Mirror Pivot Clamping Mechanism for Stable Adjustment Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing view adjustment mechanisms for motor vehicle side mirrors and camera units, particularly those made of plastic, face issues with material shrinkage and creep, leading to changes in the force threshold required for adjustment and unpredictable pivoting over time, resulting in unreliable and reproducible operation.

Innovation Solution

A view adjustment mechanism featuring a trough on the first part and a complementary clamping part on the second part, with a fixing means that biases the head part towards the trough, forming a rotation lock and adjustable frictional engagement, ensuring stable pivoting by counteracting material shrinkage and relaxation, and allowing for easy assembly and cost-effective production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plastic material is used for the adjustment mechanism, then cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but material shrinkage and creep cause changes in force threshold and pivot axis stability over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the plastic material by adding glass fiber reinforcement. This composite material maintains the ease of injection molding while significantly improving dimensional stability and resistance to shrinkage and creep, thereby maintaining consistent force thresholds and pivot axis positions over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite plastic material reinforced with glass fibers. This composite approach combines the manufacturing advantages of plastic with the dimensional stability of glass fiber reinforcement, eliminating the reliability issues of pure plastic while maintaining cost-effectiveness and ease of production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If pre-tensioning elements are added to prevent unwanted adjustment, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the stabilization function from separate pre-tensioning elements and integrates it directly into the plastic housing structure through ribs and recesses. The housing itself provides the pre-tensioning force through its rigid structure, eliminating the need for additional stabilization components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the structural support function with the stabilization function. The ribs and recesses in the housing simultaneously provide mechanical support and maintain stable force thresholds by preventing unwanted adjustments, combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If friction elements are used to allow adjustment after force threshold is overcome, then adjustability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the friction characteristics by using a rigid composite material with controlled surface properties. The glass fiber reinforcement provides consistent friction characteristics that allow reliable adjustment after overcoming a defined force threshold, while the precision injection molding process ensures consistent friction behavior without requiring excessive manufacturing tolerances.

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

The mechanism provides reliable and reproducible pivoting of the second part relative to the first part, even after long use, with a stable force threshold and resistance to material changes, ensuring optimal viewing angles without unwanted adjustments during normal operation.

Implementation Method 1

The fixing means is designed in such a way that it prestresses the head part (6) in the direction of the first part (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

adjustable frictional engagement, ensuring stable pivoting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3917804B1Vision adjusting mechanism
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 MCI MIRROR CONTROLS INT NETHERLANDS
  • EP3917804B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3917804B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3917804B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vision adjusting mechanism, comprising a first part and a second part arranged so as to be pivotable relative thereto, wherein the first part (2) has a hollow (12), into which a top part (6) that is complementary at least in portions to said hollow (12) can be inserted, forming at least one clamping gap (14) between the hollow (12) and the top part (6), and can be fixed relative to the first part (2) by means of a fixing means (10), and wherein the second part (4) has at least one clamping part (8), which is complementary to the clamping gap (14) and can be arranged in the latter in such a way that the second part (4) is fixed to the first part (2) so as to be pivotable relative thereto, and wherein the fixing means (10) is formed in such a way that it biases the top part (6) in the direction of the first part (2) and fixes the second part (4) against rotation relative to the first part (2). The invention also relates to a mirror unit having such a vision adjusting mechanism.