Friction reducing assembly and rearview mirror folder

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of folders, and discloses a friction reduction assembly and a rearview mirror folder. The friction reduction assembly comprises a floating ring, rolling bodies and a first gasket. The floating ring comprises a bottom plate and a wall plate. The bottom plate is provided with a through hole and a plurality of mounting holes. The through hole is located at the middle of the bottom plate, and the plurality of mounting holes are arranged around the through hole in a circumferential direction. The wall plate surrounds the outer periphery of the bottom plate, and the bottom end is connected to the outer edge of the bottom plate. The number of the rolling bodies is plural, and each rolling body is arranged in a mounting hole. The first gasket is arranged on the bottom plate, and the rolling bodies support the first gasket. The application can effectively reduce the frictional resistance of the rearview mirror folder when the rearview mirror folder is passively rotated, and reduce the friction loss.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of folding mechanism technology, specifically to friction-reducing components and rearview mirror folding mechanisms. Background Technology

[0002] The rearview mirror folding mechanism is used to drive the rearview mirrors of a vehicle to unfold and retract. Based on the lifting principle, the rearview mirror folding mechanism uses a spring along the axis to press the stacked components together, keeping the rearview mirror folding mechanism in a locked state. When subjected to driving force, some rotatable components can overcome the elastic force of the spring and move along the axis to switch to the unlocked state, thereby being able to rotate around the axis to unfold and retract the rearview mirror.

[0003] During rotation, due to the clamping force of the spring, there will be a lot of friction between the relatively rotating parts and between the parts and the spring. In order to reduce friction loss, some related technologies will put a gasket with a low coefficient of friction (such as PTFE gasket) between the spring and the parts. However, there is still room for improvement in the friction reduction effect, and the wear resistance and deformation resistance of PTFE gasket are relatively weak, which poses a risk of poor service life. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a friction-reducing component and a rearview mirror folding device to solve the problem of high frictional wear in rearview mirror folding devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a friction-reducing component, including a floating ring, rolling elements, and a first washer. The floating ring includes a base plate and a wall plate. The base plate has a through hole and a plurality of mounting holes. The through hole is located in the middle of the base plate, and the plurality of mounting holes are arranged circumferentially around the through hole. The wall plate surrounds the outer periphery of the base plate and its bottom end is connected to the outer edge of the base plate. There are a plurality of rolling elements, which are respectively disposed in the mounting holes. The first washer is disposed on the base plate, and the rolling elements support the first washer.

[0006] Beneficial effects: The friction-reducing component is suitable for installation in a rearview mirror folding unit. The first spring presses on the first washer, and the friction-reducing component applies force to the gear seat, pressing the gear seat tightly onto the rotating seat. When the rearview mirror folding unit's housing is subjected to excessive external force, the gear seat can overcome the clamping force of the first spring and rotate with the housing relative to the rotating seat, achieving passive rotation of the housing. First, the rolling elements can roll when the gear seat rotates, forming rolling friction between the first spring and the gear seat, thereby effectively reducing the frictional resistance experienced by the rearview mirror folding unit during passive rotation and reducing frictional loss. Second, the wall plate can separate the first spring from other surrounding components, further reducing frictional loss. Finally, the first washer can increase the force-bearing area of ​​the first spring, reduce stress concentration, and make the friction-reducing component more suitable for bearing the clamping force of the first spring, improving its performance in the rearview mirror folding unit.

[0007] In one alternative embodiment, the floating ring further includes a positioning block that protrudes radially from the outer side of the wall panel and is adapted to be fitted into a positioning groove in the housing of the rearview mirror folder.

[0008] Beneficial effects: Under the action of the drive motor, the housing can rotate actively. At this time, the first spring and the gear seat are in a stationary state. The floating ring is positioned by the positioning block, so that when the housing rotates actively, the floating ring can rotate with the housing. This achieves rolling friction between the floating ring and the spring, and between the floating ring and the gear seat, thereby effectively reducing the frictional resistance experienced by the housing when it rotates actively and reducing frictional loss.

[0009] In one alternative embodiment, the positioning block includes a guide portion located at one end of the positioning block away from the base plate, and the circumferential dimension of the guide portion gradually increases in the axial direction from the side away from the base plate to the side closer to the base plate.

[0010] Beneficial effects: In the rearview mirror folding device, the housing includes a first housing and a second housing, which are interlocked to form a transmission chamber suitable for accommodating the friction-reducing components. By setting a guide, the positioning block can be easily and accurately inserted into the positioning groove during the housing assembly process, reducing the assembly difficulty and time of the rearview mirror folding device.

[0011] In one alternative embodiment, the floating ring further includes a reinforcing rib connected between the positioning block and the wall panel, and located on the side of the positioning block closer to the bottom plate.

[0012] Beneficial effects: By setting reinforcing ribs, the structural strength and torque-bearing capacity of the positioning block can be improved, ensuring that the floating ring can stably follow the rotation of the shell.

[0013] In one alternative embodiment, a second washer is further included, which is disposed on the side of the base plate opposite to the first washer, and the second washer supports the rolling element.

[0014] Beneficial effects: The second washer can increase the stress-bearing area of ​​the gear seat, reduce stress concentration, avoid damage to the surface of the gear seat, and improve the performance of the rearview mirror folding device.

[0015] In one optional embodiment, the floating ring further includes a first stop and a second stop, the first stop and the second stop being connected to the inner edge of the base plate and located on both sides of the base plate in the axial direction, the first stop being used to position the first washer and the second stop being used to position the second washer.

[0016] Beneficial effects: The first and second retaining edges act as limiters, preventing the first and second washers from shifting position.

[0017] In one alternative embodiment, the first washer and the second washer are made of metal.

[0018] Beneficial effects: The metal material has high structural strength and rigidity, which can effectively bear and disperse the force of the rolling elements and avoid stress concentration on the surface of the first spring and gear seat.

[0019] Secondly, this application also provides a rearview mirror folding device, including a rotating seat, a gear seat, a retaining ring, a first spring, and a friction-reducing component provided in this application. The rotating seat includes a seat body and a rotating shaft. The bottom end of the rotating shaft is mounted on the seat body. The seat body includes a first limiting tooth protruding from the top end. The gear seat is sleeved on the rotating shaft and includes a first limiting groove. The first limiting groove is recessed at the bottom end of the gear seat and its shape matches the first limiting tooth. The friction-reducing component is sleeved on the rotating shaft and placed at the top end of the gear seat. The retaining ring is fixed on the rotating shaft. The first spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft, with one end abutting against the retaining ring and the other end abutting against the first washer.

[0020] Beneficial effects: The rearview mirror folding device includes the friction-reducing component provided in this application, and therefore has the beneficial effects brought about by the friction-reducing component, which will not be elaborated here.

[0021] In one alternative embodiment, the system further includes a drive gear and a rotating assembly. The drive gear is sleeved on the outer periphery of the gear housing, and the rotating assembly includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism. The drive motor is connected to the drive gear via the transmission mechanism and is adapted to drive the rotating assembly to rotate around the drive gear.

[0022] Beneficial effects: The drive motor can drive the rotating components to rotate actively, realizing the folding and unfolding functions of the rearview mirror folder.

[0023] In one optional embodiment, the rotating assembly includes a housing fitted onto the rotating shaft, and has a drive chamber and a transmission chamber formed therein. The drive motor is disposed in the drive chamber, and the transmission mechanism, the drive gear, and the gear seat are disposed in the transmission chamber.

[0024] Beneficial effects: The housing is divided into a drive chamber and a transmission chamber, and the drive motor is placed separately in the drive chamber, which helps to reduce the risk of moisture erosion of the drive motor and improves the overall waterproof performance of the rearview mirror folding unit. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the friction-reducing component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The front view of the friction-reducing component is shown below;

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the friction-reducing component shown;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a rearview mirror folding device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the rearview mirror folding mechanism shown;

[0031] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of the rearview mirror folding mechanism is shown;

[0032] Figure 7 for Figure 4 An exploded view of the rearview mirror folding mechanism is shown below;

