JP2014063602A - Actuator and head lamp for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a manufacturing cost through improvement of versatility.SOLUTION: This invention comprises a case main body 24 in which each of operating component parts performing a prescribed operation and each of driving component parts for transmitting a driving force to the operating component parts are arranged, a driving arrangement part 30 where each of the driving component parts is arranged and an operating arrangement part 29 where each of the operating component parts is arranged are formed inside the case main body, one of a swivel feature 33 constituted of each of the driving component parts and each of the operating component parts for turning a lamp unit 10 within a horizontal plane to perform a swiveling action, and a leveling feature 34 constituted of each of the driving component parts and each of the operating component parts for turning the lamp unit within a vertical plane to perform a leveling action can be selectively arranged at the driving arrangement part and the operating arrangement part of the case main body, respectively.

Description

  The present invention relates to an actuator and a vehicle headlamp. Specifically, it is possible to selectively dispose each of the driving parts and operating parts for performing a swivel operation on the case body, or each driving part and each operating part for performing a leveling operation. The present invention relates to a technical field for reducing manufacturing costs by improving versatility.

  Some vehicle headlamps include a lamp unit including a light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source, inside a lamp outer casing constituted by a cover and a lamp housing.

  In a vehicle headlamp, a lamp unit is rotatably supported (tilted) by a support such as a bracket, and the lamp unit is rotated by a driving force of an actuator to emit light emitted from a light source of the lamp unit. There are types that can adjust the irradiation direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  In such a vehicle headlamp, a so-called leveling adjustment (leveling operation) is performed in which a lamp unit is rotated (tilted) in a vertical plane by an actuator to adjust a deviation of an optical axis that varies depending on the weight of a vehicle-mounted object. In addition, when the lamp unit is rotated in the horizontal plane by the actuator, so-called swivel adjustment (swiveling operation) is performed in which the direction of the optical axis is changed following the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  In the vehicle headlight actuator described in Patent Document 1, a pair of gear portions are provided on the left and right sides of the output gear, and rack members that are movable in the front-rear direction are engaged with the gear portions. Has been. When the two rack members are moved in the same direction in the front-rear direction, the output gear is moved in the front-rear direction, and the lamp unit is rotated in the vertical plane to perform the leveling operation. Further, when the two rack members are moved in the opposite directions in synchronization in the front-rear direction, the output gear is rotated, and the lamp unit is rotated in the horizontal plane to perform the swivel operation.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle headlamp actuator described in Patent Document 2, two drive parts having a worm and a shaft part are provided on the side and rear of the output gear, respectively. Is integrally movable with the shaft portion and is movable in the front-rear direction, and the shaft portion located rearward is connected to a slide member that holds the output gear. The shaft portion located rearward is moved in the front-rear direction by the rotation of the worm located rearward of the output gear, the output gear and the slide member are moved together in the front-rear direction, and the lamp unit is rotated in the vertical plane for leveling. Operation is performed. At this time, the worm and the gear portion located on the side are integrally moved in the front-rear direction. Further, the output gear is rotated by the rotation of the worm located on the side, and the lamp unit is rotated in the horizontal plane to perform the swivel operation.

JP 2007-128856 A JP 2009-183033 A

  By the way, in the vehicle headlamp capable of adjusting the irradiation direction of the light emitted from the light source as described above, there is a type having a swivel function but not a leveling function and a leveling action. There is a type that has a function but does not have a function of swivel operation.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp having one function of such swiveling operation or leveling operation, an actuator for swiveling operation and an actuator for leveling operation need to be manufactured separately and assembled to each lamp unit. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost is high accordingly.

  On the other hand, an actuator as described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 is assembled to a lamp unit of a vehicle headlamp having one function of a swivel operation or a leveling operation, and according to the type of the vehicle headlamp. Although it is possible to use only one function, in this case, since there are parts and mechanisms unnecessary for the other function that are not used, the manufacturing cost is increased.

  Therefore, an object of the actuator and the vehicle headlamp of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and to reduce the manufacturing cost by improving versatility.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the actuator emits light from a light source of a lamp unit arranged in a lamp outer casing formed by a lamp housing opened at least in one side and a cover closing the opening of the lamp housing. An actuator that adjusts the irradiation direction of the light, and includes a case body in which each operation component that performs a predetermined operation and each drive component that transmits a driving force to the operation component are arranged, A drive placement portion in which the drive components are placed inside the case body and an operation placement portion in which the motion parts are placed are formed, and the drive placement portion and the operation of the case body Each of the drive parts and each of the operation parts for rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane to perform a swivel operation is provided for each of the arrangement parts for operation. One of a swivel mechanism configured as described above, or a leveling mechanism configured by each of the driving components and the operating components for performing a leveling operation by rotating the lamp unit in a vertical plane, This can be selectively arranged.

  Therefore, in the case of the actuator, each drive component and each operation component of the swivel mechanism or each drive component and each operation component of the leveling mechanism is provided in each of the drive arrangement unit and the operation arrangement unit of the case body. One of the parts is placed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a vehicle headlamp includes a lamp outer housing that includes a lamp housing that is open at least on one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing, and an interior of the lamp outer housing. And a lamp unit having a light source and an actuator for adjusting the irradiation direction of the light emitted from the light source, and the actuator is driven by each of the operation parts for performing a predetermined operation and the operation parts, respectively. A driving body having a case body in which each driving component for transmitting force is disposed, and an operation layout in which each driving component is disposed in the case body and each operation component is disposed. And a swivel motion by rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane on each of the drive placement portion and the operation placement portion of the case body. One of the driving parts and the operating parts for performing the above, or one of the driving parts and the operating parts for performing a leveling operation by rotating the lamp unit in a vertical plane. This can be selectively arranged.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp, each drive part and each operation part of the swivel mechanism or each drive of the leveling mechanism is provided in each of the drive arrangement part and the operation arrangement part of the case body in the actuator. One of the operation parts and each of the operation parts is arranged.

  The actuator according to the present invention has an irradiation direction of light emitted from a light source of a lamp unit arranged in a lamp outer casing constituted by a lamp housing opened in at least one side and a cover closing the opening of the lamp housing. An actuator to be adjusted, each comprising a case body in which each operation part for performing a predetermined operation and each driving part for transmitting a driving force to the operation part are arranged, and the inside of the case body A drive placement portion where each drive component is placed and an operation placement portion where each operation component is placed are formed, and each of the drive placement portion and the operation placement portion of the case body, A swivel machine constituted by the drive parts and the operation parts for rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane to perform a swivel action. Alternatively, one of the driving components and the leveling mechanism configured to perform the leveling operation by rotating the lamp unit in the vertical plane can be selectively disposed. It is characterized by that.

  Therefore, there is no need to manufacture the swivel actuator and the leveling actuator separately and assemble them into the swivel lamp unit and the leveling lamp unit, respectively. Cost can be reduced.

  In addition, it is not necessary to install an actuator that can perform swiveling and leveling operations on a lamp unit that has one of the functions of swiveling or leveling, and it is not necessary to use only one function according to the type of lamp unit. Can be reduced.

  In the invention described in claim 2, the driving components and the operation components for performing the swivel operation and the leveling operation on the driving arrangement portion and the operation arrangement portion of the case body. Parts can be placed.

  Therefore, an actuator can be assembled to a lamp unit of a type having both swivel and leveling functions, so that versatility can be further improved and manufacturing costs can be further reduced.

  In the invention described in claim 3, a first arrangement space in which the driving parts of the swivel mechanism are arranged in the driving arrangement part, and the driving parts of the leveling mechanism are arranged in the first arrangement space. The second arrangement space is formed.

  Accordingly, the arrangement positions of the drive parts of the swivel mechanism and the drive parts of the leveling mechanism are clarified, and the drive parts of the swivel mechanism and the drive parts of the leveling mechanism are each accurately and easily attached to the actuator. Can be arranged.

  In the invention described in claim 4, some of the driving components of the swivel mechanism and the driving components of the leveling mechanism are made common.

  Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention includes a lamp outer housing configured by a lamp housing opened at least in one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing, and a lamp having a light source disposed inside the lamp outer housing. A unit and an actuator for adjusting an irradiation direction of light emitted from the light source, and each actuator performs a predetermined operation and each driving component transmits a driving force to the operating component. A case body in which the parts are arranged, a driving arrangement part in which the driving parts are arranged in the case body, and an operation arrangement part in which the operation parts are arranged are formed, Each drive for performing a swivel operation by rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane on each of the drive placement portion and the operation placement portion of the case body One of the parts and the operating parts or the driving parts and the operating parts for performing a leveling operation by rotating the lamp unit in a vertical plane can be selectively arranged. It is characterized by that.

  Therefore, there is no need to manufacture the swivel actuator and the leveling actuator separately and assemble them into the swivel lamp unit and the leveling lamp unit, respectively. Cost can be reduced.

  In addition, it is not necessary to install an actuator that can perform swiveling and leveling operations on a lamp unit that has one of the functions of swiveling or leveling, and it is not necessary to use only one function according to the type of lamp unit. Can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the actuator and the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[overall structure]
The vehicle headlamps 1 are respectively attached to the left and right end portions of the front end portion of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a lamp housing 2 having a concave portion opened forward and a cover 3 that closes the opening surface of the lamp housing 2. The lamp housing 2 and the cover 3 constitute a lamp outer casing 4, and the inner space of the lamp outer casing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5.

  A mounting opening 2 a penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at the rear end of the lamp housing 2. An arrangement opening 2 b penetrating vertically is formed at the lower end of the lamp housing 2.

  A bracket 6 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The bracket 6 is supported by the lamp housing 2 so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction and the vertical direction by an aiming adjusting mechanism (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 6 includes a mounting portion 7 facing upward and downward, and column portions 8 and 8 projecting upward from left and right end portions of the mounting portion 7, respectively, and upper end portions of the column portions 8 and 8. It consists of a suspended portion 9 that connects between them. A support receiving portion 9 a is formed at the center of the hanging portion 9 in the left-right direction.

  An attachment hole 7 a penetrating vertically is formed in the attachment portion 7.

  A lamp unit 10 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The lamp unit 10 is supported by the bracket 6 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  The lamp unit 10 includes a reflector 11 that reflects light on the inner surface, a light source 12 held at the rear end of the reflector 11, a lens holder 13 attached to the front end of the reflector 11, and a front end of the lens holder 13. Projection lens 14 formed.

  The reflector 11 is formed in a bowl shape opened forward, and the inner surface is formed as a reflecting surface 11a.

  As the light source 12, for example, a discharge lamp is used.

  The lens holder 13 is provided with a shade 13 a, and the shade 13 a is provided so as to protrude into the lamp unit 10. The shade 13 a has a function of shielding part of the light emitted from the light source 12.

  A connecting projection 15 is provided at the lower end of the lamp unit 10 so as to project downward (see FIG. 1). The connecting protrusion 15 is formed with a connecting recess 15a that opens downward.

  A supported protrusion 16 is provided at the upper end of the lamp unit 10, and the upper end of the supported protrusion 16 is provided as a substantially hemispherical sliding portion 16 a that protrudes downward (see FIGS. 1 and 2). ). The sliding portion 16 a of the supported protrusion 16 is held by the sliding ring 17.

  The lamp unit 10 is suspended from the support receiving portion 9 a of the suspended portion 9 through a sliding ring 17 in a rotatable state. The lamp unit 10 is rotatable with respect to the bracket 6 with the sliding portion 16a as a fulcrum by sliding the sliding portion 16a on the sliding ring 17.

  The lamp unit 10 can be turned up and down when it has only a swivel function described later, and can be turned left and right when it has only a leveling function described later. When it has, it can be rotated in the left-right direction and the up-down direction.

  A pressing member 18 is attached to the suspended portion 9, and the pressing member 18 prevents the lamp unit 10 from falling off the bracket 6.

  An extension 19 that shields a part of the lamp unit 10 is disposed on the front end side of the lamp chamber 5 (see FIG. 1).

  A back cover 20 that closes the mounting opening 2 a is attached to the rear end of the lamp housing 2.

  A mounting cover 21 that closes the arrangement opening 2b is attached to the lower end of the lamp housing 2. The attachment cover 21 is formed in a box shape opened upward.

  A discharge lamp lighting device 22 is mounted inside the mounting cover 21. The discharge lamp lighting device 22 is a device for lighting the light source 12, and has a lighting circuit therein.

  The discharge lamp lighting device 22 is connected to the light source 12 by a cable 22a, and the cable 22a is arranged from the rear of the lamp unit 10 downward.

[Actuator]
An actuator 23 is disposed below the lamp unit 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The actuator 23 includes a case body 24, a circuit board 25 attached to the case body 24, and components described later disposed on the case body 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  The case body 24 includes a box-shaped arrangement case 26 opened upward, a cover case 27 for closing the arrangement case 26 from above, and a base case 28 attached to the arrangement case 26 from below.

  The arrangement case 26 has a substantially half portion on the front side formed as an operation arrangement portion 29, and a substantially half portion on the rear side formed as a drive arrangement portion 30.

  A plurality of locking protrusions 26 a, 26 a,... Are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the arrangement case 26 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. Mounted protrusions 26b and 26b are provided on the upper end of the arrangement case 26 so as to protrude left and right.

  A mechanism arrangement recess 26 c that opens upward is formed in the front half of the arrangement case 26. The mechanism arrangement recess 26 c is a part corresponding to the operation arrangement part 29.

  A rack portion 26 d extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner surface of the left side surface portion of the arrangement case 26. The rack part 26d is provided in the mechanism disposition recessed part 26c.

  The rear end portion of the central portion of the arrangement case 26 in the left-right direction is provided as a protruding arrangement portion 26e protruding upward, and the protruding arrangement portion 26e is formed in a shape opened downward and rearward.

  The arrangement case 26 is provided with gear support projections 26f and 26f and motor attachment projections 26g and 26g on the rear side of the mechanism arrangement recess 26c, separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The gear support protrusions 26f and 26f and the motor mounting protrusions 26g and 26g are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the protrusion-like arrangement part 26e, and are provided in a state of protruding upward from the left and right ends of the bottom part.

  Mounting recesses 26h, 26h are formed at the center in the left-right direction of the arrangement case 26 so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The mounting recesses 26h and 26h are positioned at the front surface portion of the placement case 26 and the front end portion of the protruding placement portion 26e, respectively.

  Bearing portions 26i and 26i protruding upward are provided at the right end portion of the mechanism arrangement recess 26c of the arrangement case 26 so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction.

  The arrangement case 26 is formed with a first arrangement space 26j and a second arrangement space 26k that are opened upward on the left and right sides of the protruding arrangement portion 26e. The projecting placement portion 26 e, the first placement space 26 j, and the second placement space 26 k are portions corresponding to the drive placement portion 30.

  On the lower surface side of the placement case 26, a shallow placement recess (not shown) opened downward is formed.

  The cover case 27 is formed in a shallow box shape opened downward, and a plurality of locking pieces 27a, 27a,... A locking hole is formed in each of the locking pieces 27a, 27a,.

  The cover case 27 is provided with attached protrusions 27b and 27b protruding left and right. An insertion hole 27 c penetrating vertically is formed at a position near the front end of the cover case 27. The insertion hole 27c is formed in a shape that is long in the front-rear direction.

  The base case 28 has a closing surface portion 28a formed in a plate shape facing in the vertical direction, and a fitting protrusion portion 28b protruding upward from a portion near the outer periphery of the closing surface portion 28a.

  The circuit board 25 is arranged in the arrangement recess of the arrangement case 26. A predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) is formed on the circuit board 25, and electronic components 31, 31,... And a connector 32 are mounted on the circuit board 25. Some of the electronic components 31, 31,... And the connector 32 are arranged in the protruding arrangement portion 26 e.

  In the case 26 of the case body 24, a swivel mechanism 33 constituted by each operation component and each drive component for rotating the lamp unit 10 in a horizontal plane and performing a swivel operation, or the lamp unit 10 is provided. One of the leveling mechanisms 34 constituted by each operation component and each drive component for rotating in the vertical plane and performing a leveling operation can be selectively arranged.

<Swivel mechanism>
First, the swivel mechanism 33 will be described (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

  As each operation component of the swivel mechanism 33, a connecting member 35, a support member 36, a holding member 37, a first shaft 38, and a first worm 39 are used.

  The connecting member 35 includes a plate-like base surface portion 40 facing in the vertical direction, an output shaft portion 41 projecting upward from the center portion of the base surface portion 40, and an annular portion 42 projecting downward from a portion near the outer periphery of the base surface portion 40. It consists of mounting projections 43 and 43 projecting downward from the annular portion 42.

  The output shaft portion 41 includes a case-like connection base portion 41a that opens downward, and round shaft-like connection protrusion portions 41b and 41b that protrude left and right from the left and right side surfaces of the connection base portion 41a.

  A first gear portion 42 a extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the left side portion of the annular portion 42. Insertion holes 42b and 42b extending in the laterally long circumferential direction are formed in both front and rear surface portions of the annular portion 42, respectively.

  The attachment protrusions 43 and 43 protrude downward from the front and rear both surface portions of the annular portion 42.

  The support member 36 includes a substantially cylindrical base portion 44 whose axial direction is vertical and short in the vertical direction, an insertion shaft portion 45 protruding upward from the center portion of the base portion 44, and a lower end portion on the left side portion of the base portion 44. It consists of a projecting surface portion 46 protruding leftward and a gear support portion 47 provided at the left end portion of the projecting surface portion 46.

  The base portion 44 is provided with a support protrusion 44a that protrudes downward from the center portion on the lower surface. Insertion recesses 44b and 44b are formed at positions close to the outer periphery of the base 44 in the circumferential direction, and the insertion recesses 44b and 44b are formed in an arc shape. The base portion 44 is formed with a guided hole 44c penetrating in the front-rear direction.

  The gear support portion 47 includes support wall portions 47a and 47a that are provided apart from each other in the front-rear direction and a bridging portion 47b that extends in the front-rear direction and connects the support wall portions 47a and 47a. The support wall portions 47a and 47a are formed in a plate shape facing in the front-rear direction, and each has an insertion hole.

  The holding member 37 includes a plate-like arrangement surface portion 48 facing in the up-down direction, a coupling portion 49 provided at a center portion in the front-rear direction of the arrangement surface portion 48, and a standing wall portion 50 protruding upward from both front and rear end portions of the arrangement surface portion 48, 50. A supported hole 49 a is formed in the coupling portion 49. The upper end portions of the standing wall portions 50 and 50 are respectively provided with connecting shaft portions 50a and 50a protruding forward or backward.

  In the support member 36, the insertion shaft portion 45 is inserted into the output shaft portion 41 from below, and the base portion 44 is inserted into the annular portion 42 from below to be connected to the connecting member 35. In a state where the support member 36 is connected to the connection member 35, the connection member 35 is rotatable with respect to the support member 36.

  In the support member 36, the projecting surface portion 46 is inserted and fitted between the standing wall portions 50 and 50 from above, and the base portion 44 is coupled to the coupling portion 49 and fixed to the holding member 37. The support protrusion 44 a of the base portion 44 is inserted into the supported hole 49 a of the coupling portion 49.

  The connecting member 35, the support member 36, and the holding member 37 that are connected as described above are arranged in the operation arrangement portion 29 of the arrangement case 26. The holding member 37 has the coupling shaft portions 50a and 50a for attaching the arrangement case 26, respectively. The recesses 26h and 26h are inserted and coupled. Accordingly, the holding member 37 and the support member 36 fixed to the holding member 37 are fixed to the arrangement case 26.

  In addition, although the example in which the support member 36 and the holding member 37 are formed as separate members has been described above, both may be formed integrally. By forming the support member 36 and the holding member 37 integrally, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of parts.

  The first shaft 38 has a shaft portion 51 extending in the front-rear direction and a gear portion 52 provided at the rear end portion. The shaft portion 51 is provided with detent portions 51a, 51a, 51a protruding in the radial direction and spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

  The first worm 39 has a shaft insertion hole 39 a penetrating in the front-rear direction, and the cross-sectional shape of the shaft insertion hole 39 a is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 51 of the first shaft 38.

  The first worm 39 is disposed by being inserted between support wall portions 47a and 47a provided in the gear support portion 47 of the support member 36, and the shaft portion 51 of the first shaft 38 is supported by the support wall portion in the shaft insertion hole 39a. It is inserted through the insertion holes 47a and 47a. The first worm 39 is arranged at the left end portion of the mechanism arrangement recess 26 c of the arrangement case 26. In a state where the shaft portion 51 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 39 a of the first worm 39, the first worm 39 can be rotated integrally with the first shaft 38 and can be rotated with respect to the shaft portion 51. It can be moved in the front-rear direction.

  The first worm 39 is engaged with the first gear portion 42 a of the connecting member 35.

  As each driving component of the swivel mechanism 33, a swivel motor 53 and a first transmission gear 54 are used.

  The swivel motor 53 includes a main body 53a and a drive gear portion 53b fixed to a motor shaft protruding upward from the main body 53a. The swivel motor 53 is attached to a left motor attachment protrusion 26g provided in the arrangement case 26.

  The first transmission gear 54 has a flat gear portion 54a positioned on the upper side and a worm portion 54b positioned on the lower side, and a support shaft 54c is attached to the left gear support protrusion 26f provided in the arrangement case 26. The flat gear portion 54 a is meshed with the drive gear portion 53 b of the swivel motor 53.

  The worm portion 54 b of the first transmission gear 54 is engaged with the gear portion 52 of the first shaft 38.

  When the swivel motor 53 is rotated in the swivel mechanism 33, the driving force is sequentially transmitted to the drive gear portion 53b, the first transmission gear 54, the gear portion 52 of the first shaft 38, and the first worm 39. The first worm 39 is rotated, and the first gear portion 42a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the swivel motor 53. The connection member 35 is rotated with respect to the support member 36 by feeding the first gear portion 42a.

  The cover case 27 is coupled to the arrangement case 26 by engaging the engagement pieces 27a, 27a,... With the engagement protrusions 26a, 26a,.

  In a state where the cover case 27 is coupled to the arrangement case 26, the output shaft portion 41 of the connecting member 35 protrudes upward from the insertion hole 27 c of the cover case 27. In a state where the cover case 27 is coupled to the arrangement case 26, the attached projections 27b and 27b of the cover case 27 and the attached projections 26b and 26b of the arrangement case 26 are overlapped in the vertical direction.

  The base case 28 is coupled to the lower surface side of the arrangement case 26 by fitting the fitting protrusion 28 b into the arrangement recess of the arrangement case 26. The base case 28 closes the circuit board 25 from below.

  In the actuator 23, attached protrusions 27b and 27b and attached protrusions 26b and 26b, which are superposed vertically, are attached to the attachment part 7 of the bracket 6 by means of attachment screws 100 and 100 (see FIG. 2). In a state where the actuator 23 is attached to the attachment portion 7, the output shaft portion 41 protrudes upward from the attachment hole 7a (see FIG. 1).

  The output shaft portion 41 is inserted into a connection recess 15 a formed in the connection protrusion 15 of the lamp unit 10 and is connected to the lamp unit 10.

  In a state where the output shaft portion 41 is connected to the lamp unit 10, the lamp unit 10 is rotated in the left-right direction with the supported protrusion 16 as a fulcrum as the output shaft portion 41 rotates in the horizontal direction.

  The swivel operation in the vehicle headlamp 1 will be described below (see FIGS. 7 and 8). 7 and 8, the lamp unit 10 and the cover case 27 are not shown, and the operation of the actuator 23 is shown as viewed from above.

  The swivel operation is an operation of rotating the lamp unit 10 in the horizontal direction in the horizontal plane in order to change the direction of the optical axis following the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  In a state before the swivel operation is performed, the connecting member 35 is in a neutral position where the connecting protrusions 41b and 41b of the output shaft portion 41 are positioned on the left and right (see FIG. 7).

When power is supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown) through the connector 32 and the swivel motor 53 is rotated, the driving force of the swivel motor 53 is transmitted to the first worm 39. When the driving force of the swivel motor 53 is transmitted to the first worm 39, the first gear portion 42a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the first worm 39, and the connecting member 35 is connected to the support member 36 and The lamp unit 10 is rotated with respect to the holding member 37, and the swivel operation is performed by rotating the lamp unit 10 in the left-right direction as the connecting member 35 rotates (see FIG. 8). <Leveling mechanism>
Next, the leveling mechanism 34 will be described (see FIGS. 9 to 12).

  As each operation component of the leveling mechanism 34, a coupling member 55, a driven member 56, a second shaft 57, a second worm 58, and a guide member 59 are used.

  The coupling member 55 includes a plate-like flat surface portion 60 facing in the vertical direction, an output protrusion 61 protruding upward from the central portion of the flat surface portion 60, and a connecting base portion protruding downward from a portion other than the outer peripheral portion of the flat surface portion 60. 62 and supported protrusions 63 and 63 projecting downward from the connecting base 62.

  The output protrusion 61 includes a connection base 61a having a substantially cylindrical shape and round shaft connection protrusions 61b and 61b protruding left and right from the left and right side surfaces of the connection base 61a.

  A projecting piece 62 a that protrudes to the side is provided on the left side of the coupling base 62. An insertion hole 62 b is formed in the connecting table 62 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. Insertion recesses 62c and 62c are formed at positions close to the outer periphery of the coupling base 62 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and the insertion recesses 62c and 62c are formed in an arc shape.

  The supported protrusions 63, 63 protrude downward from the front and rear surfaces of the coupling base 62.

  The driven member 56 has a base surface portion 64 having a circular outer shape, a first projecting portion 65 projecting leftward from the base surface portion 64, and a second projecting portion projecting rightward from the base surface portion 64. 66.

  A supported hole 64 a penetrating vertically is formed at the center of the base surface portion 64. Arc-shaped insertion protrusions 64b and 64b protruding upward are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the base surface portion 64 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

  The lengths of the insertion protrusions 64b and 64b in the circumferential direction are shorter than the lengths of the insertion recessed portions 62c and 62c of the driven member 56 in the circumferential direction, respectively.

  A driven gear portion 65 a extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the left side of the first projecting portion 65, and the driven gear portion 65 a is engaged with a rack portion 26 d provided in the arrangement case 26.

  A second gear portion 66 a extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the right side portion of the second projecting portion 66.

  The driven gear portion 65a and the second gear portion 66a are located on concentric circles with the center of the base surface portion 64 as a reference.

  In the driven member 56, the insertion protrusions 64 b and 64 b of the base surface portion 64 are respectively inserted into the insertion recesses 62 c and 62 c of the connection base portion 62 from below and are slidably engaged and connected to the coupling member 55. In a state where the driven member 56 is coupled to the coupling member 55, the first projecting portion 65 is pressed from above by the projecting piece portion 62 a of the coupling member 55.

  The second shaft 57 has a shaft portion 67 extending in the front-rear direction and a gear portion 68 provided at the rear end portion. The shaft portion 67 is provided with anti-rotation portions 67a, 67a, 67a protruding in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface and spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

  The second worm 58 has a shaft insertion hole 58 a penetrating in the front-rear direction, and the cross-sectional shape of the shaft insertion hole 58 a is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the second shaft 57.

  The shaft portion 67 of the second shaft 57 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 58 a of the second worm 58. The shaft portion 67 is rotatably supported by bearing portions 26 i and 26 i provided in the arrangement case 26, and the second worm 58 is arranged at the right end portion of the mechanism arrangement recess 26 c of the arrangement case 26. In a state where the shaft portion 67 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 58 a of the second worm 58, the second worm 58 can rotate integrally with the second shaft 57.

  The second worm 58 is engaged with the second gear portion 66 a of the driven member 56.

  The guide member 59 is formed in a round shaft shape extending in the front-rear direction.

  The driven member 56 is engaged with a rack portion 26 d provided with a driven gear portion 65 a on the arrangement case 26. At this time, the guide member 59 is inserted through the insertion hole 62 b of the coupling member 55, and the guide member 59 is attached by inserting the front and rear end portions thereof into the mounting recesses 26 h and 26 h of the arrangement case 26, respectively. Accordingly, the coupling member 55 is guided in the front-rear direction by the guide member 59.

  As each driving component of the leveling mechanism 34, a leveling motor 69 and a second transmission gear 70 are used.

  The leveling motor 69 includes a main body 69a and a drive gear portion 69b fixed to a motor shaft protruding upward from the main body 69a, and is attached to a right motor supported protrusion 26g provided in the arrangement case 26. .

  The second transmission gear 70 has a flat gear portion 70a located on the upper side and a worm portion 70b located on the lower side, and a support shaft 70c is attached to the right gear support protrusion 26f provided on the arrangement case 26. The flat gear portion 70 a is meshed with the drive gear portion 69 b of the leveling motor 69.

  The worm portion 70 b of the second transmission gear 70 is meshed with the gear portion 68 of the second shaft 57.

  When the leveling motor 69 is rotated in the leveling mechanism 34, the driving force is sequentially transmitted to the drive gear portion 69b, the second transmission gear 70, the gear portion 68 of the second shaft 57, and the second worm 58. The second worm 58 is rotated and the second gear portion 66a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the leveling motor 69. By feeding the second gear portion 66a, the meshing position of the driven gear portion 65a of the driven member 56 with the rack portion 26d is changed, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction while rotating. By the movement of the driven member 56 in the front-rear direction while rotating, the insertion protrusions 64b, 64b are slid with respect to the coupling base portion 62 of the coupling member 55, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction. Thus, the coupling member 55 and the driven member 56 are moved together in the front-rear direction. At this time, the center of the connecting base portion 61a of the coupling member 55 and the center of the base surface portion 64 of the supported member 56 are not displaced in the left-right direction, but are moved along a linear locus in the front-rear direction.

  When the cover case 27 is coupled to the arrangement case 26, the output protrusion 61 of the coupling member 55 projects upward from the insertion hole 27c of the cover case 27 (see FIG. 1).

  The output protrusion 61 is inserted into a connection recess 15 a formed in the connection protrusion 15 of the lamp unit 10 and connected to the lamp unit 10.

  In a state in which the output protrusion 61 is connected to the lamp unit 10, the lamp unit 10 moves vertically with the supported protrusion 16 as a fulcrum with respect to the connection protrusions 61b and 61b as the output protrusion 61 moves in the front-rear direction. It is rotated in the direction.

  Below, the leveling operation | movement in the vehicle headlamp 1 is demonstrated (refer FIG.11 and FIG.12). 11 and 12 do not show the lamp unit 10 and the cover case 27, but show the operation of the actuator 23 as viewed from above.

  The leveling operation is an operation of rotating the lamp unit 10 in the vertical direction in the vertical plane in order to adjust the deviation of the optical axis that varies depending on the weight of the vehicle-mounted object. Is turned up and down with fulcrum as a fulcrum.

  In a state before the leveling operation is performed, the coupling member 55 and the driven member 56 are positioned at the center in the movement range in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 11).

  When power is supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown) through the connector 32 and the leveling motor 69 is rotated, the driving force of the leveling motor 69 is transmitted to the second worm 58. When the driving force of the leveling motor 59 is transmitted to the second worm 58, the second gear portion 66a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the second worm 58. When the second gear portion 66a is sent, the meshing position of the driven gear portion 65a of the driven member 56 with the rack portion 26d is changed, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction while rotating (see FIG. 12). . By the movement of the driven member 56 in the front-rear direction while rotating, the insertion protrusions 64b, 64b are slid with respect to the coupling base portion 62 of the coupling member 55, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction. Thus, the coupling member 55 and the driven member 56 are moved together in the front-rear direction.

  When the coupling member 55 is moved in the front-rear direction together with the coupling member 55 and the driven member 56, the lamp unit 10 is rotated in the vertical direction as the coupling member 55 is moved, and a leveling operation is performed. .

  At this time, the coupling member 55 and the driven member 56 are guided in the front-rear direction by the guide member 59, and the second worm 58 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the shaft portion 67 of the second shaft 57.

<Combined mechanism>
Next, a dual-purpose mechanism 71 capable of performing a swivel operation and a leveling operation will be described (see FIGS. 13 to 18).

  The dual-purpose mechanism 71 is configured by a part of each of the parts of the swivel mechanism 33 and the leveling mechanism 34 described above, and thus detailed description of the same parts as the swivel mechanism 33 or the leveling mechanism 34 is omitted. A brief description will be given with the same reference numerals as above.

