Vehicle Mirror Washer Rotation Stop and Line Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle outside mirror devices experience abnormal noise due to the coil spring slipping on evagination stripes, which can lead to the tip end of the coil spring getting caught, resulting in unreliable noise prevention.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle outside mirror device with an annular line contact portion on at least one abutment face of the mirror assembly and the washer, along with a rotation stop portion to prevent the washer from rotating, ensuring a minimal contact area and stable sliding, thereby preventing abnormal noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the coil spring slips on evagination stripes to prevent abnormal noise, then abnormal noise generation is reduced, but the tip end of the coil spring can be caught by the evagination stripes, resulting in unreliable noise prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the evagination stripes from the coil spring receiving face, extracting the problematic feature that caused the spring tip to be caught. Instead of relying on slipping mechanisms, the design uses a smooth receiving face that prevents the spring tip from engaging with any surface features, thereby eliminating the reliability issue while maintaining noise prevention through alternative means such as proper spring positioning and clutch design.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using evagination stripes to control spring movement (which caused catching), the patent inverts the approach by using a smooth, featureless receiving face. This reversal prevents the spring tip from being caught while still allowing the spring to perform its buffering function, solving the reliability problem by doing the opposite of the conventional design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-smoothened face portion is provided on the abutment face to prevent abnormal noise, then abnormal noise generation is prevented, but the contact area between the mirror assembly and washer is increased, potentially affecting sliding performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the non-smoothened face portion feature from the abutment surfaces. By extracting this textured surface feature, the design eliminates the potential increase in contact area while still preventing abnormal noise through the smooth sliding contact between the washer and mirror assembly, combined with proper spring positioning that prevents spring tip catching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameter from non-smoothened (textured) to smooth on the abutment faces. This parameter change reduces the contact area between the mirror assembly and washer, improving sliding performance, while abnormal noise is prevented through the overall design configuration including the smooth coil spring receiving face and proper component positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the contact area between the mirror assembly and washer is minimized for smooth sliding, then sliding performance is improved, but the stability of the connection may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contact interface into two distinct functional zones: a minimal-contact abutment face between the washer and mirror assembly for smooth sliding, and a properly positioned coil spring receiving face that provides stable connection through controlled spring force. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both smooth sliding performance and connection stability through different contact mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the coil spring as an intermediary element that provides stable connection between the mirror assembly and washer without requiring large contact areas. The spring absorbs and distributes forces, maintaining connection stability while allowing the abutment faces to maintain minimal contact for smooth sliding performance.
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 solution effectively reduces abnormal noise and enhances durability by minimizing pseudo fixation and ensuring smooth operation over a longer period.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring for imparting an engagement force to the clutch is reductively provided at an outer circumference of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
an annular line contact portion is provided on at least either one of an abutment face of the mirror assembly and an abutment face of the washer, a respective one of which abut against each other
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle outside mirror device according to the present invention is provided with a base 2, a shaft 3, a spring 10, a mirror assembly 4, and a washer 6. An annular line contact portion 50 is provided on an abutment face 35 of the washer 6 that abuts against an abutment face 33 of a mount portion 12 of the mirror assembly 4. As a result, the vehicle outside mirror device according to the present invention can prevent generation of abnormal noise further reliably and a further long period of time by means of the annular line contact portion 50. In addition, an abutment plane 301 of a rotation stop portion is provided at a shaft 3. A linear edge 601 of the rotation stop portion is provided at the washer 6. As a result, according to the vehicle outside mirror device of the present invention, the linear edge 601 of the rotation stop portion of the washer 6 is abutted against the abutment plane 301 of the rotation stop portion of the shaft 3, whereby the washer 6 is fixed to the shaft 3 and then generation of abnormal noise can be prevented further reliably and over a further long period.