Gear Driven Patents (Class 362/524)
  • Patent number: 6474855
    Abstract: An adjustable fixing element, particularly for headlights of motor vehicles, has a setscrew on which a first screw element and a second screw element are arranged with locating surfaces which face each other. In order to create an adjustable fixing device which can be adjusted higher from the side of the plate facing away from the object to be fixed or from another holder, it is proposed to provide a handling aid on the first screw element which projects beyond its locating surface. The second screw element exhibits a corresponding recess in its locating surface for receiving the handling aid of the first screw element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Kluenker, Gerald Hiesl, Peter Heimpel
  • Patent number: 6474850
    Abstract: A headlamp adjuster for adjusting the position of a reflector includes a base housing with a slide positioned at least partially therein. The base housing has mounting tabs so that the adjuster can be secured to the back of a headlamp assembly support frame. The base housing has channels along its sides in which rails extending from the slide are disposed. A ball stud extends from the slide, the ball of which engages the reflector within the headlamp assembly such that axial movement of the ball stud causes movement of the reflector. Movement of the slide is caused by rotation of an adjustment screw that is threaded into the slide but held in axial position with respect to the base housing. The adjuster may include a vehicle headlamp aiming device (“VHAD”) if required for the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 6443607
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a coupling nut for connecting an automotive headlamp adjustment assembly to a tubular protrusion or boss of a headlight reflector forming part of the headlamp assembly wherein the coupling nut has a tubular opening at one end thereof which fits over the tubular protrusion of the headlamp reflector and a cup shaped opening at the opposite end and a circumferential cut out area with a flexible inclined plane therein to allow an easy snap-in of the nut to a pair of protrusions extending from the outside surface of the tubular protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Trans Technology Engineered Components, LLC
    Inventor: Todd E. Cassidy
  • Publication number: 20020085387
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a light source, a major reflecting surface, a projection lens, and a shutter. A first reflecting surface of an ellipse group reflecting surface preferably has a first focus on the light source and a second focus, capable of being inserted in or removed from an optical path from the light source to a second fixed reflecting surface. A first fixed reflecting surface of a parabolic group reflecting surface can include a focus on the second focus of the first reflecting surface, and at least two second reflecting surface elements. The second fixed reflecting surface can include a first focus on the light source and at least two third reflecting surface elements for reflecting light rays that have traveled an optical path from the light source thereto without being reflected by the first reflecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hitoshi Taniuchi
  • Publication number: 20020064051
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes an optical means whereof the direction of irradiation is change by rotation, a motor, an output shaft for driving the optical means, and a rotation transmitting mechanism for transmitting rotation from the motor to the output shaft. The motor, the output shaft, and the rotation transmitting mechanism are accommodated in the case body, and a revolving shaft of the motor is supported by the case body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Atsushi Sugimoto, Keiichi Tajima, Kazuma Mochizuki, Tsutomu Takiguchi
  • Publication number: 20020054496
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp wherein aiming adjustment of two reflectors can be conducted accurately regardless of the positional relation between aiming screws operating in conjunction with each other. The headlamp includes first and second reflectors mounted in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body opening at its front and a lens covering the front opening of the lamp body, the reflectors each being tiltable by turning of an aiming screw of a corresponding aiming mechanism that supports the corresponding reflector in a tiltable manner relative to the lamp body. A belt mechanism rotationally couples the two aiming screws for allowing the first aiming screw for tilting the first reflector and the second aiming screw for tilting the second reflector to be turned in conjunction with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Fujino, Takasumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6315435
    Abstract: An electronically controlled, programmable searchlight (1), particularly useful for mounting on helicopters. The searchlight (1) uses a digital electronic control circuit (30) in conjunction with rotary potentiometers (32), (34) to control movement of the searchlight (1). Adjustable trimpots (22) are employed to provide the searchlight (1) with preset positions, each preset position having an easily alterable operating envelope. The searchlight (1) may have light sources (50, 52) of varying type, which may also be controlled by the electronic control circuit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hamilton, Brian J. Barnhart, Nicolo F. Machi
  • Patent number: 6315439
    Abstract: A headlamp adjustor which includes an adjustor output shaft that is engageable with a reflector of a headlamp assembly. The adjustor output shaft extends from a housing, and a worm gear generally in the housing is spur gearably engaged with the adjustor output shaft. Drive structure is engaged with the worm gear such that actuation of the drive structure causes at least a portion of the drive structure to thread into at least a portion of the worm gear, thereby causing the adjustor output shaft to translate relative to the housing and adjust the position of the headlamp reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Elco Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Denley
  • Publication number: 20010033494
    Abstract: A motorized headlamp adjuster which is operably connectable to a control circuit and which is engageable with a headlamp assembly. Specifically, the headlamp adjuster includes an adjuster output shaft which is engageable with a reflector of a headlamp assembly. The headlamp adjuster includes a housing, and the adjuster output shaft extends from the housing. The adjuster output shaft preferably has a sealing member thereon which seals with the housing. Preferably, an external surface of the housing also has a sealing member thereon for engaging and sealing with the housing of the headlamp assembly when the headlamp adjuster is installed. As such, the headlamp adjuster is sealed, and seals with a headlamp housing when installed. Preferably, the headlamp adjuster does not include several complex components and is relatively easy to assemble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald Denley
  • Patent number: 6280071
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a light source bulb, a reflector reflecting light from the light source bulb forward in a convergent manner, a condensing lens provided at such a position that, of the light reflected from the reflector, at least a meridian light flux in a vertical cross-section is incident as divergent light, a shade provided in proximity to a position of convergence of the meridian light flux and which blocks part of the reflected light, and an aiming bracket to which an aiming member for tilting the reflector is attached. The shade is composed of a metal plate member that is formed integrally with the aiming bracket, and is attached to the reflector. With this construction, the total number of parts of the headlamp is reduced and costs can be reduced accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Kotto Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Yamamoto, Kihachiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6257747
    Abstract: A headlamp adjuster includes a gear housing having a neck through which an input shaft extends in an interference fit. The interference fit provides a resistance to rotation of the input shaft. A drive gear is disposed within the gear housing and is connected to the input shaft such that rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the drive gear. An adjustment gear is disposed within the gear housing such that it intermeshes with the drive gear. The adjustment gear has a bore therethrough that is at least partially threaded. An adjustment shaft is threaded through the bore through the adjustment gear. The adjustment shaft may include a force-limiting feature to prevent over-adjustment of the adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 6247835
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight includes a driving unit capable of repeatedly switching the headlight's light distribution pattern between a by-passing mode and a traveling mode by moving an element committed to the formation of the light distribution patterns. The driving unit includes a first spring for biasing a positioning element in a by-passing mode, a meshing gear for moving the positioning element to a traveling mode position against the bias of the first spring, a motor which supplies power to drive the meshing gear, a second spring biased in an engaging direction of the meshing gear, a solenoid for releasing the engagement of the meshing gear with a second gear against the pulling power of the second spring. The disclosed headlight enables size reduction of the driving unit, and provides improved reliability if the motor malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 6231222
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a holder, at least one reflector displaceably supported on the holder, an adjusting device for displacing the reflector and including an adjusting screw having a thread and a displaceably guided transmission element which is articulately connected with the reflector and with the adjusting screw so that during turning of the adjusting screw the transmission element is displaced in a longitudinal direction to displace reflector. The transmission element disengages from the thread of the adjusting screw in the longitudinal direction after the transmission element has reached a predetermined maximum longitudinal displacement, but after a smaller displacement it abutts against at least one abutment, so that during a further movement of the transmission element until the transmission element disengages from the thread of the adjusting screw, a return force is produced which loads the transmission element in an opposite longitudinal displacement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Daumueller, Rolf Klaiber, Olaf Rottstaedt, Horst Oschmann, Peter Jung
  • Patent number: 6142654
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing evidence of tampering with a vehicle headlamp position adjusting assembly. An indicator 30 is designed to simply slip over a drive member 2. Protrusions 38 engage a groove 44 in an enlarged portion 42 of the drive member 2 on a vehicle headlamp adjusting assembly 100. Projections 36 at an upper edge angle inwardly and are constructed to snap or break off if engaged with a rim 52 on the drive member 2, if one attempts to remove apparatus 30 from the assembly 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Trans Technology Engineered Components, LLC
    Inventor: Scott E. Ladd
  • Patent number: 6086233
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp arrangement for mounting to a vehicle body, the lamp arrangement having an irradiation angle adjusting mechanism, including a vehicle mounting bracket mounted to the vehicle body and having a shielding portion; a lamp body portion for housing the lamp; and an adjusting shaft having a first portion completely covered by the vehicle mounting bracket and a second portion for connecting to the lamp body portion, the adjusting shaft being configured within the lamp arrangement to adjust a distance between the vehicle body and the shielding portion when the adjusting shaft is rotated such that the vehicle lamp is inclined with respect to the vehicle body, wherein upon connection of the second portion of the adjusting shaft to the lamp body portion, the second portion of the adjusting shaft is also shielded such that the rotating operation of the adjusting shaft is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Maeda, Naruhiro Michiba
  • Patent number: 6086232
    Abstract: The device has a drive motor (30), which via a gear drives a gear wheel (33), which is connected to a sleeve (40) through which an adjusting bolt (44) is inserted. The adjusting bolt (44) can be coupled to the sleeve (40) via a set of teeth (43, 48) in the direction of rotation about its longitudinal axis (17), and the coupling of the adjusting bolt (44) is secured by an axially prestressed spring (57) engaging it. A connecting element (16) pivotably connected to the headlight part to be adjusted is coupled in the direction of rotation to the adjusting bolt (44), and the adjusting bolt (44) is displaceable relative to this connecting element in the direction of the longitudinal axis (17). The adjusting bolt (44) is displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis (17) counter to the prestressing of the spring (57), so that it is uncoupled from the sleeve (40) and is rotatable relative to the sleeve (40) via an actuating element (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Schulze, Elefterios Konto, Michael Westermann
  • Patent number: 6082882
    Abstract: An adjustment prevention mechanism includes a fixing member provided to a part of a headlamp, and a moving member which is movable to an adjustment position and a shipping position relative to the fixing member and covers the adjusting member. The fixing member includes a tool guide, a moving member guide and a stopper. The moving member has a tool insertion hole which permits a tool to reach the adjusting element in accordance with the tool guide in the fixing member when the moving member is in the adjustment position, and prevents the tool from reaching the adjusting element when the moving member is in the shipping position. This adjustment prevention mechanism is attachable to the headlamp prior to mount the headlamp on an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., LTD
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Akiyama, Masaki Takase, Toshikazu Iizuka
  • Patent number: 6042254
    Abstract: Each horizontal ad juster mechanism used in connection with low beam headlamps must be either non-readjustable after the initial adjustment or equipped with a non-recalibratable vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) which is zeroed when the vehicle leaves the factory. Vehicle manufacturers must either aim the lamps and provide a non-recalibratable VHAD which is properly zeroed or aim the lamps and provide a mechanism to prevent future readjustment. A headlamp adjuster is provided with a non-recalibratable VHAD dial which zeroed after the lamp has been properly aimed and which indicates any subsequent adjustments to the aim of the headlamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 6036341
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle, has a holder, at least one reflector displaceably supported on the holder, a displacing device for displacing the reflector and having a displacement screw which is turnable on the holder about a longitudinal axis of the displacement screw but is non displaceable in a direction of the longitudinal axis, the displacing device also having a deviating transmission with a receptacle which is mountable on the holder, an adjusting element supported on the receptacle non rotatably about a longitudinal axis of the adjusting element but non displaceable in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the adjusting element, the adjusting element engaging with the displacement screw, the deviating transmission being formed as a bevel gear transmission, the displacement screw being provided with a first bevel toothing while the adjusting element being formed as a bevel gear provided with a second bevel toothing and the receptacle being mounted on the housing transversely to the longitudinal axis of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Otto Dobler, Gustav Klett
  • Patent number: 6012829
    Abstract: A device for correcting the orientation of a motor vehicle headlight beam has a casing containing an electric motor, a rotatable output shaft and a speed reducer working between the motor shaft and the output shaft of the device, for the purpose of making running adjustments to the beam orientation. The device also includes a manual adjusting knob which is rotatable in the casing, with a selective transmission means between the manual knob and the output shaft, for putting the latter into a reference position when the knob is rotated. The speed reducing motor drive is coupled to the output shaft through a dog clutch which is disengaged, to convert the device from electrical to manual operation, by axial declutching movement of the manual knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Philippe Natchoo
  • Patent number: 5913601
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a reflector, a holder on which the reflector is adjustably supported, an adjusting device for adjustment of the reflector, the adjusting device including an adjusting screw which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and which is non-displaceable in direction of the longitudinal axis, an indicating device which indicates a deviation of an adjustment of the reflector from a prescribed position, the indicating device having an indicating element which is screwable in a threaded shaft of the adjusting screw, the indicating element being non-rotatable but displaceable in direction of the longitudinal axis of the adjusting screw, the indicating element having a springy, expandable threaded shell which is open over a part of its periphery and provided with an inner thread, the indicating element being pre-mounted on a part of the holder in a position which is separate from the adjusting screw and so that a threaded connection of the indicating element with the adjusting screw is per
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Daumuller, Friedrich Schauwecker
  • Patent number: 5906431
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianpaolo Chianale, Franco Valente