Vehicle Wing Mirror Ball Joint Damping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mirror adjustment mechanisms for motor vehicle wing mirrors face issues with non-constant spring force due to plastic damping spring relaxation over time, requiring high initial spring force for assembly and heavy construction, leading to difficulty in assembly and increased costs, as well as play between components resulting in a wobbly impression.
Innovation Solution
A mirror adjustment mechanism utilizing a ball joint arrangement with a spring ring slidingly engaged between a collar and ball portion, providing durable and reliable damping while allowing for a lower initial spring force, facilitating easier assembly and lighter construction, by using a spring ring that slides along contact surfaces to restrain movement and absorb vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plastic damping spring is used, then vibrations are effectively damped, but the spring force decreases over time due to relaxation and requires high initial spring force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to metal, which fundamentally alters the spring force characteristics. Metal springs maintain constant spring force over time due to their elastic properties, eliminating the relaxation issue inherent in plastic materials while providing consistent vibration damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping means combines metal spring material with plastic contact surfaces, creating a composite system where each material performs its optimal function: the metal spring provides constant force and elastic energy storage, while the plastic contact surfaces provide damping through friction.
2Ease of manufacture
If high initial spring force is provided, then assembly is enabled, but the construction becomes heavy and costly electric motors are required
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from plastic to metal spring material, the system achieves adequate spring force at lower initial force levels. The metal's superior elastic properties allow the spring to maintain effective damping force without requiring high initial preloading, thereby reducing overall construction weight and motor power requirements.
3Ease of operation
If play is provided between base part and mirror support, then pivot movement is enabled, but a wobbly and low quality impression is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The damping means acts as an intermediary element between the base part and mirror support. It provides controlled friction through the metal spring pressing against plastic contact surfaces, which stabilizes the connection and eliminates play while still permitting intentional pivot movements when force is applied.
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 dampens vibrations and simplifies assembly by using a spring ring that adjusts friction forces, reducing the need for heavy construction and costly electric motors, while ensuring a stable and reliable pivot mechanism without play, thus enhancing the quality of the mirror adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a slide element slidingly abuts on contact surfaces (12) of the ball portion (8) and which is further coupled to the collar portion (6)... restraining movement of the collar portion (6) relative to the ball portion (8)
Implementation Method 2
the slide element is a spring ring... providing durable and reliable damping while allowing for a lower initial spring force
Implementation Method 3
The solution effectively dampens vibrations and simplifies assembly by using a spring ring that adjusts friction forces
Data Source
AI summary
A mirror adjustment mechanism, in particular for a wing mirror for a motor vehicle, having a base part with a mirror support arranged pivotally relative thereto, wherein between the base part and the mirror support a damper is arranged, the damper including a collar portion coupled to the mirror support, encompassing a ball portion, coupled to the base part, or vice versa, both constituting a ball joint arrangement. A slide element is slidingly engaged between the ball portion and the collar portion in such a way that it restrains movement of the collar portion relative to the ball portion, resulting from movement the mirror support relative to the base part, wherein the slide element is a spring ring slidingly abutting on contact surfaces of the ball portion and coupled to the collar portion.