Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
  • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
  • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
  • B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
  • B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
  • B60R1/074—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle

Definitions

• the invention relates to a housing for a mirror actuator, and to a method for assembling such housing.
• Such a housing is generally known and is used to protect a hinge actuator.
• a mirror housing of a wing mirror is pivotally connected with the body of a car.
• the mirror housing is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis between an operating position in which the mirror housing projects substantially sideward relative to the body of the car, and an extreme fold-in position, in which the mirror housing extends substantially rearwards along the body of the car. Accordingly, for instance during parking, the mirror housing can be folded in from the operating position, so that the free end of the mirror housing comes to he closer to the body of the car and the chance of damage can be reduced.
• the actuator mechanism comprises fine-mechanical parts and may easily be damaged through contaminants such as, for instance, water and dust. Because the actuator mechanism in view of its function is located close to the mirror and hence outside the protective environment of the body of the vehicle, the actuator mechanism is surrounded by a housing. This housing is to protect the mechanism from contaminants from outside. From practice, such housings are known. A drawback of these housings, however, is that they must be made of rather complex, and hence costly, construction to obtain the desired sealing. Further, the complex makeup of the housing has as a consequence that assembly and fitting are time-consuming and hence costly.
• the invention provides a housing according to claim 1.
• the housing has a first and a second housing member, each provided with mounting openings.
• the housing members are located relative to each other in such a manner that the respective mounting openings are in line, and a connecting means is arranged through the two mounting openings.
• the connecting means is arranged such that it exerts a spring force directed in a radial sense on the mounting openings, so that the housing members are locked relative to each other and the connecting means is confined in axial direction within the housing.
• a good sealing of the housing is obtained, while assembly is simple through application of the resilient connecting means.
• a flexible sealing edge is provided between the housing members. It provides for an extra reliable sealing, in particular if the two housing members are assembled under a bias.
• the connecting means is arranged such that a driving mechanism located within the housing is fixed within the housing in that the connecting means engages in openings in the frame in which the mechanism is received. What is thereby achieved is that no extra parts are needed for the fixation of the frame of the mechanism; further, space within the housing is saved.
• the invention further relates to a method for assembling a housing for a mirror actuator mechanism according to claim 10. Through the assembly of the two housing members by means of a connecting means, such as, for instance, a tubular rivet, a fast and reliable connection is realized.
• the two housing members are assembled under a bias, so that a proper sealing is obtained, in particular if a flexible sealing edge is applied.
• the invention further relates to a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle with a mirror provided with a housing.
• Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows the assembly of Fig. 1 in mounted condition
• Fig. 3 shows a connecting means
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a top plan view of a vehicle with a wing mirror in an operating position
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a frame for an adjusting mechanism.
• a housing 1 is shown.
• the housing comprises a lower member 10 and an upper member 50.
• the lower member 10 has a circumferential wall 12 which extends upwards from a floor part 13 (not visible in Fig. 1), thereby defining an inner space.
• the height of the circumferential wall 12 varies along the circumference.
• the upper edge 11 of the wall 12 is provided with an elastic sealing ring 60 along the length of the wall.
• the lower member 10 can be manufactured, for instance, by injection molding from plastic; advantageously, the sealing ring 60 can then be provided on the edge of the lower member 10 by injection molding as well.
• the lower member 10 is further provided with four coupling parts 14, 15, 16, 17. These coupling parts are arranged in pairs, viz. 14 and 15; 16 and 17, within the circumference of the wall 12, while the coupling parts extend above the edge 11. In the portion of the coupling parts 14, 15, 16, 17 that projects above the edge 11, a respective opening 14', 15', 16', 17' is provided.
• the upper member 50 has a circumferential wall 52 extending from a cap portion 53, thereby defining an inner space. The height of the circumferential wall 52 varies along the circumference, such that the shape of the edge of the wall 52 corresponds to the shape of the wall 12. This provides the effect that in assembled condition the respective edges of the walls 12, 52 link up with each other.
• the wall 52 is provided with holes which in mounted condition are in line with the respective openings 14', 15', 16', 17' in the coupling parts 14, 15, 16, 17 of the lower member 10.
• the holes 74 and 77 are shown in Fig. 1.
• the walls of the upper and lower member 10, 50 form a rounding in the area located remote from the coupling parts and the corresponding openings. In mounted condition, these roundings bound a substantially cylinder-shaped space. In this space, a bearing can be accommodated. Via this bearing, a mounting part 90 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be included. This mounting part 90 is provided with a flange 91 with mounting holes 92 and a journal 93.
