Motor-driven pivoting device for a support plate, especially the support plate of a motor vehicle mirror

• US 20040118232A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Wolf, Wilhelm, Seiboth, Wolfgang, Boegelein, Josef
• Application Number:
  US10/471,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/89
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor-driven pivoting device for a support plate that can cooperate with a positioning motor and be pivoted kinematically in relation to a holder, which is fixed to the object. In order to receive a mirror, the plate is provided with a fixed hollow spherical area on its rear side, which is directed away from the mirror, for stable mounting with a compact inbuilt part-turn actuator, mounted with the ability to pivot between two rigidly interconnected spherical surfaces along the generated surfaces thereof. The outer of the two interlocking spherical surfaces of the dual shell holder is embodied in the form of an assembly cap. Its inner surface is fitted out as a carrier for a device with a motor and a set of gears engaging with the gearing that moves radially to engage with the inner area of the device carrier along a generatrix of the inner generated surface of the hollow area.

Claims

1. Motor-driven pivoting device (11) for a plate (12-13) featuring an outward bulge of hollow spherical shape that has the ability to pivot relative to a holder, which is fixed to the object, in the form of an assembly cap (15), and inside of which is arranged a device carrier (14) with a positioning motor (33) by way of which, via its set of gears (31) and a toothing (30), arranged on the plate (12-13), that engages with the inside space of the device carrier (14) and that can move the plate in relation to the assembly cap (15) along concentrically arranged spherical jacket surfaces touching each other wherein the plate is a support plate (12) featuring an outward bulge in the shape of a hollow spherical area (13) that—

along its jacket areas that are directed toward each other—

is held in place with the ability to pivot between two hollow spherical areas, which are rigidly connected to each other, and of which the assembly cap (15) constitutes part of the outer area, while inside, at a radial distance, the device carrier (14) as the inside hollow spherical area is concentrically connected to the assembly cap (15), and the set of gears (31) on the inside of the device carrier (14) is engaged with a toothing (30) that is supported via a peg (35) on the support plate (12) and extends from the hollow spherical area (13) into the device carrier.

2. Pivoting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein two toothings (30), orthogonally arranged relative to each other, cooperate respectively with one geared motor (31-33) in the device carrier (13).

3. Pivoting device as claimed in the previous claim wherein the toothings (30) are realized, respectively, on the inside arc of a rib-shaped arc segment (26, 27) that is positioned with the ability to pivot on the support plate (12) by way of its peg (35) along the pivoting axis (34) of the other arc segment (27, 26).

4. Pivoting device as claimed in the previous claim wherein one peg (35) is fastened in place with the ability to twist in a round bore hole (36) in the support plate (12), while the other peg (35) is aligned diagonally relative to the previously referred to peg (35) and movably fastened in a longitudinal bore hole (37) in the support plate (12) that is located in the plane of the pivoting axes (34-34).

5. Pivoting device as claimed in the previous claim wherein at least diametrically across from one of the arc segments (26, 27) another arc segment radially engages with in the device carrier (14) as a non-driven support element (38).

6. Pivoting device as claimed in the previous claim wherein the support element (38) also serves as a carrier for a position indicator with regard to the pivoting of the support plate (12) relative to the device carrier (14) that is fixed to the object.

7. Pivoting device as claimed in one of the previous claims wherein at least one toothed arc segment (26, 27) that is flexibly arranged on the hollow spherical area (13) extends away, rib-shaped and radially, from the hollow spherical area (13) and through an L-shaped slot (29) in the floor (23) and the wall (20) of the device carrier (14) for toothed engagement with the motor (33), installed at that location, into the inside of the device carrier (14).

8. Pivoting device as claimed in one of the previous claims wherein the assembly cap (15) forms as positive connection with the device carrier (14) via bases (24) that extend from the floor (23) of the device carrier (14), parallel in relation to their joint longitudinal axis (18), all the way into the vicinity of the crown area of the holder (15).

9. Pivoting device as claimed in one of the previous claims wherein the assembly cap (15) features mounting pillars (20) on its outside surface (19).

10. Pivoting device as claimed in one of the previous claims wherein a flat housing (39) with a circuit board for the motor-driven pivoting actuation of the plate (12) is envisioned between the pillars (20) behind a flattened outer pole area (39) of the assembly cap (15).

11. Pivoting device as claimed in one of the previous claims wherein the plate (12) features on the opposite of its rear hollow spherical area (13) an electrical contact for connecting a resistance heater for the mirror surface that is to be installed here.