GB2289120A

GB2289120A - Levelling device for a vehicle head-light's reflector

Info

Publication number: GB2289120A
Application number: GB9414830A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hirohisa Deguchi
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-08-10
Filing date: 1994-07-22
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-22
Also published as: GB9414830D0; DE4428173A1; GB2289120B; DE4428173B4

Description

1 MOUNTING STRUCTURE OP A LEVELMING DEVICE 2289120 The present invention

relates to a vehicle lamp having a levelling device for changing an illuminating angle of a headlamp and a structure for mounting the levelling device on a stationary member (for example, a lamp body in the case of a movable reflector type headlamp, and a vehicle body in the case of a movable unit type headlamp).

In a movable reflector type headlamp in which the reflector is tiltably supported with respect to the lamp body. a casing of the levelling device is mounted on the lamp body, and an end of an adjusting screw protruding from the casing connects to part of the reflector which can be caused to tilt by movement of the adjusting screw.

Figs. 1 and 2 show one example of the conventional mounting structure of the levelling device by which the levelling device is mounted on the headlamp.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a headlamp a is provided with a lamp body 12 having a front opening, a reflector c which is supported by the lamp body b in a tiltable condition, and a levelling device d for tilting the reflector g. The reflector g is supported at three fulcrums with respect to the lamp body b. The aforementioned levelling device d is installed at one of the fulcrums.

The levelling device d includes a box-shaped casing g, a drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) accommodated in the casing g, and an adjusting screw f protruding from the casing jg, wherein the adjusting screw f is moved by the drive mechanism in the longitudinal direction.

The adjusting screw f of the levelling device d is inserted into the lamp body 12 through an insertion hole _q formed in a lower portion on the rear surface of the lamp body 12. The casing e is screwed onto the rear surf ace of the lamp body 12 by three screws h. The adjusting screw f is inserted into the lamp body b, and a f ore end of the adjusting screw f is connected with the reflector c.

2 When the adjusting screw 1 is moved in the longitudinal direction by the drive mechanism,, the reflector p_ connected to the end of the adjusting screw f moves in the longitudinal direction, so that the angle of tilt of the reflector c is varied. As a result of the foregoing operation, the illuminating angle of the headlamp is changed.

In the conventional mounting structure described above,, the levelling device is mounted on the lamp body by three screws. In other words, the conventional levelling device requires three screws which must be fastened in order to mount the levelling device on the lamp body.

Accordingly. in the case where the levelling device is mounted on the lamp body, the number of parts is increased, is and the assembly time is high. Further, the manufacturing cost is high.

According to the present invention, a vehicle lamp comprising a tilting member which is tiltable to adjust the angle of the beam emitted from the lamp; and a levelling device fixed to a stationary member which is stationary with respect to the tilting member and comprising an adjusting screw connected to the tilting member so that the movement of the adjusting screw causes a corresponding movement of the tiltable member, a drive mechanism for driving the adjusting screw; wherein a holder is provided on one of the stationary member and the casing of the levelling device. through which holder the adjusting screw projects and is supported. an engaging member is provided in the other of the casing and the stationary member with which engaging member the holder engages, a locking protrusion is provided in one of the holder and engaging member, and a complementary member with which the locking protrusion engages is provided in the other of the holder and engaging member; whereby when the holder is inserted into the engaging member and the. casing is rotated with respect to the stationary member, the locking protrusion 3 and the complementary member engage to secure the casing to the stationary member.

Therefore, no extra parts are required for mounting the casing, so that the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional mounting structure.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear view showing an example of the vehicle lamp of a conventional levelling device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view showing an example of part of a vehicle lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention in a condition in which the levelling device is mounted on the stationary member; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the primary portion showing a condition before the levelling device is mounted on the stationary member; Fig. 6 is a rear view showing the engaging member of the stationary member; Fig. 7 is a front view of the levelling device; and Fig. 8 is a front view of the levelling device showing a condition where the cylindrical holder of the levelling device is inserted into the engaging member of the stationary member.

Fig. 4 shows a levelling device mounting structure including a headlamp 1, a lamp body 2, a reflector 3 supported by the lamp body 2 in such a manner that the reflector 3 can be freely tilted in the vertical direction, and an outer lens 4 covering the front opening of the lamp body 2. The reflector 3 is supported at three fulcrums with respect to the lamp body 2, and the levelling device 5 is provided at one of the fulcrums.

In this example, the headlamp employed is a movable reflector type, in which the reflector 3 acts as a tilting member to change illumination angle, and the lamp body 2 4 acts as a stationary member to which the levelling device 5 is fixed. However, the present invention may also be applied to a movable unit type headlamp in which the reflector and light source are disposed in a space formed between the lamp body and the front lens,, and the lamp unit itself is supported in to be tiltable with respect to the vehicle body. In this case,, the lamp unit is a tiltable member and the vehicle body is a stationary member.

The levelling device 5 is provided with a box-shaped casing 6, a drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) accommodated in the casing 6, and an adjusting screw 7 protruding from the casing 6. The adjusting screw 7 is moved in the longitudinal direction by the drive mechanism.

Although not shown in the drawings, the casing 6 is composed of two pieces, a front Casing and a rear casing. The casing 6 is integrated into one body when the front and the rear casings are joined.

An insertion hole 8,, through which the adjusting screw 7 protrudes forward from the casing 6, is formed through the front of the casing 6, below the centre of the casing. Further, a cylindrical holder 9 is integrally formed with the casing and protrudes from the periphery of the insertion hole 8.

Three engaging protrusions 10 protrude outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical holder 9 at regular intervals. The fronts of these engaging protrusions 10 are formed as inclined surfaces 10a. The rear surfaces of these engaging protrusions 10, that is, the surfaces facing the front of the casing 6 are formed as flat surfaces 10b, substantially perpendicular to the shaft of the cylindrical holder 9. A gap is formed between these f lat surfaces 10b and the casing 6. Two of the three engaging protrusion 10 are substantially formed as a trapezoid when viewed along the axial direction of the cylindrical holder 9, and the other one of the three engaging protrusions 10 is substantially rectangular.

The mounting structure further includes a stud 11 protruding from the front of the casing 6 above the cylindrical holder 9 towards the upper end of the casing 6. The stud 11 is formed as a small column, with a tapered end 11a. An insertion hole 12 is formed in a lower part of the back of the lamp body 2. A ring-shaped engaging member 13 protruding forwardly and backwardly of the lamp body 2 is integrally formed at the periphery of the insertion hole 12. The amount of backward protrusion is somewhat greater than that of the forward protrusion. The inner diameter of the engaging member 13 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical holder 9.

Insertion grooves 14 are formed on an inner end surface of the engaging member 13. These insertion grooves allow the insertion of the engaging protrusions 10 formed on the cylindrical holder 9 into the lamp body 2. The insertion grooves 14 are provided at regularly spaced circumferential intervals,, and the dimensions and configurations of the insertion grooves 14 are substantially the same as those of the corresponding engaging protrusions 10. The insertion grooves 14 are offset by about 600 from the position of the engaging protrusions 10 when the casing 6 is correctly fitted to the lamp body 2.

As best shown in Fig. 5, an end surface of the engaging member 13 inside the lamp body 2 is formed in the following manner. Inclined surfaces 15a are formed which are inclined outwardly from the side edges of the insertion grooves 14. Planar surfaces 15b are formed substantially centrally between the insertion grooves 14 and are formed substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction. The distance between the rear end surface of the engaging member 13 and the planes 15b is formed to be substantially the same as an interval between the flat surfaces 10b of the engaging protrusions 10 and the front of the casing 6.

6 The mounting structure also has an annular wall 16 formed on a rear wall of the lamp body 2 and which surrounds and is concentric with the engaging member 13.

The amount to which the annular wall 16 protrudes is slightly larger than the amount of protrusion of the engaging me mbe r 13 from the rear wall of the lamp body 2.

An annular 0-ring groove 17 is formed between the engaging member 13 and the annular wall 16, and an 0-ring engages with the 0-ring groove 17. The 0-ring 19 protrudes beyond the annular wall 16.

A recess 18 is formed above the engaging member 13 on the rear wall of the lamp body 2, in a position corresponding to the position of the stud 11 when the casing 6 is correctly fitted to the lamp body 2.

The levelling device 5 is mounted on the lamp body 2 in the following manner.

First, the cylindrical holder 9 is inserted into the engaging member 13 of the lamp body 2 from behind. At this time, the positions of the engaging protrusions 10 of the cylindrical holder 9 are offset by an angle of 600 in the circumferential direction from their f inal position so that each engaging protrusion 10 is inserted into the corresponding insertion groove 14. When the cylindrical holder 9 is inserted into the engaging member 13, the front of the casing 6 comes into contact with the 0-ring 19.

While the casing 6 is pressed against the lamp body 2 under the aforementioned condition, the casing 6 rotates around the adjusting screw 7 in a direction in which the stud 11 approaches the recess 18. At this time, the flat surfaces 10b of the engaging protrusions 10 of the cylindrical holder 9 move on the inclined surfaces 15a the engaging member 13. Accordingly, the Casing 6 is moved further forwards, so that the 0-ring 19 is compressed to seal the lamp body 2.

The end of the stud 11 slides across the rear surface of the lamp body 2 towards the recess 18. The stud 11 7 slides smoothly on the rear surface because of the tapered portion lla.

When the casing 6 is rotated by an angle of substantially 600,, the engaging protrusions 10 of the cylindrical holder gnove onto the planar surfaces 15b of the engaging member 13. and at the same time. the stud 11 engages with the recess 18.

In this way, the casing 6 is mounted on the lamp body 2 which is the stationary member. Since the cylindrical holder 9 is attached so that it comes into pressure contact with the engaging member 13,, the cylindrical holder 9 cannot be disconnected easily. Since the stud 11 is engaged with the recess 18, the levelling device 5 is not rotatable with respect to the lamp body 2.

The front end portion of the adjusting screw 7 is formed as a screw threaded portion 20. This screw threaded portion 20 is screwed into a nut 21 supported by the reflector 3. When the adjusting screw 7 is moved by the drive mechanism (not shown) accommodated in the casing 6, the reflector 3 is tilted upwardly and downwardly.

In an alternative structure, the recess could be formed on the casing 6, with the stud formed on the lamp body 2. Further, the recess 18 could alternatively be a small hole.

In the above example, the cylindrical holder is provided on the casing of the levelling device, and the supported section is provided on the lamp body. Alternatively, the cylindrical holder may be provided on the lamp body, and the supported section may be provided on the casing.

a CI&INS 1. A vehicle lamp comprising a tilting member which is tiltable to adjust the angle of the beam emitted from the lamp; and a levelling device fixed to a stationary member which is stationary with respect to the tilting member and comprising an adjusting screw connected to the tilting member so that the movement of the adjusting screw causes a corresponding movement of the tiltable member. a drive mechanism for driving the adjusting screw; wherein a holder is provided on one of the stationary member and the casing of the levelling device, through which holder the adjusting screw projects and is supported, an engaging member is provided in the other of the casing and the stationary member with which engaging member the holder engages, a locking protrusion is provided in one of the holder and engaging member, and a complementary member with which the locking protrusion engages is provided in the other of the holder and engaging member; whereby when the holder is inserted into the engaging member and the casing is rotated with respect to the stationary member, the locking protrusion and the complementary member engage to secure the casing to the stationary member.

2. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein the stationary member is a lamp body and the tilting member is a reflector of the lamp.

3. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein the stationary member is a vehicle body and the tilting member is a lamp body.

4. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing is rotated through substantially 600 to engage the locking protrusion and complementary member.

z 9 5. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder is formed on the casing of the levelling device and the engaging member is formed on the stationary member.

6. A lamp according to claim 5, wherein the holder and the casing of the levelling device are integrally formed and the engaging member and the stationary member are integrally formed.

7. A lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holder is formed on the stationary member and the engaging member is formed on the casing of the levelling device.

8. A lamp according to claim 7, wherein the holder and the stationary member are integrally formed and the engaging member and the casing of the levelling device are integrally formed.

9. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder is provided with a plurality of locking protrusions protruding outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the holder a front face of each of the locking protrusions is inclined and a rear surface each of the engaging protrusions, that is, a surface facing front of the casing of the levelling device is formed as flat surface, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the adjusting screw.

10. A lamp according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the stationary member has an insertion hole through which the holder is inserted, the insertion hole comprising a ringshaped engaging member formed at the opening periphery of the insertion hole, the insertion hole protruding forwardly and backwardly of the wall of the stationary member.

11. A lamp according to claim 10, wherein an inner diameter of the engaging member is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the holder.

1 12. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an 0-ring disposed between the casing of the levelling device and the stationary member and surrounding the holder.

13. A lamp according to claim 12,, wherein the 0-ring protrudes backwardly from a rear end edge of the stationary member.

14. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder is cylindrical.

15. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a stud protrudes from one of the casing of the levelling device and the stationary member, and a complementary recess is formed at a corresponding position in the other of the casing of the levelling device and the stationary member.

16. A lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a stud protrudes from one of the casing of the levelling device and the stationary member, and a complementary hole is formed at a corresponding position in the other of the casing of the levelling device and stationary member.

17. A vehicle lamp substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

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