MXPA99002329A - Low beam headlamps and high beam headlamps for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

El equipo de faros presenta cuando menos un faro de luz corta (12), el cual se acciona en la posición de operación para luz corta, y cuando menos un faro de luz alta (14) el cual, en la posición de operación de operación para luz alta, se acciona adicionalmente al faro de luz corta (12).Éste presenta como fuente luminosa de preferencia una lámpara de descarga de gas (18) y el faro de luz alta (14), una bombilla (24). Para mejorar el alcance del haz de luz proyectado por el equipo de faros en la posición de operación para luz alta, el alcance del haz de luz proyectado por el faro de luz corta (12) en la posición de operación para luz alta, se incrementa con respecto a su alcance en la posición de operación para luz corta. Para aumentar el alcance del haz de luz proyectado por el faro de luz corta (12), de preferencia se utiliza el dispositivo de ajuste de un dispositivo de regulación del alcance de iluminación asignado al faro de luz corta (12).

Description

< * -, HEADLAMP EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES FOR SHORT LIGHTS AND HIGH LIGHTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a vehicle headlight equipment for short and high beam lights, according to the type of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A headlight equipment such as this is known from German Patent DE 42 38 273 A1. Said equipment has at least one headlight to produce the low light and at least one other headlight which, to produce the high light, is operate in addition to at least one short-light beacon. It can be foreseen that by means of the beam of light projected by it when the other headlamp is illuminated essentially only the area remote from the vehicle, which is not illuminated by the beam of light projected by the headlamp, or, the beams of light can overlap. Particularly when the short-light headlight is equipped with a light source, which projects a large flow of light, such as, for example, a gas discharge lamp, said headlight projects an effective short beam, by means of which also illuminates with high intensity of lighting the remote area, below the prescribed light-dark limit. In the switching of the headlamp equipment, starting from its operating position for low light to its operating position for high light, the illumination of the area far ahead of the vehicle produced by the light beam of the at least one other headlamp, seems to the relatively weak driver.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The headlight equipment according to the invention, with the features according to claim 1, has the advantage over the foregoing that by increasing the range of the light beam projected by the at least one headlight short-light, in the operating position for high light, supports the illumination of the remote area in front of the vehicle produced by the at least one other headlight, and thus, an illumination of the remote area with high intensity and an effective high light is achieved . Dependent embodiments and developments of the headlight equipment according to the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. The modification of the range of the light beam projected by the at least one short-light beacon can be carried out in a simple manner, as indicated in claim 2, through the rotation of at least a part of the short-light beacon. As described in claim 4, the entire short-light headlamp can be rotated or, as indicated in claim 5, rotate only its reflector. Preferably, for adjusting the range of the light beam projected by the at least one short-light beacon, as described in claim 7, an adjustment device can be used, which is present in itself for adjustment according to the tilt of the vehicle's headlamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are illustrated in more detail in the following description. Figure 1 shows a vehicle with a headlight equipment in a front view. Figure 2 shows the vehicle as well as the beam of light projected by the headlight equipment according to the prior art, in the operating position for high light, in bird's eye view. Figure 3 shows the vehicle as well as the light beam projected by the headlight equipment according to the invention, in the operating position for high light. Figure 4 shows the headlight equipment in sections, according to a first embodiment, in a vertical longitudinal section. And Figure 5 shows the headlight equipment in sections, according to a second embodiment, in a vertical longitudinal section DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A vehicle shown in Figure 1, in particular a motor vehicle, has on its front, in known manner, a headlight equipment, which symmetrically comprises a longitudinal median plane of the vehicle., two headlamps 12 for the production of low light, hereinafter referred to as short-light headlamps, and two other headlamps 14, which are activated in addition to the low-beam headlamps, for the production of high light, and which hereinafter referred to as high-beam headlights. The low-beam headlamps 12 and the high-beam headlamps 14 on one side of the vehicle can be arranged adjacently or one above the other and be shaped as separate headlights or be included in a common housing, however, having separate reflectors . In the operating position of the headlamp equipment for low light, only the short-light headlamps 12 are operated, of which, in a known manner, the short light beam with upper light-dark limit is projected. If gas discharge lamps are used as light sources for the low-beam headlamps 12, the short-light beams can have both a strong horizontal dispersion, so that in particular the side edges of the track and the environment are also efficiently illuminated. beyond them, in front of the vehicle, as well as presenting a wide range with efficient illumination of the nearby area below the light-dark limit. In the operating position for high light, the short-light headlamps 12 and, in addition, the high-light headlamps 14 are activated. These can be designed in such a way that the high light beam projected by them essentially illuminates only the light source. remote area in front of the vehicle, above the light-dark boundary of the low light beam projected by the low-beam headlights 12. Alternatively, the high-beam headlamps 14 can also be configured in such a way, that by means of the high light beam projected by them illuminates both the far area in front of the vehicle, above the light-dark boundary of the short-beam beam projected by the low-beam headlamps 12, as well as an area below the light-dark boundary, so that the beam of high light and the beam of short light overlap. According to the invention it is provided that when switching the headlight equipment to its high-light operating position, in addition to the operation of the high-beam headlamps 14, the range of the low-light beam projected by the low-beam headlights is increased. 12. To do this, the position of the light-dark limit of the short beam is raised, so that the short-light beams, in the area far above the light-dark limit position, overlap in the position of the light beam. operation for low light with high light beams, and the far zone is illuminated by both beams of light. In this way, high values of illumination intensity are obtained in the remote area and, with it, efficient and powerful illumination of the remote area. In Figures 2 and 3 s the vehicle is shown in bird's eye view, the headlamp equipment being operated respectively in its operating position for high light. In Figure 4 the headlight equipment according to the prior art is illustrated, so that, in the operating position for high light, the short-light headlamps 12 and the high-beam headlamps 14 are operated respectively, but not carried out. no modification of the range of the short beam of light projected by the light beacons 12. The light beams projected by the headlights overlap are indicated with the help of several lines of the same intensity of illumination, the so-called isolux lines. Line shown representing light intensities of 10, 4, 2 and Lux. The line of 1 Lux reaches up to approximately 260 meters in front of the vehicle. In Figure 5 the vehicle with the headlight equipment according to the invention is illustrated, in which, in the operating position for high light, in addition to driving the high-beam headlamps 14, the range of the beam of light is increased. short light projected by the lu lu 12. The line of 1 Lux reaches approximately 400 m in front of the vehicle, so that the beam of light has a considerably greater range than in the headlight equipment in accordance with the technique previous, as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 ^ shows the headlight equipment on one side of the vehicle, in a vertical longitudinal section according to a first embodiment. The low-beam headlamp 12 and the high-beam headlamp 14 are shaped as separate headlights, the short-side headlamp 12 being arranged, for example, above the headlamp 14. The headlamp 12 has a reflector 16, in which there is a light source 18, which may be a bulb or, preferably, a gas discharge lamp. The light exit aperture of the short-light beacon 12 is covered with a light-permeable disc 20, which can be smoothly formed or at least partially have optical elements, through which the light reflected by the reflector 16 are deflected at the time of passing. The beam of light that comes out of the short-light headlamp 12 presents the upper-dark light limit necessary for the low light, in order to avoid dazzling the counter-flow traffic. The short-light beacon 12 can also be shaped according to the projection principle, then, the light projected by the light source 18 through the reflector 16 is reflected as a convergent light beam, which passes through a lens 17 arranged in the passage of the rays, indicated with dotted lines in Figure 4, a light-impermeable filter 19 being able to be arranged between the lens 17 and the reflector 16, by means of which the light-dark limit of the short-light beam is generated. The reflector 16 in this case, together with the lens 17 and the filter 19, constitutes a construction unit, which can be rotated in its entirety around the axis 30. The high-beam light 14 arranged below the short-light headlamp 12 it also has a reflector 22, in which there is a light source 24, which can again be a gas discharge lamp or, preferably, a bulb, for example, a Hl or H7 lamp. The light exit aperture of the high-beam light 14 is covered with a light-permeable disc 26, which again can be smoothly formed or have at least optical areas, through which it deviates when passing. the light reflected by the reflector 22. In order to make it possible to modify the range of the short light beam projected by the short-light beacon 12, it, in its entirety, or at least its reflector 16, can be rotated about an axis 30. which extends at least approximately horizontally and perpendicular to the longitudinal median plane 10 of the vehicle. For this purpose, an adjustment element 32 acts on the short-light headlight 12 or its reflector 16 eccentrically to the axis of rotation 30, the adjustment element 32 being able to move in the direction of the double arrow 34 according to Figure 4, thus producing a rotary movement of the short-light headlight 12, or of its reflector 16, about the axis 30. The adjusting element 32 can be driven, for example, by means of an electric motor 36 or by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic drive 36 activation of the drive 36 of the adjusting element 32 respectively with the switching of the headlight equipment between its operating position for short and high light and vice versa. In the switching from the operating position for low light to the operating position for high light, the adjustment element 32 is moved by its drive 36, in such a way that the short light beacon 12 rotates upwards about the axis 30. The angle of rotation around which the short-beam light 12, starting from its short-light position, rotates upwards around the axis 30, can be, for example, between about 0.5 and 2o, preferably between 1 and 1.5 °. In the embodiment of the headlight equipment shown in Figure 5, the reflectors 16 of both of the low-beam headlamps 12 are rotated by about 1.3 ° about the axis 30, respectively. In the switching of the headlight equipment of the operating position for High light to the operating position for low light, the short-light beacon 12 is rotated down correspondingly around the axis 30. For the short-light headlights 12, a device is usually provided, by which, independently of the inclination of the vehicle, with which the inclination of the short-light beacon 12 is also modified, the range can be kept constant, or the illumination range of the short-beam beam projected by the short-beam beacon 12 in the operating position can be maintained constant. These lighting range adjustment devices already have an adjustment element 32 acting on the short-light beacon 12 or its reflector 16, with its corresponding drive 36, which can be used for the rotation according to the invention, previously described, of the short-light beacon 12 or its reflector 16, to increase the range of the short-light beam projected by it in the operating position of the high-beam headlamp equipment. In the case of an unladen vehicle with a resulting inclination, the short-light beacon 12 is in the short-light operating position, in a base position, in which the beam of light projected by it presents the range, or well, prescribed lighting range, in which cross traffic is not dazzled. With the increase of the load of the vehicle, the inclination of the same is modified, since the rear part of the vehicle undergoes a compression of the springs, which would also imply a modification of the inclination of the short-light beacon 12 and, with this, of the inclination of the short beam of light projected by it, thus dazzling the counterflow traffic. In order to avoid this, by means of the lighting range adjustment device, the low-beam headlamp 12 or its reflector 16 can be rotated downwards around the axis 30 to compensate for the modification of the vehicle's inclination, so that the range of illumination of the short light beam is maintained at least approximately constant. The lighting range adjustment device can be activated manually by the driver or activated automatically, further presenting a sensor, by means of which the inclination of the vehicle is determined and, depending on the same, actuation 36 for the element is activated. of adjustment 32 to maintain constant the range of illumination of the beam of short light. The previously described rotation of the short-light headlight 12, or of its reflector 16, to increase the range of the short-light beam in the operating position for high-light, is carried out starting from the position determined by the device. adjustment of the lighting range, in the operating position for low light and, when switching to the operating position, it returns to said position. In Figure 5, the headlight equipment according to a second embodiment is shown, in which the short-beam headlight 12 and the high-beam headlight 14 are combined in a common headlight unit. This has a housing 50, in which a reflector 16 with a light source 18 for the short-light beacon 12, and a reflector 22 with a light source 24 for the high-beam headlight 14 are arranged. The light source 18 of the light beacon short 12 is preferably a gas discharge lamp and the light source 24 of the high-beam light 14 is preferably a bulb, for example, an Hl or H7 lamp. The light exit opening of the headlight unit is covered with a light-permeable disc 52, which can be formed essentially smooth or have optical elements at least in areas. The cover disk 52, in its different partial areas, through which the light