EP1150062A1 - Vehicle lighting or signalling assembly comprising a heat shield - Google Patents

Abstract

The lighting or signaling device for a vehicle comprises a housing (2), a glass (8) and an intermediate piece (6) connecting the glass to the housing. It further comprises a screen (112) extending in front of an upper zone of the housing in the direction of the glass. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to lighting devices or vehicle signage.

We know from document EP-0 847 894 such a device comprising a housing carrying a lamp, a glass and an intermediate piece connecting the glass to the housing. The housing and the intermediate part are usually plastic. However, we notices that the heat given off by the lamp heats up the air inside the device, and that hot air rises to come and heat the upper part of the intermediate piece. Now, this elevation of temperature could occur in some applications, for example in the case of a projector anti-fog, deformation of the part intermediate and deposition of ice. We knows in particular that in a fog light, the temperature of certain areas can reach 200 ° C.

An object of the invention is to provide a device lighting or signaling in which the room intermediate is less likely to distort.

In order to achieve this goal, provision is made according to the invention a lighting or lighting device signaling for vehicle, comprising a housing, a glass and an intermediate piece connecting the glass to the housing, further comprising a screen extending in front of an upper area of the housing towards the glass, the screen being connected directly to the case in forming a single piece with the housing.

Thus, the screen receives rising hot air. A fraction of the heat is therefore captured by the screen and either by the intermediate piece. So we reduce the may distort it. As for the screen, it can to deform to a large extent without harming the operation of the device.

• l'écran est venu de moulage avec le boítier ;
• l'écran et le boítier présentent chacun une face interne et une face externe, au moins l'une des faces interne ou externe de l'écran étant en prolongement de la face correspondante du boítier ;
• l'écran a une forme générale cylindrique ;
• l'écran s'étend sur un secteur angulaire inférieur à 90° autour d'un axe du dispositif.

The device according to the invention may also have at least any of the following characteristics:

• the screen came from molding with the case;
• the screen and the housing each have an internal face and an external face, at least one of the internal or external faces of the screen being an extension of the corresponding face of the housing;
• the screen has a generally cylindrical shape;
• the screen extends over an angular sector of less than 90 ° around an axis of the device.

Advantageously, the device comprises a wall plastic back, a lamp holder attached to the rear wall and a metal plate attached to the wall back.

Thus, the metal plate strengthens and stiffens the back wall. The mechanical resistance of this last, even under the effect of heat, is therefore increased. In addition, the metal plate receives a portion heat from the back wall, or even more directly the heat of the lamp, and dissipates it in the air surrounding the plate (forming a radiator) this which keeps the rear wall at a temperature relatively low. Thus strengthened and less hot, the rear wall is less deformed. We therefore preserve the positioning of the lamp relative to the reflector to obtain a correct beam.

Advantageously, the device comprises a reflector and a cradle connecting the reflector to housing and partially opening superior.

Thus, the opening corresponds to the area of the cradle which would otherwise be the most exposed to heat. Moreover, the opening allows a certain expansion of the cradle. The thermal resistance of the cradle is therefore improved, which promotes good positioning of the reflector by compared to the lamp. In addition, this opening reduces the volume of the cradle and gives it space allowing certain kinematics for mounting the cradle relative to the reflector, such as a swivel assembly, which would otherwise be prohibited. In addition, this opening provides an effect for the correct mounting of the cradle in the device. Finally, it generates a reduction of matter. This results in weight and cost savings, especially important that we usually use for this type of piece of fine plastics heat resistant, but often expensive.

Advantageously, it is a projector.

Advantageously, it is a projector anti-fog.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe suivant un plan axial vertical d'un projecteur selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe du projecteur de la figure 1 suivant un plan axial horizontal ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe du projecteur de la figure 1 suivant un plan vertical passant par la vis de réglage de l'inclinaison du réflecteur ;
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 montrant l'actionnement de la vis de réglage ;
• la figure 5 est un schéma géométrique illustrant le débattement angulaire du réflecteur ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe et en perspective simplifiée du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues de face et en coupe axiale suivant un plan horizontal du boítier du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe axiale suivant un plan vertical du boítier de la figure 7 ;
• les figures 10, 11 et 12 sont des vues de face de dessous et de gauche de la tôle du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 13 et 14 sont des vues locales de la tôle suivant les plans XIII-XIII et XIV-XIV de la figure 10 ;
• les figures 15 et 16 sont des vues arrière et de dessus du berceau du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 17 et 18 sont des vues de gauche et de face du berceau de la figure 15 ;
• les figures 19 et 20 sont des vues de face et de gauche du réflecteur du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 21 est une vue du réflecteur suivant la flèche XXI de la figure 19 ;
• la figure 22 est une vue du réflecteur suivant la flèche XXII de la figure 19 ;
• les figures 23, 24 et 25 sont des vues en perspective, de côté et en coupe axiale de la vis de réglage du projecteur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 26 est une vue de côté du bouton de réglage associé à la vis ; et
• les figures 27, 28 et 29 montrent trois étapes de la cinématique d'assemblage du berceau sur le boítier.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment and of variants given by way of nonlimiting examples. In the accompanying drawings:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view along a vertical axial plane of a projector according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of the projector of Figure 1 along a horizontal axial plane;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of the projector of Figure 1 along a vertical plane passing through the tilt adjustment screw of the reflector;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the actuation of the adjusting screw;
• Figure 5 is a geometric diagram illustrating the angular displacement of the reflector;
• Figure 6 is a simplified sectional and perspective view of the projector of Figure 1;
• Figures 7 and 8 are front views and in axial section along a horizontal plane of the housing of the projector of Figure 1;
• Figure 9 is an axial sectional view along a vertical plane of the housing of Figure 7;
• Figures 10, 11 and 12 are front and bottom views of the sheet metal of the projector of Figure 1;
• Figures 13 and 14 are local views of the sheet along the XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV planes of Figure 10;
• Figures 15 and 16 are rear and top views of the cradle of the projector of Figure 1;
• Figures 17 and 18 are left and front views of the cradle of Figure 15;
• Figures 19 and 20 are front and left views of the reflector of the projector of Figure 1;
• Figure 21 is a view of the reflector along arrow XXI of Figure 19;
• Figure 22 is a view of the reflector along arrow XXII of Figure 19;
• Figures 23, 24 and 25 are perspective, side and axial section views of the adjustment screw of the headlight of Figure 1;
• FIG. 26 is a side view of the adjustment button associated with the screw; and
• Figures 27, 28 and 29 show three stages of the kinematics of assembly of the cradle on the housing.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the mode of realization of the invention here is a projector anti-fog. It has a rear housing 2, a sheet 4 fixed to the housing, an intermediate piece 6 fixed to the case, a front window 8 fixed to the part intermediate 6. The projector has a lamp holder 10 fixed to the housing and to the sheet metal, a lamp 12 and a connector 14 fixed to the lamp holder. It has a cradle 16 fixed to the housing and a reflector 18 fixed to the cradle. The projector also has a screw adjustment 20 and an adjustment button 22 fixed to the screw as illustrated in particular in Figure 4.

We will now describe more precisely these elements.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the housing 2 essentially comprises a bottom wall 24 generally planar and perpendicular to an axis horizontal 26 of the lamp and a side wall cylindrical 28 extending forward from the back wall. The side wall 28 has an edge before circular 30 inscribed in a plan perpendicular to the axis 26. As seen on the Figure 9, the housing has shoulders 32 to some places at the junction between the bottom wall 24 and the side wall 28. In addition, the side wall 28 is flared at certain places 34, as illustrated in Figure 8.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, to the junction between the bottom wall 24 and the side wall 28, the housing 2 has two straight bulges upper 36 and lower 38 located respectively in the first and fourth quadrants in front view. These bulges have a general shape of an isosceles triangle rectangle in front view on figure 7. They define protruding portions in the interior of the projector. The two bulges 36, 38 have two orifices facing each other, with a common axis 40 perpendicular to axis 26, not intersecting with it and vertical. The orifice 42 of the upper bulge 36 is open down, blind up but open in direction forward, while port 44 of lower bulge is crossing upward and the low but closed laterally.

The holes 42, 44 are suitable for receiving the screw adjustment 20 illustrated in Figures 23 to 25. This screw is engaged by its upper end 45 in the lower orifice 44, then up to the orifice upper 42. Elastic tabs 46 are connected by their front end to the body 48 of the screw and extend at rest away from the body of the screw rearward. Legs 46 flex when passing from port 44 then return to their original position after the screw has arrived in its position operation. The clipping tabs therefore prohibit removing the screw down. The screw is in abutment axial upwards against the bottom of the blind hole upper 42. The screw is guided in rotation around its axis in the two holes. Between them, the body of the screw has a threaded section 50 allowing activate the reflector as we will see below. This positioning of the screw guarantees the correct position angle of the net and therefore precise cooperation with the cradle.

