JP4623056B2 - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bi-function type vehicle headlamp, such as a projector-type headlamp, which can obtain a plurality of light distribution patterns, for example, a passing light distribution pattern and a traveling light distribution pattern. .

  Conventionally, this type of projector-type vehicle headlamp is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle headlamp will be described. A conventional vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a reflector that reflects light from the light source, a projection lens that projects the reflected light from the reflector in front of the vehicle, and a plurality of reflected lights that are directed from the reflector toward the projection lens. A shade that switches to a plurality of beams from which the light distribution pattern is obtained, a pivot shaft that rotatably supports the shade, and a plurality of beams that can be obtained with a plurality of beams around the pivot axis with respect to the posture (position) of the shade And a solenoid that switches to a posture. The rotation axis is perpendicular to a plane including at least one of the light source axis of the light source, the optical axis of the reflector, and the lens axis of the projection lens, that is, orthogonal to the axis. For this reason, in the conventional vehicle headlamp, the shade rotates back and forth (the projection lens side, the light source side, and the reflector side) about the rotation axis.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional vehicle headlamp will be described. In a conventional vehicle headlamp, when a light source is turned on, light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting surface of the reflector toward the shade and the projection lens, and the reflected light is projected from the projection lens to the front of the vehicle. Here, when the solenoid is driven, the shade rotates to the front side or the rear side around the rotation axis, and the attitude of the shade is switched, the reflected light beam directed from the reflector to the projection lens is switched, and the light distribution pattern is switched. . Also, when the solenoid drive is stopped, the shade rotates to the rear or front around the rotation axis, the shade posture changes to the original, the reflected light beam from the reflector to the projection lens changes to the original, The light distribution pattern switches to the original. As described above, in the conventional vehicle headlamp, the posture of the shade is switched to a plurality of postures by the action of the solenoid being driven and not driven, and the reflected light from the reflector to the projection lens is switched to the plurality of beams. Thus, a plurality of light distribution patterns are obtained.

  However, the conventional vehicle headlamp has a problem that the moving distance of the shade is long because the shade is rotated back and forth around the rotation axis and the light distribution pattern is switched.

JP 2001-52509 A JP 2002-56708 A

  The conventional vehicle headlamp has problems such as a long moving distance of the shade.

  According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), the shade is attached to the mounting member around a rotation axis that obliquely intersects at least one of the light source axis of the light source, the optical axis of the reflector, and the lens axis of the projection lens. It is attached to be able to rotate.

  Further, in the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), the rotation axis is relative to the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) so that the projection lens side is on the upper side and the light source and reflector side are on the lower side. It is characterized by crossing diagonally.

  Furthermore, this invention (the invention according to claim 3) is provided with a stopper, and when the drive unit is not driven, the stopper changes the shade posture in the direction in which the shade posture is switched, that is, around the rotation axis. It is characterized in that it is a braking direction (stopper) in two directions different from the direction in which it rotates and that obliquely intersects the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis).

  Furthermore, the present invention (the invention according to claim 4) is characterized in that a solenoid is used as a drive unit, and one end of the spring member is connected to the advance / retreat rod and the shade of the solenoid.

  Furthermore, the present invention (the invention according to claim 5) uses a torsion spring as a spring member, and the coil portion of the torsion spring is arranged around the rotating shaft, and the axial spring of the coil portion is arranged. A force acts on the shade and the mounting member.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) can achieve the following effects by means for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is, when the drive unit is driven, the shade is in one of the directions obliquely intersecting the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) around the rotation axis against the spring force of the spring member. The posture of the shade is switched by rotating, the reflected light beam from the reflector toward the projection lens is switched, and the light distribution pattern is switched. Further, when the drive of the drive unit is stopped, the shade is moved in the other direction among the directions obliquely intersecting the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) around the rotation axis by the spring return force of the spring member. By rotating, the shade posture is switched to the original, the reflected light beam from the reflector toward the projection lens is switched to the original, and the light distribution pattern is switched to the original. Thus, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) rotates the shade obliquely with respect to the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis). The moving distance of the shade can be shortened as compared with a conventional vehicle headlamp that is rotated back and forth.

  That is, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), since the rotation axis obliquely intersects the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis), the shade is around the rotation axis. To the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) in an obliquely intersecting direction. In addition, the reflection direction of the reflected light reflected obliquely with respect to the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) from the reflector to the projection lens coincides with or substantially coincides with the rotation axis. For this reason, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), the reflection direction of the reflected light from the reflector and the switching direction of the shade are orthogonal or almost orthogonal. It can be set shorter than the vehicular headlamp. As described above, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) can set the movement distance of the shade shorter than that of the conventional vehicle headlamp, so that the reflection from the reflector is possible. The light can be reliably shielded and passed by the shade with high accuracy and efficiency, and as a result, the light distribution pattern can be switched reliably, accurately and efficiently.

  In the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), the rotating shaft is arranged so that the projection lens side is on the upper side and the light source and reflector side are on the lower side (light source axis, optical axis, Since the shade intersects obliquely with respect to the lens axis), the direction in which the shade obliquely intersects with the axes (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) around the rotation axis, that is, the projection lens side is on the lower side and the light source and It rotates in the direction where the reflector side becomes the upper side. In addition, the reflection direction and the rotation of the reflected light reflected obliquely with respect to the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) from the portion below the optical axis of the reflector to the upper side of the lens axis of the projection lens The axis matches or nearly matches. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), the reflection direction of the reflected light from the lower portion of the reflector and the switching direction of the shade are orthogonal or almost orthogonal. Even if the movement distance is set to be short, the reflected light from the part below the optical axis of the reflector can be reliably and accurately shielded and passed by the shade. The light distribution pattern for passing and the light distribution pattern for traveling can be switched reliably, accurately and efficiently.

  In addition, the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) is a direction in which the shade obliquely intersects the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) around the rotation axis, that is, Since the projection lens side is rotated downward and the light source and reflector side are upward, the movement locus of the shade is a locus along the lens focus of the projection lens (the meridional image plane which is the focal plane on the object space side). As a result, the vehicular headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) can suppress the generation of color in which light is generated due to the occurrence of spectrum in the light distribution pattern.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 3), when the drive unit is not driven, the posture of the shade is set to the axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis) by the stopper. Therefore, the braking is restricted in two directions different from the direction intersecting diagonally. As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (invention according to claim 3) can reliably regulate and brake the posture of the shade when the drive unit is not driven. The light pattern can be reliably obtained as a highly accurate light distribution pattern.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 4), since one end of the spring member is connected to the advance / retreat rod and the shade of the solenoid, the advance / retreat rod of the solenoid is connected via one end of the spring member. The shade can be rotated around the rotation axis as the lens advances and retreats. For this reason, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 4), one end of the spring member can also be used as a connecting member for connecting the advance / retreat rod of the solenoid and the shade. The manufacturing cost can be reduced correspondingly.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 5), the spring force in the axial direction of the coil portion of the torsion spring (the axial direction of the rotating shaft) acts on the shade and the mounting member. When the shade is rotated around the rotation axis with respect to the mounting member and the attitude of the shade is switched, the movement of the shade returns to the direction opposite to the switching direction by the reaction (reaction force) (that is, the switching of the shade ends) (Action bound at time) can be suppressed. As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 5) can switch the shade to the predetermined position reliably and accurately, so that the light distribution pattern can be switched with high accuracy. In particular, it is optimal when the shade is switched by the spring return force of the spring member when the drive unit is not driven.

  Moreover, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 5) is actuated at the end of the switching of the shade by the spring force in the axial direction of the coil portion of the torsion spring (the axial direction of the rotating shaft). Since bounce can be suppressed, it is not necessary to apply an unnecessarily large spring force to the shade and the mounting member. As a result, the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 5) does not require a large (high output) drive unit, and a small (low output) drive unit is sufficient. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 5), the axial spring force of the coil portion of the torsion spring acts on the shade and the mounting member. In the case where a bearing is interposed between the shade and the mounting member, a uniform surface pressure acts on the bearing, so that a decrease in the bearing can be suppressed and the durability of the bearing can be improved.

  Embodiments of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In the drawing, reference sign “VU-VD” indicates vertical lines on the upper and lower sides of the screen. Reference sign “HL-HR” indicates horizontal lines on the left and right of the screen. In this specification and claims, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right” are vehicle headlights according to the present invention. ) Is “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right” of the vehicle. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 3 when the shade is in the low beam posture, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 3 when the shade is in the low beam posture. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7A when the shade is in the high beam posture, and FIG. 8B corresponds to FIG. 7B when the shade is in the high beam posture. FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment will be described. The vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment is used for left-hand traffic in Japan. A vehicular headlamp used for left-hand traffic in Europe has substantially the same configuration as the vehicular headlamp according to this embodiment. Further, the vehicle headlamp used for right-hand traffic in Europe and right-hand traffic in North America has a configuration that is substantially opposite to that of the vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment. The vehicular headlamp 1 is, for example, a projector-type headlamp that is provided on each of the left and right sides of a front portion of an automobile (vehicle). As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a light source 2, a reflector 3, a projection lens (condensing lens, convex lens) 4, a shade 5, a spring member 6 as a switching means, and A drive unit 7, a frame member 8, a stopper 9, a base 14 and a clip 15 as mounting members, a lamp housing (not shown), and a lamp lens (not shown) (for example, a transparent outer lens). It is to be prepared.

  The light source 2, the reflector 3, the projection lens 4, the shade 5, the spring member 6, the drive unit 7, the frame member 8, the stopper 9, the base 14 and the clip 15 constitute a lamp unit. . The lamp unit is disposed, for example, via an optical axis adjusting mechanism (not shown) in a lamp chamber (not shown) defined by the lamp housing and the lamp lens.

  In this example, the light source 2 uses a discharge lamp (not shown). The discharge lamp is a so-called high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, a high intensity discharge lamp (HID), or the like. The light source 2 is detachably attached to the reflector 3 via a socket mechanism 10. In addition to the discharge lamp, the light source 2 may be a semiconductor light source such as a halogen bulb, an incandescent bulb, or an LED. The light source 2 includes a light emitting unit 11.

  The reflector 3 reflects the lights L1 and L2 from the light source 2 toward the projection lens 4 side. The reflector 3 is fixedly held on the frame member 8. The reflector 3 has a hollow concave shape that is open on the front side (light irradiation direction side of the vehicle headlamp 1) and closed on the rear side. A circular through hole 12 into which the light source 2 is inserted is provided at the center of the closing portion on the rear side of the reflector 3.

  A reflective surface 13 is formed on the inner concave surface of the reflector 3 by vapor deposition of aluminum or silver coating. The reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 is an ellipse or a reflecting surface based on an ellipse, for example, a rotating ellipsoid or a free-form surface (NURBS surface) based on an ellipse (the vertical cross section in FIG. None, and a horizontal cross section (not shown) is a parabolic surface or a reflecting surface having a deformed parabolic surface). For this purpose, the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 has a first focal point F1, a second focal point (focal line on a horizontal section) F2, and an optical axis ZZ. The free curved surface (NURBS curved surface) of the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 is a NURBS free curved surface (Non-Uniform Rational B-B) described in “Mathematical Elemennts for Computer Graphics” (Devid F. Rogers, J Alan Adams). Spline Surface). The first focal point F1 of the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 is located at or near the light emitting unit 11 of the light source 2. The optical axis ZZ of the reflector 3 (the reflection surface 13) and the light source axis of the light source 2 are coincident or substantially coincident with each other.

  The projection lens 4 projects the reflected lights L3 and L4 from the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 in front of the vehicle. The projection lens 4 is an aspherical convex lens. The front side of the projection lens 4 forms a convex aspheric surface, while the rear side of the projection lens 4 forms a flat aspheric surface (plane). The projection lens 4 is fixedly held on the frame member 8. The projection lens 4 has a lens focal point (a meridional image plane that is a focal plane on the object space side) F3 and an optical axis Z1-Z1. The focal point F3 of the projection lens 4 is located at or near the second focal point F2 of the reflecting surface 13. The optical axis Z1-Z1 of the projection lens 4 and the optical axis ZZ of the reflecting surface 13 are coincident or substantially coincident. The optical axis Z1-Z1 of the projection lens 4 and the optical axis ZZ of the reflecting surface 13 may be shifted left and right.

