Patent Publication Number: US-2003231510-A1

Title: Vehicle headlamp

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175270, filed Jun. 17, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle headlamp. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the art of decreasing load resulting from the bending of a cord when the direction of irradiation is changed.  
       [0003] Variable light distribution type headlamps are widely used for vehicle lamps, particularly for automotive headlamps, to improve safety.  
       [0004] Changes of light distribution are broadly classified into two categories in concept: changing the luminous distribution pattern comes under one category and changing the direction (angle) of irradiation comes under the other.  
       [0005] The former is intended to change light distribution during travel in order to switch between a high beam (driving beam) and a low beam (meeting beam) depending on the driving condition; the high beam is mainly used during travel in suburbs and high-speed driving on highways, whereas the low beam is mainly used during travel in urban areas and at the time of meeting oncoming vehicles. The latter is intended to make an adjustment (an aiming adjustment or an initial aiming adjustment) of the main optical axis (irradiation axis) of a headlamp at the time of shipment from the manufacturer and of regular or irregular inspections for the vehicle body shaft, to make an (leveling) adjustment for vertically changing the direction of irradiation in accordance with the longitudinal inclination of the vehicle body due to a change in load and inertia at the time of acceleration or deceleration during travel and also to make an adjustment for laterally changing the direction of irradiation when driving on curved roads and turning to the right or left.  
       [0006] The direction of irradiation may be adjusted by tilting a tiltable member supporting a light source. In such a structure that a reflector with the light source mounted thereon is tiltably supported by a lamp body, the direction of irradiation is changed by making the reflector move to one side. In such a structure that a plurality of reflectors (e.g., a reflector for the high beam, a reflector for the low beam and so forth) are supported by tiltable frames with respect to lamp bodies, moreover, the direction of irradiation is changed by making the frame move to one side. When such a frame as mentioned above is employed, each reflector with the light source mounted thereon may be pivotally supported by the frame. A tiltable member for changing the direction of irradiation by making the tiltable member move to one side may additionally be provided. For example, the leveling adjustment may be made by vertically tilting the frame and the adjustment for laterally turning the direction of irradiation by tilting the reflectors may also be made when driving on curved roads and turning to the right or left.  
       [0007] Various cords may be used in a vehicle headlamp, including a cord for supplying electric power to a light source and a cord for supplying electric power to a drive means in such a case as to make a tiltable member move to one side by the drive means like a motor or a solenoid that is electrically driven.  
       [0008] When the cord is led out from a member (light source or the like) supported by the tiltable member, the cord is pulled and contracted as the tiltable member moves to one side.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009] The present application describes techniques related to decreasing the bending load of wires in a vehicle headlamp.  
       [0010] In one aspect, a vehicle headlamp includes a lamp body; a tiltable member tiltable on an axis about a fulcrum and tiltably supported by the lamp body; and a light source having a cord and supported by the tiltable member, wherein the cord from the light source is fixed in the vicinity of the fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
       [0011] The light source cord also may be fixed to the lamp body such that a line connecting the location where the cord is fixed to the tiltable member and the location where the cord is fixed to the lamp body is set in parallel to the axis of the tiltable member.  
       [0012] The tiltable member may be a reflector.  
       [0013] In another aspect, a vehicle headlamp includes a lamp body; a tiltable member tiltable on an axis about a fulcrum and tiltably supported by the lamp body; a light source having a cord and tiltably supported by the tiltable member; and lighting control means having a cord and tiltably coupled to the lamp body to change the direction of irradiation of light from the light source, such that all or part of the cords from the light source and the lighting control means are fixed in the vicinity of the fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
       [0014] The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. In some implementations, there is a decreased load resulting from the bending of a cord when the direction of irradiation is changed.  
       [0015] Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages may be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016] These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.  
     [0017] [FIG. 1] 
     [0018]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an implementation of a vehicle headlamp with a tiltable member (reflector) that has moved to one side.  
     [0019] [FIG. 2] 
     [0020]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the vehicle headlamp of FIG. 1 where the tiltable member has moved in a direction opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 1.  
     [0021] [FIG. 3] 
     [0022]FIG. 3 is an illustration of the principal part of a vehicle headlamp as a another implementation.  
     [0023] [FIG. 4] 
     [0024]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle headlamp in accordance with the present disclosure.  
     [0025] [FIG. 5] 
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the principal part of the headlamp of FIG. 4 as seen from the back.  
     [0027] [FIG. 6] 
     [0028]FIG. 6 is an illustration of a prior art vehicle headlamp with a tiltable member (reflector) that has moved to one side.  
     [0029] [FIG. 7] 
     [0030]FIG. 7 is an illustration of the vehicle headlamp of FIG. 7 where the tiltable member has moved in a direction opposite to the direction of FIG. 6. 
    
    
     [0031] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0032] The systems and techniques described relate to a vehicle headlamp that has a tiltable member for supporting a light source tiltably supported by a lamp body and a cord led out from the light source. The cord may be fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum, which acts as pivot point, of the tiltable member.  
     [0033] In an implementation, a vehicle headlamp has a light source tiltably supported by a lamp body and a tiltable member for supporting lighting control means for changing the direction of irradiation of light from the light source and the whole or part of cords led out from the light source and the lighting control means are fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum, which acts as a pivot point, of the tiltable member.  
     [0034] Fixing the cord in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member, may decrease cord movement because the cord substantially twists when the tiltable member moves to one side and the cord follows the tilting movement of the tiltable member.  
     [0035] An implementation of a vehicle headlamp may be provided with a tiltable member supported by a lamp body and used for supporting a light source, a cord led out from the light source being fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
     [0036] Another implementation of a vehicle headlamp according to the present disclosure may be provided with a tiltable member supported by a lamp body and may be used to support a light source and a lighting control means for changing the direction of irradiation of light from the light source, and the whole or part of cords led out from the light source and the lighting control means are fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
     [0037] The lamp body can be a member fixed to a vehicle body and have a hollow portion that opens substantially forward. A lens may be attached to the hollow portion so as to close the hollow portion whereby to form an outer casing having space (a lamp chamber) inside. The lens may have lens steps for refracting and/or diffusing light or may be a so-called plain lens without any lens step.  
     [0038] The tiltable member may be disposed within the lamp chamber. In this case, the tiltable member is a member moving to one side to change the direction of irradiation and also used to support the light source. An incandescent lamp, a discharge lamp and so on are usable as light sources.  
     [0039] When a reflector supporting the light source is tiltably disposed within the lamp chamber, the reflector is equivalent to the tiltable member.  
     [0040] There may be a case where a frame is tiltably disposed within the lamp chamber and where the reflector supporting the light source is supported by the frame. In this case, the frame is equivalent to a tiltable member, so that the tiltable member (frame) supports the light source indirectly (using the reflector). Consequently, supporting a light source may include supporting the light source directly and also indirectly.  
     [0041] When a frame is employed, the reflector may tiltably be supported by the frame. In such a case as this, not only the reflector but also the frame is a tiltable member.  
     [0042] Although there may be a case where the reflector and the frame are tiltably supported by a member fixed to the lamp chamber (a fixed member), the fixed member may be considered as a part of the lamp body.  
     [0043] There may also be a case where the reflector and the frame (tiltable members) are moved to one side by a drive portion driven automatically or under remote control. The drive portion may be considered as part of the lighting control means.  
     [0044] A reflector having a converging function may be used and a shade for limiting the upper edge of a luminous distribution pattern may be disposed in the converging area of the reflector, so that a plurality of luminous distribution patterns different in the position and configuration of the upper edge are obtained by moving the shade. With this arrangement employed, the drive portion for moving the shade may be considered as part of the lighting control means.  
     [0045] The source of driving power of each drive portion (lighting control means) above is not limited to a specific one but may be a motor, a solenoid, an air cylinder or the like.  
     [0046] The automatic driving of the drive portion (lighting control means) may include a drive portion that is automatically driven on the basis of the results detected properly by a sensor and also that when the longitudinal inclination of a vehicle body is detected by a position sensor provided, for example, between axles in front and behind and the vehicle body. Light distribution may be turned downward or upward to compensate for the inclination. Further, the automatic driving of the drive portion may include detecting a steering operation and its direction by, for example, a sensor for detecting the steering operation. Light distribution may be turned to the right or left to compensate for a change in direction. The remote control of the drive portion (lighting control means) may include that the driver in the driver&#39;s seat can operate an operating portion in harmony with driving or vehicle conditions.  
     [0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an implementation of a vehicle headlamp  100  is an automotive headlamp. A lens  120  may be attached to a lamp body  110  having a hollow portion that opens substantially forward to cover the front opening in order to demarcate a lamp chamber  130 . Further, a reflector  140  may be tiltably disposed within the lamp chamber  130 . Although the reflector  140  can be provided so that it is capable of moving so as to tilt vertically and laterally, only the vertically tilting movement is referred to in this case.  
     [0048] A fulcrum shaft  150  may be supported by the upper portion of the rear wall surface  111  of the lamp body  110 . A bearing  151  may be formed integrally with the front end of the fulcrum shaft  150  and the bearing  151  can be rotatably fitted into a bearing receiving portion  141  formed so as to project backward in the upper end portion of the reflector  140 , the bearing  151  being used as a tiltable fulcrum.  
     [0049] A leveling drive portion  160  may be supported by the lower end portion of the rear wall surface  111  of the lamp body  110 . The leveling drive portion  160  can have a driving source such as a motor to be driven automatically or under remote control inside and an adjusting rod  161  projected from the front end of the leveling drive portion  160  is moved back and forth when the driving source is driven. A bearing  162  may be formed integrally with the front end of the adjusting rod  161 . The bearing  162  can be rotatably fitted into a bearing receiving portion  142  formed so as to project backward in the lower end portion of the reflector  140 , whereby the lower end portion of the reflector  140  is coupled to the leveling drive portion  160 .  
     [0050] A bulb  170  as a light source is supported by the reflector  140 . The bulb  170  is a discharge bulb, for example, and a power supply socket  180  is attached to a base portion projecting from the rear side of the reflector  140 .  
     [0051] A cord  181  is led out from the power supply socket  180  before being drawn out from the center of the rear portion of the lamp body  110 . Further, the cord  181  is fixed to two cord clamps including a cord clamp  181   a  near a bearing receiving portion  141  on the upper side of the reflector  140  and a cord clamp  181   b  near a place where the fulcrum shaft  150  of the lamp body  110  is supported. In other words, the cord  181  is secured in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum  151 . In this case, the length between the two cord clamps  181   a  and  181   b  of the cord  181  is substantially great enough to prevent the tilting of the reflector  140  (the tilting of the reflector from the state shown in FIG. 1 to what is shown in FIG. 2) from being impeded.  
     [0052] In the vehicle headlamp  100  above, since the cord  181  drawn out from the light source (bulb)  170  is fixed by the cord clamps  181   a  and  181   b  near the tiltable fulcrum  151  of the reflector  140 , part of the cord  181  moves as the reflector  140  moves to one side and only the portion  181 ′ between the cord clamps  181   a  and  181   b  is moved then. Moreover, the moving amount at this time is extremely small because the reflector  140  is allowed to move to one side by substantially twisting the portion  181 ′ of the cord  181 . Therefore, the load applied to the leveling drive portion  160  by the bending of the cord  181  is extremely small.  
     [0053]FIG. 3 shows the principal part of a vehicle headlamp as a second implementation of the disclosure.  
     [0054] A vehicle headlamp  200  is an automotive headlamp and provided with a frame  210  tiltably disposed in a lamp chamber  
     [0055] The frame  210  may be tiltably supported by a pivotal shaft  220 , an adjusting shaft  230  and a leveling drive portion  240  within the lamp body.  
     [0056] The fulcrum shaft  220  may include a bearing (not shown) integrally formed at the front end, the bearing being rotatably fitted into the frame  210 .  
     [0057] The adjusting shaft  230  may be rotatably supported by the lamp body and a threaded shaft portion  231  can be screwed into a nut body (not shown) supported by the frame  210 .  
     [0058] The frame  210  may be coupled to the leveling drive portion  240  below a position where the bearing of a tiltable fulcrum, that is, the fulcrum shaft  220  is fitted in. The leveling drive portion  240  may include a driving source such as a motor to be driven automatically or under remote control inside and an adjusting rod  241  projected from the front end that may be moved back and forth when the driving source is driven. A bearing (not shown) formed integrally with the front end of the adjusting rod  241  may be rotatably fitted into the frame  210 . When the leveling drive portion  240  is driven, the frame  210  moves so as to vertically tilt with a line connecting the coupling point of the fulcrum shaft  220  (the position of the bearing) and the coupling point of the adjusting shaft  230  (the position of the nut body) as a tilting axis x. The adjusting shaft  230  is used to move the frame  210  to one side at the time of initial aiming and the adjusting shaft  230  is turned, the threaded shaft portion  231  is screwed into the nut body supported by the frame or screwed back. As the adjusting shaft  230  is not moved back and forth with respect to the lamp body, the portion used to support the nut body of the frame  210  is moved back or forth. Therefore, the frame  210  moves so as to laterally tilt with the line connecting the coupling point of the fulcrum shaft  220  (the position of the bearing) and the coupling point of the leveling drive portion  240  as an axis when the adjusting shaft  230  is rotated.  
     [0059] A reflector  250  may be laterally tiltably supported by the frame  210 . A swivel drive portion  260  may be supported substantially at the center of the lower end portion of the frame  210 . The swivel drive portion  260  can be used to move the reflector  250  so as to tilt with respect to the frame  210  and has a rotary shaft  261  automatically rotated in response to steering operation. The rotary shaft  261  is passed upward through the lower side portion  211  of the frame  210  and the reflector  250  is supported by the portion projected upward from the lower side portion  211 . Therefore, the reflector  250  moves so as to laterally tilt when the swivel drive portion  260  is driven.  
     [0060] In an implementation, an incandescent bulb  270  may be supported by the reflector  250  and a cord  280  for use in supplying power is extended from the incandescent bulb  270 . The cord  280  is trained against the back and then the base of the reflector  250  before being fixed to a cord clamp  280   a  near the rotary shaft  261  of the swivel drive portion  260  and in the base of the reflector  250 . Further, the cord  280  is extended along the rotary shaft  261  and fixed to a cord clamp  280   b  near the position where the rotary shaft  261  of the swivel drive portion  160  is passed through the top surface of the lower side portion  211  of the frame  210 . The cord  280  is trained against the front of the lower side portion  211  of the frame  210  from the cord clamp  280   b  and then the outer side of one side portion  212  before being fixed to a cord clamp  280   c  near the position where the bearing (not shown) of the fulcrum shaft  220  is fitted in the outer side of the one side portion  212 . A cord fixing portion  290  is provided to the lamp body (not shown) and the cord  280  parting from the cord clamp  280   c  is fixed to the cord fixing portion  290 . A cord  280 ′ in the portion between a point  280   d  fixed to the cord fixing portion  290  of the cord  280  and the cord clamp  280   c  extends in substantially parallel to the tilting axis x.  
     [0061] In a case where the frame  210  moves so as to vertically tilt when the leveling drive portion  240  is driven, the cord  280  allows the frame  210  to move to one side by mainly causing the portion  280 ′ between the cord clamp  280   c  and the fixed point  280   d  to twist. In a case where the reflector  250  moves so as to laterally tilt when the swivel drive portion  260  is driven, the cord  280  allows the reflector  250  to move to one side by mainly causing the portion  280 ″ between the cord clamps  280   a  and  280   b  to twist. When the frame  210  and the reflector  250  as tiltable members move to one side, the load applied to the leveling drive portion  240  and the swivel drive portion  260  as lighting control means becomes extremely small as only the short portions  280 ′ and  280 ″ of the cord  280  are substantially twisted.  
     [0062]FIGS. 4 and 5 show another implementation of a vehicle headlamp.  
     [0063] A vehicle headlamp  300 , though not shown in detail, has an outer casing  310  formed with a lamp body and a lens, and a frame  320  is tiltably disposed within the outer casing  310 .  
     [0064] The frame  320  is substantially rectangular in front shape, which is long sideways such that one side portion of a framelike portion  321  having a length longitudinally and a substantially platelike support portion  322  are provided integrally in a connected row arrangement. Two openings  323  and  325  are formed vertically in parallel in the support portion  322 . A mounting hole is formed in three places  324 ,  324  and  324  of the frame  320 , respectively corresponding to both L-shaped sides and a bending point as seen from the longitudinal direction.  
     [0065] The frame  320  is tiltably supported by the lamp body via two adjusting shafts  330  and  330  and a leveling drive portion  340 .  
     [0066] Each of the adjusting shafts  330  is formed integrally with a threaded shaft portion  331  and an operating head  332  provided at the rear end of the threaded shaft portion  331  and rotatably supported by the rear wall surface of the lamp body. The adjusting shaft  330  is coupled to the frame  320  via a nut member  350 .  
     [0067] The nut member  350  includes a nut receiving body  351  and a nut body  352 . The nut receiving body  351  is formed of synthetic resin and a spherical hollow portion (not shown) having an opening at the rear end is formed. The nut body  352  is supported by the nut receiving body  351 . The nut body  352  is spherical in outer form and has a threaded hole  352   a  passed through the center of the nut body  352  and a mating pin  352   b  projecting from the outer peripheral face in the diametrical direction. The nut body  352  is rotatably fitted in the spherical hollow portion of the nut receiving body  351  and the mating pin  352   b  slidably mates with a slide groove formed in the spherical hollow portion (not shown) of the nut receiving body  351  in such a manner as to longitudinally extend.  
     [0068] The nut members  350  and  350  are supported by the respective two mounting holes  324  and  324  on the upper side of the frame  320 . Moreover, the threaded shaft portions  331  and  331  of the two adjusting shafts  330  and  330  are respectively screwed into the threaded holes  352   a  and  352   a  of the nut bodies  352  and  352  of the nut members  350  and  350 . Consequently, the threaded shaft portions  331  and  331  are screwed into the nut bodies  352  and  352  by rotating the adjusting shafts  330  and  330 . As the adjusting shafts  330  and  330  are set longitudinally unmovable with respect to the lamp body, the portions used to support the nut members  350  and  350  of the frame  320  are moved back and forth. Further, as the nut receiving bodies  352  and  352  supported by the frame  320  are rotatably, these nut bodies  352  and  352  form the tiltable fulcrums of the frame  320 .  
     [0069] A bearing receiving body  360  is supported by the mounting hole  324  on the lower side of the frame  320 . The bearing receiving body  360  is formed of synthetic resin and a spherical hollow portion (not shown) having an opening at the rear end is formed.  
     [0070] The leveling drive portion  340  has a driving source such as a motor to be driven automatically or under remote control inside and an adjusting rod  341  projected from the front end is moved back and forth when the driving source is driven. A bearing  342  formed at the front end of the adjusting rod  341  is fitted into the frame  210 . When the leveling drive portion  240  is driven, the frame  320  moves so as to vertically tilt with a line connecting the two nut bodies  352  and  352  as a tilting axis x.  
     [0071] A reflector  370  is supported by the upper portion of the support portion  322  and another reflector  380  is supported by the lower portion of the support portion  322 . Bulbs  371  and  381  are supported by the respective reflectors  370  and  380 . In this case, the reflectors  370  and  380  excluding their front end portions are projected back from the openings  323  and  325 .  
     [0072] Then the reflector  370  and the bulb  371  are used to form a headlamp for a high-beam unit and the reflector  380  and the bulb  381  are used to form a fog lamp unit.  
     [0073] A reflector  410  are supported by the framelike portion  321  so as to laterally tilt via a swivel drive portion  390 . The swivel drive portion  390  is used to make the reflector  410  move so as to laterally tilt with respect to the frame  320  and provided with a rotary shaft  391  automatically rotating in response to the steering operation performed, the rotary shaft  391  being connected to the back of the reflector  410 . Therefore, the reflector  410  moves so as to laterally tilt when the swivel drive portion  390  is driven.  
     [0074] The reflector  410  employs a discharge bulb as a light source and the upper edge of a luminous distribution pattern is limited by a shade  430  disposed in the light converging position of the discharge bulb  420  and moreover two different luminous distribution patterns are obtained by vertically moving the shade  430 . Accordingly, an actuator  440  is attached to the reflector  410  and the actuator  440  is so arranged as to select one of the two position of the shade  430  by turning a solenoid on/off.  
     [0075] A low-beam headlamp unit is formed with the reflector  410 , and discharge bulb  420  and the shade  430 .  
     [0076] A cord  373  led out from a connector  372  attached to the base portion of the bulb  371  fitted to the reflector  370 , a cord  383  led out from the connector  382  of the bulb  381  fitted to the reflector  380 , a cord  392  led out from the swivel drive portion  390  and a cord  441  led out from the actuator  440  are brought together in one bundle. The bundle of cords  450  is fixed by a fixing metal part  460   a  on the underside of the opening  323  out of the back of the support portion  322  of the frame  320 . The bundle of cords  450  is fixed by a fixing metal part  460   b  in a position close to the tiltable axis x out of the upper end portion of the back of the support portion  322 . Further, the bundle of cords  450  is hung on a hanging metal part  460   c  provided near the tilting axis x of the lamp body and led outside the outer casing  310 . Consequently, a portion  450 ′ between the fixing metal part  460   b  and the hanging metal part  460   c  out of the bundle of cords  450  is allowed to extend in substantially parallel to the tilting axis x.  
     [0077] A power supply cord  422  led out from a power supply socket  421  attached to the base of the discharge bulb  420  mounted onto the reflector  410  is fixed by a fixing metal part  460   d  at the rear end of the lower end portion of the framelike portion  321  of the frame  320 . Moreover, the power supply cord  422  is passed through a through-hole  311  formed in the extended position of the rotary shaft  391  of the swivel drive portion  390  out of the base portion of the outer casing  310 .  
     [0078] In the vehicle headlamp  300 , the frame  320  moves so as to vertically tilt on the tilting axis x. At this time, the bundle of cords  450  allows the frame  320  to move to one side as the portion  450 ′ (a portion in substantially parallel to the tilting axis x) between the fixing metal part  460   b  and the hanging metal part  460   c  substantially twists. Consequently, the cords  373 ,  383 ,  392  and  441  cause almost no load to be applied to the leveling drive portion  340 .  
     [0079] When the swivel drive portion  390  is driven, the reflector  410  moves so as to laterally tilt. Since the power supply cord  422  extends in substantially parallel to the tiltable shaft, that is, in the vicinity of the rotary shaft  391  of the swivel drive portion  390  of the reflector  410 , the power supply cord  422  allows the reflector  410  to move to one side by twisting and the power supply cord  422  causes almost no load to be applied to the swivel drive portion  390 .  
     [0080] An implementation of the headlamp has the tiltable member for supporting the light source tiltably supported by the lamp body and the cord led out from the light source is fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
     [0081] In another implementation of a vehicle headlamp, because the cord is fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member, the moving amount of the cord is small when the tiltable member moves to one side and the cord follows the tilting movement of the tiltable member by substantially twisting. Therefore, the cord causes almost no load to be applied to the tiltable member.  
     [0082] Another implementation of a vehicle headlamp has the tiltable member for supporting the lighting control means for changing the direction of irradiation of light from the light source and the whole or part of cords led out from the light source and the lighting control means are fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member.  
     [0083] In another implementation of the headlamp, because the cords are fixed in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum of the tiltable member, the moving amount of the cords may be small when the tiltable member moves to one side and the cord follows the tilting movement of the tiltable member by substantially twisting. Therefore, the load applied to the cords as the tiltable member moves to one side is reduced as compared to when the cord is not fixed near the tiltable fulcrum.  
     [0084] Cords from the light source and/or the lighting control means may be fixed to the lamp body such that a line connecting the position where the cord is fixed to the tiltable member and the position where the cord is fixed to the lamp body is set in parallel to the tilting axis of the tiltable member, which may further reduce the load applied to the cord as the tiltable member moves to one side.  
     [0085]FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a conventional vehicle headlamp a.  
     [0086] The vehicle headlamp a is provided with a lamp body b and the front opening of the lamp body b is covered with a lens c to demarcate a lamp chamber d. A reflector e is tiltably provided within the lamp chamber d and a bulb f is mounted on the reflector e as a light source.  
     [0087] The upper end portion of the reflector e is pivotally supported by the lamp body b using a fulcrum shaft  9  and the lower end portion of the reflector e is coupled to a leveling drive portion h. The leveling drive portion h is driven under remote control or automatically and has an adjusting rod i moving back and forth. The front end of the adjusting rod i is coupled to the lower end portion of the reflector e.  
     [0088] A cord j for use in supplying power to the bulb f is fixed to the lamp body b. The cord j includes a portion j′ (see FIG. 7) between the portion fixed to the lamp body b and the bulb f so that the portion j′ warps and provides slack when the reflector e moves so as to tilt upward.  
     [0089] In the case of the vehicle headlamp a above, the reflector e is pivoted downward with a point k coupled to the fulcrum shaft g. Point k acts as a fulcrum, or pivot point, when the adjusting rod i of the leveling drive portion h moves back (see FIG. 6). When the adjusting rod i moves forward conversely, the reflector e is pivoted upward (see FIG. 7), whereby the direction of irradiation is turned upward.  
     [0090] In the case of the conventional vehicle headlamp a, the position where the cord j is fixed to the lamp body b has been chosen at random, that is, without considering the positional relation between the reflector (tiltable member) e and a tilting axis. Consequently, the varying amount of the distance between two terminals l (the terminal fixed to the lamp body b) and m (the point coupled to the bulb f) of the cord j at either terminal of the pivotal range tends to increase. When the distance between the two terminals l and m becomes shortest, the cord j becomes bent at an acute angle, whereas when the distance between the two terminals l and m becomes longest, the cord j is substantially straightened. Therefore, a greater load based on the bending strength of the cord j is applied to the leveling drive portion h for making the reflector e move to one side. A greater burden may be imposed on the leveling drive portion h; in other words, the longer the distance that stretches from the fulcrum k up to the terminal m on the moving side of the cord j as a point of application, the greater the generated moment in the cord j having the same bending strength becomes. Thus, the load applied to the leveling drive portion h may be increased.  
     [0091] With the distance between the two terminals l and m of the cord j shortened, the cord j is in such a condition as to coil on itself and since the distance between the two terminals l and m is long, the movement of the cord j is difficult to foresee and the cord j may interfere with other component parts.  
     [0092] As vehicle headlamps are equipped with drive portions other than those for use in leveling adjustment in addition to multi-lamp systems, the tendency may be for the number of cords led out from tiltable members to increase. Therefore, the load corresponding to power to move the tiltable members to one side may become greater. The power to drive leveling portions and so on tends to become greater when the tiltable members, like reflectors, move to one side. Consequently, it may be more difficult to move the tiltable members to one side for leveling adjusting purposes.  
     [0093] The specific configurations of the parts as well as the structure thereof shown in the above embodiments of the disclosure solely represent specific examples for implementing the disclosure and it is intended that the technical scope of the disclosure shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.  
     [0094] Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. disclosure