A sealed beam headlight is the integral assembly of a forward lighting system. It was originally designed to seal filaments completely (hence the name) from the damage of environmental factors. The headlamp assembly is a parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) lamp consisting of an enclosure with one or more filaments inside a glass or polycarbonate lens. All parts are permanently assembled together and thus none of them can be replaced. If a lamp within the assembly burns out, the entire assembly has to be replaced. For approximately 45 years, all U.S. cars were required by law to use sealed beam headlights. It was until 1984 that the use of composite headlamp assemblies with replaceable bulbs was permitted.
Two standardized 7″ round sealed beam headlamps with one lamp on each side of the vehicle were once required to control chaotic supply problems with unusual luminaire specifications. To this very day this size remains one of the popular sizes for the classic style LED headlights. By the late 1970s, however, rectangular sealed beam headlamps became the universal choice although they were not required by law. While new cars have ditched sealed beam headlights to embrace design unique to their styling, sealed beam headlights that incorporate the latest in lighting technology are still being manufactured. They are not only used on classic passenger cars to server as a key styling element that has a decisive contribution to a vehicle’s form and character, some commercial vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road SUVs, and motorcycles continued to use them.
at the Open Lighting Product Directory (OLPD)
