Motor Vehicle Exterior Mirror Air Guide Ring Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exterior mirrors of motor vehicles often experience unintentional adjustments due to airflow or external impacts, leading to aerodynamic inefficiencies and potential disruptions in viewing traffic, and existing designs do not adequately prevent these issues.
Innovation Solution
The exterior mirror is secured with a mirror base firmly attached to the vehicle body via a position-finding device and fastening elements, with the air guide ring and mirror housing permanently connected, preventing adjustments from airflow or impacts, and featuring an aerodynamically optimized design to reduce noise and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mirror housing is made angle-adjustable to allow individual positioning, then the viewing comfort is improved, but the aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to airflow through the air gap causing noise and increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior mirror assembly is divided into two main segments: an angle-adjustable mirror housing containing the rear-view mirror, and a fixed air guide ring attached to the vehicle body. This segmentation allows the mirror housing to be independently adjusted for optimal viewing comfort while the air guide ring remains fixed to maintain aerodynamic performance by guiding airflow through the air gap without causing excessive noise or resistance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the air guide ring and mirror housing are separately adjustable, then the aerodynamic optimization is improved, but the stability deteriorates due to accidental adjustments from pedestrians or objects
Solution Approach 1:
The angle-adjustability function is extracted from the air guide ring and assigned exclusively to the mirror housing. The air guide ring is fixed to the vehicle body and cannot be adjusted, eliminating the risk of accidental adjustments. The mirror housing can be adjusted independently for optimal viewing angle without affecting the aerodynamic function of the fixed air guide ring.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mirror housing is firmly connected to the vehicle body, then the stability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates as the favorable angular position depends on individual seating position and height
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a fixed mounting structure (air guide ring firmly connected to vehicle body) and an adjustable component (mirror housing). This allows the mirror housing to be adjusted to different angular positions to accommodate various seating positions and heights, while the firm connection of the air guide ring ensures overall mounting stability.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If objects hit the air guide ring at high speed, then the aerodynamic design is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the mirror may be adjusted unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustability function is extracted from the air guide ring and assigned only to the mirror housing. The air guide ring is made fixed and non-adjustable, so even when hit by objects at high speed, it cannot unintentionally adjust the mirror position. The mirror housing remains adjustable by the driver but is protected from accidental adjustments by external objects.
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
This configuration stabilizes the mirror assembly, reducing airflow noise and resistance, preventing unintentional adjustments, and ensuring the rear-view mirror remains securely positioned even under impact, enhancing visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an airflow flowing through the air gap between the air guide ring and the mirror housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Exterior mirror of a motor vehicle, having a mirror casing (1) which is attached to a vehicle body wall by means of a mirror base (2) and is connected to an air guide ring (3) by means of webs, said air guide ring surrounding a region of the mirror casing (1) so as to form an air gap (4) between the air guide ring (3) and the mirror casing (1), wherein the rear edge (5) of the air guide ring (3) is arranged at a distance behind the rear edge (6) of the mirror casing (1) which supports a side rear-view mirror (7). The air guide ring (3) and the mirror base (2) are firmly connected to one another or are at least fixed to one another. The mirror base (2) can be arranged largely accurately in respect of position on the vehicle body wall by means of a position finding device (8, 9) and can be attached to the vehicle body wall by means of at least one attachment element (9).