JP2003068126A - Luminaire of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent dew condensation on a surface exposed outside within an effective surface and a non-effective surface of a front lens by restricting the region of the dew condensation generated in a luminaire of vehicle to a part of the non-effective surface of the front lens. SOLUTION: This vehicular lamp is provided with a convection restraining part 8 for restraining the convection of the air flowing along the inside surface of the non-effective surface 2B of the front lens 2. By disposing an adjacent part 47 formed on an extension 4 built in a lamp chamber 10 adjacently to the inside surface of the non-effective surface 2B of the front lens 2, the restraining part 8 is formed with a fine space formed between both of them. The dew condensation is generated on the non-effective surface 2B by restraining the air convection along the inside surface of the non-effective surface 2B of the front lends 2, so that the dew condensation on the effective surface 2A is prevented. Deterioration of a lamp function due to the degradation of transmittance by fogging up of the effective surface 2A of the front lens 2 in passing of light from a light source 5 through the front lens 2 can be prevented, and the dew condensation can not be seen from the outside by forming the restraining part 8 in the region not exposed to the outside, so that degradation of the outside appearance of the luminaire can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp,
In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that prevents dew condensation on the inner surface of the front lens to prevent deterioration of the lamp function and deterioration of appearance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A lamp for a vehicle such as an automobile has a structure in which a lamp body is formed by a lamp body and a front lens, and a light source (bulb) and a reflector are internally arranged in the lamp chamber.
In such a vehicular lamp, when the outside air temperature becomes lower than the temperature inside the lamp chamber, water vapor in the lamp chamber may be saturated and dew on the inner surface of the front lens or the surface of the reflector. In particular, in a lamp mounted on a vehicle, the front lens is most likely to come into contact with the outside air, and the temperature is significantly lower than that of the lamp body, reflector, etc., so that dew condensation easily occurs on the inner surface of the front lens. When dew condensation occurs on the inner surface of the front lens in this way, the lens becomes cloudy and the transmittance of the light emitted from the light source when it passes through the front lens is lowered, so that the lamp function is lowered. Further, since the reflectance of the clouded area of the front lens is lowered, there is a problem that the appearance of the front lens, that is, the lamp is deteriorated when the lamp is viewed from the outside. These problems are remarkable in the case of a front lens including a so-called clear lens, in which the front lens has no light distribution step.

[0003]

In order to solve such a problem, various measures have heretofore been considered. For example, a ventilation hole is provided in the lamp body, and air is circulated between the inside and outside of the lamp chamber through the ventilation hole, thereby promoting air convection inside the lamp body, particularly along the inner surface of the front lens, and thus the inner surface of the front lens. There are measures to prevent dew condensation in. Alternatively, there is a measure to prevent the dew condensation on the front lens by providing a cooling means on a part of the lamp body in the lamp chamber and positively causing the dew condensation on the cooling means. However, even with these measures, it is difficult to prevent the dew condensation on the front lens, and in particular, the dew condensation on the front lens becomes remarkable when the outside air temperature suddenly drops.

An object of the present invention is to prevent condensation on the effective surface of the front lens by limiting the area where condensation occurs to the non-effective surface of the front lens, rather than completely preventing condensation on the front lens. (EN) Provided is a vehicular lamp which prevents deterioration of lamp function and deterioration of appearance.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for a vehicle in which a lamp body is formed by a lamp body and a front lens, and light emitted from a light source arranged in the lamp chamber is emitted to the outside through an effective surface of the front lens. The lighting device is characterized in that a convection suppression unit that suppresses convection of air flowing along the inner surface is provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the ineffective surface other than the effective surface of the front lens. Here, the convection suppressor is formed by arranging a part of the extension or reflector installed inside the lamp chamber close to the inner surface of the ineffective surface of the front lens, and forming a minute gap between them. Further, the convection suppressor is arranged in a region of the non-effective surface of the front lens which is covered by the vehicle body of the vehicle and cannot be seen from the outside.

