Dehumidifying device for a headlight of a vehicle and vehicle and method for attaching the dehumidifying device to a headlight

Abstract

The invention relates to a dehumidifying device (18) for a headlight (12) of a vehicle (10), comprising an air-permeable container (20) in which a drying agent (22) is accommodated, wherein the container (20) is designed to be connected to the headlight (12) in such a way that the container (20) is in flow connection with an interior space (16) of the headlight (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one headlight (12) and at least one such dehumidifying device (18), wherein the dehumidifying device (18) is connected to the headlight (12) in such a way that they are in flow connection with one another.

Description

The present invention relates to a dehumidifying device for a headlight of a vehicle, and to a vehicle having such a dehumidifying device and to a method for fastening the dehumidifying device to a headlightIn the case of vehicles, in winter months, beta-shaped front and / or tail lamps or headlights can regularly occur. The reason for this is that front and / or rear headlights pass through different temperatures and ambient conditions. As a result, the air humidity in the headlights can be increased in such a way that visible condensation occurs on the exterior light panes.Headlights are usually usually equipped without explicit anti-thawing or dehumidification measures. Moisture in headlights is to be transported away by exchanging air with the environment. When a visible condensation occurs on the exterior light panes, the headlights are usually either dried or exchanged in the workshops without a dehumidifying measure in the event of an objection. Both measures are at most short-term or not effective and are also expensive.To avoid this disadvantage, lamps with dehumidifying measures are known, which are however subject to disadvantages. One measure is to provide the housing of the headlights with a so-called "anti-fog paint", which prevents a visible condensation. However, this can lead to schlieren formation in the case of moisture supersaturation, which can make a headlight exchange necessary. Furthermore, the use of an electrically operated drying agent, which is referred to as a condensation management device (CMD), is known as a dehumidifying measure. However, the use of an electrically operated drying agent in headlights is not economical due to the high costs. In addition, such a solution cannot be retrofitted. Furthermore, the use of non-exchangeable drying agents is known, which however have the disadvantage that after saturation of the drying agent no effect is present any longer. As a result, schlieren may occur, resulting in the replacement of the headlamp.Furthermore, from DE 10 2015 203 888 B4 a dehumidifying device for a vehicle lamp is known, which comprises a vehicle lamp with a lamp housing, an electricity generating unit, which comprises a solenoid generator, which is arranged at a predetermined position within the lamp housing, an electricity storage unit, which is connected to the solenoid generator and is installed at a predetermined position within the lamp housing, a dehumidifying device, which is connected to the electricity storage unit, is supplied with electricity and removes moisture from the electricity storage unit, and a control unit, which is connected to the electricity storage unit and controls the supply of electricity between the electricity storage unit and the dehumidifying device.Furthermore, DE 10 2020 005 140 A1 discloses a dehumidifying device for a headlight of a vehicle, which has a Peltier element, which is arranged in a volume to be protected from condensation or is connected to the latter in a heat-conducting manner in order to cool an area in the volume, and also with a condensate discharge. The condensate discharge has an active membrane which is provided on its surfaces with water-permeable electrodes, wherein the volume is connected to the environment via the membrane.All of the known anti-thawing measures have the disadvantage that they are expensive and thus not economical.However, if no anti-thawing measure is installed, the dehumidifying measures known in the prior art cannot be retrofitted in the event of repair, since there is currently no possibility of retrofitting one of the known dehumidifying measures in the event of service. However, in order to ensure that no condensation occurs in the headlight, the air humidity must be kept permanently below 60% relative air humidity.Furthermore, DE 10 2017 216 747 A1 discloses a luminaire for a vehicle, wherein a holder in the form of an angle tube element is arranged on an outer side of a wall of a luminaire housing, at the end of which holder a desiccant bag with a desiccant supply is arranged. An opening is made in the wall, into which locking projections of the holder are clipped for fastening and flow-conducting connection.Furthermore, DE 20 2004 015 615 U1 shows a headlight for a vehicle, in the interior of which a desiccant is located.Furthermore, DE 10 2020 004 298 A1 discloses a motor vehicle having a lighting device, wherein a drying device having a housing for receiving a