Lighting equipment for a vehicle

Abstract

Lighting device (2) for a vehicle (1) comprising at least one light source, in particular one or more light-emitting diodes, and a cooling element in thermally conductive contact with the light source, which is designed as a self-supporting light module (4) accommodating the light source, wherein the light module (4) has a transverse axle bearing (8, 9) on each side for pivoting about a transverse axis (5), wherein the lighting device (2) comprises an actuator (13) connected to the light module (4) for pivoting the light module (4) about the transverse axis (5) and one transverse axle bearing (9) is provided for rigid fixation to the vehicle (1) and / or to a housing (3) of the lighting device (2), characterized in that the actuator (13) is held by a carrier (16) which is rotatably abutted against a bearing shaft section (6) by means of a rotary bearing (17).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle, in particular a headlight, comprising at least one light-emitting means, in particular one or more light-emitting diodes, and a cooling element which is in heat-conducting connection with the light-emitting means and which is designed as a self-supporting light module which accommodates the light-emitting means, wherein the light module has a transverse axis bearing on each side for pivoting about a transverse axis, the lighting device comprises an actuator which is connected to the light module for pivoting the light module about the transverse axis, and a transverse axis bearing is provided for rigid fixing to the vehicle and / or to a housing of the lighting device.

[0002] A generic lighting device is known from the document DE 10 2009 033 909 A1, wherein in a housing of the lighting device a light module comprising a light source and a cooling element is arranged so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis relative to the housing.

[0003] A lighting device of this type is also known from DE 10 2007 043 961 A1. In the disclosed lighting device, a light source and a cooling element are combined to form a light module. A support frame, which accommodates the light module, is arranged in a housing of the lighting device. The support frame is rotatable about a transverse axis.

[0004] Furthermore, a lighting device is known from the document DE 10 2006 001 711 B4, in which a light module is mounted in a housing so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis, wherein the light module comprises a light source and a cooling element.

[0005] The document DE 10 2008 061 526 A1 shows a lighting device in which a light source and a cooling element are connected to form a light module which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis relative to the housing, wherein the light module, in particular the cooling element, penetrates the housing and is positioned in sections outside the housing.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2009 033 909 A1 discloses a headlight for motor vehicles comprising one or more heat sources and a cooling device. The cooling device consists of a heat sink, which is thermally connected to the heat source, and a fan with a housing that generates an air flow to cool the heat sink. A special feature of the headlight is that the heat sink and the fan housing form an integrated unit.

[0007] DE 10 2005 024 375 A1 also describes a headlight for vehicles with a housing. At least one light unit with a light source and a reflector is mounted in this housing, which is adjustable about a horizontal adjustment axis via a support frame. The support frame is rigidly attached to the housing at two mounting locations on one side, with the mounting locations spaced apart along the horizontal adjustment axis. The vertical arrangement of the light unit is designed so that the center of mass is either near or on the horizontal adjustment axis.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of finding an alternative embodiment compared to the prior art for a lighting device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the lighting device has a headlight range adjustment and at the same time the size of the lighting device, in particular the installation space height, i.e. the extension in the direction of the vertical axis, should be as small as possible.

[0009] This object is achieved with a lighting device according to the features of patent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly expedient developments of the invention.

[0010] According to the invention, a lighting device is provided in which the first transverse axle bearing is designed for rigid, immovable relative to the vehicle, direct or indirect fixation to the vehicle, in particular to its body or a housing of the lighting device. By designing the light module with a cooling element that supports itself and the light source, it is possible to design the light module very flat. At the same time, the light module can be connected directly to the transverse axle bearings without the need for an intermediate support frame. This results in a compact design. In this case, it has proven advantageous for the center of gravity of the cross-sectional area of ​​the light module and / or the mass of the light module to lie on the axis of rotation.This facilitates the design of a particularly flat lighting device, as the other components can be made small in terms of their dimensions and performance and can be positioned in a space-saving manner in a housing of the lighting device.

[0011] The actuator for pivoting the light module can, for example, be a manual actuation device. Preferably, an electric motor is provided as the actuator in order to automatically adjust the beam range of the lighting device, for example, to the driving operating state. According to the invention, the actuator is held by a carrier which, by means of a pivot bearing, rotatably rests on a bearing shaft section arranged between a transverse axle bearing and the light module. This makes it possible to establish a translationally unchangeable position relative to the light module. At the same time, only one additional, single attachment point is required for secure, direct or indirect attachment to the vehicle. The carrier is designed so that the actuator can be interchangeably attached to the carrier.This makes it possible to use a different actuator at the customer's request, for example, a manually operated one or one designed for use in extreme climates. It is also possible to create a lighting system without adjusting the beam range simply by omitting the actuator.

[0012] It has also proven advantageous that the carrier comprises a support arm oriented radially to the transverse axis, wherein this is provided for rigid connection by means of a connecting element in the direction of a vertical axis. The connecting element is arranged on the support arm at an end far removed from the transverse axis. Due to the distance between the transverse axis and the connecting element, the carrier has a large bearing width and thus ensures low-vibration mounting of the actuator, which can also transmit high torques with a low dead weight. The rigid connection to the vehicle or to its body or the housing of the lighting device, which is effective in particular in the direction of the vertical axis, fixes the carrier relative to the light module at least against translational movement in the direction of the vertical axis.To enable adjustment along the longitudinal axis, the connecting element allows at least elastic or free rotational movement around the longitudinal axis. Translational movement perpendicular to the vertical axis can also be achieved. The connection to the vehicle, body, and / or housing, which is movable around the vertical axis and / or elastic, serves, as does the elongated hole in the support arm described below, to compensate for tolerances for rotational movement during horizontal adjustment along the longitudinal axis.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting element comprises a bracket, an actuator, and a support arm bearing. The bracket is provided for a rigid connection to the vehicle. The support arm bearing is connected to the bracket by means of the actuator so that it can be adjusted translationally in the direction of the vertical axis relative to the bracket. This enables vertical adjustment of the lighting device during production in the factory or during maintenance and repair in a workshop. The support arm and the connecting element are connected to one another by the support arm bearing so that they can rotate about a bearing axis parallel to the transverse axis. The support arm bearing comprises a bolt or pin with a preferably circular cross-section on the connecting element side and a recess on the support arm side. The pin is arranged in the recess in the support arm, which is designed as an elongated hole.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting element serves only as a torque bearing for the actuator. The vertical adjustment is then realized by means of an actuator arranged on one side of the light module, for example, the rear. The vertical adjustment can alternatively be achieved by a translational displacement of the actuator parallel to the longitudinal axis or by a translational displacement of the worm gear parallel to its rotational axis. Furthermore, vertical adjustment is also possible by an electronic setpoint specification for the actuator. In a further development of this embodiment, the pivot bearing is designed as a single piece with a transverse axis bearing and / or the carriage.

[0015] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to connect the second transverse axle bearing to the vehicle via a carriage for a sliding connection along a longitudinal axis. The largely translational movement of the carriage serves the horizontal adjustment of the light module. To avoid obstructing horizontal adjustment, the recess in the support arm is designed as an elongated hole, with the longest extension of the elongated hole oriented parallel to a rail of the carriage.

[0016] However, since the light module only has such horizontal adjustment on one side, the light module, together with the support and the drive, is also slightly rotated around a vertical axis when the carriage is moved. This vertical axis is oriented parallel to the vertical axis and positioned in the first transverse axis bearing. To enable movement of the carriage, it comprises a linear sliding body which extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis and is guided in a rail which encompasses it, wherein the rail is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle for rigid connection. To enable absorption of the slight rotary movement around the bearing axis and to compensate for tilting of the linear sliding body in the rail, at least one elastic projection acting transversely to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the transverse axis is arranged on at least one longitudinal edge.The elasticity of the projection allows slight rotation around the bearing axis through elastic deformation.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting device has a housing which is designed for rigid connection to the vehicle and in which the light module, the actuator, the support, the connecting element and the carriage are positioned. The arrangement of the components of the lighting device in a common housing makes it possible to supply the lighting device as a single assembly for assembly or repair. It has proven particularly advantageous for the first cross-axle bearing and / or the holder and / or the rail to be rigidly connected to the housing. However, it is also possible for the first cross-axle bearing and / or the holder and / or the rail to be designed as a single piece with the housing.

[0018] It has also proven useful to arrange a spherical cap on each side of the light module, particularly at the end of a bearing shaft section, which interacts with the transverse axis bearing. The use of a ball joint with a spherical cap makes it possible to carry out the horizontal and vertical adjustment of the light module on one side only. Since only one-sided adjustment of the light module is possible, the required installation space for the lighting device is reduced by omitting further adjustment devices. The bearing shaft section is oriented coaxially to the transverse axis, with the center of mass of the light module lying on the transverse axis. The spherical cap can be arranged at one end of a bearing shaft section or directly on the light module. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one spherical cap and the light module, in particular its cooling element, are formed as a single piece.This makes it possible to realize a particularly compact design.

[0019] It has also proven advantageous for the actuator to be connected to the light module by means of a gear mechanism, wherein the gear mechanism has at least one gear section rigidly attached to a bearing shaft section. The gear section can also be rigidly attached to the light module or formed integrally therewith, for example, on a transverse side or on the rear side of the light module. When arranged on a transverse side, the teeth of the gear section are preferably oriented toward the roof side or bottom side of the light module, whereas when arranged on the rear side, the teeth of the gear section are preferably oriented away from the rear side.

[0020] With an actuator designed as a linear motor or a mechanical transmission from a manual actuator, the gear section can be used to convert the linear movement into a rotary movement in a small space. The actuator can also be a motor with a rotating drive shaft. In this design, it is advantageous for the transmission to include a worm gear coupled to the actuator. The large diameter of the gear section enables torque support of the light module when the actuator is switched off, with the worm gear in particular being self-locking. This prevents unwanted movement of the light module, for example, caused by external forces and accelerations in certain driving situations.

[0021] The invention permits numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle with a lighting device; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the lighting device; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the lighting device in a further view; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the lighting device in a further view; Fig. 5 a schematic representation of the lighting device in a further view; Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a sled carriage in a section of the lighting device; Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a connecting element in a section of the lighting device.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1 with four lighting devices 2, namely two headlights and two rear lights.

[0023] The Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show one of the Fig. 1 indicated lighting devices 2 in different views.

[0024] The lighting device 2 has a housing 3 in which all other components of the lighting device 2 are arranged. The housing 3 is rigid, in the sense of being immobile relative to one another, with the Fig. 1. The lighting device 2 comprises a light module 4, which is mounted in the housing 3 so as to be rotatable relative to the housing about a transverse axis 5. The light module 4 has a front side 31, which serves as the light output. Furthermore, the light module 4 has transverse sides 32—a rear side 33 opposite the front side, a bottom side 34, and a roof side 35.

[0025] The transverse axis 5 is positioned on the light module 4 such that the center of gravity of the light module 4 lies on the transverse axis 5. On the light module 4, a bearing shaft section 6, 7 is arranged concentrically to the transverse axis 5 on two opposite outer surfaces. The bearing shaft sections 6, 7 are rigidly connected to the light module 4. Each bearing shaft section 6, 7 has a spherical cap at its end facing away from the light module 4. Each spherical cap is accommodated by a transverse axis bearing 8, 9. One transverse axis bearing 9 is rigidly connected to the housing 3. The other transverse axis bearing 8 is fastened to a carriage 10. The carriage 10 has a T-shaped linear sliding body 11. The linear sliding body 11 is guided in a Fig. 6. The rail 12 is rigidly connected to the housing 3 and oriented along a longitudinal axis 14. A movement 15 of the linear sliding body 11 in the rail 12 for horizontal adjustment of the light module 4 is indicated by a double arrow.

[0026] The actuator 13 of the lighting device 2 is held by a support 16. The support 16 comprises a pivot bearing 17 and a support arm 18. The pivot bearing 17 rests on a bearing shaft section 6, allowing free rotation. The support arm 18 is oriented radially to the transverse axis 5. By means of a connecting element 20, the support arm 18 is connected to the housing 3, in particular translationally in the direction of a vertical axis 19. The actuator 13 is connected to the light module 4 by means of a gear 21. The gear 21 has at least one gear section 22, which is rigidly attached to a bearing shaft section 6. Furthermore, the gear 21 has a worm drive 23, which is coupled to the actuator 13. The actuator 13 is an electric motor and serves to pivot the light module 4 about the transverse axis 5 to adjust the beam range of the lighting device 2.By rotating the worm gear 23, the light module 4 is tilted relative to the housing 3, since force is transmitted via the gear section 22 firmly connected to the light module 4. The rotation 30 of the light module 4 about the transverse axis 5 for regulating the beam range is indicated by a double arrow.

[0027] Fig. Figure 6 shows a section of the lighting device 2, the carriage 10. The transverse axis bearing 8, which accommodates the bearing shaft section 6, is attached to the carriage 10. The carriage 10 has two linear sliding bodies 11, only one of which is shown. The linear sliding bodies 11 are aligned parallel to one another and positioned on opposite sides of the bearing shaft section 8 at a distance from the latter. Each of the linear sliding bodies 11 is arranged in a rail 12. The rail 12 is formed integrally with the housing 3. The linear sliding body 11 is mounted in the rail 12 for displacement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 14. This displacement enables manual horizontal adjustment of the light module 4. Elastic projections 25 are provided on each of the longitudinal edges 24 of the linear sliding body 11. The projections 25 act transversely to the longitudinal axis 14 and parallel to the transverse axis 5.Since a carriage 10 for horizontal adjustment of the light module 4 is only present on one side of the light module 4, the displacement takes place on a circular path, with the pivot point being the opposite transverse axis bearing 9. The elastic projections 25 allow the rotation to be absorbed by the linear sliding bodies 11 without them becoming jammed in the rail 12.

[0028] Fig.7 shows a section of the lighting device 2, the connecting element 20. Vertical adjustment of the light module 4 is realized by means of the connecting element 20. The connecting element 20 has a holder 26, an actuator 27, and a support arm bearing 28. The holder 26 is formed integrally with the housing 3. The support arm 18 and the connecting element 20 are connected by the support arm bearing 28. By means of the actuator 27, the support arm bearing 28 can be adjusted translationally relative to the holder 26 in the direction of the vertical axis 19 for vertical adjustment. The movement 29 of the support arm bearing 28 during vertical adjustment is indicated by a double arrow. The actuator 27 is designed as an adjusting screw. By adjusting the actuator 27, the light module 4 is tilted relative to the housing 3, since force is transmitted via the gear section 22 that is firmly connected to the light module 4. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 Lighting device 3 housings 4 light module 5 Transverse axis 6 Bearing shaft section 7 Bearing shaft section 8 cross-axle bearings 9 cross-axle bearings 10 sleigh carts 11 linear sliding bodies 12 rail 13 Actuator 14 Longitudinal axis 15 Movement (horizontal adjustment) 16 carriers 17 pivot bearings 18 Support arm 19 Vertical axis 20 connecting element 21 gearboxes 22 Gear section 23 Worm gear 24 Longitudinal edge 25 lead 26 Bracket 27 Actuator 28 support arm bearings 29 Movement (vertical adjustment) 30 rotation (headlight range adjustment) 31 Front 32 short side 33 Back 34 bottom side 35 roof side

Claims

[1] Lighting device (2) for a vehicle (1) comprising at least one illuminant, in particular one or more light-emitting diodes, and a cooling element which is in heat-conducting connection with the illuminant and which is designed as a self-supporting light module (4) which accommodates the illuminant, wherein the light module (4) has a transverse axis bearing (8, 9) on each side for pivoting about a transverse axis (5), wherein the lighting device (2) comprises an actuator (13) which is connected to the light module (4) for pivoting the light module (4) about the transverse axis (5), and wherein a transverse axis bearing (9) is provided for rigidly fixing it to the vehicle (1) and / or to a housing (3) of the lighting device (2), characterized by that the actuator (13) is held by a carrier (16) which is rotatably mounted on a bearing shaft section (6) by means of a rotary bearing (17). [2] Lighting device (2) according to claim 1, characterized bythat a bearing shaft section (6, 7) rigidly connected to the light module (4) is arranged between a transverse axle bearing (8, 9) and the light module (4). [3] Lighting device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by in that the support (16) comprises a support arm (18) oriented radially to the transverse axis (5), wherein the support arm (18) is provided by means of a connecting element (20) in the direction of a vertical axis (19) for rigid connection and around the vertical axis (19) for movable and / or elastic connection to the vehicle (1) and / or the housing (3). [4] Lighting device (2) according to claim 3, characterized byin that the connecting element (20) has a holder (26), an actuator (27) and a support arm bearing (28), wherein the holder (26) is provided for rigid connection to the vehicle (1) and / or the housing (3), the support arm bearing (28) is connected to the holder (26) by means of the actuator (27) so as to be translationally adjustable in the direction of the vertical axis (19) relative to the holder (26) and / or the support arm (18) and the connecting element (20) are connected to one another by the support arm bearing (28) so as to be rotatably movable relative to one another. [5] Lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the other transverse axle bearing (8) is provided by means of a carriage (10) for a connection to the vehicle (1) and / or the housing (3) that can be displaced in the direction of a longitudinal axis (14). [6] Lighting device (2) according to claim 5, characterized byin that the carriage (10) comprises a linear sliding body (11) which extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis (14), which is guided in a rail (12) encompassing it, wherein the rail (12) is provided for rigid connection to the vehicle (1) and / or the housing (3), and which has at least one elastic projection (25) acting transversely to the longitudinal axis (14) and parallel to the transverse axis (5) on at least one longitudinal edge (24). [7] Lighting device (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the housing (3) of the lighting device (2) is provided for rigid connection to the vehicle (1) and the light module (4), the actuator (13), the carrier (18), the connecting element (20) and the carriage (10) are positioned in the housing (3). [8] Lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the one transverse axis bearing (9) and / or the holder (26) and / or the rail (12) is rigidly connected to the housing (3) and / or is designed in one piece with the housing (3). [9] Lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a spherical cap cooperating with the transverse axis bearing (8, 9) is arranged on the bearing shaft section (6, 7) and / or the bearing shaft section (6, 7) is oriented coaxially to the transverse axis (5), the center of mass of the light module (4) being located on the transverse axis (5). [10] Lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the actuator (13) is connected to the light module (4) by means of a gear (21), wherein the gear (21) has at least one gear section (22) which is rigidly fastened to a bearing shaft section (6) and / or is designed in one piece with the light module (4) or is rigidly fastened to the light module (4). [11] Lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuator (13) is designed as a linear motor or the gear (21) comprises a worm drive (23) which is coupled to the actuator (13). [12] Vehicle (1) with a lighting device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

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