JPS6411498B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make precise adjustment of the optical axis of a head lamp by connecting a voltage adjuster to a head lamp supporting mechanism so as to send a current thereto via the adjuster when the optical axis is adjusted, however, directly sending the current to a motor when the head lamp is opened up or closed in. CONSTITUTION:For closing in a head lamp, turning a retractable switch SW2 to the right turns on relays RY1 and RY3 to turn a motor 10 clockwise. A brush plate is, at the same time, turned to make a changeover switch SW1 changed to contact a point SA so that a head lamp is stopped at the closed-in position. For adjustment of lighting angle, an inclination angle indicating switch unit 40 is turned by one step so that a selector 43, for example, comes into contact with points 443 and 444. Since a relay RY2 is turned on, to drive the motor 10 clockwise at a low speed and to simultaneously turn the selector SG of a feedback switch unit 12 into contact with a contact S2. Since the relay RY1 is turned off, the lamp is stopped. Interruption of the motor performed during the adjustment of the optical axis may be achieved precisely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical axis adjustment device for setting the illumination angle of a headlight, and in particular, an optical axis adjustment device for setting the illumination angle of a so-called retractable headlight that can be stored when the headlight is not used. Regarding.

For example, the height of the optical axis of a headlight in a car changes depending on whether there is a driver alone, a passenger, or the position and amount of the load being carried because the amount of deflection of the suspension changes. If the optical axis is too high or too low, it is not only difficult to drive, but the higher the optical axis is, the more it is dangerous because it gives a sense of dazzle to the driver of an oncoming vehicle.

Therefore, I set up a retractable headlight.
It has been proposed to use a retractable motor to adjust the optical axis of the headlight in accordance with the inclination angle of the vehicle body (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138043/1983).

This optical axis adjustment device is equipped with a brush that rotates together with the motor and contacts that come into contact with the brush, and the brush changes its contacts as the motor rotates to raise and retract the headlight. A point adjustment contact is provided.

When the light point adjustment switch is turned on when the headlight is turned on, the motor is energized by the light point adjustment contact, causing the headlight to point slightly downward, and the length of the light point adjustment contact must be adjusted. The irradiation angle of the headlight can be adjusted further downward from the normal position. However, in retractable headlights, the load applied to the motor fluctuates considerably due to variations in parts, temperature changes, changes over time, etc., so the drive torque of the motor needs to exceed the maximum load of the support mechanism, making it difficult to use a high-torque motor. It is commonly used.

However, since the adjustment angle of the optical axis is extremely small compared to the movement angle when standing up and retracting, it is difficult to use the high-torque motor as is when adjusting the optical axis, as in the conventional optical axis adjustment device described above. However, it has the disadvantage that it cannot stop accurately because it overruns the stopping position.

The present invention has a simple structure and aims to accurately stop a motor when adjusting the optical axis of a headlight without using a particularly complicated electric circuit.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
A voltage regulator that reduces the energization to the motor is connected to the motor that provides mechanical displacement to the headlight support mechanism, and when the headlight is raised or retracted, the motor is directly energized, and when the optical axis of the headlight is adjusted, the voltage regulator is The motor is configured to be energized via the motor. According to this, since the voltage applied to the motor is lowered when adjusting the optical axis of the headlight, the output torque of the motor is reduced, and it is possible to accurately stop the motor without overrunning it.

Here, in order to stop the robot accurately at the stop position, it is possible to install a brake mechanism to stop it, or to use position feedback to return it to the stop position if it overruns the stop position. This method has a complicated mechanism and is expensive. Furthermore, when position feedback is applied, hunting may occur and the system may not stop. In contrast, according to the present invention, it is only necessary to lower the voltage applied to the motor when adjusting the optical axis of the headlight, resulting in an extremely simple structure. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, only a resistor is connected in series with the motor, and there is no need to use a complicated electric circuit, so that there is virtually no need for protection of the electric circuit.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 shows the configuration of a retractable headlight. The headlight 1 is arranged on the right side of the front part of the vehicle, facing forward. This is the right headlight. The headlight 1 is rotatably supported at one end by a bracket 3 via a pin 2, and the bracket 3 is fixed to a vehicle body 4. A link 6 is rotatably supported on the headlight 1 by a pin 5, and the other end of the link 6 is supported pivotally on an arm 7. The arm 7 is fixed to a drive shaft 9 of a speed reduction mechanism 8. A rotating shaft of an electric motor 10 is coupled to an input shaft of the speed reduction mechanism 8 .

In the above configuration, pin 2, bracket 3,
Pin 5, link 6, and arm 7 are the headlight support mechanism. FIG. 1 shows the headlight 1 in an upright position. In this state, motor 10
When the drive shaft 9 and arm 7 rotate, the link 6 moves downward, and the headlight 1 rotates downward about the pin 2 and is stored.

FIG. 2 shows the speed reduction mechanism 8. A reduction gear 11 connected to the output shaft of the motor 10 and transmitting rotational force to the drive shaft 9 is disposed in the reduction mechanism 8 . This reduction gear 11 is equipped with a feedback switch device 12 (first switch device). This feedback switch device 12 is composed of a brush plate 13 and a brush 14.

FIG. 3 shows the brush plate 13 and brush 14. The hatched portion of the brush plate 13 indicates an insulating portion. Also, the brushes 14 _N , 14 ₁ , 1
4 ₂ , 14 ₃ , 14 ₄ , 14 _A , 14 _B , 14 _C , 14
_D , _14E , and _14G are brush contacts S _N , S ₁ , and
Comprising S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ , S _A , S _B , S _C , S _D , S _E , _SG ,
It is in contact with the brush plate 13 at this brush contact point. Note that the brush plate 13 rotates as the motor 10 rotates.

In addition to the above-mentioned right light, there is a left light as a headlight, and the left light is also equipped with a similar support mechanism, reduction gear, feedback switch device, and motor.

FIG. 4 shows the connection relationship between the above-mentioned equipment of the left and right lights and a tilt angle indicating switch device 40 provided with a manually operated knob. Switch device 4 for indicating tilt angle
0 has a manual knob fixed to its rotating shaft. The tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is installed around the driver's seat inside the vehicle, and a knob for manual operation is arranged in a manner that is exposed inside the vehicle interior. The first set of five contacts 43 _N , 43 ₁ , 43 ₂ , 43 ₃ , 43 ₄ are connected to respective brush contacts S _N , S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ . In addition, the second five contacts 44 _N , 44 ₁ , 4
4 ₂ , 44 ₃ , and 44 ₄ also have brush contacts S _N , S ₁ , and
Connected to S ₂ , S ₃ , and S ₄ . first selector 4
3 has a shape that allows it to simultaneously contact only four of the five contacts of the first set, and similarly, the second selector 44 also contacts four of the five contacts of the second set. It has a shape that allows it to touch only the individual at the same time.

Similarly, for the left light, the first set of five contacts 45 _N , 45 ₁ , 45 ₂ , 45 ₃ , 45 ₄ and the second set of 5 contacts
Contactors 46 _N , 46 ₁ , 46 ₂ , 46 ₃ , 46 ₄ and first and second selectors 45 and 46 are provided. First and second selectors 43, 44 for the right light and first and second selectors for the left light
The selectors 45 and 46 are fixed to the same rotating shaft, and a manually operated knob is fixed to this rotating shaft.
The first selector 43 is connected to a common contact S _C of the relay RY1 and the changeover switch SW1, and the second selector 44 is connected to the relay RY2. Also, relay RY3 is a common contact for changeover switch SW1.
Connected to _SC . Here, the state shown in the fourth figure shows that relays RY1, RY2, and RY3 are all off. The connection for the left light is also similar. next,
First selector 43, 45 and second selector 4
4 and 46 are, for example, the first selector 43 and the second selector 43.
To explain by focusing on the selector 44, when the knob indicates "1", the first selector 43 contacts the contact _43N , and the other contacts 43 ₁ , 4
3 ₂ , 43 ₃ , 43 ₄ , and the second
The selector 44 is shaped and arranged so that it does not contact the contacts 44 _N and 44 ₁ but contacts the other contacts 44 ₂ , 44 ₃ and 44 ₄ . When the knob indicates "3", the first selector 43 contacts the contacts 43 _N , 43 ₁ and 43 ₂ , and the second selector 44 contacts only the contact 44 ₄ . The contact and selector combination for the left light is also exactly the same as that for the right light. In addition, in Figure 4, 4
A set of contacts and four selectors are shown distributed on a plane, but the four sets of contacts and four drawer contacts each contacting four selectors are as follows:
They are formed on the same printed circuit board concentrically and on the same plane with different radii, and each selector has brushes that contact four contacts, and the brush for drawer connection is connected to the ring-shaped drawer contact. I am in constant contact with one.

Resistor R1 is a voltage regulator that reduces energization to motor 10. This resistor R1 is connected in series with the motor 10 during optical axis adjustment.

Further, the contacts S _A , S _B and _SC of the changeover switch SW1 are switched by brush contacts of the feedback switch device 12 shown in FIG. 3 .

In addition, the retractable actuation switch SW2 is
When you flip the switch to the UP side, the headlight stands up, and when you flip the switch to the DOWN side, the headlight retracts.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained next, but since the tilting of the left and right lights is exactly the same and is performed at the same time,
Hereinafter, only the operation of the right light will be explained.

First, the operation of raising and retracting the headlight will be explained. Figure 4 shows the headlight in an upright position, and in this state the retractable operating switch SW
2 to the down side, the changeover switch SW1
The contact S _B of is grounded. For this reason, relay RY1
Then, relay RY3 becomes conductive, causing motor 10 to rotate forward, thereby retracting the headlight. At this time, according to the rotation of the motor 10, the brush plate 1
3 rotates, and when the headlight reaches the predetermined storage position, the brush contact S _B contacts the insulating part of the brush plate 13, and the brush contact S _A contacts the insulated part of the brush plate 1.
By contacting the conductor part of 3 and changing switch SW1, relay RY1 and relay RY
3 is cut off and the motor 10 is stopped.

Next, when the retractable actuation switch SW2 is turned to the UP side, the changeover switch SW1 is moved to the contact S _A
The contact of changeover switch SW1
S _A is grounded. Therefore, relay RY1 and relay RY3 are electrically connected and motor 10 rotates in the normal direction, thereby causing the headlight to rise. At this time, similar to the retracting operation, the brush plate 13 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the motor 10, and when the headlight reaches a predetermined standing position, the brush contact S _A contacts the insulated part of the brush plate 13, and the brush contact S _B is in contact with the conductor part of the brush plate 13, and the changeover switch is
By switching SW1, relay RY1 and relay RY3 are cut off, and motor 10 is stopped.

Next, illumination angle adjustment will be explained. Here, the contact S _N of the feedback switch device 12 is connected to the contacts 43 _N and 4 of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40.
4 _N connected to the feedback switch device 1
The contact S ₁ of the feedback switch 12 is connected to the contacts 43 ₁ and 44 1 of the tilt angle indicating switch device ₄₀ , and the contact S ₂ of the feedback switch device 12 is connected to the contact 43 ₂ of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40. and connected to 44 ₂ ,
The contact S ₃ of the feedback switch device 12 is connected to the contacts 43 ₃ and 4 of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40.
4 Connected to ₃ , feedback switch device 1
The second contact S ₄ is connected to contacts 43 ₄ and 44 ₄ of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 .

Now, when the manual operation knob of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is in the "1" position and the headlight is set at the indicated position, the feedback switch device 12 is turned on as shown in FIG. selector
S _G is in contact with contact S ₁ . In this state, the first switch of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is
and the second selectors 43 and 44 are the contacts 43 ₁ ,
44 Since it is not in contact with ₁ , relays RY1 and RY
2 is not energized and is stopped.

Here, when the knob is rotated one step clockwise, the first selector 43 of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 changes to the contacts 43 _N , 43 ₁ and the second selector 44 changes to the contacts 44 ₃ , 44 . Contact ₄ . At this time, in the feedback switch device 12, since the selector S _G is in contact with the contact S ₁ ,
The contact ₄₃₁ of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is connected to ground, and the relay RY1 is energized.
Therefore, the motor 10 is energized and rotates in the normal direction. This causes the feedback switch device 12 selector S _G to rotate counterclockwise. and selector S _G
When the selector G comes into contact with the contact _S2 , the selector _G becomes in a floating state, and the energization of the relay RY1 is stopped.
Similarly, each time the knob of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is rotated one step clockwise, the motor 1
0 is the feedback switch device 12 selector
An operation is performed in which S _G is rotated one step counterclockwise and then stopped.

Contrary to the above, for example, when the knob of the tilt angle indicating switch device 40 is in the "3" position, the first selector 43 is connected to the contacts 43 _N , 43 ₁ and 43 _{2 .}
, the second selector 44 contacts only the contact ₄₄₄ , and in the feedback switch device 12, the selector S _G correspondingly contacts the contact _S3.
When the knob is rotated one step counterclockwise while in contact with the knob, the first selector 43 contacts only the contacts _43N and ₄₃₁ , and the second selector 44 contacts the contacts ₄₄₃ and 44. Contact ₄ . Then, the second selector 44 is connected to ground via the selector S _G , so that the relay RY2 is energized and current flows through the motor 10, causing the motor to reverse rotation. This causes selector S _G to rotate clockwise, and selector S _G
When it comes into contact with _S2 , selector S _G becomes floating and power to relay RY2 is stopped.

Note that as long as the settings are the same, the left light performs the same operation as the right light at the same time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a headlight support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a deceleration side view of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a feedback switch seen from the line - - in FIG. FIG. 4, which is a plan view showing the device, is a circuit diagram showing the connections between the tilt angle indicating switch device, the feedback switch device, and the motor. 1: Headlight, 2, 5: Pin (headlight support mechanism), 3: Bracket (headlight support mechanism), 6: Link (headlight support mechanism),
7: Arm (headlight support mechanism), 8: Reduction mechanism, 12, 22: Feedback switch device (first switch device), 10, 20: Motor, 4
0: tilt angle indicating switch device (second switch device), R1, R2: resistance (voltage adjustment device).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A headlight support mechanism for raising and retracting the headlight; A motor for mechanically displacing the headlight support mechanism; A first switch device for detecting the position of the headlight; and a first switch device for instructing the optical axis adjustment position. and a second switch device, which drives the motor so that the position of the headlight detected by the first switch device matches the optical axis adjustment position instructed by the second switch device, and controls the light of the headlight. an optical axis adjustment device for adjusting the axis; and a voltage adjustment device for reducing the energization to the motor, which directly energizes the motor when the headlight is raised or retracted, and when adjusting the optical axis of the headlight. An optical axis adjustment device for a headlight that energizes the motor via the voltage adjustment device. 2. The optical axis adjustment device for a headlight according to claim 1, wherein the voltage adjustment device is a resistor connected in series to the motor.