JP2012108861A - Lighting instrument for traffic signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting instrument for a traffic signal which achieves less snow accretion thereon to solve problems of increasing manufacturing cost and weight in a lighting instrument provided with a snow protection cover.SOLUTION: In a lighting instrument for a traffic signal, a hood is eliminated. A cover 30 shielding front area of a light-emitting unit 26 in a signal lamp unit 20 is adapted to have a hemispherical shaped dome 32a. A dark color part 36 that absorbs light emitted from the light-emitting unit 26 to generate heat is provided near the light-emitting unit 26 on the inner periphery of the hemispherical shaped dome 32a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic signal lamp.

  Usually, a traffic signal lamp has a hood attached to each signal lamp (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such traffic lights with hood may also be installed in snowy areas. An example is shown in FIG. 23 (a side view showing the hood portion in a partial cross section). When it snows from above, it will snow on the hood 3 so that the portion of the lens 5 does not disappear. However, as shown in FIG. 23, when a snow storm that blows from the front diagonally downward from the front is suitable for a traffic signal lamp 2J with a general hood, the hood 3 and the lens 5 act as a screen against the snow storm, Snow adheres to the corners of the lens 5 under the hood 3 or the corners of the hood mounting portion 7 and the lens 5 and the snow accumulating mass 60 is easily formed. In particular, the snow accretion 60 (60a) generated at the corners of the hood 3 and the lens 5 adheres on the three surfaces of the hood 3, the lens 5 and the lid 4, and thus is difficult to peel off. In the end, it can happen that the lens 5 grows up until it covers the part of the lens 5. Still, in the type using an incandescent light bulb as a light source, the lens 5 is heated, so that peeling may be promoted. However, in the type using an LED (light emitting diode) having a low calorific value as a light source as in Patent Document 1, A similar effect cannot be expected.

  In view of this, a technique has been devised to prevent snow accretion by attaching a snow cover that covers the hood 3 even in the case of snow blowing that blows from the front obliquely downward (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-58935 A JP 2006-202114 A

  If a snow cover as disclosed in Patent Document 2 is provided, snow can surely be prevented even in the case of snow blowing that blows from the front obliquely downward. However, the configuration in which the snow cover is provided separately causes disadvantages such as an increase in weight as well as an increase in the manufacturing cost of the traffic signal lamp.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at implement | achieving the traffic signal lamp with little snowfall.

  A first form for solving the above-described problem is a traffic signal lamp without a hood, and a translucent cover portion or lens portion covering the front of a light emitting portion (for example, the light emitting unit 26 in FIG. 4). (Hereinafter referred to as a “cover part”) is a traffic signal lamp having a convex shape and further having a dark color part (for example, the dark color part 36 in FIG. 4) at least near the light emitting part on the inner surface. .

  According to the first embodiment, no hood is attached to the traffic signal lamp. As a result, even if it is a snowstorm, the hood does not act as a snow collector, or acts as a screen and does not promote the snowfall of the incoming snow. That is, snowfall is reduced. Of course, since the hood is not provided, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the increase in weight can be suppressed.

  Moreover, by providing a dark color part at least near the light emitting part on the inner surface of the cover part, it is possible to absorb the light emitted from the light emitting part and replace it with heat to promote snow melting. Further, the position near the light emitting portion of the cover portion where the dark color portion is provided corresponds to the vicinity of the boundary corner portion where the cover portion protrudes from the casing of the traffic signal lamp. Therefore, even if snow may be deposited on the boundary corner portion, it is possible to promote the separation of the snow lump by light absorption (heat absorption) / snow melting effect in the dark color portion, and to reduce snow accumulation.

  The second mode is the traffic signal lamp according to the first mode in which the dark color part is provided near the light emitting part and provided at least on the upper side of the cover part.

  According to the 2nd form, it becomes possible to melt snow on the snow cover of the upper part of a cover part effectively.

  A 3rd form is the traffic signal lamp of the 1st or 2nd form in which the said dark color part has the cyclic | annular shape of the predetermined width which restrict | limits the light distribution to the side of the said light emission part.

  According to the 3rd form, while being able to exhibit the effect similar to the traffic signal lamp of the 1st or 2nd form, the cover part of the other signal lamp which the light emitted from the light emission part adjoins even if there is no hood Can be suppressed from being reflected on the screen.

  In a fourth embodiment, the cover portion is a linear dark portion (for example, a line in FIG. 9) that is a thin dark portion that does not hinder the visibility of light emission of the light emitting portion in a light transmitting region other than the dark color portion on the inner surface. The traffic signal lamp of any one of the first to third forms having a dark-colored portion 36c).

  According to the 4th form, while being able to exhibit the effect similar to the traffic signal lamp of any form of the 1st-3rd, adding the site | part which has a snow melting effect also in the translucent area | region of a cover part. Can do. Therefore, the snow melting effect can be enhanced. Note that the “thin line shape” mentioned here is not limited to a geometric line, but also includes a line formed by a dot row such as a broken line.

  In the fifth mode, the linear dark part has at least one fine line (for example, the upper dark color part 36d in FIG. 11) along the front-rear direction on the upper inner surface of the cover part. It is a traffic light lamp.

  According to the fifth embodiment, the same effect as the traffic signal lamp of the fourth embodiment can be obtained, and a snow melting portion can be made in the front-rear direction with respect to the snow accumulated in the upper position of the cover portion. Easy to slide down.

  A sixth aspect is the traffic signal lamp according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the cover portion has a hemispherical or conical shape.

  According to the 6th form, the shape of the translucent cover part which covers the front of a light emission part is made into the hemispherical shape or the cone-shaped convex shape. Since the lens part of the conventional traffic signal lamp has a gently curved shape, it almost looks like a wall against snowstorm that blows from the front diagonally downward from the front. . However, by making the cover part a hemispherical or pyramidal convex shape, it is possible to quickly blow the snowstorm backward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress snow accumulation that covers the front of the light emitting unit.

  Of course, the shape of the cover part is not limited to the sixth form. For example, as a seventh form, the cover part may have an umbrella-shaped upper part.

  According to the 7th form, it becomes easy for the snow cover on a cover part to fall. As an umbrella shape, it is good also as a gable roof shape, for example, and it is good also as the kamaboko shape which made | formed the circular arc.

The front view which shows the structural example of the traffic light lamp device in 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the traffic signal lamp device in 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 1st Embodiment. The side view for demonstrating the effect | action of the traffic signal lamp device in 1st Embodiment. The front view for demonstrating the effect | action of the traffic signal lamp device in 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 2nd Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 2nd Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in the modification of 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 3rd Embodiment. The front view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 4th Embodiment. The top view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 4th Embodiment. The bottom view which shows the structural example of the signal lamp unit in 4th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structural example of the dome in 4th Embodiment. It is a side view for demonstrating the snow accretion problem in the conventional traffic signal lamp with a hood, Comprising: The figure which carried out partial cross-section notation of the hood part.

[First Embodiment]
Next, a traffic signal lamp for a vehicle to which the present invention is applied will be described as a first embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle traffic signal lamp 2 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the same. The traffic signal lamp 2 includes a total of three signal light units 20 of blue, yellow, and red on the openable lid 4 provided in front of the housing 6 and does not include a hood. The signal housing 6 itself is used by being fixed to the column 10 with a mounting bracket 8, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the signal light unit 20. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The signal lamp unit 20 has a light emitting unit 26 attached to the inside of a substantially deep dish-shaped case 22 and covers the front of the case 22 with a cover 30 that is a cover portion.

  More specifically, the case 22 includes a base 22a of a bottomed cylindrical body that opens toward the front, a flange 22b that extends to the outer periphery of the opening of the base 22a, and a boss that protrudes from the bottom of the base 22a. 22c. The flange 22 b is provided with a bolt hole 22 d for inserting or screwing a bolt for fixing the signal lamp unit 20 to the lid 4.

  The light emitting unit 26 has the same configuration as the light emitting unit of a known traffic signal lamp. For example, a plurality of LEDs 28 are arranged in a circle, and a printed circuit board, a power line, and the like for supplying power to the LEDs 28 are packaged. The light emitting element mounted on the light emitting unit 26 is not limited to the LED, but may be other types such as a halogen lamp and an incandescent lamp.

  The cover 30 is a cowl that covers and protects the signal light unit 20 in the forefront, and plays a role of flowing snowstorm without resistance. The cover 30 may have not only a function of simply transmitting light and protecting the signal lamp unit but also a function of a lens having an optical structure for adjusting the light distribution characteristics. That is, it may be a part called a lens from a functional viewpoint.

  More specifically, the cover 30 has a bottomed hemispherical dome 32a having an opening diameter capable of covering the opening of the case 22, and a fixing extended outward from the opening end of the hemispherical dome 32a. A flange 34 and a dark color portion 36 are provided.

The hemispherical dome 32 a and the fixing flange 34 are integrally formed of a light transmissive resin or glass, and are screwed to the flange 22 b of the case 22 by the fixing flange 34.
The term “hemisphere” here is not limited to a geometrically exact hemisphere, but has a fish-eye convex shape, and the curved surface may be aspherical as well as spherical. I do not care. Apparently, it has an outer shape that clearly jumps out ahead of the lens or cover glass of a known signal lamp.

A dark color portion 36 is provided on the inner surface of the hemispherical dome 32 a of the cover 30.
The dark color portion 36 in the present embodiment is a dark annular band with excellent light absorption such as black or dark gray provided on the inner periphery of the rear end opening of the hemispherical dome 32a, that is, the inner periphery near the light emitting unit 26. For example, it is formed by sticking of a sealing material or spray coating.

  The rear end side of the dark color portion 36 is set as close as possible to the light emitting unit 26 when the cover 30 is attached to the case 22, and the width of the band is determined based on the light distribution performance of the light emitting unit 26. The width is set to have a sufficient light shielding property so that the signal lamp unit 20 does not have a reflection that causes a functional problem.

  FIG.5 and FIG.6 is the side view and front view for demonstrating the effect | action of the traffic signal lamp device 2 in this embodiment. First, the traffic signal lamp 2 in the present embodiment does not include a hood found in a conventional traffic signal lamp. Therefore, even if it is a snowstorm that blows from the front obliquely from the front, snow may accumulate at the corners of the hood and the cover (or sometimes referred to as “lens”) or the corners of the hood and the casing. There is no.

  In addition, the front surface of the lens and cover of a known signal lamp is formed with a relatively gentle curved surface, which is almost the same as that of a snowstorm blowing from the front. It will snow. On the other hand, the cover 30 of the present embodiment has a convex shape that protrudes far ahead of the lens and the cover glass in a known signal lamp, and therefore acts as shown in FIG. To do. As a result, snow on the front surface of the cover 30 can be reduced even without a hood.

  On the other hand, as shown by the cover 30 in FIG. 5 or the cover 30 (30a) at the left end when viewed from the front of FIG. It will snow. The snow accretion block 40 is supported by both adhesion to the cover 30 and adhesion to the lid 4. In particular, the snow lump 40 attached to the upper portion of the cover 30 is difficult to peel off. However, the cover 30 of the present embodiment generates heat and promotes snow melting by absorbing light when the dark color portion 36 is lit. As a result, the force with which the snow lump 40 adheres to the cover 30 is weakened, and the snow lump 40 can be easily dropped together with the curved surface of the cover 30 (see the state of the cover 30 (30b) in the center of FIG. 6).

  Thus, according to this embodiment, since the hood is not attached to the first place, even if it is a snowstorm that blows from the front diagonally downward from the front, the hood acts as a snow collector or acts as a screen and blows in. There is no promotion of snowfall. That is, snowfall is reduced. Of course, since the hood is not provided, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the increase in weight can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the cover 30 has a hemispherical convex shape, the snowstorm can be quickly flown backward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress snow accretion that covers the front of the light emitting unit without a hood.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the cover 30 has the dark color part 36, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 26 can be absorbed and replaced with heat to promote snow melting. The position of the cover 30 where the dark color portion 36 is provided is near the boundary corner where the cover 30 protrudes from the housing 6. Therefore, even if snow falls on the corners of the cover 30 and the housing 6, it is possible to promote the peeling of the snow lump by the light absorption / melting effect of the dark color portion 36, and to reduce snowfall.

  The embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, but the application form of the present invention is not limited to this, and the components can be modified, added, or omitted as appropriate.

[First Modification]
For example, the shape of the cover 30 is not limited to the shape of a hemispherical dome as long as it has a clearer convex shape than the lens 5 (see FIG. 18) of the known traffic signal lamp 2J. For example, as shown in the front view of the signal lamp unit 20B in FIG. 7 and the BB cross-sectional view in FIG. 8, the cover 30B of the signal lamp unit 20B is fixed to the convex conical dome 32b facing forward. It is good also as the provided structure. Furthermore, the position of the top (front end) of the cone may be offset from the central axis. That is, the shape of the cover 30 is not particularly limited as long as it is suitable for smoothly blowing snow from the front to the rear, and may be a streamlined shape.
Further, the dark color portion 36 may not be provided in an annular shape but may be provided only in a portion that is on the upper side when the cover 30 is mounted (for example, the upper half of the cover 30).

[Second Modification]
Further, the color, number, and shape of the dark color portion 36 are not limited to the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in the front view of the signal lamp unit 20C in FIG. 9 and the CC cross-sectional view in FIG. 10, the dark color portion 36 is a base dark color that also functions as a light distribution limiting band / light shield near the opening of the cover 30C. The portions 36a and 36b and a linear linear dark color portion 36c provided in the middle of the front and rear of the cover 30C may be used. In other words, the dark color portion 36 may be appropriately divided instead of a single band, and the cover 30 may be provided as long as the function as a signal lamp is not hindered (for example, as long as the visibility of the lamp is not affected). It may be provided not only in the vicinity of the opening but also in other light-transmitting ranges. By providing the linear dark color part 36c, the site | part which generate | occur | produces heat | fever by absorbed light can be increased, and peeling and dropping of a snow accretion can be promoted more.

[Third Modification]
Further, the shape of the linear dark color portion is not limited to an annular shape, and the number thereof can be set as appropriate. For example, as shown in the front view of the signal lamp unit 20D in FIG. 11 and the DD cross-sectional view in FIG. 12, an upper linear dark portion 36d in the front-rear direction can be provided on the upper portion of the cover 30D. In this case, it can be expected that the snow lump at the top of the cover 30D can be easily divided to the left and right, and the effect of promoting peeling and dropping off can be expected. In addition, the linear dark color portion may have a spiral shape, a stitch shape, a lattice shape, a spot shape, or the like when viewed from the front.

[Second Embodiment]
In addition, the signal lamp unit used in the first embodiment and the modification thereof is not limited to being used for a traffic signal lamp, but can be used for other signal lamps.
For example, as shown in the front view of the signal lamp unit 20E in FIG. 13 and the EE cross-sectional view in FIG. 14, the dark portion 36e is shaped like a human being. Then, in the same manner as the traffic signal lamp 2 of the above embodiment, by attaching the signal lamp unit 20E to the lid 4 of the housing 6, the traffic signal lamp for pedestrians having the same effect as the above embodiment is obtained. Can be realized.
If the shape of the signal lamp unit is a substantially right-angled quadrangle, as shown in the front view of the signal lamp unit 20F in FIG. 15 and the FF cross-sectional view in FIG. What is necessary is just to make it the structure which extends the flange 34 for fixation to 32f. At this time, the dark color portion may be a dark color light-shielding body 37 which is a separate part that is in close contact with the inner surface of the cover 30F.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the cover 30 is configured to serve as the lens 5 of the signal lamp unit. The difference is that they are provided separately. In addition, the same code | symbol shall be provided about the component similar to 1st Embodiment, and detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration example of the traffic signal lamp 2G in the present embodiment.
The signal lamp unit 20G of the traffic signal lamp 2G of the present embodiment includes a lens 5 having a light distribution function in front of the LED 28. The lens 5 is fixed to the case 22 by bringing the outer edge portion into close contact with the flange 22b of the case 22 and by fitting the close contact portion into the ring packing 86 in an annular shape having a groove inside the ring. The signal lamp unit 20 </ b> G itself is clamped with respect to the lid 4 by a washer 82 secured to the boss stud 80 erected on the lid 4 with a screw 84.

  An annular hood mounting portion 7 projects from the front side surface of the lid 4, and the traffic signal lamp 2 </ b> G of the present embodiment has a hemispherical dome-shaped hood 30 </ b> G having a dark color portion 36 on the inner surface. It is fixed with.

  Note that the configurations of the hood and the dark portion in the present embodiment are not limited to the illustrated example, and either the configuration of the modification of the first embodiment or the configuration of the second embodiment can be applied as appropriate.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, but the dome shape is different in the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol shall be provided about the component similar to 1st Embodiment, and detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 18 is a front view illustrating a configuration example of the signal lamp unit 20H in the present embodiment. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 20 is a top view, and FIG. 21 is a bottom view. FIG. 22 is a perspective view schematically showing the shape of the dome 32h. In FIG. 22, in order to help understanding of the shape, the display of the dark color portion 36 is omitted, and a thin line tracing the surface shape is added.

  The dome 32h of the hood 30H of the present embodiment has an umbrella-like shape that protrudes obliquely upward in the front of a hemispherical dome shape. That is, the lower half has a spherical curved surface, while the upper half has an outer shape based on the spherical curved surface and covered with an elliptical cone with the apex obliquely upward. And the top part of the upper half is slightly inclined forward (see an inclination angle θ in FIG. 19) in a straight line or a gentle curve. When focusing on the shape of the upper half, it can be said that the shape is close to the gable roof shape.

  The dark color portion 36 starts from the top front end portion of the dome 32h and is set so that the distance from the flange (width in the front direction of the dark color portion) gradually decreases toward the lower end of the dome 32h.

By making the cover 30H into such a shape, it is possible to suppress snowing to the lower half as in the first embodiment, and of course, the upper half has an umbrella-like shape that is diagonally forward upward, The relative angle of the surface to the wind and snow from diagonally above the front is lower than that of a simple hemisphere. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress not only the wind and snow blowing from the front side but also the snow landing from the front side that occurs most regularly.
Also, due to the umbrella-like shape of the upper half diagonally upward in the upper half, even if a snow lump occurs across the left and right, there is a part with a steeper slope than a spherical shape in the center part, so the snow lump It is easy to collapse and can promote snowfall.
Of course, the shape of the dome 32h is not limited to this. For example, the upper half of the dome 32h may have a semi-cylindrical shape.

2 Traffic Signal Lamp 4 Lid 6 Case 20 Signal Light Unit 22 Case 26 Light Emitting Unit 28 LED
30 cover
32a hemispherical dome
32h dome
36 Dark part

Claims (7)

A traffic light without a hood,
A translucent cover portion or lens portion (hereinafter, representatively referred to as “cover portion”) covering the front of the light emitting portion has a convex shape, and further has a dark color portion at least near the light emitting portion on the inner surface. Lamps. The traffic light lamp according to claim 1, wherein the dark color portion is provided near the light emitting portion and at least on an upper side of the cover portion. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the dark color portion has an annular shape with a predetermined width that restricts light distribution to a side of the light emitting portion. The said cover part has a linear dark part which consists of a thin linear dark part which does not disturb the visibility of the light emission of the said light emission part in translucent area | regions other than the said dark color part of an inner surface. The traffic signal lamp described. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 4, wherein the linear dark part has at least one thin line along a front-rear direction on an upper inner surface of the cover part. The traffic signal lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover portion has a hemispherical shape or a cone shape. The traffic signal lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover portion has an umbrella shape at the top.

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