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EP-4741229-A1 - ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND VEHICLE

EP4741229A1EP 4741229 A1EP4741229 A1EP 4741229A1EP-4741229-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an actuator assembly (100) for rotating an exterior rear-view mirror head (102) mounted on a vehicle (200). The assembly comprises: at least one tilt worm gear (104); at least one tilt pinion gear (106) with external surface (106a) meshing at least partly with the worm gear (104), and internal surface (106b); at least one tilt shaft (110) with a central shaft (110b) having a first end (110f), a second end (110s) connectable to the mirror head (102), and a first axis of rotation (A-A); at least one tilt cover (140) with a primary bore (140a) coupling to the first end (110f) of the central shaft (110b) along axis A-A. The assembly further includes at least one arc-shaped member (108) with external surface (108a) coupled to the pinion gear's internal surface (106b), internal surface (108b), and end faces (108c). The arc-shaped member (108) and tilt pinion gear (106) share a second axis of rotation (B-B). The tilt cover (140) has an auxiliary shaft (140b) mounting the arc-shaped member's internal surface (108b) along axis B-B. The arc-shaped member (108) engages or disengages the tilt pinion gear (106) with the auxiliary shaft (140b) to transmit or stop rotational motion from the pinion gear to the tilt shaft (110).

Inventors

  • LEE, KYUNG JUN
  • RHEE, Geonhwan
  • SONG, HONGJUN

Assignees

  • Motherson Innovations Company Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250902

Claims (17)

  1. An actuator assembly (100, 100') configured for rotating an exterior rear-view mirror (102), in particular a head of the exterior rear-view mirror (102), mounted to a vehicle (200), the actuator assembly (100, 100') comprising: - at least one tilt worm gear (104); - at least one tilt pinion gear (106, 106') having at least an external surface (106a) and internal surface (106b), wherein the external surface (106a) of the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') meshes at least partly with the tilt worm gear (104); - at least one tilt shaft (110, 100') comprising a central shaft (110b), wherein the central shaft (110b, 110b') comprises a first end (110f) and a second end (110s), wherein the second end (110s) of the central shaft (110b, 110b') is configured to connect to the exterior rear-view mirror (102), in particular its head, and the central shaft (110b, 110b') has a first axis of rotation (A-A, A'-A'), - at least one tilt cover (140, 140') comprising at least a primary bore (140a, 140a'), wherein the primary bore (140a, 140a') is configured to couple at least partly with the first end (110f) of the central shaft (110b, 110b'), to coincide with the first axis of rotation (A-A, A'-A'), characterized by - at least one arc-shaped member (108, 108') having at least an external surface (108a), an internal surface (108b, 108b') and two end faces (108c), wherein • the external surface (108a) of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is coupled at least partly with the internal surface (106b) of the tilt pinion gear (106, 106'), • the rotation axis of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') and the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') coincides with a second axis of rotation (B-B, B'-B'), • the at least one tilt cover (140, 140') comprises an auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b'), • the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') is configured to mount the internal surface (108b, 108b') of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') to coincide with the second axis of rotation (B-B), and • the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is configured to engage or disengage the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') with the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') to transmit rotational motion or stop transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to the tilt shaft (110, 110').
  2. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped member (108, 108') comprises at least one ring spring being optionally press fitted to the tilt pinion gear (106, 106'), and/or the external surface (108a) of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is frictionally coupled with the internal surface (106b) of the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') around the second axis of rotation (B-B, B'-B'), and/or the arc-shaped member (108') comprises at least one, preferably two or a plurality of slots (136).
  3. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal surface (106b) of the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') comprises at least one wedge shaped member (106c), with in particular the wedge shaped member (106c) being configured to abut at least partly against at least one of the two end faces (108c) of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') and/or wherein at least one gap is provided between at least one of the two end faces (108c) of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') and the wedge shaped member (106c).
  4. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tilt worm gear (104) is configured to act on the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to rotate the tilt shaft (110, 110') about the first axis of rotation (A-A, A'-A'), when the arc-shaped member (108, 108') engages the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') with the tilt pinion gear (106, 106'), and/or the tilt worm gear (104, 104') is configured to act on the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to rotate the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') about the second axis of rotation (B-B, B'-B'), when the arc-shaped member (108, 108') disengages the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') from the tilt pinion gear (106, 106').
  5. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is elastic, wherein the elastic nature of the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is configured to enable engaging or disengaging of the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') with the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') which in return correspondingly enables or stops transfer of rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to the tilt shaft (110, 110'), wherein optionally when the rotational torque received by the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is less than a resisting torque of the arc-shaped member (108, 108'), the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is configured to retain its shape thereby engaging with the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') to enable transfer of rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to the auxiliary shaft tilt shaft (110, 110'), and/or when the rotational torque received by the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is more than the resisting torque of the arc-shaped member (108, 108'), the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is configured to expand to disengaging with the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b') to stop transfer of rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear (106, 160') to the tilt shaft (110, 110').
  6. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central shaft (110b, 110b') comprises a plurality of protrusions (110d, 110d'), wherein optionally the tilt cover (140, 140') comprises a plurality of cut-outs (140d) which is configured to couple correspondingly at least partly with the plurality of protrusions (110d, 110d').
  7. The actuator assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tilt shaft (110) further comprises an extended arm (110a), wherein optionally the extended arm (110a) comprises at least one primary shaft (110c), and/or the auxiliary shaft (140b) comprises at least one secondary bore (140c) which optionally is configured to couple with the primary shaft (110c).
  8. The actuator assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an output axis (P-P) of the actuator assembly (100) and/or tilt shaft (110) lies on the tilt shaft (110) and a first drive axis (R-R) of the actuator assembly (100) and/or tilt pinion gear (106) and/or tilt shaft (110) lies on the tilt cover (140), wherein optionally the primary shaft (110c) is coupled to the auxiliary shaft (140b) and optionally provides a third auxiliary axis (Q-Q), optionally being aligned with the drive axis (R-R), wherein optionally the tilt pinion gear (106) drives at least partly the tilt cover (140) optionally around a cover rotation axis (S-S), wherein the tilt cover (140) optionally transmits at least partly the drive motion to the tilt shaft (110) to rotate the tilt shaft (110) at least partly around the output axis (P-P).
  9. The actuator assembly (100') according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the tilt shaft (110') further comprises an extended arm (110a'), wherein optionally the extended arm (110a') comprises at least one primary shaft (110c') having at least one secondary bore (110e), and/or the auxiliary shaft (140b') is configured to couple at least partly and/or indirectly with the secondary bore (110e) of the primary shaft (110c'), and/or the rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to the tilt shaft (110, 110') is provided at least partly directly to the tilt shaft (110, 110') and/or at least partly by means of the tilt cover (140, 140').
  10. The actuator assembly (100') according to any one of the claims 1 to 6 or 9, wherein the output axis (P'-P') of the actuator assembly (100') and/or tilt shaft (110') and a second drive axis (Q'-Q') of the actuator assembly (100') and/or tilt pinion gear (106') and/or tilt shaft (110') both lie on the tilt shaft (110'), wherein optionally the tilt cover (140') provides a first auxiliary axis (S'-S') being aligned the output axis (P'-P') and a second auxiliary axis (R'-R') being aligned with the second drive axis (Q'-Q'), wherein optionally o the rotational motion of the tilt pinion gear (106') is at least partly transmitted directly to the tilt shaft (110'), and/or o the first and second auxiliary axes (S'-S', R'-R') both lie in the tilt cover (140').
  11. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the claims 3 to 10, with backreference to claim 3, characterized by a tensioner (120) placed between the two end faces (108c) and the wedge shaped member (106c), wherein optionally the tensioner (120) is configured to secure the arc-shaped member (108, 108') with the tilt pinion gear (106, 106'), and/or the tensioner (120) comprises at least one hole (120a) and/or at least one clip (120b), and/or the tensioner (120) is made of high carbon steel material and/or is a U-shaped element.
  12. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the claims 3 to 11, with backreference to claim 3, wherein the wedge shaped member (106c) comprises at least one pin member (106d) and/or at least one recess (106e), wherein optionally the at least one pin member (106d) of the wedge shaped member (106c) fits correspondingly into the at least one hole (120a) of the tensioner (120), and/or the at least one clip (120b) of the tensioner (120) fits correspondingly into the at least one recess (106e) of the wedge shaped member (106c).
  13. The actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tilt shaft (110, 110') further comprises at least one side wall guide (110w, 110w'), and the tilt cover (140, 140') comprises a seating surface (140s) configured to receive at least partly the side wall guide (110w), and/or the at least one side wall (110w') comprises at least one first locking member (110g), the tilt cover (140') comprises at least one second locking member (140h) configured to at least indirectly engage and/or snap-fit with the at least one first locking member (110g), and/or the tilt shaft (110, 110') further comprises at least one raised surface (110r) having at least one orifice for applying synthetic oil to lubricate the tilt pinion gear (106, 106'), and/or the tilt cover (140, 140') further comprising at least one protruding seat surface (140p) with at least one orifice for applying synthetic oil to lubricate the tilt pinion gear (106, 106').
  14. The actuator assembly (100) according to any one of the claims 9 to 13 with backreference to claim 9, wherein the secondary bore (110e) of the primary shaft (110c') is configured to internally mount at least indirectly at least one spring pin (190).
  15. An exterior rear view mirror (102) having at least one actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the preceding claims.
  16. The exterior rear view mirror (102) according to claim 15, wherein when the exterior rear-view mirror (102) is tilted from outside, intending the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') to drive back the tilt worm gear (104), and the rotating torque exceeds the resisting torque of the arc-shaped member (108, 108'), the arc-shaped member (108, 108') is configured to disengage from the auxiliary shaft (140b, 140b'), such that the transfer of the rotational motion from the tilt shaft (140, 140') to the tilt pinion gear (106, 106') stops.
  17. A vehicle (200) having at least one - actuator assembly (100, 100') according to any one of the claims 1 to 14 and/or - exterior rear view mirror (102) according to claim 15 or 16.

Description

The present disclosure relates to an actuator assembly for an exterior rear-view mirror according to the pre-amble of claim 1. Further, the present disclosure relates to an exterior rearview mirror with such an actuator assembly as well as to a vehicle with such an exterior rearview mirror. Actuator assemblies have been used in exterior rear-view mirror from decades. An actuator assembly enables automatic folding and tilting of the exterior rear-view mirror. The actuator assembly involves multiple driving trains to achieve the automatic folding and tilting of the exterior rear-view mirror. The existing tilting drive train involves a tilt worm gear driving a tilt pinion gear. Further, the tilt pinion gear is configured with a tilt shaft. Further, the tilt shaft is configured to connect with an exterior rear-view mirror. The existing tilting drive train comes up with a plurality of challenges. Firstly, in a scenario of over driving of the tilt worm gear to the tilt pinon gear due to motor malfunction or any similar reason, the friction and the shear stress between the tilt worm gear and the tilt pinion gear increases excessively. Secondly, in a scenario of the tilt pinion gear at an extreme position due to physical stoppage by stoppers, the driving of the tilt pinion gear by the tilt worm gear increases the friction and the shear stress excessively, due to back reaction from the stoppers. Thirdly, the manual tilting of the exterior rear-view mirror from outside results in excessive shear stress between the tilt worm gear and tilt pinion gear. For example, US10315575B2 discloses the exterior rearview mirror system for the vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. JP2023000254A provides a mirror surface angle adjustment unit of the exterior rearview mirror which can increase distances that rods move forward or rearward. US11628720B2 relates to an adjustment device for adjusting an air influencing element of a motor vehicle between at least a first position and a second position, comprising a driving unit for adjusting the air influencing element between at least the first position and the second position, provided with an input shaft and an output shaft which is at a distance from the axis of the input shaft, wherein the driving unit has a first part which is provided around the input shaft of the driving unit, and has a second part which is provided around the output shaft of the driving unit, wherein the adjustment device is furthermore provided with a failsafe mechanism, wherein the failsafe mechanism engages the first part of the driving unit. Therefore, there is a need to develop an improved actuator assembly with reduced friction and shear stress between gear parts of the assembly leading to an improved reliability even in high stress situations.. Hence, it is an object of the present disclosure to further develop the known actuator assembly to overcome at least partly the known drawbacks of the prior art. In particular it is the object to develop an actuator assembly for an exterior rear-view mirror which reduces friction and shear stress between the tilt worm gear and the tilt pinion gear i) in a scenario of over driving of the tilt worm gear onto the tilt pinon gear,ii) on driving the tilt pinion gear at extreme ends, and/oriii) on manual tilting of the exterior rear-view mirror from outside. This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1, with at least one arc-shaped member having at least an external surface, an internal surface and two end faces, wherein the external surface of the arc-shaped member is coupled at least partly with the internal surface of the tilt pinion gear, the rotation axis of the arc-shaped member and the tilt pinion gear coincides with a second axis of rotation, the at least one tilt cover comprises an auxiliary shaft, the auxiliary shaft is configured to mount the internal surface of the arc-shaped member to coincide with the second axis of rotation, and the arc-shaped member is configured to engage or disengage the tilt pinion gear with the auxiliary shaft to transmit rotational motion or stop transmission of rotational motion from the tilt pinion gear to the tilt shaft. Mounting and coupling is to be understood as at least indirectly or partly directly or directly. Thus, the auxiliary shaft may be configured to mount at least indirectly the internal surface of the arc-shaped member to coincide with the second axis of rotation. Mounting means that there does not have to be any contact between the two components. It depends on the coinciding with the second axis of rotation. Analogously, the external surface of the arc-shaped member may be coupled at least partly and/or at least indirectly with the internal surface of the tilt pinion gear. In an aspect the arc-shaped member may comprise at least one ring spring