JPH0526695B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure supporting of front facing and enable space reduction at any position of housing and exposure by providing upper and lower arms supporting lamps, a lifting means between housing and exposure positions and a guide mechanism in lifting. CONSTITUTION:A motor link 7 is rotated to the X direction from housing to exposure position by driving of a motor 8, and an upper arm 3 is rotated to raise a head lamp body 2. The lower end of a lower arm 8 is moved along a long hole 11 of a guide member 10 and when it is reached the upper end, the lamp body 2 is at the exposure position and the motor 8 is stopped. Next the link 7 is rotated to the X direction more from exposure to housing position and the lamp body 2 falls and the lower end of the lower arm 9 is moved along the long hole 11. When reaching the lower end, the lamp body 2 is at the housing position and the motor 8 stops. Thus, the lamp body 2 is controlled by the arm in its moving path and optical axis is inclined to the lower direction and moved, then forming member of a passing hole 12 can be avoided and space can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automobile in which a headlamp body is selectively placed in a storage position in which the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body and in an exposed position in which it is exposed outside the vehicle body. The present invention relates to a retractable headlamp device for use in a retractable headlamp.

(Prior Art) In an automobile equipped with a retractable headlamp device in which the headlamp body is configured to selectively take a storage position where the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body and an exposed position where it is exposed outside the vehicle body, the headlamp body is It is desirable to be able to quickly send a signal for passing by flashing the headlights without exposing them to the outside of the vehicle body while driving with the headlights stored inside the vehicle body. . To achieve this, it is necessary for the headlamp body to have its optical axis facing forward not only in the exposed position but also in the retracted position.
For example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-192146, a retractable headlamp device has been proposed in which the headlamp body is supported by a parallel link mechanism.

A retractable headlamp device using this parallel link type mechanism is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B with schematic side views.
A pair of upper and lower support arms 53 and 54 whose one ends are pivotally supported are provided in support parts 55 and 56 provided in the support parts 55 and 56, respectively.
The other end of each is pivotally supported on the headlamp body 52 so that they are parallel to each other. The headlamp body 52 is supported by these support arms 53 and 54 with the optical axis O directed toward the front of the vehicle body 51 of the automobile. Also, a pivot point 62 between the lower support arm 54 and the headlamp body 52 is provided.
One end of the drive arm 63 is pivotally supported.
The other end of the drive arm 63 is slidably attached to a drive means 64 in which a long hole 65 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed. A drive arm 63 whose end is moved applies an upward or downward force to the headlamp body 52. As a result, the headlamp main body 52 is attached to the support portions 55 and 56 of the support arms 53 and 54, respectively.
It rises from the storage position to the exposure position along an arc-shaped path using the fulcrum as a fulcrum, or vice versa, descends.
In the stationary state at the retracted position or the exposed position and in the moving state of rising or falling, the optical axis O always maintains a state facing the front of the vehicle body 51 of the automobile. In addition, the headlamp body 52
Support arms 53 and 54 are used to securely support the
are provided on both left and right sides of the headlamp body 52 when viewed from the front.

However, in a retractable headlamp device using such a parallel link mechanism, when moving the headlamp body 52 up and down between the storage position and the exposed position, the headlamp body 52 uses the support parts 55 and 56 as fulcrums. As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4B, the headlamp body 52 protrudes forward between the retracted position and the exposed position. A passing hole 66 arranged so as to be located in front of it at a certain time.
The headlamp cleaner nozzle 67 or the like must be sufficiently separated from the headlamp body 52 so that it does not become an obstacle to the movement of the headlamp body 52, and as a result, it is difficult to install the headlamp device on the vehicle body 51. This has the disadvantage that the space required increases overall.

Further, for example, only one lower support arm 54 is provided, and one end thereof is pivotally supported at the lower central portion of the headlamp body 52,
If the headlamp body 52 is supported at three points, the headlamp body 52 can be supported reliably and the space required for installation can be reduced. The rear part of 52 is an obstacle and cannot be removed.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above, the present invention provides a system that, when the headlamp body is in the storage position stored inside the vehicle body,
Also, it can be reliably supported in a forward facing position even when it is in an exposed position exposed outside the vehicle body, and the space required for installation in the vehicle body is relatively small. It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable headlamp device for an automobile that can be used as a retractable headlamp device.

(Structure of the Invention) A retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention comprises a headlamp main body, an upper arm having one end pivoted to the headlamp main body and the other end pivoted to the vehicle body, and one end fixed to the headlamp main body. A lower arm, a means for raising and lowering the headlamp body between a storage position and an exposed position, and a guide mechanism for guiding the other end of the lower arm to move the headlamp body along a predetermined path during the raising and lowering, The headlamp body is configured to selectively take a retracted position and an exposed position, and is arranged with the optical axis facing forward in either position.

With this configuration, the headlamp body can be supported with its optical axis facing forward in the storage position and the exposed position, and the headlamp body can be supported when moving up and down between the storage position and the exposure position. It is possible to move the headlamp while changing its direction, and as a result, when the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body, it can be raised and lowered while avoiding various parts that are located in front of it. Compared to a retractable headlamp device in which the headlamp body is raised and lowered using a parallel link mechanism, the space required for installation on the vehicle body can be reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1A and 1B show an example of a retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention;
Figure A is a schematic side view showing a state in which the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body and is in the retracted position, and Figure 1B is a schematic side view showing the state in which the headlamp body is exposed outside the vehicle body and in the exposed position. It is a diagram. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the headlamp main body 2 is mounted on a lamp bracket 5 fixed at a symmetrical position when viewed from the front at the upper part of the headlamp main body 2.
One end of each of the pair of upper arms 3 is pivotally supported, and the other end of these upper arms 3 is supported by being pivotally supported by a support bracket 4 fixed to the vehicle body. Further, the upper end of a drive arm 6 is pivotally supported at the middle part of the upper arm 3, and the lower end of this drive arm 6 is connected to a motor 8.
The motor link 7 is pivoted at the end of the motor link 7, which is rotated by the motor link 7. Furthermore, the head lamp body 2
The upper end of a lower arm 9 is fixed to the lower end of the left and right center portion when viewed from the front, and the lower end of the lower arm 9 is fixed in an arc shape with a constant width to a plate-shaped guide member 10 fixed inside the vehicle body. The pin 15 engages with the long hole 11 formed in the long hole 11.
from its upper end to its lower end. As a result, the headlamp body 2 is supported at three points: two points at the top and one point at the bottom end.

Here, the length of the motor link 7 and the drive arm 6 is the distance from the lower end to the upper end of the elongated hole 11 provided in the guide member 10, that is, the distance indicated by S in FIG. 1A. It is made to match the displacement length L of the headlamp body 2 from the storage position to the exposed position. In addition, the lower arm 9 has a long hole 1
1 is located at the lower end of the elongated hole 11, that is, as shown in FIG. When located at the upper end of the elongated hole 11, that is, as shown in FIG. 1B,
The headlamp body 2 is formed to have a predetermined length and angle so that the optical axis of the headlamp body 2 faces forward when the headlamp body 2 assumes an exposed position exposed to the outside of the vehicle body. When the headlamp body 2 is in the retracted position, the lid 14 serving as a cover for the headlamp body 2 is attached to the upper arm 3.
The upper arm 3 and the headlamp body 2 can be raised and lowered together with the support bracket 4 as a fulcrum.

When the headlamp body 2 is moved from the storage position to the exposed position under such a configuration, first, the motor link 7 is moved as the motor 8 is driven.
is rotated, for example, in the direction shown by arrow X in FIG. 1B. The upper arm 3 is linked to the rotation of the motor link 7 via the drive arm 6.
is rotated about a pivot point relative to a support bracket 4 fixed to the vehicle body, and the headlamp body 2 is thereby raised. At this time, the lower end of the lower arm 9 fixed to the lower end of the headlamp body 2 is connected to the guide member 1.
When the headlamp body 2 moves along the long hole 11 provided in the head and reaches its upper end, the headlamp body 2 assumes an exposed position, and the motor 8 is stopped by a stopping means (not shown).

When the headlamp body 2 is moved from the exposed position to the retracted position, the motor link 7 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 1B, and the headlamp body 2 is accordingly lowered. When the lower end of the lower arm 9 moves along the long hole 11 provided in the guide member 10 and reaches the lower end, the headlamp body 2 assumes the retracted position and the motor 8 is stopped.

During the movement of the headlamp body 2 up and down as described above, the headlamp body 2 moves towards the lower arm 9.
The path of movement is regulated by this, and as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1B, the optical axis is tilted downward as it moves. For this reason, for example, the passing hole 12
Molded parts and head lamp cleaner nozzle 13
Even if the headlamp body 2 is located relatively close to the front of the headlamp body 2 in the retracted position, the headlamp body 2 is raised and lowered while avoiding them.
Therefore, in addition to the reduced space required by the three-point support structure, the space required for installation on the vehicle body is significantly smaller than that of conventional retractable headlamp devices equipped with parallel link mechanisms. can.

Here, the guide member 10 used in the above example
By selecting various shapes of the elongated holes 11 provided in the head lamp body 2 as shown in the leftmost end of FIGS.
The intermediate position indicated by Pm between the storage position indicated by Pb and the exposed position indicated by Pt can be changed as appropriate depending on the space allowed in the vehicle body design.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show other examples of the retractable headlamp device for automobiles according to the present invention;
Figure A is a schematic side view showing a state in which the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body and is in the retracted position, and Figure 2 B is a schematic side view showing the state in which the headlamp body is exposed outside the vehicle body and in the exposed position. It is a diagram.

In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 are indicated with the same reference numerals as in FIG. In the example shown, the lower end of a lower arm 9' whose upper end is fixed to the lower end of the headlamp body 2 is pivoted to the rotating end of a motor link 7' which is rotated by the motor 8. ing. Here, the length and shape of the motor link 7' and the lower arm 9' are such that the headlamp body 2 is in the retracted position when the upper end of the lower arm 9' is the lowest, and when the upper end of the lower arm 9' is the highest. The headlamp body 2 is selected to take an exposed position.

In addition, in this example as well, the headlamp body 2
A three-point support structure is adopted in which a lamp bracket 5 fixed at a symmetrical position above the lamp bracket is supported by an upper arm 3, and its lower end is supported by a lower arm 9'.

Based on this structure, the headlamp body 2
When the storage position is moved from the storage position to the exposure position, the motor link 7' is first rotated in the direction shown by the arrow X in FIG. 2B, for example, as the motor 8 is driven. Then, the headlamp body 2 is raised by being pushed up by the lower arm 9' linked to this, and the motor link 7' is moved from the position when the headlamp body 2 is in the retracted position (shown in FIG. 2A) to the second position. As shown in Figure B,
When the headlamp body 2 reaches the exposed position, the motor 8 is stopped by a stopping means (not shown). Further, when the headlamp body 2 is moved from the exposed position to the retracted position, the motor 8 is reversely rotated, and the motor link 7' is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow X.
In conjunction with this, the lower arm 9' pulls down the headlamp body 2, and when the headlamp body 2 descends to the storage position shown in FIG. 2A, the motor 8 is stopped.

During the vertical movement of the headlamp body 2 as described above, the headlamp body 2 moves while being tilted so that its optical axis points downward in the middle of its movement path, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2B. A state is taken. Therefore, in this example as well, for example, the molded member of the passing hole 12, the headlamp cleaner nozzle 13, etc. are arranged so as to be located relatively close to the front of the headlamp body 2 when the headlamp body 2 is in the retracted position. Even in this case, the robot can be raised and lowered while avoiding these problems, and the same effect as the example shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG.
Since the headlamp body 2 is directly pushed up or pulled down by a lower arm 9' fixed to its lower end, a hinge lever is pivotally supported by the upper arm 3 to raise and lower the headlamp body 2. etc., and therefore the overall structure can be further simplified, and the space required for attachment to the automobile body can be further reduced.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention, the headlamp body is located between the storage position where it is stored inside the vehicle body and the exposed position where it is exposed outside the vehicle body. When moving the headlamp body up and down, the headlamp body can be moved while avoiding obstacles by tilting the direction of the optical axis of the headlamp body. As a result, the space required to install the headlamp device inside the car body, including the range in which the headlamp body moves, can be significantly reduced compared to conventional methods, and the headlamp can be installed in both the retracted position and the exposed position. Since the headlamp body can be kept in a state with its optical axis facing forward, it is possible to send a signal for passing by blinking while the headlamp body is stored inside the vehicle body. It is said that

Furthermore, the retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention has fewer link members than a parallel link type mechanism and has a simpler structure, and the upper end of the lower arm is fixed to the lower end of the headlamp body for three-point support. structure, the stability of the headlamp body is increased,
Moreover, the space required for installation inside the vehicle body can be further reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and B are schematic side views showing one example of the retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and B are schematic side views showing another example of the retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to the present invention. Figures 3A, B and C are diagrams for explaining changes in the posture of the headlamp body due to changes in the shape of the elongated hole provided in the guide member used in the example of Figure 1, and Figures 4A and 3C are B is a schematic side view showing an example of a conventional retractable headlamp device equipped with a parallel link type mechanism. In the figure, 2 is the headlamp body, 3 is the upper arm, 7 and 7' are the motor links, 8 is the motor,
9 and 9' are lower arms, 10 is a guide member,
11 is a long hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A headlamp body, an upper arm whose one end is pivotally supported by the headlamp body and whose other end is pivotally supported by the vehicle body, a lower arm whose one end is fixed to the headlamp body, and the headlamp body. comprising a drive means for raising and lowering the headlamp body between a storage position and an exposed position, and a guide mechanism for guiding the other end of the lower arm to move the headlamp body along a predetermined path while raising and lowering the headlamp body, A retractable headlamp device for an automobile, wherein the headlamp body is configured to selectively take the retracted position and the exposed position, and the optical axis faces forward in the retracted position and the exposed position. 2. The guide mechanism guides the other end of the lower arm so that the headlamp body faces downward while the headlamp body is moving up and down between the storage position and the exposed position. A retractable headlamp device for an automobile according to claim 1, characterized in that: