GB2092735A

GB2092735A - Headlamp

Info

Publication number: GB2092735A
Application number: GB8135449A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1980-11-26
Filing date: 1981-11-25
Publication date: 1982-08-18
Also published as: DE3044407A1; FR2494812B1; GB2092735B; DE3044407C2; FR2494812A1

Abstract

A headlamp suitable for a motor vehicle comprises a first component part composed of a reflector (4) and a second component part composed of a lens (2) and a rearwardly-projecting spacer (3) the two component parts being connected together by interleaved peripheral webs (6) and channels (7) which form a labyrinth seal preventing ingress of water, but allowing ventilation. Pivot axes are formed by inter-engaging partly- cylindrical formations along the edges of the webs and channels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Headlamp The invention relates to headlamps, especially for motor vehicles.

German Patent Publication DAS-2,732,895 discloses a head-lamp comprising a heavier component part, consisting of the glass lens and a spacer, and a lighter component part consisting of the reflector and the bulb holder. The two parts are connected to one another via a pivotally movable ring arrangement so as to be movable relative to one another, and the lighter component part is adjustable via adjusting devices fastened to the heavier component part.

This headlamp has the disadvantage that, because of its leakproof construction, special channels have to be provided for ventilating the headlamp interior.

A headlamp of similar design is disclosed in German Patent Publication DOS--2,828,280. In this headlamp, parts of the spacer are in the form of bellows in order to permit adjustment of the reflector in relation to the fixed glass lens.

This headlamp also has the disadvantage that special measures, for example in the form of ventilating channels formed integrally with the lamp holder, have to be taken to ventilate the headlamp interior.

A further headlamp of approximately the design mentioned in the introduction is known from European Patent Publication No. 0,013,245. In this headlamp, the spacer connected to the glass lens is made as a plastic part with an integral reflector, and it is possible to adjust the reflector in relation to the fixed distance piece via a film hinge and a bellows seal.

This headlamp also has the disadvantage that separate devices or measures have to be provided for ventilating the headlamp interior.

According to the present invention, there is provided a headlamp comprising a first component part comprising a reflector and a second component part comprising a lens and a rearwardly-projecting spacer characterised in that the two component parts are connected together by interleaved peripheral webs and channels which form a labyrinth seal.

Because the two component parts are connected together by interleaved webs and channels forming a labyrinth seal, the headlamp interior is reliably sealed off against the entry of water and, on the other hand, proper ventilation of the headlamp interior is ensured in a simple way.

Preferably webs at the upper and lower peripheral edges of the spacer interact with channels at the corresponding peripheral edges of the reflector, and channels at the side edges on the spacer piece interleave with webs at the corresponding side edges of the reflector so that manufacture of the individual parts, preferably as plastics mouldings, and simple assembly and removal of these, are made possible.

To provide a pivot axis for adjustment, the web along one peripheral edge (eg the upper edge) of the spacer or the reflector preferably forms a partially cylindrical edge, and the channel on the corresponding edge of the other of the reflector and the spacer forms a semi-cylindrical groove within which the said edge is received, the components being preferably held in engagement by a spring clip. The horizontal pivot axis for height adjustment of the headlamp is preferably formed in this way.

A pivot axis may also be provided by forming in the centre of the web of the reflector or the spacer an arcuate projection, or nose, and, in the centre of the corresponding channel in the other of the reflector and spacer, an arcuate cavity in which the projection is received, the projection and the cavity preferably being held in engagement by a spring clip. A vertical pivot axis for lateral adjustment of the headlamp is preferably formed in this manner.

If desired, the spacer may be formed from plastics material in one piece with a plastic front panel of a motor vehicle. For example grill or blind elements may be provided in the front panel to extend over the lens. The lens itself need not be optically shaped and may be in the form of plane glass or plastics. Afurther lens, possibly with optical shaping, may be incorporated within the lamp rearwardly of the first-mentioned lens and mounted on the reflector.

Several specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a horizontal section through a first embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a vertical section along the line Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view in the direction of the arrow Ill-Ill in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view in the direction of the arrow IV-lV in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a section along the line V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention similar to that of Figures 1 to 6, but modified at the part contained in the circle VIl-VIl in Figure 2;; Figure 8 shows a horizontal section through a fourth embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention; Figure 9 shows a section along the line IX-IX in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a section along the line X-X in Figure 8; Figure 11 shows a section along the line Xl-Xl in Figure 9; Figure 12 shows a section along the line Xll-XlI in Figure 9; Figure 13 shows a vertical section through a fifth embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention, and Figure 14 shows a vertical section through a sixth embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention.

A first embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. Here a headlamp 1 comprises a first, relatively heavy, component part formed by a glass lens 2 and a spacer 3, and a second, relatively light, component part formed by a reflector 4 and a bulb holder 5.

The first component part 2/3 is connected to the second component part 4/5 via webs 6 and channels 7 made at their peripheral margins which interleave with one another in the manner of a labyrinth seal. The first component part 2/3 is connected to the second component part 4/5 adjustably by means of joints formed by a partly cylindrical edge 10 on the forwardly-projecting upper horizontal web 8 and a partly cylindrical recess 11 in the corresponding channel 9 in the reflector 4 which are held in engagement by a spring clip 12.

The heavier first component part 2/3 is fastened, preferably rigidly, to the body of the vehicle, whilst the lighter second component part 4/5 is fastened to the first part via appropriate adjusting devices, of which the points of engagement and pivot axes are marked in Figures 3 and 4, VA and V indicating the vertical adjustment points and axes, HA and H indicating the horizontal adjustment points and axes.

The labyrinth-like engagement of the webs and channels in one another in the region of the lateral peripheral margins can be seen in Figure 5.

In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the construction of Figure 1 to 5 has been modified in the region surrounded by the circle Vl in Figure 2. Here, constructional parts interacting in a similar way are identified by the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 5, but supplemented by a dash-superscript. The horizontal pivot axis if formed by a web 8' made on the spacer 3' which extends to the rear carries a partly cylindrical edge 10' which is received in a partly-cylindrical recess in the channel 9' of the reflector 4', to form a pivoting hinge 10'/1 1'. The two parts are retained in engagement by a spring clip 12'.

In the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the construction of Figures 1 to 5 has been modified in the region surrounded by the circle VII in Figure 2. Here also, parts having the same effect are identified by the same reference numerals provided with a dashsuperscript. The difference from the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 5 is that on the spacer 3' are formed channels 7' which interact with webs 6' made on the reflector 4', so that they engage in one another in the manner of a labyrinth.

Figures 8 to 12 show a further embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention, and, again, parts having the same effect are identified by the same reference numerals provided simply with a double dash-superscript.

Here, a headlamp 1 " consists of a heavier first component part formed by the glass lens 2" and a spacer 3", and a lighter second component part consisting of the reflector 4" and the lamp bulb holder 5".

The two component parts 2"/3" and 4"/5" are connected along their peripheral edges via webs 6" and channels 7", so as to engage in one another in the manner of a labyrinth. Here, the web 8" is provided in its centre with a partially cylindrical projection, or nose 1 3 and the channel 9" is provided with a partially cylindrical cavity 14, which receives the nose 1 3. The nose 1 3 is held against and in engagement with the cavity 14 by a spring clip 12', and from the pivoting point of the vertical axis V" for the lateral adjustment VA".

It can be seen from Figure 9 that the web 8", together with the channel 9", also forms the horizontal pivot axis H" for the height adjustment HA".

It can be seen from Figure 10 that the edge 10" on the web 8" interacts with the surface 11" of the channel 9" to permit a pivoting movement.

Detaiis of the height adjustment HA" are illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

The height-adjustment HA" consists advantageously of a screw bolt 1 5 on which a spherical piece 1 6 is fixed axially via spring washers 17, and this spherical piece is housed in a ball socket 19 formed by a part of the reflector 4" and a shackle 1 8 fastened thereto. A cylindrical piece 20 is also held longitudinally displaceably on the screw bolt 1 5 by means of a threaded bore extending perpendicularly to the axis of the cylindrical piece, and this cylindrical piece is housed in a cylindrical cup 23 formed by, on one side, the spacer 3" and by a clamp 22 fastened thereto. The adjusting device VA" provided for the lateral adjustment can, of course, be designed in a similar way.

Figures 13 and 14 show a further embodiment of a headlamp according to the invention, in which a spacer 3"' is made in one piece with a plastic component part forming the front end 24 of a motor vehicle body. Here, the reflector 4" can be designed as a composite constructional part, of which the front part 25 made of plastic is connected to a part 26 made of sheet-metal. Here, the optical ribbing 27 of a lens can be provided in an appropriate way on the front plastic part 25, whilst the glass pane 2"' remains without optical shaping.

Figure 14 again shows an embodiment in which a spacer 3"" is made in one piece with a front end panel 24' of a motor vehicle. Here, however, it is envisaged additionally that a bumper 28 and blinds 29 extending behind a glass pane 2"" are also integrated on this front end. A reflector 4"" is arranged, again, in the way described in the introduction, and an inner lens 27' made of plastic is used here again.

Claims

1. A headlamp comprising a first component part comprising a reflector and a second component part comprising a lens and a rearwardly-projecting spacer characterised in that the two component parts are connected together by interleaved peripheral webs and channels which form a labyrinth seal.

2. A headlamp according to claim 1 wherein the webs at the upper and lower peripheral edges of the spacer interleave with channels at the corresponding peripheral edges of the refiector, and channels at the side edges of the spacer piece interleave with webs at the corresponding side edges of the reflector.

3. A headlamp according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in that the web along one peripheral edge of one of the spacers or the reflectors forms a partially cylindrical edge and the channel on the corresponding edge of the other of the spacer and reflector forms a partly cylindrical groove, the edge and the groove forming a pivot axis.

4. A headlamp according to claim 3 wherein the partly cylindrical edge is retained in engagement with the partly-cylindrical groove by means of a spring clip.

5. A headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the web along one peripheral edge of one of the reflector and the spacer has in its centre an arcuate nose and the channel on the other of the reflector and the spacer has arcuate cavity in which the nose is received, the nose and the cavity forming a pivot axis for adjustment of the headlamp held against one another via a spring clip.

6. A headlamp according to claim 5 wherein the nose is retained in the arcuate cavity by means of a spring clip.

7. A headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spacer is formed as a one-piece component part with a front end panel of a motor vehicle.

8. A headlamp according to claims 1 to 7 wherein the front end panel of the motor vehicle includes a bumper and slats or blinds.

9. A headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the spacer carries a further lens rearwardly of the first-mentioned lens, the further lens being mounted so as to permit ventilating air to pass into the space between the reflector and the further lens.

10. A headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the spacer carries fasteners for mounting the headlamp on a vehicle body, and adjusting means engaging the reflector.

11. A headlamp substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figures 8 to 12, Figure 13 and Figure 14 of the drawings.

12. A headlamp according to claim 11 wherein the adjustment means comprises of a threaded bolt with a fixed spherical piece and an axially movable cylindrical piece, the spherical piece being housed in a ball socket formed on the reflector and the cylindrical piece being housed in a cylindrical cup formed on the spacer.