  The operation parts of the dual-purpose mechanism 71 include a connecting member 35, a support member 36, a first shaft 38, a first worm 39, a driven member 56, a second shaft 57, a second worm 58, and a guide member. 59 is used.

  In the driven member 56, the insertion protrusions 64b and 64b of the base surface portion 64 are inserted into the insertion recesses 44b and 44b of the base portion 44 from below and slidably engaged with each other. The support protrusion 44 a of the base portion 44 is inserted from above and connected to the support member 36.

  The driven member 56 is engaged with a rack portion 26 d provided with a driven gear portion 65 a on the arrangement case 26. At this time, the guide member 59 is inserted into the guided hole 44c of the support member 36 and the insertion holes 42b and 42b of the connecting member 35, and both front and rear ends of the guide member 59 are inserted into the mounting recesses 26h and 26h of the arrangement case 26, respectively. Attached. Accordingly, the support member 36 is guided in the front-rear direction by the guide member 59.

  As each drive component of the dual-purpose mechanism 71, a swivel motor 53, a first transmission gear 54, a leveling motor 69, and a second transmission gear 70 are used.

  When the swivel motor 53 is rotated in the dual-purpose mechanism 71, the driving force is transmitted to the drive gear portion 53b, the first transmission gear 54, the gear portion 52 of the first shaft 38, and the first worm 39 in this order. The first worm 39 is rotated, and the first gear portion 42a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the swivel motor 53. The connection member 35 is rotated with respect to the support member 36 by feeding the first gear portion 42a.

  On the other hand, in the dual-purpose mechanism 71, when the leveling motor 69 is rotated, the driving force is sequentially applied to the drive gear portion 69b, the second transmission gear 70, the gear portion 68 of the second shaft 57, and the second worm 58. Then, the second worm 58 is rotated and the second gear portion 66a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the leveling motor 69. By feeding the second gear portion 66a, the meshing position of the driven gear portion 65a of the driven member 56 with the rack portion 26d is changed, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction while rotating. By the movement of the driven member 56 in the front-rear direction while rotating, the insertion protrusions 64b, 64b are slid with respect to the base portion 44 of the support member 36, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction. The support member 36 and the connecting member 35 are moved together in the front-rear direction. At this time, the center of the connection base portion 61a of the connection member 35 and the center of the base surface portion 64 of the supported member 56 are not displaced in the left-right direction, but are moved along a linear locus in the front-rear direction.

  When the cover case 27 is coupled to the arrangement case 26, the output shaft portion 41 of the connecting member 35 protrudes upward from the insertion hole 27c of the cover case 27 (see FIG. 1).

  The output shaft portion 41 is inserted into a connection recess 15 a formed in the connection protrusion 15 of the lamp unit 10 and is connected to the lamp unit 10.

  Hereinafter, the swivel operation and the leveling operation in the vehicle headlamp 1 will be described (see FIGS. 15 to 18). 15 to 18, the lamp unit 10 and the cover case 27 are not shown, and the operation of the actuator 23 is shown as viewed from above.

  First, the swivel operation will be described (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

  In a state before the swivel operation is performed, the connecting member 35 is in a neutral position where the connecting protrusions 41b and 41b of the output shaft portion 41 are positioned on the left and right (see FIG. 15).

  When power is supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown) through the connector 31 and the swivel motor 53 is rotated, the driving force of the swivel motor 53 is transmitted to the first worm 39. When the driving force of the swivel motor 53 is transmitted to the first worm 39, the first gear portion 42a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the first worm 39, and the connecting member 35 is connected to the support member 36 and The lamp unit 10 is rotated with respect to the driven member 56, and the lamp unit 10 is rotated in the left-right direction as the connecting member 35 rotates (see FIG. 16).

  At this time, the guide member 59 is inserted into the insertion holes 42b and 42b of the connection member 35. However, since the insertion holes 42b and 42b are formed in a long shape on the left and right, the connection member 35 and the guide member 59 are rotated. Is avoided.

  Next, the leveling operation will be described (see FIGS. 17 and 18).

  In a state before the leveling operation is performed, the connecting member 35 is in a neutral position where the connecting protrusions 41b and 41b of the output shaft portion 41 are positioned on the left and right, and the connecting unit 34 is positioned at the center in the movement range in the front-rear direction. (See FIG. 17).

  When power is supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown) through the connector 31 and the leveling motor 69 is rotated, the driving force of the leveling motor 69 is transmitted to the second worm 58. When the driving force of the leveling motor 69 is transmitted to the second worm 58, the second gear portion 66a is sent in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the second worm 58. When the second gear portion 66a is sent, the meshing position of the driven gear portion 65a of the driven member 56 with respect to the rack portion 26d is changed, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction while rotating (see FIG. 18). . By the movement of the driven member 56 in the front-rear direction while rotating, the insertion protrusions 64b, 64b are slid with respect to the base portion 44 of the support member 36, and the driven member 56 is moved in the front-rear direction. The support member 36 and the connecting member 35 are moved together in the front-rear direction.

  When the connecting member 35 is moved in the front-rear direction together with the support member 36 and the driven member 56, the lamp unit 10 is rotated in the vertical direction in accordance with the movement of the connecting member 35, and a leveling operation is performed. .

  At this time, the connecting member 35, the support member 36, and the driven member 56 are guided in the front-rear direction by the guide member 59, and the first worm 39 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the shaft portion 51 of the first shaft 38. .

[Summary]
As described above, in the vehicular headlamp 1 and the actuator 23, a case in which each operation component that performs a predetermined operation and each drive component that transmits a driving force to the operation component is arranged. A body 24 is provided, and one of the swivel mechanism 33 and the leveling mechanism 34 can be selectively disposed on the case body 24.

  Therefore, there is no need to manufacture the swivel actuator and the leveling actuator separately and assemble them into the swivel lamp unit and the leveling lamp unit, respectively. Cost can be reduced.

  In addition, it is not necessary to install an actuator that can perform swiveling and leveling operations on a lamp unit that has one of the functions of swiveling or leveling, and it is not necessary to use only one function according to the type of lamp unit. Can be reduced.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp 1 and the actuator 23, the dual-purpose mechanism 71 can be arranged in the drive arrangement portion 30 and the operation arrangement portion 29 of the case body 24. Therefore, the swivel operation and the leveling operation are possible. Therefore, the versatility can be further improved and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, the first arrangement space 26j in which each driving component for performing the swivel operation is arranged in the driving arrangement unit 30, and the second arrangement in which each driving component for performing the leveling operation is arranged. A space 26k is formed.

  Accordingly, the arrangement positions of the drive parts of the swivel mechanism 33 and the drive parts of the leveling mechanism 34 are clarified, and the drive parts of the swivel mechanism 33 and the drive parts of the leveling mechanism 34 are respectively connected to the actuator 23. Can be placed accurately and easily.

  In addition, among the drive parts of the swivel mechanism 33 and the drive parts of the leveling mechanism 34, some of the drive parts are made common, so the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is further reduced. Can be planned.

  The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the best mode for carrying out the invention described above are merely examples of the embodiments performed in practicing the present invention. The range should not be interpreted in a limited way.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 18 show the best mode of the present invention, which is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a lamp unit, an actuator, etc. It is a disassembled perspective view of an actuator. It is a perspective view of an actuator shown in the state where a cover case was removed. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a swivel mechanism and an arrangement | positioning case. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the swivel mechanism was arrange | positioned at the arrangement | positioning case. FIG. 8 shows a swivel operation together with FIG. 8, and is a schematic plan view showing a state before the operation. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state after operation | movement. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a leveling mechanism and an arrangement | positioning case. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the leveling mechanism is arrange | positioned at the arrangement | positioning case. FIG. 12 shows the leveling operation together with FIG. 12, and is a schematic plan view showing a state before the operation. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state after operation | movement. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the combined mechanism and arrangement | positioning case. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the combined mechanism was arrange | positioned at the arrangement | positioning case. FIG. 16 shows the swivel operation in the dual-purpose mechanism together with FIG. 16, and is a schematic plan view showing a state before the operation. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state after operation | movement. FIG. 18 shows a leveling operation in the dual-purpose mechanism together with FIG. 18, and is a schematic plan view showing a state before the operation. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state after operation | movement.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle headlamp, 2 ... Lamp housing, 3 ... Cover, 4 ... Lamp housing, 10 ... Lamp unit, 12 ... Light source, 23 ... Actuator, 24 ... Case body, 26j ... First arrangement space, 26k ... second arrangement space, 29 ... operation arrangement part, 30 ... drive arrangement part, 33 ... swivel mechanism, 34 ... leveling mechanism, 35 ... connecting member (operation part), 36 ... support member (operation part) 37 ... Holding member (operating part), 38 ... first shaft (operating part), 39 ... first worm (operating part), 53 ... swivel motor (driving part), 54 ... first Transmission gear (drive component), 55 ... coupling member (operation component), 56 ... driven member (operation component), 57 ... second shaft (operation component), 58 ... second worm (operation) Parts), 59 ... guide members (for operation) Goods), 69 ... leveling motor (component drive), 70 ... second transmission gear (drive parts)

Claims (5)

An actuator that adjusts the irradiation direction of light emitted from a light source of a lamp unit that is arranged inside a lamp housing that includes a lamp housing that is open at least in one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing. And
Each case includes a case body in which each operation part that performs a predetermined operation and each drive part that transmits a driving force to the operation part is disposed,
A drive placement portion in which the drive components are placed in the case body and an operation placement portion in which the motion components are placed are formed.
Each of the driving arrangement portion and the operation arrangement portion of the case body is configured by the driving components and the operation components for performing a swivel operation by rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane. One of a swivel mechanism and a leveling mechanism constituted by the driving parts and the operating parts for rotating the lamp unit in a vertical plane to perform a leveling operation is selectively used. An actuator characterized in that it can be placed. The drive parts and the operation parts for performing the swivel operation and the leveling operation can be arranged in the drive arrangement part and the operation arrangement part of the case body. The actuator according to claim 1. A first arrangement space in which the driving parts of the swivel mechanism are arranged and a second arrangement space in which the driving parts of the leveling mechanism are arranged are formed in the driving arrangement unit. The actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 4. The drive component of the swivel mechanism and the drive component of the leveling mechanism are configured such that some of the drive components are made common. 5. Actuator. A lamp housing formed by a lamp housing opened in at least one and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing;
A lamp unit having a light source disposed inside the lamp outer casing;
An actuator for adjusting the irradiation direction of light emitted from the light source,
The actuator is
Each case includes a case body in which each operation part that performs a predetermined operation and each drive part that transmits a driving force to the operation part is disposed,
A drive placement portion in which the drive components are placed in the case body and an operation placement portion in which the motion components are placed are formed.
Each driving component and each operating component for performing a swivel operation by rotating the lamp unit in a horizontal plane on each of the driving arrangement portion and the operation arrangement portion of the case body, or One of the drive parts and the operation parts for performing a leveling operation by rotating the lamp unit in a vertical plane can be selectively disposed. .

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