JPH0986277A - Motor-driven containing type door mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motor-driven containing type door mirror to improve mechanical durability through reduction of the occurrence of wear and the damage of a part and stabilize a function. SOLUTION: A small diameter part 23, a large diameter part 24, and a flange part 25 are formed, in the order, from above on a main shaft 22, and fitted in from below through apertures 21 and 30 formed in a mirror base 20 and a mirror housing 29. A main gear 33 is fitted in the main shaft 22 from above, and pressed downward through the force of a coil spring 39. Uneven surface parts having slopes on the right and left sides are formed on a step difference part 26 between the small part and the large part and a step difference part 34 corresponding thereto in the main gear to intercouple the two step difference parts. A clutch mechanism consisting of an uneven surface part is arranged between the flange part and the mirror base.

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 an automobile, and particularly, in the case of a collision with an obstacle, the door mirror has a shock absorbing function of folding the door mirror forward or backward of the vehicle body. 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. At the time of such a collision, a structure is adopted in which a clutch mechanism is interposed in the speed reducing system to separate the path so that the rotational force on the mirror housing side due to the collision is not transmitted to the drive unit side. FIG. 3 shows a typical example thereof, in which a mirror housing 3, a clutch pawl 4 and a clutch gear 5 are fitted on a main shaft 2 which is vertically formed on a mirror base 1, and a coil spring 6 elastically presses these toward the mirror base 1 side. It has a structure. A ball bearing 7 is arranged between the mirror base 1 and the mirror housing 3, and is fitted to the side of the mirror housing 3 to engage with a circular recess 8 formed on the side of the mirror base 1. The ball bearing 7 and the circular recess 8 determine the normal use position and the storage position of the door mirror. A pair of parallel flat surfaces are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft 2, while the clutch pawl 4 is formed with an opening 9 having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the main shaft 2, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the clutch pawl 4 is supported by the main shaft 2 in a non-rotatable state. Inverted V-shaped convex portions 10, 10, ... Are formed on the upper surface of the clutch claw 4, and the convex portions 10, 1 are formed on the lower surface of the clutch gear 5 with which this surface contacts.
V-shaped concave portions 11, 11, ... Corresponding to 0, ... Are formed and engaged with each other. Mirror housing 3
The opening of the clutch gear 5 is circular and is rotatable with respect to the main shaft 2. Reference numeral 12 denotes a drive unit mounted on the side of the mirror housing 3 and includes a motor and a plurality of gears that form a speed reduction system.

In the above structure, when driving normally, that is, when driving from the retracted position to the use position or from the use position to the retracted position, the clutch gear 5 is actuated by the drive of the motor to drive the clutch gear 5. Is transmitted to the clutch claw 4. Since the clutch pawl 4 is fixed to the main shaft 2 so as not to rotate, the mirror housing 3 side rotates around the clutch gear 5. By driving the motor forward and backward, the mirror housing 3 is rotated to the storage position and to the use position.

When the door mirror is in the use position, when a large external force is applied from the front, for example, due to the collision of an obstacle, the coil sping 6 due to the great force is applied.
The clutch gear 5 is pushed upward against the force of
The clutch gear 5 is disengaged from the clutch pawl 4. As a result, the mirror housing 3 and the clutch gear 5 suddenly rotate rearward around the main shaft 2. As a result, the rotational force due to the external force is prevented from being transmitted to the drive unit.

[0005]

In the above structure, when the mirror housing 3 is rotated from the use position to the storage position or from the storage position to the use position, or when the mirror housing 3 is rapidly rotated by an external force, the ball bearing 7 is concave. Although it is disengaged from the place 8, the mirror housing 3 and the clutch claw 4 are pushed up slightly along with this. At this time, since the rotational force is applied to the clutch pawl 4 from the clutch gear 5, the main gear 5 and the main shaft 4 are in contact with each other at a point A as shown in FIG. Cannot be smoothly moved, and the contact point A is scraped off, causing rattling between the clutch pawl 4 and the main shaft 2,
The problem that the clutch function is deteriorated occurs.

