Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – Automatically adjustable in response to vehicle position,...
Patent
1996-12-13
1999-01-05
Nguyen, Thong
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
Automatically adjustable in response to vehicle position,...
359877, 359844, 280432, B60R 108
Patent
active
058568875
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to apparatus for positioning a rear view mirror, especially for an articulated road vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An articulated road vehicle comprises a tractor unit to which can be coupled a trailer. The tractor unit is generally fitted with a rear view mirror on each side of the driver's cab. When driving in a straight path, these mirrors provide adequate visibility to the rear corners of the trailer. However, when the tractor unit is rotated relative to the trailer, either when reversing or whilst negotiating a tight turn in the forward direction, the rear corners of the trailer are outside the field of view of the mirrors. In order to combat this problem, an angle sensing apparatus may be arranged on the tractor to vary the position of the rear view mirrors according to the angle between the tractor and the trailer so that the driver can always see, using the mirror, along the length of the trailer. Such apparatus is disclosed in EP-A-094817, U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,080, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,265, U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,158; WO88/04619.
One type of angle sensing device is described and claimed in our GB patent 2259064B and includes a lever connected to a potentiometer mounted on the tractor, the potentiometer acting as a sensor, adjacent to the coupling of the tractor and trailer, and an elastic member extending from the lever which can be detachably connected to a mounting point on the trailer. Information about the angle of rotation of the trailer relative to the tractor is provided to a control unit in the cab of the tractor unit which in turn actuates drive means to rotate the mirror accordingly about a generally vertical axis. In many cases it is preferable to mount the sensor to the rear of the coupling point and detachably mount the elastic member on a convenient point under the trailer. It has been discovered that in different sensor mounting positions there is a risk of damage to the sensor as the trailer is coupled or decoupled. It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide means for mounting an angle sensor on the tractor unit of an articulated road vehicle which reduces the risk of damage to the sensor at least during the coupling and decoupling of the trailer unit.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a tractor unit having at least one rear view mirror, the mirror being adjustable according to information from an angle sensor mounted on the tractor unit characterised in that the angle sensor is deflectably mounted on the tractor unit.
The angle sensor is preferably mounted in such a way that it will automatically be deflected under an abnormal load from any direction, e.g. when hit by the trailer during coupling or decoupling. The mounting may take a variety of forms. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprises a lower portion mounted on the tractor unit near the fifth wheel coupling, and an upper portion to which the sensor is attached, the upper portion being pivotally connected to the lower portion and being urged to the vertical condition by a releasable catch means. In use, if an abnormal force is applied to the upper portion (to which the angle sensor is attached) the upper portion is deflected once the catch is released.
In another embodiment there is provided manually operable mounting means, e.g. a plate on which the sensor is mounted, which is lockable in an in-use position or in an out-of-the-way deflected position. For this embodiment the operator needs to move the mounting means, and warning means may be needed to remind him of the position of the mounting means at any given movement.
Auxiliary means may be present to cause the mounting means to maintain its last position or to revert to its in-use or out-of-the-way position. The means may be manual, electrical or pneumatic. The means may allow deflection in one or many planes.
The angle sensor may be of any known type.
The mounting means may be mounted on the tractor vehicle chassis or the fifth wheel subchassis or a
REFERENCES:
patent: 5249083 (1993-09-01), Doughtie et al.
patent: 5541778 (1996-07-01), DeFlorio
Standen Christopher Allan
Standen John Paul
Jr. John Juba
Nguyen Thong
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