IT8968188A1 - ADJUSTABLE PROJECTOR FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"ADJUSTABLE PROJECTOR FOR VEHICLES."

of CARELLO S.p.A., of nationality? Italian

at 10135 TURIN - Corso Unione Sovietica, 600

Designated Inventor: Alberta SANTAMARIA

Filed on: Application No.: 68188 " A - 89

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Headlamp (1) for vehicles, in which a reflector (4) is mounted inside a housing (2) to rotate

c\| with respect to the casing (2) itself around at least one ?O CN O C axis (5) under the thrust of an actuator device (G)

?? ? equipped with an output organ (7), which is coupled, via a detachable joint (24), to O -2 h~ N < an input organ (22) of a detector device oc . b? o. C-(20) of the angular position of the reflector (4) with respect to the casing (2).

This invention relates to a orientable headlamp for vehicles, particularly motor vehicles.

On motor vehicles, it is common to mount headlights, whose output light beam is adjustable at least in elevation, i.e. at least in a vertical plane, in order to avoid dangerous

glare phenomena. For this purpose, it is known to construct headlamps comprising an external casing that can be integrally connected to the vehicle and housing a headlamp, which can be oriented relative to the external casing around at least one horizontal axis under the influence of an adjustment unit.

In general, the regulation units normally used on known projectors of the type described above comprise two distinct regulation devices, of which

one is an "initial" regulating device normally comprising one or more micrometric screws, which are placed between the external casing and the reflector, and are operated, upon initial assembly of the headlamp on the relevant vehicle, in order to orient the reflector in such a way as to give the emitted light beam a "normalized" direction, i.e. compliant with current regulations; while the other is a "use" regulating device designed to determine a <) >522<lb ( >A<iii>r n<i>ozonscr<!>. rotation, around a horizontal axis, of the headlamp with respect to the casing around its "initial" position, and in response to a command given either by the user or by a device detecting the position assumed, from time to time, by the vehicle.

Known "useful" regulator devices typically comprise a reversible actuator mounted

on the casing and equipped with a movable organ of

exit, whose movements, within a field

determined by displacement and with respect to a zero position corresponding to the aforementioned "initial" position

of the reflector with respect to the casing, are controlled

from a position detector associated with the moving part itself.

In other words, in known projectors, the initial regulation device allows to establish, for the reflector, an initial or zero position,

w ep evi around which the reflector itself is made

O c oscillate, with respect to the external casing, from the ? Q ? _o o ? use regulating device. O c O

The known projectors described above, although the .2 N OS

functionally satisfactory, they present, from a structural point of view, notable complications deriving from the duplication of controls, that is, from the presence of two distinct devices capable of imparting rotations to the reflector, with respect to the external casing, around the same axis.

Obviously, such a drawback would seem to be easily eliminated by eliminating the initial adjustment device, since the current adjustment device is perfectly capable of bringing the reflector to its initial normalized position. In practice, however, such a solution

It is not applicable to the known projectors of the type described above, since the positioning of the reflector in its initial position is normalized by the regulating device.

of use cannot occur without the previously mentioned position detector detecting a corresponding displacement with respect to the zero position and, therefore, without a corresponding reduction, at least in one direction, of the adjustment head during use.

The purpose of the present invention is to create a projector in which a single adjustment device allows, without introducing functional limitations, both the initial adjustment and the use adjustment of the position.

PRATO R<b>o<t>e<r>o angular reflector respects the external casing

<2>5<2 ? >around a horizontal axis.

According to the present invention, a orientable headlamp for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, is provided, comprising an external casing which can be mounted in a fixed position on the relevant vehicle, a reflector mounted inside the casing to rotate with respect to the casing itself at least around

an axis, actuator means for rotating the projector relative to the casing around said axis, and means for detecting the position of the reflector relative to the casing around said axis; said actuator means comprising an output member movable relative to the casing and coupled to the reflector; characterised in that said actuator means comprise a single actuator device for said output member; and that said detector means comprise a movable input member, and detachable joint means interposed between said input member

I HAVE

C\ output and the said input organ. O fe In the projector defined above, it is therefore possible to "set", initially, the input organ

of the aforementioned detection means in a zero position, decouple the relevant input organ from the aforementioned output organ during the initial adjustment of the angular position of the reflector with respect to the casing by means of the only actuator device present, and recouple the aforementioned input and output organs to each other once the reflector has been placed in its initial standardised position, so that only any adjustments during use cause the aforementioned input organ to move from the aforementioned zero position.

