JPH07114808A - Headlamp device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure safety at discharge lamp replacing time with a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:A recess 12a to house an igniter 13 fixed to a lamp body 1 almost completely is formed in an inverter 12. A connector 11 to connect the igniter 13 and the inverter 12 to each other is arranged in the recess 12a. A structure is formed so that the igniter 13 is not removed as long as the inverter 12 is removed when a discharge lamp 1 is replaced. When the inverter 12 is removed from the igniter 13, connection between the connectors 10 and 11 is disconnected, and operation of the igniter 13 is stopped, so that high voltage is not impressed. Thus, safety can be secured with a simple structural change.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight device using a discharge lamp as a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle headlight device of this type, as shown in FIG. 6, a first connector 4 connected to a discharge lamp 2 arranged on a lamp body 1 and a power source 3 is connected to a lighting device 5 as shown in FIG. Is connected to the second connector 6 provided in the lighting device 5, the lighting device 5 and the power source 3 are connected to supply power to the lighting device 5, and the lighting device 5 and the discharge lamp 2 are connected to each other. The discharge lamp 2 was turned on at 5.

However, this method has the following drawbacks. Now, when replacing the discharge lamp 2, the discharge lamp 2 can be detached from the lamp body 1 without detaching the connector 4 from the connector 6. For this reason, there is a risk of touching a part that generates high pressure, which is insufficient in terms of safety. As another vehicle headlamp device, as shown in FIG. 7, when the discharge lamp 2 is attached, the discharge lamp 2 is first attached to the cap 7 having a connector function for connecting the discharge lamp 2, The cap 7 is attached to the lamp body 1. A switch mechanism 9 is provided which is turned on when the lock mechanism 8 that enables the cap 7 to be securely attached to the lamp body 1 is locked, and is turned off when the locked state is released. Power supply 3 through 9
And the lighting device 5 are electrically connected. According to this method, when replacing the discharge lamp 2, the cap 7 has to be removed, and high voltage is not applied at this time, so that the safety is high.

[0004]

However, in the vehicle headlight device of FIG. 7 described above, it is necessary to provide the switch mechanism 9 on the lamp body 1 and the cap 7, and the storability of the switch mechanism 9 and the complexity of the structure are complicated. There is a difficulty from the point of view. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlight device which has a simple structure and can ensure safety when replacing a discharge lamp. Especially.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, and a discharge lamp. An inverter that lights up,
The igniter and the inverter are both provided with a connector for connecting them to each other, and the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside, and a lamp body to which the inverter is fixed is provided. A recess is formed in the inverter so as to be almost completely accommodated therein, and the connector of the inverter is provided in the recess.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, an inverter for lighting the discharge lamp, and an igniter and an inverter are provided together. And a lamp body to which the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside and the inverter is fixed, so that the igniter is connected to each other in a direction different from the direction in which the igniter is removed from the lamp body Connectors are arranged on the igniter and the inverter, respectively.

[0007]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the discharge lamp is replaced, the igniter does not come off unless the inverter is removed, and the connectors are connected to each other by removing the inverter from the igniter. Disconnect the igniter, stop the igniter operation, and prevent high pressure.

According to the second aspect of the invention as well, the connector is connected to each other in a direction different from the direction in which the igniter is detached from the lamp body, so that when the discharge lamp is replaced, the igniter is detached unless the inverter is removed. When the inverter is removed from the igniter without the structure, the connectors are disconnected from each other, so that the operation of the igniter is stopped and high voltage is not applied.

[0009]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention.
A front surface of the lamp body 1 is opened, a lens 1a is attached to the front opening, and a reflector 1b is housed inside. A mounting hole 1c for mounting an igniter (starter) 13 for starting the discharge lamp 2 is formed on the rear surface of the lamp body 1. The discharge lamp 2 is integrally attached to the igniter 13, and the discharge lamp 2 is also attached at the same time when the igniter 13 is attached. The discharge lamp 2 does not necessarily have to be integrated, and may have a structure in which it is connected via a harness or the like. That is, the discharge lamp 2 may be integrally attached to the lamp body 1 together with the igniter 13. A first connector 10 is provided on the back surface of the igniter 13.

The inverter 12 for lighting the discharge lamp 2 is formed with a recess 12a in the front surface thereof for accommodating the igniter 13 so as to completely cover the rear end portion thereof, and the recess 12a has the first recess 12a therein. A second connector 11 to which the connector 10 is connected is provided, and is connected to the power supply 3 via the power supply line 14. In this embodiment, the discharge lamp 2 is installed in the mounting hole 1c.
The igniter 13 is attached to the lamp body 1 in the state of inserting. Here, in the igniter 13, as shown in FIG.
A collar 13a is provided around the collar 13a, and the collar 13a has an insertion hole 13
b is formed, and the igniter 13 is fixed to the lamp body 1 by screwing it with the screw 15 through the insertion hole 13b. In this manner, with the igniter 13 attached to the lamp body 1, the inverter 12 is attached to the lamp body 1 so that the rear portion of the igniter 13 is housed in the recess 12a. The inverter 12 is also formed with a collar 12b.
It is fixed to the lamp body 1 with a screw through an insertion hole 12c formed in 2b.

For example, when replacing the discharge lamp 2 in this embodiment, first the inverter 12 is connected to the igniter 1
The discharge lamp 2 cannot be replaced unless it has been removed from 3. Here, the igniter 13 generates a starting voltage (high-voltage pulse) for starting the discharge lamp 2 only when the output of the inverter 12 is supplied. Therefore, the igniter 13 stops operating when the inverter 12 is removed. Therefore, when the discharge lamp 2 is replaced, a high voltage is not applied and the work can be performed safely. Moreover, since the rear part of the igniter 13 is completely covered by the inverter 12, there is less risk of touching the igniter 13 when the inverter 12 is removed. Therefore, it is excellent in terms of safety.

FIG. 3 shows a case where two discharge lamps 2 are provided. Also in this case, the structure is basically the same as that described above. In FIG. 3, an igniter 13 is provided for each of the discharge lamps 2. Although not shown, the igniters 13 attached to the lamp body 1 are completely covered and the inverter 12 is attached. Here, the inverter 12 has a structure in which the recessed portions between the mounting portions of the respective igniters 13 of the lamp body 1 and both end portions are screwed and fixed.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the inverter 12 is attached to the lower surface of the lamp body 1, and the second connector 11 is arranged at the rear portion of the upper surface of the inverter 12. The igniter 13 is attached to the lamp 1 by inserting the discharge lamp 2 through the attachment hole 1c of the lamp 1 as described in the first embodiment. However, the igniter 13 of the present embodiment is formed so that the rear part thereof hangs downward, and the first connector 10 is provided at the lower end thereof.
Is provided.

In this embodiment, after the igniter 13 is fixed to the lamp 1, the connector 11 is connected to the connector 10 and the inverter 12 is fixed to the lower surface of the lamp 1. Therefore, when replacing the discharge lamp 2, the igniter 13 cannot be removed unless the inverter 12 is removed and the connector 10 and the collector-emitter 11 are disconnected.
Therefore, the safety is ensured without touching the connecting portion between the discharge lamp 2 and the igniter 13 under a high pressure.

By the way, as in the other embodiments, since the inverter 12 is fixed to the lamp body 1, by increasing the contact area between the inverter 12 and the lamp body 1,
The inverter 12 can be dissipated by using the lamp body 1, and the heat dissipation is improved. The effect is particularly remarkable in the case of this embodiment. In the above description, the inverter 12 is attached to the lower surface of the lamp body 1 as shown in FIG. 4 or 5, but the inverter 12 may be attached to a surface other than the lower surface. In short, igniter 1
If the direction in which 3 is removed from the lamp body 1 and the direction in which the connectors 10 and 11 are disconnected are different directions, the discharge lamp 2
In the replacement work, the inverter 12 inevitably has to be removed first, and at this time the connectors 10 and 11 are removed, so that the discharge lamp 1 can no longer be replaced under high pressure.

Further, the igniter 1 in the above description
3 does not have to include all the circuits that start the discharge lamp 1, and may be configured by only some circuits. In this case, the inverter 12 does not include all the circuit components that configure the igniter 13. It means a circuit part consisting of circuit parts. It should be noted that the above description has been made only when the discharge lamp 1 is replaced, but it is needless to say that safety can be ensured even in the case of inspection or repair involving removal of the igniter 13.

[0017]

As described above, the invention of claim 1 has a discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, an inverter for lighting the discharge lamp, an igniter and an inverter. And the connector that is provided together with and that connects each other, and the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside,
When replacing the discharge lamp, the inverter is equipped with a lamp body, and a recess is formed in the inverter that almost completely accommodates the igniter fixed to the lamp body, and the connector of the inverter is provided in the recess. The igniter does not come off unless the inverter is removed.By disconnecting the inverter from the igniter in this way, the connectors can be disconnected and the operation of the igniter can be stopped, and the discharge lamp can be safely operated without high voltage. Can be replaced. Moreover, a recess is formed in the inverter that almost completely accommodates the igniter fixed to the lamp body, and the connector of the inverter is provided in the recess to ensure safety, so when using a switch mechanism. Moreover, it does not have a complicated structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, an inverter for lighting the discharge lamp, and an igniter and an inverter are provided together. And a lamp body to which the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside and the inverter is fixed, so that the igniter is connected to each other in a direction different from the direction in which the igniter is removed from the lamp body The connectors are arranged on the igniter and the inverter, respectively, and the connectors are connected to each other in a direction different from the direction in which the igniter is removed from the lamp body.Therefore, when replacing the discharge lamp, unless the inverter is removed, Does not come off, and if you remove the inverter from the igniter like this, Off connection between Kuta, the operation of the igniter can be stopped, allows the replacement of safely discharge lamp in a state where high pressure is not applied. Moreover,
Since safety is ensured as a structure in which the connectors are connected to each other in a direction different from the direction in which the igniter is detached from the lamp body, the structure does not become complicated as in the case of using a switch mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the above.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view in the case of two discharge lamps.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the structure of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the above.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lamp 2 Discharge Lamp 12 Inverter 12a Recess 13 Igniter 10, 11 Connector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shojiro Kido, 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Toshiro Nakamura, 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture 72) Inventor Hideki Hamada 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, an inverter for lighting the discharge lamp, and a connector provided on both the igniter and the inverter for connecting them to each other. And a lighting unit to which the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside and the inverter is fixed, and a recess is formed in the inverter to house the igniter fixed to the lighting unit almost completely. The vehicle headlight device, wherein the connector of 1. is provided in the recess. 2. A discharge lamp as a light source, an igniter for starting the discharge lamp and integrally mounting the discharge lamp, an inverter for lighting the discharge lamp, and a connector provided on both the igniter and the inverter for connecting them to each other. And a lighting body to which the igniter is fixed so that the discharge lamp is housed inside, and the inverter is fixed. A vehicle headlight device, wherein the vehicle headlight device is characterized in that the vehicle headlight device and the vehicle headlight device are arranged respectively.