Headlight arrangement and vehicle

Abstract

A headlight assembly (20) comprises a headlight (30), a first pivot joint (31), a toggle lever kinematics (40), and an actuator (50), wherein the headlight (30) is arranged to be rotatable between a folded-in position (P1) and a folded-out position (P2) via the first pivot joint (31), wherein the toggle lever kinematics (40) comprises two lever elements (41, 42) connected to one another at a joint arrangement (45), one of which is connected to the headlight (30) and the other is designed to be fixedly connected to a body element (72), wherein the actuator (50) is operatively connected to the joint arrangement (45) and is designed to displace the joint arrangement (45) in order to thereby change the angle between the lever elements (41, 42) connected to one another by the joint arrangement (45), wherein the joint arrangement (45) has a predetermined breaking point (46) designed toto break upon a first force application (F1) on the headlight (30) in the direction from the unfolded position (P2) to the folded position (P1) at a predetermined limit force and to enable a free relative movement (49) between the actuator (50) and the joint arrangement (45) at least in some areas.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a headlight arrangement and a vehicle.

[0002] DE 10 2013 009 311 A1 shows a vehicle body component and an outwardly projecting vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component can be lowered into the body component in the event of a collision.

[0003] FR 2 901 202 B1 shows a vehicle headlight that is connected to a body via a positioning element, and when a limit force is applied to the headlight, the positioning element is destroyed and allows the headlight to pivot towards the body.

[0004] DE 36 37 581 C2 shows a pop-up headlight which can be pivoted about an axis lying transversely to the vehicle's longitudinal axis and which can be moved into its operating position against a stop by a gas pressure spring.

[0005] DE 28 53 156 C2 shows a fixed headlight with a hinged, translucent cover.

[0006] DE 1 965 033 A1 shows a pop-up headlight which can be operated by a crank mechanism, wherein a spring element is provided to pivot the pop-up headlight into its rest position when not in use.

[0007] DE 28 44 759 C2 shows a foldable headlight that can be operated by an electric motor and a power transmission rod.

[0008] US 3 387 125 A shows a mechanism for manually folding a headlight from a rest position to a working position.

[0009] JP S58 - 93 637 A shows a vehicle with a pop-up headlight, wherein the pop-up headlight has a pivot joint, a rod, an intermediate link and an actuator.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new headlight assembly and a new vehicle.

[0011] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim and the subordinate claim.

[0012] A headlight assembly comprises a headlight, a first pivot joint, a toggle lever kinematics and an actuator, wherein the headlight is arranged to be rotatable between a folded-in position and a folded-out position via the first pivot joint and the actuator, wherein the toggle lever kinematics comprises two lever elements connected to one another at a joint arrangement, one of which is connected to the headlight and the other is designed to be fixedly connected to a body element, wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the joint arrangement and is designed to displace the joint arrangement in order to thereby change the angle between the lever elements connected to one another by the joint arrangement, wherein the joint arrangement has a predetermined breaking point which is designed toto break upon a first force acting on the headlight in the direction from the unfolded position to the folded position at a predetermined limit force and to enable at least partially free relative movement between the actuator and the joint arrangement.

[0013] The predetermined breaking point allows the headlight to fold in in the event of an accident, regardless of whether the actuator is activated.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the joint arrangement has a threaded spindle nut, and the actuator has a threaded spindle, wherein the threaded spindle is operatively connected to the threaded spindle nut.

[0015] This allows a reduction in the torque generated by the actuator.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the joint arrangement comprises a first tube section and a second tube section, wherein the second tube section is arranged at least partially within the first tube section and is connected to the first tube section via a connecting section serving as a predetermined breaking point, in order to enable displacement of the second tube section within the first tube section in the event of a break at the predetermined breaking point. The second tube section can be smooth on the outside, thereby preventing or reducing the risk of snagging in the event of an accident.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the headlight comprises a headlight element and a retaining element attached to the headlight element, wherein the retaining element is connected to the first pivot joint. This allows for a greater distance between the headlight element and the first pivot joint. This enables a more direct transmission of force in the event of an accident.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the underside of the headlight element, in the folded position, lies at least partially below the first pivot joint. This is advantageous for force transmission in the event of an accident.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the upper side of the headlight element, in the unfolded position, lies at least partially above the first pivot joint. This is advantageous for force transmission in the event of an accident.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the joint arrangement has at least one second pivot joint, preferably at least two second pivot joints. This enables a defined movement of the lever elements.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the headlight assembly comprises a cover and a third pivot joint, wherein the cover is rotatably mounted on the third pivot joint, and wherein the third pivot joint is spaced apart from the first pivot joint. This enables a streamlined surface of the body when the headlight is folded in.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the third pivot joint is arranged in a region between the front of the headlight and the first pivot joint. This results in a large distance between the headlight and the first pivot joint, which is positive for power transmission.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, a first installation space is assigned to the inside of the headlight in the folded position, which allows for additional movement of the headlight into the first installation space upon the first application of force. This allows the headlight to fold further in the event of an accident even in the folded position, leading to a reduction in the maximum forces that occur.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever elements are not fully bent in the retracted position of the headlight, in order to facilitate further bending of the lever elements upon initial application of force. This leads to a reduction in resistance when the headlight is further folded in during an accident.

[0025] A vehicle has at least one such headlight arrangement. This headlight arrangement is particularly advantageous for safety reasons in vehicles.

[0026] Further details and advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings, which are in no way to be understood as limiting the invention, as well as from the dependent claims. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. It shows: Fig. 1 in schematic longitudinal section a vehicle with a headlight arrangement in a folded-out position, Fig. 2 in schematic longitudinal section the vehicle of Fig. 1 with the headlight assembly in a folded position, Fig. 3 in schematic side view a toggle lever kinematics with a predetermined breaking point, Fig. 4 in schematic side view the toggle lever kinematics with a broken predetermined breaking point, Fig. 5 in schematic longitudinal section the vehicle according to Fig. 1 with a dummy, and Fig. 6 in schematic longitudinal section the vehicle according to Fig. 2 with a dummy.

[0027] In the following, identical or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols and are usually described only once. The description builds on each figure to avoid unnecessary repetition.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 10 with a headlight arrangement 20.

[0029] The vehicle 10 has a body 70 with a front 73 and a front hood 74.

[0030] The headlight assembly 20 has a headlight 30, a swivel joint 31, a toggle lever kinematics 40 and an actuator 50.

[0031] The headlight 30 can be moved via the pivot joint 31 between a folded position P1 (cf. Fig. 2) and a folded-out position P2.

[0032] The toggle lever kinematics 40 has two lever elements 41, 42 connected to each other at a joint arrangement 45, of which the lever element 41 is connected to the headlight 30 and the lever element 42 is designed to be fixedly connected to a body element 72. In the exemplary embodiment, the lever element 42 is connected to the body element 72.

[0033] The lever element 41 is preferably connected to the headlight 30 via a pivot joint 43. The lever element 42 is preferably connected to the body element 72 via a pivot joint 44.

[0034] The swivel joints 43, 44 can alternatively be designed as elastic connecting elements.

[0035] The actuator 50 is operatively connected to the joint arrangement 45 and is designed to displace the joint arrangement 45 in order to thereby change the angle W between the lever elements 41, 42 connected to one another by the joint arrangement 45. The actuator 50 has a threaded spindle 52, which engages with a threaded spindle nut of the joint arrangement 45, see. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Alternatively, the actuator 50 could move a rod connected to the joint assembly 45.

[0036] The headlight assembly 20 has a cover 75 and a pivot or hinge 77. The cover 75 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 77, and the pivot 77 is spaced from the pivot 31. The rotational movement of the cover and the headlight 30 thus takes place about different axes of rotation.

[0037] The headlight 30 has a headlight element 32 and a holding element 34 attached to the headlight element 32. The holding element 34 is connected to the pivot joint 31.

[0038] In the unfolded position P2, the upper side 301 of the headlight element 32 is preferably arranged at least in sections above the pivot joint 31.

[0039] Preferably, the underside 302 of the headlight element 32 is also arranged at least in sections above the pivot joint 31.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows the vehicle 10 of Fig. 1. The headlight 30 is folded into the folded position P1.

[0041] The angle W between the lever elements 41, 42 is smaller than in the extended position P2. This is due to the fact that the actuator 50 has moved the joint arrangement 45 forward in the exemplary embodiment.

[0042] The cover 75 is closed and the aerodynamics of the vehicle 10 are thereby improved.

[0043] The underside 302 of the headlight element 32 is preferably located in the folded-in position P1 at least partially below the pivot joint 31.

[0044] The headlight 30 preferably also has, in the folded position P1, a construction space 79 on the inside, which basically offers space for further folding of the headlight 30 into the construction space 79.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a detailed embodiment of the toggle lever kinematics 40.

[0046] The joint assembly 45 has a threaded spindle nut 63, and the threaded spindle 52 of the actuator 50 is operatively connected or engaged with the threaded spindle nut 63. By rotating the threaded spindle, the joint assembly 45 can be moved along the threaded spindle 52.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment, the joint arrangement 45 has two pivot joints 47, 48, so that the lever elements 41, 42 are each mounted independently of one another. Alternatively, only one pivot joint could be provided, to which both lever elements 41, 42 are mounted. It is also possible to form the joint arrangement 45 with a rubber-elastic component, which enables a change in the angle between the lever elements 41, 42.

[0048] The joint arrangement 45 preferably has a tube section 61 and a tube section 62.

[0049] The pipe section 62 is preferably arranged at least in sections in the pipe section 61 and is connected to the pipe section 61 via a connecting section 64 serving as a predetermined breaking point 46 in order to enable a displacement of the pipe section 62 in the pipe section 61 in the event of a break in the predetermined breaking point 46.

[0050] The threaded spindle nut 63 is preferably provided in the pipe section 62.

[0051] Fig. 4 shows the toggle lever kinematics 40 of Fig. 3 when a force F1 acts on the headlight 30 in the direction from the unfolded position P2 to the folded position P1, cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0052] The predetermined breaking point 46 is designed to break at a predetermined limit force when a predetermined force F1 is applied to the headlight 30 and to enable a free relative movement 49 between the actuator 50 and the joint arrangement 45, at least in some areas. The force F1 is transmitted to the joint arrangement 45 via the lever element 41, and a relative force is generated between the tube sections 61 and 62, which leads to the destruction of the connecting section 64 when the predetermined limit force is reached.

