Headlamp for vehicles

• US 5,899,559 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Original Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Inventors: Lachmayer, Roland, Topp, Ewald
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US09/031,836
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 362/512, 362/513, 362/539, 362/277, 362/319
• US Class Current: 362/513
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/47 Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable screens F21S41/683
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/686 Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane

Abstract

A headlamp has a saucer-shaped reflector (1) with two focuses. A light source (2) is positioned at an inner focus. An adjustable screen (4) is located between the reflector and a lens (3), and can be adjusted into positions providing high-beam and low-beam light. A bracket (5) has an area below the adjustable screen that serves as a shielding element for light beams from the light source, and as a holder for a remote-controlled adjusting device (6).

Claims

1. Vehicle headlamp having a saucer-shaped reflector (1) with two focuses, a light source (2) located at one focus of the reflector (1), a lens (3), a stationary plate-like bracket (5) located between the lens (3) and the reflector (1) with an adjustable screen (4) attached thereto that can be adjusted by means of a remote-controlled adjusting device (6) into at least positions for high-beam and low-beam light, wherein the remote-controlled adjusting device (6) is positioned at least partially within an optical system comprising the reflector (1), the screen (4) and the lens (3), and is attached below the screen (4) to an area (7) of the stationary bracket (5) that serves as a shielding element for light beams of the light source (2).

2. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the remote-controlled adjusting device (6) is attached to a side of the bracket (5) facing away from the reflector (1), in the area (7) below the screen (4).

3. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the remote-controlled adjusting device (6) is attached to a side of the bracket (5) facing toward the reflector (1), in the area (7) below the screen (4).

4. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the area (7) of the bracket (5), which serves as a shielding element and for fastening the remote-controlled adjusting device (6), extends at least as far as an edge of the optical system comprising the reflector (7), the screen (4), and the lens (3), and shields nearly an entire front opening section of the reflector (1) located below the adjustable screen (4).

5. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 4, wherein the bracket (5) is attached on both sides of the vertical center plane of the reflector (1) on a front edge of the reflector (1).

6. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the remote-controlled adjusting device (6) is attached to the area (7) of the bracket (5) via spacers (8).

7. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the area (7), which serves as a shielding element and for fastening the remote-controlled adjusting device (6), is bordered toward a top by the adjustable screen (4) which is structured as a single-armed lever, a length of which runs adjacent to an upper edge area (9) of the bracket (5) and which can pivot about an axis (1) extending in a direction in which light exits the headlamp.

8. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein said adjustable screen (4) generates a dark/light limit of asymmetrical low-beam light with a screen edge (11) thereof and can be adjusted by use of the remote-controlled adjusting device (6) into positions that provide low-beam and high-beam light, said adjustable screen having high and low screen edge sections (12) and (13) being at different levels, with the high screen edge section (12), in a low beam position of the screen (4), creating a dark/light limit for an on-coming lane side and the low screen edge section (13) creating a dark/light limit for a traveling lane side, wherein the adjustable screen (4) can pivot about an axis (10) extending in a light-exit direction which is spaced from a vertical center plane and positioned below the low screen edge section (13).

9. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 7, wherein the axis (10) runs through an upper edge area (9) of the plate-like bracket (5).

10. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein the bracket (5) has a bracket edge (14) for forming a dark/light limit during high-beam light, during said bracket edge being positioned above the adjustable screen (4) in the position of the adjustable screen (4) for high-beam light.

11. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 10, wherein the bracket edge (14) has two sections (15) extending at an inclination with respect to the vertical center plane of the reflector (1).

12. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 1, wherein a recess (36) is formed in the area (7) of the stationary bracket (5) for receiving the remote-controlled adjusting device (6).

13. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 12, wherein the adjustable screen (4), a stroke element (39) of the adjusting device, and a bearing between the stroke element and adjusting device for forming an axis (10), lie approximately in a plane that runs adjacent to a main plane of the bracket (5).

14. Vehicle headlamp as in claim 12, wherein the recess (36) of the bracket (5) opens toward the lens (3) and the bracket, at the recess, has a piece of electronic equipment (37) mounted thereon, located below the reflector (1).