JP3223741B2 - Optical axis adjustment device for vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve a coupling part for supporting a reflector so that it may be freely tilted, so as to prevent its own weight may not be applied to a screw feeding mechanism for adjusting an optical axis, and also to facilitate assembly of the coupling in a reflector movable-type optical axis adjusting device. CONSTITUTION: A projecting spherical part 14b for constituting a coupling is fixed on the lower end of a reflector 14. A recessed spherical surface seat 11b is formed on the edge of the front surface opening part of a lamp housing 11. The projecting spherical part 14b is fitted into the recessed spherical surface seat 11b as shown by the arrow (a). A bulb presser 12b provided on a lens 12 prevents the projecting spherical part 14b from slipping off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting the direction of the optical axis of a lighting fixture mounted on a vehicle, such as a headlight for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A headlight for an automobile is dangerous because it may dazzle an oncoming vehicle if the headlight is too upward. However, if it is too downward, it is difficult to drive because the road ahead in the traveling direction is not well illuminated. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a device for adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp for an automobile slightly upward or downward while adjusting the optical axis slightly to the right or left when the headlamp is mounted on the vehicle body. The headlamp generally has a structure in which a reflector made of a concave reflector is provided in a lamp housing, and a light source bulb is positioned near a focal point of the concave reflector. The optical axis of the headlight is the same as that of the concave reflector. It means the axis of symmetry. Therefore, to adjust the optical axis,
(A) tilt the lamp housing up and down while maintaining the relative position between the lamp housing and the concave reflecting mirror, or (b) move the concave reflecting mirror without moving the lamp housing attached to the vehicle body. There are two methods, tilting up and down. FIGS. 3 to 5 show a conventional example of the optical axis adjusting device (commonly referred to as a movable reflector) of the above item (b). FIG. 3 is a front view, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB. However, the scale of FIG. 4 is different from the scale of FIG. 1 is a lamp housing, 2 is a reflector, and 3 is a light source bulb. As shown in FIG. 3, assuming a substantially horizontal line HH and a substantially vertical line VV, the ball joint 4 is disposed near the intersection thereof. The vertical adjustment screw means 5 is arranged on the line V-V so as to be separated from the ball joint 4 and H
The left and right adjusting screw means 6 is disposed on the H line. The above-mentioned ball joint 4 appears in the cross section of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, and supports the reflector 2 with respect to the lamp housing 1 so as to be vertically and horizontally tiltable. The vertical adjusting screw means 5 is shown in FIG. 4, and the horizontal adjusting screw means 6 is shown in FIG. Both the upper and lower, left and right adjusting screw means are provided on the reflector 2.
A nut-shaped screw mounting 7 is attached to the lamp housing 1, and an adjusting screw 8 is inserted into the lamp housing 1 so as to be rotatable and non-slidable. FIG.
As can be understood by comparing FIG. 4 with FIG. 4, the adjusting screw 8 of the vertical adjusting screw means 5 is turned to rotate the screw mounting 7.
, The reflector 2 is tilted so as to swing its optical axis Z up and down. In this case, the ball joint 4
And the left and right adjusting screw means (FIG. 3) constitute a fulcrum shaft for vertical tilting. More specifically, the mounting portion of the screw mounting 7 (FIG. 5) of the left and right adjusting screw means 6 acts as a fulcrum.
Similarly, when the screw 7 is fed by turning the adjusting screw 8 of the left and right adjusting screw means 6, the reflector 2 tilts so as to swing the optical axis Z right and left. Also in this case, the ball joint 4 and the vertical adjusting screw means 5 (specifically, the screw mounting attachment part) constitute a fulcrum shaft. FIGS. 6A and 6B show two views in which the screw mounting 7 is attached to the reflector 2 and is screwed with the adjusting screw 8. The screw mounting 7 is a member made of a synthetic resin, and has an engagement flange 7 a and a projection 7 b formed therein, and is engaged with an engagement hole 2 a provided in the reflector 2. Reference numeral 7c shown in FIG. 6A is a notch provided to facilitate elastic deformation of the screw mounting 7 during the above-described engagement operation. As described above, when one of the adjustment screws 8 of the left and right adjustment screw means or the up and down adjustment screw means is turned,
As shown in FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B), the screw mounting 7 is screw-fed, and the
Tilts. At this time, since the other adjustment screw 8 of either the left-right adjustment screw means or the up-down adjustment screw means is not turned, the screw mounting 7 is not fed. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the vicinity of the screw mounting 7 which is stationary with respect to the adjustment screw 8 in this manner.
With the adjusting screw 8 and the screw mounting 7 remaining stationary, the reflector tilts as shown at 2 ', 2 ", and the stationary screw mounting 7 acts as a fulcrum.

[0003]

The operation of the conventional optical axis adjusting device shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the weight of the reflector 2 is supported via the ball joint 4 and the screw mounting 7, as can be easily understood from FIGS. Similarly, when the vehicle is subjected to vibration while traveling, the vibration in the vertical direction is the strongest, but the role of withstanding this vibration and supporting the reflector 7 must also be shared by the ball joint 4 and the screw mounting 7. Must. Further, the screw mounting 7 must be supported by the adjusting screw 8. Although the ball joint 4 is originally made so as to rotatably support the member withstanding a gravitational load or a vibration load, the adjusting screw 8 and the screw mounting 7 are originally provided for screw feed. A drive machine,
The structure is not easy to withstand gravity load and vibration load. Moreover,
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
Tilt must be absorbed relative to. It is impossible to make the screw feed means bear the three roles of screw feed, tilt absorption, and load support, and if it is impossible, the reliability and durability are likely to be impaired. Had become one.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ball joint 4 has a structure in which a concave spherical seat is flexed and a convex spherical member is press-fitted to connect the ball joint. And labor. In addition, it cannot be said that there is no risk of causing damage due to pressure, and even if damage occurs, it cannot be inspected after press-fitting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and does not apply a large load to the adjusting screw means for adjusting the optical axis, which includes a screw mounting and an adjusting screw, and tilts the reflector. Provided is an optical axis adjusting device for a vehicle headlamp, which allows quick and easy assembling work of a freely supported joint and can be assembled without bending a component of the joint. With the goal.

[0006]

To achieve the above object (reducing the load and facilitating assembly), an optical axis adjusting device according to the present invention is configured such that a reflector can be tilted through a joint in a lamp housing. In the optical axis adjustment device having a structure in which a screw mounting is attached to the reflector and the adjusting screw screwed to the screw mounting is turned to tilt the lamp housing, a joint is formed near the lower end of the reflector. A member having a convex spherical surface or a convex cylindrical surface is fixed, and near the edge of the front opening of the lamp housing, a concave spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface fitted to be detachable from the convex spherical surface. A concave cylindrical surface is formed so as to be removably fitted thereto, and the convex spherical surface is formed on the concave spherical surface or the concave spherical surface. A convex cylindrical surface is fitted to the concave cylindrical surface, and a part of the lens mounted over the front opening of the lamp housing faces the member having the convex spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface; It is characterized in that it acts as a stopper so as not to come off from the concave spherical surface or concave cylindrical surface.

[0007]

According to the above construction, since the member having the convex spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface for the joint is fixed to the lower end of the reflector, the weight of the reflector and the vibration load in the vertical direction are mainly supported by the joint. In addition, no burden is exerted on the screw feed means for adjusting the optical axis. Therefore, the required strength of the screw feed means for adjusting the optical axis is reduced, and the vibration resistance is significantly improved. Therefore, durability is also improved. In addition, since the convex spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface formed on the reflector is removably fitted to the concave spherical surface or the concave cylindrical surface formed on the lamp housing, the related members can be assembled without bending. Since it is detachable, no special skill is required for the assembling work, and the assembling can be performed quickly and easily. In addition, since they can be fitted without bending, there is no risk of cracking, scratching, or plastic deformation, which is effective in maintaining quality. Since the fitted member having the convex curved surface is pressed by the lens, there is no possibility that the member is separated from the concave curved surface. Since the above-mentioned lens is originally a member that covers the front opening of the lamp housing and should be fixed to the peripheral edge thereof, even if the lens also serves as a stopper for the joint constituting member, a further increase in man-hours occurs. Absent.

[0008]

Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 sequentially,
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an automotive headlamp equipped with one embodiment of the optical axis adjusting device according to the present invention, and is partially cut and drawn by a vertical plane including a joint portion and a screw feed mechanism for adjusting the optical axis. FIG. 5 is a cutaway sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating an optical axis adjusting device according to a conventional example. The lens 2 is mounted so as to cover the front opening of the lamp housing 11. Specifically, a lens leg 12a integrally formed with the lens 12 is inserted into a seal groove 11a formed along the edge of the front opening of the lamp housing, and joined by a hot melt 13 which is a heat-softening adhesive. It is fixed. A bracket 14a and a convex spherical portion 14b are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material on the reflector 14. A screw mounting 15 is rotatably attached to the bracket 14a, and an adjusting screw 16 is screwed to the screw mounting 15 to form a screw feed adjusting mechanism.

The convex spherical portion 14b is
The reflector 1 is provided at the lower end of the
4 project below. When carrying out the present invention, the member having the convex spherical surface (convex spherical portion 14b) may be provided at an appropriate position near the lower end of the reflector, but is positioned below the center of gravity of the reflector in a normal posture of the reflector. It is desirable. The reason is that the reflector has a good balance in supporting the gravitational load. Reference numeral 14c shown in the figure is a reinforcing rib, which is formed integrally with the reflector 14. On the other hand, near the edge of the front opening of the lamp housing 11, a concave spherical seat 11b fitted to the convex spherical portion 14b is formed. The concave spherical seat 11b is formed in a shape of a half concave spherical surface or a shape in which the half concave spherical surface is further cut out. That is, it is formed so that it can be freely fitted in the direction of the arrow a and detached in the direction of the opposite arrow a without wrapping the convex spherical member. Then, the convex spherical portion 14b is fitted to the concave spherical seat 11b. With this alone, the convex spherical portion 14b comes off the concave spherical seat 11b, so that the lens 12
It is configured to gently press down with a ball presser 12b formed integrally with the sphere, and to perform a retaining function so as not to hinder the rotation of the convex spherical portion 14b. 2A and 2B are schematic views illustrating a pair of joints of the optical axis adjusting device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A shows a pair of a concave spherical seat and a convex spherical member, and FIG. It shows a pair of a seat and a convex columnar member, and an arrow showing an assembling direction is added to a perspective view of the disassembled state. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, the “convex spherical surface / concave spherical surface pair” shown in FIG. 2A is applied. With such a spherical joint, the reflector 14 can be supported so that the reflector 14 can be freely tilted vertically and horizontally.

[0010] Depending on the type of headlamp, it may be sufficient to adjust the optical axis in the up-down direction, and some do not need to be adjusted in the left-right direction. The reason is as follows. That is, for example, an automobile manufacturer attaches a headlamp to a vehicle body, adjusts the optical axis direction of the vehicle, transports the shipped freight car to a maintenance specialty factory, and places an advertising facility, a crane device, or a vacuum on the loading platform. If any equipment such as a device is mounted, the body of the vehicle tilts forward or downward due to the bending of the suspension spring. Therefore, it is necessary to readjust the optical axis of the headlight in the vertical direction to correct this. However, even if such a construction work is performed, the vehicle body does not swing right and left. From such a viewpoint, an optical axis adjustment device that can perform only vertical adjustment also performs a practical function. For this reason, when the reflector is supported so that it can be tilted only in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lamp housing 11 is provided with a concave cylindrical seat 11c and the lower end of the reflector is provided. The convex columnar portion 14d fixed to is fitted as shown by arrows b and b '. Also in this case, the concave cylindrical surface seat 11c is configured to be removably fitted to the convex cylindrical portion 14d, and is formed by a cylindrical holder (not shown) similar to the ball holder 12b described above with reference to FIG. The columnar portion 14d is prevented from coming off so as not to hinder the rotation. The portion indicated by reference numeral 17 in FIG. 1 is a known respirator, which releases thermal expansion and contraction of the air in the lamp chamber by communicating with the atmosphere.

[0011]

When the present invention is applied, since a member having a convex spherical surface or a convex cylindrical surface for a joint is fixed to the lower end of the reflector, the weight of the reflector and the vibration load in the vertical direction are mainly applied to the joint. It is supported and does not impose a burden on the screw feed means for optical axis adjustment. Therefore, the required strength of the screw feed means for adjusting the optical axis is reduced, and the vibration resistance is significantly improved. Therefore, durability is also improved. In addition, since the convex spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface formed on the reflector is removably fitted to the concave spherical surface or the concave cylindrical surface formed on the lamp housing, the related members can be assembled without bending. Since it is detachable, no special skill is required for the assembling work, and the assembling can be performed quickly and easily. In addition, since they can be fitted without bending, there is no risk of cracking, scratching, or plastic deformation, which is effective in maintaining quality. Since the fitted member having the convex curved surface is pressed by the lens, there is no possibility that the member is separated from the concave curved surface. Since the above-mentioned lens is originally a member that covers the front opening of the lamp housing and should be fixed to the peripheral edge thereof, even if the lens also serves as a stopper for the joint constituting member, a further increase in man-hours occurs. Absent. By combining these functions, excellent practical effects such as reduction in the number of assembly steps, reduction in manufacturing cost, and improvement in durability can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a headlamp for a vehicle equipped with an embodiment of an optical axis adjusting device according to the present invention, which is cut and drawn by a vertical plane including a joint portion and a screw feed mechanism for adjusting the optical axis. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a conventional optical axis adjusting device and corresponding to FIG. 4.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating a pair of joints of the optical axis adjusting device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A shows a pair of a concave spherical seat and a convex spherical member, and FIG. The figure shows a pair of a cylindrical seat and a convex cylindrical member, and an arrow indicating the assembly direction is added to the perspective view of the disassembled state.

FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining an arrangement of main components in the optical axis adjusting device of the vehicle headlamp.

FIG. 4 is a view for illustrating a vertical adjustment mechanism in the optical axis adjustment device for a vehicle, and is a cross-sectional view along AA shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a view showing a left-right adjustment mechanism in the optical axis adjustment device for a vehicle, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. 3;

6A and 6B show a screw mounting in a conventional optical axis adjusting device, wherein FIG. 6A is a side view and FIG. 6B is a front view.

7A and 7B show the conventional screw mounting shown in FIG. 6, in which FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the screw is fed upward in the figure, and FIG. 7B is a state where the screw is fed downward in the figure. It is the drawn sectional view.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a state in which the conventional screw mounting shown in FIG. 6A acts as a fulcrum.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lamp housing, 2 ... Reflector, 2 ', 2 "...
A reflector in a tilted state, 3 ... a light source bulb, 4 ... a ball joint supporting the reflector, 5 ... a vertical adjusting screw means,
6: left and right adjusting screw means, 7: screw mounting of conventional example, 7a: flange, 7b: projection, 7c: notch,
Reference numeral 8: adjusting screw (adjustment screw), 11: lamp housing of the embodiment, 11a: seal groove, 11b: concave spherical seat, 12: lens, 12a: lens leg, 12b: ball holder, 13: hot melt, 14 ... Reflector of the embodiment, 14a: bracket, 14b: convex spherical portion, 14c ...
Reinforcing ribs, 15: screw mounting, 16: adjusting screw, 17: respirator.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F21S 8/10-8/12 B60Q 1/06-1/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A structure in which a reflector is tiltably supported in a lamp housing via a joint, a screw mounting is attached to the reflector, and an adjusting screw screwed to the screw mounting is turned to tilt the lamp housing. In the optical axis adjusting device, a member having a convex spherical surface or a convex cylindrical surface constituting a joint is fixed near a lower end portion of the reflector, and the convex spherical surface is formed near an edge of a front opening of the lamp housing. A concave spherical surface that is removably fitted to the concave spherical surface or a concave cylindrical surface that is removably fitted to the convex cylindrical surface, and the convex spherical surface is the concave spherical surface, or A convex cylindrical surface is fitted to the concave cylindrical surface, and a laser mounted over the front opening of the lamp housing. A portion of the vehicle facing the member having the convex spherical surface or the convex cylindrical surface, and acting as a retaining member so as not to separate from the concave spherical surface or the concave cylindrical surface. Axis adjustment device for headlights.