehicle body. In the arc-shaped groove,
In a vehicle outer mirror device in which a ball provided on an upper surface of the case is engaged to rotate the shaft to a predetermined range between a use position and a storage position, a bottom surface is inclined and connected to one end of the groove. A curved arc-shaped inclined groove is formed on the flange surface, and the bottom surface of the inclined groove is a ball that rides on the bottom surface from one end of the groove when the shaft rotates beyond the predetermined range, It is characterized in that it is inclined in a direction to return into the groove by the urging force of the urging means.

According to the above structure, when the shaft rotates beyond the predetermined rotation range and the ball rides on the bottom of the inclined groove from one end of the groove, the ball is biased by the urging force of the urging means. A force in the direction along the bottom surface of the inclined groove, that is, a force in the direction of returning the ball into the groove, is always received. As a result, it is possible to easily return the shaft to the original position even with a motor having a modest output.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle outer mirror device having the same configuration as described above, an arc-shaped ridge having an upper surface inclined and connected to one end of the groove is formed on the flange surface. The upper surface of the ridge portion is such that when the shaft rotates beyond the predetermined range, the ball running on the upper surface from one end of the groove enters the groove by the urging force of the urging means. It is characterized by being inclined in the returning direction.

In the above construction, similarly to the first aspect, when the ball rides on the upper surface of the ridge from one end of the groove, the ball is moved into the groove by the urging force of the urging means. It always receives the force in the returning direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the urging means urges the shaft in a direction in which the flange surface approaches the upper surface of the case.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an outer mirror device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a stay, 2 is a shaft, and 3 is an upper case for a housing. An outer mirror (not shown) is attached to the tip of the stay 1. The base end of the stay 1 is fixed to the mounting flange 5 by welding. The shaft 2 has an engaging flange portion 6 and a columnar portion 7 as shown in FIGS. The mounting flange 5 is formed with four bolt insertion holes 5a, the engagement flange portion 6 is formed with bolt screw holes 8 corresponding to the positions where the bolt insertion holes 5a are formed, and the mounting flange 5 is formed with an engagement flange portion. 6 is fastened by bolts 9. With this configuration, since the shaft 2 and the stay 1 have a separate structure, the outer mirror can be replaced according to the type of vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging flange portion 6 has a circular recess 10 at its upper surface and at the center thereof, and has a ball recess at its lower surface and its peripheral portion as shown in FIGS. It has guide grooves 11 and 12. These ball guide grooves 11, 12
Has an arc shape, and regulates the rotation angle of the shaft 2 between the use position (forward tiltable) of the vehicle door mirror 4 and the storage position (rearward tiltable). The ball guide grooves 11 and 12 have different radial distances from the center of the shaft 2. As a result, the tilt angle of the shaft 2 becomes 180
It can be higher than degrees. This ball guide groove 1
At the end portions of the rotation regions 1 and 12, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 6, a step portion 14 for raising the shaft 2 in cooperation with the ball 13.
Are formed. The step 14 has an inclined surface 14a and a stopper surface 14b. The stopper surface 14b sets the rotation angle of the shaft 2 from the storage position to the use position.
Here, the rotation angle is 120 degrees. The inclination angle of the stopper surface 14b with respect to the horizontal line 14c is set larger than the inclination angle of the inclined surface 14a with respect to the horizontal line 14c.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a ball guide is provided on the flange surface 6a of the lower surface of the engaging flange portion 6 (the upper surface in FIG. 4A is the lower surface of the engaging flange portion 6). The inclined grooves 6b, 6c connected to one ends of the grooves 11, 12 are formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the inclined groove 6b extends from the end of the ball guide groove 11 to the vicinity of the end of the ball guide groove 12, and the inclined groove 6c extends from the end of the ball guide groove 12 to the end of the ball guide groove 11. Each is formed up to the vicinity of the portion. The inclined groove 6b is lower near the ball guide groove 11 and higher near the ball guide groove 12, and the inclined groove 6c is lower near the ball guide groove 12 and closer to the ball guide groove 11. Is getting higher. And the ball 13 is the shaft 2
When a force equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to the inclined grooves 6b and 6c, they move over the step of the stopper surface 14b. FIG.
(B) is an enlarged view showing a connection portion between the ball guide groove 12 and the inclined groove 6c.

