EP0275095A2 - An optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight - Google Patents
An optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0275095A2 EP0275095A2 EP88100403A EP88100403A EP0275095A2 EP 0275095 A2 EP0275095 A2 EP 0275095A2 EP 88100403 A EP88100403 A EP 88100403A EP 88100403 A EP88100403 A EP 88100403A EP 0275095 A2 EP0275095 A2 EP 0275095A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- axis
- bracket
- reflector
- frame
- optical axis
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/50—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
- F21S41/55—Attachment thereof
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
- F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
- F21S41/162—Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
- F21S41/25—Projection lenses
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
- F21S41/25—Projection lenses
- F21S41/255—Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
- F21S41/28—Cover glass
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
- F21S41/29—Attachment thereof
- F21S41/295—Attachment thereof specially adapted to projection lenses
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
- F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
- F21S41/321—Optical layout thereof the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
- F21S41/43—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades characterised by the shape thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
- F21S41/65—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources
- F21S41/657—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources by moving light sources
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector headlight adopted as a headlight of automobiles, more particularly to an optical axis adjusting apparatus in which when a projector type headlight is mounted on the automobile's body, an optical axis of the headlight is preliminarily adjustable in the vertical and horizontal directions in order to obtain the most suitable illumination position thereof.
- a conventional headlight the adjustment of the optical axis has been made by the mechanism in which the reflecting surface of a reflector having a bulb and disposed within a housing is arranged tiltably with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of the reflector, or the mechnism in which a whole housing including a reflector is arranged tiltably with respect to the horizontal and vertical axes.
- a projector type headlight it is requested for a projector type headlight to condensing the light reflected by the reflector at the focal point of a convex lens.
- both of the leflector and the convex lens are mounted on the same frame so as not to change the relative position therebetween.
- Such projector type headlight unit is received in the housing having a front lens formed with the prism for diffusing the light projected from the convex lens, therefore it is not possible to apply the conventional optical axis adjusting apparatus in which only the reflecting surface of a reflector is tilted with respect to a housing, to the projector type headlight as it is. Furthermore, the projector type headlight is compact in comparison with the conventional headlight, and it is necessary that the front portion of the housing mounted with the diffusing prism forms a portion of the automobile's body.
- the whole lamp unit comprising the housing is fixed on the automobile's body, so that it is not possible to apply the conventional optical axis adjusting mechanism in which the whole housing including a reflector is tilted around the horizontal and vertical axes, to the projector type headlight.
- the projector type headlight unit is compact in comparison with a conventional headlight but the unit is formed in a configuration elongated in the reflector's axial direction, therefore it is important that the whole lamp unit including housing is mounted on the automobile's body, and then the optical axis thereof is adjusted and the headlight is surely held at a predetermined position.
- the object of the present invention is to present an optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight having a compact constitution and high reliability.
- object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight in which the adjusting operation of the optical axis is made very easily and further it is possible to surely maintain the adjusted condition of the headlight.
- a further object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight having the constitution that no resonance of a lamp unit is caused with respect to any vibration from external.
- a further object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight in which the size of a lamp housing is not affected by the existence of adjusting means and a minimum size of the lamp unit corresponding to the lamp unit installed in the lamp housing can be obtained.
- Figs. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight of the present invention
- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the projector type headlight providing the optical axis adjusting apparatus
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a headlight including the optical axis adjusting apparatus, and a part of a housing
- Fig. 3 is a front view showing the projector type headlight
- Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV - IV in Fig. 3
- Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V - V in Fig. 3
- Figs. 6 to 9 are schematic views for explaining the position of the opening which may be formed in a reflector.
- Figs. 10 to 13 show a second embodiment of the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight of the present invention
- Fig. 10 is a front view of the projector type headlight
- Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI - XI in Fig. 10
- Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII - XII in Fig.
- Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII - XIII in Fig. 10.
- a whole projector type headlight 10 in which a reflector 12 has an inside reflecting surface 14 and a bulb 16 as a light source is installed on a reflector's axis Z - Z.
- the inside reflecting surface 14 is formed in such as revolutional spheroid
- the bulb 16 as a light source is disposed in such a manner that the filament of the bulb 16 is located on one focal point of the spheroid
- a shade 18 for shaping the light reflected on the inside reflecting sur face 14 and condensing the light toward the other focal point of the spheroid is desposed in such a manner that the upper edge portion of the shade locates on the horizontal surface including the reflector's azis Z - Z.
- a convex lens 20 for projecting forwardly the pencil shaped by the shade 18 is apart from the shade by a constant distance (the focal distance of the convex lens), and the convex lens 20 is disposed such that the center of the convex lens is lcocated on the reflector's axis Z - Z.
- These optical system is fixed on the same frame 22 integrally to form a lamp unit.
- the frame 22 is formed approximately cylindrical, and the convex lens 20 is fixed at one end of the frame 22.
- the other end of the frame 22 is formed approximately rectangular as a flange portion 23 for the purpose of fixing the reflector 12 as mentioned hereinafter.
- the reflector 12 is made of synthetic resin, and the opening portion is formed as an approximately rectangular in this embodiment, though it is general to form the opening portion as the flange portion 24 projected in the direction perpendicular to the reflector's axis in view of strength.
- These connecting members 26 are formed integrally with the reflector 12.
- the flange portion 23 of the frame 22 is connected to the reflector 12 by screwing male screws 28 into female screws formed at the end point of the connecting members 26 respectively.
- the lamp unit is supported by another bracket 36 rotatably disposed with respect to the bracket 34 fixed in the housing 32.
- the rotatable bracket 36 is, as shown in Fig. 3, composed of a base wall 38 approximately parallel with the horizontal plane including the horizontal axis X - X perpendicular to the reflector's axis, and a pair of vertical walls 40a and 40b rising from both end portions of the base wall 38, thereby forming U-shaped formation as a whole.
- the bracket 36 is mounted rotatably around a rotation shaft 42 inserted into a hole formed on a portion of the base wall 38 adjacent to the vertical wall 40a, namely around the axis perpendicular to the reflector's axis and further parallel with the horizontal axis X - X and the vertical axis Y - Y.
- Numeral 44 denotes a slide shoe formed at the rear surface of the base wall 38 in the vicinity of the vertical wall 40b among the vertical walls 40a and 40b, and the slide shoe 44 is contacted with the bracket 36.
- the slide shoe 44 supports a portion of the weight of the above-mentioned lamp unit and the bracket 36, and the slide shoe 44 is formed as perlforming the function to reduce the friction force between the bracket 36 and the slide shoe 44 upon rotation of the bracket 36 around the rotation shaft 42.
- the lamp unit is installed rotatably around the horizontal axis with respect to the bracket 36. Namely, there are provided horizontal shafts 50a and 50b at the upper portion of the paired vertical walls 40a and 40b respectively, and both side portions of the flange portion 23 of the frame 22 are rotatably supported at the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b respectively.
- the lamp unit is preferably constructed such that the center of gravity of the lamp unit is located in the vertical surface perpendicular to the reflector's axis and including the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b. In this embodiment, the center of gravity thereof is located in the vicinity of the line connecting the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b with each other.
- the adjusting screw rods are constructed so as not to be moved in the axial direction respectively, and the male screw portion of each adjusting screw rods 61 and 63 is screwed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, into each of nuts 64 and 66 fixed at the upper portion of the flange 23 of the frame 22 and the vertical wall 40b of the bracket 36 respectively.
- the nut 64 is positioned at the position apart from the rotation shaft 42
- the nut 66 is positioned at the position apart upwardly from the line connecting the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b.
- the center of gravity of the unit lamp is located in the vicinity of the line connecting the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b, therefore the load to be applied to the adjusting screw rods 60 and 62 may be small.
- the bracket 36 is rotated around the vertical shaft 42 with respect to the housing 32 forwardly or reversely, in the state that the rotation position of the lamp unit around the horizontal axis is held with respect to the bracket 26, on the other hand by rotating the adjusting screw rod 62 forwardly or reversely, the lamp unit is rotated around the horizontal shafts 50a and 50b with respect to the bracket 36, in the state that the rotation position of the bracket 36 around the vertical shaft is held with respect to the housing 32. Therefore, the optical axis of the lamp unit can be easily adjustable and held at the adjusted position thereof, by rotating the adjusting screw rod 60 or 62 in the suitable direction.
- Numeral 80 denotes a transparent cover for covering the front opening of the housing 32 and it is fixed at the opening portion of the housing 32 by using adhesive 82.
- Numeral 84 denotes a non-transparent inner plate for blocking the light incident on the transparent cover 80 through the openings 30 of the frame 22 among the light emitted from the optical source bulb 16 thereby not leaking the light.
- the through hole 72 is provided at the boundary line between the flange 24 and the reflecting surface 14, in Fig. 8 the through hole 74 being provided at the boundary line between the reflecting surface 14 and the flange 24, and in Fig.
- the size of the through hole or the recess may be one by which the screw rod 62 can be passed loosely.
- a frame 23 mounted with the lamp unit is installed on a bracket 90, and the bracket 90 is connected to the housing 32 through a ball joint 92.
- the bracket 90 is corresponding to the rotation bracket 36 in the first embodiment, but it is different from each other that the frame 23 is fixed on the bracket 90 and the bracket 90 is freely tiltable with resepct to the housing 32.
- the bracket 90 is composed of a base wall 94, a pair of vertical walls 96a and 96b rising from both end portions of the base wall 94, and a tiltable shaft portion 98 having the receiving portion for receiving the ball portion of the ball joint 92 and formed on the rear surface of the base wall 94 integrally.
- the lamp unit and the bracket 90 are arranged such that the center of gravity G of the system including the lamp unit and the bracket 90 is located on the vertical surface perpendicular to the reflector's axis and including the line connecting the paired vertical walls 96a and 96b, and the ball joint 92 is disposed at the position on the same plane as the center gravity G or on the plane slightly apart from the above panel, and at the position toward the vertical wall 96a from the reflector's axis.
- the weight of the system including the lamp unit and the bracket 90 is supported by the ball joint 92, and by rotating the screw rod 60 forwardly or reversely, the bracket 90, i.e.
- the lamp unit is rotated with the center at the ball joint 92 around the vertical axis forwardly or reversely, on the other hand by rotating the screw rod 62 forwardly or reversely, the lamp unit can be rotated forwardly or reversely with the center at the ball joint 92 around the horizontal axis. Therefore, after fixing the housing 32 including the lamp unit on the automobile's body, an optical axis of the lamp unit can be easily adjusted and further held at the adjusted position.
- the through hole 70 for passing the screw rod 62 loosely is formed on the flange portion 24 of the reflector 12, but it may be formed at the positions as shown in Figs. 7 to 9.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
- Securing Globes, Refractors, Reflectors Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector headlight adopted as a headlight of automobiles, more particularly to an optical axis adjusting apparatus in which when a projector type headlight is mounted on the automobile's body, an optical axis of the headlight is preliminarily adjustable in the vertical and horizontal directions in order to obtain the most suitable illumination position thereof.
- In a conventional headlight, the adjustment of the optical axis has been made by the mechanism in which the reflecting surface of a reflector having a bulb and disposed within a housing is arranged tiltably with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of the reflector, or the mechnism in which a whole housing including a reflector is arranged tiltably with respect to the horizontal and vertical axes. On the other hand, it is requested for a projector type headlight to condensing the light reflected by the reflector at the focal point of a convex lens. To this end, both of the leflector and the convex lens are mounted on the same frame so as not to change the relative position therebetween. Such projector type headlight unit is received in the housing having a front lens formed with the prism for diffusing the light projected from the convex lens, therefore it is not possible to apply the conventional optical axis adjusting apparatus in which only the reflecting surface of a reflector is tilted with respect to a housing, to the projector type headlight as it is. Furthermore, the projector type headlight is compact in comparison with the conventional headlight, and it is necessary that the front portion of the housing mounted with the diffusing prism forms a portion of the automobile's body. Therefore, it is necessary that the whole lamp unit inclusing the housing is fixed on the automobile's body, so that it is not possible to apply the conventional optical axis adjusting mechanism in which the whole housing including a reflector is tilted around the horizontal and vertical axes, to the projector type headlight. The projector type headlight unit is compact in comparison with a conventional headlight but the unit is formed in a configuration elongated in the reflector's axial direction, therefore it is important that the whole lamp unit including housing is mounted on the automobile's body, and then the optical axis thereof is adjusted and the headlight is surely held at a predetermined position.
- The history of development in utilization level, of the projector type haedlight is comparatively short, therefore there is currently no optical axis adjusting apparatus having the reliability enough for mounting the optical axis adjusting apparatus on automobiles and a compact construction. Therefore, a development of the optical axis adjusting apparatus satisfying the above condition has been desired.
- The object of the present invention is to present an optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight having a compact constitution and high reliability.
- Other object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting aparatus of a projector type headlight in which the adjusting operation of the optical axis is made very easily and further it is possible to surely maintain the adjusted condition of the headlight.
- A further object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight having the constitution that no resonance of a lamp unit is caused with respect to any vibration from external.
- A further object of the present invention is to present the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight in which the size of a lamp housing is not affected by the existence of adjusting means and a minimum size of the lamp unit corresponding to the lamp unit installed in the lamp housing can be obtained.
- Other objects of the present invention will be understood with reference to the following detailed descriptions and attached drawings.
- Figs. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight of the present invention, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the projector type headlight providing the optical axis adjusting apparatus, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a headlight including the optical axis adjusting apparatus, and a part of a housing, Fig. 3 is a front view showing the projector type headlight, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV - IV in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V - V in Fig. 3, Figs. 6 to 9 are schematic views for explaining the position of the opening which may be formed in a reflector.
- Figs. 10 to 13 show a second embodiment of the optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight of the present invention, Fig. 10 is a front view of the projector type headlight, Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI - XI in Fig. 10, Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII - XII in Fig. 10, Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII - XIII in Fig. 10.
- Referring to Fig. 1 a whole
projector type headlight 10 is shown, in which areflector 12 has an inside reflectingsurface 14 and abulb 16 as a light source is installed on a reflector's axis Z - Z. Theinside reflecting surface 14 is formed in such as revolutional spheroid, thebulb 16 as a light source is disposed in such a manner that the filament of thebulb 16 is located on one focal point of the spheroid, and ashade 18 for shaping the light reflected on the inside reflectingsur face 14 and condensing the light toward the other focal point of the spheroid, is desposed in such a manner that the upper edge portion of the shade locates on the horizontal surface including the reflector's azis Z - Z. Aconvex lens 20 for projecting forwardly the pencil shaped by theshade 18 is apart from the shade by a constant distance (the focal distance of the convex lens), and theconvex lens 20 is disposed such that the center of the convex lens is lcocated on the reflector's axis Z - Z. These optical system is fixed on thesame frame 22 integrally to form a lamp unit. As shown in Fig. 2 theframe 22 is formed approximately cylindrical, and theconvex lens 20 is fixed at one end of theframe 22. The other end of theframe 22 is formed approximately rectangular as aflange portion 23 for the purpose of fixing thereflector 12 as mentioned hereinafter. Thereflector 12 is made of synthetic resin, and the opening portion is formed as an approximately rectangular in this embodiment, though it is general to form the opening portion as theflange portion 24 projected in the direction perpendicular to the reflector's axis in view of strength. There are disposed on theflange portion 24 cylindrical connectingmembers 26 projecting in the direction parallel with the reflector's axis, at the vicinity of the four corners of theflange portion 24. These connectingmembers 26 are formed integrally with thereflector 12. Theflange portion 23 of theframe 22 is connected to thereflector 12 by screwingmale screws 28 into female screws formed at the end point of the connectingmembers 26 respectively. There are formedopenings 30 for heat radiation at the periphery of thecylindrical frame 22 as shown in Fig. 2. - The lamp unit is supported by another
bracket 36 rotatably disposed with respect to thebracket 34 fixed in thehousing 32. Therotatable bracket 36 is, as shown in Fig. 3, composed of abase wall 38 approximately parallel with the horizontal plane including the horizontal axis X - X perpendicular to the reflector's axis, and a pair ofvertical walls base wall 38, thereby forming U-shaped formation as a whole. Thebracket 36 is mounted rotatably around arotation shaft 42 inserted into a hole formed on a portion of thebase wall 38 adjacent to thevertical wall 40a, namely around the axis perpendicular to the reflector's axis and further parallel with the horizontal axis X - X and the vertical axis Y - Y. Numeral 44 denotes a slide shoe formed at the rear surface of thebase wall 38 in the vicinity of thevertical wall 40b among thevertical walls slide shoe 44 is contacted with thebracket 36. Theslide shoe 44 supports a portion of the weight of the above-mentioned lamp unit and thebracket 36, and theslide shoe 44 is formed as perlforming the function to reduce the friction force between thebracket 36 and theslide shoe 44 upon rotation of thebracket 36 around therotation shaft 42. The lamp unit is installed rotatably around the horizontal axis with respect to thebracket 36. Namely, there are providedhorizontal shafts vertical walls flange portion 23 of theframe 22 are rotatably supported at thehorizontal shafts horizontal shafts horizontal shafts - There are provided means for rotating the lamp unit around the
vertical shaft 42 and thehorizontal shafts bracket 36 and thehousing 32, and between theframe 22 and thehousing 32 respectively. Its construction will be described specifically hereinafter. There are disposed two adjustingscrew rod housing 32 respectively, and the adjustingscrew rod 62 is disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, through the throughhole 70 formed on theflange portion 24 of thereflector 12. The adjusting screw rods are constructed so as not to be moved in the axial direction respectively, and the male screw portion of each adjustingscrew rods nuts flange 23 of theframe 22 and thevertical wall 40b of thebracket 36 respectively. Thenut 64 is positioned at the position apart from therotation shaft 42, and thenut 66 is positioned at the position apart upwardly from the line connecting thehorizontal shafts horizontal shafts screw rods - According to the optical axis adjusting apparatus thus constructed, by rotating the
screw rod 60 forwardly or reversely, thebracket 36 is rotated around thevertical shaft 42 with respect to thehousing 32 forwardly or reversely, in the state that the rotation position of the lamp unit around the horizontal axis is held with respect to thebracket 26, on the other hand by rotating the adjustingscrew rod 62 forwardly or reversely, the lamp unit is rotated around thehorizontal shafts bracket 36, in the state that the rotation position of thebracket 36 around the vertical shaft is held with respect to thehousing 32. Therefore, the optical axis of the lamp unit can be easily adjustable and held at the adjusted position thereof, by rotating the adjustingscrew rod housing 32 and it is fixed at the opening portion of thehousing 32 by usingadhesive 82. Numeral 84 denotes a non-transparent inner plate for blocking the light incident on thetransparent cover 80 through theopenings 30 of theframe 22 among the light emitted from theoptical source bulb 16 thereby not leaking the light. - In this embodiment, there is provided the through
hole 70 of loosely passing thescrew rod 62 on the portion of theflange 24 of thereflector 12 as shown in Fig. 6, however it may be provided at the position, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, in which the function of thereflecting surface 14 that the light emitted from thelight source bulb 16 is reflected toward the other focal point of thereflector 12, is not affected substantially. In Fig. 7, thethrough hole 72 is provided at the boundary line between theflange 24 and thereflecting surface 14, in Fig. 8 the throughhole 74 being provided at the boundary line between the reflectingsurface 14 and theflange 24, and in Fig. 9 arecess 76 being provided over theflange 24 and the reflectingsurface 14 in the vicinity of the boundary line between theflange 24 and the reflectingsurface 14. The size of the through hole or the recess may be one by which thescrew rod 62 can be passed loosely. By thus constitution, the size of the housing can be minimized in accordance with the size of the lamp unit received therein, without the influence due to the existence of thescrew rod 62, especially without increasing the dimension in the vertical direction. - Referring to Figs. 10 to 13, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, the same numeral is used therein for the same member or a similar member as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a
frame 23 mounted with the lamp unit is installed on abracket 90, and thebracket 90 is connected to thehousing 32 through aball joint 92. Thebracket 90 is corresponding to therotation bracket 36 in the first embodiment, but it is different from each other that theframe 23 is fixed on thebracket 90 and thebracket 90 is freely tiltable with resepct to thehousing 32. Thebracket 90 is composed of abase wall 94, a pair ofvertical walls base wall 94, and atiltable shaft portion 98 having the receiving portion for receiving the ball portion of theball joint 92 and formed on the rear surface of thebase wall 94 integrally. The lamp unit and thebracket 90 are arranged such that the center of gravity G of the system including the lamp unit and thebracket 90 is located on the vertical surface perpendicular to the reflector's axis and including the line connecting the pairedvertical walls ball joint 92 is disposed at the position on the same plane as the center gravity G or on the plane slightly apart from the above panel, and at the position toward thevertical wall 96a from the reflector's axis. The weight of the system including the lamp unit and thebracket 90 is supported by theball joint 92, and by rotating thescrew rod 60 forwardly or reversely, thebracket 90, i.e. the lamp unit, is rotated with the center at theball joint 92 around the vertical axis forwardly or reversely, on the other hand by rotating thescrew rod 62 forwardly or reversely, the lamp unit can be rotated forwardly or reversely with the center at theball joint 92 around the horizontal axis. Therefore, after fixing thehousing 32 including the lamp unit on the automobile's body, an optical axis of the lamp unit can be easily adjusted and further held at the adjusted position. In this em bodiment, thethrough hole 70 for passing thescrew rod 62 loosely is formed on theflange portion 24 of thereflector 12, but it may be formed at the positions as shown in Figs. 7 to 9.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2895/87U | 1987-01-14 | ||
JP289587U JPS63111703U (en) | 1987-01-14 | 1987-01-14 | |
JP22908/87U | 1987-02-20 | ||
JP2290887U JPH0346401Y2 (en) | 1987-02-20 | 1987-02-20 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0275095A2 true EP0275095A2 (en) | 1988-07-20 |
EP0275095A3 EP0275095A3 (en) | 1989-11-02 |
EP0275095B1 EP0275095B1 (en) | 1993-10-06 |
Family
ID=26336381
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88100403A Expired - Lifetime EP0275095B1 (en) | 1987-01-14 | 1988-01-13 | An optical axis adjusting apparatus of a projector type headlight |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0275095B1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE275095T1 (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0355529A2 (en) * | 1988-08-13 | 1990-02-28 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Dipped vehicle headlamp of the projector type |
FR2651857A1 (en) * | 1989-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | VEHICLE LIGHTHOUSE. |
FR2656575A1 (en) * | 1989-12-28 | 1991-07-05 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT. |
EP0590439A2 (en) * | 1992-10-01 | 1994-04-06 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for vehicles |
FR2826323A1 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2002-12-27 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen | PROJECTOR, PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE |
EP1270321A3 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2004-08-04 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for vehicle |
EP1739346A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-03 | Valeo Vision | Fog lamp with projection lens |
EP1762430A1 (en) * | 2005-09-08 | 2007-03-14 | Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for a vehicle |
ES2293844A1 (en) * | 2001-12-28 | 2008-03-16 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Structure assembly for vehicle headlamp, has lighthouse box of headlamp that supports lamp, and reflector surface and lens are also provided that covers headlamp box, and lens is formed in spherical configuration |
DE10262294B4 (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2010-11-25 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | headlights |
EP2338728A1 (en) * | 2009-12-25 | 2011-06-29 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
