Device for controlling the rotation of a door mirror up to preset position

• US 5,530,327 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eripress S.R.L. (BS Holding SpA)
• Original Assignee: Commer SpA (Dante Siano)
• Inventors: Vecchiarino, Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/165,606
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 318/293, 318/DIG. 2, 318/291, 318/286, 318/489, 318/466, 359/841, 359/877, 359/507, 359/874, 359/873, 359/872
• US Class Current: 318/293
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle

Abstract

A device for the controlled rotation of the cover of a door mirror in a motor vehicle comprises a DC fed electric motor to allow the motorized rotation of the cover and an electronic circuit enabling the electric motor. A plurality of feed tracks and a plurality of sliding contacts thereon selectively cut out or enable the connections to one or more sections of the circuit in correspondence with positions of the mirror cover different from the preset positions.

The transmission of the rotational movement from the motor to the cover is ensured by a train of gears in which one or more friction elements are inserted.

Elastic means are also foreseen for retaining and positioning the cover in respect to the fixed base, to exert, together with said friction elements, different forces of reaction that oppose the relative movement between the cover and the fixed base of the door mirror.

Claims

1. A device for the controlled rotation of the outer cover of a door mirror mounted on a casing turning with respect to a fixed base, between an initial position and one or more preset positions, the device including a DC electric motor for the motorized rotation of the mirror cover and at least a couple of control buttons to actuate the motorized rotation of said cover wherein the improvement comprises an electronic enabling circuit comprising:

at least a couple of relays connected through a plurality of diodes for allowing reversal of current polarity to the terminals of said motor;

an actuating section for supplying power to said electric motor during a preset period of time;

a plurality of feed tracks and a plurality of sliding contacts on said tracks to selectively interrupt or to enable connections to one or more sections of the circuit in correspondence to positions of the mirror cover different from said preset positions.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connections of said one or more sections of the circuit are interrupted in correspondence to said preset positions of the cover, while, in correspondence to positions different from said preset positions, at least one of said connections is enabled.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said feed tracks are integral with said casing and said sliding contacts are integral with said fixed base.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein in said preset positions both the contacts of said relays are in a steady state and are connected to the same pole of the power source.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating section of said circuit comprises a transistor, a plurality of polarization resistors and at least a condenser, said resistors and said condenser being able to maintain said transistor in its conduction state for a preset period of time starting when one of said control buttons is pressed.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control buttons are operatively connected to activate the changeover of the contacts of said relays and thus ensure electric power supply to said motor;

and wherein said polarization resistors and said condenser maintain the transistor in its conduction state for a time sufficient to ensure that at least one of said sliding contacts reaches said tracks and enables at least one connection to one of said circuit sections.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said circuit section is able to maintain the state of said relay until one of said preset positions is reached, in correspondence of which the relay commutes again, cutting out the electic power supply to said motor.

8. A device according to claim 1, of the type comprising a plurality of gears housed in said casing for the transmission of the rotational movement from said motor to said casing, wherein one or more friction elements are inserted in the gear train of movement transmission, and wherein elastic means are provided for retaining and positioning the cover with respect to the fixed base, said friction elements and said retaining and positioning elastic means being capable of exerting different reaction forces that oppose the relative movement between said casing and said fixed base.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the reaction force to the motorized rotation of the cover is exerted only by said retaining and positioning means.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said cover retaining and positioning means comprise a substantially flat elastic element, fastened to said fixed base or casing, having a plurality of arms provided with projections elastically movable between a plane position for engagement in a corresponding plurality of seats, as provided on the casing or on the fixed base, and a flexed position for disengagement from said seats.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said seats are provided in a small positioning plate integral to said casing and wherein said elastic element is fastened to the fixed base of the door mirror.

12. A device according to claim 8, wherein said friction elements are operatively positioned between two reduction gear units having a direct gear ratio less than one.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein said gears comprise:

a worm screw coupled to a first gear wheel with a direct gear ratio less than one, said worm screw being keyed on the shaft of said electric motor and said first gear wheel being turnable around a first axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said worm screw;

a second cylindrical gear wheel coupled to a third cylindircal wheel with a direct gear ratio greater than one, said second gear wheel being integral and coaxial to said first gear wheel and said third gear wheel being turnable around a second axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said worm screw, said first and second axis of rotation being parallel;

a fourth gear wheel coupled to a fifth gear wheel with a direct gear ratio less than one, said fourth gear wheel being integral and coaxial to said third gear wheel, said fifth gear wheel being idlingly mounted on a first bush supporting said friction elements, said fifth gear wheel and said first bush being coaxial to said first axis of rotation;

a sixth gear wheel coupled to a seventh gear wheel with a direct gear ratio less than one, said sixth gear wheel being integral to a second bush inserted in said first bush and integral thereto, said seventh gear wheel being mounted on a pivot integral to said fixed base and coaxial to said second axis of rotation.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said friction elements are formed by disks made of plastic material pressed against the opposite base surfaces of said fifth gear wheel by means of Belleville washers.

15. A device according to claim 2, wherein said feed tracks are integral with said fixed base and said sliding contacts are integral with said casing.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said feed tracks are integral with said casing and said sliding contacts are integral with said fixed base.

17. A device according to claim 8, wherein said cover retaining and positioning means comprise a substantially flat elastic element, fastened to said fixed base or casing, having a plurality of arms provided with projections elastically movable between a plane position for engagement in a corresponding plurality of seats, as provided on a casing or on the fixed base, and a flexed position for disengagement from, said seats.

18. A device according to claim 12, wherein said friction elements are formed by disks made of plastic material pressed against the opposite base surfaces of said fifth gear wheel by means of Belleville washers.