Vehicular mirror with slip clutch for jack screw actuator
First Claim
1. A vehicular mirror system comprising:
- a reflective element comprising a first slip clutch element comprising one of a ball and a socket and having a mounting portion thereon, the socket having a peripheral groove on an external surface thereof;
an actuator assembly comprising a second slip clutch element comprising the other of a ball and a socket and operably interconnected to the reflective element for controlling a tilt of the reflective element, wherein the actuator assembly is operable in a normal mode of operation, the ball and socket comprising a slip clutch; and
a compression element mounted around the socket having the ball cradled therein to apply a compression force on the ball for operation of the actuator assembly in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the actuator assembly moves in the normal mode of operation and actuates the tilt of the reflective element, and wherein in the second mode the actuator assembly is placed in an impeded mode of operation and the ball and socket allows the actuator assembly to slip.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized tilt actuator assembly comprises one or more threaded jack screws attached to a mirror glass case and traveling along one or more threaded actuator shafts with rotation of the motor. When a jack screw reaches its limit of travel, relative movement between the actuator shaft and the glass case can occur through a slip clutch mechanism during such time as the motor continues to operate. In one embodiment, the relative movement is accommodated by a spherical actuator head rotating in a compressively spring-biased socket. In another embodiment, the relative movement is accommodated by slippage along a friction surface interposed between the actuator shaft and the motor. Manual repositioning of the mirror can be accommodated by slippage of the jack screw threads past the actuator shaft threads, or by a coarse threaded interconnection of the jack screw and the actuator shaft.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A vehicular mirror system comprising:
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a reflective element comprising a first slip clutch element comprising one of a ball and a socket and having a mounting portion thereon, the socket having a peripheral groove on an external surface thereof; an actuator assembly comprising a second slip clutch element comprising the other of a ball and a socket and operably interconnected to the reflective element for controlling a tilt of the reflective element, wherein the actuator assembly is operable in a normal mode of operation, the ball and socket comprising a slip clutch; and a compression element mounted around the socket having the ball cradled therein to apply a compression force on the ball for operation of the actuator assembly in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the actuator assembly moves in the normal mode of operation and actuates the tilt of the reflective element, and wherein in the second mode the actuator assembly is placed in an impeded mode of operation and the ball and socket allows the actuator assembly to slip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicular mirror system comprising:
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a reflective element comprising a first slip clutch element comprising one of a ball and a socket and having a mounting portion thereon, the ball comprising at least one projection, and the socket comprising at least one slot in register with the at least one projection; an actuator assembly comprising a second slip clutch element comprising the other of a ball and a socket and operably interconnected to the reflective element for controlling a tilt of the reflective element, wherein the actuator assembly is operable in a normal mode of operation, the ball and socket comprising a slip clutch; and a compression element mounted around the socket having the ball cradled therein to apply a compression force on the ball for operation of the actuator assembly in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the actuator assembly moves in the normal mode of operation and actuates the tilt of the reflective element, and wherein in the second mode the actuator assembly is placed in an impeded mode of operation and the ball and socket allows the actuator assembly to slip. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification