Underbody terrain lighting for off-road vehicles

The present invention may be used for illuminating the terrain in the proximity of the axles, differential, wheels and tires for off-road vehicles. An access cover of differential gear axle housing may have lateral ribs formed as part of the cover outside surface. A recess may be formed by recess walls as an element of the lateral ribs. A light emitting device may be mounted in the recess and may be electrically connected through a port in the recess walls to an electrical power source controllable from an off-road vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to lighting systems for off-road land vehicles for illuminating the terrain in proximity of the axles and wheels of the vehicles for night viewing of terrain obstacles. The new lighting system is incorporated into the differential housing for drive wheels of the off-road vehicles.

Head lamps or lights, fog lights, and back-up lights may be incorporated on or in the body/chassis of land vehicles, including off-road vehicles such as heavy duty pickup trucks, trucks and equipment, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). These off-road vehicles often have extra ground clearance, sturdy tires, and front and rear locking differentials with housings. Off-road vehicles may often include four wheel drive vehicles. One example of use of off-road vehicles is for Rock Crawling for which vehicles are typically modified with larger than stock tires, suspension components that allow greater axle articulation and terrain separation distance and changes in the differential gear ratio in order to provide the ideal high torque/low speed operation for traversing obstacles. A rock crawler vehicle may have a spotter or an assistant who will go on foot along side of or in front of the vehicle to provide information to the driver on obstacles or areas of terrain that the driver may not be able to see.

For night operation or driving, whether for Rock Crawling or other rough terrain vehicle use, there is often a need for illumination in the proximity of the axles, differentials and wheels/tires for a driver or spotter to view obstacles in order for a vehicle to progress in an off-road environment. There is a need for mounting of lamps, light-emitting devices and the liked under land vehicles for night off-road operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems for illuminating the terrain in the proximity of the axles, differential, wheels and tires for off-road vehicles. An access cover of differential gear axle housing may have lateral ribs formed as part of the cover outside surface. A recess may be formed by recess walls as an element of the lateral ribs. A light emitting device may be mounted in the recess and may be electrically connected through a port in the recess walls to an electrical power source controllable from an off-road vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description represents the best currently contemplated modes for carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 4, a lighting system10for the underbody of an off-road vehicle12may have components mounted in an access cover20of a differential gear axle housing14. The access cover20may have recesses24formed in portions of the structure at an outside surface21that also are lateral ribs22that are used to reinforce the access cover20. Depending on the type of illumination or light emitting device40used, the recesses24may generally be cylindrical or other suitable form. The recesses24illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3are internally cylindrical with recess walls26formed to mate with the lateral ribs22adjacent an elongated generally centrally positioned receptacle28or compartment with side wall30and bottom32contoured to the curvature of the access cover20. The receptacle28has a cover34fastened to enclose the electrical wiring42and batteries44for powering the light emitting devices40. The cover34may be used as a name plate.

The recesses24with light emitting devices40may be sealed at outer edge36to inhibit entry of liquids, such as water, and debris from causing damage or failure of the lighting system10components. The exterior walls26may have ports38open to the receptacle28for electrical connections between the light emitting devices40and the power source44. The application and removal of electrical power may be controlled remotely by a switch or control system (not shown) positioned in a console or dash board for ease of control by a driver of the off-road vehicle12. The power control may be by wiring connection or a wireless remote control device (not shown) to a controller80positioned in the receptacle28. The connecting wiring (partially shown) between the lighting system10components in the access cover20may be routed and attached to structural elements of the off-road vehicle12similar to that understood for land vehicle wiring for other electronic components. The power source44is illustrated as a battery; however, the light emitting devices40may also be connected by cables42to a connector48that is then connected to the vehicle12electrical system (not shown).

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the pinion shaft and differential gear axle housing14may have light emitting sources40with electrical wiring42attached to lateral ribs50adjacent to the pinion shaft housing16component. An attachment bracket52may be used to retain a connector46or other power source. The same wiring and control system as used to control the lighting system10components on the access cover20may be used to operate the components illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. The light emitting devices40may be mounted in generally cylindrical housings54that are open at one end56and closed at the opposite end58. The lighting housings54may be oriented to direct light generally parallel to the pinion shaft housing16axis or at an angular orientation to the housing16. Two lighting housings54are illustrated inFIG. 5oriented at approximately right angles to one another.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 6, the light emitting devices40generally appear to be directed to the rear or the front of a vehicle12depending on whether the differential housing14is part of a rear axle (not shown) or a front axle64and the illumination will be generally parallel to a pinion shaft axis (not shown). However, light emitting devices40may be produced in a variety of light emitting beam forms. For example, the light beam may spread outwardly from the source in a broad cone shape or may be a narrower beam that is directed at an angle relative to the axis of the recess24or housing54. In the case of the access cover20recesses24the recess walls26may have slanted ends25relative to an imaginary plane parallel to the access cover20flange to allow orientation of light emitting devices41to direct light beams to areas of interest at the front or rear portion of the vehicle12. Also in the case of the housing54, they may be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis to direct a light beam other than parallel to the pinion shaft housing axis.

With desired orientation of the light emitting devices40an off-road vehicle12driver may be able to negotiate rough terrain at night in order to travel. In extremely rough terrain a spotter may use the lighting system10at night to aid a driver in traveling in the vehicle. The lighting system10may be incorporated in recreational and military vehicles. Special light emitting devices40may be incorporated, for example, infra-red, for use in military applications to avoid enemy detection and to aid the driver/user. An example of military use may be light emitting devices requiring night vision capability to be seen that assist vehicles in a convoy to follow closely at night and yet avoid detection by an enemy.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, a camera70may be mounted on the access cover20positioned to view the terrain adjacent to the differential housing14. The camera70may be a digital camera with a digital cable72connected to a display (not shown) in the vehicle driver field of view to allow use without the driver having to exit the vehicle12. The camera70may also have a memory device for storage of images and a wireless image transmitter to transmit images to a remote receiver.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.