Method and apparatus for checking the alignment of a motor vehicle headlamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12281891-B2
Application number	US-202217953628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2022
Priority date	Sep 27, 2021
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

An alignment checking apparatus holder to assist checking of the alignment of a motor vehicle headlamp installed in a body of a motor vehicle includes a base body, at least one reference marking on the base body, and a multiple of form-fit elements. The base body is visually perceptible from the outside in a checking position. The multiple of form-fit elements are rigidly connected to the base body and are intended to form form-fit connections with parts of the motor vehicle headlamp or of the body of the motor vehicle. The at least one reference marking has a predetermined position with respect to the multiple of form-fit elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment checking apparatus holder to assist checking of an alignment of a motor vehicle headlamp installed in a body of a motor vehicle, the alignment checking apparatus holder comprising:
a base body;
at least one reference marking on the base body, wherein the at least one reference marking on the base body is visually perceptible from an outside in a checking position; and
multiple form-fit elements rigidly connected to the base body and configured to engage multiple vehicle form-fit elements of the motor vehicle to provide form-fit connections therebetween, the multiple vehicle form-fit elements being part of the motor vehicle, wherein:
the form-fit elements are provided in two mutually independent spatial directions, and
the at least one reference marking has a predetermined position with respect to the multiple form-fit elements.

2. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference marking is a symbol on a front upper side of the base body.

3. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 , wherein in that the at least one reference marking is arranged on a front upper side of the base body and is provided as a starting point of a light beam.

4. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 , wherein in that the multiple form-fit elements are provided as protrusions, substantially arranged horizontally in a checking position of the base body in two mutually independent spatial directions, wherein at least one web element respectively overhangs the protrusion in a downward direction from a plurality of end regions.

5. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 further comprising at least one gripping element connected firmly to the base body and, in a checking position, is arranged on an upper side of the base body.

6. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one gripping element is a U-shaped handle firmly connected to the base body.

7. The alignment checking apparatus holder according claim 1 , wherein the two mutually independent spatial directions are perpendicular to each other.

8. The alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 , wherein the base body includes an elongated oval general shape having a convexly configured upper side and a concavely configured lower side.

9. A headlamp checking apparatus for checking the alignment of a motor vehicle headlamp installed in a body of a motor vehicle, the headlamp checking apparatus comprising:
an alignment checking apparatus holder according to claim 1 , and
at least one light source configured for an emission of a light beam, wherein a spatial relation between a predetermined reference marking on a projection surface at a predetermined distance outside the motor vehicle and the at least one reference marking on the base body can be established.

10. The headlamp checking apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising at least two light sources, wherein the base body of the alignment checking apparatus holder comprises two reference markings, one of the light sources being held at a location of each of the reference markings and having a predetermined orientation with respect to the multiple of form-fit elements, and the reference markings being arranged separated from one another in a direction transverse to a forward driving direction of the motor vehicle.

11. The headlamp checking apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one light source includes a laser diode.

12. A method for checking the alignment of a motor vehicle headlamp installed in a body of a motor vehicle using a headlamp checking apparatus according to claim 9 , the method comprising:
producing the form-fit connections between each form-fit element of the alignment checking apparatus holder and the respective form-fit element corresponding thereto, that is part of the motor vehicle headlamp or of the body of the motor vehicle;
operating the at least one light source to emit at least one light beam between a projection surface having a multiple of predetermined adjustment markings at a predetermined distance in front of the motor vehicle and the alignment checking apparatus holder;
ascertaining a position of the light beam or positions of the light beams on the projection surface in relation to a respective reference marking on the projection surface or on the base body in relation to the at least one reference marking;
adjusting the projection surface in a plane provided perpendicularly to the forward driving direction and at a predetermined distance from the base body until a position of the light beam or positions of the light beams coincides with the respective reference marking on the projection surface or a position of the light beam or positions of the light beams coincides respectively with one of the reference markings on the base body; and
comparing a light distribution of the motor vehicle headlamp with the multiple of predetermined adjustment markings of the projection surface.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:
releasing the form-fit connections between the form-fit elements of the base body and the corresponding form-fit elements;
removing the alignment checking apparatus holder from the checking position; and
adjusting an optical axis of the motor vehicle headlamp according to the multiple of predetermined adjustment markings.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein that the at least one reference marking is a symbol on a front upper side of the base body.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one reference marking is arranged on a front upper side of the base body and is a starting point of a light beam.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein:
the form-fit elements are protrusions, substantially arranged horizontally in a checking position, of the base body in two mutually independent spatial directions, and
at least one web element respectively overhangs the protrusion in a downward direction from a plurality of end regions.

17. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:
firmly connecting at least one gripping element to the base body; and
in a checking position, arranging the at least one gripping element on an upper side of the base body.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein:
the at least one gripping element is a U-shaped handle, and
ends of U-shaped handle are firmly connected to the base body.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the base body and the multiple of form-fit elements are formed in one piece.

20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the base body includes an elongated oval general shape having a convexly configured upper side and a concavely configured lower side.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ponier Marcel

Classifications

• B60S5/00

  Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles (vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K) · CPC title

• G01B11/27 Primary

  for testing the alignment of axes {(means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834)} · CPC title

• G01M11/062 Primary

  using an indicator mounted on the head-light · CPC title