Optical unit for vehicle equipped with a heat radiator

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical unit (2) intended for equipping a vehicle (1) and comprising: a housing (4) provided with positioning slides (12) and a metal radiator (10) inserted into the positioning slides (12) in order to dissipate heat emitted in the housing, the metal radiator (10) comprising at least one attachment tab and at least one projection forcibly holding the metal radiator in the positioning slides (12), wherein the at least one attachment tab is formed by folding the metal radiator (10) and extends to form a bearing against at least one positioning slide (12), the bearing preventing the removal of the radiator from the positioning slides, and wherein the at least one projection forms at least one counter-bearing in the positioning slides (12).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Optical unit, for vehicle, equipped with a thermal radiator

[0003] The present invention claims priority from French application 2210780 filed on 19.10.2022, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The present invention relates to optical units which equip vehicles, for example of the automobile type, to provide at least one photometric signaling or lighting function. The invention relates in particular to an optical unit comprising a radiator for dissipating heat.

[0006] Technological background

[0007] As is known, some vehicles are equipped with optical units (also called projectors or lighting modules) providing at least one lighting function (headlight, low beam, high beam) and / or signaling function (daytime running lights known as "DRL", direction indicator, indicator, etc.). Each optical unit comprises an enclosure formed by a housing and a translucent glass, components being installed in the enclosure to participate in the photometric function. In particular, an optical unit may comprise at least one light source and possibly at least one mask to hide certain elements of the optical unit and customize the aesthetic appearance of the optical unit.

[0008] Some optical units are equipped with filament incandescent lamps, or other light sources, which by nature emit a lot of heat. It is often difficult to properly dissipate the heat emitted in optical units, in particular because volumes are often restricted in optical units. The generation of high heat in an optical unit can cause significant problems, such as, for example, the deterioration or melting of plastic materials. A known solution is to equip an optical unit with a heat sink to dissipate the heat emitted in the optical unit housing. Such a heat sink can take the form of a metal plate acting as a heat sink. To do this, the heat sink is conventionally fixed to the optical unit housing by means of screws or a clipping system.

[0009] Document EP237994 discloses a vehicle optical unit with a metal plate.

[0010] However, this type of solution requires adaptations to the housing such as the addition of screw barrels or modification of the mold used to achieve the clip-on attachment. In addition, additional operations may be necessary to secure the radiator in the light unit housing. These structural adaptations and the additional time lead to complexity and additional cost in the manufacturing of vehicle light units.

[0011] Summary of the present invention

[0012] One of the objects of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems or deficiencies of the technological background described above.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to improve the design of an optical unit for a vehicle.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical unit comprising a radiator (or heat sink) efficiently attached to the housing of the optical unit, and this with a minimum of complexity and cost for design and assembly.

[0015] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an optical unit intended to equip a vehicle and comprising:

[0016] - a housing provided with positioning slides; and

[0017] - a metal radiator inserted by translation along an insertion direction in the positioning slides to dissipate heat emitted in the housing, in which the metal radiator extends in a plane defining first and second faces opposite each other, the metal radiator comprising at least one fixing lug and at least one protuberance holding the metal radiator in force in the positioning slides, in which said at least one fixing lug is formed by folding the radiator and extends from the first face towards the outside of the metal radiator so as to form a support against at least one positioning slide, said support opposing a removal by translation of the metal radiator from the positioning slides along a removal direction, opposite to the insertion direction,and wherein said at least one protrusion extends from the second face towards the outside of the metal radiator to form at least one counter-support in the positioning slides.,

[0018] It is thus possible to improve the design of a vehicle optical unit. In particular, it is possible to form an optical unit comprising a radiator (or heat sink) efficiently attached to the housing of the optical unit, and this with a minimum of complexity and cost for the design and assembly. The arrangement based on fixing lug(s) and protrusion(s) makes it possible to form supports and counter-supports for the radiator on (or in) positioning slides, and thus to hold the radiator securely in the slides without it being necessary to carry out complex or costly modifications to the housing itself.

[0019] According to a particular example, the optical unit housing is devoid of a screw barrel and devoid of clipping means to ensure the fixing of the metal radiator in the positioning slides. In other words, the fixing of the radiator is ensured solely by said at least one fixing lug and by said at least one protuberance.

[0020] The optical unit according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, in particular among the following embodiments.

[0021] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, said at least one fixing lug is formed by a mechanical process comprising bending of the metal radiator, said mechanical process comprising stamping and / or cutting of the metal radiator.

[0022] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, said at least one fixing lug comprises a distal end forming a said support against at least one slide, said distal end forming a point opposing the withdrawal of the metal radiator from the positioning slides.

[0023] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the pointed distal end of said at least one fixing lug is oriented to bear against at least one said positioning slide so as to oppose the withdrawal of the metal radiator from the positioning slides in the direction of withdrawal.

[0024] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the metal radiator comprises a body substantially in the form of a plate for dissipating the heat emitted in the housing, said at least one fixing lug and said at least one protuberance being formed respectively on the first and second faces of the body of the metal radiator.

[0025] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the positioning slides are made of plastic.

[0026] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the optical unit comprises at least one light source configured to emit heat into the housing.

[0027] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the optical unit is a rear light of a vehicle.

[0028] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type or of the land motor vehicle type, comprising one (or at least one) optical unit according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0029] Brief description of the figures Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0030] [Fig. 1] is an internal view of an optical unit according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of a radiator equipping the optical unit of FIG. 1, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig. 3] is a detailed perspective view of the radiator of Figure 2, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] [Fig. 4] is a detailed perspective view of the optical block of FIG. 1, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] [Fig. 5] is a detailed perspective view of the optical block of FIG. 1, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0035] [Fig. 6] is a detailed perspective view of the optical block of FIG. 1, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Description of examples of implementation

[0037] The invention relates to an optical unit intended to equip a vehicle, such as a car or other type vehicle, or more generally a motorized land vehicle or any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) as soon as it must comprise at least one optical unit.

[0038] In this document, the term "optical unit" means a lighting device (or light device) providing at least one photometric lighting and / or signaling function. This may in particular be a headlight or front projector or a front or rear light. As already indicated, the present invention relates more particularly to an optical unit whose design is improved, and in particular to an optical unit comprising a radiator (or heat sink) efficiently attached to the housing of the optical unit, and this with a minimum of complexity and cost for the design and assembly. The improved attachment of the radiator is possible by integrating a system for attaching to the radiator so that it can be attached with a minimum of adaptation at the level of the housing of the optical unit.

[0039] In this document, the term "radiator" may be used interchangeably with "thermal radiator" or "heat sink". Such a radiator, which may have various structures (shapes, arrangements, etc.), makes it possible to dissipate or evacuate the heat emitted in the housing of an optical unit in order to prevent the temperature from increasing excessively in said housing.

[0040] In particular, the invention according to particular embodiments provides for equipping a metal radiator with at least one fixing lug and at least one protrusion which hold the radiator together in force in the slides of an optical unit housing. This arrangement based on fixing lug(s) and protrusion(s) makes it possible to form supports and counter-supports for the radiator on (or in) the positioning slides, and thus hold the radiator in force in the slides without it being necessary to carry out complex or costly modifications to the housing itself.

[0041] According to various particular embodiments, the invention provides an optical unit intended to equip a vehicle, for example of the automobile type or more generally of the motorized land vehicle type. The optical unit may comprise a housing provided with positioning slides; and a metal radiator inserted by translation into the positioning slides to dissipate heat emitted in the housing. The metal radiator may extend in a plane defining first and second faces opposite each other. The metal radiator may comprise at least one fixing lug and at least one protuberance holding the metal radiator forcibly in the positioning slides.Said at least one fixing lug may be formed by bending the metal radiator and thus extend from the first face towards the outside of the metal radiator so as to form a support against at least one positioning slide, said support opposing a removal by translation of the radiator from the positioning slides. In addition, said at least one protuberance may extend from the second face towards the outside of the metal radiator to form at least one counter-support in the positioning slides.

[0042] An optical unit intended to equip a vehicle will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1-6 according to particular and non-limiting embodiments of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the elements common or similar to several figures bear the same reference signs and have identical or similar characteristics, so that these common elements are generally not described again for the sake of simplicity.

[0043] The terms “first(s)”, “second(s)”, etc.) are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable the identification and distinction of different elements (such as faces, supports, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below.

[0044] Figures 1-6 schematically illustrate an optical unit (or projector) 2 intended to equip a vehicle 1, according to a particular non-limiting example of embodiment and various variant embodiments. It is considered subsequently, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit 2 is intended to equip a motor vehicle 1, but the invention is not limited to this application. The optical unit 2 can in fact equip any vehicle, of the automobile type or of the motorized land vehicle type (bus, coach, truck, etc.), or even a maritime, river or air vehicle, this vehicle having to provide at least one photometric lighting and / or signaling function.

[0045] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit 2 is a rear light. For example, this rear light may equip part of a rear hatch and / or a rear wing of a vehicle. But the optical unit 2 could also be a front headlight.

[0046] As illustrated in Figures 1-6, the optical unit 2 comprises a housing 4 defining an internal cavity 3 in which one or more components participating in at least one photometric lighting and / or signaling function can be arranged. By way of example, the housing 2 comprises at least one light source 6 whose configuration in terms of number, type, arrangement, etc. may vary depending on the case. For example, it is considered that the housing 2 comprises a filament incandescent lamp 6, although other implementations are possible with several light sources and / or with another type of light source.

[0047] The housing 4 of the optical unit 2 may optionally comprise at least one other element, such as a mask for example, cooperating with the lamp 6 to perform at least one photometric lighting and / or signaling function.

[0048] According to a particular example, the optical block 2 comprises a translucent glass (not shown) which is assembled to the housing 4 to close the internal cavity 3. This glass (or screen) can be made of any translucent material, having a color adapted to the desired photometric function (for example red, orange, crystal, etc.), and rigid, such as for example a plastic or synthetic material. In this case, the glass can be made by molding.

[0049] As indicated above, the volume available in the internal cavity 3 may be relatively limited, which may make it particularly difficult to evacuate heat in the optical unit 2. To allow good heat dissipation of the heat emitted by the lamp 6, the housing 2 is equipped in this example with a radiator (or heat sink) 10. As illustrated in Figures 1-6, the radiator 10 is arranged in the internal cavity 3 and fixed to the housing 4 of the optical unit 2 in order to dissipate the heat emitted by the lamp 6.

[0050] More specifically, the housing 4 is provided with positioning slides 12 (figures 1 and 4-6) configured to receive the thermal radiator 10. The radiator 10 is thus inserted by translation along an insertion direction DR1 (figure 2) in the positioning slides 12 to a working position to dissipate heat emitted in the housing 4.

[0051] The positioning slides (also called slides) 12, the configuration of which may vary, may have any structure which guides the radiator 10 by translation into a working position allowing the dissipation of the heat emitted within the housing 4. These slides 12 may for example be or comprise grooves or rails adapted to the radiator 10.

[0052] The slides 12 may be an integral part of the housing 4 or be fixed to the housing 4. According to a particular example, the slides 12 are formed on an internal wall of the housing 4.

[0053] According to a particular example, the housing 4 comprises two positioning slides 12 configured to receive and guide lateral edges 14a and 14b (collectively denoted 14, cf. figures 1-2) of the radiator 10.

[0054] As illustrated in Figures 4-6, each positioning slide 12 may comprise, for example, a lower part 12b and an upper part 12a together forming a guide into which a lateral edge 14 of the radiator 10 is inserted by translation. By way of example, the lower parts 12b of the slides may have an “L”-shaped section to receive lateral parts of the radiator 10.

[0055] The configuration of the radiator 10 in terms of shape, dimensions, structure, etc. can be adapted as appropriate. It is subsequently considered that the radiator 10 is metallic to allow good heat dissipation and good mechanical strength.

[0056] As illustrated, the metal radiator 10 extends in a plane defining first and second faces 11a, 11b (FIG. 2) opposite each other. The radiator 10 comprises at least one fixing lug 20 and at least one protrusion 22 holding the radiator 10 forcibly in the positioning slides 12. It is assumed subsequently that the radiator 10 comprises a single fixing lug 20 and a plurality of protrusions 22 (3 in number in this example), although other implementations are possible, in particular with a plurality of fixing lugs 20 similar to that described in this example and any number of protrusions 22.

[0057] The fixing tab 20 is formed by folding the radiator 10 and extends from the first face 11a (the lower face in this example) towards the outside of the radiator 10 so as to form a support against at least one slide 12, namely against the left slide 12 in this example (figures 2-5). This support opposes a removal by translation of the radiator 10 out of the positioning slides 12 in a removal direction DR2 (figure 2), opposite to the insertion direction DR1.

[0058] As illustrated in particular in figures 2-4 and 6, the protrusions 22 extend from the second face 11b (the upper face in this example) towards the outside of the radiator 10 to form at least one counter-support on (or in) the positioning slides 12.

[0059] Thus, the radiator 10 is inserted, and held in the working position, by mechanically cooperating with the slides 12 by means of the fixing lug 20 and the protrusions 22 respectively forming a support and counter-supports against the slides 12. As indicated above, this lug 20 is formed by folding the radiator 10 (see the folding line noted 20a illustrated in figures 2-3). The formation of the fixing lug 20 by folding from the metal body of the radiator 10 advantageously allows the lug 20 to forcefully hold said radiator in its working position in the slides 12, once the radiator 10 is inserted into the slides 12.

[0060] The protrusions 22 may have different configurations in terms of number, shape, arrangement, etc. These protrusions 22 may be any projecting portions (e.g., studs) formed on the second face 11 b (the upper face in this example) of the radiator 10. The configuration of the protrusions 22 may in particular be adapted to form counter-supports on (or in) the positioning slides 22, these counter-supports acting collectively with the support formed by the fixing lug 20 to forcefully hold the radiator 10 in position in the slides 12. Forming by folding from a metal body makes it possible in particular to form a fixing lug 20 having relatively sharp edges, which ensures good resistance of the fixing lug against a withdrawal movement in the direction DR2 of the radiator 10 out of the slides 12.

[0061] The configuration of the fixing lug 20 may vary depending on the case. The lug 20 is for example formed on a lateral edge of the radiator 10 (left lateral edge in this example) so that it bears against a slide 12 when the radiator 10 is engaged in the working position by translation in the insertion direction DR1.

[0062] The tab 20 thus presses in this example on the lower part 12b of the left slide 12 so as to hold the radiator 10 in position.

[0063] The manner in which the fixing lug(s) 20 are formed may vary depending on the case. According to a particular example, the fixing lug 20 is formed by a mechanical process comprising bending the metal radiator 10, said mechanical process comprising stamping and / or cutting said radiator 10. The bending may for example be carried out during a stamping operation of the radiator body.

[0064] According to a particular example, the radiator 10 (figure 2) comprises a body 11 in the form of a plate (or substantially in the form of a plate) for dissipating the heat emitted in the housing 4, said tab 20 and the protrusions 22 being formed respectively on the first and second faces 11a, 11b of the body 11 of the radiator 10.

[0065] According to a particular example, the fixing lug 20 comprises a distal end 20b forming a support against a slide 12 (namely the left slide in this example), this distal end forming a point (or a corner, or an angle) which opposes the withdrawal (by translation in the withdrawal direction DR2) of the radiator 10 from the slides 12. This point forms a support against a slide 12 and prevents the extraction of the radiator 10. It is thus possible to improve the holding in position of the radiator 10 in the slides 12.

[0066] According to a particular example, the pointed distal end 20b of the fixing lug 20 is oriented to bear against at least one said slide 12 (namely the left slide in this example) so as to oppose the withdrawal of the radiator 10 (in the withdrawal direction DR2) from the positioning slides 12. This particular orientation makes it possible to improve the holding in position of the radiator 10 in the slides 12.

[0067] Thus, the fixing lug 20 can, for example, be bent so that its pointed distal end 20b is oriented substantially in the withdrawal direction DR2 in order to ensure that the radiator 10 is held in position.

[0068] The tab 20 may however have a shape other than a pointed (or wedge, or angle) shape. For example, the tab 20 may have a linear (or rectilinear) end configured to form a contact line against a slide 12. This linear end may for example be formed by a beveled edge (edge ​​with a bevel cut) configured to press against a slide 12 so as to oppose the withdrawal of the radiator 10.

[0069] According to a particular example, the positioning slides 12 are made of plastic. In this way, the metallic material of the fixing lug 20 can be more aggressive and / or sharp (or perforating) than that of the slides 12. If the radiator 10 is moved in translation in the withdrawal direction DR2 out of the slides 12, the pointed end 20b of the fixing lug 20 blocks on the plastic of the slides 12, thus opposing the withdrawal of the radiator 10.

[0070] It is thus possible to improve the design of a vehicle optical unit. In particular, it is possible to form an optical unit comprising a radiator (or heat sink) efficiently attached to the housing of the optical unit, and this with a minimum of complexity and cost for the design and assembly. The arrangement based on fixing lug(s) and protrusion(s) makes it possible to form supports and counter-supports for the radiator on (or in) positioning slides, and thus to hold the radiator securely in the slides without it being necessary to carry out complex or costly modifications to the housing itself.

[0071] According to a particular example, the housing 4 of the optical unit 2 is devoid of a screw barrel and devoid of clipping means to ensure the fixing of the metal radiator 10 in the positioning slides 12 (figures 1-6). In other words, the fixing of the radiator 10 is ensured solely by the fixing lug 20 and by the protuberances 22.

[0072] A person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments and variants described above constitute only non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention. In particular, a person skilled in the art may envisage any adaptation or combination of the embodiments and variants described above, in order to meet a very specific need.

[0073] The present invention is therefore not limited to the embodiments described above but extends in particular to an optical unit which would include secondary characteristics without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0074] The present invention also relates to a vehicle 1 (figure 1), for example of the automobile type or more generally a land motor vehicle, comprising at least one optical unit 2 as described above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Optical unit (2) intended to equip a vehicle (1), comprising: - a housing (4) provided with positioning slides (12); and - a metal radiator (10) inserted by translation along an insertion direction (DR1) in the positioning slides to dissipate heat emitted in the housing, in which the metal radiator (10) extends in a plane defining first and second faces (11 a, 11 b) opposite each other, the metal radiator comprising at least one fixing lug (20) and at least one protuberance (22) holding the metal radiator in force in the positioning slides (12), in which said at least one fixing lug (20) is formed by bending the metal radiator (10) and extends from the first face towards the outside of the metal radiator so as to form a support against at least one positioning slide (12), and in which said at least one protuberance (22) extends from the second face towards the outside of the metal radiator to form at least one counter-support in the positioning slides,characterized in that said support opposes a withdrawal by translation of the metal radiator (10) out of the positioning slides (12) in a withdrawal direction (DR2), opposite to the insertion direction., 2. Optical unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fixing lug (20) is formed by a mechanical process comprising bending of the metal radiator (10), said mechanical process comprising stamping and / or cutting of the metal radiator.

3. Optical unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one fixing lug (20) comprises a distal end (20b) forming a said support against at least one slide (12), said distal end forming a point opposing the withdrawal of the metal radiator from the positioning slides (12).

4. Optical unit according to claim 3, wherein the pointed distal end (20b) of said at least one fixing lug (20) is oriented to bear against at least one said positioning slide (12) so as to oppose the withdrawal of the metal radiator (10) from the positioning slides in the withdrawal direction (DR2).

5. Optical unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the metal radiator comprises a body (11) substantially in the form of a plate for dissipating the heat emitted in the housing (4), said at least one fixing lug (20) and said at least one protuberance (22) being formed respectively on the first and second faces (11 a, 11 b) of the body of the metal radiator.

6. Optical unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the positioning slides (12) are made of plastic.

7. Optical unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical unit comprises at least one light source (6) configured to emit heat into the housing (4).

8. Optical unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the optical unit (2) is a rear light of a vehicle (1).

9. Vehicle (1) comprising at least one optical unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said vehicle is of the automobile type.

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