US 6,843,589 B1Granted

Armored and signature managed headlights

AssigneeUnited Defense, L.P.

InventorsJaspal Singh Dhillon, Valent Horvatich, James Robert Turner, Marco Albert Middione

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Abstract

A low profile lighting system for military or other heavy equipment vehicles that includes a high intensity discharge (HID) headlight, and light emitting diode (LED) turn signals and running light. A microprocessor controller is included to interface to the vehicle lighting control system. An electromechanical actuator lifts and holds the light unit in place. The light unit is mounted on a hidden hinge in an armored and signature managed housing. The unique hinge design allows for electromechanical actuation of the lights from a micro-controller. The special hinge enables the external surfaces of the vehicle to be generally planar, and thereby ready to accept further signature management treatments.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A low profile lighting system comprising:

at least one headlight,
at least one light fixture,
an actuator, and
a light unit housing;
wherein
said headlight is mounted on said light fixture, said light fixture being contained within a profile of said light unit housing when said headlight is not in use, and
said actuator moves said light fixture to a position in which said headlight projects above a top surface of said light unit housing when said headlight is to be deployed
said light fixture is pivotally mounted on a hinge, said hinge lying within an interior of said light unit housing, and an axis of rotation of said light fixture being outside said interior of said housing,
said hinge comprises an actuator arm hinge mechanism and at least one stabilizing hinge mechanism, each said stabilizing hinge mechanism comprising at least one straight linkage bar, at least one eccentric linkage bar, and a three point hinge bar, and each said stabilizing hinge mechanism is pivotally connected to both said light fixture and a fixed portion of said light unit housing;
and wherein
said actuator arm hinge mechanism comprises
an actuator arm socket and at least one straight linkage bar pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to said light fixture, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said light fixture, and
a connecting lever pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to a fixed portion of said light unit housing, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said fixed portion of said light unit housing.

10 more elements

A low profile lighting system comprising:

a light fixture mounted on a light unit housing by a hinge, said hinge lying within an interior of said light unit housing, and an axis of rotation of said light fixture being outside said interior of said housing,
said hinge comprises an actuator arm hinge mechanism and at least one stabilizing hinge mechanism, each said stabilizing hinge mechanism comprising at least one straight linkage bar, at least one eccentric linkage bar, and a three point hinge bar, and each said stabilizing hinge mechanism being connected to both said light fixture and a fixed portion of said light unit housing;
wherein
said actuator arm hinge mechanism comprises
an actuator arm socket and at least one straight linkage bar pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to said light fixture, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said light fixture, and
a connecting lever pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to a fixed portion of said light unit housing, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said fixed portion of said light unit housing.

3 more elements

A hinge mechanism comprising:

an actuator arm hinge mechanism and at least one stabilizing hinge mechanism affixed to an underside of a fixed base, each said stabilizing hinge mechanism comprising at least one straight linkage bar, at least one eccentric linkage bar, and a three point hinge bar, and each said stabilizing hinge mechanism being connected to both a load being supported by said hinge and said fixed base;
such that
said hinge lies beneath a plane of said load, and an axis of rotation of said load lies above a plane of said fixed base;
and wherein
said actuator arm hinge mechanism comprises
an actuator arm socket and at least one straight linkage bar pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to said load, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said load, and
a connecting lever pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to a fixed portion of said light unit housing, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said fixed portion of said fixed base.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.