JPH0516723A - Head lamp for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a head lamp for automobile which has the superior strength and is free from the fluctuation of distributed light. CONSTITUTION:As for a head lamp for automobile, the left and right sides (brackets 10a and 10b) of a lamp body 10 having an electric discharge valve 14A as light source are fixedly supported on a car body, and a putting-ON circuit accommodation unit 40 in which a putting-ON circuit 50 is accommodated into a case 41 is installed at the opened port part 11A for mounting/demounting a bulb of the lamp body 10, and installed on the back surface side of the lamp body 10. The putting-ON circuit accommodating unit 40 is fixedly supported on a car body B (by a stud bolt 60) separately from the fixing supporting parts 10a and 10b of the lamp body 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile headlamp using a discharge bulb as a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a light source for recent headlamps,
Moving from incandescent bulbs to halogen bulbs with a large amount of light,
Recently, there is a tendency to use a discharge bulb having a larger light quantity and a longer life. FIG. 7 shows a headlamp of this type that has been previously proposed. Reference numeral 1 is a lamp body, and a discharge bulb 4 is inserted into a lamp chamber space formed by the lamp body 1 and the front lens 2. Lens holder 3b for supporting the reflected reflector 3a and the projection lens 5
In the structure in which the light projection unit 3 in which the and are integrated is accommodated, the headlamp is attached and fixed to the vehicle body through brackets (not shown) formed on both left and right sides of the lamp body 1. Reference numeral 6 is a lighting circuit housing unit in which a lighting circuit essential for continuing stable discharge between the electrodes of the discharge bulb 4 of the discharge bulb 4 is housed in a case. The lighting circuit housing unit 6 is a lamp body. The lamp body 1 is integrated with the lamp body 1 by being attached to the opening 1a for attaching and detaching the bulb provided on the back side. Reference numeral 7 is an output cord led out from the lighting circuit of the lighting circuit housing unit 6 to the outside of the unit, and the connector 8 at the tip of the cord is the discharge valve 4
It is connected to the connector portion 4b at the rear end.

[0003]

However, the lighting circuit accommodating unit 6 has a structure in which a printed circuit board having a large number of components mounted and integrated therein to form a lighting circuit is accommodated in a case.
It is relatively large and has a considerable weight. For this reason, the weight of the headlamp to which the lighting circuit housing unit 6 is attached also increases, and first of all, there is a problem that the headlamp may shake and the light distribution may fluctuate. Secondly, the load on the lamp body side bracket that is a screw fastening part to the vehicle body and the lamp body forming wall near the bracket may increase, and the lamp body (generally made of synthetic resin) may be damaged, or the lamp body may be damaged. There was a problem that the side had to take reinforcement measures to prevent damage.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a headlamp for an automobile, which is excellent in strength without fluctuation of light distribution.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a vehicle headlamp according to claim 1,
The left and right sides of the lamp body containing the discharge bulb that is the light source are fixedly supported on the vehicle body, and the lighting circuit housing unit housing the lighting circuit in the case is attached to the opening for attaching and detaching the bulb of the lamp body. Is a headlamp for an automobile provided on the back side of the vehicle, wherein the lighting circuit housing case is fixedly supported on the vehicle body by a support portion other than a fixed support portion for fixing the lamp body to the vehicle body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle headlamp, a lamp body having a discharge bulb as a light source is supported by a lamp housing, and both left and right sides of the lamp housing are fixedly supported by the vehicle body, and a lighting circuit is provided as a case. A lighting circuit accommodating unit housed inside is attached to an opening for attaching and detaching a bulb of the lamp housing, and is a headlamp for an automobile provided on a rear side of a lamp body. The lighting circuit accommodating unit is fixed to the lamp housing. It is configured to be fixedly supported on the vehicle body separately from the support portion.

[0007]

In the vehicle headlamp according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fixed supporting portion of the heavy lighting circuit housing unit to the vehicle body supports the vicinity of the point of action of the increased load (weight of the lighting circuit housing unit), Suppress the vibration of headlamps. Further, since the fixed support portion for fixing the lighting circuit housing unit to the vehicle body carries a part of the increased load (weight of the lighting circuit housing unit), the lamp body is fixed to the vehicle body (in claim 2, the lamp housing and the vehicle body). The load acting on the support is reduced.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an automobile headlamp which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of an automobile headlamp which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a horizontal view of the headlamp. Sectional view (a sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1),
3 to 5 are vertical cross-sectional views of the same headlamp (see FIG. 1).
(Cross-sectional view taken along line III-III, line IV-IV, line V-V shown in)
Is.

In these drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a container-shaped lamp body, and a front lens 12 is attached to a rectangular front opening of the lamp body 10 to form a lamp body 10.
A lamp room space is formed by the front lens 12. The bulb 14 (14A, 1
4B) The inserted reflector 20 is housed. Reference numerals 10a and 10b denote brackets formed on the left and right side walls of the lamp body 10, and the headlamps are attached to the vehicle body by bolting the brackets 10a and 10b to the vehicle body B. Code 10
c is a fastening bolt. That is, the headlamp has a structure in which both left and right ends are fixedly supported by the vehicle body B.

The reflector 20 includes one ball joint 32.
It is supported in the lamp body 10 by an aiming mechanism composed of two aiming screws 34 and 36, and the reflector 20 is rotated around the horizontal axis Lx and the vertical axis Ly by rotating the aiming screws 34 and 36. It has a structure that allows it to tilt. That is, the ball joint 32 is a ball portion 33 protruding forward from the rear wall of the lamp body.
a is supported by a ball receiving portion 33b provided on the rear surface of the reflector, and the screws 34 and 36 are respectively supported on the rear wall of the lamp body and extend through the rear wall of the lamp body in the front-rear direction to extend the rear surface of the reflector. It has a structure in which it is screwed into nuts 35a and 37a provided on the. Reference numerals 33c, 35b and 37b denote brackets formed on the back surface of the reflector 20 so as to project therefrom. The ball receiving portions 33b and the nuts 35a and 37a are fitted to the brackets. And the ball joint 32 and the screws 34 and 36 are
As shown in FIG. 1, they are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front. Therefore, when the screws 34 and 36 are rotated, the reflector 20 tilts around the vertical axis Ly (the axis passing through the ball joint 32 and the nut 37a) and the horizontal axis Lx (the axis passing through the ball joint 32 and the nut 35a). The structure is such that the optical axis of the headlamp can be tilted.

The reflector 20 is an integrally molded body in which a sub-beam reflector 20A and a main-beam reflector 20B are continuous in the left and right, and a light reflection surface on which aluminum is vapor-deposited is formed on the entire surface of the reflector 20. Valve insertion holes 22A and 22B are formed in the central portions of the reflectors 20A and 20B, respectively, and the valves 14 (14A and 14B) are inserted from the rear of the reflectors therein. The bulb 14A is a discharge bulb having a discharge tube 15 in which a rare gas for starting is sealed in a sealed glass bulb opposite to the discharge electrode. Reference numeral 16 is the discharge bulb 14A.
It is a UV-shielding glove that is fixed to the base of the to protect harmful UV rays generated from the discharge part. A shade 24 attached to a boss portion 23 projectingly formed on the reflector A is arranged around the discharge bulb 14A so as to block light traveling toward an area other than the effective reflection surface of the reflector 20A. . Then, the light reflected by the effective reflection surface of the reflector 20A is diffused and distributed by the step 12a of the front lens 12 to form a predetermined sub-beam light distribution pattern. Also valve 1
Reference numeral 4B is a halogen bulb having a built-in single filament. The light of the bulb 14B is reflected by the effective reflection surface of the reflector 20B, diffused and distributed by the lens step 12a to form a light distribution pattern for the main beam, and a sub-beam for the sub-beam. The main beam is formed by combining with the light distribution pattern. Reference numeral 17 is a back cover attached to the bulb attachment / detachment opening 11B of the lamp body 10.

Reference numeral 18 is a frame-shaped extension which is arranged between the reflector 20 and the front lens 12 and extends along the side wall of the front lens 12. The surface of the extension 18 is subjected to the same aluminum vapor deposition process as the reflector 20. As a result, the entire interior of the lamp interior looks like a deep metallic color when not lit, and the appearance is good.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a lighting circuit accommodating unit in which a lighting circuit essential for allowing the discharge bulb 14A to perform stable discharge is housed in a case, which is attached to a rear side opening 11A of the lamp body 10 for attaching and detaching the bulb. Has been done. In the lighting circuit accommodating unit 40, a rear cover 46 is attached to and integrated with a front panel 42 to form a unit case 41, and a printed circuit board 50 on which electronic components forming a lighting circuit are mounted is screwed into the unit case 41. It is structured to be housed in a position close to the front panel front wall 43 by any fixing means such as. The front panel front wall 43 is formed with a cylindrical concave portion (a convex portion that projects to the rear side when viewed from the inside) 43a having a diameter slightly smaller than the opening 11A on the lamp body side. The forming wall 43b penetrates a circular hole 51 formed substantially in the center of the printed board 50 and largely projects rearward. A boss 44 (see FIG. 3) that largely projects forward is formed on the front panel 43, and the boss 44 is formed on the lamp body 10 so as to project.
The lighting circuit housing unit 40 is attached to and integrated with the lamp body 10 by being screwed to 0d. Reference numeral 45 indicates a fastening screw. Reference numeral 46 indicates an opening 11A on the lamp body side.
Is a waterproof O-ring interposed between the peripheral portion of the front panel and the front panel 43.

On the front surface of the front panel 42, an output cord 52 extending from the printed board 50 penetrating the recess forming wall 43b is led out, and a connector 54 provided at the tip of the output cord 52 is provided with a valve insertion hole 22A of the reflector 20.
It is connected to the rear end male connector portion of the discharge bulb 14A that is inserted into. The output cord 52 led out of the unit case 41 is sufficiently loosened so that the tension is not applied by the tilting of the discharge bulb 14A during the aiming adjustment and the lighting circuit housing unit 40 is easily attached and detached. Is provided. That is, in order to attach the lighting circuit accommodating unit 40 to the lamp body 10, the discharge bulb 14A is previously inserted into the bulb insertion hole 22A, and the lighting circuit accommodating unit 40 is held with one hand to approach the opening 11A. Then, with the other hand, connect the connector 54 at the end of the output cord 52 to the discharge bulb 14A inside the opening on the lamp body side.
Connect to the rear end connector part. Next, the boss 44 on the lighting circuit housing unit side is connected to the bracket 10 on the lamp body side.
Align with c and 10d and fasten with screws. When removing the lighting circuit housing unit 40, first, the boss 44
The lighting circuit housing unit 40 is separated from the lamp body 10 by removing the screw fastening between the bracket 10c and the bracket 10d. Next, the lamp body 10 and the lighting circuit housing unit 4
Insert the hand through the gap between 0 and pull out the connector 54 from the rear end of the discharge bulb. As described above, in the headlamp according to the present embodiment, the connector 54 is connected to the discharge bulb 14A prior to the mounting of the lighting circuit housing case 40, or the lighting circuit housing case is left in the state where the connector 54 is connected to the discharge bulb 14A. Since it is necessary to remove 40, the longer the length of the output cord 52 led out from the lighting circuit housing case 40, the longer the lighting circuit housing unit 4 is.
It is easy to attach and detach 0. However, if the lighting circuit accommodation unit 40 is too long or longer than necessary, there is a problem that the accommodation space is taken up and the weight is increased. When the lighting circuit housing unit 40 is attached to the lamp body 10, the output cord 52 is sufficiently slackened, but the loosened output cord 52 is housed in the recess 43a formed in the front panel 43. Therefore, there is no possibility that the aiming operation will be obstructed by the output code 52 or that the load will act on the output code by the aiming operation.

Further, the lighting circuit housing unit 40 and the rear end of the reflector 20 (discharge bulb 14A) are arranged at positions close to each other in the front-rear direction, whereby the front-rear width of the headlamp can be made thin, and the head of the vehicle body can be made thin. There is also an advantage that the space for accommodating the lamp is small. Even if the reflector 20 and the valve 14A are tilted due to the aiming adjustment, the reflector 20 and the valve 14A are tilted.
A never tilts in the recess 43a and interferes with the lighting circuit housing unit 40.

Further, two stud bolts 60 are provided on the rear cover 46 in a protruding manner, and the stud bolts 60 are fixed to the vehicle body B by a fastener 62 so as not to come off.
That is, the fastener 62 is inserted into the hole C formed in the vehicle body, and the stud bolt 60 protruding rearward of the headlamp is press-fitted into the fastener 62.
The tip of 0 expands the diameter of the fastener 62, and the stud bolt 60 is fixed and prevented from coming off.

As described above, the brackets 10a and 10b formed on the left and right side walls of the lamp body are screwed to the vehicle body so that the headlamp is fixedly supported on both ends of the vehicle body. The main lamp and the sub lamp are head lamps having a large width in the left and right direction, which are continuously formed on the left and right sides. Further, since the weight of the lighting circuit accommodating unit 40 is considerable, the left and right end portions of the head lamp (the body B A large load acts on the brackets 10a, 10b) which are the screw fastening portions with
The substantially central portion of the headlamp to which the lighting circuit unit 40 is attached in the left-right direction is particularly prone to vibration in the vertical direction. However, in this embodiment, the heavy lighting circuit housing unit 40 is fixedly supported on the vehicle body B by the stud bolts 60 separately from the support portion for the lamp body and the vehicle body. The load acting on 10a and 10b is reduced, and the vibration of the headlamp, especially in the vertical direction, is suppressed.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the reflection type headlamp in which the light reflected by the parabolic reflector 20 is controlled by the lens step 12a of the front lens 12 has been described as an example, but as shown in FIG. To
The same can be applied to a projection type headlamp in which light reflected by a substantially ellipsoidal reflector is projected and distributed by a projection lens.

In the above embodiment, the reflector movable headlamp in which the reflector 20 having the discharge bulb 14A inserted therein is tiltable with respect to the lamp body 10 has been described as an example, but as shown in FIG. , A reflector 20 with aluminum vapor deposition on the inner peripheral surface of the lamp body 10.
The lamp body / reflector integrated unit integrally formed with the lamp body is tiltably supported by a aiming mechanism including two aiming screws and one ball joint with respect to a lamp housing H fixedly supported on the left and right sides of the vehicle body B. The same can be applied to a unit-movable headlamp. Reference numerals 11C and 11D are openings for attaching and detaching the bulb, which are formed in the lamp housing H so as to correspond to the bulb insertion holes of the lamp body / reflector integrated unit. Although not shown, the lighting circuit accommodating unit 40 is mounted by screwing the boss on the unit case side to the bracket on the lamp body side as in the case of the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). .

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the vehicle headlamp of the present invention, the fixed support portion of the lighting circuit housing unit to the vehicle body has an increased load (weight of the lighting circuit housing unit). Since it supports the vicinity of the action point of
The vibration of the headlamp, which has been a problem in the past, is suppressed,
As a result, the fluctuation of the light distribution is eliminated and the visibility is improved. Further, since the fixed support portion of the lighting circuit housing unit to the vehicle body carries a part of the increased load (weight of the lighting circuit housing unit), the load acting on the fixed support portion of the lamp body and the vehicle body is reduced, The problem that the lamp body is damaged is solved, and the durability of the lamp body is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an automobile headlamp that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the headlamp (line II shown in FIG. 1).
-Cross section along II)

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same headlamp (see line III in FIG. 1).
-Cross section view along III)

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same headlamp (see line IV- in FIG. 1).
(Sectional view along IV)

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same headlamp (line V- shown in FIG. 1;
(Cross-section view along V)

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp that is a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a prior art headlamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 lamp body 10a, 10b brackets 11A formed on the left and right side walls of the lamp body 11A opening / closing opening 11C for valve attachment / detachment 12 front lens 14A discharge bulb 20 as a light source 20 reflector 32 part of an aiming mechanism Ball joints 34, 36 Aiming screw 40 forming a part of the aiming mechanism 40 Lighting circuit accommodating unit 41 Unit case 50 Printed circuit board 60 constituting a lighting circuit Stud bolt H lamp which is a means for fixing and supporting the lighting circuit accommodating unit to the vehicle body housing

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takanori Suzuki             500 Kitawaki, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Koito Co., Ltd.             Factory Shizuoka factory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lighting circuit accommodating unit, which has a lighting circuit housed in a case, is fixed to and supported by the vehicle body on both left and right sides of a lamp body containing a discharge bulb as a light source, and is installed in an opening for attaching and detaching the bulb of the lamp body. A headlamp for an automobile, which is worn and provided on the back side of a lamp body,
A headlamp for an automobile, wherein the lighting circuit housing unit is fixedly supported on a vehicle body separately from a fixed support portion of a lamp body. 2. A lamp circuit having a built-in discharge lamp, which is a light source, is supported by a lamp housing, both right and left sides of the lamp housing are fixedly supported by a vehicle body, and a lighting circuit housing unit housing a lighting circuit in a case is the lamp. A headlamp for an automobile, which is attached to an opening for attaching and detaching a bulb of a housing and is provided on a rear side of a lamp body, wherein the lighting circuit housing unit is fixedly supported on a vehicle body separately from a fixed support portion of the lamp housing. Automotive headlamps that are characterized by