Vehicle Rear-View Mirror Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear-view mirror assemblies allow foreign substances like dust to penetrate into the housing, contaminating the tilting reflector and deteriorating its reflection performance due to gaps between components, causing image overlap and discomfort for drivers.
Innovation Solution
A rear-view mirror assembly design featuring a cam with a sealing structure and a tilting link mechanism that prevents foreign substances from entering by sealing the interior with a sealing block and casing, ensuring the cam and link protrusion move within a guide groove, maintaining a gap-free interface during angular rotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gap is formed between the lever and slot for tilting the tilting reflector, then the tilting operation is enabled, but dust and foreign substances can penetrate into the housing and contaminate the tilting reflector
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a main housing body and a separate dust-proof cover that can be attached to seal the opening. This segmentation allows the tilting mechanism to operate independently inside the sealed housing, preventing dust penetration while maintaining operational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A dust-proof cover acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the internal housing. This cover seals the opening where the lever and slot are located, preventing dust and foreign substances from penetrating into the housing while still allowing the tilting operation to function through the sealed interface.
2Illumination intensity
If the tilting reflector is made tiltable for night reflection mode, then light reflectance is reduced, but foreign substances can adhere to the tilting reflector and deteriorate reflection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The dust-proof cover is installed beforehand to prevent dust and foreign substances from adhering to the tilting reflector. This prior protection ensures that the reflection performance is maintained without deterioration from contamination, while the tilting reflector remains fully functional for both day and night modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust-proof cover serves as a protective intermediary that shields the tilting reflector from external contaminants. This allows the tilting reflector to maintain its reflection performance reliability while still being able to tilt for night reflection mode operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a frameless prism glass is used to control light reflectance, then glare is prevented, but virtual image and real image overlap causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The reflection system is segmented into a fixed reflector and a separate tilting reflector. The fixed reflector (prism glass) handles the primary reflection to prevent glare, while the tilting reflector is positioned at an angle to reflect light away from the driver's eyes in night mode. This segmentation prevents image overlap while maintaining glare prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single prism glass that causes image overlap, the solution inverts the approach by using a tilting reflector positioned at an angle to the fixed reflector. This inverted configuration reflects light in a different direction, preventing both glare and image overlap, thereby improving driver comfort while maintaining the glare prevention benefit.
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
Prevents foreign substances from entering the housing, maintaining clear reflection performance by preventing dust and debris from contaminating the reflector, thus enhancing driver visibility and reducing glare from headlights.
Implementation Method 1
A cam is rotatably and sealably mounted to the bottom surface of the housing to rotate the tilting link back and forth, and comprises a link protrusion formed at a lower end of the tilting link and a tilting operating lever attached to a lower end of the cam and extending to outside through a through-hole formed on the bottom surface of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A rear-view mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having an opening and a fixed reflector mounted to edges of the opening. A tilting reflector is disposed in the housing in parallel to the fixed reflector or inclined so that an upper end of the tilting reflector tilts rearward at an angle around a lower end of the tilting reflector to decrease light reflectance. A tilting plate has a front surface thereof attached to the tilting reflector and a lower end thereof mounted to a bottom surface of the housing. A tilting link is mounted between the tilting plate and the housing. A cam is mounted to the bottom surface of the housing to rotate the tilting link and comprises a link protrusion formed at a lower end of the tilting link and a tilting operating lever attached to a lower end of the cam.