MIRROR PARKING MECHANISM

摘要

This invention is a mirror parking mechanism for a vehicle exterior rear view mirror that rotates a mirror head to a parked position. It comprises a mirror mounting bracket (14), a mirror head (11) that is pivotally connected to the mirror mounting bracket (14) so that the mirror head (11) can rotate from a deployed position where the outermost portion of the mirror head (11) is positioned closer to the vehicle. A detent (22, 23) acts between the mirror mounting bracket (14) and the mirror head (11) that changes from a locked position where the mirror head (11) is held with respect to the mirror mounting bracket (14) to a disengaged position where the mirror head (11) is able to rotate with respect to the mirror mounting bracket (14). A spring (25) acts against the detent (22, 23) to hold it in a locked position. A gear wheel (35) is secured with respect to the mirror head (11), and a worm drive (30) having a shaft (29) is journalled in bearings in the mirror mounting bracket (14). This allows the worm drive (30) to move longitudinally along the shaft (29) as well as rotating about its axis. The worm drive (30) engages the gear wheel (35) and end of the shaft (29) acts against the spring (25). A motor (27) drives the worm drive (30) wherein during initial rotation of the worm drive (30) the detent (22, 23) prevents rotation of the gear wheel (35) which causes the worm drive (30) to move longitudinally and push against the spring (25) to in turn reduce the spring force applied to the detent (22, 23) to enable it to disengage whereupon continued rotation of the worm drive (30) causes the gear wheel (35) and mirror head (11) to rotate. The invention provides a means of relieving high spring loads which are applied to the detents (22, 23) prior to rotation of the mirror head (11). This enables high detent loads to be reasonably overcome.