Gear mechanism for use in controlling vehicle rear-view mirrors and measuring angular deflection of an articulated trailer relative to the tractor
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gear mechanism, for example for controlling the rotation of vehicle rear-view mirrors, comprises a first sun gear (1) driving a first set of planet gears (5, 6, 7, 8) which mesh with a first ring gear (9), a second set of planet gears (5, 6, 7, 8) of different diameter to the gears of the first set, the gears in the second set meshing with a second ring gear (10) but not with the first sun gear, the first and second ring gears being located side-by-side and relatively rotatable, wherein the each planet gear in the first set of planet gears is rigidly connected to a respective one of the planet gears in the second set so as to be rotatable therewith. Various devices for detecting the relative angle between a tractor and trailer vehicle so as to control the steering of a mirror are also disclosed, as well as means for zeroing the mirror position automatically.
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47 Claims
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- 9. A system for controlling the angle of vehicle rear-view mirrors on an articulated vehicle according to the angle between the tractor and trailer, the system comprising detector means for detecting a change in angle between the tractor and trailer and control means for providing a steering signal to move the mirrors relative to a rest position according to the detected change, the system comprising means for detecting when the tractor and trailer are substantially aligned one with the other, and means for providing a reset signal to return the mirrors to the rest positions thereof in response thereto.
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Specification