Vehicle headlamp

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a headlight for vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2007 028 988 A1, a headlight for vehicles is known, comprising a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged to generate a predetermined light distribution. The optical unit is adjustable relative to the housing by means of an adjustment device, so that the light distribution in the headlight's mounting position may have a predetermined light / dark boundary. The adjustment device includes a spindle screw which is rotatably coupled to the housing or a support frame attached to the housing via a ball joint. The spindle screw is also linearly displaceable relative to a mounting element of the optical unit, thus ensuring pivoting of the optical unit about a horizontal or vertical axis relative to the housing.The spindle screw has a threaded shank that is guided and mounted in a receiving part, the receiving part being designed to be inserted into the mounting part, which is fixedly connected to the optical unit. Since the receiving part is integrally connected to the housing and the mounting part is integrally connected to the optical unit, the manufacturing effort is relatively high.

[0003] From DE 103 09 087 A1, a headlight for vehicles with an adjustment device is known, which provides a receiving part for a spindle screw. This receiving part has non-spring-loaded fastening means for attachment to a fastening part by means of a bayonet fitting.

[0004] From EP 0 580 496 A1 a headlight with an adjustment device is known in which a spindle screw is mounted in a rigidly designed receiving part so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

[0005] From FR 2 643 027 A1, a headlight with an adjustment device is known in which a spindle screw is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable within a detent body. The detent body has expanding elements which, in the mounted position, bear against a mounting part of the housing on the inside. Detent elements arranged on the outside of the detent body are spring-loaded, but interact with stops of the mounting part, so that a detent adjustment in the circumferential direction is effected.

[0006] From EP 3 115 621 B1, a headlight for vehicles is known, comprising a housing in which a light source and an optical unit for generating a predetermined light distribution are arranged. Furthermore, an adjustment device is provided with a spindle screw that is coupled to the headlight housing via a ball joint. The spindle screw engages in threaded engagement with a receiving part, which is designed to be inserted into a mounting part of the optical unit in a snap-fit ​​manner. The receiving part is designed as a locking element that has a plurality of expanding elements which, in the installed position, bear against the inner wall of the mounting part.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to further develop a headlight for vehicles with an adjustment device for the relative adjustment of an optical unit to a housing of the headlight in a mounting position in such a way that the manufacturing effort is further reduced and a snap-fit ​​connection is improved.

[0008] To solve this problem, the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0009] According to the invention, the receiving part is designed as a locking element, which is manufactured as a loose body and, during the mounting of the optical unit to the headlight housing, is snap-fitted to a mounting part of the optical unit in a positionally secure manner. The locking element has a base element with a bore for the entry of a spindle screw on one side and locking and / or fastening means projecting from this base on the other. The locking means serve to snap the locking element to the mounting part. The base element has a stop surface that rests against an end face of the mounting part in the mounted position. The locking means are designed such that, in this mounted position, the locking element is connected to the mounting part in a positionally secure and play-free manner, and is resistant to vibration and oscillation.Advantageously, assembly can be carried out without tools. In a first step, the locking element is snapped onto the mounting part, and in a second step, a spindle screw is inserted into the bore of the locking element. According to the invention, the locking element comprises a number of expanding elements that project from the rear side of the base element of the locking element. The expanding elements are resiliently connected to the base element, allowing them to move (resiliently) transversely to the pivot axis or transversely to the spindle screw. In the assembled position, the expanding elements rest (resiliently) against an inner wall of the mounting part. Once the locking element is in the assembled position, a thread can be cut into the expanding elements by inserting the spindle screw.The spindle screw is then linearly guided and mounted in the locking body, forming a threaded engagement, with the expanding elements being pressed against the inner wall of the fastening part. According to the invention, a spring-loaded locking element projects from a rear side of the base element of the locking body as a locking means. In the assembly position, this locking element is snap-fitted to a locking lug projecting from an outer wall of the fastening part. The snap-fit ​​connection between the locking element of the locking body and the locking lug of the fastening part thus enables the locking body to be fixed in the direction of the axis of the locking body, the fastening part, or the spindle screw.

[0010] According to a further development of the invention, a fastening rib projects from the rear of the base element of the locking body, serving as a locking / fastening means. In the assembled position, this rib engages in a pocket-shaped receptacle of the fastening part. Advantageously, this provides additional clamping between the locking body and the fastening part, which further increases vibration resistance.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, the mounting tab can be arranged in the pocket-shaped receptacle by clamping and / or adhesive bonding. Advantageously, this further increases the intimate connection between the locking element and the mounting part.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, the base element of the locking body has a bulge extending in the plane of the base element, which, in the assembly position, rests against a stop jaw of the fastening part. In this way, the locking body is secured against rotation on the fastening part.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the fastening part has a hollow cylinder section against whose inner wall the expanding elements of the locking element bear. Preferably, the inner wall has support ribs so that guidance is provided during the assembly of the locking element.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the inner wall of the hollow cylinder section of the fastening part has a diameter increase in an end region facing away from the base element, thus ensuring pull-out protection for the locking element. This prevents the locking element from being unintentionally pulled out of the fastening part.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the spreading elements each extend at a circumferential angle of less than 90°, so that at least four spreading elements are provided per locking body. This ensures reliable thread cutting by the spreading elements.

[0016] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the further dependent claims.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective front view of a detent element of the adjustment device shortly before it is inserted into a bore of a mounting part of an optical unit of the headlight, Fig. 2 a perspective rear view of the detent element before it is inserted into the bore of the mounting part according to Figure 1 Fig. 3 shows a perspective rear view of the locking element in its mounting position, in which it is fixed to the mounting part; Fig. 4 shows a perspective rear view of the locking element inserted on the mounting part, wherein a spindle screw has been cut into expanding elements of the locking element, so that the spindle screw is mounted to be linearly displaceable relative to the locking element; and Fig. 5 shows a rear view of the optical unit with a heat sink, wherein the optical unit is connected at its corner areas to a support frame of the headlight via the adjustment device so as to be linearly displaceable.

[0019] A headlight for vehicles has a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged to produce a predetermined light distribution. The headlight is located in the front of the vehicle. For example, the light source and / or the optical unit can be controlled to produce a low beam distribution or, for example, a fog light distribution. Optionally, a turn signal function could also be generated. Figure 5The rear side of the optical unit is shown, formed by a heat sink 1. The heat sink 1 has a plurality of cooling fins 2 projecting in the opposite direction to the main emission direction H of the headlight. The heat sink 1 has an opening 3 on its underside for inserting the light source. The heat sink 1 is rectangular and is coupled to a support frame 6, which is rigidly connected to the housing, in a linearly displaceable manner at each corner 4 via an adjustment device 5.

[0020] The adjusting device 5 has a linearly guided spindle screw 7, which is connected at one end to the support frame 6 via the ball joint 8. The ball joint 8 can be formed by a socket receptacle 9 of the support frame 6 and a ball head of the spindle screw 7. The ball head of the spindle screw 7 is rotatably mounted in the socket receptacle 9 in the usual manner.

[0021] The spindle screw 7 has a threaded shank 10 which, in the assembly position, engages in a threaded connection with a receiving part designed as a detent element 11, the detent element 11 being fixedly connected to a mounting part 13 of the optical unit or the heat sink 1 having a bore 12. The spindle screw 7 is rotatably mounted in the detent element 11 about an axis of rotation A, which also forms an axis of symmetry of the spindle screw 7, so that, depending on the actuation of one or more of the spindle screws 7 arranged at the four mounting points, the optical unit can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis S1 and / or a vertical pivot axis S2 relative to the housing.

[0022] How to get better from the Figures 1 and 2As can be seen, the fastening element 13 is arranged in the corner regions 4 of the heat sink 1, with the fastening element 13 being arranged in a projecting manner with an arc-shaped outer wall 14 extending from a vertical edge 15 of the heat sink 1 to a horizontal edge 16 of the heat sink 1 running at a right angle to the same. The outer wall 14 sweeps out an obtuse angle. The bore 12 with a hollow cylindrical inner wall 17 is arranged in the arc of the outer wall 14. A pocket-shaped receptacle 19 for inserting a mounting lug of the snap-fit ​​element 11 is arranged between a foot 18 of the outer wall 14 and the bore 12.

[0023] The locking element 11 has a base element 21. The spindle screw 7 is inserted into the locking element 11, or into the through-hole 22 thereof, from a front face 23 of the base element 21. A plurality of locking and / or fastening elements project onto a rear face 24 of the base element 23, opposite the front face 23.

[0024] Firstly, a number of spreading elements 25 project from the rear side 24 of the base element 21, bearing against the inner wall 17 of the fastening part 13 in the assembled position. In the present embodiment, four identical spreading elements 25 are provided, each extending at a circumferential angle φ of less than 90° in the circumferential direction U of the locking body 11. The spreading elements 25 are each wedge-shaped and have an annular circumferential surface 26 that bears against the inner wall 17 of the fastening part 13. The spreading elements 25 are integrally connected to the rear side 24 of the base element 21, and only at that point. Thus, the spreading elements 25 are movable or resilient perpendicular to the axis of rotation A. The spreading elements 25 directly adjoin an edge 27 of the through-hole 22.

[0025] At a greater radial distance than the spreading elements 25, two opposing spring-loaded locking elements 28 extend from the rear side 24 of the base element 21 as locking and / or fastening means. The spring-loaded locking elements 28 interact with a locking lug 29 arranged on the outer wall 14 of the fastening part 13, so that the locking body 11 attached to the fastening part 13 is locked in the direction of axis A. The spring-loaded locking elements 28 are formed by loops on the outer circumferential edge of the locking body 11, the recesses 30 of which engage the locking lug 29 in a barbed manner.

[0026] Furthermore, a number of fastening lugs project from the rear side 24 of the base element 21 as a locking / fastening means, which in the assembled position each engage in the pocket-shaped receptacle 19 of the fastening part 13. In the present embodiment, the fastening lugs are cylindrical and / or arcuate with a taper to a free end, and in the assembled position they are arranged in a clamping position in the pocket-shaped receptacle 19.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, the fastening tabs can also be fixed by adhesive in the pocket-shaped receptacle 19 of the fastening part 13.

[0028] The locking element 11 has an additional protrusion 32 on the base element 21, extending in the plane of the base element 21, which, in the assembly position, rests against a stop jaw 33 of the fastening part 13 to form a rotation lock of the locking element 11 relative to the fastening part 13. The stop jaw 33 of the fastening part 13 extends in an area close to the foot 18 and is arranged slightly recessed from the outer wall 14, so that the protrusion 32 of the locking element 11 can abut against the stop jaw 33.

[0029] Additionally, the rear side 24 of the base element 21 forms a stop for the fastening part 13, wherein the rear side 24 of the base element 21 lies flat against a front face 34 of the fastening part 13.

[0030] Additionally, the inner wall 17 of the bore 12 of the fastening part 13 can have support ribs 35 extending in the axial direction. This simplifies the insertion of the expanding elements 25 of the locking body 11 into the bore 12 of the fastening part 13. The support ribs 35 can serve as anti-rotation protection, preventing the expanding elements 25 from breaking off when the spindle screw 7 is inserted into the through bore 22 of the locking body 11, which is connected to the fastening part 13. For this purpose, the expanding elements 25 arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction U are spaced apart in an initial state before engagement with the bore 12 of the fastening part 13 such that the radially facing sides 38 of the adjacent expanding elements 25 are guided along the axial support rib 35 when the locking body 11 is inserted into the bore 12 of the fastening part 13.

[0031] In the area of ​​the rear side 36 of the bore 12 of the fastening part 13, an end area 37 is provided which has a larger diameter d 2 compared to the diameter d 1 of the remaining area of ​​the bore 12. This advantageously ensures pull-out protection of the locking element 11.

[0032] The following describes how to move the locking element 11 into the mounting position relative to the fastening part 13. In a first step, the locking element 11 is inserted into the bore 12 of the fastening part 13 by engaging the expanding elements 25. The fastening lugs engage in the pocket-shaped receptacles, and the spring-loaded locking element 28 engages behind the locking lug 29 of the fastening part 13. The locking element 11 is thus securely and vibration-free connected to the fastening part 13.

[0033] In a further step, the spindle screw 7 is inserted into the through-hole 22 of the locking body 11 from the front side, preferably cutting a thread on the inside of the expanding elements 25 during the initial insertion. After the thread has been cut, the expanding elements 25 are each formed in the shape of an annular cutout, as shown in the figure. Figure 4 as can be seen.

[0034] In a further step, the spindle screw 7 is now connected to the support frame 6 via the ball joint 8.

[0035] By actuating or turning the spindle screw 7 at a free end of the same, for example by means of a tool, the optical unit or the heat sink 1 can now be linearly adjusted at the mounting points relative to the support frame 6.

[0036] Preferably, the locking element 11 is made of a plastic material. The mounting element 13, like the heat sink 1, is preferably made of a metal material. Preferably, both the mounting element 13 and the heat sink 1 are made of a metallic die-casting material, for example, an aluminum die-cast part. The heat sink 1 is preferably integrally connected to the mounting element 13. The spindle screw 7 may be made of a plastic material. Reference symbol list

[0037] 1 Cooling sink 2 Cooling fin 3 Opening 4 Corner area 5 Adjustment device 6 Support frame 7 Spindle screw 8 Ball joint 9 Pan mount 10 Threaded shaft 11 Detent body 12 Bore 13 Fastening part 14 Outer wall 15 Vertical edge 16 Horizontal edge 17 Inner wall 18 Foot 19 Pocket-shaped mount 21 Base element 22 Through hole 23 Front 24 Back 25 Spreading element 26 Circumferential surface 27 Edge 28 Detent element 29 Detent lug 30 Outer wall 32 Bulge 33 Stop jaws 34 Front face 35 Support ribs 36 Back 37 End area 38 Radial side d 2 Diameter H Main radiation direction φ Circumferential angle A Axis of rotation S1,S2 Swivel axis Circumferential direction

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp with a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged to generate a predetermined light distribution, said optical unit being arranged to be adjustable relative to a horizontal and / or vertical axis (S1, S2) via an adjustment device (5), said adjustment device (5) comprising a spindle screw (7) that is coupled to the housing or to a carrier frame (6) attached to the housing by means of a ball joint (8) and that is engaged in a thread with a receiving part (11) with a threaded shaft (10) about an axis of rotation (A), said receiving part (11) being formed so that it can be inserted into a fastening part (13) connected integrally to the optical unit, and said receiving part (11) being formed as a latching body with a base element (21) extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation (A) and a plurality of latching and / or fastening means (25, 28, 32) projecting from the base element (21), with a number of expanding elements (25) projecting from the base element (21) of the latching body (11) as latching means that in installed position are in contact with an inner wall (17) of the fastening part (13), characterised in that a spring-loaded latching element (28) projects from the base element (21) of the latching body (11) as a latching means which, in installed position, is connected in a latching manner to a latching lug (29) projecting from an outer wall (30) of the fastening part (13) so that the latching body (11) attached to the fastening part (13) is latched and fixed in the direction of the axis of rotation (A).

2. A headlamp according to Claim 1, characterised in that the base element (21) of the latching body (11) has a bulge (32) extending in the plane of the base element (21) which, in the installed position, is in contact with a stop jaw (33) of the fastening part (13) to form a twist lock for the latching body (11).

3. A headlamp according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the fastening part (13) has a bore (12) with an inner wall (17) that has axial supporting ribs (35).

4. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that in an end region (37) facing away from the base element (21), the inner wall (17) of the bore (12) has an end section with a larger diameter (d2) compared with the diameter (d1) of the other region of the bore (12) facing the base element (21) of the latching body (11).

5. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the expanding element (25) is connected to the base element (21) of the latching body (11) only at the front end.

6. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the expanding element (25) extends in a circumferential angle (φ) of the latching body (11) in an angle range of less than 90°.

7. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a plurality of identically formed expanding elements (25) are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction (U) with the expanding elements (25) being arranged at a distance from one another.

8. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a circumferential surface of the expanding elements (25) is formed in the shape of an annular recess.

9. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the expanding elements (25) are formed in such a way that when the spindle screw (7) engages in the through hole (22) of the latching body (11) in installed position, a thread is cut on an inner side of the expanding elements (25).

10. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that expanding elements (25) arranged adjacently in circumferential direction (U) have a distance between them in an initial state before they engage in the bore (12) of the fastening part (13) such that, when they engage in the bore (12), the radial sides (38) of the adjacent expanding elements (25) facing each other are guided along the axial support rib (35) of the bore (12).

11. A headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that a fastening web projects from the base element (21) of the latching body (11) as a latching and / or fastening means which, in the installed position, engages in a pocket-shaped recess (19) of the fastening part (13).

12. A vehicle headlamp according to Claim 11, characterised in that the fastening web is arranged in the pocket-shaped recess (19) where it is clamped and / or glued.

13. A vehicle headlamp according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the fastening part (13) is made of a metallic die-cast material.