Adjustment device for adjusting a light module in a lighting system

Abstract

Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a light module in a lighting device, comprising an adjustment means (10) into which a rotary movement can be introduced, and a transmission element (11) by means of which the rotary movement can be transmitted, and wherein the adjustment means (10) and the transmission element (11) are connected by means of a coupling (12) for torque overload protection, wherein the adjustment means (10) is formed in at least two parts and has a first part (10a) into which the rotary movement can be introduced and a second part (10b) which is formed as part of the coupling (12), wherein the coupling (12) has a metallic spring element (13) which is formed by means of the second part (10b) of the adjustment means (10) and which comprises several spring arms (14) which at least partially enclose on the outside a detent section (16) of the transmission element (11) formed with detent cams (15),characterized in that the spring arms (14) have detent projections (21) pointing towards the detent cams (15), which are in contact with the detent cams (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjusting device for adjusting a light module in a lighting device, comprising an adjusting means into which a rotary movement can be introduced, and a transmission element by means of which the rotary movement can be transmitted, and wherein the adjusting means and the transmission element are connected by means of a coupling for torque overload protection in a torque-transmitting manner. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] From DE 20 2010 011 852 U1, an adjustment device for adjusting a light module in a lighting device is known, and an adjustment means is provided which is connected to a transmission element via a coupling. The coupling provides torque overload protection so that if an end stop is reached or due to any other blockage, the torque is not transmitted to the transmission element via the coupling when the torque in the adjustment means increases further. Above a limit torque, the coupling essentially engages, and the rotational movement of the adjustment means is no longer transmitted to the transmission element. This achieves torque overload protection, whereby below the limit torque a simple torque-transmitting connection between the adjustment means and the transmission element is created by means of the coupling.

[0003] During normal headlight adjustment, the overload clutch should not engage. The overload clutch should also not engage during normal headlight adjustment at elevated ambient temperatures, such as during maintenance in a workshop with a hot engine. Furthermore, the clutch should be able to transmit a specified maximum torque even after prolonged exposure to temperature fluctuations. Especially for different headlights with varying torque requirements, a clutch that typically consists only of plastic components offers no possibility of readjustment. Moreover, manufacturers may use different clutches for different adjustment mechanisms.

[0004] Particularly due to the use of plastic for deformable parts, such as those formed by the snap arms that grip the knurled locking element, a predefined torque for maximum transmission is difficult to set, even from a design perspective. Consequently, poor resistance to temperature fluctuations over time results, and in particular, a frequent decrease in the maximum transmissible torque often occurs, meaning that, especially in older lighting systems, the adjustment mechanism can no longer be operated as intended.

[0005] On the other hand, the compliance of the adjusting mechanism's material cannot be significantly reduced, for example, to make the multi-spring clutch softer, because the adjusting mechanism incorporates a tool holder into which a tool, such as an Allen wrench, can be inserted. If the plastic used for the adjusting mechanism is too soft, the tool holder could be damaged when a tool is used. This significantly limits the material options for the adjusting mechanism.

[0006] German patent application DE 10 2004 059 276 A1 discloses an adjustment element for one or more reflectors, in particular for a headlight of a motor vehicle, comprising a first actuating element for engaging an adjustment tool and a second drive element for indirect or direct coupling with at least one reflector, such that the rotational movement of the adjustment element is converted into a rotational movement of the at least one reflector about an associated adjustment axis, in which the actuating element can be coupled to the drive element with respect to a rotational drive and an override protection device is provided between the actuating element and the drive element, which decouples the two from a predetermined defined torque.

[0007] The subsequently published document DE 10 2017 106 709 A1 discloses an adjusting device for adjusting a light module in a lighting device, comprising an adjusting element into which a rotary movement can be introduced and a transmission element by means of which the rotary movement can be transmitted, wherein the adjusting element and the transmission element are connected by means of a coupling for torque overload protection. The coupling is provided to have a detent disc with detent projections and a counter-detent element with at least one detent tongue, wherein the detent tongue engages the detent projections in the event of an overload, and wherein the distance between the detent disc and the detent tongue is adjustable to set a limit torque. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the invention is the further development of an adjusting device with an improved coupling. In particular, a coupling is to be created with which the transmissible torque can be set constantly over a wide temperature range.

[0009] This problem is solved starting from an adjustment device according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention includes the technical teaching that the adjusting means is designed in at least two parts and comprises a first part into which the rotary movement can be introduced and a second part which is designed as part of the coupling, wherein the coupling has a metallic spring element formed by means of the second part of the adjusting means and which comprises several spring arms that at least partially enclose a detent section of the transmission element designed with detent cams on the outside, wherein the spring arms have detent projections pointing towards the detent cams which are in contact with the detent cams. In the sense of the invention, the two-part design particularly describes two parts that are separable from one another but can be joined to one another mechanically or materially, wherein the first part and the second part do not have a seamlessly integrated, uniform structure.

[0011] The core concept of the invention is the possibility of a wider selection of materials for the adjusting element, allowing a first material to be used for the first part and a second material, different from the first, for the second part of the adjusting element. The advantage lies in the fact that the second part belonging to the coupling can meet different material requirements than the first part of the adjusting element, in which, for example, a tool holder is incorporated.

[0012] The coupling features a metallic spring element formed by the second part of the adjusting means, comprising several spring arms that at least partially enclose a detent section of the transmission element, which is equipped with detent cams. This allows for the substitution of plastic spring arms, which are integrally formed with the first part of the adjusting means, with a spring element made of a metallic material. According to the invention, the metallic spring element is rigidly connected to the first part of the adjusting means, for example, by a detent connection, and a rotational movement of the first part of the adjusting means also causes the metallic spring element to rotate around an adjustment axis.The spring arms, which are distributed evenly around the circumference of the spring element, can interact with the locking cams of the locking section in a manner known per se, wherein the locking section with the locking cams is arranged on the transmission element and is formed integrally and of the same material as the further transmission element.

[0013] The adjusting device for adjusting a light module in a lighting device, equipped with the coupling design according to the invention, offers the advantage that the first part of the adjusting element can be made of any material, in particular plastic, without the material choice of the first part of the adjusting element having any influence on the detent behavior of the coupling. Furthermore, the metallic spring element, as the second part of the adjusting element, results in a significantly lower temperature influence on the torque transmission behavior of the coupling. The coupling can exhibit a constant limiting torque over a wide temperature range, above which the spring arms slip off the detent cams, and the coupling essentially slips.The detent section of the transmission element can be made of plastic in a conventional manner, and the essential influence on the torque behavior of the clutch is given by the constant spring stiffness of the spring element, which is essentially independent of temperature.

[0014] With particular advantage, the first part of the adjusting element is made of a plastic material and has a tool holder into which a tool for applying torque to the adjusting element can be inserted. The first part of the adjusting element can, for example, be made of a low-flexibility plastic, such as POM. Due to the inventive development of the coupling, the choice of material for the adjusting element has no influence on the torque behavior. In particular, the tool holder can be designed to be more robust, so that it does not suffer damage even with frequent use, a wide temperature range, and especially after prolonged use of the vehicle's lighting system, even with repeated use.

[0015] With a further advantage, the adjusting device has a receiving recess in which the spring element is at least partially inserted, the receiving recess being formed opposite the tool holder in the first part of the adjusting device with respect to an adjusting axis. The spring element can, for example, be received with a base section in the receiving recess and fixedly arranged therein, and the spring arms protrude from an opening side of the receiving recess and thus from the adjusting device.

[0016] A particular advantage is that the spring element can be inserted into the receiving recess at a variable depth, with the spring arms exhibiting greater spring stiffness at greater insertion depths and lesser spring stiffness at shallower insertion depths. Thus, the deeper the spring element is engaged in the receiving recess, the greater the stiffness of the spring arms, and the greater the stiffness of the spring arms, the lower the resulting compliance. Therefore, if the spring element is inserted very deeply into the receiving recess and, for example, locked into place, high torques can be transmitted because the spring arms have only a short free spring length. If the insertion depth of the spring element into the receiving recess is shallower, and the spring arms protrude further from the receiving recess, their stiffness is lower, and only lower torques can be transmitted.This allows for adjustment of the transmissible torques by inserting the spring element at different depths into the receiving recess. Furthermore, various first parts of the adjustment mechanism can be provided, which in particular have receiving recesses of varying depths and can be combined with different second parts of the adjustment mechanism to form a respective spring element.

[0017] A further advantage of the spring element is that it features a spring body manufactured from a stamped and bent component. Several spring arms are distributed around the circumference of the adjustment axis on this spring element. These spring arms are connected to each other via lateral webs to form the one-piece spring body, allowing the entire spring element to be manufactured from a single stamped and bent component.

[0018] According to the invention, the spring arms have detent projections pointing towards the detent cams, which are in contact with the detent cams. The detent projections are designed such that they correspond, for example, to the spaces between the detent cams of the detent section. If excessive torque is applied to the clutch, the detent projections of the spring arms can rise out of the spaces between the detent cams and jump over them.

[0019] It is also advantageous if the spring element has at least one detent that engages in at least one detent opening, the detent opening being provided in a wall of the first part of the adjusting means that encloses the receiving recess. In particular, several pairs of detent points and detent openings can be provided between the spring element and the receiving recess, and when the spring element is pressed into the receiving recess of the first part of the adjusting means, the detent points can engage in the detent openings. This forms a firm connection between the spring element and the first part of the adjusting means.

[0020] A further advantage is that the transmission element is made of a plastic, with the locking section including the locking lugs being a single piece and made of the same material as the transmission element. Consequently, the locking section with the locking lugs is also made of a plastic material.

[0021] A further advantage is achieved when the spring body of the spring element has a rectangular shape around the adjustment axis, and in particular, the receiving recess also has a rectangular cross-sectional shape around the adjustment axis. This allows the spring body to be inserted precisely into the receiving recess, and the rectangular shape also enables the transmission of higher torques between the first part of the adjusting mechanism and the spring body. PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a perspective cross-sectional view of the adjustment device with the features of the invention and Fig. 2 A flying view of the components of the adjustment device.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an adjustment device 1 for adjusting a light module in a lighting device. The adjustment device 1 has an adjustment element 10 comprising a first part 10a and a second part 10b, the latter being rotatably mounted, for example, in a corresponding opening in the housing of the lighting device. The adjustment element 10 has a tool receptacle 17 in its first part 10a, into which a tool can be inserted from the outside of the lighting device, and a rotary movement of the adjustment element 10 about an adjustment axis 19 can be generated via the tool receptacle 17.

[0024] The rotary motion of the adjusting element 10 can be transmitted to a transmission element 11, and the transmission element 11 further transmits the rotary motion to a corresponding device in the lighting unit, for example, to adjust the tilt of a light module in the housing of the lighting unit. The connection between the adjusting element 10 and the transmission element 11 includes a coupling 12, which ensures that, above a limit torque introduced into the adjusting element 10 via the tool holder 17, the torque is not transmitted to the transmission element 11. The coupling 12 is thus designed as an overload coupling.

[0025] According to the invention, the adjusting element 10 is designed in two parts and comprises a first part 10a, into which the rotary movement can be initiated, and a second part 10b, which is designed as part of the coupling 12. This allows for a wider selection of materials for the adjusting element 10, so that a first material can be used for the first part 10a and a second material, different from the first, can be used for the second part 10b of the adjusting element 10. The advantage is that the second part 10b, belonging to the coupling 12, can meet different material requirements than the first part 10a of the adjusting element 10, in which, for example, a tool holder 17 is incorporated.

[0026] In particular, the coupling 12 has a metallic spring element 13 formed by the second part 10b, which is rigidly connected to the first part of the adjusting means 10. When the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10 is rotated about the adjusting axis 19, the spring element 13 also rotates about the adjusting axis 19, forming the second part 10b of the adjusting element 10. The spring element 13 has several spring arms 14 that interact with a detent section 16 of the transmission element 11. The detent section 16 has several detent cams 15, which, for example, form a knurled surface on their outer surface, and the spring arms 14 can engage in the spaces between the detent cams 15. If the torque between the adjusting means 10 and the transmission element 11 exceeds a limit value, the spring arms 14 of the spring element 13 spring radially outwards and finally slide with their detent ridges 21 over the detent cams 15.Consequently, a further rotational movement of the adjusting means 10 is not transmitted to the transmission element 11.

[0027] The spring element 13 with the spring arms 14 is formed from a stamped and bent metal component and has a one-piece spring body 20. This is inserted into a receiving recess 18, which is formed in the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10 and is located on the opposite side from the tool holder 17. To ensure that the spring element 13 is securely held in the receiving recess 18, the spring element 13 has several detent lugs 22 that engage in detent openings 23. The detent openings 23 are located in a wall of the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10, which surrounds the receiving recess 18.

[0028] The first part 10a of the adjusting means 10 and the transmission element 11 can be manufactured from a plastic in a manner known per se, in particular by means of an injection molding process. The metallic stamped-bent component, which forms the spring body 20 of the spring element 13, interacts with the detent section 16, which is also made of plastic, so that a steel-plastic connection is created for the slip coupling of the clutch 12. Since the spring arms 14 form the moving components with respect to the clutch 12, a particularly high degree of temperature insensitivity of the clutch 12 can be achieved, so that the maximum transmissible torque remains constant over a wide temperature range. In particular, the choice of material for manufacturing the adjusting means 10 can be independent of the manufacturing of the parts actually actively involved in the clutch 12, in particular the spring element 13.

[0029] Fig.Figure 2 shows the adjusting device 1 with its components in a flying view. The adjusting means 10, comprising the first part 10a with the tool holder 17 and the receiving recess 18 on the underside, is shown from the top, and several detent openings 23 are located in the wall of the receiving recess 18. The receiving recess 18 has a substantially rectangular cross-section, though this is not visible.

[0030] The spring element 13, formed by the second part 10b of the adjusting means 10, can be inserted into the receiving recess 18 until the detent lugs 22 on the spring element 13 engage in the detent openings 23 in the receiving recess 18. This means that the spring arms 14 protrude from the underside of the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10 only over a portion of their length, resulting in increased stiffness of the spring arms 14. The stiffness can therefore be determined by the insertion length L of the spring element 13 into the receiving recess 18. A large intake length L results in a shorter length of the spring arms 14 projecting from the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10, thereby increasing the stiffness of the spring arms 14, and making it more difficult for the spring arms 14 with the detent projections 21 to slip over the detent cams 15 of the detent section 16 formed on the transmission element 11.

[0031] The spring element 13 is formed from a stamped and bent metal component and is manufactured as a single piece, with the spring body having 20 webs between the spring arms 14, which connect them. This allows for simple assembly of the spring element 13 in or on the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10, and after assembly, the unit consisting of the spring element 13 and the first part 10a of the adjusting means 10 can be brought into operative contact with the detent section 16 of the transmission element 11.

[0032] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which utilize the solution presented even in fundamentally different designs. All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description, or the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention, both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list 1 Adjustment device 10 Adjustment devices 10a first part of the adjusting device 10b second part of the adjusting device 11 Transmission element 12 Clutch 13 Spring element 14 Spring arm 15 locking cams 16 Rest area 17 Tool holder 18. Deepening the recording 19 Adjustment axis 20 spring bodies 21 Grid elevation 22 Rastkuppe 23 Rest opening L recording length

Claims

[1] Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a light module in a lighting device, comprising an adjustment means (10) into which a rotary movement can be introduced, and a transmission element (11) by means of which the rotary movement can be transmitted, wherein the adjustment means (10) and the transmission element (11) are connected by means of a coupling (12) for torque overload protection, wherein the adjustment means (10) is formed in at least two parts and has a first part (10a) into which the rotary movement can be introduced and a second part (10b) which is formed as part of the coupling (12), wherein the coupling (12) has a metallic spring element (13) which is formed by means of the second part (10b) of the adjustment means (10) and which comprises several spring arms (14) which engage at least partially on the outside of a detent section (16) of the transmission element (11) formed with detent cams (15). enclose characterized by, that the spring arms (14) have detent projections (21) pointing towards the detent cams (15) which are in contact with the detent cams (15). [2] Adjustment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first part (10a) of the adjusting means (10) is made of a plastic and has a tool holder (17) in which a tool for initiating the rotary movement into the adjusting means (10) can be inserted. [3] Adjustment device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the first part (10a) of the adjusting means (10) has a receiving recess (18) in which the spring element (13) is inserted section by section, wherein the receiving recess (18) is formed opposite to the tool holder (17) in the first part (10a) of the adjusting means (10) with reference to an adjusting axis (19). [4] Adjustment device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the spring element (13) can be inserted into the receiving recess (18) at a variable depth, wherein the spring arms (14) have a greater spring stiffness at a greater insertion depth and a lesser spring stiffness at a lesser insertion depth. [5] Adjustment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spring element (13) has a spring body (20) which is made from a stamped and bent component, wherein several spring arms (14) are formed on the spring body (20) distributed around the circumference around the adjustment axis (19). [6] Adjustment device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , that the spring element (13) has at least one detent lug (22) which is engaged in at least one detent opening (23), wherein the detent opening (23) is provided in a wall of the adjusting means (10) which encloses the receiving recess (18). [7] Adjustment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the transmission element (11) is made of a plastic and wherein the locking section (16) with the locking cams (15) is made in one piece and of the same material as the transmission element (11). [8] Adjustment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spring body (20) of the spring element (13) is rectangular around the adjustment axis (19), and wherein the receiving recess (18) has a rectangular cross-sectional shape around the adjustment axis (19).

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