Telescopic Mirror Rod Drive Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exterior mirror arrangements for vehicles, particularly commercial and passenger vehicles, face limitations in providing an optimal field of vision when dealing with wide loads or narrow spaces, as mere angle adjustment is insufficient, and there is a need to adjust the distance of the mirror from the vehicle body for enhanced visibility.

Innovation Solution

An exterior mirror arrangement with a drive-coupled holding element and a stationary toothing carrier within the housing, allowing for compact design and increased stability, enabling the mirror to adjust from a close to a more distant position, with a gear mechanism that enhances durability and reduces vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a motor is used to drive the holding element via a spindle drive for telescopic adjustment, then the mirror can be positioned at different distances from the vehicle body, but the device complexity increases and the mass distribution becomes less optimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable distanceVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive is integrated directly into the holding element, merging the actuation mechanism with the telescopic arm structure. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall drive mechanism while maintaining the telescopic adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mounting the motor on the housing and driving the holding element through a spindle mechanism, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting the drive directly on the holding element. This reversal simplifies the transmission path and improves mass distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the holding element is mounted far from the housing for better visibility, then the field of vision improves, but the stability and vibration behavior deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidvibration behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element is designed with telescopic capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its length. This enables the system to optimize between visibility (extended position) and stability (retracted position) based on operational requirements, rather than being fixed in a single configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Length of moving object

If the drive components are distributed along the holding element for telescopic movement, then the adjustment range increases, but the mass distribution becomes less favorable for vibration control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment rangeVSAvoidvibration behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The drive components (motor and gear) are merged into a single integrated unit mounted on the holding element. This consolidation improves mass distribution and reduces the moment of inertia, leading to better vibration characteristics while maintaining the full telescopic adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution provides a stable and compact exterior mirror arrangement that improves visibility by allowing adjustable distance from the vehicle body, reducing vibrations, and optimizing mass distribution, thus enhancing durability and visibility during vehicle maneuvering.

Implementation Method 1

the drive is attached to the holding element and drives a drive element which is connected to a stationary, mounted in the housing gear carrier is engaged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3235686B1Telescopic mirror rod
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 FICOSA INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • EP3235686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3235686B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an external mirror arrangement with an adjustment device for a vehicle mirror (11) which can be attached to a retaining element (10) which is mounted on a housing (2) which can be attached to a vehicle structure and is coupled to a drive (4) which moves the retaining element (10) from a retracted position to an extended operating position and back, wherein the drive (4) is attached to the retaining element (10) and drives a drive element (6) which engages with a stationary toothed carrier (8) mounted on the housing (2).