Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – Automatically adjustable in response to vehicle position,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-10-16
Shafer, Ricky D. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
Automatically adjustable in response to vehicle position,...
C359S872000, C359S877000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302547
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an assembly for automatically rotating a vehicle rear view mirror. More specifically, the invention relates both to an assembly for automatically rotating a rear view mirror mounted on either side of a vehicle comprising a tractor hauling a semi-detached trailer, and to the rear view mirror itself.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trailered vehicles are well-known. Referring to
FIG. 1
a
, a trailered vehicle
20
comprises a semi-detached trailer
22
mounted to a tractor
24
. Trailer
22
is mounted at a hitching point
26
, typically referred to as a “fifth wheel,” positioned at a rear end
28
of the tractor's chassis
30
. The tractor and trailer generally align to define an imaginary axis
32
. A passenger-side rear view mirror
34
typically is mounted on a passenger-side door of the tractor, and positioned generally in alignment with the axis
32
, so that the driver can see the passenger-side rear corner
36
of the trailer
22
. The driver typically adjusts this passenger-side mirror
34
either electrically, or by hand, according to the length of the trailer
22
. The driver's field of vision in the passenger-side mirror is depicted by reference numeral
38
. The above-described relationship is shown in FIG.
1
(
a
), depicting the right hand side as the passenger side, as is common for example in North America and continental Europe. Alternatively, a reversed relationship applies in other countries where the passenger side is on the left hand side.
A problem occurs when the driver enters a turn, either going forward or reversing. As the tractor turns, the trailer pivots with respect to the tractor, forming an angle therebetween. The passenger-side rear view mirror, however, remains stationary. The trailer
22
therefore blocks the field of vision
38
, causing the driver to lose sight of the passenger-side rear corner
36
of the trailer, along with any object in the vicinity. This problem is depicted in FIG.
1
(
b
). Tighter turns obviously exacerbate this problem.
The resultant loss of rear visibility creates potentially dangerous situations. Whether driving on winding roads, or attempting to back the trailer into a parking lot or a loading dock, the driver's inability to see other vehicles, persons, or other objects in his passenger-side mirror can result in property damage or more serious accidents.
Reports published in 1994 indicate that out of 330,000 reported truck crashes in the U.S. in 1991, 19.1% of these accidents involved backing, turning, lane-changing, or merging maneuvers by trailered vehicles. These crashes accounted for 1.0% of all fatalities, 10.8% of injuries, and 6.3% of costs for trailered vehicle accidents that year, with total direct monetary losses estimated at over $250 million.
A number of commercially available warning systems exist that give a driver a warning of objects behind his truck during a turn. Despite the desirability of such systems, surveys of professional truck drivers have noted several shortcomings with the available systems. For example, existing devices are not easy to install. Another problem exists with the reliability of the existing systems, including damage to the systems while in use. Another problem is the difficulty of using the existing systems. In short, existing systems to detect and warn drivers of objects behind a truck have limited areas of coverage, provide inconsistent warnings, and rarely are used.
A better solution is to enable the driver to rely on his passenger-side rear view mirror by providing the mirror with the capability to rotate in response to a vehicle turn. Past attempts to provide such a device have met with limited success, as evidenced by the fact that no such device is in widespread use in the trucking industry.
An automatically adjustable passenger-side rear view mirror assembly is desired for trailered vehicles that is easy to install and operate, and is reliable under normal truck-driving conditions and environments.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the combinations described in the attached claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a mirror rotation assembly is provided for a vehicle having a tractor and a pivotally connected semi-detached trailer. The assembly comprises an apparatus supporting a rotatable control wheel, attachable to the tractor chassis proximate the fifth wheel. The control wheel support apparatus is configured to move the control wheel from a disengaged position proximate the chassis, to an engaged position with the wheel in rolling contact with an underside of the trailer. A counting means is provided that is operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the wheel as the trailer pivots with respect to the tractor during a vehicle turn. A motor connects to a rotatable mirror on the tractor. A control means also is provided, programmed to receive the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations from the counter, calculate a degree of vehicle turn corresponding to the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations, calculate a degree of mirror rotation corresponding to the degree of vehicle turn, generate a signal indicating a desired mirror position.
In one preferred embodiment, the control wheel support apparatus includes a mounting block having a groove defined therein, a slider block slidably mounted in the groove, the control wheel mounted on the slider block, and a spring for biasing the slider block upward so that the control wheel engages the underside of the trailer.
In another embodiment, the control wheel support mechanism includes an arm that pivots upward until the control wheel engages the underside of the trailer.
Other structures capable of supporting the control wheel, and bringing the control wheel into and out of engagement with the underside of the trailer are also possible.
It is preferred that the mirror include a position feedback device. The mirror position feedback device determines an actual mirror position and generates an actual mirror position signal indicating an actual mirror position.
It is further preferred that the mirror include a mirror position correction device. The mirror position correction device compares the actual mirror position signal from the mirror position feedback device to the calculated mirror position signal indicating a desired mirror position from the control means. The correction device then corrects the mirror position when the actual mirror position signal differs from the calculated mirror position signal.
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Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Shafer Ricky D.
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