The columnar portion 7 of the shaft 2 has a D-shaped cross section and has a flat surface 7a. The lower end of the columnar portion 7 is a small-diameter columnar portion 7.
b. A washer 15, an O-ring 16, and a bush 16 'are inserted through the columnar portion 7 of the shaft 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the bush 16 'of the shaft 2 is relatively slidably fitted with a washer abutting portion 15a with which the washer 15 is abutted, an O-ring abutting portion 15b with which the O-ring 16 is abutted, and a bush 16'. And a bush fitting portion 15c.
2 between the engagement flange 6 and the upper surface of the upper case 3.
The clearance H is provided to prevent the engagement flange 6 from being fixed to the upper case 3 as shown in FIG. The upper surface part T of the upper case 3 is inclined so as to promote the flow of rainwater as shown in FIGS. Also, sand,
Even if dust or the like enters between the engagement flange portion 6 and the upper case 3, the dust easily falls from the upper surface portion T. The washer 15 is slid by rotation of the shaft 2 between the upper case 3 and the washer abutting portion 15a under the load of a spring described later, but is generated on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the washer 15. The burrs increase the sliding resistance of the washer 15.
In order to reduce the sliding resistance, an annular relief groove G is formed in the shaft 2 and the upper case 3.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the upper case 3 has a centrally located circular hole 17a for receiving the through hole 17 of the shaft 2, a washer abutment portion 15a, and an O-ring abutment portion 15b. Circular recess 17b for receiving and bush 1
6 ′ receiving recess 17c. As shown in FIG. 9, an annular peripheral wall 3A for ensuring a clearance G is formed on the upper surface of the upper case 3 so as to surround the circular recess 17b. Hemispherical ball mounting holes 3a, 3a are formed in the annular peripheral wall 3A at locations facing each other. Since the ball mounting holes 3a, 3a are provided in the upper case 3, dust can be prevented from accumulating in the ball guide grooves 11, 12, and the balls 13 are positioned in the ball mounting holes 3a, 3a during assembly. easy.

FIG. 11 shows the side of the upper case 3 to which the vehicle body is attached.
As shown in FIG. 12, a flat portion 3B is formed.
13, a screw hole 3C, a breathing hole 3D, and a harness withdrawal hole 3E are formed as shown in FIG. The harness draw-out hole 3E is formed in an abutment surface 3F which abuts against an abutment surface of a lower case described later. This harness draw-out hole 3E
The harness 3G of the printed circuit board mentioned later is drawn out. An inverted U-shaped canopy 3H, 3I is formed in the flat part 3B above the breathing hole 3D and the harness draw-out hole 3E. The eaves 3H and 3I serve to prevent water from entering the upper case 3 through the breathing hole 3D and the harness drawing hole 3E. Further, since the harness draw-out hole 3E plays a role as a guide hole of the harness 3G, it contributes to improvement of workability at the time of assembly. The screw holes 3C are used for fastening the vehicle body mounting bracket 3J shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, six screw holes 3C are formed.
It is appropriately selected and used according to J.

The vehicle body mounting bracket 3J has a support base 3K for supporting a lower case, which will be described later, and a fastening plate 3M attached to the upper case 3 via a screw member 3L as a fastening member. A screw member 3 is attached to the fastening plate 3M.
Two holes 3N for L insertion are formed, and when this type of vehicle body mounting bracket 3J is used, these two holes 3N are formed.
A screw hole 3C corresponding to N is used. A boss 3P for attachment to the vehicle body is formed on the fastening plate 3M, and a bolt and a nut (not shown) are screwed through a bolt hole 3Q formed on the attachment boss 3P, whereby The vehicle body mounting bracket 3J is fixed to the vehicle body. Note that a screw hole 3R is formed in the support base 3K, and the support base 3K is screwed into a screw hole of a lower case described later by screwing a screw member 3S as a fastening member through the screw hole 3R. Fixed. The lower case and the upper case 3 are fastened by one of the screw members 3S.

The upper portion of the upper case 3 has a flat portion 3B
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13, a mounting recess 19 for the stopper member 18 is formed. The stopper member 18 is formed in a T shape when viewed from the front, and includes a mounting plate portion 18a and an engagement plate portion 18b. The engagement plate portion 18b has an arc shape that curves along the outer shape of the engagement flange portion 6 when viewed from above. A screw insertion hole 18c is formed in the mounting plate portion 18a, and a screw insertion hole 1c is formed in the mounting recess 19 on the back surface of the upper case 3.
A screw threaded hole 19a (see FIG. 7) is formed corresponding to 8c. The stopper member 18 is a screw member 18 shown in FIG.
It is fixed to the upper case 3 by d. Upper case 3
A pair of reinforcing projections 3T is formed on both sides of the mounting recess 19 on the upper surface of the mounting recess 19. This reinforcing projection 3T
Has an arc surface 3T 'along the arc shape of the engagement plate portion 18b. Further, on the upper surface of the upper case 3, the reinforcing projections 3 are provided.
Receiving portion 3 receiving engagement plate portion 18b from below adjacent to T
X is formed. The receiving portion 3X and the annular peripheral wall 3A are connected via a step 3V.

As shown in FIG. 1, a clutch holder 22 is inserted through the columnar portion 7. The clutch holder 22 has an oval insertion hole 22a at the center thereof. At the periphery of the clutch holder 22, as shown in FIG.
An engagement protrusion 22b is formed around 2a. Here, the engagement projections 22b are formed every 120 degrees, and have a chevron shape. The clutch holder 22 includes a driving gear 23
Are engaged with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the drive gear 23 has a tooth portion 23a, a circular central hole 23b, an engagement recess 23c, and an annular rib 23d for positioning a spring. The engagement recess 23c has a shape corresponding to the engagement protrusion 22b. The drive gear 23 is urged upward by a spring 24 as an urging means as shown in FIG. 1, so that the drive gear 23 and the clutch holder 22 are always meshed and engaged. The upper end 24a of the spring 24 is in contact with the lower surface of the washer 25, and the lower end 24b is in contact with the upper surface of the drive gear 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the washer 25 includes a D-shaped hole 25a, a receiving surface 25b, and an annular peripheral wall 25c. The washer 25 rotates together with the spring 24 and the shaft 2 when the shaft 2 rotates. Thereby, generation of abnormal noise due to rotation of the spring 24 is reduced. The receiving surface 25b of the washer 25 has an annular step, so that the sliding contact resistance with the case 3 is reduced.

A housing space 26 for a drive mechanism 27 is formed inside the upper case 3 as shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 8, 11, and 12. The driving mechanism 27 includes a motor 28, a printed circuit board 29, and a plate member 3 as shown in FIG.
0, a worm 31, a helical gear 32, and a worm 33. Worm 31 is helical gear 3
2, the helical gear 32 rotates integrally with the worm 33, the worm 33 meshes with the drive gear 23, and the worm 31, the helical gear 32, the worm 33, and the drive gear 23 transmit the rotation of the motor 28 to the shaft 2 for rotation. Make up the mechanism. 11 and 18, pin holes 3a ', 3a' for fixing the plate member 30, receiving surfaces 3e, 3f, 3g of the plate member 30, and FIGS. Are formed with the receiving portions 3h and 3i of the ball 36, the positioning holes 3m and 3n, and three screw holes 3x.

FIG. 1 and FIG.
9, as shown in FIG. 20, fitting pins 30a, 30a fitted to pin holes 3a ', 3a', motor mounting portion 30b,
The insertion protrusions 30c, 30c of the printed circuit board 29 and the guide protrusion 30d are formed. As shown in FIGS. 19 to 23, a fitting hole 30e of the harness 3G is formed on a side portion of the plate member 30, so that the harness 3G is not loosened and swung. The motor 28 is provided in the motor mounting portion 30b.
, And a joint member 40 for directly connecting the motor output shaft to the worm 31 (FIG. 1, FIG.
(See FIGS. 25 and 26), an insertion hole 30h through which the oval-shaped shaft portion 31a of the worm 31 is inserted, and a guide portion 30i of the worm 31 are formed. Motor 28
Are fixed to the motor mounting portion 30b by screws 28a 'and 28a' as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the joint member 40 has an insertion hole 40a for the shaft 31a of the worm 31, and the shaft 31a and the insertion hole 40.
As shown in FIG.
Thereby, the starting torque of the worm 31 can be increased, and the worm 31 and the helical gear 32 can be increased.
Biting can be prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23 and 27, cylindrical bushes 41 and 42 are provided on the lower surface of the plate member 30.
A pair of fitting portions 3 for fixing (see FIGS. 1 and 12)
0j, 30k are formed, and a pair of fitting portions 30j, 30k are formed.
The space between them is an installation space 30l for the worm 33. The fitting portions 30j and 30k have openings for inserting a bush having a U-shaped cross section, and the fitting portions 30j and 30k connect the shaft portions 33a and 33b (see FIG. 12) of the worm 33 to the bushes 41 and 42.
It functions as a pair of bearings that are supported via the. Movement-regulating ribs 30m and 30n are formed in the fitting portion 30j to guide the bush 42 and face both end surfaces of the bush 42 to restrict the movement in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 27, the pair of movement restricting ribs 30m and 30n have a C-shape that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, so that the bush 42 can be easily guided. The fitting portion 30j is provided with a movement regulating rib 30o for regulating the movement of the bush 41 in the axial direction. The end surfaces of the shaft portions 33a, 33b of the worm 33 are in contact with the balls 36, 36. An arc-shaped positioning outer cylinder 30p and an arc-shaped positioning inner cylinder 30q are formed on the plate member 30 on the side opposite to the motor mounting portion 30b. Positioning outer cylinder 30p and positioning inner cylinder 3
0q is concentric with the insertion hole 30h. Positioning outer cylinder 30
An arc-shaped guide recess 30r for guiding the arc-shaped positioning cylinder 43a formed in the lower case 43 is formed between the p and the positioning inner cylinder 30q. The positioning cylinder 43a is also concentric with the insertion hole 30h. On the lower surface of the plate member 30, a protection surface portion 30s for protecting the helical gear 32 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 28, the lower case 43 has a bearing cylinder 43b for the shaft 2, a fitting wall 43c for the upper case 3, and pins 43d and 43d fitted to the pin holes 3m and 3n of the upper case 3. And bush holding portions 43e and 43f (see also FIG. 29) for holding the bushes 41 and 42, and screw holes 43x, 43y and 43z are formed. A bush 44 is fitted to the bearing cylinder 43b as shown in FIG. 2, and the small diameter column portion 7b of the shaft 2 is fitted to the bush 44. An E-ring 45 is mounted on the columnar portion 7 immediately above the small-diameter columnar portion 7b of the shaft 2. E-ring 45 includes drive gear 23, clutch holder 2
2 serves to support the spring 2 against the urging force of the spring 24. As shown in FIG. 28, a shaft hole 43g that supports the shaft 31b of the worm 31 is formed concentrically with the positioning cylinder 43a.

As shown in FIG. 31, the worm 31 has a washer 31c integrally with a shaft portion 31b. However, the washer 31c may be separate as shown in FIG. A resin washer 31d is fitted to the shaft portion 31a. Reference numeral 31e denotes an oval hole to be fitted with the oval portion 31f of the worm 31, and the washer 31d is rotated integrally with the worm 31. The worm 31 is a positioning cylinder 43
By fitting a into the guide recess 30r, the support is positioned and supported between the plate 30 and the lower case 43. The bearing wall of the insertion hole 30h of the motor mounting portion 30b and the bearing wall of the shaft hole 43g of the lower case 43 form a sliding surface on which the washers 31c and 31d of the worm 31 slide in contact with FIGS. The washer 31d is made of a bake material,
As a result, the wear resistance is improved and the worm 31
The operation noise based on the rotation of is reduced. Further, since the washer 31c is provided to receive a load in the thrust direction, the size, shape,
By changing the material, the sliding area of the shaft hole 43g of the lower case with the bearing wall can be changed and adjusted, and the output torque due to the rotation of the worm 31 in the storage direction of the shaft 2 and the use of the shaft 2 An output torque difference from an output torque due to rotation of the worm 31 in the direction can be reduced. That is, since the conventional vehicle outer mirror device has a configuration in which the end face of the shaft portion 31b of the worm 31 is received by the ball, the output torque difference depending on the rotation direction of the worm 31 can be solved. Further, since the structure is such that the load in the thrust direction of the worm 31 is received by the washer, both shaft portions 31a and 31 of the worm 31 are provided.
It is also possible to reduce abrasion of the wall surfaces of the pair of support wall portions that support b.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 35, the lower case 43 has positioning pins 46,
46 are formed. The positioning pins 46 are fitted into positioning holes (not shown) formed in the support base 3K of the vehicle body mounting bracket 3J shown in FIG. Drain holes 47, 47 are formed in the lower case 43 on the vehicle body mounting side as shown in FIG. The drain holes 47, 47 extend from the abutting surface 43 p of the lower case 43 where the abutting surface 3 F of the upper case 3 abuts to the lower case 4.
3 extends to the lower surface 43q. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the lower case 43 has a cross-sectional shape inclined toward the vehicle body mounting side, and has a structure in which water such as rainwater that has entered the case is easily discharged from the drain hole. The motor 28 and the printed circuit board 29 are located above the abutment surface 3F of the upper case 3, so that even if rainwater or the like enters, the electric components such as the motor 28 and the printed circuit board 29 are not corroded by the rainwater or the like. Is considered.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, the engagement flange 6 has an engagement notch 6z formed on the outer periphery thereof. The engagement plate portion 18b of the stopper member 18 faces the rotation region of the engagement notch 6z. The shaft 2 is a motor 28
Is driven to rotate. The rotation angle of the shaft 2 between the use position and the storage position is usually the ball guide groove 11, 12.
Is determined by the ball rotation range. The motor 28 is turned off, for example, at a use position or a storage position by detecting a lock current (overcurrent) flowing through the motor 28 by an overcurrent detection circuit (see FIG. 38) of the printed circuit board 29. When the ball 13 is located at the step 14, the shaft 2 is slightly raised, so that the spring 24 is slightly compressed,
The pressing force of the flange portion 6 against the ball 13 increases, and the shaft 2 is held without rattling at the use position or the storage position. Note that the driving torque of the motor 28 is set to a magnitude that is less than that required for the ball 13 to get over the stopper surface 14b.

As shown in FIG. 38, the driving circuit includes fixed contacts 51a, 51b, 5 connected to both ends of the battery 50.
2a, 52b, a switch circuit composed of interlocking movable contacts 53a, 53b, first diodes 54, 55 for rectification connected to the motor 28, and a first PTC as overcurrent detecting means.
The motor 28 is roughly constituted by an element 56 and a second PTC element 57, and the rotation of the motor 28 is stopped by an abrupt increase in the internal resistance of the first PTC element 56 and the second PTC element 57 based on the overload current flowing through the motor.

When an external force is forcibly applied to the shaft 2, for example, when a person grasps the stay 1 and forcibly rotates the shaft 2, or when the outer mirror collides with an obstacle such as a standing tree or a telephone pole, the shaft 2 is forced to rotate. When a large force is applied to the clutch holder 22, the engagement protrusion 22b of the clutch holder 22 pushes the drive gear 23 upward against the upward urging force of the spring 24, and the rotation transmission engagement between the clutch holder 22 and the drive gear 23 is released. It is released. Thereby, destruction of the drive mechanism 27,
Damage to the shaft 2 is prevented.

The flange surface 6a of the engagement flange 6
As shown in FIG. 39, instead of the inclined grooves 6b and 6c, the ridges 6 connected to one ends of the ball guide grooves 11 and 12 are provided.
b ′ and 6c ′ may be provided. The protrusion 6b 'extends from the end of the ball guide groove 11 to the vicinity of the end of the ball guide groove 12.
The protrusions 6c 'are formed from the end of the ball guide groove 12 to the vicinity of the end of the ball guide groove 11, respectively. The protrusion 6b 'is lower near the ball guide groove 11 and higher near the ball guide groove 12, and the protrusion 6c' is lower near the ball guide groove 12 and lower. The one near is higher. And the ball 13 is the shaft 2
When a force equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to the protruding portions 6b 'and 6c', they move over the step of the stopper surface 14b.

An example of the operation of the vehicle outer mirror device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 40 to 42 show the rotation angle θ1 of the shaft 2.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining rotation of the shaft 2 when the arc angles θ2 of the arc-shaped ball guide grooves 11 and 12 are substantially equal. 40 to 42 are views of the shaft 2 as viewed from the bottom surface side.

As shown in FIG. 40, the shaft 2 has an arrow A1.
When the ball 13 is turned in the storage direction shown by the arrow, when the ball 13 is located at the step portion in the opposite direction from the use position (set position) of the ball guide grooves 11 and 12, an overload is applied to the motor 28, and the overcurrent detection circuit of the drive circuit is provided. Detects an overcurrent flowing through the motor 28, and the driving of the motor 28 is stopped. FIG. 41 shows the positional relationship between the ball guide grooves 11, 12 and the ball 13 at the storage position. When the shaft 2 is rotated from the storage position to the use position, the connection relationship between the switch circuit and the motor 28 may be reversed.

Next, when an external force is forcibly applied to the shaft 2 (manually or at the time of collision with an obstacle), the rotation transmission engagement between the clutch holder 22 and the drive gear 23 is released. At this time, the shaft 2 is indicated by an arrow B shown in FIG.
In one direction, the engagement notch 6z of the engagement flange 6 contacts one side 18e of the engagement plate 18b, and the shaft 2
Is stopped. As shown in FIG. 42, the ball 13 is inserted from one end of the ball guide grooves 11 and 12 into the inclined groove 6.
Get on the bottom of b, 6c. In this case, the inclined grooves 6b,
6c is lower near the ends of the ball guide grooves 11 and 12, and the inclined grooves 6b and 6c are urged by the spring 24 in the direction approaching the upper surface of the upper case 3. The balls 13 riding on the bottom surfaces of the balls 6b and 6c are moved along the bottom surfaces of the ball guide grooves 11,
She receives the force to roll toward 12. For this reason, the ball 13 returns to the ball guide grooves 11 and 12 only by rotating the motor 28 in the reverse direction, whereby the shaft 2 can be easily and electrically returned to the original position.

The engagement notch 6z does not reach the one side 18e of the engagement plate 18b, and the ball 13 is
Even if it stops in the middle of the longitudinal direction of b, 6c,
Since the same force acts on the ball 13 as described above, it is possible to easily return the shaft 2 to the original position electrically.