According to the present invention, the convection suppressing portion is provided on a part of the inner surface of the non-effective surface of the front lens, which does not allow the light emitted from the light source to be transmitted to the outside, and the inner surface of the front lens is provided by the convection suppressing portion. Suppressing convection of air along the surface causes dew condensation on the non-effective surface of the front lens and prevents dew condensation on the effective surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the effective surface of the front lens from becoming cloudy and the transmittance of the light from the light source from passing through the front lens to be lowered, thereby lowering the lamp function. Further, by providing the convection suppressing portion in a region of the non-effective surface of the front lens that is not exposed to the outside, it is possible to prevent the dew condensation from being seen from the outside and prevent the appearance of the lamp from being deteriorated.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile composite headlamp CHL, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a schematic structure disassembled into parts, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part thereof, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part in an assembled state seen from an inner surface side, and FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the main part. It is a figure. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the front turn signal lamp FTSL and the headlamp HL are integrated into a composite type headlamp CHL, and the schematic structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The headlamp CHL includes a lamp body 1 showing only a bottom area and a front lens 2 attached to a front opening of the lamp body 1. The lamp body 1 and the front lens 2 form a lamp chamber 10. Is forming. In addition, in the headlamp HL, the reflector 3 provided inside the lamp body 1 and the extension 4 that prevents the gap between the reflector 3 and the lamp body 1 from being exposed to the outside.
And a bulb 5 as a light source attached to the reflector 3. Further, in the front turn signal lamp FTSL, a bulb 6 is attached to the lamp body 1, a lamp chamber is formed in an upper region of the extension 4, and an amber cap 7 covering the bulb 6 is used to form an amber color. Is configured to emit light.

A detailed description will be given below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The lamp body 1 has a structure in which a head lamp body 11 in a lower area and a front turn signal lamp body 12 in an upper area are integrally formed, and the front lens 2 is arranged in a front opening 1a of the lamp body 1. The seal leg portion 21 provided on the peripheral edge of the front lens 2 is provided with the seal groove 1 provided along the peripheral edge of the lamp body 1.
The lamp chamber 10 is integrated with the lamp body 1 by being inserted into the lamp 3 and sealed with the sealant 14 to form the lamp chamber 10 inside. The lamp body 1 is formed by resin molding, and is formed in a front shape in which a region corresponding to a later-described ineffective surface of the front lens 2 projects downward. Also,
As the front lens 2, a clear lens having no lens step for light distribution is used.

The headlamp body 11 is internally provided with the reflector 3 formed of resin and vapor-deposited with aluminum. The reflector 3 is tilted in the vertical and horizontal directions by an aiming adjusting mechanism (not shown) to adjust the aiming. It is possible. The description of this aiming adjustment mechanism is omitted. A bulb mounting hole 31 is opened in the rear surface of the reflector 3, and the headlamp bulb 5 can be attached and detached through a bulb insertion hole 15 opened in the rear surface of the headlamp body 11. A rubber cap 5 is provided between the bulb socket 51 supporting the headlamp bulb 5 and the bulb insertion hole 15.
It is sealed by 2. Further, at the position on the front side of the headlamp bulb 5, there is provided a shade 54 on the inner surface of the reflector 3 for covering the partial area on the front side so as to adjust to a desired light distribution characteristic. It is fixed by etc. On the other hand, the front turn signal lamp body 12 has a valve mounting hole 16 formed in the rear surface thereof, and a valve socket 61 supporting the turn signal bulb 6 can be attached to and detached from the valve mounting hole 16.
When installed, the turn signal bulb 6 is disposed within the turn signal lamp body 12.

Further, in the lamp body 1, the peripheral edge portion 3a on the front end side of the reflector 3 is prevented from being exposed to the outside through the front lens 2.
The extension 4 is installed along the front side of the. The extension 4 is made of resin, and aluminum is vapor-deposited to have the same appearance as the reflector 3. The extension 4 has a frame-shaped portion 41 formed in a frame shape along the front end edge 3 a of the reflector 3 in the headlamp body 11, and the front end of the reflector 3 is formed by the frame-shaped portion 41. The gap between the edge 3a and the headlamp body 1 around it should not be exposed to the outside. The extension 4 includes the front wall 43, the upper bottom wall 44, and the lower bottom wall 4 in the turn signal lamp body 11.
It has a box-shaped portion 42 having a number 5. In particular, the lower bottom wall 45 extends as a boundary between the headlamp HL and the front turn signal lamp FTSL, and is configured as a shielding wall that shields the lamp chamber 10 in the area of each lamp. The wall 45 divides the lamp chamber 10 into a headlamp lamp chamber 10H and a front turn signal lamp lamp chamber 10F.

In the box-shaped portion 42 of the extension 4 in the front turn signal lamp lamp chamber 10F, a tubular portion 46 corresponding to the turn signal bulb 6 is provided between the upper bottom wall 44 and the lower bottom wall 45. The cylindrical window 46a is integrally formed, and a lattice window 46a is opened on the front surface of the cylindrical portion 46. The rectangular container-shaped amber cap 7 is fitted into the cylindrical portion 46 from the rear side. The turn signal bulb 6 is housed inside the amber cap 7, and when the turn signal bulb 6 is turned on, the amber color light from the amber cap 7 passes through the lattice window 46 a and further through the front lens 2. It is configured to emit to.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front lens 2 includes a head lamp bulb 5 and a turn signal lamp 6 as shown in FIG.
The effective surface 2A through which the light emitted from each of them is transmitted and is irradiated to the outside, and the light from each of the bulbs 5 and 6 existing around the effective surface 2A is not irradiated, and therefore the light is irradiated to the outside. There is a non-effective surface (surface area shown by diagonal lines in FIG. 1) 2B that cannot be effectively used as a lens. That is, the lower side region 2 of the front lens 2
2 and the boundary area 2 between the lamp chambers 10H and 10F of the respective lamps
3 and the upper side area 24 of the front turn signal lamp lamp chamber 10F are non-effective surfaces. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the headlamp is mounted on the vehicle body of an automobile, the lower side region 2 of the ineffective surface 2B is
2 and the boundary region 23 are not exposed to the outside. Here, the lower side region 22 of the front lens 2 is slightly recessed rearward in accordance with the shape of the bumper X1 existing in the lower part of the vehicle body. It has an elliptical shape and is covered by a part of the bumper X1 when equipped.
Further, in the boundary area 23 of the front lens 2, a strip-shaped decorative plate Y made of metal or surface-treated resin is adhered to the surface of the front lens 2.
The boundary area 23 is covered by the above. here,
In order to mount the decorative plate Y, in the boundary area 23, the curved portion 23 in which the surface of the front lens 2 is bent in a concave shape at two locations.
a is provided. The upper region of the headlamp HL is covered with a part of the hood X2 of the vehicle body, but the upper region 24 is exposed to the outside.

Further, the non-effective surface 2B of the front lens 2
Of these, in the lower side area 22 and the boundary area 23,
A partial region of the frame-shaped portion 41 of the extension 4 extends along the inner surface of the front lens 2. The partial region has a distance of about 2 mm from the inner surface of the front lens 2. A proximity unit 47 is provided in proximity to the unit. That is, the proximity portion 47 is shaped to have substantially the same shape as the inner surface shape of each of the lower side region 22 and the boundary region 23 of the front lens 2. Therefore, when the extension 4 is installed inside the lamp chamber 10 and the frame-shaped portion 41 is arranged along the inner surface of the front lens 2, as shown in FIGS. As a result, a minute gap d is formed between the inner surfaces of the lower side area 22 and the boundary area 23 and the surface of the proximity portion 47 of the extension 4. Since the gap d is about 2 mm as described above, the convection of air in the gap d is suppressed in the lamp chamber 10, and as a result, the lower side region 22 or the boundary region 23 of the front lens 2 and the extension are extended. Therefore, the convection suppressing section 8 is formed by the proximity section 47 of No. 4 and the adjacent section 47. In the upper side region 24 of the ineffective surface 2B of the front lens 2 which is exposed to the outside, the distance between the front lens 2 and the extension 4 is 10 mm or more.

According to the above construction, when the head lamp bulb 5 is turned on, or when the temperature inside the lamp chamber 10 is higher than the outside temperature due to engine heat or the like even when the head lamp bulb 5 is not turned on, inside the lamp chamber 10. Warm air having a relatively high temperature flows upward and cold air having a relatively low temperature flows downward to generate air convection in the lamp chamber 10. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, this air convection flows along the effective surface 2A of the front lens 2 as shown by the solid line, so that vapor condensing on the inner surface of the effective surface 2A is accelerated by this air convection. This prevents dew condensation. Further, due to the air convection, the high temperature air raises the temperature of the front lens 2 to more effectively prevent the dew condensation.

On the other hand, on the non-effective surface 2B of the front lens 2,
Since the convection suppressing portion 8 having a minute gap d is formed between the inner surface and the proximity portion 47 of the extension 4, the air convection is not effectively performed in the convection suppressing portion 8 and the ineffective surface 2B.
The air convection hardly occurs along the inner surface of the. Therefore, as indicated by a chain line in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the convection suppressing section 8, it is difficult for the high temperature air in the lamp chamber 10 to flow along the inner surface of the ineffective surface 2B of the front lens 2, and Two
It becomes difficult for the temperature of B to rise. At the same time, the convection suppression unit 8
In the above, since air having a low temperature is likely to stay in the gap d, dew condensation is likely to occur on the ineffective surface 2B facing the convection suppressing portion 8. In this way, by positively generating dew condensation on the non-effective surface 2B, the saturated state of the water vapor pressure in the lamp chamber 10 is lowered, and the subsequent dew condensation, especially on the effective surface 2A of the front lens 2, is prevented. It becomes possible to prevent. Although the upper side area 24 of the front lens 2 is configured as an ineffective surface, it is preferable to prevent dew condensation in terms of appearance because it is an area exposed to the outside. In the present embodiment, since the distance between the upper side region 24 and the extension 4 is 10 mm or more, the above-mentioned convection is not suppressed and dew condensation is prevented.

Therefore, in the composite headlamp CHL of this embodiment, dew condensation occurs on the inner surface of the front lens 2 in the lower side area 22 and the boundary area 23 of the non-effective surface 2B, but these areas 22 and 23 are formed. Originally valve 5,
Since it is a region where the light from 6 is not irradiated, the transmitted light amount of the irradiation light is not reduced by dew condensation,
The lamp function as the combined headlamp CHL is not deteriorated. In addition, the front lens 2 with dew condensation
The lower side area 22 which is the non-effective surface 2B is covered by the bumper X1, and the boundary area 23 is the decorative plate Y.
Since it is covered by the above, the fog on the front lens 2 due to dew condensation is not exposed to the outside of the automobile, and the external appearance of the composite headlamp CHL is not deteriorated. On the other hand, as described above, the dew condensation does not occur in the upper side region 24 and the deterioration of the appearance of the front lens 2 is prevented.

Here, in the above embodiment, the front lens 2
In the non-effective surface 2B of the above, the region that causes dew condensation is the lower side region 22 facing the lower edge of the reflector 3 and the boundary region 2
3, the air having a low temperature in the headlamp lamp chamber 10H flows downward and flows through the gap d of the convection suppressing portion 8 particularly in the lower side region 22.
It is possible to lower the temperature of the front lens 2 in the lower side region 22 more easily to cause dew condensation. Also in this case,
By extending the proximity portion 47 of the extension 4 arranged in proximity to the lower side region 22 below the front end portion 3a of the reflector 3, the convection suppressing portion 8 is communicated with the region 1b below and behind the reflector 3. There is. Therefore, even when the air convection occurs in the convection suppression portion 8 of the lower side region 22, the convection air is the air outside the reflector 3, that is, the air having a relatively low temperature that is not exposed to the light from the headlamp bulb 5. Therefore, the temperature of the front lens 2 in the lower side region 22 is not increased even by air convection, and it is possible to further easily cause dew condensation.

