Vehicle Mirror Interposing Member Reduces Frictional Wear

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle outside mirror devices experience frictional wear between high rigidity components, leading to inefficiencies and increased manufacturing costs due to the integration of rotation and buffering mechanisms in the same components.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle outside mirror device with a separate electrically driven rotation range restricting mechanism and buffering mechanism, where an interposing member with low friction and wear-resistant properties is used between the shaft holder and casing, allowing for independent configuration and reducing the need for high rigidity materials in these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the case top and stand top are covered with cutting proof members to prevent frictional wear, then wear resistance is improved, but frictional wear still occurs between the cutting proof members and between the cutting proof member and the stand top

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidfrictional wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the rotation range restricting mechanism and buffering mechanism into separate functional components. The rotation range restricting mechanism uses the case top and stand top engagement, while the buffering mechanism uses a dedicated buffering member with a buffering groove. This segmentation allows each mechanism to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, reducing unnecessary frictional wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The buffering member acts as an intermediary component between the case top and stand top. It provides a buffering groove that allows the case top to engage with the stand top in a controlled manner during buffering operations, reducing direct frictional contact and wear between the high rigidity components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the rotation range restricting mechanism and buffering mechanism are integrated in the same components, then device complexity is reduced, but frictional wear increases and manufacturing costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism integrationVSAvoidfrictional wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the buffering function from the rotation range restricting function by introducing a dedicated buffering member with a buffering groove. This allows the buffering mechanism to operate independently without causing frictional wear in the rotation range restricting mechanism, resolving the contradiction between integration and wear reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The buffering function is extracted from the case top and stand top engagement mechanism. Instead of relying on the same components for both rotation restriction and buffering, the patent extracts the buffering function to a separate buffering member, thereby eliminating the frictional wear problem caused by integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If high rigidity members are used for the case top and stand top, then structural strength is improved, but frictional wear and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidfrictional wear
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffering member serves as an intermediary that mediates the interaction between the case top and stand top during buffering operations. It provides a buffering groove that controls the engagement, reducing direct frictional contact between the high rigidity components while maintaining their structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the interaction parameters between components by introducing the buffering groove. This groove allows for controlled engagement and disengagement, changing the friction and contact parameters to reduce wear while maintaining the high rigidity of the case top and stand top members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 minimizes frictional wear, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows for adjustable rotation ranges and durable performance across various vehicle types, while maintaining stable rotation forces and preventing excessive tilting of the mirror assembly.

Implementation Method 1

an interposing member with low friction and wear-resistant properties is used between the shaft holder and casing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2368762B1Vehicle outside mirror device
Publication Date: 2013.07.17 ICHIKOH IND LTD
  • EP2368762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2368762B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2368762B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a conventional vehicle outside mirror device, there has been a problem that a frictional wear occurs. According to the present invention, an interposing member 6 is provided between a shaft holder 9 and a gear case 11. An electrically rotation range restricting mechanism is a mechanism in which an electrically driven rotation range of a mirror assembly 4 is restricted, and is comprised of abutment faces 33, 34, 43, 44 which are provided at the interposing member 6 and the shaft holder 9. A buffering mechanism is a mechanism which causes the mirror assembly 4 to rotate for the sake of buffering, and is comprised of engagement portions 38, 45 which are provided at the interposing member 6 and the gear case 11. The electrically driven rotation range restricting mechanism and the buffering mechanism are separated from each other. As a result, the present invention can prevent a frictional wear from occurring between the interposing member 6 and the shaft holder 9 and between the interposing member 6 and the gear case 11.