JP4085451B2

JP4085451B2 - Optical axis adjustment device for automotive headlamps

Info

Publication number: JP4085451B2
Application number: JP29108097A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 隆之古谷
Original assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-23
Filing date: 1997-10-23
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-23
Also published as: JPH11123983A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、例えば自動車のヘッドランプ（前照灯）やフォグランプ（補助前照灯）等の自動車用前照灯であって、自動光軸調整装置（所謂オートレベラー）により車体の前後の傾き角に対応（追従）して被調整体の上下方向の光軸が自動調整され、また、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置により被調整体の上下方向の光軸が手動調整（本明細書においては、主に初期調整のことを言う。なお、初期調整後の再調整も含まれる）され、さらに左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置により被調整体の左右方向の光軸が手動調整される光軸調整装置に係り、特に被調整体の上下方向の光軸の手動調整が簡単に行なわれる自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
以下、従来の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置を図７乃至図９を参照して説明する。この例は、リフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置について説明する。
図において、１は光軸調整装置が装備されたリフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯である。この自動車用前照灯１は、取付体としてのランプハウジング１０の前面開口部に前面レンズ１１が配設されていて、その前面レンズ１１及びランプハウジング１０により灯室１２が画成形成されている。この灯室１２内には被調整体としての可動リフレクタ１３が配設されており、その可動リフレクタ１３には光源バルブ１４が着脱可能に装備されており、かつその可動リフレクタ１３の前面側には光源バルブ１４からの光を前方、すなわち前記前面レンズ１１側に反射させる反射面１５が設けられている。
上述の可動リフレクタ１３は、自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６及び上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７及び上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８を介して前記ランプハウジング１０に自動側の水平軸Ｈ−Ｈ及び手動側の水平軸Ｈ′−Ｈ′回りに上下方向に回動可能にかつ垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖ回りに左右方向に回動可能に取り付けられている。
【０００３】
上述の自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は、ランプハウジング１０に固定されたケーシング内に内蔵された例えばステッピングモータ（図示せず）から構成されている。このステッピングモータの駆動により進退する進退杆１６１の先端球部が前記可動リフレクタ１３に球凹の受部１６０を介して取り付けられている。この自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は、図示しない制御装置からの出力信号に基づきステピングモータが駆動して進退杆１６１が光軸Ｚ−Ｚとほぼ平行な直線Ｚ′−Ｚ′上に進退することにより、車体の前後の傾き角に対応して前記可動リフレクタ３の上下方向の光軸が自動的に調整されるものである。
なお、この自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は、位置センサ等からなり、可動リフレクタ１３の回動角度、すなわち可動リフレクタ１３の上下方向の光軸の調整角度を検出してその検出信号をフィードバック信号として上述の制御装置に出力する検出機構（図示せず）が内蔵されている場合がある。
【０００４】
また、上述の上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７及び上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８は、前記ランプハウジング１０回転可能にかつ軸方向に移動不可能に取り付けられたアジャストスクリュウ１７０及び１８０と、そのアジャストスクリュウ１７０及び１８０にねじ送り作用により軸方向に移動可能にねじ装着されたスクリュウマウンティング１７１及び１８１とからそれぞれ構成されている。なお、上述のスクリュウマウンティング１７１及び１８１は、前記可動リフレクタ１３に回転不可能にかつ（スクリュウマウンティング１７１及び１８１の）軸方向に移動不可能に取り付けられている。
【０００５】
上述の上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のスクリュウマウンティング１７１のほぼ中心と上述の上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のスクリュウマウンティング１８１のほぼ中心とを結ぶ線分が上述の自動側の水平軸Ｈ−Ｈであり、その水平軸Ｈ−Ｈとほぼ平行でかつ自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６の受部１６０のほぼ中心を通る線分が上述の手動側の水平軸Ｈ′−Ｈ′であり、上述の上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のスクリュウマウンティング１８１のほぼ中心と上述の自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６の受部１６０のほぼ中心とを結ぶ線分が上述の垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖである。
なお、上述の自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６及び上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７及び上下方向用の光軸調整装置１８の配置は、上述の図７の例示以外に、自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は左上に、また上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７は右下に、さらに上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８は左下に、それぞれ配置されている場合、自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は右上に、また上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７は左下に、さらに上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８は右下に、それぞれ配置されている場合、自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６は左下に、また上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７は右上に、さらに上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８は左上に、それぞれ配置されている場合等々がある。
【０００６】
この従来の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、以上の如き構成からなり、以下その操作作動について説明する。
まず、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のアジャストスクリュウ１７０と上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のアジャストスクリュウ１８０とを回転操作して、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のスクリュウマウンティング１７１と上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のスクリュウマウンティング１８１とを前後に同量ねじ送りすることにより、可動リフレクタ１３（光源バルブ１４も含む）が手動側の水平軸Ｈ′−Ｈ′回りに上下方向に回動して、可動リフレクタ１３の上下方向の光軸が初期調整を始めとして手動調整される。
次に、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のアジャストスクリュウ１７０を回転操作して、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のスクリュウマウンティング１７１を前後にねじ送りすることにより、可動リフレクタ１３が垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖ回りに左右方向に回動して、可動リフレクタ１３の左右方向の光軸が初期調整を始めとして手動調整される。
そして、自動車の車体の前後の傾きが変ると、制御装置からの出力信号に基づいて自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６のステッピングモータが駆動して進退杆１６１が直線Ｚ′−Ｚ′上に進退することにより、車体の前後の傾き角に対応して可動リフレクタ１３が自動側の水平軸Ｈ−Ｈ回りに上下方向に回動して、可動リフレクタ１３の上下方向の光軸が自動的に調整される。
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところが、上述の従来の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、可動リフレクタ１３が自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６及び上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７及び上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８を介して前記ランプハウジング１０に自動側の水平軸Ｈ−Ｈ及び手動側の水平軸Ｈ′−Ｈ′回りに上下方向に回動可能にかつ垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖ回りに左右方向に回動可能にただ単に取り付けられているものである。このために、初期調整を始めとする可動リフレクタ３の上下方向の光軸が手動調整される場合は、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のアジャストスクリュウ１７０と上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のアジャストスクリュウ１８０とを回転操作して、上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７のスクリュウマウンティング１７１と上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８のスクリュウマウンティング１８１とを前後に同量ねじ送りする必要、すなわち２本のアジャストスクリュウを回転操作して２個のスクリュウマウンティングを前後に同量ねじ送りする必要があるので、初期調整を始めとする可動リフレクタ３の上下方向の光軸の手動調整が面倒である等の問題がある。
【０００８】
本発明は、被調整体の光軸を上下方向に簡単に手動調整し得る、自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、上記の目的を達成するために、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置のアジャストシャフトに元ギヤが固定されており、取付体に受けギヤが回転可能にかつ進退杆の進退方向に移動不可能に取り付けられており、該受けギヤと元ギヤとが相互に噛み合わされており、この受けギヤに第１リテーナが回転不可能にかつ進退杆の進退方向に移動可能に取り付けられており、この第１リテーナが進退杆に連結されており、一方、取付体に第２リテーナが回転不可能にかつ進退杆の進退方向に移動可能に取り付けられており、この第２リテーナが第１リテーナにねじ連結され、かつこの第２リテーナがピボット機構を介して被調整体に連結されていることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
この結果、本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置のアジャストシャフトを回転操作すると、元ギヤを介して受けギヤと第１リテーナとが共に回転し、該第１リテーナの回転に伴って、第２リテーナがねじ送り作用により進退杆の進退方向に進退して、被調整体の上下方向の光軸が手動調整されることとなる。
また、自動車の車体の前後の傾きが変ると、自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部が駆動して進退杆が進退し、その進退杆の進退を介して、第１リテーナが受けギヤに対して進退し、その第１リテーナの進退に伴って、第２リテーナが取付体に対して進退杆の進退方向に進退して、被調整体の上下方向の光軸が自動調整されることとなる。
このように、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置のアジャストシャフト、すなわち１本のアジャストシャフトの回転操作により、被調整体の上下方向の光軸の手動調整が簡単に行なわれることとなる。
【００１１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置の一実施の形態を図１乃至図６を参照して説明する。この例はリフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置について説明する。図中、図７乃至図９と同符号は同一のものを示す。
図において、１７′は左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置であって、上述の従来の光軸調整装置の上下方向用兼左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７及び上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置１８と同様に、アジャストスクリュウ（図示せず）とスクリュウマウンティング（図示せず）とから構成されている。１８′はランプハウジング１０と可動リフレクタ１３とを連結する上側ピボット機構である。
【００１２】
上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置３は、ランプハウジング１０に回転可能にかつ軸方向に移動不可能に取り付けられたアジャストシャフト３０と、このアジャストシャフト３０の先端（操作端と反対側であって灯室１２内に位置する端）に固定された元ギヤ３１とから構成されている。
【００１３】
符号２０を付して示したのは受けギヤ、符号２１を付して示したのは第１リテーナ、符号２２を付して示したのは第２リテーナである。
上記の受けギヤ２０は、ランプハウジング１０に取付リブ１００及び取付ケース１０１を介して進退杆１６１の進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′（以下、単に進退方向と称する）回りに回転可能にかつ進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に移動不可能に取り付けられている。この受けギヤ２０は前述の元ギヤ３１に噛み合わされている。
前述の第１リテーナ２１は、受けギヤ２０にキー溝２３及びキー凸部２４により進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′回りに回転不可能にかつ進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に移動可能に取り付けられている。この第１リテーナ２１は球凹部２５を介して進退杆１６１の先端球部に連結されている。
前述の第２リテーナ２２は、取付ケース１０１に断面ロ形状（非円形形状）の嵌合孔２６及び嵌合凸部２７により進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′回りに回転不可能にかつ進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に移動可能に取り付けられている。この第２リテーナ２２は、ねじ部２８及びねじ穴２９を介して第１リテーナ２１にねじ連結されており、かつ下側ピボット機構１９を介して可動リフレクタ１３に連結されている。
【００１４】
図１において、前述の左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７′のほぼ中心と前述の上側ピボット機構１８′の球部のほぼ中心とを結ぶ直線が水平軸Ｈ−Ｈであり、該の上側ピボット機構１８′の球部のほぼ中心と上述の下側ピボット機構１９の球部のほぼ中心とを結ぶ直線が垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖである。
【００１５】
この実施の形態における本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、以上の如き構成からなる。以下、光軸調整作業について説明する。
（図２参照）まず、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置３のアジャストシャフト３０を回転操作する。すると、元ギヤ３１が回転し、この元ギヤ３１を介して受けギヤ２０と第１リテーナ２１とが（図４参照）キー溝２３とキー凸部２４との嵌合により共に回転する。
この第１リテーナ２１の回転に伴って、（図２参照）第２リテーナ２２がねじ部２８とねじ穴２９とのねじ嵌合及びねじ送り作用により、また嵌合孔２６と嵌合凸部２７との嵌合により取付ケース１０１に対して進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に、例えば図５中の実線矢印方向に後退し、又は実線矢印と逆方向に前進する。この第２リテーナ２２の進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′の進退により、可動リフレクタ１３が水平軸Ｈ−Ｈ回りに回動して、該可動リフレクタ１３の光軸が上下方向に手動調整されることとなる。
【００１６】
また、自動車の車体の前後の傾きが変ると、制御装置からの出力信号に基づいて自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部１６のステッピングモータが駆動して進退杆１６１が直線Ｚ′−Ｚ′上に進退する。この進退杆１６１の進退を介して、第１リテーナ２１が（図４参照）キー溝２３とキー凸部２４との結合により受けギヤ２０に対して進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に、例えば図６中の実線矢印方向に後退し、又は実線矢印と逆方向に前進する。この第１リテーナ２１の進退に伴って、第２リテーナ２２がねじ部２８とねじ穴２９とのねじ嵌合また嵌合孔２６と嵌合凸部２７との嵌合により取付ケース１０１に対して進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′に、例えば図６中の実線矢印方向に後退し、又は実線矢印と逆方向に前進する。この第２リテーナ２２の進退方向Ｚ′−Ｚ′の進退により、車体の前後の傾き角に対応して可動リフレクタ１３が水平軸Ｈ−Ｈ回りに回動して、可動リフレクタ１３の光軸が上下方向に自動的に調整される。
【００１７】
さらに、左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７′のアジャストシャフトを回転操作すると、前述の光軸上下方向調節と同様にして、左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置１７′が作動して、可動リフレクタ１３が垂直軸Ｖ−Ｖ回りに回動して、該可動リフレクタ１３の光軸が左右方向に手動調整される。
【００１８】
このように、この実施の形態における本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置３のアジャストシャフト３０、すなわち１本のアジャストシャフトの回転操作により、可動リフレクタ１３の光軸の上下方向の初期調整が簡単に行なわれる。
【００１９】
なお、上述の実施の形態においては、リフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯について説明したが、本発明は、ランプユニット可動タイプの自動車用前照灯にも使用できる。このランプユニット可動タイプの場合、取付体は車体であり、被調整体はランプユニットとなる。
【００２０】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置は、上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置のアジャストシャフト、すなわち１本のアジャストシャフトの回転操作により、被調整体の上下方向の光軸の初期調整を始めとする手動調整を簡単に行なうことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の自動車用前照灯の光軸調整装置の一実施の形態を示し、本発明の光軸調整装置が具備されたリフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯の正面図である。
【図２】図１におけるＩＩ−ＩＩ線断面図である。
【図３】図２におけるＩＩＩ−ＩＩＩ線矢視図である。
【図４】図２におけるＩＶ−ＩＶ線矢視図である。
【図５】可動リフレクタの上下方向の光軸の手動調整状態を示した図２に対応する断面図である。
【図６】同じく、可動リフレクタの左右方向の光軸の手動調整状態を示した図２に対応する断面図である。
【図７】従来の光軸調整装置が具備されたリフレクタ可動タイプの自動車用前照灯の正面図である。
【図８】図７におけるＶＩＩＩ−ＶＩＩＩ線断面図である。
【図９】図７におけるＩＸ−ＩＸ線断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１…自動車用前照灯、１０…ランプハウジング（取付体）、１００…取付リブ、１０１…取付ケース、１１…前面レンズ、１２…灯室、１３…可動リフレクタ（被調整体）、１４…光源バルブ、１５…反射面、１６…自動光軸調整装置のアクチュエータ部、１６１…進退杆、１７′…左右方向用の手動光軸調整装置、１８′…上側ピボット機構、１９…下側ピボット機構、２０…受けギヤ、２１…第１リテーナ、２２…第２リテーナ、２３…キー溝、２４…キー凸部、２５…球凹部、２６…嵌合孔、２７…嵌合凸部、２８…ねじ部、２９…ねじ穴、３…上下方向用の手動光軸調整装置、３０…アジャストシャフト、３１…元ギヤ、Ｈ−Ｈ…水平軸、Ｖ−Ｖ…垂直軸、Ｚ−Ｚ…光軸、Ｚ′−Ｚ′[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an automotive headlamp such as a headlamp (headlamp) or a fog lamp (auxiliary headlamp) of an automobile, for example, and an inclination angle of a vehicle body by an automatic optical axis adjustment device (so-called auto leveler). The optical axis in the vertical direction of the object to be adjusted is automatically adjusted in accordance with (following), and the vertical optical axis of the object to be adjusted is manually adjusted by the manual optical axis adjustment device for the vertical direction (in this specification, This mainly refers to initial adjustment (including re-adjustment after initial adjustment), and the horizontal optical axis of the body to be adjusted is manually adjusted by the manual optical axis adjustment device for horizontal direction. The present invention relates to an optical axis adjustment device, and more particularly to an optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp in which manual adjustment of the optical axis in the vertical direction of an object to be adjusted is easily performed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Hereinafter, a conventional optical axis adjusting device for an automotive headlamp will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, an optical axis adjustment device for a reflector movable type automobile headlamp will be described.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a reflector movable type automobile headlamp equipped with an optical axis adjusting device. In this automotive headlamp 1, a front lens 11 is disposed in a front opening of a lamp housing 10 as an attachment body, and a lamp chamber 12 is defined by the front lens 11 and the lamp housing 10. . A movable reflector 13 as an object to be adjusted is disposed in the lamp chamber 12, and a light source bulb 14 is detachably mounted on the movable reflector 13, and on the front side of the movable reflector 13. A reflection surface 15 is provided that reflects light from the light source bulb 14 forward, that is, toward the front lens 11 side.
The movable reflector 13 is connected to the lamp housing 10 via the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjusting device, the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions, and the manual optical axis adjusting device 18 for vertical direction. It is attached so as to be able to turn up and down around the horizontal axis HH on the automatic side and the horizontal axis H'-H 'on the manual side, and to turn left and right around the vertical axis VV.