The screw has a keying lug 49 extending radially projecting from one side of the rod and requiring the screw to be mounted in the correct position on the housing otherwise the screw cannot be received on the housing because the tab abuts the housing.

The rear wall 24 of the housing has a central opening 52 intended to be occupied by the lamp holder 10.

With reference to FIG. 10, the plate 4 has a general plane shape essentially in rhombus whose major axis is vertical. The plate is centered on the axis 26 of the lamp. The plate has two vertical edges rectilinear lateral 53 folded forward and perpendicular to the plane of the plate extending forward about 3 mm. Sheet 4 has a central opening 54 of substantially the same shape and same dimensions as that 52 of the rear wall of the housing and coming into coincidence therewith. Prison 4 is fixed to the rear wall 24 opposite the face before. The sheet is interposed axially between the wall rear 24 on the one hand, and the cradle 16 and the reflector 18 on the other hand. The sheet has stiffening ribs 56, here four in number, in relief of the front face of the sheet. These ribs are parallel to the respective inclined sides of the diamond.

The sheet has two upper openings 58 and lower 60 intended to cooperate with fingers projecting from the rear wall 24 of the housing forward. The upper orifice 58 has a form of "H" lying. It is formed by a cut rectangular in which extend horizontally towards each other two tabs rectangular 62. These two tabs are slightly tilted forward, as shown in Figure 13. The finger 64 of the housing associated with this orifice has a profiled shape with square section in a plane perpendicular to axis 26. It is dimensioned so when the sheet 4 is pressed into position against the rear wall 24, the finger 64 enters the orifice 58 between the tabs 62, the lateral faces of the finger rubbing against the tabs or even bending them forward. However, given the inclination tabs forward, the friction forces of tabs on the finger against its recoil are much higher than those encountered during its advanced. The finger is therefore blocked in the orifice against its recoil.

The cooperation between the lower orifice 60 and the associated finger 66 is based on the same principle. The finger 66 is of circular cross section. The orifice 60 has a cross shape and is defined by four triangular tabs 68 whose edges are look form the cross. The tip of the tabs is rounded and concave in order to conform to the curvature of the finger. The tabs 68 are still inclined towards the front as shown in Figure 11. Again, the tabs allow insertion of finger 66 into the opening towards the front but prohibit for essentially its withdrawal. The two pairs of fingers and holes ensure rigid fixing of the sheet 4 to the rear wall 24. The square section of the finger higher 64 is larger than that of the finger lower 66 so the upper finger 64 can only not be introduced into the lower opening 60 without force abnormally. In addition, the inclination of tabs forbidden to fix the sheet to the rear wall in a position such that the tabs would tilted backwards. We thus constitute means of coding that require mounting the sheet on the housing in the single position provided.

With reference to FIG. 7, the orifice 52 of the case presents essentially three arc sections of circle 70 of the same radius, alternated with three sections in an arc 72 with the same larger radius than that of spokes 70. All sections are centered on axis 26.

The six sections are divided into three pairs of adjacent sections for clarity of explanations which follow. Each pair has a large radius arc 72 followed by a small radius arc 70 with reference to the direction trigonometric 69. At the junction between the two sections of each pair, the housing has a relief 71 extending projecting from the front face of the wall rear, towards the front. This relief 71 presents a front helical ramp 73 of axis 26 moving away from the rear wall as you turn in direction 69. The rear wall also has a relief 74 extending at the edge of the orifice 52 between two reliefs 72.

The sheet 4 has near its orifice 54 an edge folded back 76 coming into abutment against relief 74 at against the rotation of the plate 4 with respect to the rear wall in direction 69. The arcs of a circle 78, large radius, sheet metal, counterparts of those 72 of the rear wall, are longer than these so as not to hide the ramps 73 in front view.

Referring to Figure 6, the lamp holder 10 comprises a body 80 having a general shape of revolution and three tabs 82 of which only one, upper, is illustrated, projecting radial from the periphery of the body. The body 80 comprises a double rear flange 84 fitted with a seal sealing and taking up play 86.

It is assumed that the lamp holder 10 carries the lamp 86 and that the housing 2 carries the sheet 4. To fix the lamp holder in the housing, we introduce the lamp holder by the rear in the hole 52 of the rear wall and the plate up to put the seal 86 in axial stop front on the back side of the back wall, the flange 84 being itself in axial abutment against the back of the seal. During this movement, the tabs 82 necessarily pass through the orifice look at large radius arcs because they extend radially too long to be able to penetrate opposite the arcs of a circle small radius. In addition, due to the presence of relief 74, one of the places where the tabs is smaller than the others. Knowing that the tabs 82 have corresponding dimensions substantially to those of the passage locations, it it follows that the lamp holder cannot enter the orifice only in a single angular position around of the axis 26 relative to the housing. So we get here again a keying effect. Once the joint is in abutment against the rear wall, the tabs are directly next to the ramps 73. We do then rotate the lamp holder relative to the housing around the axis 26 in the direction 69. The tongues 82 then follow the ramps 73 to finish pushing the lamp holder forward. The tabs are leaving finally the ramps to come into axial support on the sheet 4 at the arcs of a small radius. One of the tabs 82 comes into rotation abutment against the relief 76 of the sheet metal, which blocks the rotation of the lamp holder and defines its final position. Thus, the lamp holder is rigidly fixed to the sheet 4 and to the housing 2 in a position very precisely defined thanks in particular to the rotational guidance of the body 80 of the lamp holder against the arcs of small circle Ray.

Referring to Figure 19, the reflector has a generally concave shape and has an opening 89 in its center. Its internal reflective face 90 has different zones formed by paraboloids geometrically different and separated from each other others by recessed edges 91.

With reference to FIGS. 15 to 18, the cradle 16 a a general shape close to that of the reflector, essentially shaped like a concave hemisphere. he also has a central hole 92 but this one is extended upwards by a notch 94 connecting the central hole 92 at the peripheral edge of the cradle of so this one has a general "U" shape in sight from the back or from the front. The "U" is essentially full, apart from the notch 94 and the orifice 92.

The reflector 18 is rigidly fixed to the cradle 16 in coaxial position. The fixing means include two upper positioning hooks side 94 of the reflector, facing downwards and coming to rest on two contiguous reliefs 96 of the cradle at notch 94. They also include two tabs left and right positioning 95 of the reflector received backwards in two corresponding housing 98 of the cradle. The two legs 95 are different one of each other as well as housing 98 so the reflector can only be fixed in one position by relation to the cradle. They still have four legs 100 of the reflector crimped while being folded radially inward in the cradle, and finally a leg of lower clipping 102 of the reflector to be clipped onto a lower lug 104 of the cradle. These different means ensure robust and precise fixing of the reflector in the cradle.

To attach the cradle to the reflector, engage the reliefs 96 of the cradle under and in the hooks 94 of the reflector, the cradle being inclined relative to the reflector. Then we fold the cradle towards the reflector by bringing their lower parts together to remove the inclination, the legs 95 penetrating into the housing 98 of the cradle and the tab 102 clipping onto lug 104 of the reflector. This fixation is already rigid. To reinforce it, the legs 100 of the reflector in the cradle. The fixation is thus particularly robust. The assembly with movement of preliminary rotation is made possible by space cleared by notch 94.

The housing has two cylindrical housings 106 able to receive the reliefs 98 of the cradle which have a corresponding shape for guiding the cradle to rotation relative to the housing around an axis horizontal 108 perpendicular to that 26 of the lamp but extending under it. The cradle has two pins 120 extending backwards and able to come engaged by clipping with two reliefs 122 on the face internal side wall of the housing, so that the cradle pushed axially in the housing towards the rear is retained by clipping. The reliefs 122 have a curved shape with center of curvature directed towards the front, as shown in Figure 9, to allow the rotation of the cradle 16 relative to the housing 2 in despite this fixation. The two reliefs 98 are different from each other, as well as housing 106 for a polarizing effect that requires mounting the cradle on the housing in the single position provided, namely notch 94 upwards.

In their approach to the relief 122, the lugs 120 are guided by a groove 123 of the housing having one end flared forward.

The cradle has on its rear side a threaded cavity 110 generally hollow cylindrical arranged so that this imprint comes engaged with thread 50 of adjusting screw 20 when the cradle is in position. When we do turn the adjusting screw around its axis, by example by means of button 22 which partly extends it lower, so the pivoting of the reflector 16 up or down around the axis 108. The threads of the screw 20 and the cradle 16 are arranged with sufficient clearance for the rotation of the cradle on a small angle does not interrupt catching nets. In addition, the footprint 110 of the cradle has a slightly convex profile in section vertical passing through the axis of the net.

The kinematics of mounting the cradle on the box is illustrated in Figures 27 to 29.

When approaching the cradle on the housing, the pins 120 are guided in the grooves 123 before reception of the reliefs 98 in the housings 106 (figure 27). When the reliefs 98 arrive in the dwellings 106, the pins are still in the grooves (figure 28). At this time, the axis of the cradle is already positioned suitably compared to that of the housing. Moreover, the vertical clearance L2 between the lug and the groove is less than the vertical clearance between the threads 110 and 50. In addition, the horizontal distance L3 between the vertices of the net 100 and the top of the net 50 is less than the distance L4 remaining to be covered by the lug for out of the throat.

When reliefs are received in housing 106 as in FIG. 29, the threads 50 and 110 are in mutual engagement but the pins 120 are out of grooves, allowing the cradle to pivot relative to to the housing by control of the screw. We can see that this device ensures the arrival of the cradle on the housing in the proper position.

Figure 5 illustrates the movement of the cradle 16 relative to the housing 2. The cradle can here be tilted from the horizontal by an angle a of 5.5 ° upwards and an angle b of 7.5 ° downwards to correct the angle of the headlight beam by reference to the actual attitude of the vehicle. The focus F of the reflector 18 is located on the pivot axis 108 vertically to the right of the axis 26 of the lamp and the housing. The vertical distance d separating them is very small, for example 0.7 mm. L denotes the center of the filament in FIG. 5. The lower generatrix of the horizontal cylindrical filament extending from front to back has its center substantially at the focus F.

With reference to FIG. 4, the button 22 presents upwardly oriented circular toothing its meshing with an elongated toothed member 130 such than a Phillips screwdriver for actuating the adjusting screw 20 and adjusting the trim by example manually or automatically from the dashboard. The actuation by means of the screwdriver can be done horizontally, from the front or the side for example, or vertically from the bottom as shown in figure 4.

Referring to Figures 6 to 9, the housing comprises a screen or visor 112 of cylindrical shape, axis 26, integral with the side wall 28 of the molded case. The upper and lower sides of the screen are in line with the external faces and internal side wall of the housing. The screen projects from the front edge 30 towards the front, direction of the ice 8. The screen 112 extends over a angular sector around the axis 26 less than 90 ° and here equal to 66 °.

Intermediate piece 6 has a skirt cylindrical with axis 26 fixed by its rear edge to the exterior to the side wall 28 of the housing and carrying the glass by its front edge.

Referring to Figure 1, screen 112 is interposed radially between the lamp 12, under the screen, and the intermediate part 6 on the screen. The screen extends forward further than the lamp. The screen protects the intermediate piece from air heated by the lamp and which rises in the enclosure inside of the projector.

The sheet 4 will for example be made of galvanized steel.

The glass 8 may be made of tempered glass.

The intermediate part 6, the housing 2, the cradle 16, the adjusting screw 20 and the button 22 can be made of PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), plastic heat resistant.

The lamp is for example a brand lamp Philips / Osram / GE type H 11.

The reflector 18 is here made of steel alloy sheet aluminum.

May be provided on the lamp 12 a concealer 130 made of a brand material "ALUZI".

The seal 86 is made of silicone.

Of course, we can bring to the invention of numerous modifications without departing from the scope of this one.

We can predict that the screen 112 is a room reported for example on the housing 2 or the part intermediate 6.

The device could be a signaling light.

Claims (9)

Lighting or signaling device for a vehicle, comprising a housing (2), a glass (8) and an intermediate piece (6) connecting the glass to the housing, characterized in that it further comprises a screen (112) s 'extending in front of an upper area of the housing in the direction of the glass, the screen (112) being connected directly to the housing (2) forming a single piece with the housing (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen (112) came from molding with the housing (2). Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the screen (112) and the housing (2) each have an internal face and an external face, at least one of the internal or external face of the 'screen being an extension of the corresponding face of the housing. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the screen (112) has a generally cylindrical shape. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the screen (112) extends over an angular sector less than 90 ° around an axis (26) of the device. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a rear wall (24) of plastic material, a lamp holder (10) fixed to the rear wall and a metal plate (4) fixed to the rear wall. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a reflector (18) and a cradle (16) connecting the reflector to the housing and having an opening (94) in the upper part. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is a headlamp. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is a fog light.

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