GB2192052A

GB2192052A - Light focus driving lights for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2192052A
Application number: GB08715320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Haruo Maruyama; Hiroshi Hara
Original assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-30
Filing date: 1987-06-30
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-30
Also published as: DE3721630C2; GB8715320D0; JPS636602U; DE3721630A1; GB2192052B

Description

1 GB2192052A 1

SPECIFICATION reflector 1 is spot-welded to the reflector 1.

A supporting portion 4b having an L-shaped Ughtening device for use with vehicles section extends inward from the small-dia meter end of the bracket 4 in the radial direc BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 70 tion thereof, and a guide cylinder 5 which is

Field of the Invention: arranged along the axial direction of the hole

The present invention relates to a lightening 3 is fitted into the supporting portion 4b at an device for use with vehicles and, more partiend thereof opposite to the inner face of the culafly, it relates to a lightening device such reflector 1 and fixed there by the spot weld- as the main front headlights for automobiles 75 ing or the like. Numeral 6 represents a rod-like and the auxiliary front lightening device like support passed through the guide cylinder 5 the fog lamps attached, as the accessories, to to freely move only in the axial direction of the automobiles. the cylinder 5, and the bulb 2 is attached to Prior Art: that end of the support 6 which is nearer to

In the case of the conventional main front 80 the inner face of the reflector 1. Numeral 6a headlight for vehicles, driving and passing denotes a guide groove provided in the sup beams were created by two filaments or the port 6 in the axial direction thereof. A protru like. However, the two filaments must be sion 5a of the guide cylinder 5 is fitted into housed in a bulb in this case, thereby causing the guide groove 6a and a rack 7 is formed the bulb and its base to become large in size. 85 on the outer circumference of the support 6 in Further, the effective reflecting area for the the axial direction thereof. A pinion 8 is en reflector was reduced, thereby causing the gaged with the rack 7 through a window 5b, amount of lightening into the front of the au- which is formed in the guide cylinder 5, corre tomobile to be reduced, too. sponding to the rack 7. The pinion 8 is at- In the case of the fog lamp used as the 90 tached to the output shaft of a driving motor auxiliary front lightening device, the bulb hav- 10. The driving motor 10 is attached to a ing a filament and the reflector are usually motor-attaching portion 9, which extends from fixed at certain positions and the area which one side of the cut-away portion of the is irradiated by the lamp is thus left certain. In bracket 4, by means of screws or the like.

the case of our driving the automobile in the 95 When the bulb 2 is positioned apart from fog, however, we sometimes want to see the focus of the reflector 1, as shown by a deep into the front or recognize the side solid line in Fig. 1, the light emitted from the widely. The fog lamps are therefore grouped bulb 2 is reflected by the reflecting face of to the light-focusing and -diffusing types. The the reflector 1 and irradiated in diffused state, driver selects one or both of them to be at- 100 as shown by an arrow P in Fig. 1. When the tached to his automobile, depending upon his driving motor 10 is operated to further project need. When one of them is attached, how- the support 6 from the inner face of the ever, he feels inconvenient according to cir- reflector 1 through the pinion 8 and the rack cumstances while driving his automobile, and 7 and position the bulb 2 near the focus of when both of them are selected, it is substan- 105 the reflector 1, as shown by a two-dot and tially expensive. dash line in Fig. 1, the light emitted from the To solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, bulb 2 is reflected by the reflector 1 and irra there have been proposed some lightening de- diated in focus state, as shown by an arrow vices wherein the area which is irradiated by Q in Fig. 1.

the light can be optionally changed by the 110 When the driving motor 10 is rotated in bulb having a filament. forward and reverse directions to move the One of them is shown in Figs. 1 through 4. support 6 like this, the conventional lightening The lightening device for use with vehicles device can be freely swtiched over from the shown in Figs. 1 through 4 is a fog lamp light-diffusing type to the light-focusing type comprising a single bulb having a filament and 115 and vice versa.

designed to be used as the light-focusing type In the case of the conventional lightening for focusing the light deep into the front and device shown in Figs. 1 through 4, however, also as the light-diffusing type for distributing a means for detecting the position of the sup the light sideward. port 6 is not prepared. It is therefore neces In Figs. 1 through 4, numeral 1 represents a 120 sary for the driver to select whether the mo parabolic reflector provided with a hole 3 in tor 10 should be rotated in forward or reverse the center thereof, into which a bulb 2 having direction and then switch on the motor 10, a filament 2A is inserted. A top-chopped coni- thereby causing the operation of the lightening cal bracket 4, a part of which is cut away in device to be troublesome to disturb the driv- the peripheral direction thereof, is fixed around 125 ing operation of the automobile. Further, the the hole 3 on the outer face of the reflector 1 support 6 has been already reached the de opposite to the inner reflecting face thereof. sired position but the power source is kept More specifically, an attaching portion 4a switched on without noticing it to thereby which extends from the large-diameter end of burn the driving motor 10 or unnecessary load the bracket 4 along the outer face of the 130 is applied between the pinion 8 and the rack 2 GB2192052A 2 7 to thereby break them. Furthermore, when the bulb in the conventional lightening device the limit position of the moving support 6 is for vehicles.

shifted by some error in the course of manu- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along a facturing and assembling the lightening device, line IV-IV in Fig. 2 and showing the means it cannot be easily adjusted after the lightening 70 for adjusting the position of the bulb in the device is assembled. conventional lightening device for vehicles.

Figure 5 is a vertically-sectioned view show SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ing an example of the lightening device for

The present invention is therefore intended vehicles according to the present invention.

to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks 75 Figure 6 is a back side view taken when a and a first object of the present invention is means for adjusting the position of a bulb in to provide a lightening device for vehicles en- the lightening device for vehicles shown in abling the driver to correctly move the bulb Fig. 5 is viewed in the direction of an arrow without selecting whether the driving motor VI in Fig. 5.

should be rotated in forward or reverse direc- 80 Figure 7 shows an example of the control tion. circuit which is applied to the lightening device A second object of the present invention is for vehicles shown in Fig. 1.

to provide a lightening device for vehicles wherein when the bulb reaches the predeter- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED mined position in the course of moving the 85 EMBODIMENT bulb, current supply to the driving motor is An example of the lightening device for automatically stopped. vehicles according to the present invention will These objects of the present invention can be described with reference to the accom be achieved by a lightening device for vehicles panying drawings.

comprising a support for holding a bulb and 90 Fig. 5 is a verticallysectioned view showing arranged movable in a hole in the center of a a lightening device for vehicles according to reflector in the axial direction thereof, a means the present invention.

for driving the support, and a control circuit In Fig. 5, the lightening device 11 for means for detecting the position of the sup- vehicles includes a housing 12, a lens 13 at- port moved and controlling current supply to 95 tached to cover the front opening of the hous the driving means as well as the direction of ing 12, a reflector 14 arranged in the housing the driving means rotated. 12, and a means 20 fixed to the back side of According to the lightening device for the reflector 14 to hold a bulb 15 and adjust vehicles of the present invention as described the position of the bulb 15.

above, the position of the support moved is 100 The bulb 15 is attached to a socket 16.

detected and current supply to the driving The socket 16 is provided with engaging pro means for moving the support is controlled. trusions 161), which are positioned on a collar The direction of the driving means rotated is 16A on the outer circumference of the socket controlled as well. When switching operation 16 with an angle of 180' interposed between is finished, therefore, all of the operations fol- 105 them. A cylindrical body 16B is projected lowed can be automatically carried out. It is from the back side of the collar 16A and plu therefore unnecessary for the driver to select ral terminals 16C are projected from an end the direction of the driving means rotated and face of the cylindrical body 1613.

pay attention to the time of current supply. He The reflector 14 is provided with a hole in can switch over the lightening device by just 110 the center of its curved bottom and a sub one touch operation. Since the switching-over stantially hollow cylindrical bracket 17 is fixed operation of the lightening device is easily car- to the hole by spot welding. The bracket 17 ried out like this, the driver can concentrate is provided with slots 17A at its portion himself to the driving operation of his automowhich extends backward from the reflector bile, thereby enhancing safety. 115 14, and the slots 17A are formed along the The present invention will be described in axial direction of the bracket 17 with an angle more detail with reference to the accompany- of 180' interposed between them. The engag ing drawings. ing protrusions 16D on the collar 16A of the socket 16 are slidably engaged with the slots BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 120 17A. The socket 16 is therefore slidably

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing an guided by the slots 17A to move the axial example of the conventional lightening device direction thereof along with the bulb 15 in the for vehicles. reflector 14.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along a A bracket 19 is fixed to the back side of line 11-11 in Fig. 1 and showing the construc- 125 the reflector 14 by means of screws 18 and a tion of a bulb support in the conventional cylindrical portion 19A is projected from the lightening device for vehicles. back side of the bracket 19.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along a A means 20 for adjusting the position of line III-III in Fig. 2 and showing the construc- the bulb includes a case 2 1, a cap 22, a tion of a means for adjusting the position of 130 support 23, a male screw 24, a speed redu- 3 GB2192052A 3 cer 25, a driving motor 26, a holder member 28 and 29 have detector elements 28A and 27 for holding the speed reducer 25 and the 29A on their sides opposite to each other and driving motor 26, and a pair of limit switches the position determining screw 38 is posi 28 and 29. tioned between them. When the position de The case 21 has a flange 21 A at one end 70 termining screw 38 is moved along with the thereof, which is fitted into the cylindrical por- support 23 and the support 23 reaches the tion 19A of the bracket 19 and then fixed front or rear end, the limit switch 28A or 29A there by means of screws 30. A hollow cylin- is pushed by the position determining screw drical body 32 is formed on the back side of 38 and the circuit in the limit switch 28 or 29 the flange 21 A and the rear opening of the 75 is thus operated to detect the position of the body 32 is closed by the cap 22. The body support moved.

32 in the case 21 is provided with an inner Fig. 7 shows a control circuit for controlling wall 33 for holding the hollow cylindrical sup- the bulb position adjusting means which is ar port 23 slidable and also with an inner wall ranged as described above. Numerals 28 and 34 to which the holder member 27 is fixed. A 80 29 in Fig. 7 represent the limit switches guide projection 35 is formed on the top of shown in Fig. 5 and these limit switches 28 the inner wall 33 along the axial direction and 29 are usually kept switched on. -SW1 thereof, while a guide slit 36 is formed in the denotes a manual changeover switch which is underside of the inner wall 33 and also along switched on a side of a-c when the driver the axial direction thereof. 85 wants the support 23 to move forward and A long groove 37 is formed on the outer which is switched on a side of a- b when he circumference of the support 23, which is sli- wants the support 23 to move backward. RE1 dably arranged in the inner wall 33 of the denotes a relay connected in series to the case 21, along the axial direction thereof, cor- limit switch 28 and operation-connected to a responding to the guide projection 35 on the 90 switch SW3. The SW3 is changed over to an inner wall 33, while a position determining a-c connection when the relay RE1 which is screw 38 is screwed into the outer circumfer- usually connected to a side of c-b becomes ence of the support 23 at that position excited. RE2 represents a relay connected in thereof which corresponds to the guide slit series to the limit switch 29 and operation 36, passing through the guide slit 36 from 95 connected to a switch SW4. The switch SW4 outside the body 32. A female screw 39 is is changed over to an a-c connection when formed on a rear portion of the inner circum- the relay RE2 which is usually connected to a ference of the support 23 while the cylindrical side of c-b becomes excited. Numeral 26 de body 16B of the socket 16 is fixedly fitted notes the driving motor shown in Fig. 5, SW2 onto a front portion of the inner circumference 100 a power source switch associated with a front of the support 23. Connectors (not shown) headlight switch, and 46 a power source.

are previously attached to the terminals 16C The control circuit having the above-de of the socket 16 in the support 23 and lead scribed arrangement will be described with lines of these connectors are introduced out- reference to the embodiment of the present side, passing through a slit 41 in the support 105 invention shown in Fig. 5. When the bulb is 23 and another slit 40 in the body 32. positioned as shown by a broken line in Fig.

