US3859516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle headlight adjusting system
Assignee: Borg Warner Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-05
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1993-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle headlight adjusting system comprising movable headlights having actuators connected to a piston of a pneumatically operated device, springs in the device for normally centering the piston to maintain the headlights in a predetermined position when the vehicle is level, the piston being movable by variations in air pressure, produced by sensors responding to deflections of the vehicle''s front and/or rear wheel suspensions, to move the actuators to adjust the position of the headlights to compensate for vehicle pitch.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Tuzson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q1/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automotive vehicle having a body resiliently suspended for deflection relative to front and rear wheel assemblies thereof, comprising: a fluid circuit including a pneumatic source providing a pressure differential with respect to ambient atmosphere, and a pair of branch circuits each including a bleed orifice communicating continuously with ambient atmosphere and a poppet valve controlling flow between said source and a respective branch circuit, a pair of control devices connected to said front and rear wheel assemblies respectively for sensing the relative deflection of said body with respect thereto, each of said control devices being connected to one of said poppet valves biasing said valve proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly providing a regulated pressure in its associated branch circuit proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, each of said branch circuits being connected to one of a pair of opposed variable volume working chambers forming a double acting fluid motor, said fluid motor being connected to adjusting means for tilting said headlights about a horizontal axis and operable to correct the inclination of said headlights proportional to the difference in deflection of said front and rear wheel assemblies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automotive vehicle having a body resiliently suspended for deflection relative to front and rear wheel assemblies thereof, comprising: a fluid circuit including a pneumatic source providing a pressure differential with respect to ambient atmosphere, and a pair of branch circuits each including a bleed orifice communicating continuously with ambient atmosphere and a poppet valve controlling flow between said source and a respective branch circuit, a pair of control devices connected to said front and rear wheel assemblies respectively for sensing the relative deflection of said body with respect thereto, each of said control devices being connected to one of said poppet valves biasing said valve proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly providing a regulated pressure in its associated branch circuit proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, each of said branch circuits being connected to one of a pair of opposed variable volume working chambers forming a double acting fluid motor, said fluid motor being connected to adjusting means for tilting said headlights about a horizontal axis and operable to correct the inclination of said headlights proportional to the difference in deflection of said front and rear wheel assemblies.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
284 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automotive vehicle having a body resiliently suspended for deflection relative to front and rear wheel assemblies thereof, comprising: a fluid circuit including a pneumatic source providing a pressure differential with respect to ambient atmosphere, and a pair of branch circuits each including a vent port communicating with ambient atmosphere, each of said branch circuits being connected to one of a pair of opposed variable volume working chambers forming a double acting fluid motor; movable flow control means cooperating with the vent ports of said branch circuits operable for regulating fluid pressure in the working chambers of said fluid motor; a pair of control devices connected to said front and rear wheel assemblies respectively for sensing the relative deflection of said body with respect thereto, each control device being connected to a respective one of a pair of poppet valves biasing said valve proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, each of said poppet valves being connected between said pneumatic source and a respective leg of a servo circuit providing a reference pressure therein proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, respective legs of said servo circuit being connected to a servo motor operatively connected to said flow control means, said fluid motor being connected to adjusting means for tilting said headlights about a horizontal axis and operable in response to unequal pressures in said working chambers to change the inclination of said headlights, pressure changes in said working chambers being controlled by said flow control means whereby the change in inclination of said headlights is proportional to the difference in deflection of said front and rear wheel assemblies.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
284 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automotive vehicle having a body resiliently suspended for deflection relative to front and rear wheel assemblies thereof, comprising: a fluid circuit including a pneumatic source providing a pressure differential with respect to ambient atmosphere, and a pair of branch circuits each including a vent port communicating with ambient atmosphere, each of said branch circuits being connected to one of a pair of opposed variable volume working chambers forming a double acting fluid motor; movable flow control means cooperating with the vent ports of said branch circuits operable for regulating fluid pressure in the working chambers of said fluid motor; a pair of control devices connected to said front and rear wheel assemblies respectively for sensing the relative deflection of said body with respect thereto, each control device being connected to a respective one of a pair of poppet valves biasing said valve proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, each of said poppet valves being connected between said pneumatic source and a respective leg of a servo circuit providing a reference pressure therein proportional to the deflection of its associated wheel assembly, respective legs of said servo circuit being connected to a servo motor operatively connected to said flow control means, said fluid motor being connected to adjusting means for tilting said headlights about a horizontal axis and operable in response to unequal pressures in said working chambers to change the inclination of said headlights, pressure changes in said working chambers being controlled by said flow control means whereby the change in inclination of said headlights is proportional to the difference in deflection of said front and rear wheel assemblies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automotive vehicle according to claim 2, each of said control devices including a pressure regulating chamber having a movable diaphragm defining one wall thereof, said diaphragm being connected to its respective wheel assembly by spring means exerting a biasing force thereon proportional to defleCtion of the associated wheel assembly, said diaphragm chamber communicating with a respective leg of said servo circuit and with a bleed orifice, said poppet valve being connected to said diaphragm for movement therewith controlling flow between said diaphragm chamber and said pneumatic source, whereby the reference pressure in said diaphragm chamber is regulated in proportion to the biasing force resulting from deflection of said wheel assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A system for automatically adjusting the inclination of the headlights of an automative vehicle according to claim 2, each of said control devices including a pressure regulating chamber having a movable diaphragm defining one wall thereof, said diaphragm being connected to its respective wheel assembly by spring means exerting a biasing force thereon proportional to deflection of the associated wheel assembly, said diaphragm chamber communicating with a respective leg of said servo circuit and with said pneumatic source, said poppet valve being connected to said diaphragm for movement therewith controlling flow between said diaphragm chamber and ambient atmosphere, whereby the reference pressure in said diaphragm chamber is regulated in proportion to the biasing force resulting from deflection of said wheel assembly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |