JP2009026597A - Lighting fixture for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce weight and costs of a lighting fixture for a vehicle without damaging its strength and profile retention characteristics by considering its material and structure. <P>SOLUTION: In the lighting fixture 1 for the vehicle having a lamp unit 30 for irradiating forward by reflecting light of a light source 32, a bracket 40 for supporting the lamp unit 30 slantly movable in the left and right direction, and an actuator 50 for making the lamp unit 30 slantly move in the left and right direction, the bracket is molded by a resin material, a shaft retention member 48 for retaining a rotary shaft 36 of the lamp unit on a shaft retention section 47 of the bracket is molded by a resin material, a first holding section 47c for regulating the movement of the rotary shaft in the thrust direction on the shaft retention section of the bracket is formed, and a second holding section 48f for regulating the movement of the rotary shaft in the thrust direction is formed on the shaft retention member 48. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel vehicular lamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for reducing weight and cost in a vehicular lamp that can change the irradiation direction during traveling in the left-right direction.

  Examples of vehicle lamps whose irradiation direction can be changed in the left-right direction during traveling include those shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3. The vehicular lamps disclosed in these patent documents support a bracket on a lamp body, support the lamp unit in a tiltable manner in the left-right direction, and tilt the lamp unit in a left-right direction by an actuator also supported by the bracket. It is configured as follows.

JP 2004-227933 A JP 2005-225337 A JP 2006-224898 A

  By the way, in the above-described vehicle lamp, since the bracket for supporting the lamp unit and the actuator is formed of metal such as aluminum die casting, the weight is increased, the processing cost is increased, and the cost is increased. There is a problem.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the weight and cost without deteriorating strength and shape retention by devising materials and structures.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes a lamp unit that reflects light from a light source and irradiates forward, a bracket that supports the lamp unit so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction, and the lamp unit. In the vehicular lamp provided with an actuator that tilts the lamp in the left-right direction, the bracket is formed of a resin material, and a shaft holding member that holds the rotating shaft of the lamp unit on the shaft holding portion of the bracket is formed of a resin material. A first holding portion for restricting the movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction is formed on the shaft holding portion of the bracket; and a second holding portion for restricting the movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction on the shaft holding member. Is formed.

  The vehicular lamp of the present invention includes a lamp unit that reflects light from a light source and irradiates forward, a bracket that supports the lamp unit so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction, and an actuator that tilts the lamp unit in the left-right direction. In the vehicular lamp provided, the bracket is formed of a resin material, a shaft holding member that holds the rotating shaft of the lamp unit on the shaft holding portion of the bracket is formed of a resin material, and the shaft holding portion of the bracket A first pressing portion that restricts movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction is formed, and a second pressing portion that restricts movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction is formed on the shaft holding member. .

  Therefore, in the vehicular lamp of the present invention, since the bracket and the shaft holding member are formed of a resin material, the weight is reduced, and the cost can be reduced because it can be formed by an injection molding method. In addition, since the pressing portion is formed on both the bracket and the shaft holding member, it is possible to reliably prevent the vertical rotation of the rotating shaft due to variations in the distance between the shaft holding portion and the actuator. .

  In the invention described in claim 2, the shaft holding member and the bracket are coupled by engaging an engaging claw formed on one side with an engaging surface formed on the other side. The first and second pressing portions extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the engagement surface, and a holding metal having at least a part of an outer peripheral surface formed on a spherical surface is formed on a rotating shaft extending in a substantially vertical direction of the lamp unit. It is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable around the axis of the rotary shaft, the holding metal is held in a sandwiched manner by the shaft holding portion and the shaft holding member of the bracket, and the rotary shaft is substantially in the left-right direction. Therefore, the holding of the rotating shaft by the shaft holding portion and the shaft holding member of the bracket is completed in one operation, and the workability is good. In addition, since the rotating shaft is held via the holding metal movable with respect to the rotating shaft, the vertical position error is absorbed by the movement of the holding metal with respect to the rotating shaft, so that the assembling workability is improved. .

  In the invention described in claim 3, the shaft holding member is formed with a rectangular tube-shaped fitting portion, and the engaging claws are formed on two outer peripheral surfaces located on opposite sides of the fitting portion. The bracket is formed with a square hole-shaped receiving recess, an engagement surface is formed on two opposing surfaces of the receiving recess, and the fitting portion of the shaft holding member is used as the receiving recess of the bracket. Since the engaging claw and the engaging surface engage with each other and the shaft holding member is supported by the bracket, the square tubular fitting portion is fitted into the receiving recess. Positioning can be performed by four surfaces, and positional accuracy is improved. Further, since the engaging claws are formed on the two outer peripheral surfaces located on the opposite sides of the square tube, appropriate elasticity can be imparted to the engaging claws, and the assembly becomes easy.

  In the invention described in claim 4, since the reinforcing rib having a plate shape and extending in the left-right direction is formed in a portion of the fitting portion opposite to the engaging claw forming portion, the shaft holding member As a result, the reinforcing rib can be used as a knob to improve the assembling property when the shaft holding member is assembled to the bracket.

  In the invention described in claim 5, the lower part of the bracket is formed in a plate-shaped lamp unit mounting seat, and the actuator is supported on the lower surface of the mounting seat and an opening is formed in the mounting seat. As a result, the mass of the mounting seat is reduced, the amount of thermal expansion is reduced, and the shift of the optical axis due to deformation of thermal expansion is suppressed.

  The best mode for carrying out the vehicular lamp of the present invention will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to an automotive headlamp.

  An outline of an automotive headlamp will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the automotive headlamp 1, a front opening of a container-shaped lamp housing 10 that opens forward is covered with a transparent cover 20 to form a lamp chamber 11, and the lamp unit 30 can tilt in the lamp chamber 11. Be placed. The lamp unit 30 is supported by the lamp housing 10 via the bracket 40 so as to be tiltable.

  The lamp unit 30 is configured to irradiate the light beam forward. The lamp unit 30 includes a reflector 31. The reflector 31 has a reflecting surface 31a, and the reflecting surface 31a is configured to reflect the light from the light source 32 disposed at a predetermined position and condense it at a predetermined position in front. As the light source 32, for example, a discharge lamp is used. However, the light source 32 is not limited to this and may be an incandescent light bulb.

  A substantially cylindrical lens holding frame 33 is fixed to the front end of the reflector 31, and a projection lens 34 is held on the front end of the lens holding frame 33. The projection lens 34 is a condensing lens having a substantially flat rear surface and a substantially convex spherical front surface, and the rear focal point is located in the condensing region of the reflector 31.

  A shade 35 is supported at the rear end of the lens holding frame 33, and an upper edge 35 a of the shade 35 is located in the light converging area of the reflector 31 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 31 a of the reflector 31. A part of the light from the light source 32 is shielded from the front. The rear focal point of the projection lens 34 is located at the upper edge 35a of the shade 35. Therefore, a beam whose upper edge is defined by the upper edge 35 a of the shade 35 is irradiated forward by the projection lens 34.

  A rotating shaft 36 projects upward from the upper surface of the rear end of the lens holding frame 33. The rotating shaft 36 has a round bar shape, and a lower end portion thereof is fixed to the lens holding frame 33. A holding metal 37 is supported on the rotating shaft 36 so as to be slidable and rotatable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 36. The holding metal 37 has a substantially spherical outer peripheral surface 37a.

  A connecting boss 38 projects from the lower surface of the rear end of the lens holding frame 33. The connecting boss 38 is formed with a fitting recess 38a opened on the lower surface, and a plurality of engagement grooves 38b (only one is shown in FIG. 1) extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting recess 38a. Has been.

  FIG. 2 shows the bracket 40, the lamp unit 30, and the actuator 50 in a separated state.

  The bracket 40 includes a plate-shaped mounting seat portion 41 that is positioned substantially horizontally, side column portions 42 and 43 raised from a side portion slightly closer to the front end of the mounting seat portion 41, and the side column portions 42 and 43. The upper beam part 44 formed so as to be bridged between the upper ends is integrally formed. An insertion hole 41a is formed at the center of the portion near the front end of the mounting seat 41, and a large lightening hole 41b is formed behind the insertion hole 41a. The side column portions 42 and 43 and the upper beam portion 44 are reduced in weight and held rigid by the hollow holes 45, 45,... And the reinforcing ribs 46, 46,.

  A shaft holding portion 47 is formed at the center of the upper beam portion 44. The shaft holding portion 47 includes a holding surface 47a that is recessed in a spherical shape toward the front, receiving recesses 47b and 47b that are formed on both sides of the holding surface 47a and are square holes that open toward the front, and the holding A first pressing portion 47c positioned to cover the upper surface 47a. The first pressing portion 47c has a substantially tongue-like shape and protrudes forward from the upper end of a support portion 47d protruding upward from a position behind the holding surface 47a. Engaging surfaces 47e and 47e facing rearward are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the receiving recess 47b.

  The rotating shaft 36 of the lamp unit 30 is held by the shaft holding portion 47 and the shaft holding member 48 attached thereto. The shaft holding member 48 has a substantially rectangular tube shape protruding rearward at left and right positions sandwiching the holding surface 48a of the main surface portion 48b having a holding surface 48a recessed in a spherical shape facing the rear. Engaging portions 48c and 48c are formed, and engaging claws 48d and 48d projecting upward and downward are formed at the rear end portions of the upper and lower surfaces of the engaging portion 48c, respectively. It is formed in the inclined surface 48e where the amount of protrusion decreases as it goes to. The shaft holding member 48 is formed with a second pressing portion 48f positioned so as to cover the upper side of the holding surface 48a. The second pressing portion 48f has a substantially tongue-like shape extending in the front-rear direction, and its front end is connected to the upper end of the main surface portion 48b by two connecting portions 48g and 48g each having a substantially U-shaped shape. . Further, a plate-shaped reinforcing rib 48h that protrudes forward and extends in the left-right direction is formed on the front surface of the main surface portion 48b.

  The bracket 40 is preferably formed of a synthetic resin having excellent heat resistance and rigidity, and the shaft holding member 48 is preferably formed of a synthetic resin having heat resistance and elasticity.

  The two fitting portions 48c, 48c of the shaft holding member 48 are inserted into the receiving recesses 47b, 47b of the bracket 40 from the front. Then, since the inclined surfaces 48e, 48e,... Of the engaging claws 48d, 48d,... Are pushed by the edges of the openings of the receiving recesses 47b, 47b, the engaging claws 48d of the fitting portions 48c, 48c, The upper and lower surface portions on which 48d,... Are formed are bent toward each other, whereby the fitting portions 48c, 48c enter the receiving recesses 47b, 47b. Then, when the engaging claws 48d, 48d,... Cross over the engaging surfaces 47e, 47e,..., The bent upper and lower surface portions of the fitting portions 48c, 48c return to their original positions. The engaging claws 48d, 48d,... Engage with the engaging surfaces 47e, 47e,... To prevent the fitting portions 48c, 48c from coming out from the receiving recesses 47b, 47b. In this way, the shaft holding member 48 is attached to the shaft holding portion 47 of the bracket 40. A spherical space is formed by the holding surface 47 a of the shaft holding portion 47 and the holding surface 48 a of the shaft holding member 48.

  As described above, since the shaft holding member 48 is attached to the bracket 40 only by moving it backward with the position aligned with the bracket 40, its workability is very good. Further, since the rectangular tube-shaped fitting portions 48c and 48c are fitted into the square-hole-shaped receiving recesses 47b and 47b, the upper, lower, left and right surfaces contact each other for positioning. Positioning on the bracket 40 is very accurate. The reinforcing rib 48h of the shaft holding member 48 can be used as a knob for reinforcing the shaft holding member 48 and attaching it to the bracket 40.

  The actuator 50 has a drive shaft 51 protruding from the upper surface of the housing 52. The drive shaft 51 is rotated by a remote manual operation from the driver's seat, an automatic operation linked to the steering, or the like. And the engagement protrusion 51a, 51a, ... extended in the up-down direction is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 51. As shown in FIG. Such an actuator 50 is attached to the lower surface of the mounting seat 41 of the bracket 40 by an appropriate means (not shown), and the drive shaft 51 projects from the upper surface of the mounting seat 41 through the insertion hole 41a.

  The lamp unit 30 is positioned on the mounting seat surface 41 of the bracket 40, and the drive shaft 51 of the actuator 50 is fitted into the fitting recess 38 a of the connecting boss 38. At this time, the engaging ridges 51a, 51a,... Of the drive shaft 51 engage with the engaging grooves 38b, 38b,... Of the fitting recess 38a, and the rotation direction of the drive shaft 51 with respect to the fitting recess 38a. Slipping is prevented.

  Then, the outer peripheral surface 37a of the holding metal 37 supported by the rotating shaft 36 is brought into contact with the holding surface 47a formed on the shaft holding portion 47 of the bracket 40, and in this state, the shaft holding member 48 is described above. Thus, when attached to the shaft holding portion 47, the holding metal 37 is rotatably supported in a state of being sandwiched from the front and rear by the two holding surfaces 47 a and 48 a of the shaft holding portion 47 and the shaft holding member 48. At this time, the upper end of the rotating shaft 36 is lightly elastically contacted from below with the second pressing portion 48f provided on the shaft holding member 48, thereby preventing the rotating shaft 36 from rattling. The first pressing portion 47c provided on the bracket 40 is positioned close to the second pressing portion 48f, and the position of the second pressing portion 48f is displaced upward due to secular change or the like. In this case, the second pressing portion 48f abuts on the first pressing portion 47c, and the first pressing portion 47c prevents further displacement of the second pressing portion 48f.

  As described above, the rotation shaft 36 of the lamp unit 30 is rotatably supported by the bracket 40. Since the holding metal 37 held by the bracket 40 is movable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 30, even if there is some variation in the height position of the lamp unit 30 with respect to the bracket 40, the variation is caused by the holding metal 37. Since it is absorbed by moving with respect to the rotating shaft 36, the workability of the assembly is improved. As described above, in the state where the lamp unit 30 is assembled to the bracket 40, the two pressing portions 47 c and 48 f are positioned above the rotating shaft 36, thereby restricting the upward movement of the rotating shaft 36 more than necessary. Therefore, the lamp unit 30 does not move upward beyond a certain amount, and the fitting recess 38a and the drive shaft 51 of the actuator 50 are prevented from falling off due to the upward movement of the lamp unit 30. As described above, the lightening hole 41 b of the mounting seat portion 41 is positioned below the reflector 31 while being supported by the bracket 40.

  As described above, in the lamp unit 30 supported by the bracket 40, when the drive shaft 51 of the actuator 50 rotates, the rotation shaft 36 with respect to the holding metal 37 and / or the holding metal 37 with respect to the holding surfaces 47a and 48a. By rotating, it is rotated in the left-right direction, whereby the irradiation direction is changed in the left-right direction. Although heat is generated by turning on the light source 32, the heat is released from the lightening hole 41b of the mounting seat 41, and even when the heat is transmitted to the mounting seat 41, the heat is attached by the lightening hole 41b. Since the mass of the seat portion 41 is reduced, the thermal deformation of the mounting seat portion 41 can be suppressed to a small extent, and a shift in light distribution due to the thermal deformation can be prevented.

  Although not shown, the bracket 40 is supported by the lamp housing 10 via a known angle adjustment mechanism, and initial aiming can be performed by the angle adjustment mechanism.

  As described above, in the present invention, since the bracket showing a considerably large portion is formed of a resin material, the bracket can be formed at a lighter weight and at a lower cost than a bracket formed of a metal material. Therefore, the entire vehicle lamp can be reduced in weight and cost. Further, by providing the two pressing portions, it is possible to prevent the lamp unit from rattling.

  It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely an example of an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. It is.

The drawings show an embodiment of a vehicle lamp of the present invention, and this figure is an overall longitudinal sectional view. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a shaft holding member as seen from a direction different from FIG. 2. It is an expanded sectional view of the important section showing the state where the shaft holding member was attached to the shaft holding part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automotive headlamp (vehicle lamp), 30 ... Lamp unit, 32 ... Light source, 36 ... Rotating shaft, 37 ... Holding metal, 37a ... Outer peripheral surface, 40 ... Bracket, 41 ... Mounting seat part, 41b ... Meat Punching hole (opening), 47: shaft holding portion, 47a ... holding surface, 47b ... receiving recess, 47c ... first pressing portion, 47e ... engaging surface, 48 ... shaft holding member, 48a ... holding surface, 48c ... Fitting part, 48d ... engaging claw, 48f ... second pressing part, 48h ... reinforcing rib, 50 ... actuator

Claims (5)

In a vehicular lamp including a lamp unit that reflects light from a light source and irradiates forward, a bracket that supports the lamp unit so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction, and an actuator that tilts the lamp unit in the left-right direction.
The bracket is formed of a resin material,
A shaft holding member that holds the rotating shaft of the lamp unit on the shaft holding portion of the bracket is formed of a resin material, and a first pressing portion that restricts movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction is formed on the shaft holding portion of the bracket. Formed,
A vehicular lamp, wherein the shaft holding member is formed with a second pressing portion for restricting movement of the rotating shaft in the thrust direction. The shaft holding member and the bracket are coupled by engaging an engaging claw formed on one side with an engaging surface formed on the other side,
The first and second pressing portions extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the engagement surface,
A holding metal in which at least a part of the outer peripheral surface is formed into a spherical surface is supported on the rotating shaft extending in a substantially vertical direction of the lamp unit so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable around the axis of the rotating shaft,
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the holding metal is held in a sandwiched manner by the shaft holding portion and the shaft holding member of the bracket, and the rotating shaft is supported so as to be rotatable substantially in the left-right direction. Lamps. The shaft holding member is formed with a square tubular fitting portion, and engaging claws are formed on two outer peripheral surfaces located on opposite sides of the fitting portion,
The bracket is formed with a square-hole-shaped receiving recess, and engaging surfaces are formed on two opposite surfaces of the receiving recess,
By fitting the fitting portion of the shaft holding member into the receiving recess of the bracket, the engagement claw and the engagement surface are engaged, and the shaft holding member is supported by the bracket. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein a reinforcing rib having a plate shape and extending in the left-right direction is formed on a portion of the fitting portion opposite to the engaging claw forming portion. The lower part of the bracket is formed in a plate-shaped lamp unit mounting seat, and the actuator is supported on the lower surface of the mounting seat and an opening is formed in the mounting seat. A vehicular lamp according to any one of the above.

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