[0037]

As described above, the outer mirror device for a vehicle according to the present invention is configured as described above. Therefore, even if the outer mirror device rotates beyond a predetermined rotation range, only the driving force of the motor built in the device body is used. Thus, the shaft can be easily returned to the original position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main configuration of a vehicle outer mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the vehicle outer mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a vehicle outer mirror device according to the present invention;
It is the top view seen from the upper part before attaching a stay.

FIG. 4 shows a shaft according to the invention, wherein (a)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire configuration, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged perspective view of a connection portion between a ball guide groove and an inclined groove.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the shaft according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a sliding contact relationship between a ball and a guide groove of a flange portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 11;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 11;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an upper case.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the upper case shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from above.

11 is a plan view of the upper case shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from below.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a state where the drive mechanism is incorporated in the upper case as viewed from below.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the case as viewed from the vehicle body mounting surface side.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a vehicle body mounting bracket according to the present invention. It is.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the clutch holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the drive gear shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the plate member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the plate member.

FIG. 21 is a side view of a plate member.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the plate member as viewed from below.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the plate member.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a joint member.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a fitting relationship between a joint member and a worm.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 23;

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a lower case.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a view of the lower case as viewed from the vehicle body mounting side.

FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view showing a worm and a washer.

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the worm and the washer.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing an attached state of the worm shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a side view showing an attached state of the worm shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 35 is a bottom view of the lower case.

FIG. 36 is a sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG. 28;

FIG. 37 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 28;

FIG. 38 is a circuit diagram of a drive circuit.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a shaft according to a modification.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship among a ball, a ball guide groove, and an engaging member when a shaft is at a use position.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship among a ball, a ball guide groove, and an engaging member when a shaft is at a storage position.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship among a ball, a ball guide groove, and an engaging member when an excessive external force is applied to rotate the shaft beyond a predetermined rotation range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Shaft 3 Upper case 6 Flange 6a Flange surface 6b, 6c Inclined groove 6b ', 6c' Protrusion 11, 12 Ball guide groove 13 Ball 18 Stopper member 27 Drive mechanism 28 Motor 29 Printed circuit board 30 Plate 43 Lower case

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shaft that carries an outer mirror via a flange provided on one side and is urged in one direction by urging means, a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the shaft, and the shaft And a case that accommodates the drive mechanism and is fixed to a vehicle body, wherein a ball provided on the upper surface of the case is engaged in an arc-shaped groove formed in a flange surface of the flange portion, An outer mirror device for a vehicle for rotating the shaft to a predetermined range between a use position and a storage position, wherein an arc-shaped inclined groove having a bottom surface inclined and connected to one end of the groove is formed on the flange surface; The bottom surface of the inclined groove is inclined in a direction in which, when the shaft rotates beyond the predetermined range, the ball riding on the bottom surface from one end of the groove returns into the groove by the urging force of the urging means. And outer mirror device for a vehicle, characterized in that are. 2. A shaft that carries an outer mirror via a flange portion provided on one side and is urged in one direction by urging means, a driving mechanism that rotationally drives the shaft, and the shaft. And a case that accommodates the drive mechanism and is fixed to a vehicle body, wherein a ball provided on the upper surface of the case is engaged in an arc-shaped groove formed in a flange surface of the flange portion, An outer mirror device for a vehicle for rotating the shaft to a predetermined range between a use position and a storage position, wherein an arc-shaped ridge having an inclined upper surface and connected to one end of the groove is formed on the flange surface, The upper surface of the ridge portion is such that when the shaft rotates beyond the predetermined range, the ball that has climbed onto the upper surface from one end of the groove returns to the inside of the groove by the urging force of the urging means. Inclined to And outer mirror device for a vehicle, characterized in that are. 3. The outer mirror device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the urging means urges the shaft in a direction in which the flange surface approaches an upper surface of the case. Vehicle outer mirror device.