• the journal 93 in mounted condition is connected with the bearing arranged in the housing.
• the flange 91 is fixedly connected with a vehicle, such as, for instance, a passenger car or a multipurpose vehicle (MPV).
• a vehicle such as, for instance, a passenger car or a multipurpose vehicle (MPV).
• MPV multipurpose vehicle
• the housing can be pivoted relative to the flange 91 (and hence the vehicle) in the direction indicated with the arrow A, for instance to adjust the position of a mirror housing connected with the housing.
• the coupling parts 14, 15, 16, 17 engage the inside of the wall 52.
• the fit between the coupling parts and the inner wall 52 is such as to be slightly clamped.
• the distance from the openings 14', 15', 16', 17' to the edge 11, and hence, in conjunction, the distance between the edge 51 and the openings 74 and 77 in the wall 52 is selected such that for aligning the respective members 10 and 50 some measure of a biasing force must be exerted. This can be achieved, for instance, through compression of the elastic sealing ring 60.
• a connecting means is passed through the openings. Thereupon, the biasing force can be removed, and the two parts are mutually fixed, under a bias.
• a tubular rivet 80 as connecting means.
• Fig. 3 an example of a tubular rivet 80 is shown.
• the tubular rivet 80 is formed by a strip of steel 81 which has been bent round, with a space 85 left open between the edges.
• the axial ends of the cylinder are provided with locating edges in the form of bevels 82 and 83.
• the outer diameter of the tubular rivet is preferably slightly larger than the inner diameter of the openings in which the tubular rivet is to be fitted.
• a tubular rivet with a fully closed circumferential surface can be used.
• tubular rivet in mounted condition pressing in a radial sense against the wall of the opening, is that the tubular rivet is also fixed in an axial sense. This provides the advantage that locking the connecting means axially requires no supplemental measures to be taken. Further, in mounted condition, the tubular rivet gives further strength to the construction. If desired, the axial ends of the tubular rivet can be provided with sealing means in order to prevent entry of any undesired matter into the housing by way of the tubular rivets. Also, in mounted condition, other fastening means can be passed through the passage formed by the tubular rivet, such as, for instance, a screw or bolt.
• the tubular through rivet is used to fix a part of the adjusting mechanism to be placed in the housing.
• the adjusting mechanism is arranged in a frame; an example of such a frame 40 is shown in Fig. 5.
• the frame is manufactured from a sheet of metal bent into a U-shape.
• the adjusting mechanism is arranged (not shown in Fig. 5).
• two pairs of mutually aligned openings are provided, viz. pair 41 and 42, and pair 43 and 44.
• the pair 41, 42 in mounted condition is in line with the openings 16', 17', 77 of the members 10 and 50, while the pair 43, 44 in mounted condition is in line with the openings 14', 15', 74 of the members 10, 50.
• these through openings 41-44 are aligned with the respective mounting openings in the upper and the lower member. Thereafter, the tubular rivet is passed through the aligned openings, thereby fixing the frame of the adjusting mechanism in the assembled housing.
• a through fastener which in each case passes through two openings of both the upper and the lower member 10, 50
• the invention is not so limited and, according to the invention, it is possible to choose, for instance, a connecting means which in each case connects a single hole of the upper and lower members with each other.
• this connecting means is also designed so as to be capable of a clamped self-lock in radial direction in the mounting opening, so that at the same time axial fixation takes place.
• housing consists of two housing members, according to the invention more than two housing members can be applied.
• the invention further relates to a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle (such as, for instance, a passenger car or an MPV), provided with a housing for a mirror actuator as shown in the foregoing.
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a front view of a sidewall of a vehicle 200, on which a substantially horizontally extending support 202 is mounted. Attached to the support 202 is a mirror housing 203, pivotable about the axis 204 extending substantially vertically. Arranged in the mirror housing 203 is a mirror plate with a mirror adjusting mechanism, known per se and not shown.
• Fig. 4 further shows schematically that the mirror housing 203 comprises a hinge actuator 201.
• This mirror actuator comprises a housing 1 with a mounting part 90, as shown in the foregoing example.
• the flange 91 of the mounting part 90 is attached to the support 202, while the housing 1 is attached to the mirror housing 203.
• the housing 1 with the mirror housing 203 is pivotable in the direction A about the line 204, which coincides with the centerline of the shaft 93.
• the mirror housing 203 can be pivoted between an operating position and a fold-in position.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19773824

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (33)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-02 NL NL1018689A patent/NL1018689C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-08-01 KR KR10-2004-7001506A patent/KR20040027883A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-08-01 JP JP2003516848A patent/JP2004536741A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-08-01 CN CNB028170717A patent/CN1276848C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-08-01 US US10/485,435 patent/US20050006553A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-08-01 WO PCT/NL2002/000521 patent/WO2003011643A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-08-01 EP EP02747766A patent/EP1414672A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2005
  • 2005-09-23 AT AT0064705U patent/AT8601U1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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