ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR AIMING TWO OPPOSITELY PIVOTED LAMP ELEMENTS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20160159271A1
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Helwig, Stephen Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,809,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0433 the housing being fastened onto the vehicle body using screws adjustable headlamp by rotation of a screw B60Q1/0683
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/32 Ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/36 Conjoint adjustments, i.e. a mechanical link allows conjoint adjustment of several units
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/38 Automatic calibration of motor-driven means for adjusting headlamps, i.e. when switching on the headlamps, not during mounting at factories

Abstract

An adjustment device is provided for aiming two oppositely pivoted lamp elements. That device includes a single aim adjuster screw, a first connection connecting the adjuster screw to a first lamp element and a second connection connecting the adjuster screw to a second lamp element. One turns the adjuster screw to simultaneously pivot the first and second lamp elements in opposite directions and thereby aim the two lamp elements in a synchronous manner.

Claims

1. An adjustment device for aiming two oppositely pivoted lamp elements, comprising:

an aim adjuster screw;

a first connection connecting said adjuster screw to a first lamp element whereby said first lamp element is pivoted in a first direction; and

a second connection connecting said adjuster screw to a second lamp element whereby said second lamp element is pivoted in a second direction and said first and second lamp elements are aimed in a synchronous manner.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjuster screw includes a first portion with a first thread and a second portion with a second thread wherein said second thread is opposite in direction to said first thread.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said second connection is threadedly connected to said adjuster screw through said second thread.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first lamp element has a first pivot plane having a first pivot length L₁ from said adjuster screw and said second lamp element has a second pivot plane having a second pivot length L₂ from said adjuster screw.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first thread has a pitch equal to P and said second thread has a pitch equal to P+L₂/L₁·

P, with opposite hand threading.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first connection includes a ball and socket wherein said ball is threaded onto said adjuster screw.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said second connection includes a cylindrical nut engaging said second thread.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said first pivot plane includes a first ball and socket and said second pivot plane includes a second ball and socket respectively connecting said first and second lamp elements to a mounting wall of a lamp housing.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said aim adjuster screw further includes an initial synchronization thread and said first ball is connected to said arm adjuster screw by means of said initial synchronization thread.

10. The device of claim 10, wherein said arm adjuster screw has said initial synchronization thread at a first end and an input end at a second end.

11. A method of aiming two oppositely pivoted lamp elements by means of a single adjuster screw, comprising:

turning said adjuster screw to pivot a first lamp element in a first direction and a second lamp element in a second opposite direction so that said first and second lamp elements are aimed in a synchronous manner.

12. The method of claim 11, including adjustably connecting a first of said two lamp elements to said adjuster screw at assembly so as to provide initial synchronization of said two lamp elements through a center of said adjuster screw.