In order to cope with such a problem, as shown in FIG. 6, a ball bearing 7 which constitutes a positioning mechanism for the mirror housing 3 with respect to the mirror base 1 is arranged in a hole 13 formed in the mirror housing 3, and this hole is formed. Thirteen
There has been proposed a configuration in which the coil spring 14 is housed inside and an elastic force in the outward direction (downward direction in the drawing) is applied to the ball bearing 7 (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-142349). With such a configuration, the ball bearing 7 is disengaged from the recess 8 by the rotation of the mirror housing 3, and the mirror housing 3 does not move even if the ball bearing 7 moves upward. However, in this configuration, the coil spring 14 is required, which causes a problem that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps increase.

Another structure for dealing with the above problem is shown in FIG. This is because the ball bearing 7 is embedded in the mirror housing 3, and the elongated groove 15 is formed on the surface of the mirror base 1 facing the mirror housing 3, and the steps at both ends thereof are used as stoppers 16 and 16 to move the ball bearing 7 in the groove 15. Structure (eg, actual Kaihei 5-6234
No. 7). With such a structure, the ball bearing 7 is not rotated when rotating from the use position to the storage position or vice versa.
Detects the overload current generated in the motor when it hits the stopper 16, and turns off the power to the motor. One stopper 16 corresponds to the use position and the other stopper 16 corresponds to the storage position. In such a structure, an overload current detection circuit and a power supply disconnection circuit are required, a problem is likely to occur in the durability of the motor and the reduction gear system due to overload, and further when external force is applied to rotate the door mirror, However, since the ball bearing 7 goes out of the groove 15, the mirror housing 3 moves upward and the above-mentioned problem cannot be solved.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an electric retractable door mirror in which the durability of parts is improved and the performance is stabilized.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a mirror base which is formed substantially horizontally so as to project outward from the vehicle body of an automobile front door and has a circular opening, a cylindrical small diameter portion from above, and a cylindrical large diameter. And a collar portion, which are fitted into the opening of the mirror base from below, the collar portion provided at the lower end thereof abuts the periphery of the lower surface of the opening, and the large diameter portion is located in the opening. A main shaft, a mirror housing disposed on the upper surface of the mirror base and rotatably supported by the large diameter portion of the main shaft, and a positioning mechanism including an uneven portion formed between the mirror housing and the mirror base, It is fitted from the upper end of the main shaft and placed on the mirror base,
The main gear has a step corresponding to the step between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion, and the main gear mechanically coupled to the main shaft at the step is formed on the contact surface between the collar portion and the mirror base. A clutch mechanism, a compressed coil spring fitted in the small diameter portion of the main shaft between the upper portion of the main shaft and the main gear, and a rotational force applied to the main gear housed in the mirror housing. A drive unit is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, the step (between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the main shaft) has a convex portion (or a concave portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right, and A recess (or a projection) having inclined surfaces on the left and right that engages with the projection (or the recess) at the corresponding step of the step
And the main gear is mechanically coupled to the main shaft by the force of the coil spring.

Further, according to the present invention, in the clutch mechanism, a convex portion (or a concave portion) formed on an upper surface of the collar portion and having inclined surfaces on the left and right, and a surface of the lower surface of the mirror base which faces the collar portion. In addition, it is formed by a concave portion (or convex portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right that engage with the convex portion (or concave portion).

[0012]

In the structure of claim 1, the driving force is applied to the main gear by the rotational force. The main gear is mechanically coupled to the main shaft, and the main shaft is coupled to the mirror base via the clutch mechanism. Therefore, the main gear and the main shaft cannot rotate, and the drive unit side, that is, the mirror housing side rotates. By the forward and reverse rotations of the drive unit, the door mirror rotates from the storage position to the use position and from the use position to the storage position. The use position and the storage position are determined by the positioning mechanism.

When the door mirror is in the use position and a sudden and large external force is applied to it due to the collision of the obstacle, the clutch mechanism is disengaged and the mirror housing, the drive unit and the main gear are rapidly rotated together with the main shaft. To do. Therefore, the rotational force due to the impact force is not transmitted to the drive unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the main shaft and the main gear have a convex portion (or a concave portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right formed in a step between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the main shaft, and the main gear. Similarly, a concave portion (or a convex portion) having inclined portions on the left and right, which are formed on the step, is engaged with each other. When the door mirror is rotated, the positioning mechanism including the concave and convex portions is in a released state, that is, the convex portion is out of the concave portion, and as a result, the mirror housing and the main gear move slightly above the main shaft. During this movement, the concave inclined surface of the main gear slides up along the convex inclined surface of the main shaft. The engagement of the concavo-convex portion is not released in either case when the door mirror normally rotates due to the rotational force from the drive unit or when the door mirror suddenly rotates due to an external force.

In the structure of claim 3, the main shaft and the mirror base are connected via a clutch mechanism. That is, a convex portion (or concave portion) formed on the upper surface of the flange portion and having a left and right inclined surface, and a concave portion (or convex portion) formed on the lower surface of the mirror base and facing the flange portion and having a right and left inclined surface. ) And are engaged. During the normal rotation operation of the door mirror, the clutch mechanism maintains the engaged state, and the rotational force from the drive unit is transmitted to the mirror base to rotate the mirror housing side. On the other hand, when a sudden external force is applied to the door mirror, the force applied to the mirror housing side is strong and abrupt. The surface slides down, the convex part comes out of the concave part, and the clutch mechanism is released. As a result, the mirror housing side rotates together with the main shaft according to an external force. At this time, the main shaft goes down slightly with respect to the main gear,
The combined state of the two remains retained.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 20 designates a mirror base which is formed substantially horizontally so as to project to the outside of a vehicle front door. Reference numeral 21 is a circular opening formed in the mirror base 20. Reference numeral 22 denotes a main shaft that is fitted in the opening 21 vertically downward and upward. The main shaft 22 includes a cylindrical small-diameter portion 23, a cylindrical large-diameter portion 24, and a flange portion 25. The collar portion 25 is in contact with the periphery of the lower surface of the opening 21. The large-diameter portion 24 is located in the opening 21, and its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 21, so that the main shaft 22 is rotatably fitted in the opening 21 without rattling. ing. The main shaft 22 can be made of resin or metal, and has a hollow inside. The main shaft 22 has a small diameter portion 23 and a large diameter portion 2
In the step 26 between 4 and 4, four inverted V-shaped convex portions 27, 27, ... Having inclined surfaces on the left and right as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 28 denotes a circular projecting edge formed above the opening 21 of the mirror base 20, and stably supports the main shaft 22 in the vertical direction.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a resin-made mirror housing arranged on the upper surface of the mirror base 20, which has an opening 30 which is rotatably supported in contact with the projecting edge 28. Reference numerals 31 and 31 are ball bearings which are embedded in the lower surface of the mirror housing 29 so as to project downward, and three ball bearings 31 are arranged at equal intervals on one circumference centered on the center of the opening 21. Reference numerals 32, 32 are circular recesses with which the ball bearings 31, 31 are engaged, and are formed on the upper surface of the mirror base 20. The ball bearings 31, 31 are circular recesses 3
The position in which 2, 32 is engaged determines the use position and the storage position of the door mirror. That is, the ball bearing 31,
A positioning mechanism is composed of the convex portion 31 and the circular concave portions 32 and 32. In the engaged state of the concave and convex portions 31 and 32, the upper surface of the mirror housing 29 coincides with the upper end of the projecting edge 28.

Numeral 33 is rotatably fitted to the upper end of the main shaft 22 so that it can be rotated.
The main gear mounted on the upper surface of the
It has a step 34 corresponding to the step 26 of FIG. .. are formed in the step 34 in a shape corresponding to the convex portions 27, 27, ..., That is, inverted V-shaped concave portions 35, 35 ,. The convex portions 27, 2 of the main shaft 22
.. engage with the recesses 35, 35, ... of the main gear 22 to mechanically couple the two. In the above example, the convex portion 27 is provided on the main shaft 22 side and the main gear 3
Although the case where the concave portion 35 is formed on the 3 side has been described, the same effect can be obtained by forming a concave portion on the main shaft 22 side and a convex portion on the main gear 33 side. Further, the shape of the convex portion 27 and the concave portion 35 may be a trapezoidal shape, a semicircular shape or the like in addition to the above V-shape.

Reference numerals 36, 36, ... Inverted V-shaped convex portions formed on the upper surface of the collar portion 25 at equal intervals and having inclined surfaces on the left and right sides,
Denoted at 37, 37, ... are concave portions formed on the lower surface of the mirror base 20 and facing the flange portion 25, and the convex portions 36, 3
6, which are formed in an inverted V shape having inclined surfaces on the left and right. The convex portions 36, 36, ... And the concave portions 37, 37,
4 are provided respectively, and the main shaft 22 and the mirror base 20 are mechanically coupled by engaging with each other. The convex portions 36, 36, ... and the concave portions 37, 37,
The clutch mechanism 38 is constituted by. In the above example, the case where the convex portion 36 is formed on the flange portion 25 side and the concave portion 37 is formed on the mirror base 20 side has been described, but conversely, the flange portion 25 is formed.
The same effect can be obtained by forming a concave portion on the side and a convex portion on the mirror base 20 side. Further, the shape of the convex portion 36 and the concave portion 37 may be a trapezoidal shape, a semicircular shape or the like in addition to the above V-shape.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a small diameter portion 23 of the main shaft 22.
A coil spring fitted to the main gear 22, the upper end of which is fixed to the upper end of the main shaft 22 via a metal fitting 40, and the lower end of which is housed in a circular groove 41 formed in the main gear 33, and which contacts the main gear 33. Contact. Coil spring 3
9 is held in the compressed state and therefore the main gear 3
A downward elastic pressing force is always applied to 3. Four
A drive unit 2 is fixed to the mirror housing 29, and includes a forward / reverse rotation motor 43 and a speed reduction system 44 including a plurality of gears that reduce the rotational force of the motor 43. The final stage gear of the reduction gear system 44 meshes with the main gear 33. Although not shown, the mirror and the tilting device thereof are housed in the mirror housing 29. When assembling the above-mentioned respective parts, the main shaft 22 is inserted into the opening 21 of the mirror base 20 from below, the opening 30 of the mirror housing 29 is fitted into the projecting edge 28 of the mirror base 20, and this is fitted.
After being fixed to the main shaft 22, the main gear 33 and the coil spring 39 are fitted onto the main shaft 22 from above, and the metal spring 40 fixes the coil spring 39.

In the above structure, when the door mirror is in the retracted state and the switch in the vehicle compartment is operated to rotate the motor 43 in the forward direction, this rotational force passes through the reduction system and the main gear 33, the main shaft 22 and the mirror base. 20 is transmitted. At this time, since the clutch mechanism 38 is in the connected state, the main shaft 22 does not rotate but the mirror housing 29 side rotates, and the door mirror moves from the stored state to the used state. At the start of this move,
The ball bearing 31 that was engaged with the circular recess 32 at the retracted position is disengaged from the circular recess 32 and the mirror base 2 is removed.
0 Ride on the upper surface. As a result, the mirror housing 29
Also, the main gear 33 moves slightly upward. At this time, the inclined surface of the concave portion 35 slides up along the inclined surface of the convex portion 27 and moves upward, but the engagement between the both is not released. As the mirror housing 29 rotates, the ball bearing 31
Moves by sliding or rolling on the upper surface of the mirror base 20. When reaching the use position, the ball bearing 31 then engages another circular recess 32. This use position is detected by a separately provided detection means, and the driving of the motor is stopped. The rotation from the use position to the storage position is performed by rotating the motor in the reverse direction.

