GB2184222A - Double dipping headlights - Google Patents

Double dipping headlights Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2184222A
GB2184222A GB08631103A GB8631103A GB2184222A GB 2184222 A GB2184222 A GB 2184222A GB 08631103 A GB08631103 A GB 08631103A GB 8631103 A GB8631103 A GB 8631103A GB 2184222 A GB2184222 A GB 2184222A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
headlights
headlight
dipping
right hand
units
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
Application number
GB08631103A
Other versions
GB8631103D0 (en
GB2184222B (en
Inventor
Paul Bowman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8631103D0 publication Critical patent/GB8631103D0/en
Publication of GB2184222A publication Critical patent/GB2184222A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2184222B publication Critical patent/GB2184222B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/05—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights retractable
    • 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
    • F21S41/62—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution for adaptation between right-hand and left-hand traffic

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

An arrangement of headlight units for vehicles includes both left hand and right hand dipping beams, main beams, and with sidelights and coloured glass if required, which eliminates the need for a temporary conversion (e.g. blanking strips) when the vehicle is driven at night on the opposite side of the road to that for which it is manufactured and reduces the number of headlight types required in stock for both left and right hand dipping for any model of vehicle. This is provided by either a composite headlight unit, which includes dipping in both directions, or a cluster of headlights, where the left and right hand dipping is produced by separate units. Either of these arrangements may be fitted into a retractable headlight unit.

Description

SPECIFICATION Double dipping headlights This invention relates to Double Dipping Headlights.
Most modern vehicles are now fitted with asymmetrical beam headlights (also known as'Z' beam) using eithertungsten or halogen H4 bulbs.
Asymmetrical beam lights are designed to improve the illumination on the driver's side of the road which is effected through the design ofthe glass and obviously differsforleft and right hand driving. The headlights are arranged to provide main beam and dip to the left where vehicles are normally driven on the left side ofthe road, or main beam and diptothe rightwhere vehicles are normally driven on the right.
Figures 7L - 7L on page 7, show various current headlight arrangements in useforvehiclesnormally driven on the left where the lighter areas include the 15 degree section of additional illumination forthe driver's side ofthe road. Unshaded unitsarefor main beam or lights.
Figures 1R - 7R on page 8, show various current headlight arrangements in useforvehicles normally driven on the right where the lighter areas include the 15 degree section of additional illumination for the driver's side of the road. Unshaded units are for main beam or lights.
Figures 8 & 9 on page 9, show the correct illumination patterns for vehicles with assymetrical beam headlights being driven at night on the side of the road for which they were manufactured.
Figures 10 & lion page 9, show the typical illumination patterns, with resulting glare to oncoming motorists and loss of nearside illumination, where one of the vehicles is being driven without blanking strips on the opposite side of the road to thatforwhich it was manufactured.
Figures 12 128e 13 on page 9, show the typical illumination patterns, with loss of illumination, where one of the veh icl es is being driven with blanking strips on the opposite side of the road to thatforwhich it was manufactured.
Modern vehicles are not, however, provided with a set of headlights on arrangement of headlights which will allow dipping to the left orto the right, as dictated by the side of the road the vehicle is being driven on, to be set by the driver.
When vehicles are driven abroad at night, and on the opposite side ofthe road to that for which they were manufactured, the headlights must either be made to dip in the opposite direction to normal, ora cover strip must be applied so that the dipped headlightwill notcauseanyglaretooncoming motorists.
Three methods of achieving this are currently available for use by motorists visiting the British Isles or by British motorists travelling abroad.
1. Areplacement bulb to make the headlight dip in the opposite direction to normal. This is not suitable for modern asymmetrical beam headlights, and can not be used for sealed beam headlights.
2. Ayellowconversion lens,idealfortheolder5 inch and 7 inch sealed beam headlights, but not suitable for modern asymmetrical beam headlights.
3. A suitable cover strip over the 15 degree section of the modern asymmetrical beam headlight. This system is nowtheonlyoneto be recommended by most vehicle manufacturers, the motoring organisations, and the car accessory manufacturers and retailers, but has the disadvantage that it seriouslyreducesthe lightoutputofboth dipped and main beam, as shown in Figures 12 and 13 on page 9.
The only conversion available for use on asymmetrical beam headlights is No. 3, which does have disadvantages and is not used at all by some motorists.
Although a headlightdesign does exist which will permit left or right hand dipping by inversion ofthe unit butwith the bulb in a normal orientation it is only possible to convert it from left to right by physical removal and inverted replacement followed by headlamp re-alignment and is therefore not considered practicable.
According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement of headlights which will permit dipping to the leftortothe rightto be set by the driver, and comprising either a composite headlight incorporating two bulbs and two reflectors underoneglass,oraclusterofheadlights,using circular ortrapezoidal headlight units, where seperate headlight units provide the left and right hand dip.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 14, on pa ge 10, shows an arrangement of double dipping headlights using circular headlight units arranged in horizontal pairs.
Figure 15, on page 10, shows an arrangement of double dipping headlights using trapezoidal headlight units arranged in vertical pairs.
Figure 16, on page 10, shows an arrangement of double dipping headlights using circular headlight units arranged in horizontal pairs.
Figure 17, on page 10, shows an arrangement of double dipping headlights using trapezoidal headlight units arranged in vertical pairs.
Figure 18, on pa ge 10, shows an arrangement of double dipping headlights using composite headlight units.
Referring to the drawings on page 10, the double dipping headlights comprise of; a clusterof headlights which include units with left hand dipping that are either circular (1 ) ortrapezoidal (3) and units with right hand dipping that are either circular (2) or trapezoidal (4) or a composite headlight (5) which includes both left and rig ht hand dipping. The glass orthe bulb may be coloured if required, as is necessary underthetraffic regulations in some countries.
All ofthe headlight arrangements in Figures 1418 on page 10, will reproduce the correct illumination patterns for driving on eitherthe left or right hand side ofthe road as shown in Figures and 9 on page 9.
An advantage of thins system is, that where the headlights are arranged in clusters current circular or trapezoidal headlight units can be used sincethey already exist to accommodate existing left or right hand driven vehicles. The composite headlight does not presentany problems as it is simply an extension of current composite headlights which include a dipping section and a main beam or long range beam.
Sidelightsare included in the outermost unit of the headlight clusters or in the outermost section ofthe composite headlight unit if required.
The complete arrangement is optionally mounted in a retractable unit.
The change-over between left hand and right hand dipping must ensure that dipping in one direction only at a time is possible and this would be effected by means of a lowcurrentchange-overswitch and a headlightrelaybutisnota part of this invention.
Main beams would optionally operate as a two beam oriDur beam unit.
Potential cost savings are also possible. In some cases, a replacement of existing headlights with a double dipping arrangementwould reducethe number of headlighttypes requiredforinitial or spares stocking. It would also eliminate the need to stockthe adhesive blanking kits, making availability of replacements much more universal.
Double dipping headlights may befitted to any type of vehicle (e.g. private motor car, motor cycle, bus, coach, goods vehicle, etc.).

Claims (6)

1. A composite headlight unit, incorporating two bulbs and two reflectors under one glass and providing both left and right hand dip and main beams.
2. A composite headlight unit, as claimed in Ciaim 1, including also sidelights.
3. A cluster ofheadlights, using either circular or trapezoidal headlight units, in which separate headlight units are used to provide the left and right hand dip and where main beams are provided by all headlight units.
4. A cluster of headlights, as claimed in Claim 3, including also sidelights.
5. A composite headlight unit, as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, housed in a retractable headlight unit.
6. A cluster of headlights, as claimed in Claims 3 and 4, housed in a retractable headlight unit.
GB8631103A 1985-12-12 1986-11-13 Double dipping headlights Expired GB2184222B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB858530673A GB8530673D0 (en) 1985-12-12 1985-12-12 Double dipping headlights

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8631103D0 GB8631103D0 (en) 1987-02-04
GB2184222A true GB2184222A (en) 1987-06-17
GB2184222B GB2184222B (en) 1989-10-11

Family

ID=10589671

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB858530673A Pending GB8530673D0 (en) 1985-12-12 1985-12-12 Double dipping headlights
GB8631103A Expired GB2184222B (en) 1985-12-12 1986-11-13 Double dipping headlights

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB858530673A Pending GB8530673D0 (en) 1985-12-12 1985-12-12 Double dipping headlights

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8530673D0 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2269228A (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-02 Bosch Gmbh Robert Fog lamp for vehicles
DE19643945A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-20 Orth Armin Dipl Ing Fh Ellipsoidal headlamp for motor vehicle
JP2007317604A (en) * 2006-05-29 2007-12-06 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Vehicular lighting fixture
FR2903946A1 (en) * 2006-07-21 2008-01-25 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Lighting system for motor vehicle, has left and right optical modules with respective light sources, which are illuminated selectively according to which vehicle is used on right or left traffic lanes
EP1748251B1 (en) * 2005-07-26 2014-05-07 Valeo Vision Lighting assembly for vehicles

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2269228A (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-02 Bosch Gmbh Robert Fog lamp for vehicles
GB2269228B (en) * 1992-07-31 1995-11-08 Bosch Gmbh Robert Fog lamp for vehicles
DE19643945A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-20 Orth Armin Dipl Ing Fh Ellipsoidal headlamp for motor vehicle
DE19643945C2 (en) * 1996-10-31 2001-04-05 Armin Orth Ellipsoidal headlights for motor vehicles
EP1748251B1 (en) * 2005-07-26 2014-05-07 Valeo Vision Lighting assembly for vehicles
JP2007317604A (en) * 2006-05-29 2007-12-06 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Vehicular lighting fixture
JP4683650B2 (en) * 2006-05-29 2011-05-18 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle lamp
FR2903946A1 (en) * 2006-07-21 2008-01-25 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Lighting system for motor vehicle, has left and right optical modules with respective light sources, which are illuminated selectively according to which vehicle is used on right or left traffic lanes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8631103D0 (en) 1987-02-04
GB2184222B (en) 1989-10-11
GB8530673D0 (en) 1986-01-22

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19921113