[0003]
The actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjusting device described above is composed of, for example, a stepping motor (not shown) built in a casing fixed to the lamp housing 10. A tip sphere portion of an advancing / retreating rod 161 that advances and retreats by driving the stepping motor is attached to the movable reflector 13 via a spherical concave receiving portion 160. The actuator unit 16 of this automatic optical axis adjustment device is driven by a stepping motor based on an output signal from a control device (not shown) so that the advance / retreat 161 is on a straight line Z′-Z ′ substantially parallel to the optical axis ZZ. By advancing and retreating, the vertical optical axis of the movable reflector 3 is automatically adjusted in accordance with the front and rear tilt angles of the vehicle body.
The actuator unit 16 of this automatic optical axis adjustment device is composed of a position sensor or the like, detects the rotation angle of the movable reflector 13, that is, the adjustment angle of the vertical optical axis of the movable reflector 13, and feeds back the detection signal. There may be a built-in detection mechanism (not shown) that outputs a signal to the control device.
[0004]
The vertical and horizontal manual optical axis adjusting devices 17 and 18 and the vertical manual optical axis adjusting device 18 are adjusted so that the lamp housing 10 can be rotated and cannot be moved in the axial direction. The screws 170 and 180 and screw mountings 171 and 181 which are screwed to the adjusting screws 170 and 180 so as to be movable in the axial direction by a screw feeding action, respectively. The above-described screw mountings 171 and 181 are attached to the movable reflector 13 so as not to rotate but to move in the axial direction (of the screw mountings 171 and 181).
[0005]
The line segment connecting the approximate center of the screw mounting 171 of the above-described vertical and horizontal manual optical axis adjusting device 17 and the approximate center of the above-described screw mounting 181 of the above-described manual optical axis adjusting device 18 is described above. Is a horizontal axis H-H on the automatic side, and a line segment that is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis H-H and that passes through substantially the center of the receiving portion 160 of the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjusting device is the above-described horizontal side on the manual side. This is an axis H′-H ′, and connects the approximate center of the screw mounting 181 of the above-described vertical manual optical axis adjustment device 18 and the approximate center of the receiving portion 160 of the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device described above. A line segment is the above-mentioned vertical axis VV.
The arrangement of the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device described above, the manual optical axis adjustment device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions, and the optical axis adjustment device 18 for vertical direction is not limited to the example shown in FIG. The actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is on the upper left, the manual optical axis adjustment device 17 for both the vertical and horizontal directions is on the lower right, and the manual optical axis adjustment device 18 for the vertical direction is on the lower left. When arranged, the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is on the upper right, the manual optical axis adjustment device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions is on the lower left, and the manual optical axis adjustment device 18 for the vertical direction is When arranged at the lower right, the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is located at the lower left, the manual optical axis adjustment device 17 for both vertical and horizontal directions is located at the upper right, and further, manual light for the vertical direction. Axis adjuster 18 in the upper left, there is a like when disposed respectively.
[0006]
This conventional optical axis adjusting device for an automotive headlamp has the above-described configuration, and its operation will be described below.
First, the adjustment screw 170 of the manual optical axis adjustment device 17 for the vertical direction and the horizontal direction and the adjustment screw 180 of the manual optical axis adjustment device 18 for the vertical direction are rotated and operated, and the adjustment screw 180 for the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is used. By moving the screw mounting 171 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 and the screw mounting 181 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 18 for the vertical direction by the same amount of screws back and forth, the movable reflector 13 (including the light source bulb 14) is moved to the manual side. The vertical optical axis of the movable reflector 13 is manually adjusted starting with the initial adjustment.
Next, the adjustment screw 170 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions is rotated, and the screw mounting 171 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions is screwed back and forth. As a result, the movable reflector 13 rotates in the left-right direction around the vertical axis VV, and the optical axis in the left-right direction of the movable reflector 13 is manually adjusted including initial adjustment.
When the front / rear inclination of the body of the automobile changes, the stepping motor of the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is driven based on the output signal from the control device, so that the forward / backward movement 161 is on the straight line Z′-Z ′. By moving forward and backward, the movable reflector 13 rotates up and down around the horizontal axis H-H on the automatic side in accordance with the front and rear tilt angles of the vehicle body, and the vertical optical axis of the movable reflector 13 is automatically set. Adjusted.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp, the movable reflector 13 includes the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device, the vertical and horizontal manual optical axis adjustment device 17 and the vertical direction. Through the manual optical axis adjusting device 18, the lamp housing 10 can be rotated up and down around the horizontal axis HH on the automatic side and the horizontal axis H′-H ′ on the manual side and about the vertical axis VV. It is simply attached to be pivotable in the left-right direction. For this reason, when the vertical optical axis of the movable reflector 3 including the initial adjustment is manually adjusted, the adjustment screw 170 of the vertical / horizontal manual optical axis adjusting device 17 and the vertical axis are used. The adjustment screw 180 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 18 is rotated and operated so that the screw mounting 171 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 for vertical and horizontal directions and the screw mounting 181 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 18 for vertical direction are operated. Need to be fed in the same amount in the front-rear direction, that is, it is necessary to rotate the two adjusting screws and feed the two screw mountings in the same amount in the front-rear direction. There are problems such as troublesome manual adjustment of the vertical optical axis.
[0008]
The present invention may be easily manually adjust the optical axis of the adjusting body in a vertical direction, and an object thereof is to provide an optical axis adjusting apparatus for an automobile headlight.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp according to the present invention has an original gear fixed to an adjustment shaft of a vertical manual optical axis adjustment device, and a receiving gear on an attachment body. There rotatably and mounted on immovable in the moving direction of the reciprocating rod, the receiving and the gear and the original gear has been engaged with each other, the first retainer this receiving gear not rotatable and retractable rod mounted movably in the moving direction of the first retainer of this is coupled to the reciprocating rod, whereas, the second retainer attached body movable in the moving direction of the non-rotatably and retractable rod attached and, the second retainer is threaded connected to the first retainer and the second retainer of this is characterized in that it is connected to the adjusting member via a pivot mechanism.
[0010]
As a result, the optical axis adjusting device for an automotive headlamp according to the present invention rotates both the receiving gear and the first retainer via the original gear when the adjustment shaft of the vertical manual optical axis adjusting device is rotated. and, with the rotation of the first retainer and the second retainer moves forward and backward in the moving direction of the reciprocating rod by screw feeding action, so that the optical axes of the upper and lower direction of the adjusting member is manually adjusted.
Further, when the front / rear inclination of the body of the automobile changes, the actuator portion of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is driven to advance / retreat, and the first retainer advances / retreats with respect to the receiving gear through the advance / retreat of the advance / retreat. As the first retainer advances and retreats, the second retainer advances and retreats in the advancing and retreating direction with respect to the attachment body, and the vertical optical axis of the object to be adjusted is automatically adjusted.
Thus, the adjusting shaft of the manual optical axis adjustment device for vertical, that is, by the rotation operation of one adjustment shaft, so that the manual adjustment of the optical axis of the vertical direction of the adjustment member is easily performed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an optical axis adjusting device for an automotive headlamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, an optical axis adjustment device for a reflector movable type automobile headlamp will be described. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 7 to 9 denote the same components.
In the figure, reference numeral 17 'denotes a manual optical axis adjusting device for the left-right direction, which is a manual optical axis adjusting device 17 for the vertical and horizontal directions of the above-described conventional optical axis adjusting device and a manual optical axis for the vertical direction. Similar to the adjusting device 18, the adjusting device 18 includes an adjusting screw (not shown) and a screw mounting (not shown). Reference numeral 18 ′ denotes an upper pivot mechanism that connects the lamp housing 10 and the movable reflector 13.
[0012]
Manual optical axis adjusting device for up and down direction. 3, the adjustment shaft 30 which is mounted immovable rotatably and axially to the lamp housing 10, with the distal end (operating end of the adjusting shaft 30 of this opposite And an original gear 31 fixed to an end located in the lamp chamber 12.
[0013]
Reference numeral 20 indicates a receiving gear, reference numeral 21 indicates a first retainer, and reference numeral 22 indicates a second retainer.
Receiving the upper Symbol gear 20, forward and backward direction of the reciprocating rod 161 in the lamp housing 10 via a mounting rib 100 and the mounting case 101 Z'-Z '(hereinafter, simply referred to as a forward and backward direction) rotatably and moving direction around It is attached to Z′-Z ′ so as not to move. The receiving gear 20 is in mesh with the original gear 31 before mentioned.
The first retainer 21 is attached to the receiving gear 20 by a key groove 23 and a key convex portion 24 so as not to rotate around the advancing / retreating direction Z′-Z ′ and to be movable in the advancing / retreating direction Z′-Z ′. . The first retainer 21 is connected to the tip sphere portion of the advance / retreat lever 161 via the sphere recess 25.
The second retainer 22 before mentioned, the fitting hole 26 and the fitting convex portion 27 by moving direction Z'-Z 'impossible rotate about and moving direction Z of the cross section B shape mounted case 101 (non-circular shape) '-Z' is movably attached. The second retainer 22 is screwed to the first retainer 21 via a screw portion 28 and a screw hole 29, and is connected to the movable reflector 13 via a lower pivot mechanism 19.
[0014]
In Figure 1, a 'substantially central upper pivot mechanism 18 of the prior mentioned in' approximate center and a linear horizontal axis H-H connecting the bulb of the manual optical axis adjusting apparatus 1 7 for the left and right directions described above, the A straight line connecting the approximate center of the sphere of the upper pivot mechanism 18 'and the approximate center of the sphere of the lower pivot mechanism 19 is the vertical axis V-V.
[0015]
Automotive headlight optical axis adjustment device of the present invention in this embodiment, ing the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, the optical axis adjustment work will be described.
(Refer to FIG. 2) First, the adjustment shaft 30 of the manual optical axis adjusting device 3 for the vertical direction is rotated. Then, the original gear 31 is rotated, and the receiving gear 20 and the first retainer 21 are rotated together by the engagement between the key groove 23 and the key convex portion 24 via the original gear 31 (see FIG. 4) .
Along with the rotation of the first retainer 21 (see FIG. 2), the second retainer 22 is caused by the screw fitting and screw feeding action of the screw portion 28 and the screw hole 29, and the fitting hole 26 and the fitting convex portion 27. Is fitted in the advancing / retreating direction Z′-Z ′ with respect to the mounting case 101, for example, in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 5 or in the direction opposite to the solid line arrow. By advancing and retracting the moving direction Z'-Z of the second retainer 22 ', and the movable reflector 13 by rotating in the horizontal axis H-H direction, the optical axis of the movable reflector 13 is manually adjusted in the vertical direction Become.
[0016]
Further, when the front / rear inclination of the body of the automobile changes, the stepping motor of the actuator unit 16 of the automatic optical axis adjustment device is driven based on the output signal from the control device, so that the advance / retreat 161 is on the straight line Z′-Z ′. Advance and retreat. Through the advance / retreat of the advance / retreat lever 161, the first retainer 21 (see FIG. 4) is coupled with the key groove 23 and the key convex portion 24 in the advance / retreat direction Z′-Z ′ with respect to the receiving gear 20, for example, FIG. It moves backward in the direction of the solid line arrow, or advances in the direction opposite to the solid line arrow. As the first retainer 21 advances and retreats, the second retainer 22 is attached to the mounting case 101 by screw fitting between the screw portion 28 and the screw hole 29 or fitting between the fitting hole 26 and the fitting convex portion 27. In the advancing / retreating direction Z′-Z ′, for example, the vehicle moves backward in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 6 or moves forward in the direction opposite to the solid line arrow. By advancing and retracting the moving direction Z'-Z of the second retainer 22 ', the movable reflector 13 corresponding to the inclination angle of the front and rear of the vehicle body by rotating the horizontal axis H-H direction, the optical axis of the movable reflector 13 is It is automatically adjusted in the vertical direction.
[0017]
Further, when the adjustment shaft of the manual optical axis adjusting device 17 'for the left and right direction is rotated, the manual optical axis adjusting device 17' for the left and right direction is operated and moved in the same manner as the adjustment of the vertical direction of the optical axis described above. reflector 13 by rotating the vertical axis V-V about the optical axis of該可Do reflector 13 Ru is manually adjusted in the left-right direction.
[0018]
As described above, the optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp according to the present invention in this embodiment is configured by rotating the adjustment shaft 30 of the manual optical axis adjustment device 3 for the vertical direction, that is, by rotating one adjustment shaft . Initial adjustment in the vertical direction of the optical axis of the movable reflector 13 is easily performed.