drying agent is provided. The housing of the drying device is connected via an opening to a housing of the lighting device.Finally, DE 10 2012 008 089 A1 discloses a lighting device for a motor vehicle, having a desiccant arranged interchangeably in an interior of a housing. For this purpose, the drying agent is accommodated in a cartridge-like container and is closed with a lid. The cover has projections, via which the container is connected to the housing in a bayonet-like manner.The object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifying device and a vehicle and a method for fastening the dehumidifying device to a headlight, which enable a headlight to be retrofitted economically with a dehumidifying measure.To achieve the object, a dehumidifying device having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 7 and a method for fastening the dehumidifying device to a headlight having the features of claim 8 are proposed.Advantageous embodiments of the dehumidifying device are the subject of the dependent claims.According to a first aspect of the invention, a dehumidifying device for retrofitting a headlight of a vehicle is proposed. The dehumidifying device includes an air-permeable container in which a desiccant is accommodated, the container being configured to be connected to the headlamp such that the container is in flow communication with an interior of the headlamp.Since the air-permeable container of the dehumidifying device according to the invention can be attached to a conventional headlamp or luminaire(s), it is possible to retrofit a headlamp or a luminaire with a dehumidifying measure. By having the air-permeable container in fluid communication with the interior of the headlamp, the desiccant contained in the container reduces the humidity in the headlamp. In addition, it is possible to exchange the desiccant after it has saturated, so that schlieren formation and thus an exchange of the headlight or the luminaire is avoided.The headlight may have a headlight housing enclosing an interior. A lighting means can be arranged within the interior. The headlight housing can be bounded by a light pane, via which light emitted by the lighting means radiates outwards.The air-permeable container can be connected to the headlight housing in such a way that the air-permeable container or the drying agent located in the container is in flow communication with the interior of the headlight housing, so that the headlight is dehumidified. Advantageously, the container is designed asymmetrically. As a result, the dehumidifying device can be mounted on a plurality of differently configured headlight housings.The container can be made of a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic. Moreover, the container can be formed from two parts that can be connected to one another. As a result, after saturation of the drying agent, the same can be exchanged.The drying agent may comprise a moisture absorbing material. The moisture-absorbing material may be incorporated in an air-permeable fabric. The drying agent can be designed in the form of tablets.In an advantageous embodiment, the container has at least one bore via which the container is in flow connection with the interior of the headlight. The bore provides air permeability to the container. In order to produce a flow connection between the air-permeable container and the interior of the headlight, a through-opening, such as a bore corresponding thereto, can be introduced into the headlight housing, which opening corresponds to the bore of the container.The container advantageously has five bores, via which the container is in flow connection with the interior of the headlight. For this purpose, five corresponding through openings, for example five corresponding holes, can be introduced into the headlight housing in relation to the five holes of the container.The container has at least one latching device which can be latched into a bore made in a headlight housing. To attach the dehumidifying device to the headlight, the container is snapped or clipped by means of the latching device into a bore made in the headlight housing. Via the bore, an air exchange and thus a moisture exchange can take place between the interior of the headlight and the interior of the container.In an advantageous embodiment, the latching device has latching means protruding from the container. The latching means can be designed as latching lugs which project from the container and are designed to be pivotable. As a result, the latching means can latch or clip into the bore made in the headlight housing. Advantageously, the latching means surround the at least one bore made in the container.The container has a lower part which can be connected to the headlight, and an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part are latched to one another. This makes it possible to separate the two parts of the container from one another in order to exchange the desiccant. The upper part can have pivotable latching means, for example in the form of lugs each having an opening, which engage in latching lugs projecting from the lower part, for example in the form of projections. Advantageously, an edge of the upper