FR2793003A1 - Structural assembly for a vehicle lighting unit, includes an aeration port for the provision of cooling air within the lighting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The lighting unit (17) comprises of a light source (75), a reflector unit (51) and a base collar assembly (52). The base collar includes an orifice (80) that enables the passage of an air flux within the lighting unit such that the bulb/light source does not over heat. The unit is sealed such that the ingress of moisture into the electrics is prevented.

Description

t4 2793003

AERIAL ORIFICE STRUCTURE

FOR A LIGHTING DEVICE

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ventilation port structure for a lighting device, configured in such a way that the size and shape of the ventilation opening can be freely defined and that the ventilation opening can be be willing to

  so as not to interfere with other parts.

  State of the art An illumination device used for a vehicle has the disadvantage that the temperature of the interior of the lighting device is increased when a light bulb comes on and condensation drops can adhere to the inner surface of the light. lighting device due to a temperature difference of the interior of the lighting device between the on state and the off state. To overcome this drawback, the lighting device is generally provided with a ventilation opening intended to put the interior of the lighting device in communication with the atmospheric air. Such an air vent for a lighting device has been described, for example, in Japanese utility model registration NO 2 547 379, entitled "Lamp Device Mounting Structure for

Scooter-type Vehicle ".

  The technique described above comprises, as shown in Fig. 17 of the document, a housing 40 serving as a reflector, and a lens 51 mounted on the front portion of the housing 40, wherein the lower portions of the housing 40 and the lens 51 serve labyrinth-shaped mounting parts and a vent (not shown) for venting the interior of the housing 40 is provided in the mounting portions. Problems to be solved The technique described above is problematic in that, since the vent hole is provided in the labyrinth-shaped mounting parts, the shape

  and the size of the vent hole are limited.

  Another problem related to the technique described above

  Before that, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 of the document, a front cover 11 is disposed under the ventilation opening. The front cover 11 must be arranged leaving a precise clearance between the front cover 11 and the lower portions of the labyrinth-shaped mounting portions so as not to damage the aeration performance of the vent opening. As a result, the size of the front cover 11 ends up being large and the shape of the front cover 11

is limited.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an air vent structure for a lighting device capable of increasing the degree of freedom in defining the size and shape of the orifice ventilation and in the arrangement of this ventilation opening, without limiting the provision

other parts.

  Means for solving these problems To achieve the above object, the invention provides a lighting device comprising a bowl-shaped reflector opening towards the front, a cylindrical socket for mounting a light bulb on the bottom of the bowl-shaped reflector, and a lens arranged to close off the open portion of the reflector; characterized in that a roof for covering the upper surface of the bushing extends from the reflector and a notch extending in the direction of the axis of the bushing is formed in the upper portion of the bushing, thereby to allow the flow of air to the inside and outside of the reflector through the notch which places a closed space in the reflector in communication with the atmospheric air while preventing the infiltration of water into the air. notch

thanks to the roof.

  With this configuration, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in defining the size and shape of the notch by leaving the roof extending from the reflector and piercing

the notch in the socket.

  Since the roof and the notch are formed in an edge space, on the side of the rear surface of the reflector, the presence of the roof and the notch

  in no way limits the disposition of other parties.

  In addition to the above configuration, a flange is advantageously provided on a mouth portion of the light bulb so as to cover, for example,

  behind, the open part of the notch.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the infiltration of water splashes, etc. diffused from the back of the lighting device into

the ventilation opening.

Brief description of the drawings

  Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading

  description below, made with reference to the

  attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a scooter type vehicle to which is applied a vent for a lighting device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a headlight provided with the venting port of the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views illustrating a notch for forming the vent opening of the present invention; Figs. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are first functional views illustrating a first function of the venting port of the present invention; Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are functional views illustrating a function of an aeration port as a comparative example; Figs. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are second functional views illustrating a second function of the vent port of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a third functional view illustrating a third function of the orifice

  of the present invention.

  Description of the preferred embodiments

  The following paragraphs describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings

  must be analyzed in the sense of the numbers.

  Figure 1 is a side view of a scooter type vehicle to which is applied a vent for a lighting device according to the present invention. A scooter type vehicle 10 comprises a main frame 11; a front fork 13 mounted in a steerable manner on a fork tube 12 of the main frame 11; a front wheel 14 mounted on the lower part of the front fork 13 and a front fender 15 for covering the upper side of the front wheel 14; a handlebar 16 connected to the upper part of the front fork 13; a lighthouse 17 as a lighting device disposed at the front of the handlebar 16; an auxiliary housing housing 18 mounted in a lower central portion of the main frame 11; an oscillating type power train 21 (consisting of a motor 22 and a transmission 23) mounted on the upper rear portion of the main frame 11; a rear wheel 24 mounted on the rear part of the power unit 21; a boot 26 mounted on the upper rear portion of the main frame 11; a seat 27 mounted on the upper part of the luggage compartment 26; a fuel tank 28 mounted on the upper rear portion of the main frame 11 behind the luggage compartment 26; a rear suspension unit 29 for suspending the power unit 21 on the upper rear portion of the main frame 11; and a fairing 30 for fairing the main frame 11. The fairing 30 comprises a front fairing 31 for covering the front side of the fork tube 12; a legguard 32 for covering the driver's legs; a footrest 33 allowing the driver to rest the feet on it; a lower fairing 34, disposed under the footrest 33, for covering the underside of the main frame 11; and a rear fairing 35 for covering the

  back half of the main frame 11.

  In the figure, reference numeral 41 designates a front damper unit; 43 designates a main stand; 44 corresponds to a start pedal to start the engine; 45 is a rear light; 46 is a rear mudguard; and 47 is a

exhaust silencer.

  Figure 2 is a perspective rear view of the headlight provided with the venting port of the present invention. The lighthouse 17 comprises a bowl-shaped reflector 51 opening towards the front and projecting rearwardly; a cylindrical sleeve 52 formed in one piece on the bottom portion of the reflector 51; a bulb assembly 53, as a light bulb, mounted on the socket 52; a lens 54 (not shown here but to be described later) mounted on the reflector 51 so as to close the open portion of the reflector 51; and a frame ring 55 for covering the outer periphery of the front portion of the reflector 51 and the

  outer periphery of the lens 54.

  The reflector 51 comprises an arcuate wall 62 configured as a roof straightened rearwardly from a rear surface 61 of the reflector 51 so as to be close to the upper portion of the socket 52, and two erected portions. 63, protruding rearwardly from the outer periphery of the front portion of the

reflector 51.

  The rear portion of the bulb assembly 53 includes a flange 64 and a connector receiving portion 65 to which is connected a conductive cable connector for providing power to a power supply.

  bulb, which will be described later.

  The frame ring 55 has two upright portions 66 projecting rearwardly from the ring 55. The upright portions 66 are mounted on the side of the handlebar 16 (see FIG.

upright 63 of the reflector 51.

  Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. The headlight 17 is configured such that a cylindrical portion 67 is formed on the front portion of the reflector 51; a flange 68 is formed on the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 67; a cylindrical lens portion 71 is formed on the outer periphery of the lens 54; and a lens flange 72 is formed on the rear portion of the cylindrical lens portion 71, the cylindrical lens portion 71 being adjusted around the lens portion 71.

  cylindrical portion 67 of the reflector 51.

  A notch 73 is formed in the upper portion of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 52 so as to extend axially from the opening edge to an intermediate portion of the socket 52. The bulb assembly 53 includes a main lamp body 75 serving as a light source; a bulb base portion 76 serving as a mouthpiece for supporting the bulb main body 75; the flange 64 described above and the connector receiving portion 65 formed on the rear portion of the bulb base portion 76; and an L-shaped protrusion 77 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bulb base portion 76. When assembling the bulb assembly 53 in the socket 52, the assembly is rotated. bulb 53 having been inserted into the sleeve 52, so that the L-shaped protrusion 77 is grasped by the projections 74 (which will be described later) of the sleeve 52. In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 78 designates a O-ring; and CL is the axis of the sleeve 52, that is to say

  the reference line of the bulb assembly 53.

  The arc wall 62 of the reflector 51 extends rearwardly beyond the rear end of the sleeve 52 to a length P. Preferably, when the bulb assembly 53 is mounted in the socket 52, the arc wall 62 protrudes rearwardly from the flange 64 of the bulb assembly 53 on a

  specific length Q, where normally Q = 2 mm.

  The outside diameter D of the rear end of the bushing 52 is defined to be less than or equal to the outside diameter D1 of the flange 64 of

the bulb assembly 53 (D1> D).

  The notch 73 described above and the flange 64 of the bulb assembly 53 for closing off the opening portion of the notch 73 form an orifice

  aeration device 80 of the present invention.

  Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views illustrating the notch for forming the vent hole of the present invention, Fig. 4 (a) is a rear view of the lighthouse 17 and Fig. 4 (b) is a view

plane of the socket 52.

  Referring to FIG. 4 (a), the notch 73 of the bushing 52 is formed at the uppermost portion of the cylindrical bushing 52, that is, at a position including the vertical plane passing through the sleeve axis 52. The notch 73 has a specific width W, typically W = 5 mm in the horizontal direction. The arcuate wall 62 formed coaxially with the sleeve 52 is open on each of the right and left sides at an angle θ, typically 0 = 45, relative to a vertical line VL passing through the axis CL of the sleeve 52 ( see Figure 3). It should be noted that in Fig. 4 (a), the axis CL extends in the direction from front to back of the plane of the sheet. The arc wall 62 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 52 by a

  precise clearance C, o typically C = 5 mm.

  Sleeve 52 includes projections 74 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of bushing 52 to secure bulb assembly 53 (see FIG.

Figure 3) in the socket 52.

  With reference to FIG. 4 (b), the notch 73 is configured in a rectangular shape extending in the direction of the axis CL of the sleeve 52. The following paragraphs describe the function of

  the ventilation opening 80 described above.

  FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are first functional views illustrating a first function of

  the venting port of the present invention.

  Referring to Fig. 5 (a), when a drop of water "d" falls from above the lighthouse 17, it flows downwardly along the arc wall 62 and

  does not enter the ventilation opening 80.

  Referring to Fig. 5 (b), as the bulb main body 75 ignites, the air in the headlamp 17 is heated and expanded by the heat generated by the bulb main body 75 and, as shown by the arrows, air escapes from lighthouse 17 through

the ventilation opening 80.

  Referring to Fig. 5 (c), when the main bulb body 75 turns off after condition (b), the air in the lighthouse 17 is contracted because the air temperature is lowered and, as represented by the arrows, air coming from the outside is introduced into the lighthouse 17 through the orifice

ventilation 80.

  In this way, the ventilation opening 80 can fulfill the infiltration prevention function of

  drops while ensuring the function of aeration.

  Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are functional views of a ventilation opening provided for

comparative example.

  Fig. 6 (a) shows a state in which an aeration port 102 opens into the lower part of a socket 101 of a headlight 100. In the figure, reference numeral 103 designates an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 101 and 104 is a

main body of bulb.

  For example, when a drop of water "d" falls from above, it flows along the outer peripheral surface 103 of the sleeve 101 and

  reaches the bottom of the sleeve 101.

  At this time, the drop of water "d" may spread to a film at the vent hole 102, so that it will close the vent hole 102. If the main body of the lighting bulb 104 extinguishes to be in a state shown in Figure 6 (b), the drop of water "d" may infiltrate in the sleeve 101 at the same time

  time that the air is introduced in the sleeve 101.

  Figs. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are second functional views illustrating a second function of the aeration port of the present invention. In this

  for example, the scooter type vehicle is inclined.

  Referring to Figure 7 (a), when a drop of water "d" falls from above the lighthouse 17, it flows

  downwards along the wall in an arc 62.

  Even if the body of the vehicle is very inclined and therefore, the headlamp 17 is inclined at an angle x, since the arcuate wall 62 has an upper arc length L as shown in FIG. ), the drop of water "d" does not infiltrate

the ventilation opening 80.

  Referring to Fig. 7 (b), as the main bulb body 75 ignites, the air in the lighthouse 17 is expanded and as shown by the arrows, air escapes from the lighthouse 17 through the lighthouse 17. Ventilation opening 80. When the main lamp body 75 goes out, the air in the headlamp 17 is contracted and therefore outside air is introduced into the headlamp 17 through the orifice aeration 80 in the reverse direction to

  the one represented by the arrows.

  In this way, even if the headlamp 17 is inclined, the ventilation opening 80 can fulfill the function of preventing infiltration of drops while

  by providing the ventilation function.

  FIG. 8 is a third functional view illustrating a third function of the orifice

  of the present invention. As described above

  before, the structure of the vent hole in this embodiment is configured as shown in Fig. 3. That is, the outer diameter D1 of the flange 64 of the bulb assembly 53 is equal to or greater than the outer diameter D of the sleeve 52 having the notch 73, and the arcuate wall 62 protrudes rearwardly the flange 64 of the bulb assembly 53 mounted in the socket 52 on the length Q Thus, even if a drop of water "d" is projected horizontally or obliquely from the rear of the headlamp 17 as shown in FIG. 8, the drop of water "d" does not infiltrate into the water. vent because it is stopped by the flange 64 and the

wall in an arc 62.

  Therefore, the presence of the arcuate wall 62 and the flange 64 further improves the function of prevention of infiltration of drops.

  of water while ensuring the ventilation function.

  The shape of the notch 73 for forming the vent port 80 of the present invention is not limited to the rectangular shape as shown in Figure 4 (b), it may be a shape rounded, of a polygonal shape or of a slot or of an elliptical shape whose major axis extends

  in the direction of the axis CL of the sleeve 52.

  The shape of the wall 62 is also not limited to the arcuate shape as shown in FIG. 4 (a), it may be a planar shape, any curved plane or a combination of

some plans.

Advantages of the invention

  The present invention having the above configuration

  before presents the following advantages.

  Thanks to the structure with ventilation opening according to the invention, since the roof extends from the reflector and the notch opens in the upper part of the sleeve, it is possible to form in a simple way the vent hole only by drilling the notch in the socket and thus increasing the degree of freedom in the definition of size and

shape of the notch.

  In addition, since the roof and the notch are formed in an edge space on the side of the rear surface of the reflector, the presence of the roof and the notch

  in no way limits the disposition of other parties.

  In addition, because a flange is provided on the mouth portion of the light bulb so as to cover, from behind, the open portion of the notch, it is possible to prevent the infiltration of projections. water, etc. diffused from the back of the lighting device into the ventilation opening.

Claims (2)

  A ventilation port structure (80) for a lighting device (17) comprising a bow-shaped reflector (51) opening forwardly, a cylindrical socket (52) for mounting a light bulb (53) on the bottom of said bowl-shaped reflector (51), and a lens (54) arranged to close off the open portion of said reflector (51); characterized in that a roof (62) for covering the upper surface of said bushing (52) extends from said reflector (51) and a notch (73) extending in the direction of the axis (CL) of said bushing (52) is formed in the upper part of said bushing (52), thereby to allow the flow of air into and out of said reflector (51) through the notch (73) which places a closed space in said reflector (51) in communication with the atmospheric air while preventing the infiltration of water   in said notch (73) through said roof (62).   A ventilation port structure (80) for a lighting device (17) according to claim 1, characterized in that a flange (64) is provided on a mouth portion (76) of said light bulb. (53) so as to cover, from behind, the   open portion of said notch (73).