  The shade 5 converts reflected light L3 and L4 from the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 toward the projection lens 4 into a plurality of light distribution patterns, for example, a passing light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. A plurality of beams from which the traveling light distribution pattern HP shown is obtained, that is, a low beam and a high beam are switched. The shade 5 has a plate structure with a low manufacturing cost (in this example, a flat thin steel plate structure capable of reflecting light, such as stainless steel or SUS (spring steel plate)).

  The shade 5 has an L shape as shown in FIGS. That is, the shade 5 includes a shade portion 16 of a horizontal plate portion and an operating portion 17 of a vertical plate portion. The shade section 16 of the shade 5 switches the reflected lights L3 and L4 between the low beam and the high beam. The shade portion 16 of the shade 5 has a single plate structure in which the two plate structures or the plate thickness is equal to the thickness of the two plate structures, so that the color generated in the light distribution patterns LP and HP ( For example, blue) can be erased.

  An edge 18 is provided on the upper edge of the shade portion 16. The edge 18 is located at or near the focal point F3 of the projection lens 4 when the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the first posture of the low beam posture. Each of the edges 18 includes a left upper horizontal edge, a right lower horizontal edge, and a central oblique edge. The upper horizontal edge forms a lower horizontal cut-off line CL on the opposite lane side of the passing light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 9, and the lower horizontal edge is an upper horizontal cut on the traveling lane side of the passing light distribution pattern LP. An off-line CL is formed, and an oblique edge forms an oblique cut-off line CL of the passing light distribution pattern LP.

  When the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the first posture of the low beam posture, the shade portion 16 receives reflected light L3 and L4 from the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 toward the projection lens 4. A part of the light distribution pattern LP for passing having the cut-off line CL is formed by partially cutting off the remaining reflected lights L3 and L4 through the projection lens 4 side. At this time, the edge 18 of the shade portion 16 forms the cut-off line CL of the passing light distribution pattern LP.

  The shade 5 is attached to the base 14 and the clip 15 of the attachment member so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 19 by a rotation shaft 19. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the base 14 has a plate structure (in this example, a flat thin steel plate structure such as stainless steel or SUS (spring steel plate)). The base 14 includes an upper vertical plate portion 20, an upper inclined plate portion 21, a lower inclined plate portion 22, and a lower vertical plate portion 23. The upper portion of the upper vertical plate portion 20 and the lower portion of the lower vertical plate portion 23 are sandwiched between the reflector 3 and the frame member 8 and fixedly held.

  An opening 24 is provided in the upper vertical plate portion 20 of the base 14. The lower edge 25 of the opening 24 is lowered by one step in the vicinity of the stopper 9, and the reflective surface 13 of the reflector 3 when the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the second posture of the high beam posture. The reflected light L3 from the portion below the optical axis ZZ is reliably transmitted. When the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the first posture of the low beam posture, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower portion of the opening 24 of the base 14 and the lower edge 25 are The shade portion 16 is covered with the shade portion 16. Further, when the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the second posture of the high beam posture, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the opening portion 24 of the base 14 and the lower edge 25. Appears from the shade section 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the clip 15 has a plate structure (in this example, a flat steel plate structure such as stainless steel or SUS (spring steel plate)). The clip 15 includes a front plate portion 26, a side plate portion 27, and a rear plate portion 28. The rear plate portion 28 of the clip 15 is fixed to the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, one end of the rotating shaft 19 is fixed to the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14 and the rear plate portion 28 of the clip 15. The rotation shaft 19 is at least one of the light source axis ZZ of the light source 2, the optical axis ZZ of the reflection surface 13 of the reflector 3, and the lens axis Z 1 -Z 1 of the projection lens 4. Cross diagonally. That is, the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14 is inclined so that the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the lower side and the light source 2 and the reflector 3 side (rear side) are on the upper side. On the other hand, the rotation shaft 19 is fixed vertically to the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14. As a result, the rotation shaft 19 is arranged so that the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the upper side and the light source 2 and the reflector 3 side (rear side) are on the lower side. Crosses diagonally with respect to -Z1). In this example, the angle formed by the rotation shaft 19 and the shaft (ZZ, Z1-Z1) is about 15 ° to about 45 °.

  A corner portion of the shade 5 between the shade portion 16 and the operating portion 17 is attached to the rotation shaft 19 via a bearing 29 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 19. As a result, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 19 between the diagonally lower front side and the diagonally rear upper side along the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14. Can be switched.

  The spring member 6 and the drive unit 7 are arranged such that the position of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is between the low beam and the diagonally upper upper position and the obliquely lower front position about the rotation shaft 10. Switching between a plurality of postures for obtaining the high beam, that is, a low beam posture in a first posture and a high beam posture in a second posture. The low beam posture is the solid line in FIG. 2 and the posture (position) on the oblique rear upper side shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and the high beam posture is the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and the oblique direction shown in FIGS. This is the posture (position) of the front lower side.

  In this example, the drive unit 7 uses a solenoid. As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid 7 is fixed to the frame member 8 and the base 14. The solenoid 7 is located on the projection lens 4 side (front side) of the lower vertical plate portion 23 of the base 14. The solenoid rod 33 of the solenoid 7 is at least one of the light source axis ZZ of the light source 2, the optical axis ZZ of the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3, and the lens axis Z 1 -Z 1 of the projection lens 4. And perpendicular to the pivot shaft 19. The tip of the advance / retreat rod 33 of the solenoid 7 is located on the side of the operating portion 17 of the shade 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the spring member 6 uses a torsion spring including two arm portions 30 and 31 and a coil portion (winding portion) 32 in this example. The tip of one arm portion 30 of the torsion spring 6 is bent in an L-shape parallel to the rotation shaft 19, and a long hole 34 provided in the operating portion 17 of the base 14 and the solenoid. 7 is inserted into a through hole 35 provided in the advance / retreat rod 33. As a result, one end of the torsion spring 6 (that is, the tip of one arm portion 30) is connected to the advance / retreat rod 33 of the solenoid 7 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5.

  On the other hand, the tip of the other arm portion 31 of the torsion spring 6 is connected to the lower end of the side plate portion 27 of the clip 15. As a result, the spring force in the torsional direction of the torsion spring 6 causes the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 to return from the high beam posture of the second posture to the low beam posture of the first posture (arrows in FIGS. 3 and 7). It is energized in the A direction).

  The coil portion 32 of the torsion spring 6 is around the rotating shaft 19, and is a corner between the shade portion 16 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5 and the front plate portion 26 of the clip 15. Between them. The axial spring force of the coil portion 32 of the torsion spring 6 is applied to the corner portion between the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 and the operating portion 17 in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 19 and the base. 14, the upper inclined plate portion 21, the front plate portion 26 of the clip 15, and the bearing 29.

  The stopper 9 is provided at the lower edge of the opening 24 of the upper vertical plate portion 20 of the base 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, the stopper 9 is composed of a horizontal plate portion 36 and a vertical plate portion 37. The stopper 9 is configured such that when the solenoid 7 is not driven, the low beam posture of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched to the direction in which the posture of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is switched (that is, FIG. 3 and FIG. 3). The direction of arrow A in FIG. 7, the direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 19, the inclination direction of the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14, and the diagonally forward lower side and diagonally rearward side. The braking is restricted in two directions different from the direction connecting the upper side. In this example, the horizontal plate portion 36 of the stopper 9 controls and brakes the vertical direction upward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7A) with respect to the spring force in the torsional direction of the torsion spring 6, and The vertical plate portion 37 of the stopper 9 controls and brakes the rearward horizontal direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7A) against the spring force in the torsional direction of the torsion spring 6.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  First, the light source 2 is turned on. Then, light L1 and L2 are radiated | emitted from the light emission part 11 of this light source 2. FIG. The lights L1 and L2 are reflected by the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 toward the shade 5 and the projection lens 4 side. That is, the light L1 is reflected by the lower reflective surface 13 of the reflector 3. Further, the light L <b> 2 is reflected by the upper reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3.

  At this time, when the solenoid 7 is not driven, that is, in a non-energized state, it acts as follows by the spring force in the torsional direction of the torsion spring 6. That is, the advance / retreat rod 21 of the solenoid 7 to which the one arm 30 of the torsion spring 6 is coupled is retracted as shown in FIG. Moreover, the shade part 16 of the shade 5 is urged | biased by the low beam attitude | position of a 1st attitude | position in the arrow A direction through the action | operation part 17 of the shade 5 as shown in FIG.3 and FIG.7. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is in elastic contact with the horizontal plate portion 36 and the vertical plate portion 37 of the stopper 9, respectively, and moves upward in the arrow B direction. And the backward horizontal movement in the direction of arrow C is regulated and braked, respectively. As a result, the shade 5 is in the low beam posture (first posture) shown in the solid line in FIG. 2 and in FIGS. 3 and 7.

