US20010055215A1 - Vehicle headlamp, lamp lens and method for producing a lamp lens - Google Patents
Vehicle headlamp, lamp lens and method for producing a lamp lens Download PDFInfo
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- US20010055215A1 US20010055215A1 US09/334,825 US33482599A US2001055215A1 US 20010055215 A1 US20010055215 A1 US 20010055215A1 US 33482599 A US33482599 A US 33482599A US 2001055215 A1 US2001055215 A1 US 2001055215A1
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- Prior art keywords
- layer
- coating
- lens
- lamp lens
- flexible
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/0073—Optical laminates
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
- B29C41/02—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C41/08—Coating a former, core or other substrate by spraying or fluidisation, e.g. spraying powder
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
- B29C41/02—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C41/20—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
- B29C41/02—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C41/22—Making multilayered or multicoloured articles
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
- F21S41/28—Cover glass
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
- F21S45/10—Protection of lighting devices
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V3/00—Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses
- F21V3/04—Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
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- G02B1/105—
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
- G02B1/10—Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements
- G02B1/14—Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
- B29K2995/0037—Other properties
- B29K2995/0087—Wear resistance
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
- Y10T428/24942—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
- Y10T428/2495—Thickness [relative or absolute]
- Y10T428/24967—Absolute thicknesses specified
- Y10T428/24975—No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
- Y10T428/24942—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
- Y10T428/24983—Hardness
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/26—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
- Y10T428/263—Coating layer not in excess of 5 mils thick or equivalent
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
- Y10T428/31507—Of polycarbonate
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
- Y10T428/31536—Including interfacial reaction product of adjacent layers
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
- Y10T428/31551—Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a lamp lens, and particularly to an exterior vehicle lamp lens such as an automotive headlamp lens.
- a method for fabricating such a lamp lens, and a lamp which includes such a lamp lens, is also disclosed.
- the lamp lens of the present invention is illustrated herein with reference to an automotive headlamp lens. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lamp lens of the present invention is not limited to such an application.
- Efforts to provide a softer material provides a lens coating which creates a flexible cushion that permits the surface coating to flex under heavy impacts and thereby resist chipping.
- a soft lens coating quickly erodes or becomes dull.
- lenses having soft coatings fail to pass the required conventional (FMVSS-108) steel wool scratch test.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens having improved overall performance and longevity.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens which has sufficient hardness to provide abrasion resistance and sufficient softness to absorb impact of grit, sand, stones and other debris.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens the surface of which does not become pitted or otherwise chipped.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens which provides satisfactory impact resistance and meets a standard steel wool scratch test.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an exterior vehicle lamp which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp having a lens which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a lamp lens which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- This invention achieves these and other objects by providing a lamp lens which comprises a clear lens base having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. A flexible first layer is adjacent the outer surface. An abrasion resistant second layer is adhered to the first layer. The first layer is softer than the second layer. A method for producing, and a vehicular headlamp comprising, the lamp lens of the present invention is also provided.
- FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of a headlamp and a lamp lens of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2 - 2 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a method of producing a lamp lens of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is illustrative of a vehicle headlamp 10 .
- Headlamp 10 comprises a housing assembly 12 having a reflector 14 .
- a lamp 16 connected to a connector 18 is supported within the housing assembly relative to the reflector in a conventional manner.
- the housing assembly 12 is enclosed by a lamp lens 20 attached thereto.
- Lamp lens 20 is one embodiment of the present invention.
- lamp lens 20 comprises a clear lens base 22 having an inner surface 24 which is structured and arranged to face the lamp 16 , and an outer surface 26 which is structured and arranged to face away from lamp 16 .
- a flexible first layer 28 is adjacent the outer surface 26 and an abrasion resistant second layer 30 is adhered to the first layer 28 .
- the layer 28 is softer than the layer 30 as described in some detail hereinafter.
- the clear lens base 22 is a hard plastic material.
- base 22 is a clear polycarbonate.
- Polycarbonate is a conventional plastic material used in the fabrication of automotive headlamp lenses.
- the Rockwell Hardness of uncoated polycarbonate per ASTM D 785 is 75 on the M scale.
- the layer 28 comprises a flexible coating and the layer 30 comprises an abrasion resistant coating.
- the flexible coating is a hardcoat sold by Red Spot Paint of Evansville Indiana and identified as UVT-152Q.
- the abrasion resistant coating 30 is sold by Red Spot Paint and identified as UVT-D200AC-5.
- abrasion resistant materials are UVT-146 and UVT-400.
- the UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings are materials which are curable by ultraviolet light.
- the coatings 28 and 30 will intermix at the interface 32 between the coatings as described hereinafter.
- the lens 20 will include the clear lens base 22 , first layer 28 and second layer 30 , the portions of the first and second layer at the interface 32 being intermixed or alloyed.
- the flexible first layer 28 is applied over the outer surface 26 of the lamp lens, and the abrasion resistant layer 30 is applied over the flexible first layer.
- the UVT-152Q coating is applied to the lamp lens 20 substrate at a first spray station 34 by wet spraying surface 26 of the polycarbonate lens 20 with UVT-152Q.
- Such spraying may be effected in the presence of a solvent.
- the UVT-152Q coating may be sprayed upon the substrate 20 in the presence of about 95% acetone and about 5% secondary butanol.
- the coating 28 of UVT-152Q is about 9 to 15 microns thick.
- the lens is then transferred to a second spray station 36 where the UVT-200AC-5 coating is applied over the UVT-152Q coating.
- the UVT-200AC-5 coating is applied by wet spraying on top of the still wet layer of UVT-152Q. Such spraying is effected in the presence of a solvent.
- the UVT-200AC-5 may be sprayed upon the wet UVT-152Q coating in the presence of about 95% acetone and about 5% secondary butanol.
- the coating 30 of UVT-200AC-5 is about 3 to 8 microns thick. Due to the induced stress from shrinking of the coatings during cure, the total maximum thickness of the UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings should not exceed about 20 microns.
- Spraying the wet UVT-200AC-5 coating over the still wet UVT152Q coating causes the two layers 28 and 30 to intermix or alloy at the interface 32 between the two layers.
- the thickness of the interface is about 0.25 to 1.0 micron.
- the intermixing at the interface improves overall performance of the lamp lens by allowing the abrasion resistant hard outer layer 30 to more readily stay on top of the flexible soft inner layer 28 .
- the substrate with the UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings applied as described herein, is then transferred to a flashing station 38 where the two wet layers are flashed with infrared energy to drive off the solvent.
- the lens is transferred from the first spray station 34 to the second spray station 36 .
- the coated lens is then transferred to a curing station 40 where the lens is passed by ultraviolet lamps which cure the UVT-152Q and UVT200AC-5 layers by exposing the layers to ultraviolet light. Curing may take about 30 seconds depending upon the thickness of the coatings.
- a lamp lens in accordance with the present invention was fabricated in the following manner.
- a clear lens base was provided using a General Electric LS2111 polycarbonate substrate.
- One surface of the substrate was coated with UVT152Q to a thickness of about 12 microns by spraying the substrate in a first spray station. While still wet, the coated substrate was transferred to a second spray station where the wet UVT-152Q coating was coated with UVT-200AC-5 to a thickness of about 5 microns.
- the UVT-200AC-5 was sprayed over the UVT-152Q wet on wet. Both coatings were effected in the presence of a solvent in the form of 95% acetone and 5% secondary butanol.
- the coated substrate was then transferred to a flashing station where the film-like layers of UVT-152Q and UVT 200AC-5 were flashed with infrared energy to drive off the solvent. Flashing occurred for 2 minutes at 165° F.
- the coated substrate was then transferred to a curing station where it was cured using 600 w/in. ultraviolet lamps at 4500 mJ.
- the lamp lens fabricated in this manner meets all of the objects of the present invention.
- the lamp lens of the present invention has improved overall performance and longevity.
- the hard, abrasion resistant layer 30 resists erosion by grit, sand, stones and other debris.
- the softer layer 28 is sufficiently soft to provide improved impact and weathering properties. Applying a thin wet film 30 upon a thin wet film 28 provides a lens film which obtains the best properties of each.
- the alloyed interface 32 improves the adherence of the layers 28 and 30 to each other.
- the lamp lens of the present invention provides satisfactory impact resistance and weathering performance yet is still able to meet industry standard steel wool scratch testing.
- the lamp lens of the present invention satisfies other standard industrial tests including Taber Abrasion per ASTM D 4060-90, Falling Sand Abrasion per ASTM D 968-93, Pencil Hardness per ASTM D 3363 and Chip Resistance SAE J400.
- the lamp lens of the present invention also satisfies the standard industrial chemical, weathering wear and similar tests.
- the lamp lens of the present invention is particularly useful, and achieves all of the foregoing results, when used with a vehicular headlamp.
- the preferred method of manufacturing is to apply a highly flexible impact resistant coating (UVT-152) at a film thickness of between 9 to 15 microns followed by a infrared light flash for 2 minutes with a part temperature of 165° F. or more, cooling the part and then applying a second robotic application of a tough outer layer of (UVT-146 or UVT-200 or UVT-400) at a thickness of between 3 to 8 microns to finish the film combination.
- the coating is again exposed to an infrared light flash zone to remove the remaining solvents from the film before being exposed to a total dosage of between 6,000 to 8,000 mJ of ultraviolet light energy.
- the carrier solvent used in both formulations consists of 95 percent acetone and 5 percent Isobutyl Alcohol and is applied at percent solids of 42% +/ ⁇ 2.
- the thickness of each coating can be increased or decreased depending on the final properties the user is requiring.
- Alternate methods of manufacturing this invention include application of the first film without wetting agents at the same thickness, flashing the solvent and then ultraviolet light curing the lens.
- the product may be passed through the second spray application to receive the next coat of harder material for abrasion resistance. This method would likely increase the scrap and cost due to the longer time required between steps and would increase the potential for contamination to adhere to the wet coating between each curing cycle.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a lamp lens, and particularly to an exterior vehicle lamp lens such as an automotive headlamp lens. A method for fabricating such a lamp lens, and a lamp which includes such a lamp lens, is also disclosed.
- The lamp lens of the present invention is illustrated herein with reference to an automotive headlamp lens. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lamp lens of the present invention is not limited to such an application.
- The use of automotive headlamps in the form referred to in the art as a glass sealed beam is well known. In use, such lamps are subjected to intense environmental conditions which tend to lower the overall performance and longevity of the lamps. For example, it is not uncommon for the outer surface of such lamps to be eroded during use by road grit, sand, stones and the like. Various efforts have been made to overcome such problems. In 1995, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration permitted the use of replaceable headlamp lenses. Since then, replaceable lamp lenses have been commercialized in some applications to replace the conventional glass sealed beams. For example, in the heavy truck industry lamps having plastic lenses are beginning to replace glass sealed beams. One replaceable lens which has been particularly satisfactory is a polycarbonate lens.
- The use of a replaceable polycarbonate lens provides one solution to the problem of deterioration in lighting performance caused by environmental conditions. However, such solution has not been without concern regarding cost. For example, the typical replaceable plastic lens requires that the headlamp design incorporate a gasket with lens clips rather than a simpler and less expensive adhesive seal. This has been a particular concern in the heavy truck industry where lens replacement tends to be more frequent.
- Efforts have been made to reduce the frequency of lens replacement by providing a more durable lens. For example, it is known to provide the typical polycarbonate lens with a hard coating to protect the lens from environmental damage. Heretofore, such attempts have been compromised due to the inconsistent requirements that the coating be sufficiently soft to absorb impact and sufficiently hard to provide hard abrasion resistance properties to prevent marring. As a result of this compromise, materials presently in use must balance such properties to meet both requirements, and such balancing tends to lower the overall performance.
