JPS58214432A - Supporting body fitted with reset for keeping angle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an angle keeping device so as to be easily reset even if it is deformed by external force, by using a form memory alloy for the angle keeping device in a mirror supporting body, while installing a device capable of heating the form memory alloy up to the temperature of an austenite phase. CONSTITUTION:A U-shaped body 7, spanning between a mirror supporting body 5' and a mirror body 4, is made up of a form memory alloy. In addition, a heater 10 is stuck fast to an overcutting part A after being drawn close to this U- shaped body 7, connecting a lead wire 8 to the heater 10. This lead wire 8 is connected to a battery via the contact of a timer which is closed for the duration of the specified time when an ignition key switch is turned on. After the angle of the mirror supporting body 5 is adjusted to the optimum sight angle of a driver at the outset, the said angle is stored in the U-shaped body 7. If the said angle is varied by external force, the key switch is turned on, energizing the heater 10 with a continuous rating current. When the U-shaped body 7 is heated, the body 7 is restored to the initially stored form so that a mirror is reset to the said angle without fail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a support that must maintain a predetermined angle, such as a rearview mirror for an automobile, in which a restoring device is provided in the angle holding means such as the mirror.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, rearview mirrors for automobiles include those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, a mirror body 4 is attached to the tip of a stay 2 attached to a fender 1 via a pivot 3 so that its angle can be varied. A mirror 5 is embedded in the mirror body 4, and the angle can be adjusted by moving together with the mirror body 4. Therefore, the driver manually adjusts the mirror body 4 integrated with the mirror 5 in order to configure the field of view at the angular position most suitable for the driver.

However, with such conventional fender mirrors, even if the driver initially sets the optimum viewing angle, the mirror body 4 tends to move easily due to the pivot 3. As a result, the optimum viewing angle may be impaired. Therefore, the driver who notices this inconvenience while driving has to stop the vehicle and adjust the optimum viewing angle of the mirror body 4 again.

On the other hand, there is a remote control mirror driven by an electric motor as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-47708 as a device that can easily adjust a predetermined angle from inside the vehicle. This has the disadvantage that the optimum viewing angle may be impaired.

This invention was made by focusing on such conventional problems, and even if the fender mirror, which is set at the driver's optimum viewing angle, is deformed by an external force that does not cause damage, the fender mirror will automatically automatically change its angle. The present invention provides an automatic restoring device for a support such as a rearview mirror, which can be restored either directly or after that by artificially applying electric current and heating.

To this end, by using a shape memory alloy as the angle holding means in the support body and providing means for heating the shape memory alloy to a temperature at which it can transform to the austenite phase, it is possible to maintain the optimum viewing angle for the mirror. This solves the above problems.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

First, to explain the configuration, a mirror body 4 that can be moved to any angle via a pivot 3 is attached to a stay 2 attached to a fender 1 via a spacer 9, and a mirror 5 is fixed to the mirror body 4. A mirror support 5' is mounted on a fulcrum 6, and the angles of the mirror support 5' and the mirror 2-5 can be varied about the fulcrum 6. The U-shaped bodies 7, 7 are passed between the mirror support 5' and the mirror body 4 at appropriate positions, and these two U-shaped bodies 7
The 8U-shaped body 7 has one end fixed to position B of the mirror body 4, and the other end inserted and fixed between the notch A on the back surface of the mirror support 5' and the mirror support 5'. It is made of a shape memory alloy, and a cutout part AK upper heater o is fixed close to this U-shaped body 7, and this heater I
Connect the OK lead wire 8 and connect it to the battery via a timer contact or a dedicated switch (not shown) that opens for a predetermined time when the ignition key switch is turned on so that the U-shaped body 7 can be heated by electricity. Shape memory alloy is
For example, TiN1 alloy or Cu Zn
A! , St., Ga.

(one or more elements of S).

This alloy has the property that once it has been formed into a predetermined shape, even if it is deformed by an external force, it will automatically return to its original shape, or if it is artificially heated, it will return to its original shape. There is. K to set mirror 5 at a predetermined angle
The adjustment is made by heating the U-shaped body 7 as described later to bring it into the memorized shape, and then moving the mirror body 4.

The pivot 3 is set so that even if the mirror is pushed, the U-shaped body 7 will be deformed and the mirror body 4 will not move.

Next, the effect will be explained.

First, the mirror body 4 is moved around the pivot 3 to adjust the angle of the mirror 5 to the driver's optimum viewing angle, so that it can be stored in the U-shaped body 7. Since the U-shaped body 7 easily deforms at a temperature below the martensitic transformation Mf point, if a pedestrian touches the mirror 5 and the angle of the mirror 5 changes while parking, etc., the driver may press the engine key switch, etc. By turning on the heater 10, the heater 10 is energized and heated via the lead wire 8. When the U-shaped body 7 heated by the heater IOK reaches the spot point temperature, it begins to return to its originally memorized shape, and when the temperature rises further and reaches the Af point temperature or higher, it completely returns to its original state. Even if the temperature further increases from the automatically restored state, the shape of the U-shaped body 7 does not change. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, when the energization is stopped by the action of a timer or the like (not shown), the U-shaped body 7 is cooled from a temperature above the Af point and begins to soften when the temperature reaches a desired temperature.

When the U-shaped body 7 is further cooled and reaches the Mf point temperature, the softening stops. Therefore, at temperatures below the Mf point temperature, the U-shaped body 7 is easily deformed even by a relatively small external force.

In this way, by using two U-shaped bodies 7, the restoring force of the mirror 5 in the front, rear, right and left directions can be configured.

If the number of U-shaped bodies 7 is two or more, the holding strength of the mirror 5 will of course increase, and it may be unnecessary to provide the fulcrum 6 at the bottom of the mirror support 5'.

Furthermore, another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be explained.

This rearview mirror is an electric remote control mirror, and a mirror body 14 including a mirror 15 is supported via an internal protrusion 121C pivot 13 of a housing 11 so as to be able to change its angle. A plurality of U-shaped supports 17 constituting angle holding means are attached between the mirror body 14 and the vivo/Y) support plate 16. The support body 17 is formed by bending a plate made of a shape memory alloy, and is connected to the metal mirror body 14 and the pivot support plate 16 via pins or bolt nuts 19. Furthermore, a lead wire 18 is connected to the support body 17 and becomes flexible due to heat generated by electricity. Therefore, the pivot support plate 16 is made of an insulator so that the support body 17 can be energized, or the support body 17 and the pivot support plate 16 are connected in an insulating manner. On the other hand, the mirror body 14 is a current-carrying body. A nine rack 21 is connected to the pivot support plate 16 by a pivot 20, and the rack 21 is movable forward and backward by a pinion 23 driven by a motor 22. Note that the pivot support plate 16
A shaft 24 whose center hits the internal protrusion 12 can be moved forward by a pinion 26 driven by a motor 25.

Next, the effect will be explained.

Initially, the driver drives the motors 22 and 25 by remote control from the driver's seat of the car to adjust the mirror 15.
Set the optimal viewing angle. The support body 17 has a specific shape, such as a U-shape, stored in advance. Therefore, even if the mirror 15, which has been formed at a desired angle by remote control, is deformed due to contact with a pedestrian while parking, etc., the support body 17 absorbs the external force and deforms. At the same time as the ON operation, the power is automatically restored by heat generation. That is, the point that the martensitic transformation of the support body 17 is utilized is the same as in the previous embodiment.

Incidentally, a circuit for supplying electricity to and heating the support body 17 is shown in FIG. That is, an ignition switch I and a timer T are connected in series to the battery Bat, and a negative contact ``ra'' of the timer T is connected in parallel to the ignition switch (2). Further, the battery Bit ic connects the other contacts of the timer 1' and the group of supports 17 in series, and connects the automatic reset type push button switch Sw in parallel with the contacts. In addition, the support bodies 17 may be connected in parallel as shown in the figure, or may be connected in series. Note that when the timer T is connected to the battery, the point Ta is maintained for a predetermined period of time, for example, 10 seconds.

It is assumed that the mind is closed.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, when the ignition switch I is turned on to start the car engine, the starter motor rotates, the timer T is activated, and the contacts Ta and Tb are closed. Therefore, even if the engine is in operation and the ignition switch (2) is turned off, the timer T is energized. On the other hand, the support 17 is also energized and heated to generate heat to a temperature at which it is sufficiently transformed into austenite within the predetermined time. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the contacts Ta and Tb are opened, the current supply to the support 17 is stopped, and the support is cooled down to the outside temperature.

Note that the switch Sw is a switch for manually energizing the support body 17.

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a support body equipped with an angle holding means that supports an object while holding a predetermined angle, the angle holding means is made of a shape memory alloy. Since the structure is equipped with a means for heating the alloy, even if the angle holding means is deformed by external stress to the extent that it will not break, it is easier to automatically or electrically heat it. Since it can automatically return to the formed state, it is convenient to use, for example, in a rearview mirror of a car, and has a wide range of applications other than rearview mirrors. However, when used as a rearview mirror, even if a pedestrian or other person comes into contact with the mirror while parking, etc. and the optimum angle shifts, the driver can still maintain the optimum viewing angle by simply operating a switch and operating the electrical heating. It has the convenience of being able to do the following. Moreover, since the structure is simple and does not include a complicated mechanism, it is possible to obtain a support that is highly reliable in securing a desired angle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the car showing the rearview mirror;
3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rearview mirror showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rearview mirror showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The plan view and FIG. 5 are configuration diagrams of the energization heating circuit. 1...Fender-12...Stay, 3...Pivot, 4...Mirror body, 5...Mirror, 6...
Fulcrum, 7... U-shaped body (angle holding means), 8... Lead wire, 13... Pivot, 14... Mirror body, 15... Mirror, 16... Pivot support plate, 17
. . . Support (angle holding means), 18 . . . Lead wire. Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 0 Figure 4 '7

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A support provided with an angle holding means that supports an object while holding a predetermined angle, characterized in that the angle holding means is made of a shape memory alloy and is provided with means for heating the alloy. A support with a device to restore the support angle. (2) A support with a support angle restoring device according to claim 1, wherein the heating means heats the shape memory alloy itself by applying electricity. (3) Claim 1, characterized in that the support body that is to maintain a predetermined angle is an automobile rearview mirror.
A support with a support angle restoring device according to item 1 or 2.