GB502484A - Improvements relating to motor vehicle lamps - Google Patents

Abstract

502,484. Mounting reflectors in vehicle lamp casings. LUCAS, Ltd., J., and NEILL, R. L. Sept. 17, 1937, No. 25256. [Class 75 (ii)] In a vehicle lamp in which the reflector a is pivotally mounted so that the light can be dipped, a deformable or otherwise laterally movable member h, or h<1>, h<2>, acts as a strut to secure the reflector rigidly in its normal position in the lamp body, but is put out of action as a strut when the dipping means are actuated. In Fig. 1, the reflector is pivoted at b, and the strut h is an incompressible spiral spring attached at one end to a fixed part i of the lamp and at the other end to a bracket on the reflector. The plunger g of a solenoid f when actuated operates a lever k which pivots on a bracket m carried by the reflector, and causes the spring to be deformed laterally. The reflector a can then tilt under the further action of the plunger g. When the solenoid is deenergized, the spring h and, if desired, an auxiliary spring, return the reflector to its normal position. The spring h may be replaced by a thin steel or other resilient metal strip of concavo-convex section. In Fig. 3, the spring h is replaced by at pair of links h<1>, h<2> pivoted together and to the brackets i,j and acted upon by the spring o. In another form, the links are arranged to be movable in a plane at rightangles to their broader surfaces and are acted upon by a helical spring coiled around the pivot on the bracket i In other forms, the strut is a chain flexible in one direction only and resistant to end thrust when straight, and the strut is a rigid member pivoted at one end to either the lamp body or the reflector and engaging a shoulder on the other of these parts at its free end. The lever moves this strut, against the action of a spring, out of engagement with the shoulder when the reflector is to be tilted.