FR2918937A1 - Optical axis adjusting device for vehicle, has manipulation unit activated to displace outlet shaft through wire and horizontal driving mechanism, where shaft's relative position is adjustable without modifying position of scale - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has horizontal and rotational driving mechanisms to displace an outlet shaft (142) with respect to a case (141) for pivoting a lamp unit (130) in vertical and lateral directions, respectively. A manipulation unit has a scale representing a relative position of the shaft with respect to the case. The manipulation unit is activated to displace the shaft through a wire and one of the mechanisms. Relative position of the shaft indicated by the scale is adjustable without modifying the position of the scale.

Description

LAMP FOR VEHICLE AND OPTICAL AXIS ADJUSTING DEVICE THEREFOR

  FIELD OF THE INVENTION The devices and apparatus of the present invention are directed to a vehicle lamp and an optical axis adjuster for use with a vehicle lamp. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain vehicle lamps, for example certain automobile headlights and the like, are configured so that the direction of radiation of the lamps in the vertical and lateral directions can be changed. JP-A-2005-119463, for example, describes a vehicle lamp according to the associated technique, wherein a lamp unit is supported by a console and the console is tilted to the right / to the left and to the top / to the low. In other words, the console is tilted to the right or to the left by controlling a right-left tilting actuator and the console is also tilted upward or downward by controlling an actuating device tilting up-down. In a vehicle lamp according to the related technique described in JP-A-2005-186731, the vehicle lamp according to the associated technique is pivotally displaced to the right / to the left and up / down by commanding a unique set of actuators. Even in a vehicle lamp according to the associated technique described in JP-A-2003-54310, the vehicle lamp is moved by the associated technique pivotally to the right / to the left and up / down in controlling a unique set of actuators. However, in the vehicle lamp according to the associated technique described in JP-A-2005-119463, both the right-left pivoting actuator for moving the console in the right-handed / left-swinging manner pivoting actuator up-down to move the console up / down are individually supplied separately. As a result, the total number of components is important, the number

  total assembly steps is important and a large number of cable strands delivering electrical power to the respective actuators and controlling the respective actuators are required, so that the cost of manufacturing the lamp for vehicle is increased. On the other hand, it is not currently possible to use an actuating device for the right lamp and the left lamp, which also causes an increase in the cost of manufacture. In the vehicle lamp of the associated technique described in JP-A-2005-186731, the coupling point of the actuator for pivoting the console to the right / left relative to the console is separated from the another coupling point of the actuator for pivoting the console upward / downward relative to the console. In addition, such a positional relationship between these coupling points is fixed. As a result, the consoles do not have a general purpose feature and thus, such consoles are necessarily designed exclusively for the actuating devices described above. It is also necessary to use actuators which are exclusively designed respectively for the right lamp and the left lamp.

  In the vehicle lamp according to the associated technique explained above, described in JP-A-2003-54310, the output part of the actuating device constitutes a single output part, so that it can commonly be used. actuating device for the right lamp and for the left lamp. However, such a single actuating device can not simultaneously rock the console to the right / to the left as well as up / down, and independently. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp and an optical axis adjusting device capable of changing the radiation direction of the vehicle lamp up and down and changing its direction. direction of radiation to the right and to the left in an independent way and moreover, capable of modifying at the same time the directions of radiation up / down and to the right / to the left, while reducing at the same time time the cost of

  manufacturing the optical axis adjustment device for the vehicle lamp and providing a compact optical axis adjustment device. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an optical axis adjusting device of a vehicle lamp, the vehicle lamp comprising a lamp housing and a lamp unit supported within the lamp housing by a simple pivot, characterized in that one can actuate the optical axis adjusting device so as to rotate vertically and laterally the lamp unit. The optical axis adjusting device comprises a box; an output portion movably disposed with respect to the box and adapted to be coupled to the lamp unit; first setting means for moving the output portion forwards and backwards relative to the box to rotate the lamp unit in the vertical direction; second setting means for rotating the output portion relative to the box to rotate the lamp unit in the lateral direction; manipulation means comprising a scale representing the relative position of the output portion forwards and backwards relative to the box; and a first wire coupling the handling means to the first adjusting means. The handling means may be actuated to move the output portion forwards and backwards through the wire and the first adjustment means, and said relative position of the output portion indicated by the scale is adjustable without changing the position of the scale of the handling means. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view for schematically showing a headlight according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view of an optical axis adjusting device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing horizontal sections of an actuating device and handling means; Fig. 3 is a perspective view for schematically showing the actuator illustrated in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the handling means illustrated in Figure 2; Fig. 5 is a view of an optical axis adjusting device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the horizontal sections of an actuating device and handling means; Fig. 6 is a front view of a manipulation of the optical axis adjusting device of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a headlight according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The following exemplary embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. For example, although the following exemplary embodiments are directed to an optical axis adjusting device of an automobile headlight, the present invention applies to any vehicle lamps. Figures 1 to 4 show an optical axis adjusting device of a vehicle headlamp 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the headlamp 10 comprises a lamp housing 110 having a concave portion which is open forwards. The forward opening of the lamp housing 110 is covered by a transparent cover 120 so as to form a lamp chamber 101. A lamp unit 130 is supported within the lamp chamber 101, so that to be able to rotate the lamp unit 130 both upwards or downwards and also to the right or to the left. In addition, an actuator 140 which rotates the lamp unit 130 up / down and to the right / to the left is mounted on the lamp housing 110. The lamp unit 130 has a reflector 131, a projection lens 132, and a light source (not shown) and the lamp unit 130 is arranged to radiate the illumination light forward. A housing coupling portion 133 for coupling to the lamp housing 110 is formed on an upper edge portion of the lamp unit 130 and a coupling portion of the device

  actuator 134 to be coupled to the actuator 140 is also formed on a lower edge portion of the lamp unit 130. In the first exemplary embodiment, the housing coupling portion 133 includes a body spherical which constitutes a part of a spherical joint. The coupling portion of the actuator 134 is shaped like a disc having a large thickness. A concave coupling portion 134a which is open to a lower plane is formed in the coupling portion of the actuator 134 and an up / down elongated engaging groove (not shown) is formed in a inner circumferential plane of the concave coupling portion 134a. A lamp unit coupling portion 112 is formed on a lower plane of an upper plane portion 111 of the lamp housing 110. The lamp unit coupling portion 112 is shaped as a sphere receiving body which is a part of a spherical joint and a concave part 112a having a spherical shape is formed in the sphere receiving body 112, the concave part 112a being open towards the lower plane. The housing coupling portion 133 (i.e., the spherical body) of the lamp unit 130 is internally adjusted to the spherical concave portion 112a, so as to form a spherical joint. Thus, the housing coupling portion 133 can be rotated within the spherical concave portion 112a in multiple directions, so that the lamp unit 130 can be tilted up / down and downward. the right / left The actuating device 140 comprises an output shaft 142 projecting from the upper plane of a box 141 upwards and the output shaft 142 is driven by a lateral adjustment means and a means vertical adjustment (the two adjustment means will be explained later). In other words, the vertical adjustment means moves the output shaft 142 forwards and backwards and the lateral adjustment means rotates the output shaft 142 about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is elongated in a substantially vertical direction. It will also be appreciated that elongate engagement protuberances 142a are formed on an outer circumferential plane of the output shaft 142, while the elongate engagement protuberances 142a are elongate in the axial direction.

  The actuator 140 is attached to a lower plane of the lower plane portion 113 of the lamp housing 110. The output shaft 142 penetrates through a through hole 113a formed in the lower plane portion 113 of the lamp housing 110 and projects thereafter inside the lamp chamber 101, and furthermore, is fitted into the concave coupling portion 134a provided in the lower edge portion of the lamp unit 130. The through hole 113a extends from front to back. The elongate engagement protuberances 142a formed on the outer circumferential plane of the output shaft 142 are engaged with engagement grooves (not shown) formed in an inner circumferential plane of the concave coupling portion 134a, so that the output shaft 142 and the concave coupling portion 134a can be prevented from sliding in the direction of rotation. In the headlamp 10, when the output shaft 142 of the actuator 140 is rotated about the axis of rotation which is elongated in the substantially vertical direction, the coupling portion of the actuator 134 is adjusted to the output shaft 142 receives a rotational force about the axis which is elongate in the substantially vertical direction. Accordingly, the lamp unit 130 on which the coupling portion of the actuator 134 is formed is rotated to the right and to the left. As a result, the radiation direction produced by the control unit 13 can be modified. lamp 130 to the right and to the left. On the other hand, when the output shaft 142 of the actuator 140 is moved forwards or backwards, under conditions such as the position of the housing coupling portion 133 of the portion of the the upper edge of the lamp unit 130 is fixed forwards and backwards, the coupling portion of the actuating device 134 is moved from its lower edge part towards the front and towards the rear, so that the lamp unit 130 is rotated up and down. Accordingly, the direction of the radiation produced by the lamp unit 130 can be changed up and down. Figures 2 to 4 show in more detail the actuating device 140.

  The actuating device 140 has the output shaft 142 projecting from the box 141 upwards, the output shaft 142 is

  provided so that the output shaft 142 is rotated about an axis which is elongate in the substantially vertical direction and can also be moved forward and backward. Both a rotational drive mechanism 150 (see, for example, FIG. 3) and a horizontal drive mechanism 160 (see, for example, FIG. 2) are then arranged inside box 141. The rotational drive 150 rotates the output shaft 142 about the axis which is elongate in the substantially vertical direction. The horizontal drive mechanism 160 moves the output shaft 142 forwards and backwards. Referring to Fig. 2, the output shaft 142 has a substantially cylindrical shape and has a central hole 142b which penetrates through the center of the output shaft 142. The elongate engagement protuberances 142a, which are elongated in the axial direction, are provided so as to project on a substantially upper half part relative to the outer circumferential plane of the output shaft 142. On the other hand, gear teeth are formed on a substantially lower half relative to the outer circumferential plane of the output shaft 142. The gear teeth comprise a gear wheel part 142c (see for example Figure 3). Referring to Figure 3, a slider 161 is provided within the box 141 so that the slider 161 can be moved forward and backward. A support shaft 161a and support walls 161b are formed on this slider 161. The support shaft 161a projects upwards from a substantially central portion of this slider 161. The support walls 161b are formed so as to be elongated in positions forward and backward and these positions are slightly separated from each other with respect to the support shaft 161a to the right and to the left. A slip hole 161c (see Fig. 2) is formed by moving the slider 161 forward and backward. The slider 161 is engaged with guide grooves 141a in a freely slidable manner. More specifically, projecting engagement pieces 161d are elongate in the left and right inner side planes of the box 141 and thus project from the left and right side planes of the slider 161. The protruding engagement pieces 1161d project into the guide grooves 141a and engage therewith. As a result, the slider 161 may be supported in a manner that can freely move forwards and backwards inside the box 141. The output shaft 142 is supported in a manner that can rotate freely relative to to the slider 161 such that the support shaft 161a of the slider 161 penetrates through the central hole 142b of the output shaft 142. A worm gear 151 is supported between the support walls 161b of the slider 161 of a In a freely rotatable manner, the worm gear 151 is engaged with the wheel gear portion 142 of the output shaft 142. Accordingly, if the worm gear is rotated 151 then the output shaft 142 rotates. A coupling portion 151a projecting from one of the support walls 161b to the outer side of the slider 161 is formed on the worm gear 151 and a coupling hole 151b whose sectional shape is a rectangle is formed in the coupling portion 151a. The coupling hole 151b is open on the edge plane of the coupling portion 151a. The rotational drive mechanism 150 includes the worm gear 51 and the worm gear portion 142c formed on the output shaft 142. A guide shaft 162 is supported on the box 141 so that the The guide shaft 162 is elongated forwards and backwards and the guide shaft 162 is inserted through the sliding hole 161c of the slider 161. A compression coil spring 163 is inserted between the slider 161 and a slider 161. inner plane of the trailing edge portion of the box 141 under conditions such that the compression coil spring 163 is adjusted externally in the guide shaft 162 and thus the slider 161 is biased forward by this spring helical compression 163.

  A tip portion of a wire 164 extending from the rear edge of the box 141 to the inner portion of the box 141 is attached to the trailing edge of the slider 161. The horizontal drive mechanism 160 includes slider 161, the coil compression spring 163 and the wire 164. That is, if the wire 164 is stretched in the direction in which the wire 164 is pulled out of the box 141, then the slider 161 is moved backward while the slider 161 causes the compression coil spring 163 to compress and the output shaft 142 supported by the slider 161 is moved backward. Conversely, if the wire 164 is released, then the slider 161 is moved forward by the compression coil spring 153. In other words, by manipulating the wire 164, the slider 161 can be moved forward or rearward. The wire 164 is inserted through an outer tube 171. A frictional force is exerted between the wire 164 and the outer tube 171. If the wire 164 is tensioned by a force that exceeds the friction force, the wire 164 then moves relative to the outer tube 171. A screw protrusion 72a is formed on an outer circumferential plane of a leading edge portion of the outer tube 171. A set screw 172 is rotatably supported on the rear edge portion of the box 141 and the thread 164 passes through the set screw 172 and is thereafter driven into the box 141. The set screw 172 is provided with a screw hole 172a open in the rear end of the set screw 172 and the screw protrusion 171a of the leading edge of the outer tube 171 is screwed into the screw hole 172a. Accordingly, if the adjusting screw 172 is rotated relative to the box 141, the outer tube 171 moves forward and backward in response to the direction of rotation of the set screw 172. When the tube Outside 171 moves, the wire 164 then moves relatively in combination with the outer tube 171 relative to the box 141, so that the position of the slider 161 can be changed. Thus, initial position adjusting means 170 includes the adjusting screw 172 and the outer tube 171. Handling means 180 is used during tension manipulation of the wire 164. The handling means 180 is equipped with a rotary manipulation button 181 and a transfer member 182. The transfer member 182 is moved by rotating the manipulation button 181 in the direction of the axis of rotation of the manipulation button 181, while the individual wires 164 coupled to the sliders are coupled to the element 182, which are provided in correspondence with the right and left lamp units. A rotatable screw 184 is supported by a handling unit housing 183 in a freely rotatable manner. A screw protrusion 184a is formed over most of an outer circumferential plane of the rotatable screw 184, and a concave coupling portion 184b is formed in a trailing edge portion. A coupling shaft 181a projects from the manipulation button 181 and the coupling shaft 181a is fitted into the concave coupling portion 184b of the rotary screw 184 to be coupled with the concave coupling portion 184b. Accordingly, since the manipulation knob 181 is rotated, the rotary screw 184 can be rotated. The transfer member 182 is arranged inside the housing of the handling unit 183 in the axial direction of the rotary screw 184 in a freely movable manner. A screw hole 182a is formed in the central portion of the transfer member 182 and the screw protrusion 184a of the rotatable screw 184 is screwed into the screw hole 182a. The transfer member 182 is positioned in the housing of the handling unit 183 so that the transfer member 182 can not be rotated about the axis of the rotary screw 184. Accordingly, if The rotary screw 184 is rotated, the screw hole 182a is then loaded by the screw protrusion 184a, so that the transfer member 182 can be moved in or out inwardly. of the housing of the handling unit 183.