[0019]
In the above-described embodiment, the reflector movable type automotive headlamp has been described. However, the present invention can also be used for a lamp unit movable type automotive headlamp. In the case of this lamp unit movable type, the attachment body is a vehicle body, and the adjusted body is a lamp unit.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the optical axis adjusting apparatus for an automobile headlight of the present invention, adjustment shaft of the manual optical axis adjustment device for vertical, that is, by the rotation operation of one adjustment shaft, upper and lower adjustable body the manual adjustment, including initial adjustment in the direction of the optical axis can be easily row of Ukoto.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp of the present invention, and is a front view of a reflector movable type automotive headlamp equipped with the optical axis adjustment device of the present invention. .
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is a view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;
4 is a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state of manual adjustment of the optical axis in the vertical direction of the movable reflector.
6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a manual adjustment state of the optical axis in the left-right direction of the movable reflector.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a reflector movable type automobile headlamp equipped with a conventional optical axis adjusting device.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automotive headlamp, 10 ... Lamp housing (attachment body), 100 ... Mounting rib, 101 ... Mounting case, 11 ... Front lens, 12 ... Lamp chamber, 13 ... Movable reflector (adjusted body), 14 ... Light source valve, 15 ... reflecting surface, 16 ... actuator portion of the automatic optical axis adjusting device, 161 ... reciprocating rod, 17 '... manual optical axis adjustment device for horizontal, 18' ... upper pivot mechanism, 19 ... lower pivot Organization 20 ... receiving gear, 21 ... first retainer, 22 ... second retainer, 23 ... key groove, 24 ... key convex part, 25 ... spherical concave part, 26 ... fitting hole, 27 ... fitting convex part, 28 ... Threaded part, 29 ... Screw hole, 3 ... Manual optical axis adjustment device for vertical direction, 30 ... Adjust shaft , 31 ... Original gear, HH ... Horizontal axis, VV ... Vertical axis, ZZ ... Optical axis , Z'-Z '

Claims

An object to be adjusted in which light from the light source bulb is reflected forward;
An attachment body mounted so that the body to be adjusted can be rotated in the vertical direction around the horizontal axis and can be rotated in the left-right direction around the vertical axis;
An automatic optical axis adjustment device in which the optical axis of the object to be adjusted is automatically adjusted in the vertical direction corresponding to the front-rear tilt angle of the vehicle body;
A manual optical axis adjusting device for vertical direction in which the optical axis of the object to be adjusted is manually adjusted in the vertical direction;
A manual optical axis adjusting device for left and right directions in which the optical axis of the object to be adjusted is manually adjusted in the left and right directions;
A rotational operation force transmission mechanism interposed between the automatic optical axis adjustment device and the manual optical axis adjustment device for the vertical direction and the body to be adjusted;
In an automotive headlamp optical axis adjusting device equipped with
Manual optical axis adjustment device with provided for the right and left direction, the upper pivot mechanism and the lower pivot mechanism is provided,
The automatic optical axis adjusting device is composed of an actuator unit and advancing / retreating that moves forward and backward on a straight line by driving the actuator unit,
The manual optical axis adjustment device for the vertical direction is composed of an adjustment shaft that is rotatably attached to the attachment body and is not movable in the axial direction, and an original gear fixed to the adjustment shaft.
The rotational operation force transmission mechanism is
A receiving gear that is rotatably attached to the attachment body and immovable in the advancing and retreating direction of the advancement and retraction, meshed with the original gear, and rotated by the rotation of the original gear;
A first retainer which is attached to the receiving gear so as not to rotate and is movable in the advancing / retreating direction, is connected to the advancing / retreating, rotates together with the receiving gear and advances / retreats by the advancing / retreating of the advancing / retreating;
It is attached to the attachment body so as not to rotate and to be movable in the forward / backward direction, and is screwed to the first retainer, and further via either one of the upper pivot mechanism or the lower pivot mechanism. A second retainer that is connected to the body to be adjusted, and advances and retreats in the advancing and retreating direction by the screw feeding action accompanying the rotation of the first retainer, and advances and retreats through the first retainer by the advancing and retreating of the advancing and retreating An optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp, characterized in that

The actuator part of the automatic optical axis adjusting device is composed of a stepping motor attached to the mounting body, and the stepping motor is driven on the basis of an output signal from the control device, so that the advance / retreat moves linearly. The optical axis adjustment device for an automotive headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the object to be adjusted is automatically adjusted in the vertical direction in accordance with an inclination angle of the front and rear of the vehicle body. .