The holder member 27 is fixed to the body 5, the driving beam can be created. In other 32 by means of screws 42 and the driving words, the bulb is at the position of focus for motor 26 and the speed reducer 25 integral creating the driving beam. On the other hand, to each other are fixed onto the holder mem- 110 a solid line in Fig. 5 shows that the support ber 27. The male screw 24 which is engaged 23 is positioned at front end, that the bulb 15 with the female screw 39 of the support 23 is apart from the focus of the reflector 14, is fixed to an output shaft 45 of the speed and that the light emitted from the bulb 15 is reducer 25 which is connected to the output reflected by the reflector 14 in the direction of shaft (not shown) of the driving motor 26 to 115 an arrow B and thus diffused. The detector reduce the rotation of the driving motor 26. element 29A of the limit switch 29 is urged When the driving motor 26 is rotated, there- by the position determining screw 38 under fore, the male screw 24 is rotated through the this state and the limit switch 29 is thus speed reducer 25 to move the support 23 in turned off while the limit switch 28 is turned the axial direction through the female screw 120 on.

39. The support 23 is not rotated but linearly When the driver connects the manual switch moved because the long groove 37 of the SW1 to the side of a-b this time to focus the support 23 is engaged with the guide projeclight emitted from the bulb 15, the relay RE1 tion 35 of the body 32. The moving direction is excited and the switch SW3 is connected of the support 23 is determined by the rotat- 125 to the side of a a-c. Therefore, current flows ing direction of the driving motor 26. from the power source 46, passing through The limit switches 28 and 29 are fixed onto the switch SW2, switch SW3 (a- c), driving a base plate 44 which is attached to a pair of motor 26 and switch SW4 (c- b). The driving side walls 43 extending downward from the motor 26 is thus rotated forward to move the body 32 of the case 21. The limit switches 130 support 23 backward. This causes the limit 4 GB2192052A 4 switch 29 to be returned to off-state again. able in the axial direction thereof; a bulb held When the support 23 reaches the rear end, at the front end portion of the support; a the position determining screw 38 pushes the driving means for moving the support forward detector element 28A of the limit switch 28, and backward in the axial direction; and a thereby causing the limit switch 28 to be 70 means for detecting the position of the moved turned off. This makes the relay RE1 not ex- support to control the operation of the driving cited and the switch SW3 is again connected means.

to the side of b-c. Current supply to the driv- 2. A lightening device for vehicles accord ing motor 26 is therefore automatically ing to claim 1 wherein the operation control stopped. As shown by the broken line in Fig. 75 means controls, the current supplied to the 5, the bulb 15 is positioned at the focus of driving means as well as the rotating direction the reflector 14 and the light emitted from the of the driving means.

bulb 15 is reflected by the reflecting face of 3. A lightening device for vehicles accord the reflector 14 and focused as shown by an ing to claim 1 wherein the driving means is a arrow A. 80 motor and the output shaft of this motor is When the driver connects the manual switch operation-connected to the support by means SW1 to the side of a-c, the lightening device of a screw mechanism.

can be changed from its light-focusing state to 4. A lightening device for vehicles accord the light-diffusing state, again. Since the limit ing to claim 1 wherein the position of the switch 29 is under on-state, the relay RE2 is 85 support moved is detected by a position de excited and the switch SW4 is changed over termining member attached to the support and to the side of a-c. by a switch mechanism which is turned on Therefore, current flows from the power and off by the position determining member.

source 46, passing through the switch SW2, Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office switch SW4 (a-c), driving motor 26 and by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987.

switch SW3 (c-b). The driving motor 26 is Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, thus rotated in the reverse direction to move London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.

the support 23 forward. This causes the limit switch 28 to be returned to on-state again.

When the support 23 reaches the front end, the position determining screw 38 pushes the detector element 29A of the limit switch 29, thereby causing the limit switch 29 to be turned off. This makes the relay RE2 not excited and the switch SW4 is returned to the connection (b-c). Therefore, current supply to the driving motor 26 is automatically stopped and the light-diffusing state is again created.

As described above, any of the desired light-distributing states can be automatically created only by connecting the manual switch SW1 to the side of (a-b) or (a-c). In addition, current supply to the driving motor 26 can be automatically stopped.

When the position of the stopped support 23 is to be closely adjusted in the course adjusted in the course of assembly, it can be easily achieved by closely adjusting the position of the limit switches 28 and 29 arranged.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications are made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lightening device for vehicles compris- ing a housing provided with an opening at the front thereof and having a lens attached to the opening; a reflector arranged in the housing and having a reflecting face and a hole formed in the center of the reflecting face; a support arranged in the hole in the reflector and mov-