Dana Corporation

James E Smith

David C Kaminski

Richard A Cook

Philip J Weis

Anthony B McDonald

A structure and method for operating a directional control system for vehicle headlights that is capable of altering the directional aiming angles of the headlights to account for changes in the operating conditions of the vehicle. One or more operating condition sensors may be provided that generate signals that are representative of a condition of the vehicle, such as road speed, steering angle, pitch, suspension height, rate of change of road speed, rate of change of steering angle, rate of change of pitch, and rate of change of suspension height of the vehicle. A controller is responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal. An actuator is adapted to be connected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in accordance with the output signal. The controller can include a table that relates values of sensed operating condition to values of the output signal. The controller is responsive to the sensor signal for looking up the output signal in the table.

Automatic directional control system for vehicle headlights

The present invention provides a speed control system for use in maintaining the rotational speed of an output shaft of a power takeoff unit within a predetermined range. A central control unit receives signals indicative of the speed of the input gear and, in response to the received signals engages and disengages the output shaft of the power takeoff unit. The central control unit also disengages the output shaft if the system's voltage levels drop below a preset minimum.

Growing community of inventors

Berkey, OH, United States of America

James E Smith