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US 4,444,466 AGranted
Universal joint seal and vibration damper for remotely actuated pivotal devices
AssigneeKeeler Corporation
InventorWalter R. Deshaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remotely actuated pivotal device is provided comprising a weathertight housing, a spherical projection disposed on the back of the device and a socket disposed on the housing. A circular elastomeric O-ring is disposed in the socket and a wobble stick for pivotally actuating the device extends through the O-ring and the socket. The spherical projection is disposed within the socket such that the device is capable of independent pivotal movements about the socket. A universal joint that limits the motion of the device to pivotal movements about orthogonal X and Y axes is provided for compressing the sphere against the O-ring to provide both a weathertight seal for said housing and to dampen vibration of the pivotally actuated device.
Claims32
A universal joint seal and vibration damper for a pivotally actuated device comprising:
- a housing;
- means for mounting said device on said housing for pivotal movement about X and Y axes;
- a spherical projection disposed on the back of the pivotally actuated device;
- a socket disposed on said housing;
- a circular elastomeric O-ring disposed in said socket;
- means for actuating said pivotally actuated device extending through said socket;
- said spherical projection being disposed within said socket, said pivotally actuated device being capable of independent pivotal movements about said socket;
- and
- said means for mounting said device on said housing comprising a universal joint, said universal joint comprising a cross having four arms and a bearing means disposed on each of said arms, a first pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said device and a second pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said housing, said first and second pairs of bearing means being provided with a dimensional relationship with said device and said housing, respectively, that compresses said spherical projection against said O-ring to provide both a weathertight seal for said socket and a vibration damper for said pivotally actuated device.
6 more elements
An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising:
- an X axis;
- a Y axis;
- a Z axis, said X axis, said Y axis and said Z axis being mutually orthogonal;
- a mirror;
- a weathertight housing;
- means for mounting said mirror on said housing for pivotal movement about at least said X and Y axes;
- a spherical projection disposed on the back of said mirror, said spherical projection being approximately centered on said Z axis;
- a wobble stick extending from the back of said mirror, said wobble stick being approximately centered on said Z axis;
- a sphere slidably mounted on said wobble stick for reciprocal movement thereon and conjunctive pivotal movement with said mirror;
- a penetration disposed in said housing;
- a socket disposed on said housing said socket surrounding said penetration;
- a circular elastomeric O-ring disposed in said socket;
- said spherical projection being extended into said socket with said wobble stick extending through said penetration in said housing with said reciprocating sphere disposed within said housing, said projection being preloaded against said O-ring to provide both a weathertight seal surrounding said penetration as well as providing a means for dampening vibration of said mirror;
- said means for mounting said mirror comprising a universal joint, said universal joint comprising a cross having four arms and a bearing means disposed on each of said arms, a first pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said mirror and a second pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said housing, said first and second pairs of bearing means being provided with a dimensional relationship with said mirror and said housing, respectively, that preloads said spherical projection against said O-ring;
- an X drive means disposed within said housing for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to said X drive means, said X drive means including a first surface partially encompassing and slidably engaging said sphere;
- and
- a Y drive means disposed within said housing for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means, said Y drive means including a second surface partially encompassing and slidably engaging said sphere, said first and second surfaces extending in mutually orthogonal direction and being displaceable in mutally orthogonal directions when power is applied to said X and Y drive means, respectively, to effect displacements of said sphere and imparting pivotal movements in said mirror.
14 more elements
A remotely acutated rearview mirror comprising in combination;
- a mirror;
- a weathertight housing;
- means for mounting said mirror on said housing for multi-directional pivotal movements relative thereto;
- an acutating member;
- means for mounting said actuating member on the back of said mirror for conjunctive pivotal movements therewith and for independent reciprocating movements relative thereto along an axis essentially normal to said back of said mirror;
- said means for mounting comprising a generally spherical projection disposed on the back of said mirror, said spherical projection being approximately centered on said axis;
- a penetration disposed in said housing, said means for mounting said actuating member extending therethrough;
- a socket disposed in said housing, said socket surrounding said penetration;
- a generally circular elastomeric seal disposed in said socket;
- said spherical projection extending into said socket, said means for mounting further comprising a universal joint, said universal joint comprising a cross having four arms and a bearing means disposed on each of said arms, a first pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said mirror and a second pair of said bearing means pivotally mounting said cross on said housing, said first and second pairs of bearing means being provided with a dimensional relationship with said mirror and said housing, respectively, that preloads said spherical projection against said seal to provide both a weathertight seal for said penetration in said housing and to provide a means for dampening vibration of said mirror;
- and
- said mirror further comprising remotely actuated drive means disposed within said housing and including first and second means disposed in engagement with said actuating member and cooperating to constrain said actuating member for movements in mutual orthogonal directions within a plane to impart said multi-directional pivotal movements to said mirror and said reciprocating movements of said actuating member as an incident thereto.
9 more elements
The remotely actuated rearview mirror of claim 20 wherein said means for mounting said mirror comprises means for pivotally mounting said mirror for mult-directional pivotal movements relative to a point and said spherical projection is provided with a cross section that approximately follows a radius that sweeps an arc having its center disposed approximately at said point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.