April 25, 1967
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`G. P. s. YSSEL
`VEHICLE HEADLAMP ADJUSTING MEANS
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`3,316,397
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`Filed Nov. 10, 1964
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`5 Sheets—Sheet 1
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`KOITO 1024
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`KOITO 1024
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`April 25, 1967
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`G. P. s. YSSEL
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`3,316,397
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`VEHICLE HEADLAMP ADJUSTING MEANS
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`Filed Nov. 10, 1964
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`5 Sheets—Sheet 2
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`2
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`April 25, 1967
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`Filed NOV. 10, 1964
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`G_ P, 5, YssE|_
`VEHICLE HEADLAMP ADJUSTING MEANS
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`3,316,397
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`5 Sheets—SheetV3
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`United States Patent Office
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`3,316,397
`Patented Apr. 25, 1967
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`3 316 397
`VEHICLE HEADLXMP’ ADJUSTING MEANS
`Gideon Petrus Schoeman Yssel, “Sanitas,” P20. Noord-
`hrug, District Potchefstroom, Transvaal, Republic of
`South Africa
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`Filed Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,140
`15 Claims.
`(Cl. 240—7.1)
`
`This invention relates to means for automatically ad-
`justing the headlamps of a motor and like vehicle having
`the headlamps mounted on a body which is resiliently
`carried on wheels so that during darkness the light beams
`remain correctly directed with respect to a mean plane
`containing the wheel axes under varying and differently
`loaded conditions of the vehicle body. When the load
`on a vehicle body is disposed at different locations or
`positions, or when the vehicle is rapidly accelerated or
`braked,
`the rear or front (as the case may be) of the
`vehicle is forced downwardly and produces the undesir-
`able and often dangerous effect of changing the mean
`angle of the light beams, emitted by the headlamps, rela-
`tive to the road surface.
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`Mechanically operated actuating means may comprise
`rod or cable members coupled to the tilting mechanism
`for the headlamps and the members of the vehicle which
`perform movements relative to the vehicle body and the
`mean common plane of the wheel axes on loading of the
`vehicle.
`In the case of mechanical actuating means, the
`relatively movable member at the front of the vehicle is
`arranged to also operate on the headlamp tilting mech-
`anism in a direction opposite to that of the actuating
`means operated from the rear of the vehicle and produces
`a counter action resulting in a tilting movement of the
`-. headlamps and of the light beams emitted by the head-
`lamps proportionally to the difference in sagging of the
`vehicle body at the front and at the rear ends.
`In the case of pneumatically or hydraulically operated
`actuating means, for imparting the tilting movement of
`the «headlamps, a sealed conduit is employed containing
`ga fluid and having
`deformable volume changeable ele-
`ments for displacing such fluid along the conduit. The
`said elements are monted on the body of the vehicle and
`are engaged by or connected to a crank arm of the head-
`lamp tilting mechanism and the relatively movable mem-
`bers connected to the sprung and unsprung parts of the
`vehicle. The arrangement
`is such that on inward de-
`pression or compression of one or more volume change-
`able elements, the fluid is displaced into another of such
`elements which is associated with the headlamp tilting
`mechanism for expansion of the latter element and move-
`ment,-against biasing means, of the tilting mechanism to
`cause controlled tilting of the headlamps in proportion to
`-the sagging of the vehicle body relative to the wheels.
`In
`the case where at least one volume changeable element is
`provided at the front and also at the rear, the effect of
`sagging of the front and rear of the body causes com-
`pression of the element at the rear and expansion (or
`permits substantially unobstructed expansion) of the ele-
`ment at the front, so that on equal sagging of the front
`and the rear of the body, no change in volume takes
`place in respect of the element at the headlamp tilting
`mechanism, while on uneven sagging of the front and
`rear of the body a smaller amount of expansion or con-
`traction of the last mentioned element takes place than
`would -be the case if only the rear or the front of the body
`moved downwardly.
`In the case of electrically operatedactuating means,
`(use may be made of rheostats and a variable current re-
`sponsive device, receiving electric current through said
`rheostat; said device is connected to the headlamp tilting
`mechanism and causes the tilting of the headlamps in
`proportion to the sum of the actions of the oppositely
`operating rheostats at the front and rear regions of the
`vehicle.
`
`According to the invention the automatic headlamp
`adjusting means for a wheeled vehicle having a resiliently
`suspended body includes headlamps tiltably mounted on
`the body of the vehicle, actuating means associated with
`members of the vehicle subjected to movement relative to
`the body and a mean common plane containing the axes
`of the vehicle wheels on movement of the body relative
`to said plane, and devices connected to the headlamps and
`operated by the actuating means for tilting the head-
`lamps, said actuating means being adapted to effect re-
`sponsive tilting movement of the headlamps proportion-
`ately to uneven displacement of the body of the vehicle
`relative to the said plane.
`The actuating means for tilting the headlamps may
`incorporate mechanical,
`electrical, hydraulic and/ or
`pneumatic devices or systems or a combination of any one
`or more of such devices and/or systems.
`With the headlamp tilting mechanism biasing means
`may be incorporated to return the headlamps to a pre-
`arranged position and against which means the actuating
`means is operative.
`The member or members of the vehicle which are
`movable relative to the sprung and unsprung parts of the
`vehicle and adapted to control the actuating means, must
`be provided at least to-wards that end of the vehicle where
`sagging or downward movement of the vehicle body
`during loading always takes place. Preferably the actuat-
`ing means is controlled by such movable’ rneinbers at the
`front and rear of the vehicle, as sagging or downward
`movement of the body at both ends is invariably experi-
`enced and usually to different extents. The extent of sag-
`ging at the front and rear is dependent on the distribu-
`tion of the load carried -by the vehicle and the suspension
`systems employed. The direction of -headlamp tilting ap-
`plied by the actuating means from the front of the vehicle
`is opposite to that from the rear of the vehicle so that,
`for instance, lesser sagging at the front than at the rear
`causes a smaller extent of tilting of the headlamps than
`would be effected by the actuating means controlled only
`by sagging at the rear.
`'
`The tilting mechanism of
`the headlamps provide
`crankarm or like means on which the actuating means is
`I operative.
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`In the actuating means, whether mechanically, hydrau-
`lically, pneumatically or electrically operated, suitable de-
`vices or means should be incorporated to delay the re-
`sultant tilting of the headlamps in order to avoid imme—
`diate tilting of the headlamps so thatrelative movement
`of the sprung and unspnung parts of the vehicle, due to
`road irregularities, bumps or the like, can take place with-
`out causing tilting of the headlamps.
`Instead of mounting the headlamps in pivotal fashion,
`only the reflector units (in which the bulbs are carried)
`may be pivotally mounted.
`In the case of scaled beam
`headlamps, the entire sealed beam units must be pivot-
`ally mounted.
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`the actuating means is operated from
`Conveniently,
`anti-roll bars or the like if provided on the motor vehi-
`cle, such bars being provided for the purpose of the in-
`vention with crank arms at central -positions and of
`which the free end regions are connected to, or operative
`on, the actuating means.
`The headlam-ps or the reflectors, arranged on or adja-
`cent both sides of the front of the vehicle body, may be
`actuated from or may be mounted on a common rotata-
`bly oscillatable and transversely arranged Ibar, rod or
`shaft.“
`' With the headlamp tilting arrangement according to
`the invention, means may be included to compensate for
`fluctuation in atmospheric conditions, such as temperature
`and atmospheric pressure, which may affect the operation
`of the invention and consequently the angle of the light
`beams relative to the road surface.
`For the invention to be clearly understood and carried
`into effect, reference will now be made to the accom-
`panying sheets of drawings in which:
`FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic View showing automatic
`headlamp beam adjusting means according to the inven-
`tion;
`FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view show-
`ing a modified arrangement of the means according to
`the invention;
`FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing
`a further modified arrangement -of the means according
`to the invention;
`FIGURE 4 is a further view similar to FIGURE 2
`showing a still further modified form of the invention;
`FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing
`yet another modified form of the means according to
`the invention;
`FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary View showing the head-
`lamp tilting mechanism according to the invention, ap-
`plicable on all
`the arrangements and forms shown in
`FIGURES 1-5;
`FIGURES 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary views
`showing modifications of the headlamp tilting mecha-
`nisms which all incorporate devices to compensate for
`changes in atmospheric conditions;
`FIGURES 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of
`mechanical means for automatically changing the light
`beams of motor vehicles when subjected to different load-
`ings, also according to the invention.
`Referring to FIGURE 1 of thedrawings, reference-
`numeral 1 denotes the rear axle of a motor vehicle on
`which the body is supported by semi-elliptical springs 2
`between the front portions of springs 2 and chassis or
`body parts 3, to which the springs 2 are pivotally con-
`nected, resilient material bulbous elements 4 are disposed.
`Said bulbous elements 4 are connected together by a non-
`expandable conduit 5. Reference numeral 6 indicates
`the “wish-bone” suspension members at the front of the
`vehicle and reference numeral 7 the pivotally mounted
`control arms mounted in spaced relationship above said
`“wish-bone” suspension members 6. Below the control
`arm 7, compressible resilient material bulbous elements
`8 are mounted for compression by downward motion of
`the control arm 8. The bulbous elements 8 are con-
`nected together by a conduit 9.
`a conduit 10 ~
`The conduits 5 and 9 are connected by
`while from conduit 10 a branch conduit 11 extends
`which is connected to a further rigidly mounted ex-
`pandable and compressible resilient material bulbous
`element 12.
`In the conduit 11 a restricted passage form-
`ing element 13 is connected whereby the flow of the
`fluid to and from element 12 is retarded.
`The headlamps 14 are provided with diametrically
`opposed pins or stub axles 15 whichare pivotally received
`in suitable bearings on the vehicle ‘body (not shown).
`The top portions "of
`the headlamps 14 are connected
`by rods 16 to crank arms 17. The crank arms 17 are
`provided on a transversely arranged rotatably mounted
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`shaft 18 which is provided with a further crank arm 19.
`Protruding from a face at the free end of crank arm 19,
`is a knob-like member 20 having a substantially hemis-
`pherical end which pressingly engages onto the bulbous
`element 12. .
`The headlamps 14 are biased by spring means to posi-
`tions when the mean axes of the light beams, emitted
`by the lamps,‘ are in the positions as would be required
`under substantially no loading or minimum loading con-
`ditions of the motor vehicle.
`The fluid contained in the system, composed of the
`bulbous elements and the conduits, is preferably air and
`is sealed oif in the system, advantageously, under atmos-
`pheric pressure.
`On subjecting the vehicle to loading, the body moves
`downwardly relative to the unsprung parts of the vehicle,
`i.e., the wheels and axles, causing the springs 2 to move
`closer to the body or body parts 3 at the rear of the
`vehicle with the resultant compression -of the bulbous
`elements 4 between the spring 2 and said body parts 3.
`At the front of the vehicle, when subjected to loading,
`the “wish-bone” frames 6 and the -control arm 7 swing
`upwardly, thus reducing the pressure on the bulbous ele-
`ments 8, which then expand. On loading of the vehicle,
`so that sagging of the vehicle body at the front and at
`the rear is equal, fluid is displaced from the bulbous
`elements 4 to the bulbous elements 8. On sagging of
`the rear of the vehicle only, the displaced fluid, on com-
`pression of the bulbous elements 4,.is displaced along the
`conduit 11 to the bulbous element 12.. Expansion of
`the bulbous element 12 causes upward defiection of the
`crank arm 19 and partial rotation of the shaft 18. Simi-
`-larly the crank arms 17 are swung forwardly which
`movement is conveyed by the rods 16 to the top -regions
`of the headlamps or headlamp reflectors 14 which are
`caused to tilt with the upper region forwardly thus caus-
`ing the light beams, emitted by the headlamps, to tilt
`downwardly relative to a mean plane of the motor vehicle
`body.
`The effective lengths of the crank arms 17 and 19, the
`distance between the pivot positions and the position of
`engagement of each rod 16 with a headlamp 14 as also
`the extent of maximum compression and expansion of
`the bulbous elements are chosen and designed so that
`the angle of the light beams relative to the mean plane
`containing the wheel axes will remain constant under
`different loading conditions.
`On subjecting the front of the vehicle to a greater
`load, causing sagging of the front -of the vehicle body
`to a greater extent than at the rear, the bulbous elements
`8 expand and the fluid is displaced from the bulbous
`element 12 thus causing the upper portions of the head-
`lamps or headlamp reflectors 14 to be tilted rearwardly
`to raise the light beams relative to the vehicle body.
`The provision of the restriction forming element 13
`in the conduit 11 has the effect of retarding the reaction
`of fluid displacement to and from the bulbous element
`12 in order that the system will not be responsive to
`spring defiection due to road irregularities and the like.
`Furthermore,_ such flow restriction means provides for
`slow tilting actions of_the headlamps.
`The bulbous elements 8 may be positioned below the
`“wish-bone” frames 6 if particularly desired, but
`it
`is
`preferable to mount such elements at a position where
`they are protected from dirt and flying st-ones as may
`be encountered during travelling.
`By providing bulbous elements 4 and 8 on both sides
`of the vehicle, transverse tilting or rocking of the vehicle
`body will not affect the tilted position of the headlamps
`as the fluid is transferred from one side element to the
`co-acting element on the other side.
`In the case of a mot-or vehicle provided with an anti-
`-roll bar or the like at the front, the fluid displacement
`bulbous elements 8 are replaced by a single bulbous ele-
`ment Sa (see FIGURE2) which is engaged by a crank
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`To compensate for temperature changes the bulbous
`element 12 may be mounted on one end of biased lever
`30 (FIGURE 6), while on the other end a fluid filled
`bulbous element 31 is provided which rests on a fixed
`part 32. On increase of temperature and expansion of
`the fluid in the conduit and bulbous elements system, the
`fluid contained in the bulbous element 31 also expands
`to counteract the effect of expansion in said system on
`lever 19. The biasing of the lever 30 may be in the form
`of a weight 33. Alternatively to the weight 33 and/or a
`spring 34 (see FIGURE 7) may be employed.
`In order
`to counteract transverse expansion of the bulbous ele-
`ment 31, said element 31 may be received in comple-
`mentary cup—like half parts 35 and 36 provided respec-
`tively on the lever 30 and the fixed part 32.
`The end 30a of the lever 30, in a further form as shown
`in FIGURE 8, may be anchored to the fixed part 32 by
`a temperature responsive elongatable or contractable
`metallic element 37 or a temperature responsive con-
`certina-like thermostat device 38 may be employed as is
`shown in FIGURE 8.
`Another form of temperature compensating device is
`shown in FIGURE 10 in which the crank arm 19 is com-
`posed of a bi-metallic strip which changes the position of
`part 20 relative to the bulbous element 12 during tem-
`perature changes.
`In the form shown in FIGURE 11,
`the mounting for the bulbous element 12 is on a bi-
`metallic cantilever-like support 39 while the crank arm
`19 is a rigid part fixed to the shaft 18.
`The preferred form, shown in FIGURE 12, provides
`means preventing unintentional relative movement of the
`arm 19 and element 12 due to road surface irregularities.
`This may be effected by springs 50 which are of adjust-
`able tension and connect the crank arm 19 and lever 30.
`Alternatively loading weights 33 and 33a may be provided
`on the lever 39 and arm 19, as is shown in broken lines
`in FIGURE 12.
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`arm 21 rigidly fixed to the centre position of the trans-
`verse part of the front anti-roll bar 22 as is shown in
`FIGURE 2. The arrangement is such that when the
`front of the vehicle sags the crank arm 21 is arranged
`to move in a forward direction to thereby reduce the
`pressure on the single bulbous element 8::
`(replacing
`the two elements 8) so that, if the rear of the vehicle
`does not sag, a reduction of pressure in the bulbous ele-
`ment 12 results to cause upward tilting of the head-
`lamps 14.
`In Cases where an anti-roll bar 23 is also provided at
`the rear of the vehicle (FIGURE 3), a crank arm 24
`is provided on the central portion of the transverse part
`of such anti-roll bar 23, and which is arranged to swing
`forwardly on sagging of the rear of the vehicle to per-
`form compression on a single bulbous element 4a, (re-
`placing the two connected bulbous elements 4 shown in
`FIGURES 1 and 2).
`In the normal unloaded position
`of the vehicle the pressure applying crank arms 21, 24
`may be horizontally, vertically or obliquely disposed as
`may be found most convenient on the particular vehicle
`on which the system according to the invention is to be
`applied.
`the
`In the arrangement according to FIGURE 4,
`bulbous elements 4 and 8 or 4a and 8a are replaced by
`a single bulbous element 25 which is connected by con-
`duit 11 to the bulbous element 12. Said conduit 11 also
`provides the restriction forming passage element 13. The
`crank arm 24 of the rear anti-roll bar 23 mounts a rod
`26 of adjustable length which is capable of reciprocating
`movement on swinging of the anti-roll bar 23 and is
`guided in a guide 27. On the front end of rod 26 a
`pressure plate 28 is provided engaging on the bulbous
`element 25 which in turn is also held in engagement with
`the crank arm 21 of the front anti-roll bar 22.
`In all
`the forms shown in FIGURES 1-4, sagging of the rear of
`the vehicle body increases pressure in the fluid system
`while sagging of the front of the vehicle body causes a
`reduction of the pressure in the system.
`The bulbous elements, which conveniently consist of
`rubber or like synthetic material balls or bulbs may be
`replaced by piston and cylinder assemblies of which the
`cylinders may be mounted on, say body parts of the
`vehicle and the pistons to unsprung parts of the vehicle.
`The said bulbous elements or the cylinder and piston
`assemblies may incorporate springs or like biasing means
`normally tending to expand them and increase their
`volumes.
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`Although reference is hereinbefore made to headlamps
`which are tilted, it should be readily understood that only
`the reflector units, mounting the lamp bulbs, can be ar-
`ranged to be tilted. By tilting the reflector units only,
`many of the existing types of headlamps are readily
`adapted, as frequently the reflectors are pivotally mounted
`for adjustment purposes. With such headlamps, the ad-
`justing screws, usually provided at the tops of the re-
`flector units, are replaced by the connections for rods 16
`which pass through the reflector rims or like means. . The
`connection between the rods and reflector rims prefer-
`ably incorporate resilient means in the form of springs or
`the like.
`'
`
`In a form of mechanically operated actuating means,
`by way of example, a cable 40 of the Bowden cable kind,
`is employed of which one end is connected to the head-
`lamp tilting mechanism for imparting downward tilting of
`the headlamps when the cable is pulled by virtue of the
`opposite end being secured to the crank arm of the rear
`anti-roll bar or the like, as the rear end of the vehicle sags.
`'
`'
`a rod) may be provided and
`connected to the front anti-roll bar or the like and to
`the headlamp tilting mechanism. Said second cable 41
`is arranged to counteract the action of the first cable 40
`when the front end of the vehicle also moves down-
`wardly.
`In order to obtain such counteracting or com-
`pensating effect,
`the distant end of the casing part of
`cable 40 is fixed to the body of the vehicle, whereas the
`opposite end is fastened to an element 42 which is slidable
`in the direction of the pull of the cable. Said element 42
`is slidable between spaced stops 43 and 44 with which
`stop 43 the element engages when the rear end of the
`body is completely down and the front wheels just press-
`ing against the road while the other stop 44 is engaged
`
`The sealed conduit and expandable and compressible
`system preferably contains as operating fluid air sealed
`off in the system under atmospheric pressure.
`To provide for a delayed tilting action of the head-
`lamps 14, a high moment of inertia may be presented by
`providing an adequately heavy lever to operate the tiltable
`headlamp mounting means, but other weight means could
`be provided.
`Instead of the conduit and bulbous element system con-
`taining a gas, e.g. air, a liquid may be provided. When
`using a liquid in the system an access valve and a fluid
`replenishing container, as also means adapted to act as
`a ram must be provided.
`In such a system, a suitable
`liquid or viscous medium should be used while a quantity
`of air or gas may also be provided which is trapped in
`an additional vertically arranged container connected to
`the conduit to act as the ram means.
`In the form shown in FIGURE 5 the element 8;; or
`elements 8 is or are not provided. The crank arm 19 is
`engaged on opposite sides by the element 12 and a com-
`pression spring 46, the spring 46 being provided on the
`crank arm 21 of anti-roll bar 22. The element 4a, in
`turn is acted upon by crank arms 24 of anti-roll bar 23
`through compression spring 46a.
`Spring 46 maintains
`engagement of the arm 19 on element 12 and also causes
`—or permits displacement of the crank arm 19.
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`changing of the effective extent of projection of the inner
`and relatively movable part of the cable 40 and conse-
`quently the angle of movement applied to arm 19, shaft
`18 and angle of tilt of the headlamps 14, whereas the
`cable 41 (or rod), extending from the front of the ve-
`hicle, displaces the said element 42 proportionally to the
`extent. of sagging of the front of the vehicle body.
