Powerfold actuator with pawl actuated drive, rear view system and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11628771-B2
Application number	US-202016893043-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2020
Priority date	Jun 5, 2019
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

A powerfold actuator system for a rear view device, a rear view device includes such an actuator system and a vehicle includes such a rear view device. The powerfold actuator system includes a core base fixedly attached to the vehicle, a housing structure attached to the rear view device, which is arranged to rotate around the core base, and at least a drive system to rotate the housing structure being contained in the core base and comprising at least a motor, a gearing structure, and a pawl.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powerfold actuator system for a rear view device of a vehicle enabling an adjustment of the rear view device connected to the actuator system, the actuator system comprising:
a core base configured to be fixedly attached to the vehicle;
a housing structure configured to be attached to the rear view device, which is arranged to rotate around the core base; and
at least a drive system to rotate the housing structure, being contained in the core base and comprising at least a motor, a gearing structure, and a pawl,
wherein the pawl is configured to lock the gearing structure in response to the rear view device being in at least one pre-determined fixed position, and
wherein the gearing structure is configured to unlock the pawl in response to the rear view device being electrically rotated around the core base,
wherein the gearing structure comprises:
a drive ring gear arranged around the core base and coupled to the motor via the gearing structure, and
a worm wheel comprising a cam surface which is shaped to move the pawl out of its locked position in case of electrically rotating the rear view device, with the cam surface being a protrusion out of a surface of the worm wheel facing towards the pawl and having an oval cross-section,

wherein the drive ring gear comprises at least two first engagement slots, and the pawl comprises one engagement arm shaped to fit into the at least two first engagements slots of the drive ring gear, and
wherein at least one of:
the pawl is arranged inside the drive ring gear and mounted to the core base to rotate around a pawl rotation axis in order to engage or disengage from the at least two first engagements slots by rotating around the pawl rotational axis, and

the drive ring gear comprises three first engagement slots which are symmetrically located to each other on a side of the drive ring gear facing towards the vehicle.

2. The actuator system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cap arranged to cover the core base, the motor, and the gearing structure to ensure all components remaining in place.

3. The actuator system according to claim 1 , further comprising a control system adapted to initiate the actuator system in response to a corresponding input signal or sensor signal.

4. A rear view system, comprising a rear view device and the powerfold actuator system according to claim 1 connected to the rear view device.

5. A vehicle, comprising at least one rear view system according to claim 4 , wherein the control system is connected to or provided by the vehicle control system.

6. A powerfold actuator system for a rear view device of a vehicle enabling an adjustment of the rear view device connected to the actuator system, the actuator system comprising:
a core base configured to be fixedly attached to the vehicle;
a housing structure configured to be attached to the rear view device, which is arranged to rotate around the core base; and
at least a drive system to rotate the housing structure, being contained in the core base and comprising at least a motor, a gearing structure, and a pawl,
wherein the pawl is configured to lock the gearing structure in response to the rear view device being in at least one pre-determined fixed position, and
wherein the gearing structure is configured to unlock the pawl in response to the rear view device being electrically rotated around the core base,
wherein the gearing structure comprises:
a drive ring gear arranged around the core base and coupled to the motor via the gearing structure, and
a worm wheel comprising a cam surface which is shaped to move the pawl out of its locked position in case of electrically rotating the rear view device, with the cam surface being a protrusion out of a surface of the worm wheel facing towards the pawl and having an oval cross-section,

wherein the gearing system comprises a worm gear, a worm wheel, a hypoid gear and a shaft,
the motor is coupled to a worm gear via the worm wheel,
the worm wheel rotates simultaneously the pawl, and
the hypoid gear, whereby the hypoid gear is coupled to the worm wheel via the shaft, and the hypoid gear engages into teeth arranged into an inner surface of the drive ring gear.

7. A powerfold actuator system for a rear view device of a vehicle enabling an adjustment of the rear view device connected to the actuator system, the actuator system comprising:
a core base configured to be fixedly attached to the vehicle;
a housing structure configured to be attached to the rear view device, which is arranged to rotate around the core base; and
at least a drive system to rotate the housing structure, being contained in the core base and comprising at least a motor, a gearing structure, and a pawl,
wherein the pawl is configured to lock the gearing structure in response to the rear view device being in at least one pre-determined fixed position, and
wherein the gearing structure is configured to unlock the pawl in response to the rear view device being electrically rotated around the core base,
wherein the gearing structure comprises:
a drive ring gear arranged around the core base and coupled to the motor via the gearing structure, and
a worm wheel comprising a cam surface which is shaped to move the pawl out of its locked position in case of electrically rotating the rear view device, with the cam surface being a protrusion out of a surface of the worm wheel facing towards the pawl and having an oval cross-section,

wherein the drive ring gear comprises at least two first engagement slots, and the pawl comprises one engagement arm shaped to fit into the at least two first engagements slots of the drive ring gear,
wherein a spring force acts on the pawl in order to press the pawl against the drive ring gear to engage into the at least two first engagement slots.

8. The actuator system according to claim 7 , wherein the spring force is provided by a cone spring arranged around a retaining pin located inside the core base.

9. A powerfold actuator system for a rear view device of a vehicle enabling an adjustment of the rear view device connected to the actuator system, the actuator system comprising:
a core base configured to be fixedly attached to the vehicle;
a housing structure configured to be attached to the rear view device, which is arranged to rotate around the core base; and
at least a drive system to rotate the housing structure, being contained in the core base and comprising at least a motor, a gearing structure, and a pawl,
wherein the pawl is configured to lock the gearing structure in response to the rear view device being in at least one pre-determined fixed position, and
wherein the gearing structure is configured to unlock the pawl in response to the rear view device being electrically rotated around the core base,
wherein the gearing structure comprises:
a drive ring gear arranged around the core base and coupled to the motor via the gearing structure, and
a worm wheel comprising a cam surface which is shaped to move the pawl out of its locked position in case of electrically rotating the rear view device, with the cam surface being a protrusion out of a surface of the worm wheel facing towards the pawl and having an oval cross-section,

wherein the drive ring gear comprises at least two first engagement slots, and the pawl comprises one engagement arm shaped to fit into the at least two first engagements slots of the drive ring gear,
wherein
the engagement arm of the pawl is adapted to slide along a lower surface of the drive ring gear when being disengaged from the at least two first engagement slots, and
the spring force is adapted to maintain permanent contact between the engagement arm of the pa

Assignees

• Motherson Innovations Co Ltd

Inventors

• Harris Tom
• Aspden Gareth

Classifications

• B60R1/074 Primary

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