Further, in the above construction, when the door mirror is in use, when a large force is suddenly applied to it due to a collision of an obstacle or the like, the clutch mechanism 38 is released by this force and the main shaft 22 causes the mirror base 22 to move. Slightly lower than 20 and at the same time ball bearing 31
Riding on the upper surface of the mirror base 20, the main gear 33 moves slightly upward. In this case as well, the gap between the convex portion 27 and the concave portion 35 is only opened, and the engagement between them is not released. In this state, the mirror housing 29 rotates.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection between the main shaft and the main gear is made by the uneven portion having the inclined surface, and the both are in contact with each other on the inclined surface. Therefore, even if the positional relationship between the main shaft and the main gear slightly fluctuates in the direction of the central axis, only the inclined surface of the uneven portion slides,
There is almost no possibility that the contact portion will be worn or scraped and damaged, and the mechanical durability of the coupling portion between the main shaft and the main gear can be improved and its function can be stably maintained for a long period of time.

Further, according to the present invention, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are not increased as compared with the conventional structure, and the assembling work is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main shaft and a main gear in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a clutch pawl of a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a relationship between a clutch pawl and a main shaft of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing another conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing still another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 20 ……… Mirror base 2, 22 ……… Main shaft 3, 29 ……… Mirror housing 4 ……… Clutch claw 5 ……… Clutch gear 6, 39 ……… Coil spring 7, 31 ……… Ball bearings 8, 32 ……… Circular recesses 10, 27, 36 ……… Convex parts 11, 35, 37 ……… Recesses 12, 42 ……… Drive parts 21, 30 ……… Opening holes 23 ……… Small diameter Part 24 ... Large diameter part 25 ... Collar part 26, 34 ... Step 33 ... Main gear 38 ... Clutch mechanism 43 ... Motor 44 ... Decelerator system

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mirror base which is formed substantially horizontally so as to project outward from the vehicle body of an automobile front door and has a circular opening, a cylindrical small diameter portion, a cylindrical large diameter portion and a flange portion from above, The main shaft, which is fitted into the opening of the mirror base from below and the lower end of which is in contact with the periphery of the lower surface of the opening and the large-diameter portion is located in the opening of the main shaft and the upper surface of the mirror base. A mirror housing that is arranged and rotatably supported by the large diameter portion of the main shaft, a positioning mechanism that includes an uneven portion formed between the mirror housing and the mirror base, and is fitted from the upper end of the main shaft. And is mounted on the mirror housing and has a step corresponding to the step between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion. A mechanically coupled main gear, a clutch mechanism formed on the flange and the contact surface of the mirror base, and a small-diameter portion of the main shaft fitted between the upper portion of the main shaft and the main gear. Electric retractable door mirror, comprising: a compressed coil spring, and a drive unit housed in the mirror housing and applying a rotational force to the main gear. 2. The step between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the main shaft has a convex portion (or a concave portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right, and corresponds to the step of the main shaft of the main gear. The stepped portion is formed with a concave portion (or convex portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right that engages with the convex portion (or concave portion), and the main gear is mechanically attached to the main shaft mechanically by the force of the coil spring. The electric retractable door mirror according to claim 1, wherein the electric retractable door mirror is coupled with the door mirror. 3. The clutch mechanism includes a convex portion (or a concave portion) formed on an upper surface of the collar portion and having inclined surfaces on the left and right sides,
The lower surface of the mirror base, which is a surface facing the flange portion, is formed with a concave portion (or a convex portion) having inclined surfaces on the left and right that engage with the convex portion (or the concave portion). The electric retractable door mirror according to claim 1 or 2.