US3603785A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Headlamp adjusting systems
Assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
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Filing: 1969-02-04
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-02-04
Abstract
Abstract In a headlamp adjusting system there is provided a member movable in opposite directions to adjust the position of a headlamp of a vehicle relative to the body of the vehicle so that its beam is tilted upwardly or downwardly respectively. A first piston and cylinder arrangement operatively interconnects the body and the wheel of the vehicle so that movement of the body relative to the wheel moves the piston relative to the cylinder. A second piston and cylinder arrangement is provided for controlling movement of the member associated with the headlamp relative to the body of the vehicle. A conduit interconnects the two piston and cylinder arrangements so that the flow of fluid through the conduit causes movement of the member to adjust the position of the headlamp. A valve is provided in the fluid line between the first and second piston and cylinder arrangements and the valve is operable to prevent flow of fluid between the piston and cylinder arrangements so that the headlamp is not adjusted when the valve is operative. The valve is operated to prevent fluid flow while the vehicle is traveling so that the headlamp position is not adjusted as a result of suspension movements of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Dickens Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/10; B60Q2300/13; B60Q2300/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A headlamp adjusting system for a road vehicle including a member movable in opposite directions to adjust a headlamp of a vehicle so that its beam is tilted upwardly or downwardly respectively, a first piston and cylinder arrangement connected between the body and the wheel of the vehicle so that movement of the body relatively towards or away from the wheel moves the piston within said cylinder, a second piston and cylinder arrangement controlling movement of said member relative to the body of the vehicle, a conduit interconnecting the first and second cylinders so that flow of fluid through the conduit causes movement of said member to adjust the headlamp in accordance with the movement of the body of the vehicle relative to the wheel of the vehicle, means operable to prevent flow of fluid from the first cylinder to the second cylinder when the vehicle is travelling, so that the member is not moved as a result of suspension movements of the vehicle while the vehicle is travelling, and means for absorbing movements of the first piston relative to the first cylinder as a result of suspension movement of the vehicle when said means for controlling fluid flow is operative.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A headlamp adjusting system for a road vehicle including a member movable in opposite directions to adjust a headlamp of a vehicle so that its beam is tilted upwardly or downwardly respectively, a first piston and cylinder arrangement connected between the body and the wheel of the vehicle so that movement of the body relatively towards or away from the wheel moves the piston within said cylinder, a second piston and cylinder arrangement controlling movement of said member relative to the body of the vehicle, a conduit interconnecting the first and second cylinders so that flow of fluid through the conduit causes movement of said member to adjust the headlamp in accordance with the movement of the body of the vehicle relative to the wheel of the vehicle, means operable to prevent flow of fluid from the first cylinder to the second cylinder when the vehicle is travelling, so that the member is not moved as a result of suspension movements of the vehicle while the vehicle is travelling, and means for absorbing movements of the first piston relative to the first cylinder as a result of suspension movement of the vehicle when said means for controlling fluid flow is operative.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
S system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for controlling flow of fluid is a valve which blocks flow of fluid from the first piston and cylinder arrangement to the conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for controlling flow of fluid is a control device which when operative restricts the conduit to prevent flow therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said member is resiliently urged in one direction and is moved in the other direction by the second piston and cylinder arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 in which flow of fluid between said first and second piston and cylinder arrangements is permitted only when the ignition circuit of the vehicle is broken.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the first piston and cylinder arrangement acts between the body and a wheel of the vehicle, the system including a third piston and cylinder arrangement connected between the body and a wheel of the vehicle at the opposite end of the vehicle from the first piston and cylinder arrangement, a fourth piston and cylinder arrangement, the second and fourth piston and cylinder arrangements moving said member in opposite directions respectively, a second conduit interconnecting the cylinders of the third and fourth piston and cylinder arrangements, and second control means acting in the same way as the first control means but to control fluid flow between the cylinders of the third and fourth piston and cylinder arrangements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 modified in that the pistons Of the second and fourth piston and cylinder arrangements are mechanically interconnected and one of the control means is omitted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 in which flow of fluid between the piston and cylinder arrangements is permitted only when the ignition circuit of the vehicle is broken.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB280250A
Cited
GB290228A
Cited
FR33967E
Cited
US1967515A
Cited
US2846551A
Cited
US3177355A
Cited
US3370162A
Cited
FR1458985A
Cited
US3402287A
Cited
US3453424A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |