US4013883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic control installation for headlights
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1974-10-29
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1994-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatically operated control system for the automatic alignment of motor vehicle headlights in which a measuring transmitter at each axle of the motor vehicle determines the change in distance of the axle to the vehicle body and, cooperating with a pressure modulator, causes the alignment of the headlights to a constant light distance by way of a differential control element and a control shifting device; the control shifting device thereby includes a control rod engaging at the pivotal headlight which in case of pressure failure is clamped fast either directly or indirectly by a servo-adjusting motor which is operatively connected with the pressure line.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Andres
- 👤 Hermann Moller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q1/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A pneumatically operating control installation for the automatic alignment of motor vehicle headlights which comprises means for aligning the headlights of the motor vehicle so as to have a constant light range essentially independently of the load of the vehicle including transmitter means measuring the change in distance of a respective axle with respect to the body of the motor vehicle, pressure modulator means operatively connected with the transmitter means and differential control means and control shifting means operatively connected with the pressure modulator means, characterized in that the control shifting means includes a control rod means engaging at the pivotal headlight, and servo-adjusting motor means for holding fast said control rod means in case of a pressure failure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A pneumatically operating control installation for the automatic alignment of motor vehicle headlights which comprises means for aligning the headlights of the motor vehicle so as to have a constant light range essentially independently of the load of the vehicle including transmitter means measuring the change in distance of a respective axle with respect to the body of the motor vehicle, pressure modulator means operatively connected with the transmitter means and differential control means and control shifting means operatively connected with the pressure modulator means, characterized in that the control shifting means includes a control rod means engaging at the pivotal headlight, and servo-adjusting motor means for holding fast said control rod means in case of a pressure failure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 1, characterized by a pressure line, said servo-adjusting means being operatively connected with the pressure line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 2, characterized in that said servo-adjusting motor means includes a diaphragm means for producing adjusting movements holding the control rod means fast in case of pressure failure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control rod means is held fast directly by said servo-adjusting motor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control rod means is held fast indirectly by the servo-adjusting motor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control installation operates with vacuum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control installation operates with above-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the servo-adjusting motor means is provided with a shifting rod which in case of pressure failure engages into toothed means pivotal by the control shifting means, and thereby stops the toothed means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the toothed means are pivotal directly by the control shifting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the toothed means is pivotal indirectly by the control shifting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A control installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the toothed means adjusted together with the headlight by the control rod means engaging at one of the two parts consisting of toothed means and headlight, is constructed as toothed segment with teeth which are directed toward a shifting rod which terminates substantially wedge-shaped and is actuated by the servo-adjusting motor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the teeth of the toothed segment are in the shape of knife edges.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the control rod means which is displaceable by a working element pneumatically connected with the control shifting means, engages at an adjusting lever pivotally secured at a headlight, the adjusting lever carries the toothed means, and in that the adjusting lever during its pivot movement pivots the headlight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the toothed means is connected with the headlight by way of a lever which is pivoted about its pivot axis by the adjusting rod means engaging directly at the headlight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the toothed means of the toothed segment is in the shape of a circular arc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control installation according to claim 11, characterized in that in case of pressure failure the wedge-shaped cutting edge of the adjusting rod is operable to be pulled out mechanically out of the knife edges of the toothed means against the pressure of a spring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control rod means controlled by the control shifting means extends through the servo-adjusting motor means, and in that in case of a pressure failure, a spring means is operable to cause slide means running along inclined surfaces to clamp themselves fast at the control rod means and thereby to stop the control rod means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control installation according to claim 17, characterized in that the control rod means is provided with clamping surface means at those places at which the slide means clamp themselves fast, into which engage complementary surface means arranged at the slide means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control installation according to claim 18, characterized in that said clamping surface means are roughened up.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control installation according to claim 18, characterized in that clamping surface means include a toothed means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control installation according to claim 20, characterized in that the complementary surface means include toothed means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the servo-adjusting motor means is provided with a shifting rod which in case of pressure failure engages into toothed means pivotal by the control shifting means, and thereby stops the toothed means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the toothed means are pivotal directly by the control shifting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pneumatically operating control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the toothed means is pivotal indirectly by the control shifting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
A control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the toothed means adjusted together with the headlight by the control rod means engaging at one of the two parts consisting of toothed means and headlight, is constructed as toothed segment with teeth which are directed toward a shifting rod which terminates substantially wedge-shaped and is actuated by the servo-adjusting motor means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control installation according to claim 25, characterized in that the teeth of the toothed segment are in the shape of knife edges.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the control rod means which is displaceable by a working element pneumatically connected with the control shifting means, engages at an adjusting lever pivotally secured at a headlight, the adjusting lever carries the toothed means, and in that the adjusting lever during its pivot movement pivots the headlight.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the toothed means is connected with the headlight by way of a lever which is pivoted about its pivot axis by the adjusting rod means engaging directly at the headlight.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that the toothed means of the toothed segment is in the shape of a circular arc.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control installation according to claim 22, characterized in that in case of pressure failure the wedge-shaped cutting edge of the adjusting rod is operable to be pulled out mechanically out of the toothed means against the pressure of a spring means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the control rod means controlled by the control shifting means extends through the servo-adjusting motor means, and in that in case of a pressure failure, a spring means is operable to cause slide means running along inclined surfaces to clamp themselves fast at the control rod means and thereby to stop the control rod means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control installation according to claim 31, characterized in that the control rod means is provided with clamping surface means at those places at which the slide means clamp themselves fast, into which engage complementary surface means arranged at the slide means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control installation according to claim 32, characterized in that said clamping surface means are roughened up.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
a control installation according to claim 32, characterized in that clamping surface means include a toothed means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control installation according to claim 34, characterized in that the complementary surface means include toothed means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3840729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |