Folding Outer Mirror Stopper Mechanism with Angled Engaging Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding outer mirrors require high-intensity materials to achieve the necessary stiffness for stopping the mirror assembly during unexpected crashes or contacts, leading to increased costs, large sizes, and heavy weights due to the need for extensive contact areas between the convex part and the arcuate groove in the stopper mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The stopper mechanism is designed with engaging surfaces that form a sharp angle relative to the rotating direction, increasing the contact area and reducing stress concentration, allowing for high stiffness without using high-intensity materials, thus minimizing the size and weight of the folding outer mirror.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high-intensity materials such as metal or glass fiber plastics are used in the arcuate groove and convex part, then the stiffness of the stopper mechanism is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the engaging surfaces by introducing a specific raising angle (α) relative to the rotating direction. This angular parameter modification allows the engaging surfaces to distribute contact forces more effectively, achieving the required stiffness without relying on high-intensity materials, thus reducing manufacturing cost
2Strength
If the contact area between the convex part and arcuate groove is increased to achieve stiffness, then the stiffness of the stopper mechanism is improved, but the size and weight of the folding outer mirror increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the geometric parameter of the engaging surfaces by setting a specific raising angle (α) between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the rotating direction. This parameter change optimizes the contact area distribution, providing sufficient stiffness while preventing excessive size and weight increase
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging surfaces are designed with curved geometries rather than flat surfaces. The arcuate groove and convex part with raised angled surfaces create optimized contact patterns that distribute stress efficiently, achieving stiffness without requiring large contact areas, thus avoiding excessive size and weight
Data Source
AI summary
The object of this invention is to provide a folding outer mirror, in which the cost reduction, the prevention of large sizes and heavy weights, and higher stiffness of the stopper mechanism can be obtained. The folding outer mirror includes a mirror base extending outside from a side surface of vehicle body, a mirror assembly attached rotatably to the mirror base, and a stopper mechanism for stopping the mirror assembly at a predetermined position. The stopper mechanism is provided with a base-side engaging surface formed in the mirror base, and a body-side engaging surface formed in the mirror assembly and being in plane contact with the base-side engaging surface at a predetermined position. The base-side engaging surface and the body-side engaging surface are formed such that a raising angle relative to a rotating direction of the mirror assembly becomes a sharp angle.