`The simplified mechanically operated form of the in- ~
`vention shown in FIGURE 14 provides pushrods 26 and
`26a on the antiroll bar crank arms 24, and 21. Said rods
`26, 2621 are provided with identical compression springs
`acting on opposite sides of crank arm 19 and cause move-
`ment of the tilting mechanism proportionally to the.dif-
`ference ofsagging of the front and rear ends of the ve-
`hicle body.
`With means according to the invention the angle of the
`light beams, emitted by the headlamps is retained substan-
`tially constant relative to the road surface so that the
`desired distance of road illumination, forwardly of the
`vehicle, remains substantiallygconstant under “bright” or
`“dipped” conditions irrespective of the vehicle body in-
`clination relative to the road surface such as when the
`body is depressed downwardly at the front or the rear
`due to varied loading conditions of the vehicle or on sharp
`acceleration or braking. With the means according to
`the invention, upwardly directed light beams, blinding on-
`coming traflic,
`is eliminated and consequently generally
`safer driving conditions are obtained.
`Said bulbous elements, in a simplified form of construc-
`tion, may comprise short lengths of resilient and flexible
`rubber or like material tubing, sealed at the ends and con-
`nected to the conduits,
`the conduits conveniently con-
`sisting of pressure hose.
`According to a further modification the headlamps or
`reflector units may be arranged to tilt directly by c-on-
`tacting bulbous elements if the swivelling is against fric-
`tion or restraining means.
`Identical bulbous elements
`may be provided which press directly against the lamps
`or the reflector units whereby the mechanical swivelling
`or tilting mechanism may be avoided.
`In an hydraulic system the bulbous elements actuated
`by the vehicle suspension members and roll bars or the
`like, should preferably be expansible or otherwise a
`quantity of air should be trapped in each bulbous ele-
`ment.
`In the event of inexpansible bulbous elements,
`such elements should preferably not be rigidly fixed di-
`rectly to the body or chassis of the vehicle but should be
`resiliently mounted on or actuated by spring, elastic and/
`or air cushions to minimize the danger of bursting caused
`by excessive pressure application as may occur on sudden
`vertical movement of a wheel or wheels. The springs
`46, 464, shown in the arrangment in FIGURE 5 provide
`such means.
`I claim:
`1. Automatic adjusting means for the headlamps of a
`wheeled vehicle having a resiliently suspended body for
`maintaining a substantially constant angle of light beams
`emitted by the -headlamps relative to a mean plane con-
`taining the axes of the vehicle wheels, including, head-
`lamps of which at least the reflectors are tiltably mounted
`on the vehicle body about a substantially horizontal and
`‘transversely arranged axis, devices connected to the head-
`lamps to apply tilting motion to the headlamps, anti-roll
`bars mounted rotatably on the vehicle body towards the
`front and the rear of the latter and connected to. parts
`of the vehicle on which the wheels are attached, crank
`arm devices at central regions of the anti-roll bars, ac-
`tuating means engagingly associated with the crank arm
`devices and the devices connected to the headlamps to
`effect responsive tilting movement of the headlamps pro-
`portionately to uneven displacement of the front and rear
`ends of the vehicle body relative to said plane.
`2. Means for automatically adjusting the headlamps
`of a vehicle having_,_a resiliently suspended body for main-
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`taining a substantially constant angle between light beams
`emitted by the headlamps and a mean plane containing the
`axes of the vehicle wheels on depression of an end por-
`tion of the vehicle relative to the said plane,
`including
`pivot mountings on the body for at least the reflector
`units of the headlamps about substantially horizontal and
`transverse axes, a member associated with the sprung
`and unsprung parts of the vehicle at a position where sub-
`stantially the greatest downward depression of the body
`relative to the said plane takes place on loading of the
`body and being relatively movable to the sprung and un-
`sprung parts in proportion to the amount of body depres-
`sion, a sealed conduit having volume changeable elements
`and containing a fluid, at least one volume changeable
`element being associated with the movable member be-
`tween the sprung and unsprung parts for effecting a
`change in volume of said element and displacement of
`volume changeable element
`, fluid to and from another
`which is associated" with a mechanism connected to the
`pivotally mounted headlamp reflector units for tilting of
`the units on changing of the volume of said element, and
`a flow restriction aperture in said conduit at a position
`forwardly of the last mentioned element to retard fluid
`transferred to and from said last mentioned element, said
`mechanism having bias means applied to it and adapted
`to assist and restrain the tilting action on decreasing and
`increasing the volume of the element operating such mech-
`anism and whereby the reflector units are tilted to an ex-
`tent proportional to the relative movement of the sprung
`and unsprung vehicle parts.
