JPH092147A - Optical axis regulating device for headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform automatic regulation of an optical axis and to perform proper irradiation of a road by a method wherein the optical axis is regulated through turn of a headlamp by an actuator control means to execute the operation command of an actuator based on a detecting signal from an empty loading detecting means when a loading amount exceeds a given value. CONSTITUTION: An empty loading detecting means 11 is mounted between axle housings 1 and 5 and a car body frame 9. A loading amount of a vehicle is detected by means of the change of a distance therebetween. Through ON and OFF of a sensor switch 25 occasioned by vertical movement of a sensor rod 19, it is detected whether an empty loading state where a loading amount of a vehicle is below a given value is produced. A headlamp switch 31 and the starting switch 33 of an engine are connected to an actuator control means 27 to input a detecting signal from a stroke sensor 21. When a detecting signal from the sensor switch 25 of the stroke sensor 21 is inputted owing to a state that the two switches 31 and 33 are in an ON-state and a loading quantity exceeds a given value, an actuator 35 is operated and the optical axis L of a head lamp 29 is regulated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headlamp optical axis adjusting device for automatically detecting a loaded state of a truck and adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, trucks, passenger cars, etc. are equipped with headlamps for illuminating their paths. The main performance required for headlamps is high central light intensity, which is bright far and has a large divergence angle to the left and right, making it easy to check for obstacles. It is required that the effect is sufficient and that the other party is not dazzled.

By the way, in a truck, since the vehicle postures are largely different when the vehicle is empty and when the vehicle is loaded, the optical axis of the truck is directed upwards to give glare to an oncoming vehicle and appropriately illuminate the road surface. There was a drawback that I could not do it. Therefore, in view of such a situation, recently, an optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp has been proposed in which the optical axis of the headlamp can be adjusted by operating a switch inside the cab.

[0004]

However, since such an optical axis adjusting device adjusts the optical axis by a manual switch operation, the driver must adjust the optical axis each time depending on the loaded state. There was a great deal of annoyance. The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp capable of automatically detecting the loaded state of a truck and adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp. To do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a headlamp mounted so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle. An actuator for rotating the headlamp to adjust the optical axis with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, an empty product detecting means for detecting whether or not the loading capacity of the vehicle is an empty product state below a predetermined value, and an empty product detecting means And an actuator control means for issuing an actuator operation command at the time of loading when the loading amount exceeds a predetermined value.

The invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
In the optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp according to the above, the empty space detection means includes a center rod erected between the rear axle housings of the rear two-axle vehicle and a sensor rod erected upward from the center of the center rod. A stroke sensor mounted on the vehicle body frame and having an upper end of the sensor rod connected to a stroke detection unit. The stroke sensor is a sensor switch turned on when the sensor rod connected to the stroke detection unit moves up and down. It is characterized by turning off.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the empty product detection means detects that the loaded amount exceeds the predetermined value, the detection signal is sent to the actuator control means. Then, the actuator operates in response to the operation command of the actuator control means that inputs the detection signal, and the actuator rotates the headlamp to adjust the optical axis.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the vehicle body frame is lowered due to a load applied to the vehicle body, the sensor rod erected on the center rod rotates the stroke detecting portion, but the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value. When a load is applied and the stroke detection unit rotates by a predetermined amount, the sensor switch is turned on and a detection signal is sent to the actuator control means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the optical axis adjusting device according to claim 1 and claim 2 is applied to a rear two-axle vehicle such as a large truck. In the figure, 1 is a rear front wheel to which drive wheels 3 are connected. Axle axle housing 5 is a rear axle axle housing to which non-driving wheels 7 are connected.
Further, the body frame 9 is supported via a well-known trunnion shaft type suspension (not shown), and similarly to the conventional case, the leaf spring of the suspension bends according to the load W applied to the vehicle body, and the body frame 9 lowers in the arrow direction. It is like this.

Between the axle housings 1 and 5 and the vehicle body frame 9, a dead space detecting means 11 including a stroke sensor, a center rod, a sensor rod, etc. is mounted. That is, in the figure, 13 is a center rod that is installed between the axle housings 1 and 5, and both ends of the center rod 13 are respectively located in the axle housings 1 and 5.
Is rotatably supported by a pair of support rods 15 and 17 which are erected on the upper part of. Further, one sensor rod 19 is erected at the center of the center rod 13,
The tip of the sensor rod 19 is connected to the stroke detection unit 23 of a well-known stroke sensor 21 mounted on the vehicle body frame 9.

In this stroke sensor 21, the sensor switch 25 is turned on when the stroke detection section 23 rotates at a predetermined angle in the direction of the arrow, as is well known. Sensor switch 25
Is off. When the load W is applied to the vehicle body and the vehicle body frame 9 is lowered, the sensor rod 19 erected on the center rod 13 pushes up the stroke detecting portion 23 in the direction of the arrow to rotate it. When the stroke detection unit 23 rotates in the same direction by a predetermined amount due to the load W, the sensor switch 25 is turned on and a detection signal is sent to the actuator control means 27 described later.

By the way, the amount of deflection of the leaf spring varies depending on the magnitude of the load W applied to the vehicle body. As a result, the amount of movement (stroke amount) of the sensor rod 19 for rotating the stroke detecting portion 23 also varies depending on the load W. When a certain amount of load W is applied, the movement amount of the sensor rod 19 is always constant. It can be easily confirmed by an experiment how much load W is applied to the vehicle body so that the posture of the vehicle changes greatly and the optical axis L of the headlamp 29 is directed upward as compared to when the vehicle is empty.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when a load W of 5 tons is applied to the vehicle body, it is assumed that the posture of the vehicle changes greatly and the optical axis L of the headlamp 29 faces upward as compared with when the vehicle is empty. When a load W of ton is applied to the vehicle body and the sensor rod 19 moves by a predetermined amount, the stroke detection unit 23 that rotates in conjunction with this, turns on the sensor switch 25.

As described above, the empty space detecting means 11 in this embodiment detects the load capacity of the vehicle by the change in the distance between the axle housings 1 and 5 and the vehicle body frame 9, and moves the sensor rod 19 in the vertical direction. Of sensor switch 25 by
When N and OFF, it is detected whether or not the loading capacity of the vehicle is in the empty state of a predetermined value (5 tons) or less. The headlamp switch 31 and the engine starting switch 33 are connected to the actuator control means 27 for inputting the detection signal of the stroke sensor 21, and the actuator control means 27 turns on both switches 31, 33. When the detection signal from the sensor switch 25 of the stroke sensor 21 is input for 60 seconds in this state, the actuator 35 is operated to adjust the optical axis L of the headlamp 29, and the state is maintained until the engine is stopped. It is supposed to do.

The lower portion of the headlamp 29 is attached to the vehicle body 37 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction via a hinge 39 with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle. A coil spring 45 is stretched between a plate 41 extending above the headlamp 29 and the vehicle body 43, and the headlamp 29 is moved backward by the spring force of the coil spring 45 with the hinge 39 as the center of rotation. It has a structure that is constantly pressed and urged. The actuator 35 is provided on the back surface of the plate 41.
The operating rod 47 of the
Supports the plate 41 from the rear so that the optical axis L of the headlamp 29 is always oriented in a proper direction when the actuator 31 is not operated, when the actuator 35 is not operated.

Then, as described above, the actuator 3
5 operates according to a command from the actuator control means 27, and when the actuator 35 operates and the operating rod 47 extends against the spring force of the coil spring 45 and presses the plate 41, the headlamp 5 29 is rotated downward as shown by a chain double-dashed line, and the optical axis L with respect to the vehicle traveling direction is adjusted. And
When the engine is stopped, the actuator 35 stops and the headlamp 29 is returned to the position shown by the solid line by the restoring force of the coil spring 45.

Since this embodiment is constructed in this way, when a load is loaded on the bed and a load W is applied to the vehicle body,
The leaf spring of the suspension flexes according to the load W, the vehicle body frame 9 lowers, and the sensor rod 19 pushes up the stroke detection portion 23 in the arrow direction to rotate it. When a load W of 5 tons is applied to the vehicle body and the stroke detection unit 23 rotates a predetermined amount via the sensor rod 19, the sensor switch 25 is turned on and a detection signal is sent to the actuator control means 27. The means 27 does not issue an operation command for the actuator 35 when at least one of the headlamp switch 31 and the starting switch 33 is OFF.

Therefore, in such a case, the operating rod 47, which is retracted from the actuator 35, supports the plate 41 urged by the spring force of the coil spring 45 from the rear side, and as shown by the solid line, the head lamp 29 of the headlamp 29 is removed. The headlamp 29 is held so that the optical axis L always faces the proper direction under the non-operating condition of the actuator 31. Then, the actuator control means 27 activates the actuator 35 when the detection signal from the sensor switch 25 is input for 60 seconds while the headlamp switch 31 and the starting switch 33 are ON.

When the actuator 35 operates according to the command from the actuator control means 27, the operating rod 47 is operated.
When the plate lamp 41 is pressed against the spring force of the coil spring 45 and presses the plate 41, the headlamp 29 pivots downward about the hinge 39 as shown by a chain double-dashed line to rotate the optical axis L with respect to the vehicle traveling direction. Is adjusted and remains in that state until the engine is stopped.

When the engine is stopped, the actuator 35 is stopped and the headlamp 29 is returned to the position shown by the solid line by the restoring force of the coil spring 45. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically detect the loaded state of the truck and automatically adjust the optical axis of the headlamp 29. Therefore, it is appropriate regardless of the vehicle posture. Can illuminate the road surface,
There is no dazzling oncoming vehicle.

However, according to this embodiment, compared to the conventional optical axis adjusting device for manually adjusting the optical axis, the troublesomeness of the driver adjusting the optical axis each time according to the loaded state is eliminated. It was decided to be done. In the above-described embodiment, the optical axis L of the headlamp 29 is adjusted in two steps shown by a solid line and a two-dot chain line by turning the stroke sensor 21 on and off.
The optical axis L may be finely adjusted in a plurality of steps by rotating the headlamp 29 according to the amount of movement of the sensor rod 19 that differs depending on the magnitude of the load W.

Further, the present invention can be applied to an auxiliary headlamp as a matter of course, but an empty vehicle such as a rearview mirror,
It can be applied to vehicles with different mounting angles.

[0023]

As described above, according to the optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp according to each claim, the optical axis of the headlamp is automatically adjusted by automatically detecting the loaded state of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to properly illuminate the road surface regardless of the vehicle posture, do not give glare to an oncoming vehicle, and adjust the optical axis by a manual operation. By contrast, the driver's annoyance of adjusting the optical axis each time depending on the loading condition is eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of an optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp according to claim 1 and claim 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 5 Axle housing 9 Body frame 11 Empty detection means 13 Center rod 19 Sensor rod 21 Stroke sensor 23 Stroke detection section 25 Sensor switch 27 Actuator control means 29 Headlamp 35 Actuator 45 Coil spring

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A headlamp mounted so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction with respect to a vehicle traveling direction, an actuator for rotating the headlamp to adjust an optical axis with respect to the vehicle traveling direction, and a load capacity of the vehicle being predetermined. An empty product detection means for detecting whether or not the product is in an empty product state equal to or less than a value, and an actuator control device for issuing an actuator operation command when the loading amount exceeds a predetermined value based on a detection signal of the empty product detection device. An optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp, comprising: 2. The empty space detection means is mounted on a vehicle body frame, a center rod erected between rear axle housings of a rear two-axle, a sensor rod erected upward from the center of the center rod, and The upper end of the sensor rod is composed of a stroke sensor connected to the stroke detection unit, and the stroke sensor is turned on and off when the sensor rod connected to the stroke detection unit moves up and down.
The optical axis adjusting device for a headlamp according to claim 1, wherein FF is performed.