An auxiliary mechanism for an exterior mirror raising mechanism and a folding device thereof

Abstract

The application discloses an auxiliary mechanism for an outside rearview mirror lifting mechanism and a folding device thereof, and relates to the technical field of automobile parts, which comprises a gear body rotatably arranged in a shell and a transmission member coaxially arranged on a mounting shaft, a guide column is protruded on the inner ring surface of the gear body, a guide groove is arranged on the outer ring surface of the transmission member, and the guide column is slidingly matched with the guide groove; characterized in that a guide groove with a guide surface is arranged on the transmission member, and a guide tooth is arranged on the gear body; when the guide column slides along the guide groove, the guide tooth is slidingly matched with the guide surface, so as to eliminate the gap between the guide column and the guide groove in the up-down direction. During the upward sliding of the guide column along the guide groove, the lower side of the guide column is contacted with the guide groove, and the guide tooth is contacted with the guide surface, so that the guide column is limited to only be capable of relatively sliding along the guide groove direction and incapable of shaking in the up-down direction, thereby uniformly bearing the guide column, improving the running fluency, reducing the noise, and prolonging the service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive parts technology, and in particular to an auxiliary mechanism for lifting exterior rearview mirrors and its folding device. Background Technology

[0002] During normal driving, the exterior rearview mirrors are usually in the open position. At this time, there is no gap between the mirror bracket and the mirror base plate to prevent the exterior rearview mirror from shaking and generating wind noise. When it is necessary to fold the exterior rearview mirrors (usually when parking or driving at low speed on narrow roads), the relative sliding between the cam assembly creates a millimeter-level gap between the mirror bracket and the mirror base plate, thereby reducing the rotational resistance between the mirror bracket and the mirror base plate. Since the folding function is usually used when the car is parked or driving at low speed, the gap generated at this time will not generate wind noise.

[0003] While existing technologies using cam assemblies can adjust the clearance, the cam assembly, composed of multiple axially distributed components, generates axial clearance due to relative displacement between these components under the drive of the electric drive unit. During this process, the large gear on the cam assembly also displaces axially, resulting in relative motion between the large gear and its meshing worm gear. This generates significant noise during folding, a major reason for the high noise levels in current automotive exterior rearview mirror folding systems. Furthermore, the large gear requires axial displacement with the worm gear, necessitating a larger axial dimension (i.e., a larger axial dimension) to ensure that the large gear maintains its axial clearance after displacement. It meshes with a worm gear; at the same time, this axial distribution structure also occupies a large axial space, resulting in a large overall axial structural size, which is not conducive to the utilization of the internal space of the car's exterior rearview mirror; in addition, since the various components of the cam assembly are pressed together by springs, the axial clearance between the various components of the cam assembly during startup needs to overcome the spring force, thus increasing the startup load of the electric drive unit; and since the various components of the cam assembly immediately begin to interact with each other at the moment of startup, it further increases the startup load of the electric drive unit; this high-load condition at the moment of startup is prone to generating noise and will also increase the wear between the various components of the cam assembly, thereby reducing its service life.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, Chinese Invention Patent CN120251671B discloses a transmission gear structure and a folding device for a vehicle vision device. When a guide post on the gear body slides into the first horizontal section of the guide groove on the transmission component, it is used to unfold the mirror support. When the drive unit drives the gear body to rotate, thereby driving the guide post to slide from the first horizontal section to the inclined section of the guide groove on the transmission component and continue sliding, it is used to lift the transmission gear structure, drive unit, housing, and mirror support upwards. When the guide post slides to the end of the inclined section and continues to be driven, it is used to fold the mirror support.

[0005] However, the existing technology still has the following drawbacks: Due to limitations in processing technology and the effects of thermal expansion and contraction, errors inevitably occur between the guide post and the guide groove. These errors will cause gaps between the guide post and the guide groove. These gaps will cause the guide post to sway up and down in the guide groove during operation, especially at the moment the drive unit starts. This will result in uneven force on the guide post, leading to problems such as running jams, jerking, and noise. It will also exacerbate the wear between the guide post and the guide groove, shortening the service life of the folding device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an auxiliary mechanism and its folding device for an exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism that operates smoothly, has low noise, and has a long service life.