  In this exemplary embodiment, an actuator 140 is provided for each of the right and left lamp units. Accordingly, the edge portions 164 of the two wires (one from the actuator 140 of the right lamp unit and the other from the actuator 140 of the left lamp unit) are coupled to the transfer member 182. Accordingly, if the operation button 181 is rotated, then the wires 164 are manipulated, so that the sliders 161 of the right and left lamp units are moved to forward and backward. A guide mark 181b is formed on the manipulation button 181 and a reference scale mark 183a is formed on a peripheral portion of the manipulation button 181 of the housing of the manipulation unit 183. The manipulation means 180 is provided, for example, on the driver's seat of the vehicle.

  A tip portion 152a of a flexible wire 152 is fitted into the coupling hole 151b of the worm gear 151 of the rotation drive mechanism 150 so as to be fixed in the coupling hole 151b. A sectional view of the tip portion 52a is of rectangular shape. A trailing edge portion of the flexible wire 152 is coupled to a sight manipulation unit 153 shown in Fig. 3. The sight manipulation unit 153 is coupled to, for example, a handling member 154 which is supported on the rear plane 114 of the lamp housing 110. A transverse groove 154a is formed in a rear plane of the handling member 154 and the transverse groove 154a is accessible from a face hole 114a formed in the rear plane wall 114 of the housing body. lamp forward. Accordingly, for example, if a tip portion 155a of screwdriver 155 is engaged with the transverse groove 154a of the manipulating member 154 and the screwdriver 155 is rotated, then the manipulator 154 is rotated. and furthermore, the rotational force of the handling member 154 is transferred through the flexible wire 152 to the worm gear 151, so that the output shaft 142 can be rotated, with which the worm gear 151 and the gear wheel part 141c are engaged. The lamp unit 30 is pivotally displaced to the right and to the left by rotating the output shaft 142, so that the radiation direction can be changed to the right and to the left. Radiation direction adjustment operations when an initial aiming operation is performed, i.e. when the optical axis adjuster is delivered from a factory, or when a search such as an instruction On a vehicle is performed, will now be described as follows: An initial aiming operation to the left or to the right is performed by rotating the screwdriver 155 or the like to rotate the handling member 154 of the unit. 153, shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, as previously explained, the worm gear 151 is rotated through the flexible wire 152 to rotate the output shaft 142 with which the worm gear 151 and the gear wheel portion 142c are engaged.

  On the other hand, an upward or downward aiming operation is effected by operating the initial position adjusting means 170. In this case, the manipulation knob 181 of the handling means 180 is rotated so that aligning the guide mark 181b with the reference scale 183a so as to adjust the reference position. After that, to determine a radiation angle which corresponds to the reference position, the initial position adjusting means 170 is manipulated, In other words, the adjusting screw 172 is rotated. Since the screw protrusion 171a of the outer tube 171 is loaded through the screw hole 172a of the set screw 172, the outer tube 171 can be moved relative to the box 141 and the wire 164 can be moved in combination with the outer tube 171 due to the frictional force produced between the outer tube 171 and the wire 164. As a result, the slider 161 is moved towards the outside. forward and backward so that the lamp unit 30 can be rotated up and down. Thus, the radiation angle can be set in the reference position as described above. When performing a level adjustment operation, i.e., when the radiation direction is changed upward or downward during a moving operation, the manipulator knob 181 is rotated. the rotating screw 184 is rotated, so that the transfer member 182 is moved in the axial direction of the rotary screw 184 by the screw protrusion 184a of the rotary screw 184. That is, the transfer member 182 is moved in the direction of the axis of rotation of the manipulation button 181. The wires 164 coupled to the sliders 161 of the actuating devices 140 of the right and left lamp units are moved with the transfer member 182 forwards and backwards. These actuators 140 correspond to the right and left lamp units 30. As a result, the output shafts 142 supported by the sliders 161 of the right and left lamp units are moved forward and toward the left and right lamp units 30. back. As a result, the right and left lamp units 30 are rotated up or down so that their radiation direction can be changed up or down. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show an actuating device 140A and a handling means 180A according to a second embodiment of the invention.

  The actuator 140A differs from the actuator 140 in that the actuator 140A is not provided with the initial position setting means 170. That is, the thread is passed through. 164 through the through hole 141b formed in the rear edge of the box 141 and passed into the box 141 and after that is inserted into an outlet tube 165 in a freely slidable manner. Since the other structural members of the actuator 140A are substantially the same as those of the actuator 140 of the first exemplary embodiment, the same reference numbers are used to refer to like elements and their explanation is omitted. . In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a handling means 180A has an initial position setting function. In addition, in the second exemplary embodiment, two sets of handling means 180A are used for a right-side manipulation means and a left-side manipulation means respectively in correspondence with the right-hand lamp unit and the left-hand handling means. left lamp unit. However, for convenience of description, only one handling means is illustrated and described. Referring to FIG. 5, the handling means 180A is equipped with a rotary manipulation button 181 and a transfer element 182. The transfer element 182 is moved in the direction of the axis of rotation of the button manipulator 181 by rotating the manipulator knob 181. The wire 164 coupled to a slider provided in correspondence with one of the right and left lamp units is coupled to the transfer member 182. The rotatable screw 184 is supported by the housing of the handling unit 183 in the freely rotatable manner and the screw protrusion 184a is formed over most of the outer circumferential plane of the rotary screw 184 and the concave coupling portion 184b is formed in the portion rear edge. The coupling shaft 181a projects from the manipulation button 181 and the coupling shaft 181a is fitted and coupled into the concave coupling portion 181b of the rotary screw 184 in a freely rotatable manner for example by means of As a result, since the manipulation knob 181 is rotated, the rotary screw 184 can be rotated. The transfer element 182 is arranged inside the housing of the handling unit 183 in the axial direction of the rotary screw 184 in a freely movable manner. The screw hole 182a is formed in the central portion of the transfer member 182 and the screw protrusion 184a of the rotary screw 184 is screwed into the screw hole 182a. The transfer member 182 is mounted inside the housing of the handling unit 183 so that the transfer member 182 can not be rotated about the axis of the rotation screw 184. In Accordingly, when the rotating screw 184 is rotated, the screw hole 182a is loaded by its screw protrusion 184a, so that the transfer member 182 can be moved forwards or backwards at a distance of 180 degrees. The other edge portion of the wire 184 is then coupled to the transfer member 182. Accordingly, if the manipulator button 181 is manipulated to rotate it the wire 184 is manipulated so that the slider 161 can be moved forward and backward. It will also be noted that the guide mark 181b is formed on the manipulation button 181 and the reference scale mark 183a is formed on the peripheral portion of the manipulation button 181 of the housing of the manipulation unit 183. In addition, a stop protrusion 183b is provided for projecting into a position which is disposed opposite the manipulation button 181 of the housing of the handling unit 183 and a engaging protrusion portion 181c is provided for projecting onto a plane which is disposed opposite the housing of the handling unit 183 of the manipulation button 181. The handling means 180 is provided for example on the driver's seat of a vehicle.

  An operation of adjusting the initial position of the actuator 140A of the second embodiment up and down will now be described as follows. Handle 181 is rotated to select a correct radiation angle as the initial position.

  The selection of the radiation angle is performed for example while an operator observes a distribution of light radiated on a screen

  installed in front of a vehicle. Under the conditions described above, the coupling shaft 181a is extracted from the manipulation button 181 of the concave coupling portion 184b of the rotary screw 184. The guide mark 181b of the manipulation button 181 is then adjusted at an angle referred to by the reference scale mark 183a of the housing of the handling unit 183 and the coupling shaft 181a of the manipulation knob 181 is adjusted to be coupled to the concave coupling portion 184b of the rotary screw 184 That is, the manipulator button 181 is rotated to produce an initial position of the lamp units, the manipulator button 181 is removed and rotated backward so that the The guide 181b corresponds to the reference scale mark 183a and the manipulator button 181 is reintroduced. Accordingly, the guide mark 181b of the manipulation button 181 points to the reference scale mark 183a and furthermore the angle d The radiation becomes the reference radiation angle so that the scale can be made to coincide with the radiation angle. Under these conditions, the engagement protrusion portion 181c of the manipulation knob 181 then abuts against the stop protrusion 183b of the housing of the handling unit 183 and accordingly, the engagement protrusion portion 181c of the manipulation button 181 is brought into a condition such that the wire 164 can no longer be advanced, that is, the radiation direction can not be rotated upwards. A level adjustment is performed by rotating the manipulator button 181 in a range of an angle such that the radiation angle is directed downward relative to the reference radiation angle. In the second exemplary embodiment, an initial aiming operation can be carried out, not in the position of the actuating device 140, but at a location such that the manipulation button 181 is arranged for example on the driver's seat of the driver. vehicle. Fig. 7 shows a lighthouse 10A according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  The lighthouse 10A of the third embodiment differs from the lighthouse 10 of the first exemplary embodiment in that the actuator 140 is arranged on the upper part of the lamp housing 110. Since the other structural elements used in the lighthouse 10A are similar to those of the lighthouse 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, the same reference numbers as those shown on the modified headlight 10 are used to represent similar structures of the lighthouse 10A and their explanation and omitted. In the lighthouse 10A according to the third embodiment, since the actuating device 140 is arranged in the upper part of the lamp housing 110, the sighting operation unit 153 (see FIG. 3) can be arranged to perform the right and left aiming operations on the upper part of the bodywork of a vehicle, so that right and left aiming operations can be done in an easy manner. As appears from the foregoing descriptions, even in the headlamp 10, the sighting operation unit 153 may alternatively be arranged on the upper part of the vehicle body. In this other case, the length of the flexible wire 152 is greater and the additional length is routed inside the vehicle body. On the other hand, according to the modified headlight 10A in the case where the wire 164 is cut, the slider 161 is moved forward by the compression coil spring 163 of the actuator 140, so that the unit lamp 130 is tilted forward. Accordingly, even in the case where the wire 164 is accidentally cut, there is no possibility for the beam of the headlight 19A to radiate upward, which increases the safety aspect of the headlight 10A. Even in lighthouse 10A, the following structure may be used as an alternative. A linking mechanism may be provided on the actuator 140 such that if a wire is pulled back, a slider may alternatively be moved forward. In addition, alternatively the slider may be biased backwards and alternatively the lamp unit may be folded down if the wire is cut. As described above with respect to the embodiments of the optical axis adjustment device of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, it is possible to modify both the upward and downward direction of radiation and can simultaneously change the radiation direction to the right or to the left in an independent manner. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the optical axis adjuster can be reduced and the optical axis adjuster can be compacted. On the other hand, not only can the radiation direction of the vehicle lamp be changed while the vehicle is being driven, but it is also possible to adjust the radiation direction when the initial setting operation is performed, that is, that is, that the initial aiming operation can also be performed. In addition, since the slider is coupled to the handling means using the wire, there is great flexibility for the location where the vehicle lamp is arranged and another location where the handling means is arranged and thus, one can install the optical axis adjusting device in a wide variety of vehicles and in vehicles having different dimensions. In the optical axis adjusting device according to the first embodiment in which the wire is passed through the outer tube in the freely slidable manner in a condition such that the wire has a clean friction with respect to the outer tube, the initial position adjusting means comprises a screw element which is engaged with the outer tube and is provided in the case of the freely rotatable manner; and the handling means is provided with the rotary manipulator knob and the transfer member to which the respective wires are cut, no electrical control means are used and thus the cost of the optical axis adjuster can be reduced . Since the wires are coupled to the individually provided sliders with respect to the left and right lamp units, and the transfer member is moved in the direction of the rotation axis of the manipulator knob by rotating the manipulation knob, the optical axis of the right-hand lamp and the optical axis of the left-hand lamp can be adjusted at the same time upwards and downwards, and their value can be made equal to one another. setting. In the optical axis adjusting device according to the second embodiment of the invention wherein the handling means is provided with the rotary manipulation button and the transfer member is coupled to the wire and is moved along the rotation axis of the manipulator knob by rotating this manipulation knob; and the manipulation button is arranged so that the position can be changed

  relative to the manipulation button and the scale without moving the transfer member so as to construct the initial position adjusting means, since the manipulating means is also operated as initial position adjusting means, can reduce the total number of structural elements and furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the optical axis adjusting device can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to adjust the initial position while the driver of the vehicle is present at the location where the handling means is arranged, for example, the driver of the vehicle is present in the vehicle.

  In the optical axis adjustment device of the vehicle lamp according to the third embodiment of the invention in which the box is mounted on the upper part of the lamp housing, the initial position can be easily adjusted. On the other hand, the routing distance can be shortened to route the used wires to perform left and right aiming operations, which may contribute to the reduction in manufacturing cost. Although a description has been made in connection with certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the purpose is to cover in the appended claims all such variations and modifications pertaining to the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

  A device for adjusting the optical axis of a vehicle lamp (10, 10A), the vehicle lamp (10, 10A) comprising a lamp housing (110) and a lamp unit (130) supported at interior of the lamp housing (110) by a simple pivot (112, 133), characterized in that the optical axis adjusting device can be actuated to rotate the lamp unit (130) in the directions vertical and lateral, the optical axis adjusting device comprising; a box (141); an output portion (142) movably disposed with respect to the box (141) and adapted to be coupled to the lamp unit (130); first adjusting means (160) for moving the output portion (142) forward and rearward of the box (141) to rotate the lamp unit (130) in the vertical direction; second adjusting means (150) for rotating the output portion (142) relative to the box (141) to rotate the lamp unit (130) in the lateral direction; manipulation means (180, 180A) comprising a scale (183a) representing the relative position of the output portion (142) forwards and backwards relative to the box (141); and a first wire (164) coupling the handling means (180, 180A) to the first adjusting means (160), characterized in that the manipulation means (180, 180A) can be actuated to move the output (142) forwards and backwards through the wire (164) and the first adjustment means (160), and said relative position of the output portion (142) indicated by the scale ( 183a) is adjustable without changing the position of the scale (183a) of the handling means (180, 180A).   An optical axis adjusting device according to claim 1, and in that the first adjusting means (160) comprises a slider (161) on which the output portion (142) is mounted and to which the first wire is coupled. (164), and that the slider (161) can be slid forward or backward relative to the box (141).   An optical axis adjusting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first adjusting means (160) further comprises a spring (163) attached to the slider (161) and to the box (141) so that the cursor (161) is biased forward.   4. Optical axis adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a sighting manipulation unit (153); and a second wire (152) coupling the sight manipulation unit (153) to the second adjusting means (150), and that the sight manipulation unit can be operated to rotate the output portion (142) through the second wire (152) and the second adjusting means (150).   An optical axis adjusting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second adjusting means (150) comprises: a wheel gear portion (142a) formed on the output portion (142); and a worm gear (151) engaged with the wheel gear portion and coupled to the second wire (152).   An optical axis adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the handling means (180, 180A) further comprises a rotary manipulation button (181) and a transfer member (182) to which the first wire (164) is coupled, and that when the manipulation knob (181) is rotated in the direction of the axis of rotation of the manipulation knob (181), the transfer (182) moves. 25   An optical axis adjusting device according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises another wire (164) coupling the transfer member (182) to another first adjustment means to rotate another lamp unit in the vertical direction.   An optical axis adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises: an outer tube (171) through which the first wire (164) is inserted so that the first wire (164) is slidable relative to the outer tube (171) with friction between them; and a screw member (172) rotatably attached to the box (141) and screwed to the outer tube (171), and in that said relative position of the outlet portion (142) indicated by the mark of ladder (183a) is adjustable by rotating the screw member (172) relative to the box (141).   An optical axis adjusting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the manipulation button (181) is configured so that the relative position between the scale mark (183a) and the manipulation (181) without moving the transfer member (182).