Retractable Wing-Mirror Carriage With Cable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-bodywork parts and wing-mirror arrangements face challenges in achieving long-term functionality and aerodynamic design while ensuring convenient operation, particularly in maintaining cable-pull arrangement tension and preventing cable disengagement from deflecting rollers.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-bodywork part with a wing-mirror arrangement featuring a carriage unit that can be displaced between rest and operating positions, utilizing a drive system with a cable-pull arrangement deflected around deflecting rollers and an elastically compliant securing device to maintain constant tension and prevent cable disengagement, combined with an electric drive motor for quiet and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the carriage unit is retracted into the bodywork aperture to achieve a smooth aerodynamic surface, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the optical detection device cannot capture images
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage unit is designed to be dynamically movable between a retracted position (flush with bodywork aperture for aerodynamics) and an extended position (protruding for optical detection). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for aerodynamics during normal driving and for detection functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bodywork surface is designed with a localized aperture that allows the carriage unit to protrude only where needed for optical detection, while the rest of the bodywork maintains a smooth aerodynamic surface. This local modification resolves the contradiction between overall aerodynamic performance and local detection functionality.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the cable-pull arrangement is used to displace the carriage unit, then quiet operation is achieved, but cable disengagement from deflecting rollers may occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A securing device acts as an intermediary between the cable strands and deflecting rollers, preventing direct disengagement while allowing the cable-pull arrangement to operate quietly. The securing device mediates the interaction, ensuring reliable cable guidance without compromising the quiet operation advantage of the cable-pull system.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing device is installed beforehand to prevent potential cable disengagement issues before they occur. This preventive measure ensures that the cable-pull arrangement maintains reliable functioning throughout its operational life, addressing the reliability concern while preserving the quiet operation benefit.
3Ease of operation
If the cable strands are subjected to tension variations during operation, then the carriage unit can be displaced, but the cable-pull arrangement experiences wear and potential disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The securing device is designed to automatically maintain constant cable tension without requiring external intervention or adjustment during operation. The spring element self-regulates the tension, ensuring reliable cable engagement with deflecting rollers throughout the carriage unit's displacement cycle, thereby extending the cable-pull arrangement's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing device maintains a constant tension parameter in the cable-pull arrangement, preventing tension variations that would lead to wear and disengagement. By stabilizing this critical parameter, the system achieves both ease of operation for carriage unit displacement and improved reliability for long-term functioning.
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 ensures a smooth, aerodynamic surface in the rest position and full functionality of the optical detection device in the operating position, with reliable and quiet operation, maintaining constant cable tension and preventing cable disengagement, thus enhancing the long-term functionality and usability of the vehicle-bodywork part.
Implementation Method 1
The two sliders 12 are connected to one another via a spring arrangement 18, which is subjected to permanent pre-tensioning
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle-bodywork part including a bodywork aperture and a wing-mirror arrangement with a carriage unit, or a wing-mirror arrangement for a vehicle-bodywork part including such a carriage unit. The carriage unit carries an optical detection device and is displaceable between a rest position, in which the carriage unit is recessed in a flush state in the bodywork aperture, and an operating position, in which the carriage unit extends out of the bodywork aperture. A drive system is coupled to the carriage unit to displace same between the rest and the operating positions. The drive system has a cable-pull arrangement deflected around at least one deflecting roller. An elastically compliant securing device is provided, the securing device being tensioned between opposite cable strands of the cable-pull arrangement in the region of the deflecting roller, in order to avoid disengagement of a cable strand from the deflecting roller.