WO1999002371A1

WO1999002371A1 - Automobiles: electric rearview mirror under spoiler

Info

Publication number: WO1999002371A1
Application number: PCT/TR1997/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Levent Akar
Original assignee: Levent Akar
Priority date: 1997-07-11
Filing date: 1997-07-11
Publication date: 1999-01-21

Abstract

The spoiler manoeuver mirror (2) on automobiles shows the driver the immediate front of the back bumper when rolling backwards. Most elements of the system are located in a box-type housing. The system action is provided by a fixed bolt/moving nut system. The bolt (13) has been fixed on the motor axle. The nut (12) on the other hand has a moving bearing connection to the mechanism of the mirror (2). This mechanism drives the mirror holder (4) to provide different mirror positions. The electric control of the system is driven by a circuit consisting of three relais. The mirror (2) protrudes from its slot in the back bumper when switching to reverse gear. The mirror (2) quickly adjusts itself to provide the driver with sufficient vision of the area behind the car. The mirror (2) shuts down automatically when changing from reverse gear.

Description

DESCRIPTION AUTOMOBILES : ELECTRIC REARVIEW MIRROR UNDER SPOILER

This invention provides necessary rear view to drivers during backwards maneuvers through an automatic and aerodynamic rearview mirror hidden under the rear spoiler.

To date various systems have been used to aid drivers during backwards maneuvers. These are : Electronic sound and light warning systems; BMW is currently using a system manufactured by BOSCH. This system features sonic warning according to the distance between the automobile and other objects. Readings from four electronic sensors at the bottom of the rear bumper are turned into sound and light signals from an on-board device. This system provides no visual guidance to the driver.

Lenses installed on the rear window; This system consists of a large lense installed on the upper center section of the rear window. This lens provides the driver a diminished image from the rear. However the lens does not give a sufficient view of the rear of the car. An example for this system is a product called KWIKPARK from Degisim Reklam Hizmetleri, the turkish distributor.

Automatic distance measuring rods; These rods protrude 5-6 cm from their homes in the rear corners of the trunk when switching to reverse gear. They help the driver to determine the rear limit of the vehicle. However, this technique works only for objects at trunk height. The system does not indicate any objects below this level. Mercedes uses this sistem in some high-end models of their latest S series.

In addition to the above, some manufacturers are equipping vans with a fixed external mirror on the back door (ex. Hyundai Saloon or Kia Besta). However the use of these mirrors is out of question for automobiles due to aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons. Busses and truck are equipped with cameras and monitor systems for rear view. However the system is not suitable for mass-manufactured cars due to cost and instalation problems.

Sonic or light signalling do not give the driver visual guidance. Seeing closing in objects particularly at dead angle is much more efficient. Visual systems are much more advantageous for this reason.

Seeing objects in dead angles in backwards maneuvers is the most ideal solution. Lens systems do provide a wide view of the dead angle but not of the rear bumper. The driver cannot judge the distance between the car and the object at the rear. Additionally, the fixed lense on the rear window obstructs the rear view of the driver and also looks Dad.

The mirror in this invention shows the immediate vicinity of the rear bumper which is vital for the backwards maneuver (figure 2-4). The location of the mirror at the rear end of the car provides the driver with ample visual information to make a good judgement of the situation (figure 1-3).

The driver can also see the length of the rear bumper and can therefore approach very closely without hitting possible rear objects. The mirror hides almost completely under the spoiler when switching from reverse gear without diminishing the rear sight of the driver and the looks of the car (figure 9). Another strong point is that possible holes in the ground behind the bumper can now be seen, which makes the system even more advantageous than conventional maneuver aiding systems.

Figure 1 - The rear sight angle of the driver in a saloon vehicle from the rearview mirror (lateral) Figure 2 - The rear sight of the driver in a saloon vehicle from the rearview mirror

Figure 3 - The rear sight angle of the driver in a station wagon vehicle from the rearview mirror (lateral)

Figure 4 - The rear sight of the driver in a station wagon vehicle from the rearview mirror Figure 5 - The driver's view of the mirror on a saloon, coupe vehicle when protracted

Figure 6 - The rear sight angle of the driver in a saloon vehicle from the rearview mirror (back) Figure 7 - The driver's view of the mirror on a hatchback vehicle when protracted

Figure 8 - The rear sight angle of the driver in a station wagon vehicle from the rearview mirror (back)

Figure 9 - The view of the mirror from the cockpit when closed Figure 10 - The view of the mirror from the cockpit when protracted

Figure 1 1 - Perspective view of the mirror at the vehicle rear when protracted Figure 12 - Perspective view of the closed system assembly prior to spoiler mounting

Figure 13 - Perspective view of the protracted system assembly prior to spoiler mounting

Figure 14 - Perspective view of the closed system mounted to spoiler Figure 15 - View of the closed system under spoiler Figure 16 - Cross-section of figure 15 Figure 17 - View of the protracted system under spoiler Figure 18 - Cross-section of figure 17

Figure 19 - View of the cross-section of the system when the system is half protracted

Figure 20 Three different views of the mirror

Figure 21 - Perspective view of the separated cross-cut of the motor holder Figure 22 - Threaded pin

Figure 23 - Three different views of the motor Figure 24 - Electric circuit

Figure 25 - View of the relais and fuses on the assmebly card Numbers of individual parts in the figures : (1 ) - Body (2) - Mirror

(3) -Spoiler

(4) - Mirror holder

(5) - Suspender with pin channel 95 (6) - Front left arm

(7) - Rear left arm

(8) - Front right arm

(9) - Rear right arm

(10) - Lower rear arm

100 (11 ) - Intermediate arm

(12) - Moving nut

(13) Transmission bolt

(14) Motor

(15) Motor holder 105 (16) Bearing arm tray

(17) Opening limit switch

(18) Closing limit switch

(19) Threaded pins

(20) Assembly and adjustment bolts 110 (21 ) Connection bolts

(22) 12 Volt D.C. relais

(23) Fuses

(24) Electric cables

(25) Motor holding rivets

115 (26) Assembly card for fuses and relais (27) Isolation

This invention provides drivers with necessary vision of the back bumper and the immdediate area behind it during backwards maneuvers. The image of the dead angles usually out of sight (figure 1-3) is being reflected into the 120 cockpit of the vehicle by a specially shaped pro/retractable mirror (2) mounted under the back spoiler (figure 10).

The spoiler (3) is not different from any other conventional rear spoiler except for the part where the system is mounted. There are two round monoblock projections on the middle of the spoiler before and after the mirror.

125 These projections eleminate the building of wind resistance on the mirror surface.The spoiler(3) also has two threaded holes for mounting the system.

The system has a box-shaped housing (1 ) for mounting under the spoiler

(figure 12). This box hides most of the mirror when closed. The box has also threaded holes for mounting on the spoiler. During assembly of the system the

130 motor is mounted into the spoiler first. After that the remainder of the body is mounted to the spoiler. The body is secured to the spoiler by two screws.

The motor projection of the system body is secured on both sides by two threaded pins (19) facing each other (figure 22). The motion of the motor holder (15) in the box is provided by the tips of the pins. These pins enable motor 135 holder (15) to move in angles around the motor axle.

The motor holder consists of two pieces. One piece holds the motor (14) while the other functions as a cover mounted with rivets (25) on the motor. The motor holder protects the motor from environmental influence and provides bearing for the motor and the threaded pins (figure 21 ). 140 The motor of the system (14) is of a type frequently used in the automobil industry in door and trunk locks and electric mirrors (figure 23). We have used two motors of similar size manufactured by Mabuchi and Johnson. These motors feature adequate power, high torque and low revolution (Mabuchi FC 280 RA series, Johnson PMC NF 213G). The motors have a space-saving, flat shape 145 and intrude into the pin channelled suspender (5) for compactness when the mirror is closed.

The two cables (24) reaching the motor, come from the two cable holes at the sides of the suspender. The transmission bolt (13) has been fixed to the motor axle protruding from the hole at the front of the motor holder. The bolt is 150 working in the moving nut (12) embedded between the front arms (6-8). Motor revolution has been decreased by a narrower pitch of the bolt and nut. The mirror (2) is opened and closed by the back/forth action of the nut (12) embedded between the front arms of the mechanism, on the bolt. The circular movement is being converted into linear movement. One end of the front arm is 155 connected to the bearing arm tray (16) and the other to the front of the pin chanelled suspender (5) by a nonrigid pin connection (figure 17). The rear arms (7-9) feature three pin holes each. Some of the back arms have been bended to avoid hitting of the body when opened. One end of the back arms has been connected with pins (21 ) to the bearing arm tray. The pin chanelled suspender 160 (5) has a nonrigid connection from its central part to the second pin holes close to the other ends of the back arms. The straight end of the intermediate arm (11 ) has been connected between the ends of the back arms located close to the pin chanelled suspender (figure 11). The intermediate arm is used to pull or push the lower arm (10) from its middle according to the movement of the back arm to 165 opening or closing the system. The inclined end of the intermediate arm has been connected to the middle of the lower back arm. One end of the lower back arm is connected to the pin channelled suspender, the other to the middle of the mirror holder (4) by a nonrigid pin connection. The front of the mirror holder has a nonrigid mounting by two pins (19) fixed into the pin channelled suspender. 170 The mirror holder on the pin channelled suspender is moved by pulling/pushing of the lower back arm (figure 19). At activation of the system, the front part of the mirror holder is moved back on the pin channeled suspender by the threaded pins. The lower back arms pulls down the back part of the mirror holder and moves the mirror into its angled position (figure 18). The mirror is moved like a 175 hammock by the front and back arms to ensure smooth exit from the body and back/down movement. The lower arm pulls the mirror back and down to obtain a farther back and inclined position when opened. When the mirror is retracted, the front part of the mirror is moved only to the back on the pin channelled suspender. The protracted mirror reaches an inclined position farther back and 180 lower to reflect the area under the back bumper.

The mirror (2) has a spherical shape (figure 20), which is reduced symmetricaly towards the ends to ensure full view of the bumper. The front edge of the mirror has a minimum inwards arc to avoid contact with the other parts when opening the mirror. The lower edge has an outwards curve to ensure a 185 nearly rectangular image. The side edges are paralel and ensure smootth opening and closing of the system.

The movement of the system is transmitted to the mirror via the mirror holder. The mirror is fixed to the mirror holder (4) with a monoblock clawed frame. When closed, the mirror frame sits on the isolation ring (27) in the body to 190 prevent water and dust entrance. Prior to assembly, the lower back arm should be connected to the mirror holder by a pin, since the pin (21) is fixed to the mirror holder from the face where the mirror is seated.

There are cylindric extensions on two sides of the moving nut between the front arms which go over to the other parts of the arms. Both ends of these

195 extensions feature screws perpendicular to their axle (figure 13). These screws

(20) are used to adjust the circuit interrupts of the opening/closing limit switches

(17/18) at both sides of the bearing arm tray .

The cables (24) between the motor and limit switches are leaving the body from its lateral parts. The cables lead to the fuse and relais assembly card (26) 200 in the trunk of the vehicle (figure 25). The positive (+) current to the relais (22) which run the system automatically is directly supplied from the vehicle fuse box. The positive current passes through the circuit fuse (23) and is then distributed to the relais (figure 24). The relais supply the motor with electricity to activate the system when the vehicle switches to reverse gear. The mirror is fully protracted 205 when the mechanism cuts the electricity to the opening switch and to the motor. When switching from reverse gear, the relais send an alternate current to the motor to retract the mirror automatically. The mirror is fully retracted when the mechanism cuts the curent to the closing switch and the motor (figure 16). The mirror is closed immediately when the vehicle is shut down during opening or 210 closing of the system or when fully open. The system also adapts to sudden switching to and from reverse gear, thus requiring no manual intervention of the driver.