beams reflected by the reflector 16 of the short-light beacon 12 and the reflector 22 of the high-beam light 14 pass through, can present various optical elements. The reflector 16 of the short-light headlamp 12 can be rotated independently of the reflector 22 of the high-beam headlamp 14 in the housing 50, around the horizontal axis 30, by means of the adjusting element 32 acting on it and which can be moved through the drive 36. The short-light beacon 12 can also be configured according to the projection principle and additionally have a lens 17 arranged in the passage of the rays of the light beam reflected by the reflector 16, shown in Figure 5 with dashed lines, as well as, optionally, a filter 19 disposed between the lens 17 and the reflector 16, also indicated with dotted lines. The reflector 16 together with the lens 17 and the filter 19 constitutes a conction unit, which can be rotated in its entirety about the axis 30 in the housing 50. The rotation of the reflector 16 of the short-beam light 12 between the positions of operation of the headlamp equipment for low light and for high light, takes place in a range of approximately 0.5 to 2o, preferably approximately 1 to 1.5o. Also in the second embodiment of the headlight device, the adjustment element 32 is preferably used, as well as its drive 36, indicated in the previous first embodiment, of a device for adjusting the range of illumination. A modification of the range of the short light beam projected by the short-light beacon 12, unlike the embodiments described above, can be carried out if, for example, the light source 18 of the low-beam headlight 12 can be moved between various positions. In addition, alternatively or additionally to this embodiment, it can also be provided that a light-permeable disc, provided with optical elements, which is arranged in the passage of the rays of the light beam reflected by the reflector 16 of the short light 12, can be moved to divert in different ways the beam of light reflected by the reflector 16, and thus achieve a change in the range of the light beam projected by the short-beam light 12. The above-described increase in beam range of light projected by the at least one light beacon cut 12 in the operating position for high light, can also be made depending on the speed of the vehicle. In this case it can be envisaged that at relatively low speeds, in the operating position for high light, the range of the light beam projected by the short-beam light 12 only increases to a small extent, and at a higher speed its range will increase more. For this purpose, for example, a control device can be provided, by means of which the speed of the vehicle is recorded and the range of the light beam is controlled accordingly. However, in the switching of the headlight equipment to its operating position for low light, the range of the light beam projected by the short-beam headlight 12 returns as quickly as possible to the prescribed range to avoid dazzling the counterflow traffic.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the above invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. A set of headlamps for vehicles for short and high light, with at least one headlamp for the production of low light and with at least one other headlight which, for the production of high light, can be operated additionally to at least one short-light beacon, characterized in that in the operating position of the headlamp equipment for high light, the range of the light beam projected by the ^ at least one headlamp-light increases with respect to its range in the operating position of the headlamp equipment for low light. A headlight equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to modify the range of the light beam projected by the at least one short-light beacon, at least a part of the short-beam headlamp, starting from a position in the operating position of the headlamp equipment for low beam and to its operating position for high beam, it can be rotated upward about one axis at least approximately horizontally. 3. A headlight equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that at least the part of the at least one short-beam headlight can be rotated by approximately 0.5 to 2 °, preferably by approximately 1 to 1.5 °. 4. A headlight equipment according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the entire short-light headlight can be rotated about the axis. 5. A headlight equipment according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that at least its reflector can be rotated as part of the at least one short-light beacon. 6. A headlight equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that to rotate the part of the at least one short-beam headlight, an adjustment device of a lighting range adjustment device is used. assigned to the short-light beacon, by means of which / the range of illumination of the light beam projected by the at least one short-beam headlamp in the low-light operating position can be maintained constant, independently of the vehicle's inclination. 7. A headlight kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one short-light headlight has at least one gas discharge lamp as the light source and that the at least one high-beam headlight presents as a light source at least one light bulb.