Further, as in the above embodiment, the lower side region 22 as the non-effective surface 2B of the front lens 2 is formed into a curved shape,
Alternatively, by providing the curved portion 23a like the boundary region 23, the shape of the gap d in the convection suppressing portion 8
That is, the flow path shape of the air is bent, and the effect of suppressing convection can be enhanced. In the above embodiment, the distance between the inner surface of the front lens 2 forming the convection suppression portion 8 and the proximity portion 47 of the extension 4 is 2 mm, but it is possible to appropriately change and adjust the size within a range smaller than 10 mm. Is. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the proximity portion 47 provided in a part of the extension 4 as the convection suppression portion 8 is formed in proximity to the inner surface of the front lens 2. However, when the structure of the lamp is different, the reflector 3 is provided. Front end 3
A may be bent, and the bent portion may be configured as a proximity portion that is disposed in proximity to the inner surface of the front lens. Alternatively, the convection suppressing section 8 can be formed by using a member different from the reflector 3 and the extension 4. However, if it is formed integrally with the extension and the reflector, it is advantageous in reducing the number of component parts.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which a region (upper side region 24) exposed to the outside is present in a part of the ineffective surface of the front lens. When the surface does not exist, the convection suppressing portion may be arranged on the entire surface of the ineffective surface. In this way, the area of the convection suppressing portion can be increased as much as possible, and the effect of preventing dew condensation on the effective surface can be enhanced.

[0020]

As described above, the present invention is provided with the convection suppressing portion for suppressing the convection of the air flowing along a part of the inner surface of the ineffective surface other than the effective surface of the front lens. It is possible to cause dew condensation on the non-effective surface and prevent dew condensation on the inner surface of the other part of the effective surface and the ineffective surface. This can prevent the effective surface of the front lens from being fogged and the transmittance of the light from the light source from passing through the front lens to be lowered, thereby lowering the lamp function. Also, by providing a convection suppressor in a region of the ineffective surface of the front lens that is not exposed to the outside, condensation can be prevented from being seen from the outside, and even in an ineffective surface, the condensation can be seen in the exposed region. Is prevented, and deterioration of the appearance of the lamp can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a vehicular lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a schematic configuration disassembled into parts.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part in an assembled state viewed from the inner surface side.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part for explaining a state of air convection in the lamp chamber.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lighting body 2 front lens 2A Effective side 2B Non-effective surface 3 reflector 4 extensions 5 headlamp bulbs 6 turn signal lamp bulb 7 Amber Cap 8 Convection suppression section 10 light room 11 headlamp body 12 Front turn signal lamp body 22 Lower area (non-effective surface) 23 Boundary area (non-effective surface) 24 Upper area (non-effective surface) 41 frame 42 Box-shaped part 47 Proximity part CHL composite headlamp HL headlamp FTSL front turn signal lamp

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle lamp in which a lamp chamber is formed by a lamp body and a front lens, and light emitted from a light source arranged in the lamp chamber is emitted to the outside through an effective surface of the front lens. 2. A vehicular lamp including a convection suppression unit that suppresses convection of air flowing along the inner surface of at least a part of the inner surface other than the effective surface. 2. The convection suppressor is configured such that a part of an extension or a reflector installed inside the lamp chamber is disposed close to an inner surface of the ineffective surface of the front lens, and is formed by a minute gap formed between the two. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular lamp is a lamp. 3. The convection suppressor is arranged in a region of the non-effective surface of the front lens which is covered by a vehicle body of a vehicle and cannot be seen from the outside. The vehicle lighting device described in.