Vehicle Headlamp Actuator Sliding Stability via Shaft Radius Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle headlamp systems experience rough sliding of the actuator in the forward/backward direction due to distortion in the spring member and load distribution during leveling operations, leading to inefficient movement.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle headlamp design modifies the upper support shaft's spherical face radius to eliminate vertical movement of the spring member, stabilizing the load on the actuator by configuring an arc-shaped sliding interface and integrating the bearing holder with a spring portion to compress the upper support shaft, ensuring smooth sliding during leveling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tip end of the upper support shaft is configured as a semispherical face with radius substantially identical to that of the upper support shaft to smoothen sliding, then sliding between the tip end and spring member is improved, but the spring member reciprocates in vertical direction causing distortion and rough sliding of the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radius parameter of the spherical face from being substantially identical to the shaft radius to being different (specifically, the spherical face radius is made larger than the shaft radius). This parameter change eliminates the vertical reciprocation of the spring member while maintaining smooth sliding action between the upper support shaft and spring member.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the spring member compresses the tip end of the upper support shaft to generate biasing force, then the lamp unit is biased to the lower side preventing backlash, but distortion occurs in the spring member during leveling operation causing load distortion on the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the radius of the spherical face to be different from the shaft radius, the patent modifies the compression geometry of the spring member. This eliminates the vertical reciprocation that caused distortion while maintaining the biasing force necessary to prevent backlash between the lamp unit and bracket or actuator.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator slides in forward/backward direction with respect to the bracket during leveling operation, then the lamp unit can be turned in vertical direction, but the sliding is not sufficiently smooth due to distorted load from spring member reciprocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the radius parameter of the spherical face to eliminate the vertical reciprocation of the spring member during actuator sliding. This stabilizes the load applied to the sliding portion, enabling smooth forward/backward sliding of the actuator with respect to the bracket while maintaining full leveling operation capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the smoothness and reliability of the actuator's sliding motion in the forward/backward direction, reducing distortion and maintaining consistent load distribution, thereby improving the leveling operation of the lamp unit.
Implementation Method 1
a spring portion that is fixed to the bracket, and is adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft
Implementation Method 2
a bracket adapted to support the lamp unit via a ball bearing in the upper support shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle headlamp includes: a lamp unit including an upper support shaft and a lower support shaft that are coaxially formed each other; a bracket adapted to support the lamp unit via a ball bearing in the upper support shaft and via a slider in a lower shaft support portion; an actuator including a mechanism portion adapted to drive the lower support shaft of the lamp unit, the actuator being movable in a forward and backward direction with respect to the bracket; and a spring portion that is fixed to the bracket, and is adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft.