JPH0120200Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a novel vehicle headlamp device. Specifically, the present invention is a headlight device equipped with an operation terminal for a so-called leveling device that manually or automatically remotely controls the illumination angle of the headlight, and the means for supporting the headlight relative to the vehicle body is improved. By doing so, it is possible to stably support the headlight with a support mechanism of a simple structure, and the tilting operation of the headlight can be performed stably. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel vehicle headlamp device that is easy to assemble to a side member.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS In vehicle headlights, obstacles in front of the vehicle are well illuminated to avoid hindrance to driving, and at the same time, they are designed to illuminate obstacles in front of the vehicle without causing dazzling light to drivers of oncoming vehicles and passersby. It is important to avoid irradiating light that would cause this. For this reason, in the case of vehicle headlights, the irradiation angle of the headlights is precisely adjusted. In order to make this adjustment, the vehicle headlight device is equipped with an aiming mechanism that allows the illumination angle of the headlight to be changed even after the headlight is attached to the vehicle body. Further, particularly in the case of automobile headlight devices, many of them are equipped with a leveling mechanism in addition to the above-mentioned aiming mechanism. Adjustment of the illumination angle by the aiming mechanism is performed when the vehicle assembly is completed or when the vehicle is inspected, and leveling by the leveling mechanism is performed when the headlights are illuminated when a person or object is mounted on the vehicle. Performed when the angle is changed.

By the way, the headlight in a headlamp device equipped with such an aiming mechanism or a leveling mechanism needs to be supported in a tiltable state relative to the vehicle body. In order to perform aiming and leveling, it is necessary for the headlight to be able to change its direction vertically and horizontally, so the headlight must be able to be turned both upward and downward. It is necessary that the vehicle be supported in a tiltable manner relative to the vehicle body. However, in recent years, automobile headlights have generally become larger and heavier. In order to support such a heavy headlamp in a tiltable state, the support structure must be large and complicated, which increases the weight of the entire headlamp device and makes it difficult to assemble it to the vehicle body. The work becomes complicated, and furthermore, the tilting operation of the headlights may not be consistent, and the price is also high.
There are various problems.

Purpose of the invention This invention was created in view of the above problems.
By improving the means for supporting the headlights relative to the vehicle body, the headlights can be stably supported by a support mechanism with a simple structure, and the tilting operation of the headlights can be stabilized. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel headlamp device for a vehicle, which makes it possible to assemble the headlamp to the vehicle body side member and improves the workability of assembling the headlamp to the vehicle body side member.

Summary of the invention In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the vehicle headlamp device of the present invention has the upper part of the headlamp tiltably supported by two support mechanisms, and the lower part of the headlamp supported by one support mechanism. In a vehicle headlamp device in which the irradiation direction of the headlight can be changed with respect to the vehicle body by supporting it with a mounting piece provided at the lower part thereof with a keyhole-shaped insertion hole having a large diameter part larger than the diameter of the head of an adjusting screw (to be described later); a nut supported by the vehicle body; a compressed state between the adjusting screw, which is screwed into the screw, and whose shaft portion is inserted into the insertion hole of the mounting piece and whose head is engaged with the front surface of the mounting piece, and the mounting piece and the nut; The headlamp includes a coil spring which is inserted in the center of the headlamp and is fitted onto the adjusting screw, and a catch which is in contact with the rear surface of the mounting piece and is fitted onto the adjusting screw. The lower support mechanism includes legs protruding from the center of the lower part of the headlight,
A leveling drive unit is connected to the leg in a ball joint shape and includes a piston that moves substantially in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the vehicle body. A guide member is fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower end of the leg is connected to the guide member. The present invention is characterized in that the leveling drive section is supported on the upper surface so as to be slidable substantially in the longitudinal direction, and is fixed to the vehicle body in such a direction that the moving direction of the piston is substantially the same as the moving direction of the leg section.

Embodiment (1st) Hereinafter, details of the vehicle headlamp device of the present invention will be explained according to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp device according to the present invention. The headlamp device shown in this embodiment includes an aiming mechanism and a leveling mechanism.

Reference numeral 1 designates a headlamp unit, which includes a body 2 equipped with a reflecting mirror (not shown) inside, a lens 3 attached to the front opening of the body 2, and an image formed by the body 2 and the lens. It consists of a light bulb (not shown) for a light source installed in the space created by the projector. Reference numeral 4 denotes a rubber cover provided at the center of the rear part of the body 2, and a base 5 of a light bulb for a light source is fitted into the center of the rubber cover 4.

Mounting pieces 6 and 7 project upward from positions near both sides of the upper part of the body 2, and keyhole-shaped insertion holes 8 and 8 are formed in each of the mounting pieces 6 and 7.

Reference numerals 9 and 10 indicate adjusting screws for aiming, and the shaft portions of the adjusting screws 9 and 10 are passed through the respective insertion holes 8 and 8 of the mounting pieces 6 and 7, and the tips thereof are inserted into the vehicle body 11. They are respectively screwed into self-locking nuts 12, 12 fixed to the. 13, 13 are coil springs; these coil springs 13,
13 is inserted in a compressed state between each mounting piece 6, 7 and the self-locking nut 12, 12,
And it is externally fitted to the adjusting screws 9 and 10. 14, 14 is coil spring 1
The coil springs 13, 13 are fitted onto the adjusting screws 9, 10 in order to make the front ends of the coil springs 13, 13 sit better. It is fitted into the annular recess.

Therefore, in order to connect the mounting pieces 6 and 7 to the adjusting screws 9 and 10, the adjusting screws 9 and 10 are connected to the vehicle body 11 in advance, and then the heads of the adjusting screws 9 and 10 are connected. Move the headlamp unit 1 toward the vehicle body 11 so that the headlights are inserted into the large diameter portions 15, 15 of the insertion holes 8, 8 of the mounting pieces 6 and 7, and the heads of the adjusting screws 9 and 10 are inserted. After passing through the front side of the mounting pieces 6 and 7, if you thrust the headlamp unit 1 downward, the shafts of the adjusting screws 9 and 10 will enter the small diameter part of the insertion holes 8, 8, and the heads will be attached. Engages the front surfaces of pieces 6 and 7.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a bracket attached to the center of the lower part of the body 2. The bracket 16 is formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the side, and the mounting pieces 17, 17 bent at the front and rear are screwed together. By being fixed to the lower surface of the body 2 by 18, 18, the body 2
is attached to. Reference numeral 19 denotes a connecting shaft projecting downward from approximately the center of the bracket 16, and a spherical body 20 is integrally formed at the tip of the connecting shaft 19.

21 is a leg rotatably connected to the body 2. The leg body 21 has a main part 2 formed in a substantially rectangular shape.
2 and a receiving portion 23 having a side wall portion extending from the upper end of the main portion 22 to the front side and both sides thereof in a substantially funnel shape.
The inner surface 24 of the receiving portion 23 is formed into a substantially funnel-shaped slope that becomes narrower from the upper opening edge 25 toward the lower part. 26 is a spherical recess formed at the upper end of the main portion 22 and continuing from the bottom of the inclined inner surface 24. Reference numerals 27 and 27 designate engagement wings projecting laterally from both sides of the lower end of the main portion 22, respectively. Further, 28 is a connecting shaft that projects rearward from a substantially central portion of the rear wall 29 of the main portion 22, and a spherical body 30 is integrally formed at the tip of the connecting shaft 28. Thus, the spherical body 20 at the tip of the connecting shaft 19 protruding from the bracket 16 is fitted into the spherical recess 26 formed in the leg 21, whereby the leg 21 is connected to the connecting shaft 19 and the bracket 1.
It is rotatably connected to the body 2 via 6.

31 is a leg guide. 32, 32 are mounting pieces for the guide 31, which project sideways from the rear end of the leg guide 31, and the mounting pieces 32, 3
Attachment holes 33, 33 are formed in 2. 34
is a guide surface on the upper surface of the leg body guide 31, and further,
Guide walls 35 are provided on both front side edges of the leg guide 31.
35 are formed, and these guide walls 3
Guide grooves 36, 36 are formed on the opposing surfaces of 5, 35. Note that 37, 37, . . . are reinforcing ribs.

Reference numeral 38 designates a bracket for mounting the leveling drive unit, which is formed into a substantially convex shape when viewed from the front, and its both sides are fixed to the vehicle body 11 with bolts 39, 39.

The leg guide 31 is attached to its mounting piece 3.
Bolts 4 through which 2 and 32 are passed through mounting holes 33 and 33
0.40, it is fixed to the center of the bracket 38, and its guide surface 34 is made to project forward from the bracket 38.

Thus, the engagement wings 27, 27 protruding from both sides of the lower end of the leg body 21 are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 36, 36 of the leg body guide 31, whereby the headlight The weight of the unit 1 is supported by the guide 31 via the legs 21.

41 is a leveling drive section attached to the bracket 38 in such a direction that the moving direction of the piston 43 is substantially the same as the moving direction of the leg body 21, and this leveling drive section 41 is of a hydraulic type. . The leveling drive unit 41 includes a cylinder 42 and a piston 43 that moves approximately in the front-rear direction, and is connected to an automatic or manual operation unit (not shown) via a hydraulic pipe 44, and the liquid in the cylinder 42 is controlled by the operation of the operation unit. The piston 43 is moved forward or backward in response to changes in pressure. A flange 45 is formed protrudingly on the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder 42, and the flange 45 is further formed in front of the flange 45.
Several protrusions 46, 46, . . . are formed at slight intervals. Also, although not shown,
The above-mentioned protrusion 46 is provided at the upper center portion of the bracket 38.
A mounting hole is provided with a notch formed on the periphery through which the holes 46, . . . pass. The leveling drive unit 41 is fitted with a wave washer 47 formed of a plate spring material on the front side of the flange 45 from behind into a mounting hole (not shown) formed in the bracket 38. It is inserted all the way through. At this time, the protrusions 46, 46, . . . pass through the notches formed in the mounting holes to the front side of the mounting surface of the bracket 38. Therefore, the cylinder 42
If the projections 46, 46, .
is securely attached to the bracket 38. A spherical recess 48 is formed at the tip of the piston 43 of the leveling drive unit 41. Thus, the leg body 21 has a spherical body 30 formed on its connecting shaft 28 that is connected to the piston 4 of the leveling drive unit 41.
By fitting into the spherical recess 48 formed in 3, it is connected to the leveling drive section 41 in a ball joint shape.

The tilting of the headlamp unit 1 in order to adjust the irradiation angle by the vehicle headlamp device constructed as described above is performed in the following manner.

Aiming adjustment of the headlamp unit 1 is performed by operating an adjusting screw 9 or 10. That is, when the adjusting screw 9 is rotated, the portion of the headlamp unit 1 supported by the adjusting screw 9 is moved forward or backward, so that the headlamp unit 1 is moved to the mounting piece 7. The point supported by the adjusting screw 10 through the connecting shaft 19
It is tilted substantially in the left-right direction about a line connecting the contact point with the leg body 21 (the point where the spherical body 20 of the connecting shaft 19 is fitted into the spherical recess 26). Also, when the adjusting screw 10 is rotated, the adjusting screw 10 of the headlamp unit 1 is rotated.
Since the point supported by the adjusting screw 9 is moved forward or backward, the headlamp unit 1 is moved between the point supported by the adjusting screw 9 via the mounting piece 6, the connecting shaft 19, and the leg body 21. This is also tilted substantially in the left-right direction about the line connecting the connection point with the main body. Then, when the adjusting screws 9 and 10 are rotated equally, the headlight unit 1
Since the upper part of the headlamp unit 1 is moved equally forward or backward over its entire width, the headlamp unit 1
It is tilted in the vertical direction about the connection point between the leg body 9 and the leg body 21 as the center of rotation.

Next, we will discuss leveling adjustment. When an operating section (not shown) of the leveling device is operated, the hydraulic pressure within the cylinder 42 of the leveling drive section 41 is changed, and the piston 43 is moved forward or backward relative to the cylinder 42. Then, the leg body 21 connected to this piston 43 via the connecting shaft 28
is moved back and forth. At this time, the leg body 21
is moved while the engagement wings 27, 27 on both sides of the lower part thereof are guided in the moving direction by the guide grooves 36, 36 of the guide 31, and the bottom surface of the main portion 22 is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the guide surface 34. . Therefore, the headlamp unit 1 is tilted about the line connecting the points supported by the adjusting screws 9 and 10 from the state shown by the two-dot chain line to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. Ru. Note that when the headlamp unit 1 is tilted by moving the leg 21, the connection direction between the connecting shaft 19 and the leg 21 is slightly shifted, so that the sphere 20 of the connecting shaft 19 is aligned with the leg 21. It is slightly rotated within the spherical recess 26 of.

Embodiment (Second) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the vehicle headlamp device of the present invention. The difference between the headlamp device shown in this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that the legs for supporting the weight of the headlamp unit 1 on the guide portion are attached directly to the body 2. The only difference is that it is worn. Therefore, if each part of the apparatus shown in this embodiment is the same as each part of the apparatus shown in the first embodiment, the first
Detailed explanation will be omitted by using the same reference numerals as in the embodiment or the same reference numerals with additional numerals.

The legs in this example are, as described above,
It is directly attached to the body 2 of the headlamp unit 1. 49 indicates its legs. The leg body 49 includes two leg pieces 50, 50 and a leg piece 5 arranged in the front and rear.
Attachment pieces 51, 51 bent outward from the upper ends of the legs 50, 50 in a substantially crank shape, and a sliding piece 52 formed to span between the lower ends of the leg pieces 50, 50. Consists of. A connecting shaft 28A having a spherical body 30 at its tip protrudes rearward from approximately the center of the rear leg piece 50. The sliding piece 52 is formed into a substantially curved plate shape with a gentle arc when viewed from the side. The size of the arc of this sliding piece 52 is determined by the fact that the upper part of the headlamp unit 1 is supported on the vehicle body, that is, the headlamp unit 1 is attached to the adjusting screw 9 via the mounting pieces 6 and 7. The size is approximately equal to the size of the arc of a circle whose radius is the straight-line distance from the center of the line connecting the two points supported by and 10 to the position where the sliding piece 52 is provided. And leg body 49
is directly attached to the headlamp unit 1 by fixing its mounting pieces 51, 51 to the bottom surface of the body 2 with screws 18, 18.

31A is the leg guide 3 shown in the above embodiment.
This is a leg guide formed in substantially the same structure as No. 1. In the guide 31A in this embodiment, a guide surface 34A and guide walls 35A, 35A formed on both front sides of the guide surface 34A are formed in an arc shape when viewed from the side. The size of this arc is equal to the arc of the sliding piece 52 of the leg 49 described above. Further, the guide grooves 36A, 36A formed on the opposing surfaces of the guide walls 35A, 35A are also formed in an arcuate side shape.

Thus, both sides of the sliding pieces 52 of the leg body 49 are slidably supported by the guide grooves 36A, 36A of the guide 31A.

Therefore, the cylinder 4 of the leveling drive section 41
The hydraulic pressure in 2 changes and the piston 43 moves into the cylinder 4.
2, the piston 43
The leg body 49 connected to the connecting shaft 28A via the connecting shaft 28A is moved in the front-back direction. At this time, the movement of the leg 49 is guided by the arc-shaped guide grooves 36A, 36A of the leg guide 31A on both sides of the arc-shaped sliding piece 52. When the leg 49 is moved, the headlamp unit 1 is tilted about a line connecting two points supported relative to the vehicle body above it.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the vehicle headlight device of the present invention has the upper part of the headlamp tiltably supported by two support mechanisms, and the lower part of the headlamp supported by one support mechanism. In a vehicle headlamp device in which the irradiation direction of the headlight can be changed with respect to the vehicle body by supporting it with a support mechanism, each support mechanism at the top of the headlight is attached to the side of the top of the headlight. A mounting piece is provided on the side and has a keyhole-shaped insertion hole formed in the lower part with a large diameter part larger than the diameter of the head of an adjusting screw (to be described later), a nut supported on the vehicle body, and a tip part. An adjusting screw is screwed onto the nut, has a shaft portion inserted into an insertion hole of the mounting piece, and has a head engaged with a front surface of the mounting piece, and is compressed between the mounting piece and the nut. a coil spring that is inserted in a state in which the adjustment is made and is externally fitted on the adjusting screw; and a catch that is in contact with the rear surface of the mounting piece and is externally fitted on the adjusting screw; The support mechanism at the lower part of the light includes a leg part protruding from the center part of the lower part of the headlamp, and a piston connected to the leg part in a ball joint shape and moving approximately in the longitudinal direction, and is fixed to the vehicle body. It includes a leveling drive part and a guide member fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower end of the leg is supported slidably in the approximately front and rear direction on the upper surface of the guide member, and the leveling drive part is moved in the direction of movement of the piston by the leg part. It is characterized in that it is fixed to the vehicle body in a direction that is substantially the same as the direction of movement of the vehicle.

Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp device of the present invention, the weight of the headlamp can be supported by the guide member fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower part of the headlamp can be moved along the guide member. Since it has an aiming mechanism section and a leveling mechanism section, even if the headlight is considerably heavy, the lower part thereof can be stably supported, and the tilting operation of the headlight can be performed stably. It can be tightened. In addition, since the weight of the headlight can be supported by the guide member below the headlight, even a relatively simple support structure for the vehicle body above the headlight can sufficiently support the headlight. As a result, the structure for supporting the headlight in a tiltable manner relative to the vehicle body can be made extremely simple. In addition, when assembling the headlamp to the vehicle body side member, connect the adjusting screw to the nut supported by the vehicle body, and then attach the head of the adjusting screw to the large diameter part of the insertion hole of the mounting piece. Move the headlight toward the vehicle body so that the head of the adjusting screw passes through the front side of the mounting piece, then thrust the headlight downward and insert it into the shaft of the adjusting screw. First, the upper part of the headlamp is assembled to the vehicle body side member by inserting the part into the small diameter part of the insertion hole and engaging the head part with the front surface of the mounting piece. The lower part of the headlamp is assembled by sliding the legs rearward against the upper surface of the guide member fixed to the vehicle body, and attaching them to the ball-jointed connection part of the piston of the leveling drive unit fixed to the vehicle body. All you have to do is push in the ball joint-shaped connecting part of the leg of the headlamp. At this time, since the piston and the guide member are fixed to the vehicle body and do not move, the assembly work of the lower part of the headlamp becomes extremely easy.

According to the vehicle headlight device of the present invention,
The headlamp can be stably supported by a support mechanism with a simple structure, so that the tilting operation of the headlamp can be performed stably, and the headlamp can be attached to the vehicle body side member. Assembling workability can be improved.

Although a hydraulic type is used as the leveling drive unit in the embodiments described above, the leveling drive unit in the present invention may be a motor type or another type.

Furthermore, if an adjusting screw for aiming is used as a means for connecting the leg portion (the leg body 21 or 49) and the drive body of the leveling drive unit (the piston 43 in the above embodiment), the headlight unit can be adjusted. Both aiming and leveling adjustment mechanisms can be provided at the lower adjustment point.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the vehicle headlamp device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of the entire headlamp device, and FIG. 2 is the right side of the headlamp device. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts; FIG. 4 is a side view partially omitted showing the headlight tilted; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of the present invention. A second embodiment of the vehicle headlamp device is shown, and FIG. 5 is a side view;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the main part of the leg. Explanation of symbols, 1... Headlight, 6, 7... Mounting piece, 8... Insertion hole, 9, 10... Adjuster steering screw, 11... Vehicle body, 12... Nut,
13...Coil spring, 14...Catch, 15
... Large diameter part (of the insertion hole), 21 ... Leg part, 30,
30A, 48... Ball joint, 31, 31A... Guide member, 41... Leveling drive section, 43... Leveling drive body, 43... Leg section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] The upper part of the headlamp is tiltably supported by two support mechanisms, and the lower part of the headlamp is supported by one support mechanism, so that the irradiation direction of the headlamp can be controlled. In a vehicle headlamp device that can be changed to the vehicle body, each support mechanism at the upper part of the headlamp is provided on the side of the upper part of the headlamp, and the head of the adjusting screw described below is attached below. a mounting piece in which a keyhole-shaped insertion hole having a large diameter portion larger than the diameter of the mounting piece is formed; a nut supported by the vehicle body; an adjusting screw that is inserted into the hole and whose head is engaged with the front surface of the mounting piece; and an adjusting screw that is inserted in a compressed state between the mounting piece and the nut and is fitted onto the outside of the adjusting screw. and a catch seat that is in contact with the rear surface of the mounting piece and is fitted onto the adjusting screw, and the support mechanism at the lower part of the headlamp is provided at the lower central part of the headlamp. The vehicle comprises a protruding leg, a leveling drive unit that is connected to the leg in a ball joint shape and has a piston that moves substantially in the front-rear direction, and that is fixed to the vehicle body, and a guide member that is fixed to the vehicle body, The lower end of the leg is supported on the upper surface of the guide member so as to be slidable approximately in the longitudinal direction, and the leveling drive unit is fixed to the vehicle body in such a direction that the moving direction of the piston is substantially the same as the moving direction of the leg. A vehicle headlamp device characterized by: