GB2239513A

GB2239513A - Vehicle headlight

Info

Publication number: GB2239513A
Application number: GB9026994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alberto Santamaria
Original assignee: Carello SpA
Current assignee: Carello SpA
Priority date: 1989-12-29
Filing date: 1990-12-12
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-12
Also published as: FR2656574B3; IT1237749B; DE4041676A1; FR2656574A1; GB9026994D0; ES2027178A6; GB2239513B

Abstract

A vehicle headlight comprising an outer casing mounted in a fixed position on said vehicle, a reflector housed inside said casing so as to rotate in relation to the same about at least one axis, actuating means for rotating said reflector in relation to said casing and about said axis, and means for detecting the position of said reflector in relation to said casing and about said axis, said actuating means comprising an output member designed to move in relation to said casing and connected to said reflector is characterized by the fact that said actuating means comprises one actuating device for said output member, and said detecting means comprise a mobile input member and releasable coupling means located between said output member and said input.

Description

:;-> -15 X 3 AIMABLE BEAM VEHICLE HEADLIGHT The present invention relates

to an aimable beam vehicle headlight, particularly for motor vehicles.

Motor vehicles are known to be fitted with headlights, the beam of which is adjustable at least vertically to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. For this purpose. known headlights comprise an outer casing connected integral with the vehicle and housing a headlight adjustable, in relation to the outer casing. about at least a horizontal axis and by virtue of a regulating unit.

The regulating units normally employed on known headlights of the aforementioned type comprise two distinct regulating devices: an winitial" regulating device usually comprising one or more micrometric screws located between the outer casing and reflector and which, when the headlight is assembled on the vehicle, provide for so orienting the reflector as to produce a Ostandardn direction beam, i.e. in conformance with current standards; and a uservicen regulating device for rotating the headlight about a horizontal axis, in relation to the casing, and about its "initial" position in response to either user control or a vehicle position detecting member.

Known OserviceO regulating devices usually comprise a reversible actuator mounted on the casing and having a mobile output member. displacement of which. within a given range and in relation to a zero position corresponding to the Oinitialn position of the reflector in relation to the casing, is controlled by a position detector to which it is connected.

In other words, on known headlights, the initial regulating device provides for determining an initial or zero position of the reflector, about which the reflector is rotated. in relation to the outer casing. by the service regulating device.

Though satisfactory in terms of performance. known headlights of the aforementioned type are structurally extremely complicated,, due to the presence of two distinct devices for rotating the reflector. in relation to the outer casing. about the same axis.

The obvious solution to this is of course to eliminate the initial regulating device, the function of which may be performed perfectly well by the service device. In actual practice. however, this is not possible on known headlights of the aforementioned type,, in that,, using the service regulating device,, the reflector cannot he set to the standard initial position without the position detector detecting a corresponding shift in relation to the zero position and, therefore, without a corresponding reduction. at least in one direction. of the service regulating range.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a headlight wherein, with no impairmett in performance. the same regulating device provides for both initial and in-service adjustment of the position of the reflector about a horizontal axis and in relation to the outer casing.

With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided an aimable beam vehicle headlight. particularly for motor vehicles, comprising an outer casing mounted in a fixed position on said vehicle; a reflector housed inside said casing so as to rotate in relation to the same about at least one axis; actuating means for rotating said reflector in relation to said casing and about said axis; and means for detecting the position of said reflect-or in relation to said casing and about said axis; said actuating means comprising an output member designed to move in relation to said casing and connected to said reflector; characterised by the fact that said actuating means comprise one actuating device for said output member; and said detecting means comprise a mobile input member, and releasable coupling means located between said output member and said input member.

The above _headlight therefore provides for initially setting the input member of said detecting means to a zero position; disconnecting the input and output members for initially adjusting the position of the reflector in relation to the casing, using the one actuating device provided; and. once the reflector is set to said standard initial position reconnecting the input and output members. so that only in-service adjustments involve a displacement of the input member from said zero position.

on the above headlight, said coupling means preferably comprise a friction joint or a releasable face joint.

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 shows a schematic, vertical axial section of a preferred embodiment of the headlight according to the present invention; Fig.2 shows a larger-scale. schematic view in perspective of a first embodiment of a detail in Fig.1; Fig.3 shows a larger-scale, schematic view in perspective of a second embodiment of a detail in Fig.1; Fig.4 shows a schematic view in perspective of a variation of the Fig.2 detail.

Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates a vehicle headlight comprising an outer casing 2 closed at the front by a transparent element 3 and housing a reflector 4 pivoting, in relation to casing 2, about a hinge 5 perpendicular to the Fig.1 plane and defined by two aligned spherical joints 6 (only one of which is shown - in Fig.1). one point on reflector 4. over hinge 5, is connected to the mobile output member 7 (in the example shown. an axially-mobile rod) of an electromechanical linear actuator 8 by means of a coupling shown schematically in Fig.1 as a further spherical joint 9 but which actually comprises a known articulated drive (not shown).

Actuator 8 is supported on casing 2 and designed to move rod 7 axially. which movement is transmitted by joint 9 to reflector 4 so as to rotate the same about the axis of cylindrical hinge 5.

Actuator 8 comprises an outer casing 10 integral with casing 2 and housing a reversible d.c. motor 11 (Fig-S 2, 3 and 4) for moving rod 7 axially back and forth.

According to the Fig.2 embodiment, motor 11 is integral with casing 10 and presents an output shaft 12 parallel to rod 7 and fitted on the end with a worm screw 13. On the opposite side to that connected to joint 9, rod 7 presents an end portion 14 mounted in sliding manner inside a sleeve 15 integral with casing 10. The intermediate portion of rod 7 is fitted with a rack 16 mating with the output gear 17 of a reduction device 18 supported (in a manner not shown) on casing 10 and comprising an input gear 19 mating with screw 13.

Rotation of shaft 12 in either direction therefore causes rod 7 to move axially one way or the other. and reflector 4 to swing one way or the other about the axis of hinge 5.

Actuator 8 also comprises a device 20 connected integral with casing 10 (in a manner not shown) for detecting the axial position of rod 7.

Detecting device 20 comprises a transducer 21 having an input member 22 connected to rod 7 via a drive 23 comprising a releasable joint 24. Transducer 21 may consist of any known electromechanical. electric or electronic device having limit switches defining a given range about a zero position. and designed to emit an analogue signal indicating the position of rod 7 at each instant within said range.

In the Fig.2 embodiment. transducer 21 consists of a known commercial type rotary potentiometer 25 having a known internal rotary member (not shown). and designed to emit a voltage signal as a function of the angular position of said rotary member in relation to a fixed reference and within a range having an intermediate zero position and defined by two internal limit switches (not shown) cooperating with said rotary member.

in the Fig.2 embodiment, input member 22 consists of a shaft 26 integral with said rotary member and having a lateral seat 27 for a tool (not shown). e.g. an adjustable wrench. Drive 23 comprises a shaft 28 coaxial with shaft 26 and fitted on the end with a gear 29 meshing with gear 17. Shaft 28 is supported on casing 10 in rotary manner (not shown), perpendicular to rod 7. and is connected to shaft 26 by releasable joint 24. In the example shown,, joint 24 consists of a friction joint W! 1 comprising two friction plates 31 and 32, the first integral with shaft 26. and the second integral with the opposite end of shaft 28 to that fitted with gear 29.

In actual use, the initial position of reflector 4 about the axis of hinge 5 is adjusted manually by operating motor 11 and. consequently, shifting rod 7 until reflector 4 is positioned as required. Due to the presence of drive 23, displacement of rod 7 obviously results, via joint 30 and shaft 26, in rotation of the internal member on potentiometer 25. In the event initial adjustment rotates said internal member into contact with either of its limit switches (not shown), the internal member is arrested. thus causing plate 32 to slide in relation to plate 31.

once initial adjustment is completed, the operator stops motor 11, thus locking both rod 7 and plate 32 in position via drive 23. and. using a wrench (not shown) in seat 27 on shaft 26. turns shaft 26 and plate 31 so as to set the internal rotary member on potentiometer 25 to is zero position. Subsequent operation of motor 11 therefore causes reflector 4 to swing about the axis of hinge 5 astride the initial position and within a given range. which movement is detected by potentiometer 25.

Depending on how detecting device 20 and motor 11 are connected (userclosed open loop or closed loop), detecting device 20 supplies a direct reading of the angle of reflector 4 in relation to its initial position, or.stops motor 11 when reflector 4 reaches a - a - i given position in relation to the initial one.

In the Fig.3 embodiment. whereas transducer 21 again consists of potentiometer 25. shaft 26 in Fig.2 is replaced by a shaft 33 connected to the internal rotary member of potentiometer 25 by a splined joint 34,, and extending through potentiometer 25 to define a pushbutton 35.

In the Fig.3 embodiment. joint 24 consists of a face coupling 36 comprising, instead of plates 31 and 32, two face-toothed plates 37 and 38, plate 37 being designed to move. via pushbutton 35. between a released position (Fig.2) wherein it is located a given distance from plate 38. and an engaged position wherein it engages plate 38 for rendering shafts 33 and 28 angularly integral.

On the Fig.3 detecting device 20, before making the initial adjustment, pushbutton 35 is raised to disconnect plates 37 and 38. and then rotated to set the rotary member of potentiometer 25 to the zero position. once the initial adjustment is made via motor 11, pushbutton 35 is pressed down to engage plates 37 and 38.

In the Fig.4 variation,, transducer 21 consists of a slide potentiometer 39 extending parallel to rod 7 and supported on casing 10 via bracket 40. Input member 22 of potentiometer 39 consists of a first slide 41 travelling along an opening 42 in potentiometer 39 extending parallel to rod 7; and a second slide 43 11 connected integral with slide 41 via an appendix 44 integral with the same. Finally. drive 23 substantially consists of a friction joint 45 located between rod 7 and slide 43, and defined by a hole 46 formed through slide 43 and engaged by friction by r)d 7. and by a lock screw 47 on slide 43. for locking rod 7 inside hole 46.

In actual use. initial adjustment is made after first releasing screw 47. In this way, rod 7 is displaced by motor 11, and entrains slide 43 until one end of slide 41 is arrested on one end of opening 42. thus causing frictional slide of rod 7 in relation to slide 43.

once the initial adjustment is made. slide 41 is moved by hand,, together with slide 43,, into a zero position in the center of opening 42. and screw 47 is locked for rendering rod 7, slide 43 and slide 41 integral with one another.

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Claims

1) - An aimable beam vehicle headlight (1), particularly for motor vehicles, comprising an outer casing (2) mounted in a fixed position on said vhicle; a reflector (4) housed inside said casing (2) so as to rotate in relation to the same about at least one axis (5); actuating means (8) for rotating said reflector (4) in relation to said casing (2) and about said axis (5); and means (20) for detecting the position of said reflector (4) in relation to said casing (2) and about said axis (5); said actuating means (8) comprising an output member (7) designed to move in relation to said casing (2) and connected to said reflector (4); characterised by the fact that said actuating means (8) comprise one actuating device (11) for said output member (7); and said detecting means (20) comprise a mobile input member (22), and releasable coupling means (24) located between said output member (7) and said input member (22).

2) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said coupling means (24) comprise a friction joint (30)(45).

3) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 2, characterised by the fact that said friction joint (30) comprises two frontally-contacting plates (31, 32); a first (31) of said plates being connected to said input member (22), and a second (32) of said plates being connected to said output member (7).

i 11 - 1 4) - A headlight as claimed in Claim

2. characterised by the fact that said friction joint (45) comprises a slide (43) connected in frictionally- sliding manner to said output member (7).

5) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 4, characterised by the fact that releasable locking means (47) are provided on said slide (43) for locking the same in a given position on said output member (7).

6) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said coupling means (24) comprise a releasable face joint (36).

7) - A headlight as claimed in claim 6, characterised by the fact that said face joint (36) comprises two face-toothed plates (37. 38) arranged facing each other; a first (37) of said plates being connected to said input member (22); a second (38) of said plates being connected to said output member (7); and displacing means (34, 35) being provided for mutually and axially displacing said plates (37, 38) between a position wherein said teeth engage, and a position wherein said teeth are released.

8) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 7, characterised by the fact that said displacing means (34. 35) comprise a pushbutton (35) connected to said input member (22) and designed, when operated, to move said first plate (37) to and from said second plate (38).

9) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said detecting means (20) comprise an 1 electromechanical transducer (25)(39) connected to said input member (22).

10) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 9, characterised by the fact that said transducer is a rotary potentiometer (25); said input member.(22) consisting of a rotary shaft (26)(33).

11) - A headlight as claimed in Claim 9, characterised by the fact that said transducer is a slide potentiometer (39); said input member (22) consisting of a slide (43).

12) - An aimable beam vehicle headlight. substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office. State House, 66171 Hgh Holborn. London WC1R 47P. Further copies may be obtained from uer Sales Branch, Unit 6. Nine Mile PbinL Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys, Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniq. td. St Mary Cray. Kent.