Preferably, in the projector defined above, the

said joint means comprise a friction joint

or, alternatively, a disengageable front joint.

The invention will now be described with reference to

attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of implementation, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates schematically, and in axial section along a vertical plane, a preferred embodiment of the projector according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, a first embodiment of a detail of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, a second embodiment of a detail of Figure 1; and

<b>A PITO H<f>o<r>oe figure 4 illustrates, in perspective view <1lb >252 <f >A <Iii >noronescrz.

schematic, a variant of the detail in figure 2.

In figure 1, with 1 is indicated, as a whole, a headlamp for vehicles comprising an external casing 2, which is closed at the front by a transparent element 3, and houses a reflector 4 which is movable with respect to the casing 2 around a hinge.

5 perpendicular to the plane of figure 1 and defined by

two ball joints 6 arranged in line, one of which

only ? illustrated in figure 1.

A point of the reflector 4 placed above the hinge 5 is connected to a movable output organ 7,

in this case an axially movable rod, of an electromechanical linear actuator 8 by means of a connection, which is schematically illustrated, in the

figure 1, as a further ball joint 9, but which in reality includes, in a known manner, an articulated transmission not illustrated.

The actuator 8 is carried by the casing 2, and is capable

?Ni ?o to impart to the rod 6 an axial translational motion, which

is transmitted, through the joint 9, to the Q -O reflector 4, to rotate the reflector 4 itself around the axis of c ,o of the cylindrical hinge 5. ?N w o The actuator 8 comprises an external casing 10, which is integral with the casing 2, and houses a reversible direct current electric motor 11 (figs. 2, 3 and 4) capable of imparting an axial reciprocating motion to the rod 7.

According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 2, the motor 11 is integral with the casing 10, and has an output shaft 12 parallel to the rod 7 and carrying, at its end, a screw 13.

without end. Auction 7 presents, on the opposite side to

the one connected to joint 9, a section of end 14

mounted sliding inside a sleeve 15

integral with the casing 10, and connected door, to its own

intermediate section, a rack 16 coupled to an output gear wheel 17 of a reduction gear device

18 supported, not illustrated, by the casing 10 and

comprising a coupled input gear wheel 19

to screw 13.

In this way, at one rotation of the shaft 12 in

one way or the other corresponds to a translation

axial, in one direction or the other, of the rod 7 and,

so, an oscillation in one direction or the other of the

v> reflector 4 around the axis of the hinge 5. Ci The actuator B also includes a device o *= t-, o ? -Q eD x detector 20 of the axial position of the rod 7 O <D C

solidly connected, in a manner not illustrated, to the O 2

< or tfe* ,2 crankcase 10. et? The detector device 20 comprises a

transducer 21 equipped with an input organ 22

coupled to the rod 7 via a transmission 23 comprising a disengageable joint 24. The transducer

21 can consist of any known electromechanical, electrical or electronic device having limit switches defining a possible range

of variation around a zero position, and capable of emitting an analog signal indicative of the

position assumed, at each instant, by the rod 7

within the aforementioned range of variations.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figure

2, the transducer 21 is made up of a rotary potentiometer 25 of a known and commercially available type, the

which is known to be equipped with a rotating organ

(not illustrated) internal, and is capable of emitting a voltage signal as a function of the angular position assumed by the aforementioned rotating organ (not illustrated) with respect to a fixed reference and within a

? s0s range of variation, which is defined by two internal travel limits (not illustrated) capable of cooperating with the aforementioned rotating organ (not illustrated), and has an O 2

< intermediate zero position. as In the embodiment illustrated in the figure

2, the input member 22 is made up of a shaft 26 integral with the aforementioned rotating member (not illustrated), and provided with a lateral coupling 27 for a tool (not illustrated), for example a wrench. The transmission 23 comprises a shaft 28 coaxial with the shaft 26 and carrying, at one end, a gear wheel 29 coupled to the gear wheel 17. The shaft 28 is rotatably supported, in a manner not illustrated, by the casing 10 in position

perpendicular to the rod 7, and is coupled to the shaft 26 via the disengageable joint 24, which consists, in this case, of a friction joint 30 comprising two facing and frictionally coupled plates 31 and 32, the first of which is integral with the shaft 26, and the second is integral with the end of the shaft 28 opposite the one carrying the gear wheel 29.

In use, the initial adjustment of the angular position of the reflector 4 around the axis of the hinge 5 is carried out by an operator by operating the motor 11 and, therefore, the rod 7 until the reflector 4 is brought to the desired position. It is clear that, given the presence of the transmission 23, a movement of the rod 7 corresponds, via the joint 30 and the shaft

26, a rotation of the rotating organ (not illustrated) inside the potentiometer 25. In the event that the aforementioned rotating organ (not illustrated), following the rotation due to the initial adjustment, comes into contact with one of its limit switches (not illustrated), the aforementioned internal organ (not illustrated) stops causing the plate 32 to slide with respect to the plate 31.

Once the initial adjustment has been performed, the operator stops the motor 11, thus locking both the rod 7 and the plate 32 in position through the transmission 23, and rotates the shaft 26 and the plate 31, using a key (not shown) engaged on the clutch 27 of the shaft 26 itself, until the aforementioned rotating organ (not shown) inside the potentiometer 25 is brought to its zero position. Consequently, any subsequent operation of the motor 11 results in an oscillation, detected by the potentiometer 25, of the reflector 4 around the axis of the hinge 5 astride the initial position, and within a given variation range.

Depending on the way the detector device

20 and the motor 11 are connected to each other (in an open loop that is closed by the user, or in a closed loop), the detector device 20 will provide a direct reading of the inclination of the reflector . 4 <PR>A<T>O<b R>rtoeo with respect to its initial position, or it will stop <(iiilb >A 2<)>s52c<r>znoeo n<r>. ri

the motor 11 when the reflector 4 reaches a certain position with respect to its initial position.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figure

3, the transducer 21 is still constituted by the potentiometer 25, while the shaft 26 of figure 2 is replaced with a shaft 33, which is coupled to the aforementioned internal rotary member (not illustrated) of the potentiometer 25 via a splined joint 34, and extends through the potentiometer 25 to define a button 35.

In the embodiment of figure 3, furthermore, the joint 24 is constituted by a front coupling 36 comprising, in place of the plates 31 and 32, two plates 37 and 38 with frontal teeth, of which the plate 37 is movable, by acting on the button 35, between a disengaged position (illustrated in figure 2), in

in which the plate 37 itself is arranged at a specific distance from the plate 38, and an inserted position, in which the plate 37 is arranged in contact with the plate 38 and is coupled to it to make the shafts 33 and 28 angularly integral with each other.

In the detector device 20 of Figure 3, before making the initial adjustment, the button 35 is raised to disengage the plates 37 and 38, and then rotated to bring the rotary member (not shown) of the potentiometer 25 to its zero position. Once the initial adjustment has been made by the motor 11, the button 35 is lowered to bring the plate 37 into its mating position with the plate 38.

In the variant illustrated in figure 4, the transducer 21 is constituted by a slide potentiometer 39 extending parallel to the rod 7 and supported by the casing 10 by means of a bracket 40. In the potentiometer 39, the input organ 22 is constituted by a first slide 41 mounted so as to slide along a window 42 of the potentiometer 39 itself extending parallel to the rod 7, and by a second slide 43 integral with the slide 41 by means of an integral appendix 44.

to the slide 41 itself. Finally, the transmission 23 is substantially made up of a friction joint 45 placed between the rod 7 and the slide 43 and defined by a through hole 46 obtained through the slide 4 engaged by friction from the rod 7, and by a locking screw 47 carried by the slide 43 to lock the position of the rod 7 inside the hole 46.

In use, the initial adjustment is made after loosening screw 47. In this way, rod 7 is moved by motor 11 and drags slide 43 until, if necessary, one of the ends of slide 41 stops in contact with one of the ends of window 42, causing rod 7 to slide against slide 43 by friction.

Once the initial adjustment has been made, the slide 41 is moved manually, together with the slide 43, until it reaches its zero position.

13 centered with respect to the window 42, and the screw 47 is blocked to make the rod 7 and the slide 43, and, therefore, the slide 41, integral with each other.

1.- Adjustable headlamp (1) for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, comprising an external casing (2) mountable in a fixed position on the relevant said vehicle, a reflector (4) mounted inside the casing (2) to rotate with respect to the casing (2) itself at least around an axis (5), means: actuators (8) to rotate the headlamp (4) with respect to O

to the casing (2) around the said axis (5), and means ? -o or <? detectors <20) of the position of the reflector (4) O

with respect to the casing (2) around the said axis (5); the

said actuating means (8) comprising an output member (7) movable with respect to the casing (2) and coupled to the reflector (4); characterised in that said actuating means (8) comprise a single actuator device (11) for said output member (7); and that said detecting means (20) comprise a movable input member (22), and detachable joint means (24) interposed between said output member (7) and said input member (22).

2.- Projector according to claim 1, characterised in that the said joint means (24)

Claims (1)

centered with respect to the window 42, and the screw 47 is locked to make the rod 7 and the slide 43, and, therefore, the slide 41, integral with each other. CLAIM S 1.- Adjustable headlamp (1<) >for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, comprising an external casing (2) mountable in a fixed position on the relative said vehicle, a reflector (4) mounted inside the casing (2) to rotate with respect to the casing <(>2) itself at least around an axis (5), actuator means (B) for rotating the headlamp (4) with respect to the casing (2) around said axis (5), and means V detecting (20) the position of the reflector (4) with respect to the casing (2) around said axis (5); the said actuator means (8) comprising an output member (7) movable with respect to the casing (2) and coupled to the reflector (4); characterized in that <( iii >A<lb>scrzoneo nr. that said actuating means (8) comprise a single actuator device (11) for said output organ (7); and that said detecting means (20) comprise a movable input organ (22), and decoupleable joint means (24<) >interposed between said output winch (7) and said input organ (22). 2.- Projector according to claim 1, characterized in that said joint means (24) comprise a friction joint (30)(45). 3.- Projector according to claim 2, characterized in that said friction joint (30) comprises two plates (31,32) arranged frontally in contact with each other; a first (31) of said plates being coupled to said input organ (22), and a second (32) of said plates being coupled to said output organ (7). 4.- Projector according to claim 2, characterized in that said friction joint (45) comprises a slide (43) slidably coupled by friction to said output organ (7). 5.- Projector according to claim 4, characterized in that disengageable locking means (47) are carried by said slide (43) to lock the slide (43) itself in a given position on said output organ (7). 6.- Projector according to claim 1, characterized in that said joint means (24) comprise a disengageable front joint (36). 7.- Projector according to claim 6, characterized in that said front joint <(>36<) > comprises two plates (37,38) arranged facing each other and provided with respective front teeth; a the first <(>37<) >of said plates being coupled to said input member (22), a second (38) of said plates being coupled to said output member (7), and movement means (34,35) being provided to axially move said two plates (37,38) relative to each other between a position of mutual engagement and a position of disengagement of said front teeth. 8.- Projector according to claim 7, characterized in that said movement means (34,35) comprise a button (35) coupled to said input member (22), and ? c Vvi operable to move said first plate (37) from or c ?. or e towards said second plate (38). M O m a 9.- Projector according to claim 1, c O s- i'i characterized in that said detecting means < fSS . ?*3? p_ C (20) comprise an electromechanical transducer (25)(39) coupled to said input winch (22). 10.- Headlight according to claim 9, characterised in that said transducer is a rotary potentiometer (25); said input member (22) being constituted by a rotatable shaft (26)(33). 11.- Headlight according to claim 9, characterised in that said transducer is a slide potentiometer (39); said input member (22) being constituted by a slide (43). 12.- Adjustable headlight for vehicles, substantially as described with reference to the attached drawings,