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention can be achieved by the following technical solution: an auxiliary mechanism for lifting an exterior rearview mirror, comprising a gear body rotatably mounted on a housing and a transmission component coaxially mounted on a mounting shaft, wherein a guide post protrudes from the inner ring surface of the gear body, and a guide groove is provided on the outer ring surface of the transmission component, and the guide post is slidably engaged with the guide groove; the transmission component is provided with a guide groove with a guide surface, and the gear body is provided with guide teeth; when the guide post slides along the guide groove, the guide teeth are slidably engaged with the guide surface to eliminate the gap between the guide post and the guide groove in the vertical direction.

[0008] Preferably, there are multiple guide teeth, and each guide tooth is arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the gear body.

[0009] Preferably, when the guide post slides up along the bottom of the guide groove to contact the upper end of the guide groove or before contact, the guide tooth slides along the guide surface to engage with the guide groove, thereby limiting the gear body from continuing to rotate in the forward direction.

[0010] Preferably, the guide tooth and the guide surface are in line contact.

[0011] Preferably, the end of the gear body is provided with a positioning part for positioning the lubrication washer.

[0012] Preferably, the positioning part is a circular ring structure, and the outer ring surface of the circular ring structure slides on the inner ring surface of the lubricating washer.

[0013] Preferably, the positioning part includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures arranged at intervals along the circumference of the gear body, and the outer ring surface of each arc-shaped structure is slidably fitted onto the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer.

[0014] Preferably, the number of guide posts is 3-6, and each guide post is arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the gear body.

[0015] Preferably, the gear body has an internal skeleton.

[0016] On the other hand, this application also provides an exterior rearview mirror folding device, including the auxiliary mechanism for the exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism described above.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: during the upward sliding of the guide post along the guide groove, the lower part of the guide post comes into contact with the guide groove, and the guide teeth and the guide surface come into contact, which is equivalent to restricting the guide post to only be able to slide relative to each other along the direction of the guide groove, and not to wobble in the up and down direction, thereby making the guide post uniformly stressed, improving the smoothness of operation, reducing noise, and extending service life. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a transmission component provided by the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This invention provides Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the installation of a transmission component.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a gear body provided by the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fit between the gear body and the transmission component provided by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This invention provides Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100, transmission component; 101, inclined section; 102, guide groove; 103, guide surface; 200, housing; 300, gear body; 301, guide post; 302, guide tooth; 303, positioning part; 400, drive unit; 500, mounting shaft; 600, lubrication washer. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0025] In the description of this application, it should be noted that directional terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific scope of protection of this application. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification and claims of this application, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0026] Example 1: Refer to Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment provides an exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism, including a drive unit 400 disposed in a housing 200, a gear body 300 rotatably disposed in the housing 200, and a transmission component 100 coaxially disposed on a mounting shaft 500. A guide post 301 protrudes from the inner ring surface of the gear body 300, and a guide groove is provided on the outer ring surface of the transmission component 100. The guide groove is composed of an inclined section 101, and the guide post 301 is slidably engaged with the inclined section 101.

[0027] When the drive unit 400 drives the gear body 300 to rotate in the forward direction, the guide post 301 slides and rises along the bottom of the inclined section 101. The vertical component of the force exerted by the inclined section 101 on the guide post 301 is used to make the gear body 300, the drive unit 400 and the housing 200 rise vertically. When the guide post 301 slides to the upper part of the inclined section 101, it is used to limit the gear body 300 from continuing to rotate in the forward direction.

[0028] This application eliminates the horizontal section of the guide channel in the prior art, so that the guide channel consists only of the inclined section 101. This avoids the phenomena of running jamming, jerking, and abnormal noise caused by the guide column 301 needing to slide between the horizontal section and the inclined section 101. In this way, it avoids problems such as uneven operation and high noise in the lifting mechanism and folding device, and improves the service life of the folding device.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, the number of guide posts 301 is 3-6, and each guide post 301 is arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the gear body 300.

[0030] In some embodiments of this application, the gear body 300 has an internal skeleton. The gear body 300 is generally an injection molded part, and when its guide post 301 slides to the upper part of the inclined section 101, the guide post 301 and the inclined section 101 need to withstand a large force. Therefore, the skeleton can further improve the strength of the gear body 300, thereby extending its service life.

[0031] Reference Figures 3 to 5 In some embodiments of this application, the end of the gear body 300 is provided with a positioning part 303 for positioning the lubrication washer 600. The positioning part 303 can limit the rotation between the gear body 300 and the lubrication washer 600, and can also limit the rotation between the lubrication washer 600 and the housing 200, thereby improving the positioning accuracy between them.

[0032] It should be noted that this application does not limit the specific structure of the positioning part 303. For example, the positioning part 303 may be a ring-shaped structure, with the outer ring surface of the ring-shaped structure slidingly fitted onto the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer 600. Alternatively, the positioning part 303 may include multiple arc-shaped structures spaced apart along the circumference of the gear body 300, with the outer ring surface of each arc-shaped structure slidingly fitted onto the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer 600. Multiple arc-shaped structures can save materials and reduce costs compared to a ring-shaped structure.

[0033] Example 2: It is understandable that, due to limitations in processing technology and the effects of thermal expansion and contraction, errors inevitably occur between the guide post 301 and the guide groove (i.e., the inclined section 101). This error will create a gap between the guide post 301 and the guide groove. This gap will cause the guide post 301 to wobble up and down within the guide groove during operation, especially at the moment the drive unit 400 starts. This results in uneven force on the guide post 301, leading to problems such as jamming, jerking, and noise. To solve the above problems, refer to... Figures 2 to 5In some embodiments of this application, the transmission component 100 is provided with a guide groove 102 having a guide surface 103, and the gear body 300 is provided with guide teeth 302; when the guide post 301 slides along the inclined section 101, the guide teeth 302 slide and engage with the guide surface 103. During the upward sliding of the guide post 301 along the inclined section 101, the lower side of the guide post 301 comes into contact with the lower inclined surface of the inclined groove, and the guide teeth 302 and the guide surface 103 come into contact, thereby effectively restricting the guide post 301 to only slide relative to the inclined direction of the inclined section 101, and preventing it from wobbling in the up-down direction, thus making the guide post 301 subject to uniform force, improving smooth operation, reducing noise, and extending service life.

[0034] It should be understood that in the above scheme, when the guide post 301 slides to the upper part of the inclined section 101, the inclined section 101 restricts the guide post 301 (i.e., the gear body 300) from rotating in the forward direction. At this time, the drive unit 400 and the housing 200 rotate around the gear body 300, thereby realizing the folding action of the exterior rearview mirror. During this process, the guide post 301 and the inclined section 101 need to withstand a large force. In order to share or fully bear the force of the guide groove on the guide post 301, in some embodiments of this application, when the guide post 301 slides up along the bottom of the inclined section 101 to contact the upper part of the inclined section 101 or before contact, the guide tooth 302 slides along the guide surface 103 to engage with the guide groove 102, thereby restricting the gear body 300 from continuing to rotate in the forward direction.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, there are multiple guide teeth 302, and each guide tooth 302 is arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the gear body 300. The specific number can be reasonably designed according to the actual dimensions.

[0036] In some embodiments of this application, the guide tooth 302 and the guide surface 103 are in line contact.

[0037] Example 3: This example provides an exterior rearview mirror folding device, including an exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism as described in Example 1 or Example 2.

[0038] It should be noted that the technical solution of Embodiment 2 described above can also be implemented in conjunction with existing guide channel solutions with horizontal sections. For example, the guide channel includes a first horizontal section and an inclined section that are smoothly transitioned by an arc; or the guide channel includes a first horizontal section, an inclined section, and a second horizontal section that are smoothly transitioned by an arc; or the guide channel includes a first inclined section and a second inclined section that are smoothly transitioned by an arc, and the slope of the first inclined section is smaller than that of the second inclined section (equivalent to setting the first horizontal section as an inclined structure, but with a gentler slope), so that the velocity of the vertical upward motion component of the guide post 301 along the first inclined section is slower than the velocity of the vertical upward motion component of the guide post 301 along the second inclined section. It can be understood that when the guide channel adopts a structure similar to the above, it is only necessary to set the guide surface 103 as a structure that conforms to the running trajectory of the guide post 301. For example, see Embodiment 4 for details.

[0039] Example 4: An auxiliary mechanism for lifting an exterior rearview mirror includes a gear body 300 rotatably mounted on a housing 200 and a transmission component 100 coaxially mounted on a mounting shaft 500. A guide post 301 protrudes from the inner ring surface of the gear body 300, and a guide groove is provided on the outer ring surface of the transmission component 100. The guide post 301 is slidably engaged with the guide groove. The transmission component 100 has a guide groove 102 with a guide surface 103, and the gear body 300 has guide teeth 302. When the guide post 301 slides along the guide groove, the guide teeth 302 slidably engage with the guide surface 103 to eliminate the gap between the guide post 301 and the guide groove in the vertical direction.

[0040] As the guide post 301 slides upward along the guide groove, the lower part of the guide post 301 comes into contact with the guide groove, and the guide tooth 302 and the guide surface 103 come into contact. This effectively restricts the guide post 301 to slide only in the direction of the guide groove, and prevents it from wobbling in the up and down direction. This makes the guide post 301 subject to uniform force, improves smooth operation, reduces noise, and extends service life.

[0041] In some embodiments of this application, there are multiple guide teeth 302, and each guide tooth 302 is arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the gear body 300.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, when the guide post 301 slides up along the bottom of the guide groove to contact the upper end of the guide groove or before contact, the guide tooth 302 slides along the guide surface 103 to engage with the guide groove 102, thereby limiting the gear body 300 from continuing to rotate in the forward direction.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, the guide tooth 302 and the guide surface 103 are in line contact.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, the end of the gear body 300 is provided with a positioning part 303 for positioning the lubrication washer 600.

[0045] In some embodiments of this application, the positioning part 303 is a circular ring structure, and the outer ring surface of the circular ring structure slides and fits on the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer 600.

[0046] In some embodiments of this application, the positioning part 303 includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the gear body 300, and the outer ring surface of each arc-shaped structure is slidably fitted to the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer 600.

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the number of guide posts 301 is 3-6, and each guide post 301 is arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the gear body 300.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the gear body 300 has a frame inside.

[0049] Example 5: This example also provides an exterior rearview mirror folding device, including an auxiliary mechanism for an exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism as described in Example 4.

[0050] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed application.

Claims

1. An auxiliary mechanism for a rearview mirror lifting mechanism, comprising a gear body rotatably mounted on a housing and a transmission component coaxially mounted on a mounting shaft, wherein a guide post protrudes from the inner ring surface of the gear body, and a guide groove is provided on the outer ring surface of the transmission component, and the guide post is slidably engaged with the guide groove; characterized in that, The transmission component is provided with a guide groove with a guide surface, and the gear body is provided with guide teeth; when the guide post slides along the guide groove, the guide teeth slide into the guide surface to eliminate the gap between the guide post and the guide groove in the vertical direction.

2. The auxiliary mechanism for the lifting mechanism of an exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of guide teeth is multiple, and each guide tooth is arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the gear body.

3. The auxiliary mechanism for the exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the guide post slides up along the bottom of the guide groove to contact the upper end of the guide groove or before contact, the guide tooth slides along the guide surface to engage with the guide groove, thereby restricting the gear body from continuing to rotate in the forward direction.

4. The auxiliary mechanism for lifting an exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide teeth and the guide surface are in line contact.

5. The auxiliary mechanism for the exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the gear body is provided with a positioning part for positioning the lubrication washer.

6. An auxiliary mechanism for lifting an exterior rearview mirror according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning part is a circular ring structure, and the outer ring surface of the circular ring structure slides and fits into the inner ring surface of the lubricating washer.

7. An auxiliary mechanism for lifting an exterior rearview mirror according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning part includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures arranged at intervals along the circumference of the gear body, and the outer ring surface of each arc-shaped structure is slidably fitted onto the inner ring surface of the lubrication washer.

8. An auxiliary mechanism for a rearview mirror lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of guide posts is 3-6, and each guide post is arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the gear body.

9. An auxiliary mechanism for a rearview mirror lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gear body has an internal skeleton.

10. A rearview mirror folding device, characterized in that, Includes an auxiliary mechanism for an exterior rearview mirror lifting mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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