TRUCK MIRROR POSITIONING DEVICE

• US 20140192432A1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Tech Australia Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alpine Tech Australia Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Dalton, Richard John, Hunt, Stuart Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 9,956,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A truck mirror positioning device for adjusting the position of a rear-view truck mirror includes a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a truck external to the truck driver'"'"'s cabin. A pivotal support means is provided mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket for substantially supporting the weight of the truck mirror. An electric motor is mounted on the mounting bracket for moving the mirror, and a gearbox is mechanically coupled to the motor and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the truck mirror so as to adjust the plane in which the mirror lies wherein, in use, an operator can adjust the angle of the mirror by activating the electric motor.

Claims

1. A truck mirror positioning device for adjusting the position of a rear-view truck mirror, the device comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a truck external to the truck driver'"'"'s cabin;

a pivotal support means mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket for substantially supporting the weight of the truck mirror, the pivotal support means comprising a lower pivot hinge connection adapted to pivotally connect a lower portion of the mirror to a lower pivot support bracket, wherein the mirror can tilt about the lower pivot hinge connection in a first direction about a substantially horizontal axis;

a pair of electric motors mounted on the mounting bracket for moving the mirror; and

,

a gearbox mechanically coupled to the motors and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the truck mirror so as to adjust the plane in which the mirror lies in first and second substantially orthogonal directions wherein, in use, an operator can adjust the angle of the mirror by activating the electric motors.

2. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower pivot support bracket is directly coupled to the mounting bracket via a swivel bearing connection.

3. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower pivot support bracket is indirectly coupled to the mounting bracket via a casing of the electric motor.

4. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 3, wherein the lower pivot support bracket is coupled to the casing of the electric motor via a lower pivot mount bracket attached to the casing.

5. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 1, wherein the gearbox comprises a first drive shaft adapted to be mechanically coupled to the truck mirror in a substantially horizontal orientation, rotation of the first drive shaft tilting the mirror in the first direction.

6. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 5, wherein the mechanical coupling of the first drive shaft to the truck mirror comprises a cam means attached to the first drive shaft and an elongate push rod pivotally coupled to the cam wheel at one end and pivotally coupled at the other end to an upper portion of the truck mirror via an upper pivot hinge connection.

7. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 1, wherein the pair of electric motors is provided in a biaxial motor unit.

8. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 7, wherein the gearbox is a low speed/high ratio gearbox.

9. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 8, wherein the gearbox is integrated into the same casing with the biaxial motor unit.

10. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 9, wherein the biaxial motor unit is provided external to and separate from the mirror.

11. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 10, wherein the gearbox comprises a second drive shaft substantially orthogonal to the first drive shaft and mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket, rotation of the second drive shaft pivoting the motor unit with the mirror coupled thereto in the second direction.

12. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 11, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a C-shaped mounting bracket having first and second substantially parallel bracket portions, the second drive shaft being fixed to the first bracket portion.

13. A truck mirror positioning device comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a truck external to the truck driver'"'"'s cabin;

a truck mirror;

a pivotal support means mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket for substantially supporting the weight of the truck mirror, the pivotal support means being pivotally coupled to the mirror at first and second coupling points, and wherein the first and second coupling points are hinge connections adapted to substantially support the weight of the mirror;

a first elongate linear actuator mounted on the device for moving the mirror about a substantially vertical axis; and

,

a second elongate linear actuator mounted on the device for moving the mirror about a substantially horizontal axis;

whereby, in use, an operator can adjust the angle of the mirror by activating either one or both of the first and second actuators.

14. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 13, wherein the linear actuators are electrically driven linear actuators comprising an electric motor and an extension arm.

15. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 14, wherein the pivotal support means comprises a substantially vertically oriented elongate support shaft which is rotatably received in a sleeve fixed to the mounting bracket, the support shaft being adapted to pivot about a substantially vertical axis.

16. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 15, wherein the support shaft has a support arm fixed to one end, the support arm being mechanically coupled to the truck mirror at the first coupling point.

17. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 16, wherein the second actuator is mounted on the other end of the support shaft and is mechanically coupled to the truck mirror at the second coupling point.

18. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 17, wherein the first linear actuator is mechanically coupled at one end to the mounting bracket and the other end to the support arm.

19. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 18, wherein the support shaft has a U-shaped support bracket fixed thereto at the top end of the support shaft for supporting the second actuator, and the second actuator is pivotally mounted on the U-shaped support bracket.

20. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 13, further comprising an electronic controller for controlling activation of the first and second actuators.

21. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 20, wherein the controller is located in the vehicle cabin and enables the first and second actuators to be activated independently or simultaneously.

22. A truck mirror positioning device as defined in claim 21, wherein the controller comprises a joystick for controlling motion of the mirror about the horizontal (panning) and vertical (tilting) axes.