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

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.

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.

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 pawl and the sliding lower surface of the drive ring gear.

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:
• second engagement slots from an upper side facing towards the rear view device, and a locating ring arranged on top of the drive ring gear comprises detents adapted to engage into the second engagement slots and comprises radially directed protrusions to engage into the housing structure.