[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 4 An exploded view of the rearview mirror folding mechanism is shown.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 101. Floating ring; 1011. Base plate; 1012. Wall plate; 1013. Through hole; 1014. Positioning block; 1015. Reinforcing rib; 1016. First flange; 1017. Second flange; 102. Rolling element; 103. First washer; 104. Second washer; 2. Rotating seat; 201. Seat body; 2011. First limiting tooth; 2012. Second limiting tooth; 202. Rotating shaft; 3. Gear seat; 301. First mounting plate 302, First limiting groove; 303, Third limiting tooth; 304, Fourth limiting groove; 305, Second placement groove; 401, Snap ring; 402, First spring; 403, Positioning pin; 5, Drive gear; 501, Third limiting groove; 502, Fourth limiting tooth; 6, Transmission mechanism; 8, Housing; 801, First housing; 8011, Second limiting groove; 802, Second housing; 8021, Positioning groove; 803, Third housing. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0037] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a," "an," and "comprising" as used herein may also mean including the plural forms. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0038] Although terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up" and "connected" should be interpreted broadly; for example, they may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] The rearview mirror folding device is used to drive the rearview mirrors of a vehicle to unfold and retract. In some related technologies, the rearview mirror folding device has active rotation and passive rotation functions. Active rotation means that the rearview mirror folding device rotates under the drive of the drive motor, while passive rotation means that the rearview mirror folding device rotates under the action of external force (such as when it is hit), thereby reducing the damage to the rearview mirror folding device.

[0040] Specifically, for a rearview mirror folding device based on the lifting principle, the rotating seat is set on the vehicle body, the gear seat is set on the rotating seat under the clamping force of the spring, the drive gear is set on the gear seat, and the drive motor is connected to the drive gear through a transmission mechanism.

[0041] During normal operation, the axial force on the gear seat is insufficient to overcome the clamping force of the spring, so it is in a locked state. The drive motor, transmission mechanism, and rearview mirror folding housing rotate actively around the gear seat. When impacted, the gear seat overcomes the clamping force of the spring and separates from the rotating seat, becoming an unlocked state. The drive motor, transmission mechanism, drive gear, gear seat, and housing then rotate passively around the rotating seat.

[0042] During rotation, the spring exerts a clamping force on the gear seat, resulting in significant friction between the spring and the gear seat, which can easily scratch the surface of the gear seat. Some related technologies use washers between the spring and the gear seat, but the wear resistance and deformation resistance of these washers are weak, and their friction-reducing effect is not ideal under excessive clamping force.

[0043] The following is combined Figures 1 to 8 The embodiments of this application are described, wherein the direction in which the friction-reducing component rotates is taken as the axial direction, and the radial and circumferential directions are set accordingly.

[0044] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3According to an embodiment of this application, a friction-reducing component is provided, including a floating ring 101, rolling elements 102, and a first washer 103. The floating ring 101 includes a base plate 1011 and a wall plate 1012. The base plate 1011 has a through hole 1013 and a plurality of mounting holes. The through hole 1013 is located in the middle of the base plate 1011, and the plurality of mounting holes are arranged circumferentially around the through hole 1013. The wall plate 1012 surrounds the outer periphery of the base plate 1011 and its bottom end is connected to the outer edge of the base plate 1011. There are a plurality of rolling elements 102, which are respectively disposed in the mounting holes. The first washer 103 is disposed on the base plate 1011, and the rolling elements 102 support the first washer 103.

[0045] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is understandable that the friction-reducing component is suitable for installation in the rearview mirror folding device. The rearview mirror folding device includes a rotating seat 2, a gear seat 3, a first spring 402, and a housing 8. The first spring 402 presses on the first washer 103. The friction-reducing component applies a force to the gear seat 3, pressing and locking the gear seat 3 onto the rotating seat 2. When the housing 8 is subjected to excessive external force, the gear seat 3 can overcome the pressing force of the first spring 402, release the locking relationship with the rotating seat 2, and rotate with the housing 8 relative to the rotating seat 2, thereby realizing the passive rotation of the housing 8.

[0046] First, the rolling element 102 can roll when the gear seat 3 rotates, forming rolling friction between the first spring 402 and the gear seat 3, thereby effectively reducing the frictional resistance experienced by the rearview mirror folder when it is passively rotated and reducing frictional loss. Second, the wall plate 1012 can separate the first spring 402 from other surrounding components, preventing the first spring 402 from rubbing against the surrounding rotating components and further reducing frictional loss. Finally, the first washer 103 can increase the force-bearing area of ​​the first spring 402, reduce stress concentration, and make the friction-reducing component more suitable for bearing the clamping force of the first spring 402, improving its performance in the rearview mirror folder.

[0047] Optionally, the rolling element 102 can be a ball, needle, roller or other rolling structure. The rolling element 102 can be made of metal material, thereby improving the ability of the friction-reducing component to withstand the clamping force of the first spring 402. The structural design and material selection of the rolling element 102 can refer to relevant technologies, which will not be elaborated here.

[0048] Optionally, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6In some embodiments, the floating ring 101 further includes a positioning block 1014, which protrudes radially from the outer side of the wall panel 1012 and is adapted to be embedded in the positioning groove 8021 of the housing 8 of the rearview mirror folder. Besides passive rotation, the housing 8 can also actively rotate under the action of the drive motor, realizing the folding and unfolding of the rearview mirror folder. During active rotation, the gear seat 3 is locked to the rotating seat 2, and the first spring 402 and the gear seat 3 are in a stationary state. The floating ring 101 is positioned by the positioning block 1014, so that when the housing 8 actively rotates, the floating ring 101 can rotate with the housing 8, achieving rolling friction between the floating ring 101 and the first spring 402, and between the floating ring 101 and the gear seat 3. This effectively reduces the frictional resistance experienced by the housing 8 during active rotation and reduces frictional loss.

[0049] At this time, the wall panel 1012 surrounds the outer periphery of the first spring 402 and is connected to the housing 8 via the positioning block 1014, forming a whole to improve the overall stability of the friction-reducing assembly. Furthermore, the positioning block 1014 also enhances the guiding positioning of the floating ring 101 during assembly.

[0050] Optionally, the number of positioning blocks 1014 can be multiple (in Figure 2 (In the illustrated embodiment, there are three) Multiple positioning blocks 1014 can form a multi-point positioning effect, improve the coaxiality of the floating ring 101 and the housing 8, and during rotation, multiple positioning blocks 1014 share the torque, which can also reduce the load on the floating ring 101 and reduce the performance requirements of the material of the floating ring 101.

[0051] For example, the floating ring 101 can be made of plastic material, thereby reducing weight and avoiding rigid collisions with the metal rolling element 102, reducing noise during operation. The rolling element 102 can be integrally molded with the floating ring 101 during injection molding, simplifying the assembly process of the friction-reducing components.

[0052] To improve structural strength, in some embodiments, the floating ring 101 further includes a reinforcing rib 1015, which connects the positioning block 1014 and the wall plate 1012 and is located on the side of the positioning block 1014 near the bottom plate 1011. By providing the reinforcing rib 1015, the structural strength and torque-bearing capacity of the positioning block 1014 can be improved, ensuring that the floating ring 101 can stably follow the rotation of the housing 8.

[0053] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, the positioning block 1014 includes a guide portion located at one end of the positioning block 1014 away from the base plate 1011. In the axial direction, the circumferential dimension of the guide portion gradually increases from the side away from the base plate 1011 to the side closer to the base plate 1011.

[0054] Combined with reference Figure 7 It is understandable that in the rearview mirror folding device, the housing 8 includes a first housing 801 and a second housing 802, which are interlocked to form a transmission chamber suitable for accommodating the friction-reducing components. By setting a guide, the positioning block 1014 can be easily and accurately inserted into the positioning groove 8021 during the assembly of the housing 8, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and time of the rearview mirror folding device.

[0055] Optionally, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the friction-reducing assembly further includes a second washer 104, which is disposed on the side of the base plate 1011 opposite to the first washer 103, and supports the rolling element 102. The second washer 104 can increase the force-bearing area of ​​the gear seat 3, reduce stress concentration, avoid damage to the surface of the gear seat 3, and improve the performance in the rearview mirror folding device.

[0056] In some embodiments, the floating ring 101 further includes a first stop 1016 and a second stop 1017. The first stop 1016 and the second stop 1017 are connected to the inner edge of the base plate 1011 and are located on both sides of the base plate 1011 in the axial direction. The first stop 1016 is used to position the first washer 103, and the second stop 1017 is used to position the second washer 104.

[0057] The first retaining edge 1016 and the second retaining edge 1017 serve as limiting elements, preventing the first washer 103 and the second washer 104 from shifting position. During assembly, the second washer 104 is first placed on the gear seat 3, then the floating ring 101 with the rolling element 102 is placed, and finally the first washer 103 is placed. The second retaining edge 1017 can guide and position the floating ring 101 during placement. The first washer 103 can be limited by the first retaining edge 1016 and the wall plate 1012, which also helps to reduce the assembly difficulty.

[0058] For example, in some embodiments, the first washer 103 and the second washer 104 are made of metal. Metal materials have high structural strength and rigidity, which can effectively bear and disperse the force of the rolling elements, and avoid stress concentration on the surfaces of the first spring and the gear seat. For example, the metal material can be stainless steel, thereby giving the friction-reducing component better weather resistance and improving its service life in harsh environments.

[0059] According to the embodiments of this application, referring to Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 On the other hand, a rearview mirror folding device is also provided, including a rotating seat 2, a gear seat 3, a retaining ring 401, a first spring 402, and the friction-reducing component provided in this application. The rotating seat 2 includes a seat body 201 and a rotating shaft 202. The bottom end of the rotating shaft 202 is mounted on the seat body 201. The seat body 201 includes a first limiting tooth 2011 protruding from the top end. The gear seat 3 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 202 and includes a first limiting groove 302. The first limiting groove 302 is recessed at the bottom end of the gear seat 3 and its shape matches the first limiting tooth 2011. The friction-reducing component is sleeved on the rotating shaft 202 and placed on the top end of the gear seat 3. The retaining ring 401 is fixed on the rotating shaft 202. The first spring 402 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 202, with one end abutting against the retaining ring 401 and the other end abutting against the first washer 103.

[0060] It is understandable that the circumferential surface of the first limiting tooth 2011 is inclined to the axial direction and has a guiding function. When the first limiting tooth 2011 is inserted into the first limiting groove 302, the gear seat 3 is locked to the seat body 201. When subjected to external force impact, the gear seat 3 bears torque and generates an axial component force through the contact surface of the first limiting tooth 2011 and the first limiting groove 302, so that the gear seat 3 overcomes the clamping force of the first spring 402, releases the lock, and passively rotates around the rotating shaft 202.

[0061] The rearview mirror folding device includes the friction-reducing component provided in this application, and therefore has the beneficial effects brought about by the friction-reducing component, which will not be described in detail here.

[0062] Optionally, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 7 The gear seat 3 may include a first mounting groove 301, which is recessed inside the gear seat 3 and extends through the gear seat 3 at the end away from the seat body 201. The friction-reducing component is placed in the first mounting groove 301, so that the friction-reducing component, the first spring 402 and the gear seat 3 partially overlap in the radial direction, which helps to miniaturize the rearview mirror folding device.

[0063] At this time, refer to Figure 5 The wall panel 1012 serves as a guide and divider, allowing the floating ring 101 to be easily placed into the first placement slot 301, and better separating the first spring 402 and the gear seat 3 to avoid direct contact between them.

[0064] In some embodiments, the rearview mirror folding device further includes a drive gear 5 and a rotating assembly. The drive gear 5 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the gear seat 3, and the rotating assembly includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism 6. The drive motor is connected to the drive gear 5 via the transmission mechanism 6 and is adapted to drive the rotating assembly to rotate around the drive gear 5. The drive motor can drive the rotating assembly to rotate actively, thereby realizing the folding and unfolding functions of the rearview mirror folding device.

[0065] Specifically, the transmission mechanism 6 includes an intermediate shaft. One end of the intermediate shaft is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor via a worm gear mechanism, and the other end is connected to the drive gear 5 via a worm gear mechanism. The drive motor applies torque to the drive gear 5. When the drive gear 5 is fixed, the reaction force causes the rotating component to rotate actively around the drive gear 5. When the rotating component is subjected to an external force, the gear seat 3 unlocks from the rotating seat 2 under the action of torque, and the gear seat 3, drive gear 5, and rotating component rotate passively around the rotating seat 2.

[0066] Optionally, in some embodiments, the rotating assembly includes a housing 8, which is fitted onto the rotating shaft 202 and has a drive chamber and a transmission chamber formed inside. The drive motor is disposed in the drive chamber, and the transmission mechanism 6, drive gear 5, and gear seat 3 are disposed in the transmission chamber. The housing 8 is divided into a drive chamber and a transmission chamber, and the drive motor is placed separately in the drive chamber, which helps to reduce the risk of moisture erosion of the drive motor and improves the overall waterproof performance of the rearview mirror folding device.

[0067] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The housing 8 may include a first housing 801, a second housing 802 and a third housing 803 arranged along the axial direction. A transmission chamber is formed between the first housing 801 and the second housing 802, and a drive chamber is formed between the second housing 802 and the third housing 803. The first housing 801, the second housing 802 and the third housing 803 can be connected by laser welding, thereby improving the waterproof performance.

[0068] Additionally, to lock the rearview mirror folding mechanism in standby mode, in some embodiments, the seat 201 further includes a second limiting tooth 2012, which is arranged around the outer periphery of the first limiting tooth 2011, and the housing 8 (in Figure 7 , Figure 8In the illustrated embodiment, specifically the first housing 801, a second limiting groove 8011 is also included. The second limiting groove 8011 is recessed at one end of the housing 8 facing the seat 201. The second limiting tooth 2012 can be inserted into the second limiting groove 8011, thereby locking the housing 8 and preventing uncontrolled rotation of the rearview mirror folding mechanism. Similarly, the circumferential surface of the second limiting tooth 2012 is inclined to the axial direction, providing a guiding function. During active rotation, the contact surface between the second limiting tooth 2012 and the second limiting groove 8011 generates an axial component force, causing the housing 8 to unlock from the seat 201 and rotate around the pivot 202.

[0069] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the gear seat 3 includes a third limiting tooth 303 and a fourth limiting groove 304. The third limiting tooth 303 is radially protruding on the outer side of the gear seat 3, and the fourth limiting groove 304 is radially recessed on the outer side of the gear seat 3. The drive gear 5 includes a third limiting groove 501 and a fourth limiting tooth 502. The third limiting groove 501 is radially recessed on the inner side of the drive gear 5 and passes through the drive gear 5 at the end away from the seat body 201. The third limiting tooth 303 can be inserted into the third limiting groove 501 to lock the drive gear 5. The fourth limiting tooth 502 is radially protruding on the inner side of the drive gear 5 and can be inserted into the fourth limiting groove 304. When the drive gear 5 is unlocked, the drive gear 5 can rotate around the gear seat 3 within the range defined by the fourth limiting groove 304.

[0070] Specifically, when the third limiting tooth 303 disengages from the third limiting groove 501, the drive gear 5 is located in the first position close to the seat 201 in the axial direction, thereby restricting the axial movement space of the housing 8 and ensuring that the housing 8 is stably locked to the seat 201. Under the drive of the drive motor, the drive gear 5 rotates and causes the fourth limiting tooth 502 to abut against the wall of the fourth limiting groove 304. At this time, the third limiting tooth 303 is aligned with the third limiting groove 501. The axial component force generated by the worm gear mechanism causes the third limiting tooth 303 to insert into the third limiting groove 501. The drive gear 5 moves in the axial direction to the second position away from the seat 201, making room for the housing 8 to move in the axial direction. Under the action of the axial component force, the housing 8 is unlocked from the seat 201 and rotates around the rotating shaft 202.

[0071] In some embodiments, the rearview mirror folding mechanism further includes a second spring (not shown) and a positioning pin 403, and the gear seat 3 further includes a second mounting groove 305, which is axially recessed at one end of the gear seat 3 away from the seat body 201. The positioning pin 403 is disposed in the housing 8 (in Figure 7 , Figure 8 In the embodiment shown, specifically in the pin hole of the second housing 802, the two ends of the second spring abut against the positioning pin 403 and the housing 8 respectively, pressing the positioning pin 403 against the second mounting groove 305.

[0072] The second mounting groove 305 extends in the circumferential direction and is used to position the corner of the housing 8. When the positioning pin 403 abuts against the wall of the second mounting groove 305, the second limiting tooth 2012 aligns with the second limiting groove 8011. Therefore, when the drive motor reverses, the housing 8 can determine the reset position through the positioning pin 403, ensuring that the second limiting tooth 2012 and the second limiting groove 8011 are accurately engaged.

[0073] Although embodiments of this application have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of this application, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A friction-reducing component, characterized in that, include: The floating ring (101) includes a base plate (1011) and a wall plate (1012). The base plate (1011) has a through hole (1013) and a plurality of mounting holes. The through hole (1013) is located in the middle of the base plate (1011). The plurality of mounting holes are arranged circumferentially around the through hole (1013). The wall plate (1012) surrounds the outer periphery of the base plate (1011) and its bottom end is connected to the outer edge of the base plate (1011). Multiple rolling elements (102) are respectively disposed in the mounting holes; The first washer (103) is disposed on the base plate (1011), and the rolling element (102) supports the first washer (103). The floating ring (101) also includes a positioning block (1014), which protrudes radially from the outside of the wall panel (1012) and is adapted to be embedded in the positioning groove (8021) of the housing (8) of the rearview mirror folder.

2. The friction-reducing component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning block (1014) includes a guide portion located at one end of the positioning block (1014) away from the base plate (1011). In the axial direction, the circumferential dimension of the guide portion gradually increases from the side away from the base plate (1011) to the side closer to the base plate (1011).

3. The friction-reducing component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The floating ring (101) also includes a reinforcing rib (1015) which is connected between the positioning block (1014) and the wall panel (1012) and is located on the side of the positioning block (1014) near the bottom plate (1011).

4. The friction-reducing component according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second washer (104), which is disposed on the side of the base plate (1011) away from the first washer (103) and supports the rolling element (102).

5. The friction-reducing component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The floating ring (101) further includes a first stop (1016) and a second stop (1017). The first stop (1016) and the second stop (1017) are connected to the inner edge of the base plate (1011) and are located on both sides of the base plate (1011) in the axial direction. The first stop (1016) is used to position the first washer (103), and the second stop (1017) is used to position the second washer (104).

6. The friction-reducing component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first washer (103) and the second washer (104) are made of metal.

7. A rearview mirror folding device, characterized in that, include: The rotating seat (2) includes a seat body (201) and a rotating shaft (202). The bottom end of the rotating shaft (202) is mounted on the seat body (201). The seat body (201) includes a first limiting tooth (2011) protruding from the top end. Gear seat (3), sleeved on the rotating shaft (202), includes a first limiting groove (302), the first limiting groove (302) is recessed at the bottom end of the gear seat (3), and its shape matches the first limiting tooth (2011); The friction-reducing component according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is sleeved on the rotating shaft (202) and placed on the top of the gear seat (3); A retaining ring (401) is fixed on the rotating shaft (202); The first spring (402) is sleeved on the rotating shaft (202), with one end abutting the retaining ring (401) and the other end abutting the first washer (103).

8. The rearview mirror folding device according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a drive gear (5) and a rotating assembly. The drive gear (5) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the gear seat (3). The rotating assembly includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism (6). The drive motor is connected to the drive gear (5) through the transmission mechanism (6) and is adapted to drive the rotating assembly to rotate around the drive gear (5).

9. The rearview mirror folding device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The rotating assembly includes a housing (8), which is fitted onto the rotating shaft (202) and has a drive chamber and a transmission chamber inside. The drive motor is located in the drive chamber, and the transmission mechanism (6), the drive gear (5), and the gear seat (3) are located in the transmission chamber.

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