WO2014126511A1

WO2014126511A1 - Lighting arrangement for a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2014126511A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael DAHL
Original assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
Priority date: 2013-02-14
Filing date: 2013-02-14
Publication date: 2014-08-21

Abstract

The invention relates to a commercial vehicle, such as a truck or a tractor-trailer combination, comprising a cab (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81) having at least one side door(14; 34; 44; 54; 64; 74; 84) and a light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) arranged to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. According to the invention, the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) is mounted to the cab (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81) above and/or in front of an upper portion of at least one side door (14; 34; 44; 54; 64; 74; 84).

Description

LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a commercial vehicle comprising a cab having at least one side door and a lighting arrangement or light unit arranged to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drivers of commercial vehicles such as trucks, trailer or buses may experience problems with insufficient lighting in the vicinity of the vehicle, in particular along the sides thereof. This problem occurs when the vehicle is being manoeuvred or reversed in narrow spaces, during loading/unloading or when the driver needs to perform work or maintenance on the vehicle. During manoeuvring or reversing in narrow spaces the driver is aided by the provision of mirrors on either side of the cab, but at low light or at night the absence of sufficient lighting makes such manoeuvres difficult.

Today the problem is often solved by extra light units being mounted by the driver or by the company building the vehicle body or coach. This requires electrical wiring to be routed in or on the chassis or cab from a supply of electrical energy and the mounting of additional switches in and/or on the vehicle. Electrical installations of this type performed by the driver may not fulfil the electrical safety standards and could pose a hazard for a person using the equipment. Further, added light units must be attached to the chassis or cab, whereby the positioning of the light units may not be ideal and may even cause a light unit to extend outside the legal width of the vehicle.

Known solutions involve mounting light units in or on a lower portion of the side mirrors, which can have a detrimental effect on the drivers night vision; at the rear of the cab, where the light may be shadowed by the truck itself; or by placing multiple lights along the side of the vehicle, where they are regularly subjected to spray from the wheels or from other vehicles and to precipitation in snowy weather and will require frequent cleaning. The object of the invention is to provide an improved lighting arrangement that solves or minimises the above problems.

INVENTION

The above problems have been solved by an arrangement as claimed in the appended claims.

In the subsequent text, the term "light unit" is intended to describe a lighting arrangement or work light intended to provide illumination for assisting the driver during manoeuvring or reversing in narrow spaces, during loading/unloading or during maintenance on the vehicle. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a commercial vehicle comprising a cab having at least one side door and a light unit arranged to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. The light unit is mounted to the cab above and/or in front of an upper portion of at least one side door. Arranging a light unit adjacent an upper portion of the cab takes advantage of the fact that the width of a cab usually decreases with increasing distance from the ground. This allows a relatively large light unit or work light to be mounted without exceeding the maximum legal width of the vehicle.

In order to avoid shading of the emitted light, at least towards the rear of the vehicle, the light unit can be mounted above an upper portion of an adjacent side mirror.

The light unit can be mounted adjacent a sun visor extending at least across an upper portion of the front of the cab. Sun visors of this type usually extend along an upper portion of the windshield and a short distance around the front corners of the cab, e.g. a "wraparound" sun visor. According to one example, the light unit is attached to a fixture for mounting the sun visor. Such a fixture can comprise a bracket, a stanchion or mere holes provided for mounting the visor. In this way the light unit can be mounted by fixing it to a bracket or stanchion supporting the sun visor, or by using the same holes provided for such fixtures. When mounted in this way, the light unit will extend rearwards from an end of the sun visor. The light unit can be fixed to the sun visor as a separate component or be integrated with a portion of the visor. In the latter case the light unit can be integrated with an end of the sun visor, forming an aerodynamically adapted part of the visor. An advantage of locating a light unit above and/or in front of an upper portion of at least one side door, in particular adjacent the sun visor, is that the light unit is less exposed to spray and particles. One reason for this is that the aerodynamic design of the front of the cab will cause the air flow to be directed past the light unit. A further advantage is that the driver can clean it by just reaching out from the side window without having to leave the vehicle.

According to a further example, a light unit can be mounted adjacent the end of a sun visor at an upper portion of the front of the cab, as indicated above. The light unit can located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor, in the rearward direction of the cab. When required, the light unit can be pivoted upwards or downwards substantially parallel to the side of the cab in order to provide improved illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. This arrangement may be used for redirecting one or both beams to cover an unlit area or an area that is insufficiently lit when the light unit is located in a standard position. The light unit can be connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance an electric motor or a linkage displacing the light unit upwards or downwards in a substantially vertical plane. The pivoting motion can be controlled by any suitable means, such as an electrical switch or a manually controlled handle. An electrical switch providing stepless adjustment can be located on the dashboard together with a selector switch for selecting displacement of the right or left hand side work light. For manual control, a manually controlled handle can be provided in a suitable location inside or outside the cab adjacent the respective work light. A manually controlled handle can provide stepless adjustment or adjustment in predetermined fixed steps.

According to a further example, the light unit can be pivoted upwards or downwards in a substantially vertical plane as well as laterally in a substantially horizontal plane. As indicated above, the pivoting motion can be controlled by any suitable means, such as an electrical switch or a manually controlled handle, but will require a further degree of freedom. In the case of an electric switch the displacement of the light unit in vertical and horizontal planes can be achieved using a joystick of the same type used for adjusting outer rear view mirrors in two orthogonal planes. Depending on the location of the joystick, forward/rearward displacement of the joystick can be used for adjusting the work light in the vertical plane, while sideways displacement can adjust the work light in the horizontal plane. A selector switch can be provided for selecting displacement of the right or left hand side work light. A manually controlled handle can provide stepless adjustment, e.g. using a ball joint mounting, or adjustment in predetermined fixed steps. According to a further example, a light unit can be mounted in a recess in an upper portion of the front of the cab, as indicated above. The light unit can for instance be mounted adjacent the end of a sun visor. The recess can be located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor, in the rearward direction of the cab. When required, the light unit can be deployed out of the recess to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. The recess can be covered by a panel that protects the light unit when not in use. The light unit can be connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance a linkage displacing the light unit transversely out of the recess, or a pivoted housing where a rear end comprising the light unit is angled out of the recess in a substantially horizontal plane. The deployment can be controlled by any suitable means, such as an electrical switch, whereby the deployment may also trigger an automatic on/off switch for the light unit. According to an alternative solution, for instance if it is not practical or possible to provide a recess, the light unit can be positioned in close proximity or in contact with the side of the cab behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor, in the rearward direction of the cab. When required, the light unit can be deployed away from the side of the cab to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface, as described above.

The light unit can comprise one or more light sources with means for directing light in at least one predetermined direction. Hence, the light unit can comprise one or more suitable light sources, such as LED:s, or an incandescent lamp (e.g. a tungsten halogen lamp) and one or more means for directing the light, such as one or more reflectors or light guides.

The light unit and comprise at least one means for directing light arranged to direct light rearwards along the side of the side of the vehicle behind the cab and/or at least one means for directing light arranged to direct light downwards along the side of the cab. According to a further example, the light unit can comprise a single means for directing light arranged to direct light downwards along the side of the cab and rearwards along the side of the vehicle behind the cab.

The invention as described above is intended for commercial vehicles such as trucks, tractor-trailer combinations and articulated trucks.

FIGURES

In the following text, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. These schematic drawings are used for illustration only and do not in any way limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematically indicated side view of a vehicle with a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematically indicated plan view of a vehicle with a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic first example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a schematic second example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a schematic third example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention; and

Figure 6 shows a schematic fourth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 7 shows a schematic fifth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention; and Figure 8 shows a schematic sixth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a schematically indicated vehicle with a lighting arrangement according to the invention. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the vehicle is a tractor- trailer combination where the tractor unit comprises a chassis 10 with a cab? 1 1 and a rear load compartment 12. A trailer 13 is connected to the tractor unit. The cab 11 has a side door 14 on each side and a light unit 15 arranged to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. Figure 1 indicates a first beam A1 illuminating at least a side of the cab 1 1 and a second beam A2 illuminating at least a portion of the side of the load compartment 12 and the trailer 13. The angular extent of the first and second beams, respectively, is indicated with dash-dotted lines. The light unit 15 is mounted to the cab 1 1 above and/or in front of an upper portion of at least one side door 14. Arranging a light unit 15 adjacent an upper portion of the cab takes advantage of the fact that the width of a cab usually decreases with increasing distance from the ground. This allows a relatively large light unit 15 or work light to be mounted without exceeding the maximum legal width of the vehicle.

In order to avoid shading of the emitted light, the light unit is mounted above the side door 14 and an upper portion of an adjacent side mirror 16. As the location of side mirrors can vary between different models, the location of the light unit 15 is selected so that the arc of the first beam A1 passes behind and underneath the side mirror 16.

The light unit 15 is mounted adjacent a sun visor 17 extending at least across an upper portion of the front of the cab 1 1. The sun visor 17 extends along an upper portion of the windshield and a short distance around the front corners of the cab 1 1. As indicated in the example in Figure 1 , the light unit 15 is mounted adjacent a rearwards extending portion of the sun visor 17 and is positioned substantially parallel to the side of the cab.

