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CN-121989804-A - Actuator assembly, exterior rearview mirror and vehicle

CN121989804ACN 121989804 ACN121989804 ACN 121989804ACN-121989804-A

Abstract

An actuator assembly configured to rotate an exterior mirror mounted to a vehicle includes a tilt pinion (106), a tilt shaft (110) including a central shaft (110B) having a second end configured to be connected to the exterior mirror, a tilt cover (140) including a main bore (140 a) configured to be at least partially coupled with a first end of the central shaft and an auxiliary shaft (140B) having an outer surface at least partially coupled with an inner surface of the tilt pinion, the axes of rotation of the tilt member and the tilt pinion coinciding with a second axis of rotation (B-B), the auxiliary shaft configured to mount the inner surface of the tilt member to coincide with the second axis of rotation, the arc member configured to engage or disengage the tilt pinion with the auxiliary shaft to perform or stop transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion to the tilt shaft. An exterior rearview mirror and a vehicle having the actuator assembly are also provided.

Inventors

  • K.J.Li
  • G.LI
  • H.Song

Assignees

  • 萨玛创新有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20250918
Priority Date
20241108

Claims (17)

  1. 1. An actuator assembly (100) configured to rotate an exterior rear view mirror (102) mounted to a vehicle (200), in particular to rotate a head of the exterior rear view mirror (102), the actuator assembly (100) comprising: -at least one tilting worm wheel (104); -at least one tilt pinion (106) having at least an outer surface (106 a) and an inner surface (106 b), wherein the outer surface (106 a) of the tilt pinion (106) is at least partially meshed with the tilt worm gear (104); -at least one tilting axis (110), said tilting axis comprising a central axis (110 b), wherein said central axis (110 b) comprises a first end (110 f) and a second end (110 s), wherein, The second end (110 s) of the central shaft (110 b) is configured to be connected to the exterior rear view mirror (102), in particular to the head of the exterior rear view mirror, and The central shaft (110 b) has a first axis of rotation (A-A), At least one tilting cover (140) comprising at least a main drilling (140 a), wherein the main drilling (140 a) is configured to be coupled at least partially with the first end (110 f) of the central shaft (110 b) to coincide with the first rotation axis (A-A), Characterized by further comprising: At least one arcuate member (108) having at least an outer surface (108 a), an inner surface (108 b) and two end surfaces (108 c), wherein, -The outer surface (108 a) of the arc-shaped member (108) is at least partially coupled with the inner surface (106 b) of the tilt pinion (106), The rotation axes of the arc-shaped member (108) and the tilt pinion (106) coincide with a second rotation axis (B-B), The at least one tilting cover (140) comprises an auxiliary shaft (140 b), -The auxiliary shaft (140B) is configured to mount the inner surface (108B) of the arc-shaped member (108) so as to coincide with the second rotation axis (B-B), and -The arc-shaped member (108) is configured to engage or disengage the tilt pinion (106) with the auxiliary shaft (140 b) to transfer rotational movement from the tilt pinion (106) to the tilt shaft (110) or to stop transfer of rotational movement from the tilt pinion (106) to the tilt shaft (110).
  2. 2. The actuator assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein, The arcuate member (108) comprises at least one annular spring, which is optionally press-fitted to the tilt pinion (106), and/or The outer surface (108 a) of the arcuate member (108) is frictionally coupled with the inner surface (106B) of the tilt pinion (106) about the second axis of rotation (B-B).
  3. 3. The actuator assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The inner surface (106 b) of the tilt pinion (106) comprises at least one wedge member (106 c), wherein in particular the wedge member (106 c) is configured to at least partially abut at least one of the two end faces (108 c) of the arc member (108), and/or Wherein at least one gap is provided between at least one of the two end faces (108 c) of the arc-shaped member (108) and the wedge-shaped member (106 c).
  4. 4. An actuator assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein, The tilt worm gear (104) is configured to act on the tilt pinion (106) to rotate the tilt shaft (110) about the first axis of rotation (A-A) when the arc member (108) engages the auxiliary shaft (140 b) with the tilt pinion (106), and The tilt worm gear (104) is configured to act on the tilt pinion (106) to rotate the tilt pinion (106) about the second axis of rotation (B-B) when the arc member (108) disengages the auxiliary shaft (140B) from the tilt pinion (106).
  5. 5. The actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The arcuate member (108) having an elasticity, wherein, The resilient nature of the arcuate member (108) is configured to enable the tilt pinion (106) to engage or disengage with the auxiliary shaft (140 b), which in response enables transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion (106) to the tilt shaft (110) or ceases transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion (106) to the tilt shaft (110).
  6. 6. The actuator assembly (100) of claim 5, wherein, When the rotational torque received by the arcuate member (108) is less than the resisting torque of the arcuate member (108), the arcuate member (108) is configured to retain its shape to engage the auxiliary shaft (140 b) to enable transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion (106) to the auxiliary shaft tilt shaft (110), and When the rotational moment received by the arc-shaped member (108) is greater than the resisting moment of the arc-shaped member (108), the arc-shaped member (108) is configured to expand so as to disengage from the auxiliary shaft (140 b) to stop the transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion (106) to the tilt shaft (110).
  7. 7. The actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The central shaft (110 b) includes a plurality of protrusions (110 d), and The inclined cover (140) includes a plurality of cutouts (140 d) configured to be at least partially correspondingly coupled with the plurality of protrusions (110 d).
  8. 8. The actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The tilt axis (110) further comprises an extension arm (110 a), wherein, optionally, The extension arm (110 a) includes a spindle (110 c), and The auxiliary shaft (140 b) includes a secondary bore (140 c) configured to couple with the main shaft (110 c).
  9. 9. The actuator assembly (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 8 and referring back to claim 3, further comprising: a tensioner (120) disposed between the two end faces (108 c) and the wedge member (106 c), wherein, optionally, The tensioner (120) is configured to secure the arcuate member (108) with the tilt pinion (106).
  10. 10. The actuator assembly (100) of claim 9, wherein, The tensioner (120) comprises at least one hole (120 a) and/or at least one clamp (120 b), and/or The tensioner (120) is made of a high carbon steel material and/or is a U-shaped element.
  11. 11. The actuator assembly (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 10 and referring back to claim 3, wherein, The wedge-shaped member (106 c) comprises at least one pin member (106 d) and/or at least one recess (106 e).
  12. 12. The actuator assembly (100) of claim 11, wherein, The at least one pin member (106 d) of the wedge member (106 c) fits correspondingly into the at least one hole (120 a) of the tensioner (120), and/or The at least one clamp (120 b) of the tensioner (120) fits correspondingly into the at least one recess (106 e) of the wedge member (106 c).
  13. 13. The actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The tilt axis (110) further comprises at least one side wall guide (110 w), and The tilt cover (140) includes a seating surface (140 s) configured to at least partially receive the sidewall guide (110 w).
  14. 14. The actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The tilt shaft (110) further comprises at least one raised surface (110 r) having at least one aperture for applying a synthetic oil to lubricate the tilt pinion (106), and/or The tilt cover (140) further comprises at least one protruding seating surface (140 p) having at least one aperture for applying synthetic oil to lubricate the tilt pinion (106).
  15. 15. An exterior rear view mirror (102) having at least one actuator assembly (100) according to any of the preceding claims.
  16. 16. The exterior rearview mirror (102) of claim 15, wherein, When the external rear view mirror (102) is tilted from the outside in order to intend the tilt pinion (106) to drive the tilt worm wheel (104) back and the rotational torque exceeds the resisting torque of the arc member (108), the arc member (108) is configured to be disengaged from the auxiliary shaft (140 b) so that the transmission of the rotational motion from the tilt shaft (140) to the tilt pinion (106) is stopped.
  17. 17. A vehicle (200) having: -at least one actuator assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, and/or -At least one external rear view mirror (102) according to claim 15 or 16.

Description

Actuator assembly, exterior rearview mirror and vehicle Technical Field The present disclosure relates to an actuator assembly for an external rear view mirror according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to an exterior rear view mirror with such an actuator assembly and to a vehicle with such an exterior rear view mirror. Background Actuator assemblies have been used in exterior rearview mirrors for decades. The actuator assembly enables the exterior rearview mirror to automatically fold and tilt. The actuator assembly contains a plurality of drive trains to effect automatic folding and tilting of the exterior rearview mirror. Existing tilting drive trains contain a tilting worm gear that drives a tilting pinion. Further, the tilt pinion is provided with a tilt shaft. Furthermore, the tilt axis is configured to be connected with an external rear view mirror. Existing tilting drive trains face a number of challenges. First, in the case where the tilt worm wheel is overdriven to the tilt pinion due to a motor failure or any similar reason, friction and shear stress between the tilt worm wheel and the tilt pinion may excessively increase. Second, in the case where the tilt pinion is in the end position due to physical stop by the stop, driving of the tilt pinion by the tilt worm gear excessively increases friction and shear stress due to the reaction of the stop. Third, manually tilting the exterior rearview mirror from the outside causes excessive shear stress between the tilting worm wheel and the tilting pinion. For example, US10315575B2 discloses an exterior mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable to a side of the vehicle and a lens portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. JP2023000254a provides a mirror surface angle adjustment unit of an external rear view mirror capable of increasing the distance the lever moves forward or backward. US11628720B2 relates to an adjusting device for adjusting an air-influencing element of a motor vehicle between at least a first position and a second position, comprising a drive unit for adjusting the air-influencing element between at least the first position and the second position, which drive unit is provided with an input shaft and an output shaft at a distance from the axis of the input shaft, wherein the drive unit has a first part arranged around the input shaft of the drive unit and has a second part arranged around the output shaft of the drive unit, wherein the adjusting device is further provided with a fail-safe mechanism, wherein the fail-safe mechanism is engaged with the first part of the drive unit. Accordingly, there is a need to develop an improved actuator assembly in which friction and shear stresses between gear components of the actuator assembly are reduced, thereby improving reliability even under high stress conditions. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to further develop the known actuator assembly to at least partially overcome the known drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present disclosure to develop an actuator assembly for an external rear view mirror that reduces friction and shear stress between the tilt worm gear and the tilt pinion: i) In the case where the tilt worm gear is overdriven onto the tilt pinion; ii) when tilting the pinion at the drive end, and/or Iii) When the exterior mirror is tilted manually from the outside. This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, wherein at least one arc member has at least an outer surface, an inner surface and two end surfaces, wherein the outer surface of the arc member is at least partly coupled with the inner surface of the tilt pinion, the rotational axes of the arc member and the tilt pinion coincide with the second rotational axis, the at least one tilt cover comprises an auxiliary shaft configured to mount the inner surface of the arc member to coincide with the second rotational axis, the arc member is configured to engage or disengage the tilt pinion with the auxiliary shaft to transfer rotational motion from the tilt pinion to the tilt shaft or to stop the transfer of rotational motion from the tilt pinion to the tilt shaft. In one aspect, the arcuate member may include at least one annular spring that is optionally press fit onto the tilt pinion, and/or an outer surface of the arcuate member may be frictionally coupled with an inner surface of the tilt pinion about the second axis of rotation. According to an embodiment, the inner surface of the tilt pinion may comprise at least one wedge member, wherein in particular the wedge member is configured to at least partially abut at least one of the two end faces of the arc member, and/or wherein at least one gap may be provided between the wedge member and at least one of the two end faces of the arc member. Advantageously, th