Rear View Mirror Ball Joint With Split Contact Areas for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indirect rear view systems for vehicles face issues with load distribution and tension peaks, leading to potential damage and failure, particularly in the adjustment mechanism between the bearing and reflection elements.
Innovation Solution
The system features a bearing element with a rear wall that divides the contact area into an inner and outer contact area, with the inner contact area located between the rear wall and the reflection element, and the outer contact area displaced towards the connecting area, optimizing force flow and load distribution, and utilizing spherical or ellipsoidal contact areas for efficient adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single contact area is used for the adjustment mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but load distribution is poor and tension peaks occur leading to damage and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The contact area is divided into two separate contact areas (first contact area and second contact area) that are axially offset with respect to each other. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at a single point, preventing tension peaks and improving reliability while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the contact area is enlarged to improve load distribution, then reliability increases, but the adjustment mechanism becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of enlarging the contact area in a single plane, the patent utilizes the axial dimension by offsetting the first and second contact areas along the axial direction. This dimensional approach allows load distribution improvement without increasing the overall footprint or compromising compactness, as the contact areas are distributed along the axis rather than expanding laterally.
3Ease of operation
If the inner contact area is exposed, then adjustability is maintained, but dirt and contamination can enter causing friction and operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing element is designed with a rear wall that creates a nested structure where the inner contact area is positioned within the space formed by the bearing element and reflection element. The rear wall acts as a protective barrier that prevents dirt and contamination from reaching the inner contact area while still allowing the adjustment mechanism to function properly, thus protecting against harmful factors without compromising adjustability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an indirect rear view system for a motor vehicle, having a bearing element for fastening at least one reflection element, wherein the bearing element forms a coupling region for variable-position attachment to a vehicle-attachable adjustment element, wherein the coupling region for contacting a spherical connection region of the adjustment element has a first contact area and a second contact area axially offset with respect thereto wherein an imaginary separation surface extends through the region of transition of a main body of the bearing element into the coupling region of the bearing element, wherein the first contact area is arranged on one side of the imaginary separation surface and the second contact area is arranged on the opposite other side of the imaginary separation surface. The invention also relates to an assembly method for coupling a bearing element of the indirect rear view system according to the invention to the adjustment element, wherein the bearing element is moved from the direction of the reflection element towards the adjustment element.