GB1571225A

GB1571225A - Apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headights

Info

Publication number: GB1571225A
Application number: GB3777777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1976-09-17
Filing date: 1977-09-09
Publication date: 1980-07-09
Also published as: DK412177A; DE2641877C2; FR2365115A1; FR2365115B1; DE2641877A1; IT1113616B

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE ALIGNMENT OF VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS (71) We, ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, a German company of Postfach 50, 7000 Stuttgart 1, Germany., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights.

Apparatus for this purpose is known which comprises a movable base portion and a vertical column rotatably mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, the column carrying an optical system carrier which is adjustable in height on the column, but is not rotatable with respect thereto. This known apparatus comprises a foot-actuated locking lever mounted on the base portion which, in the locking position, serves to secure the column against rotation with respect to the base portion. In order to align the apparatus correctly with the vehicle to be tested, the operator, standing behind the apparatus (with respect to the vehicle), has to move the locking lever to the released position with one of his feet, rotate the column, and with it the optical system carrier, to the correct alignment by hand, and then actuate the locking lever by foot to the locking position.

This adjustment is made more difficult in that, in so doing, the operator must line up a reference line on two reference points on the vehicle through an optical alignment device on the apparatus. Thus, the operator must devote his attention to operations which are undertaken at locations spatially remote from one another; with his foot near the floor, with his hands at the level of the headlights and with his eyes at eye level.

This division of attention makes the obtaining of the required alignment difficult and relatively time consuming.

We have now developed an improved apparatus of this kind which is ergonmically designed to facilitate the obtaining of the correct alignment. The alignment may be carried out more simply, more quickly and more accurately since continuous rotation of the optical system carrier is possible without the necessity for any foot operation so that the operator can concentrate on the hand actuation which, in a preferred embodiment, lies within the field of vision of the operator whilst using the optical alignment device.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights, which comprises a chassis comprising a movable base portion, a vertical column mounted thereon for angular displacement about a vertical axis, but normally restrained against such displacement, the column having mounted thereon an optical system carrier which is adjustable in height on the column but is non-rotatable wth respect thereto, and a manual control member movably mounted on the column and operable to effect stepless angular adjustment of the column with respect to the base portion, against the action of the normal restraint.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises an optical alignment device, which device comprises an arm which is pivotally mounted at the upper end of the column, the arm carrying a mirror provided on its surface with a reference line which extends transversely with respect to the optical axis of the optical system, the mirror being pivotally mounted on the arm for rotation about an axis coincident with or parallel to the reference line. This optical alignment device is more fully described and claimed in our Application 37955/77. (Serial No. 1 571 226).

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights and of the vehicle being tested, and Figure Z is a longitudinal section through part of the adjusting device of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows an aligning apparatus for vehicle headlights 10 comprising a chassis 11 which consists of a base portion 12 adapted to travel on rails and a vertical column 13 thereon mounted for angular displacement about a vertical axis. An optical system carrier 14 is mounted on the column 13 and is adjustable in height, but is secured against rotation thereon. A mirror 17 provided with a reference line 18 is pivotally mounted at the upper end 15 of the column 13 by means of a pivotably mounted arm 16, the mirror 17 being rotatable with respect to the arm 16 about an axis coincident with or parallel to the reference line 18. In each position of the mirror 17, the reference line 18 extends transversely with respect to the optical axis of the optical system continued in the carrier 14.A rotary knob 20 is provided at the upper end 15 of the column 13 as a part of a manual control device 19, the axis of tE knob extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column 13. As Figure 2 shows in more detail, the rotary knob 20 is connected, through a hollow shaft 21, to a drive 22 which is arranged at the base end 23 of the column 13. At that point, the column 13 is pivotally mounted by means of two metal plates 24, 25, on a pin 26 fixed in the base portion 12. A cylinder 28 is rotatably mounted in a bore 27 in the lower metal plate 24 and is connected by a pin 29 for rotation with the co-axially arranged hollow shaft 21. The cylinder 28 is laterally spaced from the pin 26 and is supported on its under side 30 by a wall 31 of the base portion 12 which is provided with a slot 32.A bolt 33 provided with a bush 34, which passes through the slot 32, positions of the cylinder 28 relative to the base portion 12. A belleville spring 35 together with washers 36 serves to maintain the cylinder 28 in place.

The parts of the drive 22 can be easily assembled.

The method of aligning the apparatus 10 will now be described: the apparatus 10 is wheeled on rails in front of the headlight of a vehicle and the optical system carrier 14 is aligned at the horizontal level of the headlight. For fine adjustment of the optical axis of the optical system with respect to the vehicle, the operator, standing behind the apparatus (with respect to the vehicle), moves the mirror 17 with one hand into such a position that he can see reflected therein two reference points on the upper part of the body of the vehicle. The mirror 17 may be so adjusted that one of the reference points coincides with the reference line 18.

By subsequent actuation of the rotary knob 20 with the other hand, the column 13 is then angularly adjusted, together with the optical system carrier 14, about a vertical axis into such a position that both reference points coincide with the reference line 18.

The optical system 14 is then correctly aligned with respect to the vehicle. By actuating the rotary knob 20, the cylinder 28 is rotated in the bore 27 by the hollow shaft 21, the bolt 33 only being able to move to and fro in the slot 32. Due to the eccentric position of the bolt 33 on the cylinder 28, the latter performs a movement over a circular path about the pin 26. The column 13 can thus be adjusted accurately and continuously within a required angular region. The friction in the drive 22 makes it self-retaining so that the column 13 is not rotated unless torque is applied to the rotary knob 20. The rotation of the column 13 can therefore be carried out with a small expenditure of force and in a desirabIe manner.It is of particular advantage that all the activities of the operator during alignment of the apparatus 10 are substantially restricted to a small space which enables alignment to be effected rapidly and accurately. The parts which the operator has to actuate by hand can also be easily reached.

Modifications may, of course, be made in the above-described embodiment. Thus, for example, instead of the simple mirror shown, a relatively more expensive strip-light projector can be used for the alignment of the apparatus. The adjusting device can also be provided with other forms of drive. Also, the base portion may be freely movable instead of being on rails.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS : - 1. Apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights, which comprises a chassis comprising a movable base portion, a vertical column mounted thereon for angular displacement about a vertical axis, but normally restrained against such displacement the column having mounted thereon an optical system carrier which is adjustable in height on the column but is non-rotatable with respect thereto, and a manual control member movably mounted on the column and operable to effect stepless angular adjustment of the column with respect to the base portion, against the action of the normal restraint.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the manual control member is connected to a drive which comprises a pin, about which the column is rotatably mounted, fixed to the base portion and a cylinder laterally

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Application 37955/77. (Serial No. 1 571 226). In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights and of the vehicle being tested, and Figure Z is a longitudinal section through part of the adjusting device of the apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 1 shows an aligning apparatus for vehicle headlights 10 comprising a chassis 11 which consists of a base portion 12 adapted to travel on rails and a vertical column 13 thereon mounted for angular displacement about a vertical axis. An optical system carrier 14 is mounted on the column 13 and is adjustable in height, but is secured against rotation thereon. A mirror 17 provided with a reference line 18 is pivotally mounted at the upper end 15 of the column 13 by means of a pivotably mounted arm 16, the mirror 17 being rotatable with respect to the arm 16 about an axis coincident with or parallel to the reference line 18. In each position of the mirror 17, the reference line 18 extends transversely with respect to the optical axis of the optical system continued in the carrier 14.A rotary knob 20 is provided at the upper end 15 of the column 13 as a part of a manual control device 19, the axis of tE knob extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column 13. As Figure 2 shows in more detail, the rotary knob 20 is connected, through a hollow shaft 21, to a drive 22 which is arranged at the base end 23 of the column 13. At that point, the column 13 is pivotally mounted by means of two metal plates 24, 25, on a pin 26 fixed in the base portion 12. A cylinder 28 is rotatably mounted in a bore 27 in the lower metal plate 24 and is connected by a pin 29 for rotation with the co-axially arranged hollow shaft 21. The cylinder 28 is laterally spaced from the pin 26 and is supported on its under side 30 by a wall 31 of the base portion 12 which is provided with a slot 32.A bolt 33 provided with a bush 34, which passes through the slot 32, positions of the cylinder 28 relative to the base portion 12. A belleville spring 35 together with washers 36 serves to maintain the cylinder 28 in place. The parts of the drive 22 can be easily assembled. The method of aligning the apparatus 10 will now be described: the apparatus 10 is wheeled on rails in front of the headlight of a vehicle and the optical system carrier 14 is aligned at the horizontal level of the headlight. For fine adjustment of the optical axis of the optical system with respect to the vehicle, the operator, standing behind the apparatus (with respect to the vehicle), moves the mirror 17 with one hand into such a position that he can see reflected therein two reference points on the upper part of the body of the vehicle. The mirror 17 may be so adjusted that one of the reference points coincides with the reference line 18. By subsequent actuation of the rotary knob 20 with the other hand, the column 13 is then angularly adjusted, together with the optical system carrier 14, about a vertical axis into such a position that both reference points coincide with the reference line 18. The optical system 14 is then correctly aligned with respect to the vehicle. By actuating the rotary knob 20, the cylinder 28 is rotated in the bore 27 by the hollow shaft 21, the bolt 33 only being able to move to and fro in the slot 32. Due to the eccentric position of the bolt 33 on the cylinder 28, the latter performs a movement over a circular path about the pin 26. The column 13 can thus be adjusted accurately and continuously within a required angular region. The friction in the drive 22 makes it self-retaining so that the column 13 is not rotated unless torque is applied to the rotary knob 20. The rotation of the column 13 can therefore be carried out with a small expenditure of force and in a desirabIe manner.It is of particular advantage that all the activities of the operator during alignment of the apparatus 10 are substantially restricted to a small space which enables alignment to be effected rapidly and accurately. The parts which the operator has to actuate by hand can also be easily reached. Modifications may, of course, be made in the above-described embodiment. Thus, for example, instead of the simple mirror shown, a relatively more expensive strip-light projector can be used for the alignment of the apparatus. The adjusting device can also be provided with other forms of drive. Also, the base portion may be freely movable instead of being on rails. WHAT WE CLAIM IS : -

1. Apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights, which comprises a chassis comprising a movable base portion, a vertical column mounted thereon for angular displacement about a vertical axis, but normally restrained against such displacement the column having mounted thereon an optical system carrier which is adjustable in height on the column but is non-rotatable with respect thereto, and a manual control member movably mounted on the column and operable to effect stepless angular adjustment of the column with respect to the base portion, against the action of the normal restraint.

spaced with respect to the pin and rotatably mounted in a bore fixedly connected to the column, the axis of the cylinder extending parallel to the pin and the cylinder being operatively connected to the manual control member by a shaft which is coaxially connected to one end of the cylinder, the other end of the cylinder being provided with an eccentrically positioned bolt which is guided in a slot provided in the base portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the drive is arranged substantially inside the column.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, in which the manual control member is positioned at the upper end of the column.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the manual control member is positioned substantially at the shoulder height of an operator standing on the ground.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the longitudinal axis of the column and the axis of the manual control member extend parallel to one another.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, which also comprises an arm which is pivotally mounted at the upper end of the column, the arm carrying a mirror provided on its surface with a reference line which extends transversely with respect to the optical axis of the optical system, the mirror being pivotally mounted on the arm for rotation about an axis coincident with or parallel to the reference line.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the dimensions of the arm are such that the mirror can be reached and adjusted by an operator standing on the ground.

9. Apparatus for testing the alignment of vehicle headlights, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.