ROAD VEHICLE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT

• US 3,614,416 A
• Filed: 02/11/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jacques Fleury
• Original Assignee: Jacques Fleury
• Inventors: Fleury, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Jr., Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US04/798,349
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 240/62,62.1,62.2,62.3,62.4,62.5,62.51,8.25,8.1,8.1X,7.1
• US Class Current: 362/469
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically

Abstract

Road vehicle-lighting equipment includes a linkage for pivoting the headlamp in relation to the direction of travel of the vehicle and also means responsive to vehicle roll for changing the inclination of the pivot axis of the headlamps to turn the headlamps downwardly and inwardly of a curve to compensate for the roll action. In a modified form of structure means responsive to the speed of the vehicle are employed for changing the inclination of the pivot axis of the headlamps when the steering wheel is turned.

Claims

1. In a road vehicle a. at least one steerable road wheel b. a steering system that includes said wheel c. a plurality of headlamps d. means for mounting each headlamp to pivot about an axis which changes inclination in response to the angle of roll of the vehicle e. means responsive to the steering system for causing the headlamps to pivot upon change in direction of the vehicle f. means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle for varying the inclination of said axis to maintaining orientation of the headlamp beams substantially in a preset plane irrespective of the roll of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, which includes means for moving the pivot axis of each lamp in a plane extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said vehicle further comprising means responsive to the speed of the vehicle, for changing the inclination of the pivot axis of the lamps, so as to tilt the optical axis of the latter forward wheN the speed rises and to raise them when the speed falls.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, incorporating means for rendering the means responsive to the speed of the vehicle inoperative when the vehicle is being steered straight ahead.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, which includes means for moving the pivot axis of each of the lamps in the same plane extending transversely of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1, in which the means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle includes a damper for braking the tilting movement of the pivot axis of the lamps.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, in which the means responsive to the roll of the vehicle includes a cable transmission coupling one of the lamp pivot axis to roll responsive means.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1, in which the means responsive to the roll of the vehicle includes a hydraulic transmission coupling one of the lamp pivot axis to roll responsive means.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1, in which the means responsive to the roll of the vehicle includes two components each of which is rigidly connected to, and secured against turning in relation to, one end of the antiroll bar one of said components consists of a cam, the other component consisting of an assembly which comprises a cylinder a piston sliding within said cylinder, a piston rod and a roller carried by the piston rod and acting in conjunction with the cam.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which said means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle includes a mass mounted in position to move freely in transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in response to the roll of the vehicle and means for restoring said mass to said position.

10. A structure as specified in claim 1 which includes means for positioning the pivot axis of each headlamp substantially vertical in the absence of roll and at an incline to slope inwardly from bottom to top towards the inside of a turn to the extent determined by the degree of roll.

11. A structure as specified in claim 1 which includes means for moving at least one part of the pivot of each headlamp in longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle to incline the axis backwards from bottom to the top in the absence of roll and forward from bottom to top to the extent determined by the roll of the vehicle.

12. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the means for mounting each headlamp is a movable spindle which comprises the pivot axis of the lamp and in which the means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle includes a cable transmission interconnecting the axis spindles of the headlamps.

13. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the means for mounting each headlamp is a movable spindle which comprises the pivot axis of the lamp and in which the means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle includes a hydraulic transmission interconnecting the axis spindles of the headlamps.

14. In a road vehicle, a pair of steerable road wheels, a steering system, a plurality of headlamps to the steering system whereby the lamps are caused to pivot as a function of any change in direction of the vehicle, and means responsive to the angle of roll of the vehicle and connected to the headlamps to vary the inclination of the pivot axis in such manner as to maintain the orientation of the lamp beams substantially in a preset plane irrespective of the roll of the vehicle, an antiroll bar, and said roll-responsive means includes a pair of arms each of which is rigidly connected to, and secured against turning in relation to the antiroll bar in such a way that the angular distance between the two components varies with the angle of roll.