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US 5,707,133 AGranted
Automobile headlamp adjuster
AssigneeBurton Technologies, LLC
InventorJohn E. Burton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjuster mechanism having an aiming device carried on the shaft of the ball stud. The adjuster mechanism includes a gear housing having a track for guiding the aiming device and an indicator for reading the position of the aiming device. The adjuster mechanism also includes a gland for sealing the headlamp housing. The gland is fitted over the shaft of the ball stud and is squeezed between the headlamp housing sealing bore and the ball stud shaft. The bearing surfaces of the gear housing and sealing bore are slanted to automatically center the ball stud. The adjuster mechanism further includes an anti-rotation insert seated within a cover. The insert engages a groove in the shaft of the ball stud to prevent rotation of the ball stud within the gear housing.
Claims25
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- an adjuster housing including an indicator;
- a stud supported for linear movement within said housing, said stud having a position;
- a drive means for moving said stud linearly within said housing without rotation of said stud;
- and
- an aiming device carried by said stud such that linear movement of said stud causes linear movement of said aiming device with respect to said indicator, said aiming device including graduations which cooperate with said indicator to provide a visual indication of the position of said stud with respect to said adjuster mechanism housing, said aiming device further including an attachment means for securing said aiming device to said stud.
2 more elements
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- a housing including an indicator;
- a stud supported for linear movement within said housing, said stud having a position;
- an aiming device carried by said stud, said aiming device including graduations which cooperate with said indicator to provide a visual indication of the position of said stud, said graduations including a plurality of notches defined by said aiming device, said aiming device further including an attachment means for securing said aiming device to said stud, said housing including a track for guiding said aiming device, said aiming device slidably engaging said track, said attachment means including a clip having jaws which close on said stud, said clip including tabs which are pinched to open said jaws.
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- a housing including an indicator;
- a stud supported for linear movement within said housing, said stud having a position, said stud defining a longitudinal groove;
- a stationary anti-rotation member attached to said housing, said member engaging said groove to prevent rotation of said ball stud;
- and
- an aiming device carried by said stud, said aiming device including graduations which cooperate with said indicator to provide a visual indication of the position of said stud, said aiming device further including an attachment means for securing said aiming device to said stud.
2 more elements
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
- a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said housing;
- a threaded stud extending through said housing, said stud mounted for linear movement with respect to said housing, said stud defining a longitudinal groove;
- a gear means contained within said housing for causing linear movement of said stud in response to rotation of said drive shaft;
- and
- a cover mounted to said housing, said cover including an insert engaging said groove to prevent rotation of said stud with respect to said housing.
3 more elements
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
- a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said housing;
- a threaded stud extending through said housing, said stud mounted for linear movement with respect to said housing, said stud defining a longitudinal groove;
- a gear means contained within said housing for causing linear movement of said stud in response to rotation of said drive shaft;
- and
- a cover mounted to said housing, said cover engaging said groove to prevent rotation of said stud with respect to said housing, said cover including an insert for engaging said groove, said insert defining an opening fitted over said stud, said insert further defining a tyne extending into said opening to engage said groove.
3 more elements
A headlamp comprising:
- a headlamp housing defining a sealing bore;
- a reflector contained within said headlamp housing;
- an adjuster mechanism mounted to said headlamp housing, said adjuster mechanism including a gear housing and a stud extending from said gear housing through said sealing bore, said stud connected to said reflector;
- a gland seated over said stud outside of said gear housing, said gland being in sealing engagement with said sealing bore, said gear housing, and said stud;
- and
- a means for centering said gear housing within said sealing bore.
3 more elements
A headlamp comprising:
- a headlamp housing defining a sealing bore;
- a reflector contained within said headlamp housing;
- an adjuster mechanism mounted to said headlamp housing, said adjuster mechanism including a gear housing and a stud extending from said gear housing through said sealing bore, said stud connected to said reflector, said gear housing includes a slanted front bearing surface engaging said headlamp housing around said sealing bore, said slanted front surface centering said stud within said sealing bore;
- and
- a gland seated over said stud outside of said gear housing, said gland being in sealing engagement with said sealing bore and said stud, said gland being an o-ring type seal.
2 more elements
A headlamp comprising:
- a headlamp housing defining a sealing bore;
- a reflector contained within said headlamp housing;
- an adjuster mechanism mounted to said headlamp housing, said adjuster mechanism including a gear housing and a stud extending from said gear housing through said sealing bore, said stud connoted to said reflector, said headlamp housing includes a slanted bearing surface around said sealing bore, said slanted bearing surface engaging said gear housing to center said stud within said bore;
- and
- a gland seated over said stud outside of said gear housing, said gland being in sealing engagement with said sealing bore and said stud, said gland being an o-ring type seal.
2 more elements
An adjuster mechanism comprising:
- an adjuster housing including an integral indicator;
- a stud supported for linear movement within said housing, said stud having a position;
- an aiming device carried by said stud, said aiming device including a plurality of graduations, said aiming device moving linearly with said stud and cooperating with said indicator to provide a visual indication of the position of said stud;
- and
- a moving means for moving said stud linearly within said housing without rotation of said stud.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.