Vehicle Mirror Pivot Plate Spherical Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle mirror tilting mechanisms have a high number of components and increased assembly man-hours, leading to higher manufacturing costs, and the cantilever-shaped protrusion members in mirror holders tend to lose elasticity over time, causing mirror surface deflection issues.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a mirror design with a case member and pivot plate where the pivot plate is swingably fitted using a press-fitted joint with a spherical shape, eliminating the need for a joint member and incorporating rib pieces for enhanced rigidity, and a mirror holder with a wave-shaped elastic protrusion for secure fixation without adhesive tape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a joint member with screw fixation is used to connect the pivot plate and case member, then the connection strength is improved, but the number of components increases and assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member is eliminated by directly forming the connection structure between the pivot plate and case member. The pivot plate is fitted directly into the case member with engagement features that provide both connection and strength without requiring separate joint components or screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint member and screw fixation system are extracted/removed from the assembly. The connection function is integrated directly into the pivot plate and case member structures, eliminating the need for separate joint components.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cantilever-shaped protrusion member is used to fix the mirror main body, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the elasticity deteriorates over time causing mirror surface deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion member is formed with a curved surface instead of a straight cantilever shape. This curved configuration provides better elastic recovery characteristics while maintaining ease of manufacture through molding, preventing mirror surface deflection over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape parameters of the protrusion member are changed from a simple cantilever to a curved form. This parameter change improves the elastic properties and durability while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding processes.
3Strength
If adhesive tape is added to reinforce the mirror main body fixation, then the fixing strength is improved, but the number of components increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape is extracted/removed from the assembly. The fixation strength is achieved through the optimized curved protrusion member design that provides sufficient holding force without requiring additional adhesive materials or components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion member design is optimized to provide self-sufficient fixation capability. The curved shape creates adequate friction and mechanical interlocking with the mirror main body, eliminating the need for external adhesive tape reinforcement.
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 design reduces the number of components and assembly time, lowers manufacturing costs, and prevents mirror surface deflection by improving the rigidity of the pivot plate and maintaining the elasticity of the mirror holder, ensuring a stable and cost-effective vehicle mirror system.
Implementation Method 1
the ceiling portion 23 has a shape bent to have a wave shape in cross section
Data Source
AI summary
A joint portion is provided to an upper case of a mirror unit tilting mechanism so as to protrude therefrom. A fitting portion is formed on a pivot plate side so as to correspond to the joint portion. The joint portion is formed into a hollow hemisphere shape. A support shaft is provided upright at a center portion of an outer wall, and a spherical portion is formed in the outer wall. The fitting portion has a hollow hemisphere dome shape and includes a spherical side wall portion and a ceiling portion which has a wave shape in cross section. The fitting portion is lightly press-fitted to the joint portion through one-touch insertion operation. The fitting portion and the joint portion are swingably connected to each other under a state in which curved surfaces of the spherical portion and the side wall portion are held in contact with each other.