Electric correction device for headlight positioning

Abstract: Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning, of the type used to set adequately the verticle position of vehicles headlamps, featured in that a small compartment houses an electronic card (3), designed to transmit signals for turning an electric motor (6) correspondingly and, with the collaboration of a reduction planet gear (7), to make it possible the conversion of a turning motion into a linear displacement, to actuate, by means of a ball joint, on the headlamp, also featurted in that, optionally, the reduction gear output shaft is connected, by means of a worm screw, with an actuating screw.

Description: The present descriptive specification refers, as the title indicates, to an electrical setting device for headlamp positioning, of the type used in vehicles in order to place correctly the headlamps vertical position. At present, most vehicles are not provided with the electrical means required to be able to control, from the driving seat, the headlamps position, but said headlamps are controlled by means of a lever or with the headlamp setting screws. Also certain electrical devices are known, having the purpose of correcting the headlamps position when actuating on an electrical control device. Such devices are disclosed in JP 61 092 942 A and GB-A-2 239 513, which comprises the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1. EP 0 733 536 B1 discloses an electric power steering device for assisting the steering operation of an automobile. The headlamps not provided with an electrical setting device have the disadvantage of being frequently defocused for it is relatively complicated having to open the engine hood and adjust the setting screws. With respect to the electrical devices known for the headlamps positioning, we have to state that in some cases they involve serious operation problems, due to the device complexity, while in other cases the problem is the device excessive volume what makes it very difficult to be installed on the headlamp. It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the electrical setting devices known in the prior art. Further, it is an object to provide an electrical setting device for headlamp positioning which is small and which provides a stand alone solution. This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. An electrical setting device for headlamp positioning has been developed, said electrical setting device comprising a motion control electronic card, an electrical micromotor, a planet gear and a headlamp parabole actuating stem, all housed in a proper case. The electronic card receives the feeding signal, ground and the reference voltage which starts the device. Said electronic card compares the inlet reference signal with the feed back voltage proportional to the headlamp position, by means of a potentiometer directly connected to it. Depending on both voltages, the card logic establishes if the device has to operate and whether it should raise or lower the headlamp. The electrical motor operates depending on the polarity supplied by the card, turning in the required direction. Pressure and speed required to turn the headlamp parabole in order to set its position are provided by the planet reduction gear connected to the motor output shaft, and to the acting stem which is coupled to the headlamp parabole. Optionally, the device could be placed inside a turning cylindrical case, which contains the electronic card that controls the electrical motor motion, so that said electrical motor, through the associated speed reduction gear, displaces the actuating stem. The displacement of said actuating stem is obtained by means of a rack and pinion system; the said actuating stem is provided in its lower end with twin leg rim which holds the potentiometer lever. The present invention provides the essential advantage of having very reduced dimensions as compared with the known means, with a high reliability based on a very simple design. It must also be emphasized its very low manufacturing cost as well as its easy assembly. To better understand the object of present invention the enclosed drawings show a practical preferential embodiment of it, where: Figure 1 shows an enlarged perspective of the whole assembly, before mounting, with a cross section of the portion of the case housing the actuating stem. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the assembly components. Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of an optional pattern of the present invention, with cross sections of the case and the actuating stem for an improved view. The electrical setting device for headlamp positioning includes, as it is seen in the reference figures, a case (1) with a cover (2) where the electronic card (3) is housed, said electronic card (3) comprising a control chip (4) and a potentiometer (5), all components included in the card being soldered to said card upper side. Signals transmitted by the electronic card (3) to the motor (6) connected to the planet gear (7), make it possible to convert the motor turning motion into a linear displacement, by means of the crown (8) exterior shaft teeth, said crown being coupled to the actuating stem through the rack and pinion system (10). The laminar section electronic card (3) has a square shape, having two square legs (12, 13) in one end (11), said legs having square notches (14), and the potentiometer (5) can be placed on either leg (12, 13). The planet reduction gear (7) comprises a fixed crown (15) connected to the motor (6), which holds the radial turn crown (8); the inlet pinion (16) is centrally placed inside said assembly and has its outside end connected to the motor shaft (6), whereas its inside end is coupled, by means of a gear, to the satellite gears (17), having a double teeth (18, 19) with the largest diameter corresponding to the teeth (18) and smallest diameter corresponding to teeth (19), said satellite gears (17) transmitting the turning motion to the turning crown (8). The actuating stem (9) is defined by a cylinder shape body with ribs and a rack (10) fastened to its upper end, the rack being displaced from the stem axis with the flat surface of said reck upper end (10) provided with a leg (20) which holds the potentiometer (5) control lever (21). Optionally, the electrical setting device for headlampo positioning can be made up by a cylinder shape case (22), having a diametral notch on its front end, which houses the device comprising an electronic card (23) designed to control a motor (6) with a shaft coupled to a speed reduction gear (7) with the associated shaft (24) acting, by means of a worm screw system, on the actuating stem (25). Said actuating stem (25) is defined by a cylinder body, with a hollow main portion and with a solid cylinder shape end portion of shorter diameter, having an spherical end (26) of slightly larger diameter, this end might be shaped as a ball joint or similar; the back end is provided with square profile (27), with a rim (28) split into two legs with a clip configuration, to hold the potentiometer (30) lever (29) and displace it accordingly; the said control lever (25) moves inside the neck (31) located in the case (22) front end. Once the nature of present invention, as well as one way to realize it have been sufficiently described, it is only to be added that it will be possible to make changes in shape, materials and dimensions in the complete assembly or in their components, as long as those changes do not substantially alter the nature of the invention as claimed hereafter:

Claims: Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning, of the type used to set the vertical position of vehicles headlamps from the driving seat comprising an electrical micro motor (6), a speed reduction gear (7), a headlamp parabole actuating stem (9; 25), and a potentiometer (5; 30), wherein the micro motor (6) output shaft is associated with a speed reduction gear (7) which by means of a rack (10) and a pinion system or by means of a worm screw displaces the actuating stem (9; 25), so that the motor turning motion is converted into a linear displacement of the actuating stem (9; 25), characterized in that the electrical setting device comprises a planet gear (7) as speed reduction gear having its input shaft on the same axis as the output shaft, wherein a motion control electronic card (3; 23) is housed together with the other components in the same casing (1; 25), and wherein the motion control electronic card (3; 23) comprises a potentiometer (5; 30) for providing a feed back voltage proportional to the headlamp position. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device has a cylindrical exterior shape casing (22) containing the components such as the motor (6), gear (7) and electronic card (23). Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the electronic card (3) controlling system has a square shape with a square notch in one end, forming a twin leg (12, 13) arrangement, making it possible to place the potentiometer (5) in either leg, with all electronic components being soldered to the card upper face. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the planet reduction gear comprises a fixed crown (15) fastened to the device case, which is associated to a free crown (8), so that the free crown (8) can turn according to the micro motor (6) turning direction, the central portion of the reduction gear (7) including a pinion to transmit a circular turn to the three satellite gears (17) placed inside the reduction gear, which, with the collaboration of the fixed crown (15), make a slow turn of the free crown possible. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the three satellite gears (17) included in the reduction gear (7) have two perimetral series of teeth with different diameter. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the actuating stem (9) is composed of a cylinder shape body with multiple ribs having a rack (10) in its upper end with the rack teeth displaced from the stem axis, while the stem lower end is provided with a spherical terminal or a ball joint. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the rack (10) associated to the stem (9) has a rim with twin legs located in the back face of the upper end, with the potentiometer (5) lever held between said legs. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the speed reduction planet gear (7) includes an output shaft (24) with a worm screw which is an integral part thereof. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the actuating lever (25) is made of a hollow cylinder in its main portion having inside a worm screw, having a solid end portion with cylinder shape of smaller diameter ending in a pointed shape, whereas the opposite end has a square shape ending in rim with legs, with the lever (29) of the potentiometer (30) being held between the legs. Electrical setting device for headlamp positioning according to one of the precedent claims, characterized in that the cylinder shape body (22) has a main portion with a diameter larger than that of an end portion which has a neck guiding the actuating stem (25) around the stem outer diameter.

Inventors: ALEJANDRE ALEJANDRE MIGUEL ANG, CEBOLLADA ANDRES ALBERTO, LORENTE MONTON MIGUEL ANGEL, ALEJANDRE ALEJANDRE, MIGUEL ANGEL, CEBOLLADA ANDRES, ALBERTO, LORENTE MONTON, MIGUEL ANGEL
Applicants: AUX DE COMPONENTES ELECTRICOS, AUXILIAR DE COMPONENTES ELECTRICOS, SA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60Q1
IPC codes: B60Q1