Device for controlling the orientation of the movable reflector of a motor vehicle headlight

• US 5,906,431 A
• Filed: 02/27/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
• Inventors: Valente, Franco, Chianale, Gianpaolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/810,345
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 362/514, 362/515, 362/524, 362/528, 362/523, 362/529, 362/531, 362/532, 362/418, 362/427, 362/287, 362/319, 362/322, 362/324, 362/463, 362/512, 362/273, 362/423, 362/421
• US Class Current: 362/515
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/068 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0686 using a position indicator mounted on the headlight and permanently attached thereto

Abstract

The movable reflector of the headlight of a motor vehicle can be orientated by means of an orientation adjustment device located inside the body of the headlight. The orientation of the reflected light beam is controlled with the help of an adjustable graduated scale which is connected to the reflector and which can move with respect to a stationary indicator fixed to the headlight, so as to indicate the changes in orientation of the reflector. The graduated scale is set to zero by means of a manual adjustment carried out by specialized personnel using a special tool, once the reflector has been correctly orientated by means of the adjustment device. The stationary indicator and the graduated scale are located so that they are clearly visible inside the headlight, beneath the transparent cover of a porthole which can be opened in order to set the scale to zero. In a modified version of the control device, the graduated scale is stationary and is mounted on the inside of the transparent cover so that it cannot be removed. A movable indicator, connected to the reflector, slides along the scale indicating the changes in orientation of the reflector. The graduated scale is set to zero by inserting the special tool through a hole in the cover.

Claims

1. A device for controlling an orientation of a movable reflector of a motor vehicle headlight, said reflector being located inside said headlight, the device comprising:

at least one ball-and-socket joint element to allow the reflector to move with respect to said headlight in a horizontal and/or vertical plane;

an adjustment device, mounted inside said headlight close to a wall of said headlight opposite from said reflector, to move the said reflector around said at least one joint element; and

display means, mounted inside said headlight and supported by a section of an upper wall of said headlight, showing a relative orientation of the said reflector, wherein said adjustment device includes a screw which rotates inside said headlight and a nut which translates and is coupled to said screw and connected to said display means and to the said reflector, said screw being rotated by a knob which is outside of said headlight and is connected to the said screw by a pair of gears.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises:

a stationary indicator fixed to said headlight; and

a graduated scale which is connected, via a support arm, a movable element and a corresponding control tie rod, to said reflector, said graduated scale being adjustable with respect to said stationary indicator; and

wherein said headlight comprises a porthole which is located in the region of the said display means and is closed off by a transparent cover so as to enable the orientation of the said reflector to be checked quickly by eye, said cover being removable so as to allow said graduated scale to be adjusted to correspond to a predetermined orientation of the said reflector.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises:

a movable indicator which is connected, via a support arm, a movable element and a corresponding control tie rod, to said reflector; and

a cursor on a graduated scale which is adjustable with respect to the said movable indicator; and

wherein said headlight comprises a porthole which is closed off by a fixed and transparent cover and is located in the region of the said display means so as to enable the orientation of the said reflector to be checked quickly by eye, said graduated scale being mounted on the said cover inside said headlight.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said cover is provided with guides designed to support said cursor on said graduated scale;

and

wherein said cursor can slide along said guides in both directions with respect to an intermediate position.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said cursor on said graduated scale is moved via an adjustment means having a pinion engaging with a set of teeth on said graduated scale, said pinion being provided with a front ring gear designed to engage with an adjustment tool.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said cover is provided with an aperture in the region of the said adjustment means, said aperture permitting passage of the said adjustment tool so that it can adjust said cursor with respect to the said indicator to correspond to a predetermined orientation of said reflector.