- The demand in the industry for better performance and longevity of lamp lenses has intensified. Customers of headlamp manufacturers are presently requesting that headlamps perform satisfactorily for 200,000 miles or the life span of the vehicle. However, materials available in the industry for use in fabricating the conventional polycarbonate lamp lenses provide only four or five years weathering performance before reaching the standard specified maximum of 7% haze in the polycarbonate lens. One problem is that although a hard coating generally resists erosion of the lens outer surface caused by grit, sand, stones and other debris from the road surface striking the plastic lens, the coating tends to chip off of the polycarbonate substrate when subjected to heavy impacts. Efforts to provide a softer material provides a lens coating which creates a flexible cushion that permits the surface coating to flex under heavy impacts and thereby resist chipping. However, a soft lens coating quickly erodes or becomes dull. In particular, lenses having soft coatings fail to pass the required conventional (FMVSS-108) steel wool scratch test.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lamp lens. Another object of the present invention is to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an improved lamp lens.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens having improved overall performance and longevity.
- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lamp lens which resists erosion by grit, sand, stones and other debris.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens which has sufficient hardness to provide abrasion resistance and sufficient softness to absorb impact of grit, sand, stones and other debris.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens the surface of which does not become pitted or otherwise chipped.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp lens which provides satisfactory impact resistance and meets a standard steel wool scratch test.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an exterior vehicle lamp which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp having a lens which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a lamp lens which satisfies any one or more of the foregoing objects.
- This invention achieves these and other objects by providing a lamp lens which comprises a clear lens base having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. A flexible first layer is adjacent the outer surface. An abrasion resistant second layer is adhered to the first layer. The first layer is softer than the second layer. A method for producing, and a vehicular headlamp comprising, the lamp lens of the present invention is also provided.
- This invention may be clearly understood by reference to the attached drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts and in which:
- FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of a headlamp and a lamp lens of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines2-2; and
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a method of producing a lamp lens of the present invention.
- For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims taken in conjunction with the above-described drawings.
- Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is illustrative of a vehicle headlamp10. Headlamp 10 comprises a
housing assembly 12 having areflector 14. Alamp 16 connected to aconnector 18 is supported within the housing assembly relative to the reflector in a conventional manner. Thehousing assembly 12 is enclosed by alamp lens 20 attached thereto.Lamp lens 20 is one embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to FIG. 2,
lamp lens 20 comprises aclear lens base 22 having aninner surface 24 which is structured and arranged to face thelamp 16, and an outer surface 26 which is structured and arranged to face away fromlamp 16. A flexiblefirst layer 28 is adjacent the outer surface 26 and an abrasion resistant second layer 30 is adhered to thefirst layer 28. Thelayer 28 is softer than the layer 30 as described in some detail hereinafter. - In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the
clear lens base 22 is a hard plastic material. In the preferred embodiment,base 22 is a clear polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a conventional plastic material used in the fabrication of automotive headlamp lenses. The Rockwell Hardness of uncoated polycarbonate per ASTM D 785 is 75 on the M scale. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, thelayer 28 comprises a flexible coating and the layer 30 comprises an abrasion resistant coating. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible coating is a hardcoat sold by Red Spot Paint of Evansville Indiana and identified as UVT-152Q. In a preferred embodiment, the abrasion resistant coating 30 is sold by Red Spot Paint and identified as UVT-D200AC-5. Alternative, abrasion resistant materials are UVT-146 and UVT-400. The UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings are materials which are curable by ultraviolet light. During the application of the coatings, thecoatings 28 and 30 will intermix at theinterface 32 between the coatings as described hereinafter. In this manner, thelens 20 will include theclear lens base 22,first layer 28 and second layer 30, the portions of the first and second layer at theinterface 32 being intermixed or alloyed. - In considering the fabrication of the
lamp lens 20, the flexiblefirst layer 28 is applied over the outer surface 26 of the lamp lens, and the abrasion resistant layer 30 is applied over the flexible first layer. One example of such application is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. In particular, the UVT-152Q coating is applied to thelamp lens 20 substrate at afirst spray station 34 by wet spraying surface 26 of thepolycarbonate lens 20 with UVT-152Q. Such spraying may be effected in the presence of a solvent. For example, the UVT-152Q coating may be sprayed upon thesubstrate 20 in the presence of about 95% acetone and about 5% secondary butanol. In the preferred embodiment, thecoating 28 of UVT-152Q is about 9 to 15 microns thick. The lens is then transferred to asecond spray station 36 where the UVT-200AC-5 coating is applied over the UVT-152Q coating. The UVT-200AC-5 coating is applied by wet spraying on top of the still wet layer of UVT-152Q. Such spraying is effected in the presence of a solvent. For example, the UVT-200AC-5 may be sprayed upon the wet UVT-152Q coating in the presence of about 95% acetone and about 5% secondary butanol. In the preferred embodiment, the coating 30 of UVT-200AC-5 is about 3 to 8 microns thick. Due to the induced stress from shrinking of the coatings during cure, the total maximum thickness of the UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings should not exceed about 20 microns. The thinner the combined coatings, the less stress induced during curing and therefore the better the impact performance. Spraying the wet UVT-200AC-5 coating over the still wet UVT152Q coating causes the twolayers 28 and 30 to intermix or alloy at theinterface 32 between the two layers. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the interface is about 0.25 to 1.0 micron. The intermixing at the interface improves overall performance of the lamp lens by allowing the abrasion resistant hard outer layer 30 to more readily stay on top of the flexible softinner layer 28. The substrate with the UVT-152Q and UVT-200AC-5 coatings applied as described herein, is then transferred to a flashingstation 38 where the two wet layers are flashed with infrared energy to drive off the solvent. It should be noted that typically there will be some loss of the solvent due to ambient temperature and air flow as the lens is transferred from thefirst spray station 34 to thesecond spray station 36. The coated lens is then transferred to a curingstation 40 where the lens is passed by ultraviolet lamps which cure the UVT-152Q and UVT200AC-5 layers by exposing the layers to ultraviolet light. Curing may take about 30 seconds depending upon the thickness of the coatings. - A lamp lens in accordance with the present invention was fabricated in the following manner. A clear lens base was provided using a General Electric LS2111 polycarbonate substrate. One surface of the substrate was coated with UVT152Q to a thickness of about 12 microns by spraying the substrate in a first spray station. While still wet, the coated substrate was transferred to a second spray station where the wet UVT-152Q coating was coated with UVT-200AC-5 to a thickness of about 5 microns. In particular, the UVT-200AC-5 was sprayed over the UVT-152Q wet on wet. Both coatings were effected in the presence of a solvent in the form of 95% acetone and 5% secondary butanol. The coated substrate was then transferred to a flashing station where the film-like layers of UVT-152Q and UVT 200AC-5 were flashed with infrared energy to drive off the solvent. Flashing occurred for 2 minutes at 165° F. The coated substrate was then transferred to a curing station where it was cured using 600 w/in. ultraviolet lamps at 4500 mJ. The lamp lens fabricated in this manner meets all of the objects of the present invention.
- The lamp lens of the present invention has improved overall performance and longevity. The hard, abrasion resistant layer30 resists erosion by grit, sand, stones and other debris. The
softer layer 28 is sufficiently soft to provide improved impact and weathering properties. Applying a thin wet film 30 upon a thinwet film 28 provides a lens film which obtains the best properties of each. The alloyedinterface 32 improves the adherence of thelayers 28 and 30 to each other. - The lamp lens of the present invention provides satisfactory impact resistance and weathering performance yet is still able to meet industry standard steel wool scratch testing. The lamp lens of the present invention satisfies other standard industrial tests including Taber Abrasion per ASTM D 4060-90, Falling Sand Abrasion per ASTM D 968-93, Pencil Hardness per ASTM D 3363 and Chip Resistance SAE J400. The lamp lens of the present invention also satisfies the standard industrial chemical, weathering wear and similar tests.
- The lamp lens of the present invention is particularly useful, and achieves all of the foregoing results, when used with a vehicular headlamp.
- The preferred method of manufacturing is to apply a highly flexible impact resistant coating (UVT-152) at a film thickness of between 9 to 15 microns followed by a infrared light flash for 2 minutes with a part temperature of 165° F. or more, cooling the part and then applying a second robotic application of a tough outer layer of (UVT-146 or UVT-200 or UVT-400) at a thickness of between 3 to 8 microns to finish the film combination. The coating is again exposed to an infrared light flash zone to remove the remaining solvents from the film before being exposed to a total dosage of between 6,000 to 8,000 mJ of ultraviolet light energy. The carrier solvent used in both formulations consists of 95 percent acetone and 5 percent Isobutyl Alcohol and is applied at percent solids of 42% +/−2. The thickness of each coating can be increased or decreased depending on the final properties the user is requiring.
- Thicker films require longer flash and more ultraviolet light dosage to cure them but generally provide more impact durability and weathering resistance in the field. The formation of the intercoat adhesion between the Polycarbonate and the first film was found to be critical during early trials. Controlling the flash time and temperature before the application of the second layer critical to form good adhesion to the Polycarbonate. The second effect observed was the loss of the abrasion resistance properties of the final layer, if the layer was allowed to mix into the first layer too long before curing. Some mixing between layers should occur to improve the intercoat adhesion, but should be controlled during the infrared light flash zone exposure.
- Alternate methods of manufacturing this invention include application of the first film without wetting agents at the same thickness, flashing the solvent and then ultraviolet light curing the lens. The product may be passed through the second spray application to receive the next coat of harder material for abrasion resistance. This method would likely increase the scrap and cost due to the longer time required between steps and would increase the potential for contamination to adhere to the wet coating between each curing cycle.
- The embodiments which have been described herein are but some of several which utilize this invention and are set forth here by way of illustration but not of limitation. It is apparent that many other embodiments which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims (19)
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US09/334,825 US6431735B2 (en) | 1999-06-17 | 1999-06-17 | Vehicle headlamp, lamp lens and method for producing a lamp lens |
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US09/334,825 US6431735B2 (en) | 1999-06-17 | 1999-06-17 | Vehicle headlamp, lamp lens and method for producing a lamp lens |
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US09/334,825 Expired - Lifetime US6431735B2 (en) | 1999-06-17 | 1999-06-17 | Vehicle headlamp, lamp lens and method for producing a lamp lens |
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US6457845B1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2002-10-01 | General Electric Company | Luminaire incorporating containment in the event of non-passive failure of high intensity discharge lamp |
EP2406544A2 (en) * | 2009-03-13 | 2012-01-18 | Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. | Moisture resistant coatings for polymeric enclosures |
EP3098629A1 (en) | 2015-05-27 | 2016-11-30 | ZKW Group GmbH | Composite assembly for covering a flat luminaire |
JP2021077475A (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2021-05-20 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Translucent cover, lighting fixture and lighting device |
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US20140005311A1 (en) * | 2012-07-02 | 2014-01-02 | Bayer Materialscience Llc | Polycarbonate composition with low static performance |
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US5846649A (en) * | 1994-03-03 | 1998-12-08 | Monsanto Company | Highly durable and abrasion-resistant dielectric coatings for lenses |
US5571570A (en) | 1994-04-22 | 1996-11-05 | Red Spot Paint And Varnish Co., Inc. | UV curable blend compositions and processes |
US5931566A (en) * | 1995-10-12 | 1999-08-03 | Valeo Sylvania L.L.C. | Colored and decorative lighting |
TW293091B (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1996-12-11 | Daiseru Amihoshi Sangyo Kk | Plastic lens and preparation thereof |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6457845B1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2002-10-01 | General Electric Company | Luminaire incorporating containment in the event of non-passive failure of high intensity discharge lamp |
EP2406544A2 (en) * | 2009-03-13 | 2012-01-18 | Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. | Moisture resistant coatings for polymeric enclosures |
EP3098629A1 (en) | 2015-05-27 | 2016-11-30 | ZKW Group GmbH | Composite assembly for covering a flat luminaire |
JP2021077475A (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2021-05-20 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Translucent cover, lighting fixture and lighting device |
JP7233353B2 (en) | 2019-11-06 | 2023-03-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | translucent covers, lamps and lighting devices |
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