Remotely controlled vehicle mirror with slip clutch

• US 4,787,726 A
• Filed: 03/09/1987
• Issued: 11/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard M. Hendricks
• Original Assignee: Richard M. Hendricks
• Inventors: Hendricks, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/023,547
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 350/637, 350/632, 248/476, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1827 Motorised alignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

Remote controlled rearview truck-type mirror has slip clutch pre-assembled and pre-loaded as a part of a longitudinal support rod that connects the mirror housing to a support bracket attached to the truck.

Claims

1. A remotely rotatable mirror and housing assembly for attachment to a support bracket on a vehicle, the outside of said housing assembly connected to top and bottom cap members,

a transmission case positioned inside said housing on one of said top and bottom caps,

a longitudinal support rod, the ends of said rod being threaded and connected to said vehicle support bracket, said rod extending through bushing located in axially aligned openings in said top and bottom caps and in said transmission case, said top and bottom caps retained to said support rod by threaded top and bottom nuts, the said nut that retains said cap where said transmission case is positioned, being used to prevent vibration of said mirror and housing assembly by connecting an assembly of a pair of opposed flat spring washers which act against said cap and the bushing of that said cap;

said transmission case comprising;

an electric motor mounted internally to said case,

an output shaft from said motor,

a motor pinion gear on said shaft,

a first driven shaft parallel to said motor output shaft and having assembled thereto a first spur gear and a first worm, said first spur gear in engagement with said motor pinion gear;

a second driven shaft transverse to said first driven shaft and having assembled thereto a first worm gear, and a second worm, said first worm gear in engagement with said first worm;

a second worm gear assembled about said support rod between a top stop and bottom stop, said second worm gear in engagement with said second worm, means to adjust the torque of one of said top and bottom stops to permit controlled slippage between said support rod and said second worm gear when said mirror and housing is turned by a force other than that provided by electric motor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including means to take up gear slack by placing said second driven shaft under compression.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom stop is in compressive contact with the bushing of the cap on which the transmission case is positioned.

4. A mirror and associated housing assembly for attachment to a support bracket on a vehicle so as to be remotely rotatable about a single longitudinal support rod that is affixed its top and bottom to said support bracket comprising:

said mirror and housing assembly having assembled and fixed thereto and internally thereof a reversible, electric power supply and power transmission means rotating a drive gear means;

wherein said power supply, power transmission means, and drive gear means comprises

a transmission case positioned inside said housing;

an electric motor mounted to said case, an output shaft from said motor, a pinion gear on said output shaft;

a first driven shaft having assembled thereto a first spur gear and a first worm, said first spur gear in engagement with said motor pinion gear;

a second driven shaft transverse to said first driven shaft and having assembled thereto a first worm gear and a second worm, said first worm in engagement with said first worm gear and said second worm being meshed with said non-driven gear;

and means to take up gear slack by placing said second driven shaft into compression.

5. A mirror and associated housing assembly for attachment to a support bracket on a vehicle so as to be remotely rotatable about a single longitudinal support rod that is affixed at its top and bottom to said support bracket comprising:

said mirror and housing assembly having assembled and fixed thereto and internally thereof a reversible, electric power supply and power transmission means rotating a drive gear means;

wherein said power supply, power transmission means, and drive gear means comprises;

a transmission case positioned inside said housing;

an electric motor mounted to said case, an output shaft from said motor, a pinion gear on said output shaft;

a first driven shaft having assembled thereto a first spur gear and a first worm, said first spur gear in engagement with said motor pinion gear;

a second driven shaft transverse to said first driven shaft and having assembled thereto a first worm gear and a second worm, said first worm in engagement with said first worm gear and said second worm being meshed with said non-driven gear;

wherein said power supply and said power transmission means is contained within a housing defined by said mirror at the front, a side and rear cover, and top and bottom cap members, said assembly being attached to said bottom cap,

wherein the attachment of said assembly to said bottom cap includes a pair of exposed spring washers, a flat washer and a threaded nut secured around the end of said support rod that extends out of said bottom cap.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the amount of torque applied to said torque adjustment means is within the range of 60 to 100 inch-pounds.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said threaded nut is tightened to a place where said spring washers are substantially flat.