  When the shade 5 is in the low beam posture, a part of the reflected lights L3 and L4 from the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 is shielded by the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the remaining reflected lights L3 and L4 proceed to the projection lens 4 side, and are projected (radiated and irradiated) to the front of the automobile as the passing light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. Further, a cut-off line CL is formed in the light distribution pattern LP for passing shown in FIG. 9 by the edge 18 of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5.

  When the solenoid 7 is energized, the solenoid 7 is driven and the advance / retreat rod 21 of the solenoid 7 advances in the direction of the solid arrow in FIGS. 2 and 4 against the spring force of the spring member 6 in the torsional direction. Accordingly, one arm portion 30 of the torsion spring 6 connected to the advance / retreat rod 21 of the solenoid 7 is changed from the solid line in FIG. 2 and the state shown in FIG. 3 to the two-dot chain line in FIG. Elastically deforms in the torsional direction as shown. Further, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is rotated around the rotation shaft 19 via the operating portion 17 of the shade 5 to which one arm portion 30 of the torsion spring 6 is coupled together with the advance / retreat rod 21 of the solenoid 7. And it rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 4 and FIG. As a result, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is changed from the solid line in FIG. 2 and the low beam posture (first posture) shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and the high beam posture shown in FIGS. Switch to the second position).

  Then, the reflected lights L3 and L4 from the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 that have been shielded by the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 so far, together with the remaining reflected lights L3 and L4, as shown in FIG. Proceeding to the projection lens 4 side, it passes through the projection lens 4 and is projected (radiated and irradiated) to the front of the automobile as a traveling light distribution pattern HP shown in FIG.

  When the energization of the solenoid 7 is interrupted, the solenoid 7 is brought into a non-driven state, so that one arm 30 of the torsion spring 6 that has been elastically deformed in the torsional direction is elastically restored by the spring force. As a result, the advancing / retracting rod 33 of the solenoid 7 moves backward, and the shade 5 is switched from the high beam posture (second posture) on the upper rear side to the low beam posture (first posture) on the lower front side. Accordingly, the traveling light distribution pattern HP shown in FIG. 10 is switched to the passing light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment has the above-described configuration and action, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, the rotation shaft 19 is arranged so that the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the upper side and the light source 2 and reflector 3 side (rear side) are on the lower side. Since the light source axis ZZ, the optical axis ZZ, and the lens axis Z1-Z1) are obliquely intersected, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 has an axis (light source axis ZZ, optical axis) around the rotation axis 19. Z-Z and the lens axis Z1-Z1) are obliquely intersected, that is, in a direction in which the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the lower side and the light source 2 and reflector 3 side (rear side) are on the upper side. Move. In addition, an axis (light source axis ZZ, optical axis ZZ, lens axis) from the portion below the optical axis ZZ of the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 to the upper side of the lens axis Z1-Z1 of the projection lens 4 is provided. The reflection direction of the reflected light L3 reflected obliquely with respect to Z1-Z1) coincides with or substantially coincides with the rotation shaft 19. For this reason, the vehicular headlamp 1 according to this embodiment includes the reflection direction of the reflected light L3 from the portion below the optical axis ZZ of the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 and the shade portion 16 of the shade 5. Therefore, the moving distance of the shade 5 can be set shorter than that of the conventional vehicle headlamp. As described above, the vehicular headlamp 1 according to this embodiment can set the moving distance of the shade 5 to be shorter than that of the conventional vehicular headlamp, so that the light on the reflecting surface 13 of the reflector 3 can be reduced. The reflected light L3 from the part below the axis ZZ can be reliably and accurately shielded and passed by the shade portion 16 of the shade 5, and as a result, the passing light distribution can be performed. The light pattern LP and the traveling light distribution pattern HP can be switched reliably, accurately, and efficiently.

  In addition, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, the shade 5 is inclined with respect to the axes (the light source axis ZZ, the optical axis ZZ, and the lens axis Z1-Z1) around the rotation axis 19. Since the pivoting direction rotates in a direction in which the projection lens 4 side is on the lower side and the light source 2 and the reflector 3 side are on the upper side, the movement locus of the shade 5 is the lens focal point of the projection lens 4 (the focal plane on the object space side). It becomes a locus along a certain meridional image plane) F3. As a result, the vehicular headlamp 1 according to this embodiment can suppress the generation of color due to the occurrence of spectrum in the passing light distribution pattern LP and the traveling light distribution pattern HP.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, when the solenoid 7 is not driven, the posture of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is set to the horizontal plate portion of the stopper 9 as shown in FIG. 36 and the cow straight plate portion 37, two directions different from the direction obliquely intersecting the axes (light source axis ZZ, optical axis ZZ, lens axis Z1-Z1), that is, upward vertical direction B and backward direction In the horizontal direction C. As a result, the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment can surely regulate and brake the posture of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 when the solenoid 7 is not driven. The light distribution pattern LP can be reliably obtained as a highly accurate light distribution pattern.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, one end (one arm portion 30) of the torsion spring 6 is connected to the advance / retreat rod 33 of the solenoid 7 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5. The shade 6 can rotate around the rotation shaft 19 as the advance / retreat rod 33 of the solenoid 7 advances and retreats via one arm portion 30 of the spring 6. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, one arm portion 30 of the torsion spring 6 also serves as a connecting member for connecting the advance / retreat rod 33 of the solenoid 7 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, the axial spring force of the coil portion 32 of the torsion spring 6 causes the shade portion 16 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5 to move in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 19. Acting on the upper inclined plate portion 21 of the base 14, the front plate portion 26 of the clip 15, and the bearing 29. For this reason, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, the shade 5 rotates around the rotation shaft 19 with respect to the base 14 and the clip 15 as the attachment members, and the attitude of the shade portion 16 of the shade 5. The movement of the shade 5 returning in the direction opposite to the switching direction (that is, the operation bound at the end of the switching of the shade 5) can be suppressed by the reaction (reaction force) when the is switched. As a result, the vehicular headlamp 1 according to this embodiment can reliably and accurately switch the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 to a predetermined position, that is, the low beam posture of the first posture. LP can be switched with high accuracy. In particular, it is optimal when the shade 5 is switched by the spring return force of the torsion spring 6 when the solenoid 7 is not driven.

  Moreover, the vehicular headlamp 1 according to this embodiment is actuated at the end of the switching of the shade 5 by the spring force in the axial direction of the coil portion 32 of the torsion spring 6 (the axial direction of the rotating shaft 19). Therefore, it is not necessary to apply an unnecessarily large spring force to the shade 5, the base 14 as the mounting member, the clip 15, and the bearing 29. As a result, the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment does not require the solenoid 7 to be large (high output), and the small (low output) solenoid 7 is sufficient, and the manufacturing cost is reduced accordingly. Can be.

  Moreover, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, the axial spring force of the coil portion 32 of the torsion spring 6 is applied to the corner portion between the shade portion 16 and the operating portion 17 of the shade 5 and the base 14. It acts on the inclined plate portion 21, the front plate portion 26 of the clip 15, and the bearing 29. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to this embodiment, bearings 29 are interposed between the shade 5 and the rotary shaft 19 and between the shade 5 and the base 14 and the clip 15 as mounting members. In some cases, a uniform surface pressure acts on the bearing 29 to suppress a decrease in the bearing 29, and the durability of the bearing 29 can be improved.

  Hereinafter, examples other than the above-described embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the passing light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 9 and the traveling light distribution pattern HP shown in FIG. 10 are obtained. However, in the present invention, a light distribution pattern for passing and a light distribution pattern for highways can be obtained, or a light distribution pattern for passing, a light distribution pattern for highways, and a light distribution pattern for traveling can be obtained. That is, a plurality of light distribution patterns may be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the solenoid 7 is used as the drive unit. However, in the present invention, the drive unit may be other than the solenoid. For example, a motor.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the rotation shaft 19 is arranged so that the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the upper side and the light source 2 and reflector 3 side (rear side) is on the lower side. Z, the optical axis ZZ, and the lens axis Z1-Z1) are obliquely intersected. As a result, the shade portion 16 of the shade 5 is rotated about the rotation axis 19 (light source axis ZZ, optical axis Z-). Z and the lens axis Z1-Z1) are rotated in a direction obliquely intersecting, that is, in a direction in which the projection lens 4 side (front side) is on the lower side and the light source 2 and reflector 3 side (rear side) are on the upper side. Is. However, in the present invention, the rotation axis crosses obliquely with respect to the axes (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis), and as a result, the shade rotates around the rotation axis (light source axis, optical axis, lens axis). ) In an obliquely intersecting direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view (vertical sectional view) of a lamp unit showing an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. Similarly, it is a perspective view which shows a shade, a torsion spring, a solenoid, a base, and a clip. Similarly, it is a front view showing a shade, a torsion spring, a solenoid, a base, and a clip when a shade portion of the shade is positioned in a low beam posture. Similarly, it is a front view showing a shade, a torsion spring, a solenoid, a base, and a clip when a shade portion of the shade is positioned in a high beam posture. Similarly, it is the VV sectional view taken on the line in FIG. Similarly, it is the VI-VI sectional view taken on the line in FIG. Similarly, it is sectional drawing which shows a state when a shade exists in a low beam attitude | position. Similarly, it is sectional drawing which shows a state when a shade is in a high beam attitude | position. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the light distribution pattern for passing. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the light distribution pattern for driving | running | working.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle headlamp 2 Light source 3 Reflector 4 Projection lens 5 Shade 6 Torsion spring (spring member)
7 Solenoid (drive unit)
8 Frame member 9 Stopper 10 Socket mechanism 11 Light emitting portion 12 Through hole 13 Reflecting surface 14 Base (mounting member)
15 clips (mounting members)
16 Shade portion 17 Actuating portion 18 Edge 19 Rotating shaft 20 Upper vertical plate portion 21 Upper inclined plate portion 22 Lower inclined plate portion 23 Lower vertical plate portion 24 Opening portion 25 Lower edge 26 Front plate portion 27 Side plate portion 28 Rear plate portion 29 Bearing 30 One arm portion 31 The other arm portion 32 Coil portion 33 Advance and retreat rod 34 Long hole 35 Through hole 36 Horizontal plate portion 37 Vertical plate portion LP Light distribution pattern for passing CL Cut-off line HP Light distribution pattern for traveling HL-HR Horizontal line VU-VD Vertical vertical line ZZ Optical axis of reflection surface, light source axis of light source Z1-Z1 Optical axis of projection lens F1 First focus of reflection surface F2 Second focus of reflection surface F3 Focus of projection lens L1 Light source L2 Light from the lower reflective surface L2 Light from the light source to the upper reflective surface L3 Reflected light from the lower reflective surface L4 Reflected light from the upper reflective surface A Shade low Beam posture return direction B Stopper upward vertical restriction braking direction C Stopper rearward horizontal restriction braking direction

Claims (5)

In a projector type vehicle headlamp that can obtain a plurality of light distribution patterns,
A light source;
A reflector for reflecting light from the light source;
A projection lens that projects the reflected light from the reflector in front of the vehicle;
A shade that switches reflected light from the reflector toward the projection lens to a plurality of beams from which the plurality of light distribution patterns are obtained;
An attachment member attached to the shade so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis that obliquely intersects at least one of the light source axis of the light source, the optical axis of the reflector, and the lens axis of the projection lens. When,
A spring member and a drive unit for switching the posture of the shade to a plurality of postures for obtaining the plurality of beams around the rotation axis;
Comprising
A vehicle headlamp characterized by that. The pivot axis obliquely intersects the axis so that the projection lens side is on the upper side and the light source and the reflector side are on the lower side,
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1. A stopper that restricts and brakes the posture of the shade in two directions different from the direction in which the posture of the shade is switched when the drive unit is not driven;
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The drive unit uses a solenoid,
One end of the spring member is connected to the advance / retreat rod of the solenoid and the shade,
The vehicular headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The spring member uses a torsion spring,
The coil portion of the torsion spring is disposed around the rotation shaft,
The axial spring force of the coil portion acts on the shade and the mounting member.
The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

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