Figure 2 shows a schematically indicated plan view of a vehicle with a lighting arrangement according to the invention. This figure indicates the positioning of the light units 15 relative to the rearwards extending portion of the sun visor 17. Figure 2 also illustrates the projections of the respective first and second beams A1 , A2 on the road surface surrounding the vehicle. In the example shown, the projected beams are mirrored and identical on both sides of the vehicle.

Figure 3 shows a schematic first example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to the first example, a light unit 35 is attached to a fixture 32 for mounting a sun visor 37. In this example the fixture 32 comprises a bracket 33 provided for mounting the sun visor 37 to the side of a cab 31 , above a side door 34 and a side mirror 36. The light unit 35 is mounted adjacent a rearmost end 37' of the sun visor 37 by fixing it to the same bracket 33 supporting the sun visor 37. In this way additional holes for further fixtures can be avoided. The light unit 35 comprises a first reflector 38 for the first beam A1 and a second reflector 39 for the second beam A2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic second example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to the second example, a light unit 45 forms an aerodynamically integrated part of a sun visor 47. In this example a single fixture 42 is provided for mounting the sun visor 47 and light unit 45 to the side of a cab 41 , above a side door 44 and a side mirror 46. The fixture 42 is merely indicated in Figure 4. The light unit 45 extends rearwards from a rearmost end 47' of the sun visor 47 and can either be molded as an integral portion of the visor or be attached to the visor in a form-fitting relationship. The light unit 45 comprises a first reflector 48 for the first beam A1 and a second reflector 49 for the second beam A2.

Figure 5 shows a schematic third example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to the this example, a light unit 55 is attached to a fixture 52 for mounting a sun visor 57 to a cab 51 in the same way as described for Figures 3 and 4, above a side door 54 and a side mirror 56. The fixture 52 is merely indicated in Figure 5. The light unit 55 comprises a single reflector 58 combining the above-mentioned first and second beams A1 and A2 into a single wide-angle beam A3 that covers both the side of the cab and the sides of a rear load compartment and a trailer, as well as the road surface adjacent the vehicle.

The light units describes above can comprise one or more light sources with means for directing light in at least one predetermined direction. Hence, the light unit can comprise one or more suitable light sources, such as LED:s, or an incandescent lamp (e.g. a tungsten halogen lamp) and one or more means for directing the light, such as one or more reflectors or light guides.

Figure 6 shows a schematic fourth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to this example, a light unit 65 is mounted adjacent the end of a sun visor 67 at an upper portion of the front of a cab 61 using a fixture 62, as indicated in Figures 3-5, above a side door 64 and a side mirror 66. The fixture 62 is merely indicated in Figure 6. The light unit 65 can located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor 67, in the rearward direction of the cab 61 . When required, the light unit 65 can be pivoted upwards or downwards substantially parallel to the side of the cab to provide improved illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. This arrangement is used for redirecting either beam A1 , A2 in a longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle to cover an unlit area or an area that is insufficiently lit when the light unit is located in a standard, nominal position. Figure 6 indicates the light unit 65 in a pivoted position in dashed lines, with its respective beams A1 and A2 in dash-dotted lines. The light unit 65 is connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance an electric motor displacing the light unit upwards or downwards in a substantially vertical plane. The pivoting motion is controlled by means of an electrical switch or a manually controlled handle (not shown). Figure 7 shows a schematic fifth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to this example, a light unit 75 is mounted adjacent the end of a sun visor 77 at an upper portion of the front of a cab 71 using a fixture 72, as indicated in Figures 3-6, above a side door 744 and a side mirror 76. The fixture 72 is merely indicated in Figure 7. The light unit 75 can located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor 77, in the rearward direction of the cab 71. When required, the light unit 75 can be pivoted inwards or outwards in a substantially horizontal plane relative to the side of the cab 71. This arrangement provides improved illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. This arrangement is used for redirecting either beam A1 , A2 in a transverse direction relative to the vehicle to cover an unlit area or an area that is insufficiently lit when the light unit is located in a standard, nominal position. Figure 7 indicates the light unit 75 in a pivoted position in dashed lines, with its respective beams A1 and A2 in dash-dotted lines. The light unit 75 is connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance an electric motor displacing the light unit inwards or outwards in a substantially horizontal plane. The pivoting motion is controlled by means of an electrical switch or a manually controlled handle (not shown). According to a further example, the light unit 65, 75 can be pivoted upwards or downwards in a substantially vertical plane as well as laterally in a substantially horizontal plane. This lighting arrangement would form a combination of the examples shown in Figures 6 and 7. Such a light unit 65, 75 is connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance a first electric motor displacing the light unit upwards or downwards in a substantially vertical plane, and a second electric motor displacing the light unit inwards or outwards in a substantially horizontal plane. As indicated above, the pivoting motion can be controlled by any suitable means, such as an electrical switch or a manually controlled handle, but will require a further degree of freedom. In the case of an electric switch the displacement of the light unit in vertical and horizontal planes can be achieved using a joystick of the same type used for adjusting outer rear view mirrors in two orthogonal planes. Depending on the location of the joystick, forward/rearward displacement of the joystick can be used for adjusting the work light in the vertical plane, while sideways displacement can adjust the work light in the horizontal plane. A selector switch can be provided for selecting displacement of the right or left hand side work light. A manually controlled handle can provide stepless adjustment, e.g. using a ball joint mounting, or adjustment in predetermined fixed steps.

Figure 8 shows a schematic sixth example of a light unit in a lighting arrangement according to the invention. According to this example, a light unit 85 is mounted in a recess 83 in an upper portion of the front of the cab 81 , for instance in a side surface of a wind deflector forming a part of the cab roof. The light unit 85 is mounted adjacent the end of a sun visor 87. The recess 83 is located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor 87, in the rearward direction of the cab 81 and above a side door 84 and a side mirror 86. When required, the light unit 85 can be deployed out of the recess 81 to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface. Figure 8 shows the light unit 85 in its deployed position, with its respective beams A1 and A2 indicated in dash-dotted lines. The recess can be covered by a panel that protects the light unit when not in use, but in the example shown an outer surface of the light unit 85 forms a protective panel. The light unit 85 is connected to a suitable mechanism, for instance a linkage (not shown) displacing the light unit transversely out of the recess, or alternatively a pivoted housing where a rear end comprising the light unit is angled out of the recess in a substantially horizontal plane. The example in Figure 8 shows a light unit 85 having a first reflector 88 along its lower edge and a second reflector 89 in a surface that faces the recess 83 in the retracted position and faces rearwards in the deployed position. The deployment can be controlled by any suitable means, such as an electrical switch, whereby the deployment may also trigger an automatic on/off switch for the light unit.

The invention should not be deemed to be limited to the embodiments described above, but rather a number of further variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following patent claims. For instance, the examples according to Figures 1 and 2 are directed to a commercial vehicle of the tractor-trailer type. However, the invention as outlined in the remaining figures can also be applied to trucks without trailers as well as articulated trucks.

Claims

1. Commercial vehicle comprising a cab (11; 31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81) having at least one side door (14; 34; 44; 54; 64; 74; 84) and a light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) arranged to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface, characterized i n that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) is mounted to the cab above and/or in front of an upper portion of at least one side door (14).

2. Vehicle according to claim ^cha racterized i n that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) is mounted above an upper portion of an adjacent side mirror (16; 36; 46; 56; 66; 76; 86).

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) is mounted adjacent a sun visor (17; 37; 47; 57; 67; 77; 87) extending at least across an upper portion of the front of the cab (11 ; 3 ; 41 ; 5 ; 6 ; 71; 81).

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) extends rearwards from an end of the sun visor.

5. Vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 55; 65; 75) is attached to a fixture for mounting the sun visor.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the light unit (45) is integrated with an end of the sun visor (47).

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the light unit (65) is pivotable upwards or downwards relative to the cab (61).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claim 1-5, characterized in that the light unit (65; 75) is pivotable in a vertical and/or a horizontal plane relative to a nominal position.

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the light unit (85) is mounted in a recess (83) in an upper portion of the front of the cab (81).

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the recess is located behind or partially behind the end of the sun visor (87), in the rearward direction of the cab (81).

11. Vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the light unit (85) is arranged to be deployed out of the recess (83) to provide illumination along at least one side surface of the vehicle and a ground surface below that side surface.

12. Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the light unit (85) is connected to a mechanism arranged to deploy the light unit out of the recess (83).

13. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65) comprises one or more light sources with means for directing light in at least one predetermined direction.

14. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65) comprises at least one means (39; 49; 58; 69; 79; 89) for directing light rearwards along the side of the side of the vehicle behind the cab.

15. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the light unit (15; 35; 45; 55; 65) comprises at least one means (38; 48; 58; 69; 78; 88) for directing light arranged to direct light downwards along the side of the cab.

16. Vehicle according to any one of the above claims 1-15, characterized in that the light unit (55) comprises a single means for directing light (58) arranged to direct light downwards along the side of the cab and rearwards along the side of the side of the vehicle behind the cab (51).