The assembly and adjustment screws, the motion transmission bolt and the moving nut are made of brass. The remaining parts like the body, arms, the 215 mirror and motor holder are made of delrin, a plastic type to ensure resistance and immunity to water.

We have to look at the trunk design of some basic saloon and coupe vehicles where this system is applied to the spoiler with no central support and the opened mirror is to be visible between the trunk and the spoiler (figure 5-6). 220 Automobile manufacturers have been raising the trunk height of their cars designed in the last five years. The aim of this is to give the driver the oppurtunity to see the rear end of the vehicle at backwards manuevers. A higher trunk also provides more baggage space without necessarily obstructing rear view. Thus many automobiles of our time are suitable for the installation of rear 225 spoiler mounted rearview mirrors.

There is no problem in the bodyworks of hatchback or station wagon vehicles in terms of visibility of the mirror under the spoiler (figure 7-8).

A 3^rd stop light standing in the way of the mirror has to be relocated. Ideally, the 3^rd stop light is installed in the lower central part of the rear window on 230 hatchback or station wagon vehicles and in the upper central part of the rear window on other vehicles. The design of the system body is suitable for a 3^rd stop light installation on the spoiler. Therefore the 3^rd light within the vehicle can be cancelled and installed on the spoiler.

Though very rare, some saloon vehicles have motorized wipers in the lower 235 central part of the rear window. In this case, the system is relocated to the left or right and rear view is provided with some adjusment in the mechanism.

A distance of ca. 5 cm between the spoiler and the trunk of saloon vehicles is sufficient for the mirror to be fully seen by the driver. A smaller distance between the spoiler and the trunk will not show the full length of the vehicle. A

240 closer paralel position of the mirror to the rear part of hatchback and station wagon vehicles will provide a better and larger view of the rear. A higher perpendicular position of the opened mirror is also beneficial to the quality of the view.

There are two projections in front and in the back of the system to provide 245 aerodynamics for the system parts protruding from the body. The front projection provides the space needed for the motor and decreases the wind resistance of the mirror. The back projection integrates the parts protruding from the body to the spoiler. These projections decrease the resistance of mirror to the air flowing under the spoiler (figure 14-15). 250

DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

3_A = Control Circuit Fuse 8 = Auto Reverse Gear Light 9 = Auto Starter Key 0 = Auto Reverse Gear Key 18 = Closing limit switch

17 = Opening limit switch

22_A = Reverse Gear Light Relais

22_B = Closing Relais

22c = Opening Relais

23_B = Power Circuit Fuse

14 = Direct Current Motor

A = Reverse Gear Light Relais Closed Starter

B = Opening Relais Closed Starter

C = Closing Relais Closed Starter

D = Opening Relais 1. Open Starter

E = Opening Relais 2. Open Starter

F = Closing Relais 1. Open Starter

G = Closing Relais 2. Open Starter

Claims

1. Rearview mirror providing drivers with sight of the area behind the back bumper during backwards maneuvers (figure 2-4); automatic activation via electric circuit connected to starter and reverse gear light; hidden under spoiler when not in use (figure 14), aerodynamic exterior design; electromechanical action.

2. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror with two paralel edges and two long edges, one of them is curved to the inside, the other to the outside The mirror has a convex shape to ensure the reflection of a nearly rectangular area (figure 20).

3. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror with a convex shape diminishing towards the paralel lateral edges and ensuring full vision of the length of the back bumper (figure 6-8).

4. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which is opened, lowered and correctly positioned through a mechanism transmitting motion from the motor (figures 18, 19).

5. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which is, when closed, almost completely hidden and does not obstruct the backview of the driver (figure 9).

6. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which integrates aerodynamically with the spoiler with two monoblock projections, a larger one in front and a smaller one in the back of the mirror (figure 14).

7. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which is activated when switching to and closed when switching from reverse gear.

8. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which is closed when the starter is shut down regardless of the gear.

9. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which immediately opens when the driver switches to reverse gear.

10. The item described in article 1 is a rearview mirror which can be used in basic vehicle models (saloon, coupe, hatchback, station wagon, cabriolet, minivan and GP vehicles).