Vehicle Headlight Actuator Guide Shaft Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlight actuators have a large width in the right-left direction due to protruding slide rails and side walls, which increases their size and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The actuator design incorporates guide shafts positioned between the support portion and the main unit, allowing the main unit to move in the front-rear direction without protruding outward, reducing the actuator's width and stabilizing its support condition, while also reducing dust adhesion and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If slide rails and side walls are provided to support the main unit movement, then the main unit can move in the front-rear direction, but the width in the right-left direction of the actuator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft is integrated into the actuator body, combining the guiding function with the actuator structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate protruding side walls and slide rails, thereby reducing the actuator width while maintaining the main unit's movement capability in the front-rear direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding mechanism transitions from a lateral support structure (side walls protruding in the right-left direction) to a longitudinal guide structure (guide shaft extending in the front-rear direction). This dimensional reorientation allows the main unit to move along the guide shaft's axis without requiring lateral space for support walls.
2Reliability
If slide rails protrude sideward to guide the main unit, then the main unit can be supported during movement, but the actuator size increases in the right-left direction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft is merged with the actuator body as an integrated component, eliminating the need for separate protruding support structures. This consolidation provides reliable guidance for the main unit while minimizing the actuator's overall volume and right-left dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding function is extracted from the lateral support structure (side walls and slide rails) and implemented through a centrally located guide shaft. This extraction allows the support function to be achieved without the volumetric penalty of protruding side structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If side walls are provided outside the slide rails to support them, then the slide rails can be guided properly, but the actuator width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft is merged with the actuator body, providing stable guidance for the main unit without requiring separate external side walls. This integration maintains proper guidance stability while eliminating the width increase that would result from external supporting structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle head light (1) includes a lighting casing (4); a lamp unit (14) disposed in the lighting casing (4); a support member (6) that supports the lamp unit (14) so as to be rotatable at least in two directions; and an actuator (27) that rotates the lamp unit (14) with respect to the support member (6). The lighting casing (4) includes a lamp housing (2) opened on one side and a cover (3) that closes the opening of the lamp housing (2). The lamp unit (14) includes a light source (16) and a reflector (15) that reflects light emitted from the light source (16). The actuator (27) is disposed under the lamp unit (14). A lower end of the lamp unit (14) is coupled to the actuator (27). The actuator (27) includes a support portion (32) attached to the support member (6); and a main unit (14) being supported by the support portion (32) so as to be movable in a front-rear direction. The support portion (32) includes a shaft holding portion (39a) on a lower surface thereof. The main unit (33) includes a bearing portion (31b) on an upper surface thereof. A driving mechanism is provided in the main unit. The driving mechanism (20) includes a connecting shaft (34c) to which the lamp unit (14) is coupled. A guide shaft (42) is inserted through the shaft holding portion (39a) of the support portion (32) and the bearing portion (31b) of the main unit (33). The guide shaft (42) guides the main unit (33) when the main unit moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the support portion (32) of the main unit (33).