Compact Retention Hinge for Vehicle Mirrors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking joint components for exterior mirrors in commercial vehicles face challenges in efficiently transmitting forces due to high overall height and suboptimal power transmission between locking arms, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
A locking joint component design featuring two-part locking arms with complementary joining surfaces forms a sandwich structure, allowing even force transmission through a larger cross-sectional area, reducing the overall height and enhancing stability by integrating a spiral spring and reinforcing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the locking joint is designed with high stability to transmit forces, then the stability is improved, but the overall height becomes comparatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The first locking arm is divided into two separate locking arm parts (first and second parts) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows the force transmission path to be distributed across multiple components with larger cross-sectional areas, improving stability while maintaining a compact overall height in the locking joint axis direction.
2Ease of manufacture
If smooth contact surfaces are used between locking arm parts, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the power transmission becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The joining surface design combines smooth contact areas for easy assembly with geometric interlocking features (complementary joining surfaces) that ensure optimal force transmission. The composite approach integrates both smooth surfaces and shaped joining geometries to achieve dual benefits of ease of assembly and effective power transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures efficient force transmission and increased stability with a reduced overall height, maintaining necessary rigidity and simplicity in construction while allowing for a more compact and stable locking joint component.
Implementation Method 1
The joint axle component includes a spiral spring through which the two locking surfaces and thus the two locking arms are braced against each other
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a retention hinge component, the overall height thereof being smaller in the direction of the retention hinge axis (13). The invention also relates to an external rearview mirror comprising said type of retention hinge component provided with a first and a second retention arm (4, 6) which are connected together in a pivotable manner by a hinge axis component (8, 10, 12). The first retention arm comprises a first and a second retention arm part (14, 18), the joining surfaces (24, 26) being assembled in a complementary manner thus allowing forces to be transmitted in a uniform manner from one retention arm to the second retention arm via the hinge axis component. A sandwich structure is produced by the two-part first retention arm, which enables, counter to the two-part retention arm cited in EP 527 455 B1 or in GB 658 679 A, force to be transferred from the retention axis component to the first retention arm via its entire surface associated with each other. Force is applied from both maintaining parts to the remaining part of both retention arm parts. As a result, forces applied to the motor vehicle external rearview mirrors are transferred in a safe manner due to the overall height of the retention hinge component being essentially reduced.