part having the tabs surrounds an edge of the lower part having the projections when the two parts are latched to one another.In an advantageous embodiment, a sealing element is arranged between the lower part and the upper part. As a result, the container is hermetically sealed. The sealing element can surround an edge surrounding the lower part, wherein the sealing element rests on the latching noses designed as projections. The sealing element can be designed as a leaf seal.The lower part has a fixing device for fixing the drying agent within the container. The fixing device can have a geometry, for example in the form of ribs, which fixes the drying agent within the container. In addition, the fixing device is designed such that the drying agent can expand to absorb the moisture.In an advantageous embodiment, the container has at least one adhesive which connects the container to the headlight in a sealing manner. The adhesive seals off the connection between the headlight, in particular the headlight housing, and the container. The adhesive can be an adhesive tape, in particular a double-sided adhesive tape, which is arranged, in particular glued, on an underside of the container, in particular on an underside of a base of the base part. In the region of the at least one bore, the adhesive, in particular the adhesive tape, can be recessed. Furthermore, the adhesive, in particular the adhesive tape, can be recessed in the region of the five bores.In an advantageous embodiment, the drying agent is a silicate, a silica gel, a hygroscopic liquid, a clay granulate, a salt or a combination thereof.According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle is proposed. The vehicle has at least one headlight and at least one dehumidifying device according to the invention, wherein the dehumidifying device is connected to the headlight in such a way that they are in flow communication with one another.The flow connection can be produced via at least one bore made in the container of the dehumidifying device and via at least one through-opening made in the headlight housing and corresponding thereto, for example in the form of a bore. The flow connection is advantageously effected via five bores made in the container of the dehumidifying device and via five through-openings made in the headlight housing and corresponding thereto, for example in the form of bores.Advantageously, the dehumidifying device, in particular the container of the dehumidifying device, is clipped into a bore made in the headlight housing. For this purpose, the dehumidifying device can have a latching device with latching means. Advantageously, the latching device, in particular the latching means, surrounds a bore made in the container, so that the interior of the container is in flow communication with the interior of the headlight via the two bores.A possible method for fastening the dehumidifying device to a headlight is described below. In a first step, a not-shown drilling template can be used, by means of which the bore into which the latching means can be latched in relation to the latching lugs for fastening the dehumidifying device to the headlight housing is marked. After the marking, a bore can be made in the headlight housing in a second step at the marked point. In a third step, the upper part can be separated from the lower part and the lower part can be fastened to the headlight housing. For this purpose, the latching means or the latching lugs can be inserted into the bore made in the headlight housing and finally clipped. In addition, the lower part can be bonded to the headlight housing via the double-sided adhesive tape in order to create a tight connection between the dehumidifying device and the headlight. Subsequently, in a fourth step, four bores can be made in the headlight housing by drilling into the headlight housing via the four bores made in the lower part. In a fifth step, the drying agent, in particular the air-permeable fabric together with the moisture-absorbing material located therein, can be inserted into the fixing device. Subsequently, in a sixth step, the upper part can be placed on the lower part and locked with it.A vehicle, a dehumidifying device and further features and advantages are described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is schematically illustrated in the figures. This shows FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle including a headlamp; FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the headlight with a dehumidifying device attached thereto; FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the headlight housing and the dehumidifying device along the line III-III in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the dehumidifying device; FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a lower part of the dehumidifying device together with the leaf seal; FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the base shown in FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of an upper part of the dehumidifying device.FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 which has an engine designed as an internal combustion engine and / or as an electric motor. The vehicle 10 has a headlight 12 that includes a headlight housing 14 illustrated in FIG. 2.The headlight housing 14 is made of a plastic and encloses an interior 16, in which, for example, a lighting means, not shown, is arranged. The headlight housing 14 is bounded towards the outside by a light pane 17, via which the light emitted by the lighting means radiates to the outside.In order to prevent visible condensation of the headlight 12, in particular of the lens 17, a dehumidifying device 18 is mounted on the headlight 12, in particular on the headlight housing 14, as will be explained in more detail below.The dehumidifying device 18 has an air-permeable container 20 in which a desiccant 22 is accommodated.The container 20 is of asymmetrical design and has a lower part 26 made of a plastic and an upper part 24 made of a plastic, which are latched to one another, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.The lower part 26 is of shell-shaped design and has a base 28 and an edge 30 surrounding the base. On an outer side of the edge 30, latching noses 32 protruding from the edge 30 are arranged in the form of projections 34.As can be seen in particular by viewing FIGS. 3 and 5 together, the edge 30 is surrounded by a sealing element 36, which in the present case is a leaf seal 38, wherein the sealing element 36 rests on the projections 34. The sealing element 36 seals the container 20 in the locked state.In addition, the lower part 26 has a fixing device 40 for fixing the drying agent 22 within the container 20. The fixing device 40 is designed in the present case as a geometry in the form of ribs 42 protruding from the base 28. The ribs 42 fix the desiccant 22 within the container 20 and also allow the desiccant 22 to expand during moisture absorption.As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, a bottom side 43 of the base 28 has an adhesive 44 which is formed as a double-sided adhesive tape 46. The container 20 is sealingly connected to the headlight housing 14 via the double-sided adhesive tape 46.In order to allow a moisture exchange between the headlight housing 14, in particular the interior 16 of the headlight housing 14, and the container 20, five bores 48 are made in the bottom 28 of the lower part 26, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 5. The double-sided adhesive tape 46 is recessed in the region of the bores 48. In order that the container 20 is in flow communication with the interior 16, bores corresponding thereto are made in the headlight housing 14, as will be explained in more detail below.In order to fix the dehumidifying device 18, in particular the container 20, to the headlight housing, the lower part 26 has a latching device 50, which is latched into a bore made in the headlight housing 14, as is illustrated in FIG. 3.As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the latching device 50 has latching means 52 which project from the underside 43 of the base 28 and are designed as pivotable latching noses 54. The latching means 52 or the latching noses 54 surround one of the bores 48, via which the container 20 is in flow connection with the interior 16 of the headlight housing 14 by means of a corresponding bore introduced into the headlight housing 14. The latching means 52 or the latching noses 54 are clipped into the bore made in the headlight housing 14.The upper part 24 has a conical cover section 56 and an edge section 58 surrounding the cover section 56, which is perforated by latching means. The latching means are designed as pivotable lugs 60 with openings 62. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the locked state, the projections 34 of the lower part 26 engage in the openings 62 of the tabs 60.The desiccant 22 is arranged inside the container 20, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The desiccant 22 includes an air permeable fabric 64 and a moisture absorbent material 66 therein. The moisture-absorbing material 66 is in the form of tablets 68 and can be made of a silica gel, a silicate, a hygroscopic liquid, a clay granulate, a salt or a combination formed therefrom.A possible method for fastening the dehumidifying device 18 to the headlight 12 is described below. In a first step, a not-shown drilling template is used, by means of which the bore 48 into which the latching means 52 or the latching noses 54 for fastening the dehumidifying device 18 to the headlight housing 14 latch is marked. After the marking, a bore is made in the headlight housing 14 at the marked point in a second step. In a third step, the upper part 24 is separated from the lower part 26 and the lower part 26 is fastened to the headlight housing 14. For this purpose, the latching means 52 or the latching noses 54 are inserted and latched into the bore made in the headlight housing 14. At the same time, the lower part 26 is bonded to the headlight housing 14 via the double-sided adhesive tape 46 in order to create a tight connection between the dehumidifying device 18 and the headlight 12. Subsequently, in a fourth step, four bores are made in the headlight housing 14 by drilling into the headlight housing 14 via the four bores 48 made in the lower part 26. As a result, the interior 16 of the headlight housing 14 is in flow communication with the container 20 and the desiccant 22 located therein. In a fifth step, the drying agent 22, in particular the air-permeable fabric 64 together with the moisture-absorbing material 66 located therein, is inserted into the fixing device 40. Finally, in a sixth step, the upper part 24 is placed on the lower part 26 and locked with the latter, so that the projections 34 engage in the openings 62 of the lugs 60.Via the bores 48 of the lower part 26 and the bores corresponding thereto introduced into the headlight housing 14, a flow connection is established between the interior 16 of the headlight housing 14 and the container 20, so that the moisture present in the air can be absorbed by the drying agent 22. As a result, the humidity inside the headlamp 12 is reduced.When the desiccant 22 is saturated, it can be replaced by removing the top 24 and replacing the saturated desiccant 22 with a new desiccant 22. Subsequently, the upper part 24 is placed on the lower part 26 again and locked, as described above.The dehumidifying device 18 is characterized in that existing headlights 12 can be retrofitted with the same. In addition, it is possible to exchange the desiccant 22 after it has saturated, so that schlieren formation and thus an exchange of the headlight 12 are avoided.List of reference characters10 Vehicle 12 Headlight 14 Headlight housing 16 Interior 17 Lens 18 Dehumidifying device 20 Container 22 Drying agent 24 Upper part 26 Lower part 28 Base 30 Edge 32 Latching lug 34 Projection 36 Sealing element 38 Leaf seal 40 Fixing device 42 Rib 43 Underside 44 Adhesive 46 Double-sided adhesive tape 48 Bore 50 Latching device 52 Latching means 54 Latching lug 56 Cover section 58 Edge section 60 Tab 62 Opening 64 Air-permeable fabric 66 Moisture-absorbing material 68 Tablet

Claims

Dehumidifying device (18) for retrofitting a headlight (12) of a vehicle (10), having an air-permeable container (20) in which a drying agent (22) is accommodated, wherein the container (20) is designed to be connected to the headlight (12) in such a way that the container (20) is in flow connection with an interior space (16) of the headlight (12), wherein the container (20) has a latching device (50) which can be latched into a bore (48) made in a headlight housing (14), characterized in that the container (20) has a lower part (26) which can be connected to the headlight (12) and an upper part (24), wherein the lower part (26) and the upper part (24) are latched to one another, the lower part (26) has a fixing device (40) for fixing the drying agent (22) within the container (20), and the fixing device (40) is designed such that the drying agent (22) can expand to absorb the moisture.Dehumidifying device (18) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the container (20) has at least one bore (48), via which the container (20) is in flow connection with the interior (16) of the headlight (12).Dehumidifying device (18) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the latching device (50) has latching means (52) protruding from the container (20).Dehumidifying device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealing element is arranged between the lower part (26) and the upper part (24).Dehumidifying device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (20) has at least one adhesive (44) which connects the container (20) to the headlight (12) in a sealing manner.Dehumidifying device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying agent (22) is a silicate, silica gel, a hygroscopic liquid, a clay granulate, a salt or a combination thereof.Vehicle (10) comprising at least one headlight (12) and at least one dehumidifying device (18) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dehumidifying device (18) is connected to the headlight (12) in such a way that they are in flow connection with one another.Method for fastening a dehumidifying device (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 to a headlight (12) of a vehicle (10), which method has the following steps: a. using a drilling jig by means of which a bore (48), in which the latching means (52) for fastening the dehumidifying device (18) to the headlight housing (14) latches, is marked; b. introducing the bore into the headlight housing (14) at the marked point; c. fastening the lower part (26) to the headlight housing (14) by the latching means (52) being inserted into the bore introduced into the headlight housing (14) and latched, and simultaneously bonding the lower part (26) to the headlight housing (14) via a double-sided adhesive tape (46), in order to create a sealed connection between the dehumidifying device (18) and the headlight (12); d. Introducing four bores into the headlight housing (14) by drilling into the headlight housing (14) via the four bores (48) introduced into the lower part (26), so that an interior space (16) of the headlight housing (14) is in flow connection with the container (20) and the desiccant (22) located therein; e. Inserting a desiccant (22) into the fixing device (40) of the lower part (26); and f. Placing and latching the upper part (24) to the lower part (26).

Images