EP2687406A1 (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2014-01-22 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
WO2014082817A1 (en) * | 2012-11-30 | 2014-06-05 | Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. | Additional light module for a headlamp of a vehicle |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102004061484B4 (en) * | 2004-12-21 | 2010-04-08 | Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. | Holding device for a light module and assembly method |
CN102878453B (en) * | 2012-08-28 | 2014-12-24 | 中国科学院长春光学精密机械与物理研究所 | Light source mechanism capable of moving along spherical track |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2338901A (en) * | 1939-05-22 | 1944-01-11 | Chiti Aroldo | Vehicle lamp |
FR893349A (en) * | 1942-04-13 | 1944-06-06 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Headlight intended for installation in the coating of a vehicle |
FR2225690A1 (en) * | 1973-04-11 | 1974-11-08 | Cibie Projecteurs | |
GB2020410A (en) * | 1978-05-02 | 1979-11-14 | Chrysler Corp | Vehicle headlamp unit and adjustable mounting assembly |
-
1988
- 1988-01-13 DE DE198888100403T patent/DE275095T1/en active Pending
- 1988-01-13 EP EP88100403A patent/EP0275095B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-01-13 DE DE88100403T patent/DE3884631T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2338901A (en) * | 1939-05-22 | 1944-01-11 | Chiti Aroldo | Vehicle lamp |
FR893349A (en) * | 1942-04-13 | 1944-06-06 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Headlight intended for installation in the coating of a vehicle |
FR2225690A1 (en) * | 1973-04-11 | 1974-11-08 | Cibie Projecteurs | |
GB2020410A (en) * | 1978-05-02 | 1979-11-14 | Chrysler Corp | Vehicle headlamp unit and adjustable mounting assembly |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0355529A2 (en) * | 1988-08-13 | 1990-02-28 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Dipped vehicle headlamp of the projector type |
EP0355529A3 (en) * | 1988-08-13 | 1990-12-12 | Hella Kg Hueck & Co. | Dipped vehicle headlamp of the projector type |
FR2651857A1 (en) * | 1989-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | VEHICLE LIGHTHOUSE. |
FR2656575A1 (en) * | 1989-12-28 | 1991-07-05 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT. |
US5117335A (en) * | 1989-12-28 | 1992-05-26 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Headlight for vehicle |
EP0590439A2 (en) * | 1992-10-01 | 1994-04-06 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for vehicles |
EP0590439A3 (en) * | 1992-10-01 | 1994-04-20 | Hella Kg Hueck & Co | |
FR2826323A1 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2002-12-27 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen | PROJECTOR, PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE |
EP1270321A3 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2004-08-04 | Hella KG Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for vehicle |
ES2293844A1 (en) * | 2001-12-28 | 2008-03-16 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Structure assembly for vehicle headlamp, has lighthouse box of headlamp that supports lamp, and reflector surface and lens are also provided that covers headlamp box, and lens is formed in spherical configuration |
DE10262294B4 (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2010-11-25 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | headlights |
EP1739346A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-03 | Valeo Vision | Fog lamp with projection lens |
FR2887960A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-05 | Valeo Vision Sa | FOGLIGHT PROJECTOR DEVICE WITH PROJECTION LENS. |
EP1762430A1 (en) * | 2005-09-08 | 2007-03-14 | Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. | Headlamp for a vehicle |
EP2338728A1 (en) * | 2009-12-25 | 2011-06-29 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
EP2687406A1 (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2014-01-22 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
US20140022806A1 (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2014-01-23 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
US9381849B2 (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2016-07-05 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp |
WO2014082817A1 (en) * | 2012-11-30 | 2014-06-05 | Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. | Additional light module for a headlamp of a vehicle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0275095B1 (en) | 1993-10-06 |
EP0275095A3 (en) | 1989-11-02 |
DE3884631T2 (en) | 1994-01-27 |
DE3884631D1 (en) | 1993-11-11 |
DE275095T1 (en) | 1988-12-15 |
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