`3. Means for automatically adjusting the headlamps
`of a vehicle having a resiliently suspended body for main-
`taining a substantially constant angle between light beams
`emitted by the headlamps and a mean plane containing
`the axes of the vehicle wheels on uneven depression of
`the front and rear ends of the body relative to said
`plane, including pivot mountings on the body for at least
`the reflector units of the headlamps about substantially
`members at both the front .
`horizontal and transverse axes,
`and rear ends of the vehicle which are attached to and
`movable relative to the sprung and unsprung parts of
`the vehicle on movement of the sprung vehicle part rela-
`tive to unsprung parts at the opposite ends of the vehicle,
`said movable members being arranged to operate inde-
`pendently of one another and to extents dependable on
`body depression at the front and rear of the vehicle, ac-
`tuating means between said movable members and a
`device acting on the tiltably mounted headlamp units, the
`independent movement actions of said movable members
`at the front and the rear of the vehicle being arranged to
`produce oppositely directed forces on the actuating means
`on depression of both ends of the vehicle body to cause
`movement of the headlamp units,
`through the device
`disposed between such actuating means and the head-
`lamp units, to an extent which is proportionally to the
`difference in -depression of the vehicle body at the front
`and at the rear of the vehicle.‘
`4. Means for automatically adjusting the headlamps
`of a vehicle having a resiliently suspended body for main-
`taining a substantially constant angle between light beams
`emitted by the headlamps and a mean plane containing
`the axes of the vehicle wheels on uneven depression of
`the front and rear ends of the body relative to said plane,
`including pivot mountings on the body for at least the
`reflector units of the headlamps about substantially hori-
`zontal and transverse axes, independently movable mem-
`bers at both the front and rear of the vehicle attached to
`the sprung and unsprung parts of the vehicle and which
`are movable relative to ‘-said parts on relative movement
`of said parts at said ends, mechanical actuating means
`attached to the movable members at the front and the
`rear of the vehicle and movable by such members when
`relative movement of the sprung and unsprung vehicle
`parts takes. place, said. actuating means being also con-
`
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`8. Means for automatically adjusting the headlamps of
`a vehicle having a resiliently suspended body for main-
`taining a substantially constant angle of light beams
`emitted by the headlamps relative to a mean plane con-
`taining the axes of the vehicle wheels on uneven depres-
`sion of the front and ‘rear ends of the body relative to
`said plane, including: pivot mountings on the body for
`at least the reflector units of the headlamps about sub-
`stantially horizontal and transverse axes; a mechanism
`consisting of a transverse and horizontally located oscil-
`latable shaft, crankarms on the shaft connected to the
`reflector units at eccentric positions relative to their pivot-
`ing axes, a further crankarm on the shaft on which ac-
`tuating means operate for tilting of the headlamps, and
`means for imparting a high moment of inertia to the
`shaft;
`the actuating means comprising a sealed conduit
`having volume changeable elements of which one is as-
`sociated with the further crankarm of the oscillatable
`shaft; independently movable members at both the front
`and rear of the vehicle and which are movable relative
`to the sprung and unsprung parts of the vehicle on rela-
`tive movement of the said parts at the front and rear
`of the vehicle, said mov-able members providing means
`acting on other volume changeable elements of the sealed
`conduit at the front and the rear of the vehicle for displac-
`ing the fluid contained by the said sealed conduit to and
`from one another on depression of the vehicle body and
`to and from the element associated with the crankarm
`for expanding and contracting said latter element to pro-
`duce responsive movement of the headlamp reflector unit
`tilting mechanism in proportion to the dilference of de-
`pression of the vehicle body at the front and the rear;
`temperature and atmospheric pressure responsive means
`associated with the oscillatable crankarmed shaft and
`adapted to counteract movement of the headlamp reflec-
`tor units due to variation intemperature and atmospheric
`pressure.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`9,
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`nected to a crankarm of an oscillatable shaft having bias-
`ing means and to which the headlamp reflector u