[0053] Due to the destruction of the connecting section 64 or the predetermined breaking point 46, the fixed connection between the pipe sections 61 and 62 is broken. This allows the pipe section 62 to move within the pipe section 61.

[0054] If a further force F1 is applied, the joint arrangement can deflect to the left, whereby the lever elements 41, 42 are bent further and the headlight 30 can yield downwards or inwards.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows the vehicle 10 during a crash test with a dummy 100, which hits the headlight 30 in the unfolded position P2 and exerts a force F1 on the headlight 30.

[0056] By destroying the predetermined breaking point 46, the headlight 30 can deflect inwards or downwards, and the maximum force acting on the dummy 100 is thereby effectively reduced.

[0057] Preferably, the pivot joint 77 of the cover 75 is arranged in a region 310 between the front side 303 of the headlight 30 and the pivot joint 31. This results in a large distance between the front side 303 and the pivot joint 31, and as a result, the headlight 30 can be easily folded downward upon application of a force F1.

[0058] Fig. 6 shows the vehicle 10 during another crash test with the dummy 100 pressing on the cover 75 and the headlight 30 with a force F. The headlight 30 is in the folded position P1.

[0059] Even in the folded position P1, the headlight 30 can be moved further inward, since the installation space 79 or the illustrated distance 78 between the headlight 30 and the inner wall is available for this inward movement. This allows for an additional movement of the headlight 30 into the installation space 79 when force F1 is applied, thereby reducing the maximum force acting on the dummy 100.

[0060] Preferably, the lever elements 41, 42 are not fully bent in the folded-in position P1 of the headlight 30 in order to facilitate further bending of the lever elements 41, 42 when the force F1 is applied.

[0061] Naturally, various variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Headlight arrangement (20) comprising a headlight (30), a first pivot joint (31), a toggle lever kinematics (40) and an actuator (50), wherein the headlight (30) is arranged to be rotatable between a folded-in position (P1) and a folded-out position (P2) via the first pivot joint (31) and the actuator (50), wherein the toggle lever kinematics (40) comprises two lever elements (41, 42) connected to one another at a joint arrangement (45), one of which is connected to the headlight (30) and the other is designed to be fixedly connected to a body element (72), wherein the actuator (50) is operatively connected to the joint arrangement (45) and is designed to displace the joint arrangement (45) in order to thereby change the angle between the lever elements (41, 42) connected to one another by the joint arrangement (45), wherein the joint arrangement (45) has a predetermined breaking point (46) which is designed to break at a predetermined limit force upon a first force application (F1) to the headlight (30) in the direction from the unfolded position (P2) to the folded position (P1) and to enable a free relative movement (49) between the actuator (50) and the joint arrangement (45) at least in some areas. [2] Headlight assembly (20) according to claim 1, wherein the joint assembly (45) comprises a threaded spindle nut (63) and the actuator (50) comprises a threaded spindle (52), the threaded spindle (52) being operatively connected to the threaded spindle nut (63). [3] Headlight arrangement (20) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the joint arrangement (45) has a first tube section (61) and a second tube section (62), the second tube section (62) being arranged at least in sections in the first tube section (61) and being connected to the first tube section (61) via a connecting section (64) serving as a predetermined breaking point (46) in order to enable a displacement (49) of the second tube section (62) in the first tube section (61) in the event of a break in the predetermined breaking point (46). [4] Headlight assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the headlight (30) comprises a headlight element (32) and a retaining element (34) fastened to the headlight element (32), the retaining element (34) being connected to the first pivot joint (31). [5] Headlight arrangement (20) according to claim 4, wherein the underside (302) of the headlight element (32) in the folded position (P1) lies at least partially below the first pivot joint (31). [6] Headlight arrangement (20) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the upper side (301) of the headlight element (32) in the unfolded position (P2) lies at least partially above the first pivot joint (31). [7] Headlight arrangement (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the joint arrangement (45) has at least one second pivot joint (47; 48), preferably at least two second pivot joints (47, 48). [8] Headlight assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a cover (75) and a third pivot joint (77), wherein the cover (75) is rotatably mounted on the third pivot joint (77), and wherein the third pivot joint (77) is spaced from the first pivot joint (31). [9] Headlight assembly (20) according to claim 8, wherein the third pivot joint (77) is arranged in a region (310) between the front side (303) of the headlight (30) and the first pivot joint (31). [10] Headlight arrangement (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the headlight (30) in the folded-in position (P1) is assigned a first installation space (79) on the inside, which allows an additional movement of the headlight into the first installation space (79) upon the first force application (F1). [11] Headlight assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever elements (41, 42) are not fully bent in the folded position (P1) of the headlight (30) in order to facilitate further bending of the lever elements (41, 42) upon the first application of force (F1). [12] Vehicle (10) having at least one headlight arrangement (20) according to one of the preceding claims.

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