Lighting system for motor vehicles and method for disassembling the protective lens and housing of this lighting system
The lighting system with a disassembly tape and expandable element allows safe disassembly of automotive lighting systems, addressing damage issues from high heat exposure and enabling repair and recycling.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VALEO VISION SA
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Current methods for disassembling automotive lighting systems, such as headlights and signal lights, often result in damage to components due to high heat exposure, making repair, remanufacturing, and recycling difficult.
A lighting system with a disassembly tape containing an adhesive and an expandable element that expands under external activation, allowing safe separation of the protective lens and housing without high-temperature exposure.
Enables easy disassembly of lighting systems without damaging internal components, facilitating repair, remanufacturing, and recycling by using a disassembly tape with an expandable element activated by heat or fluid injection.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Lighting system for motor vehicles and method for disassembling the protective lens and housing of this lighting system. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting system for a motor vehicle in which the protective lens closing the housing is hermetically sealed to said housing by means of a disassembly tape. The invention also relates to a method of disassembling the protective lens and the housing of the lighting system by activating an expandable element embedded within or adjacent to the disassembly tape.
[0002] The invention has applications in the field of land vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles, to allow the dismantling of lighting systems for the purpose of repairing, remanufacturing, or recycling their components. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the automotive industry, lighting systems, such as front lighting devices (headlights, low beams, etc.) or rear signaling devices (signal lights, fog lights, etc.), generally comprise one or more lighting modules, controlled by one or more electronic control units. Each lighting module performs one or more functions, such as high beam, low beam, fog light, etc. The modules comprise mechanical parts, optical parts, electronic parts, and optoelectronic parts, all arranged inside a housing closed by a protective lens.To protect the modules from dust and moisture, and thus ensure the light system is watertight, the protective glass is generally hermetically sealed to the housing using an adhesive tape that ensures adhesion between the protective glass and the housing regardless of the environment (humidity, mud, vibrations, etc.). The adhesive tape, or bead of adhesive, is generally made of an adhesive (for example, polyurethane or silicone-based) that polymerizes under the effect of heat.
[0004] An example of a lighting system is shown in an exploded view in [Fig. 1]. According to this example, the lighting system 100 comprises: • a 110 mm housing, usually made of thermoplastic material, • a 120 protective glass, usually made of polycarbonate, • several lighting modules 130, such as the main module 132, the crossover module 134 and the daytime running light module 136, • 140 electronic control units for the lighting modules, and • 150 mechanical parts, such as support and retaining parts modules.
[0005] Currently, for environmental reasons, automotive manufacturers and suppliers are seeking to produce parts that are repairable, remanufacturable, and recyclable. This is particularly true for automotive lighting systems, such as lighting and signaling devices, which until now have been neither repairable nor remanufacturable and are difficult to recycle, notably due to the seal between the protective lens and the housing. Indeed, to recycle, repair, or remanufacture, it is necessary to disassemble the protective lens from the housing in order to access the various modules and components inside the housing.
[0006] Some DIY enthusiasts or repairers have attempted to disassemble the protective glass and the housing to access the components, parts, and / or lighting modules housed within the casing, particularly for the purpose of repairing or replacing one of these components or modules. To do this, some DIY enthusiasts or repairers have attempted to cut the adhesive strip, but this technique generally results in damage to either the protective glass or the housing, making subsequent reassembly of the parts difficult or even impossible.
[0007] Other hobbyists or repairers have attempted to heat lighting devices in an oven in order to make the adhesive tape flexible and stretchable, thus allowing the protective glass to be removed from the housing. An example of a lighting device 101 heated in an oven 10 is shown in [Fig. 2]. To allow the adhesive tape to degrade, the lighting device 101 must be heated to approximately the polymerization temperature of the adhesive, that is, to a temperature well above 100°C, potentially exceeding 200°C, for a period of at least 30 minutes.However, subjecting a lighting device to such heat for such a long period generates numerous problems with the components, mechanical parts, and lighting modules (collectively called internal parts) located within the housing, such as misalignment or displacement of certain components, parts, and / or modules of the lighting device, leading to a degradation of its functionality. Such thermal conditions (i.e., high heat for an extended period) can also cause damage to certain components or parts, particularly electronic components, most of which cannot withstand such extreme heat. excessive heat and are therefore degraded, or even destroyed, when subjected to such thermal conditions.
[0008] There is therefore a real need for a technology that allows the protective glass and housing of a lighting device, and more generally of a lighting system, to be disassembled without subjecting the components, modules and other internal parts of said device to a high temperature for a long period of time. Summary of the invention
[0009] To address the aforementioned problems of disassembling the protective lens and housing of an automotive lighting system, the applicant proposes a lighting system for motor vehicles, such as a lighting or signaling device, incorporating a disassembly method during its manufacture. To this end, the protective lens and the housing of the lighting system are assembled using a disassembly tape designed to expand locally during the disassembly of the lighting system. The applicant also proposes a disassembly method for separating the protective lens from the housing of a lighting system to access the internal components, parts, and / or modules located within the lighting system.
[0010] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a lighting system for a motor vehicle, comprising: • a first housing adapted to be fixed in the motor vehicle, • at least one lighting module housed in the first enclosure and comprising at least one light source, and • a protective glass closing the first case and hermetically sealed onto said first case.
[0011] This lighting system is characterized by the fact that it includes a first disassembly strip housed between the protective glass and the first housing, the disassembly strip comprising an adhesive tape and at least one expandable element expanding under the effect of an external activation.
[0012] This lighting system has the advantage of incorporating, from the manufacturing stage, means allowing for its subsequent disassembly. It also has the advantage of being able to be manufactured on the same production line as current lighting systems because all manufacturing steps are identical; only the disassembly tape differs from the adhesive tape conventionally used to seal the protective glass to the housing. Regardless of the model of the lighting system (lighting device, signaling device, light screen, etc.), it can be manufactured under manufacturing conditions similar to those currently implemented, with only the disassembly tape differing from the current adhesive tape.
[0013] A "lighting system" means any lighting device located at the front of the vehicle (such as daytime running lights or position lights), any signaling device located at the rear of the vehicle (such as signal lights or turn signals) as well as any other luminous device or screen (such as a luminous grille or a luminous logo) present inside or outside the vehicle to illuminate the interior or exterior of said vehicle and / or display practical, useful and / or aesthetic information inside or outside the vehicle.
[0014] A "disassembly tape" is an assembly consisting of an adhesive tape (or adhesive cord) and one (or more) expandable element: the adhesive cord ensures the sealing (i.e. the adhesion and sealing) of the protective glass on the housing while the expandable element ensures, by expansion, the separation of the protective glass and the housing to allow the subsequent disassembly of said protective glass and said housing.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the expandable element is a thermoplastic material element that expands under the effect of external thermal activation.
[0016] According to another embodiment, the expandable element comprises a flattened tube extending within the adhesive tape and expanding under the effect of an injection of a fluid.
[0017] According to yet another embodiment, the expandable element comprises a flattened tube juxtaposed to the adhesive tape, extending between the adhesive tape and the first housing and expanding under the effect of an injection of a fluid.
[0018] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the lighting system according to the first aspect of the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations: • the expandable element comprises thermoplastic beads housed within the adhesive tape and distributed along a length of said adhesive tape. • the expandable element comprises a thermoplastic bead housed within the adhesive tape and extending over a length of said adhesive tape. • the fluid injected into the flattened tube is air, a liquid or a foam. • The expandable element can be activated by means of a generating device heat. • The expandable element can be activated by means of a fluid injection device. • The lighting module includes a second housing closed by an optical unit and housing at least one light source, the optical unit being hermetically sealed onto the second housing by means of a second disassembly tape, identical to the first disassembly tape.
[0019] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for disassembling a protective glass and a first housing of a lighting system according to the first aspect, characterized in that it comprises the following operations: a. Installation of an activation device near the first disassembly strip of the lighting system, b. activation of the activation device to expand the expandable element of the first disassembly tape (160) and separate the protective glass (120) from the first housing (110).
[0020] Not only is this process easy to implement, but it also allows for the safe disassembly of the protective glass and the housing, without risk to the other components, parts, and / or lighting modules housed inside the housing. The protective glass and the housing can be separated from each other without breakage, neither to the protective glass, nor to the housing, nor to the other internal components, parts, and modules of the lighting system. All elements of the lighting system can thus be exchanged, repaired, and / or recycled. It is therefore possible to repair, remanufacture, and / or recycle the lighting system.
[0021] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the method for disassembling a lighting system according to the second aspect of the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations: • Operation a) Installation of the activation device includes the installation of a heat-generating device at least around the first disassembly tape. • Operation a) Installation of the activation device includes the installation of a fluid injection device connected to the expandable element. • The process includes, after separation of the protective glass and the first housing of the lighting system, a disassembly of at least one lighting module, comprising operations identical to operations a) and b), applied to an optical unit and a second housing of the lighting module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, illustrated by the figures in which:
[0023] Fig. 1, already described, represents a schematic exploded view of a lighting system according to the prior art;
[0024] Figure 2, already described, schematically represents a disassembly device as used in the prior art;
[0025] Fig. 3 schematically represents an exploded and partial view of a lighting system according to the invention;
[0026] Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B, Fig. 4C and Fig. 4D schematically represent different embodiments of the disassembly tape that can be used in the lighting system according to the invention;
[0027] Fig. 5A schematically represents an example of a thermoplastic ball and Fig. 5B represents, in the form of curves, the coefficients of expansion of different thermoplastic materials that can be used for the production of the expandable element of the disassembly tape used in the lighting system according to the invention;
[0028] Fig. 6 schematically represents a side view of an example of a contact area between the protective glass and the housing of a lighting system according to the invention;
[0029] Figure 7 schematically represents an example of a protective glass and a housing after expansion of the expandable element of the disassembly tape of a lighting system according to the invention; and
[0030] Figure 8 represents a functional diagram of the disassembly process of a lighting system according to the invention.
[0031] In the figures, identical elements are identified by identical reference numerals. For the sake of readability, the size scales between represented elements are not respected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] An example of an embodiment of a lighting system designed for subsequent disassembly and an example of a method for disassembling such a lighting system are described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These examples illustrate the features and advantages of the invention. It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to these examples.
[0033] An example of a lighting system 100 for a motor vehicle according to the invention is shown in [Fig. 3] in a simplified exploded view. This lighting system 100 comprises a housing 110 designed to be fixed to a motor vehicle, at the front, rear, side, or inside said vehicle. In the example of [Fig. 3], the lighting system 100 is a lighting device designed to be positioned at the front of a vehicle, it being understood that any other lighting system (signaling device, light screen, etc.), as defined in the abstract of the invention, comprises elements similar to those shown in [Fig. 3] with shapes and dimensions that may vary from the lighting device shown in [Fig. 3].
[0034] The housing 110 of the lighting system is generally made of a thermoplastic material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or any other material resistant to moisture, heat, and shock. It forms a cavity 112 in which is housed at least one lighting module 130, also called the internal module or simply the module, as well as the electronic and / or optoelectronic components (not visible in this figure) that control said module and / or mechanical parts (not visible in this figure) that secure said module in the housing 110. Several modules 130 can be mounted in the housing 110, each module providing one or more lighting or display functions.The lighting system 100 further comprises a protective glass 120, also called a protective lens, and generally made of tempered glass or polycarbonate material; the role of this protective glass 120 is to ensure the closure of the housing 110 while allowing the passage of light beams from the lighting modules 130. The protective glass 120 is hermetically sealed onto the housing 110 so as to protect the internal components, parts and modules housed in the cavity 112 of the housing 110 from dust and moisture. This sealing is achieved by means of a disassembly tape 160 which extends over at least the majority of the perimeter of the protective glass 120, in a contact area 114 between said protective glass 120 and the housing 110. The contact area 114, an example of which is shown in more detail in [Fig.6], is the area where the housing 110 and the protective glass 120 are in contact with each other, this contact area 114 being located on the periphery of the housing 110 and the periphery of the protective glass 120 and designed to receive the disassembly tape 160. .
[0035] A disassembly tape 160 is a tape or cord having both an adhesive property allowing the sealing of the protective glass 120 on the housing 110 and an expansion property allowing it, under the effect of an external activation (by heat or injection of a fluid), to expand to ensure the disassembly of the protective glass and the housing.
[0036] The disassembly tape 160 comprises an adhesive tape 161 and one or more expandable elements 162-164 integrated into or juxtaposed to the adhesive tape 161. Several examples of disassembly tapes 160 are shown in Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C. In all these examples, the adhesive tape 161 is a bead of an adhesive, sealant, or other adhesive material commonly used in the automotive industry to hermetically seal two parts, and in particular, a protective glass 120 and a lighting system housing 110. The adhesive material forming the tape 161 may be, for example, a polyurethane (PU)-based adhesive, such as the adhesives known as Teroson U632 / U152®, Swift Bond 2139 / 1®, and Swift Hardener 2111®, or an adhesive silicone-based adhesives, such as those known as Dow Q3-3636 (2K)® and Dow 7091 (1K)®, or hot melt adhesives such as those known as Butylrubber® and STM2 Henkel RB4040®.
[0037] In the example of [Fig. 4A], the disassembly tape 160 comprises an adhesive strip 161 within which several expandable elements 163, in the form of thermoplastic beads, are inserted. These thermoplastic beads 163 are small parts, for example, balls, cubes, or other small particles, formed from a thermoplastic material having the property of expanding under the effect of external thermal activation. These thermoplastic beads 163 may have, for example, dimensions ranging from a few micrometers to about ten millimeters. A predetermined number of beads are embedded in the adhesive strip, i.e., mixed with the material of the adhesive strip, and distributed along the entire length of said adhesive strip.The thermoplastic beads 163, thus embedded in the adhesive material, form the disassembly strip 160 positioned between the housing 110 and the protective lens 120 during the manufacture of the lighting system 100. When the lighting system 100 is disassembled, the disassembly strip is subjected to a predetermined temperature, which causes the beads 163 to expand and leads to a rupture of the adhesive strip 161 and, consequently, a separation of the protective lens 120 and the housing 110. The lighting system 100 can then be disassembled.
[0038] An example of these beads 163 is shown in more detail in [Fig. 5A]. In this example, each bead 163 is made exclusively of a thermoplastic material. Such a bead 163, called a mono-material bead, exhibits identical expansion in all directions, the coefficient of expansion depending solely on the choice of thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material of a bead 163 can be based on thermoplastic expandable polymers, thermosetting expandable polymers, or hybrid materials with expandable microbeads. In particular: • Expandable thermoplastic polymers are materials that expand under the effect of heat while retaining their mechanical properties. Examples include expandable thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which are elastic, impact-resistant, and have controlled expansion (between approximately 70 and 120°C). They also offer the advantage of being flexible and adjustable in terms of temperature and expansion. Low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) are another example. They are lightweight, soften and expand at approximately 105°C, and are easy to process and economical. Expandable thermoplastic polymers can be Also, expandable polypropylene (EPP) has the property of being heat-resistant and offering moderate expansion (at approximately 130°C) and the advantage of being chemically and mechanically stable. These are thermoplastic expandable polymers. • Expandable thermosetting polymers are materials containing expandable additives and are used for permanent structures. Examples include expandable epoxy resins, which exhibit high hardness after expansion and controlled expansion (between approximately 150 and 200°C). Expandable additives, such as expandable microbeads or chemical blowing agents, offer the advantage of high adhesion, making them ideal for robust optical assemblies. Expandable thermosetting polymers can also include expandable polyimides, which possess exceptional thermal resistance (above 300°C) and controlled expansion, suitable for demanding optical environments. • Hybrid materials with expandable microbeads are systems containing expandable microbeads embedded in a polymer or adhesive matrix. Hybrid materials can be, for example, expandable polymeric microbeads (such as those known as Expancel® or Dualité®) which offer controlled expansion under heat (between approximately 80 and 200°C) as well as density variation, making them suitable for use in adhesives or expandable seals. Hybrid materials can also be expandable hybrid adhesives (epoxy with microbeads) which exhibit precise volumetric expansion and reduced bond strength after activation; these can be used, for example, in demanding optical applications.
[0039] In another example (not shown in the figures), each ball comprises a shell made of a first thermoplastic material and a core made of a second material, thermoplastic or not. The first thermoplastic material of this ball, called a bi-material ball, can be one of the materials mentioned previously for the single-material ball 163. The second material of this bi-material ball can be, according to a first alternative, a thermoplastic material different from the first thermoplastic material, that is to say, having different expansion properties from those of the first thermoplastic material. The second material can be, according to a second alternative, a fibrous material (such as carbon, hemp, cellulose fibers, etc.) which has the property of reducing the thermal expansion of the ball in one direction. Regardless of the first or second alternative, the bi-material ball has a coefficient of expansion whichdiffers depending on the direction, allowing control of the principal expansion direction of the ball. Examples of expansion coefficients (or coefficients of expansion) for several thermoplastic materials are shown in [Fig. 5B] as a function of temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, shape-memory polyurethanes have an activation temperature of approximately 70 to 100°C and their shape is reversible, allowing controlled handling for component disassembly. Expandable polyesters have a slow and uniform thermal reactivity and expansion (between approximately 90 and 150°C), resulting in high chemical compatibility with optical substrates. Expandable cyanoacrylate adhesives have rapid thermal degradation between approximately 120 and 150°C, allowing for release from optics without significant residue.Expandable polyurethane adhesives have a gentle expansion and a controlled thermal expansion (between approximately 100 and 130°C), making them compatible with delicate surfaces. Expandable silicone adhesives have chemical and thermal resistance (to approximately 200°C), allowing for flexible expansion, ideal for sensitive optics.
[0040] In the example of [Fig. 4D], the expandable element is in the form of a thermoplastic bead 168 formed in a thermoplastic material having the property of expanding under the effect of external thermal activation. This thermoplastic bead 168 is positioned coaxially in the adhesive tape 161 and extends along the entire length of said adhesive tape. The thermoplastic bead 168, thus housed in the adhesive material, forms the disassembly strip 160 positioned between the housing 110 and the protective lens 120 during the manufacture of the lighting system 100. At the time of disassembly of the lighting system 100, the disassembly strip is subjected to a predetermined temperature, which has the effect of expanding the thermoplastic bead 168 and causing the adhesive strip 161 to break and, consequently, a separation of the protective lens 120 and the housing 110. The lighting system 100 can then be disassembled.The thermoplastic material used to manufacture the thermoplastic bead 168 can be a thermoplastic material based on expandable thermoplastic polymers or on expandable thermosetting polymers such as those mentioned previously for thermoplastic beads.
[0041] To disassemble the lighting system 100, the disassembly tape 160 is subjected to heat corresponding substantially to the expansion temperature of the thermoplastic material(s) chosen for the beads 163 or the bead 168. Under the effect of the heat, the beads 163 / the bead 168 expand, causing tears in the adhesive tape 161 and, consequently, separation of the protective lens 120 and the housing 110. The activation of the thermoplastic beads 163 / the bead 168 is achieved by means of a heat-generating device, also called a heating device. This heating device can be any device intended to provide heat at a predefined temperature. In one embodiment, the heating device may include one or more resistors positioned along the contact area 114 between the protective glass 120 and the housing 110, i.e., near the disassembly strip 160. It may, for example, include a single resistor with a generally oblong shape so as to generally surround the disassembly strip 160. Alternatively, it may include two longitudinal resistors, each positioned along the longer lengths of the disassembly strip 160. It may also include more than two resistors distributed substantially evenly along the disassembly strip. Regardless of their number, the resistors are connected, individually or in series, to a power supply.In another embodiment, the heating device can be an oven whose temperature corresponds approximately to the expansion temperature of the thermoplastic material(s). To allow the thermoplastic materials to expand, their exposure to heat is of short duration. For example, for thermoplastic expandable polymers: thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) are subjected to a temperature of approximately 70 to 120°C for a duration of 1 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness; low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is subjected to a temperature of approximately 105°C for a duration of approximately 2 to 5 minutes, for joints or thin layers; expandable polypropylene (EPP) is subjected to a temperature of approximately 130 to 160°C for a duration of 5 to 15 minutes. For thermosetting expandable polymers: expandable epoxy resins are subjected to a temperature of approximately 150 to 200°C for a duration of 5 to 30 minutes (depending on the thickness and the concentration of the expanding agents); Expandable polyimides are subjected to a temperature of approximately 250 to 350°C for a period of 10 to 30 minutes (used for demanding optical environments).For hybrid materials with expandable microbeads: expandable polymeric microbeads (Expancel®, Dualité®) are subjected to a temperature of approximately 80 to 200°C (depending on the type of microbead) for 1 to 10 minutes (the microbeads swell rapidly at low temperatures but require a longer exposure time at lower temperatures); expandable hybrid adhesives (epoxy with microbeads) are subjected to a temperature of approximately 100 to 180°C for 5 to 15 minutes for significant expansion. For shape-memory polymers: shape-memory polyurethanes are subjected to a temperature of approximately 70 to 100°C for 1 to 5 minutes (rapid activation for thin layers); expandable polyesters are subjected to a temperature of approximately 90 to 150°C for 5 to 20 minutes.For thermally expandable adhesives: expandable cyanoacrylate adhesives are subjected to a temperature of approximately 120 to 150°C for a period of 2 to 10 minutes. (Rapid expansion for small areas); expanding polyurethane adhesives are subjected to a temperature of approximately 100 to 130°C for 5 to 15 minutes; expanding silicone adhesives are subjected to a temperature of approximately 200°C for 10 to 30 minutes (depending on thickness and structure). For thermally expanding organic compounds: azodicarbonamides (ADCAs) are subjected to a temperature of approximately 180 to 200°C for 1 to 3 minutes (rapid thermal decomposition, but concentration-dependent).
[0042] Thus, unlike glue, which requires prolonged exposure to the polymerization temperature, thermoplastic materials quickly reach their expansion temperature. Therefore, there is no risk of damaging the components and / or other parts and modules of the lighting system by subjecting them for a short period to the expansion temperature of thermoplastic materials.
[0043] In the example of [Fig. 4B], the disassembly tape 160 comprises an adhesive tape 161 within which one or more expandable elements 164 are housed. In this example, the expandable element is in the form of a hollow and flattened conduit, called a flattened tube 164, housed within the adhesive tape 161. This flattened tube 164, made of a flexible material, such as certain thermoplastic materials, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), silicone, rubber, etc., extends along the entire length of the adhesive tape 161. This flattened tube 164 is designed to be connected, at least at one of its ends, to a fluid injection activation device. This activation device by injection of a fluid can be, for example, a device supplying air, liquid, foam or any other fluid allowing the flattened tube 164 to expand so as to give it a substantially tubular shape.The liquid could be, for example, water, and the foam, for example, polyurethane foam. Indeed, the flattened tube 164 is initially a tube with a substantially circular cross-section, which is flattened inside the adhesive tape 161 by removing the air inside said tube. Once emptied of its air, the flattened tube 164 can be inserted into the bead of adhesive material (see examples of adhesives mentioned previously) to form the disassembly strip 160 positioned between the housing 110 and the protective lens 120 during the manufacture of the lighting system 100. When the lighting system 100 is disassembled, a fluid (air, water, foam, etc.) is injected into the flattened tube 164, which has the effect of expanding it (i.e., inflating it so that it returns to its initial tubular shape), causing the adhesive strip 161 to tear and thus separating the protective lens 120 from the housing 110. The lighting system 100 can then be disassembled.An example of a protective glass 120 detached from the housing 110 is shown in [Fig.7]. This [Fig.7] shows in particular the flattened tube 164 after it has been expanded, as well as strands of glue from the adhesive tape 161 extending transversely between said flattened tube 164 and . the protective glass 120 and / or the housing 110. Once the disassembly tape 160 is in this state, it is easy to disassemble the protective glass 120 from the housing 110.
[0044] In the example of [Fig. 4C], the disassembly tape 160 comprises an adhesive strip 161 juxtaposed to an expandable element in the form of a flattened hollow conduit, called a flattened tube 162. The flattened tube 162, made of a flexible material, such as certain thermoplastics, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), silicone, rubber, etc., extends along the entire length of the adhesive strip 161, under said adhesive strip 161, in the contact area 114. In other words, the flattened tube 162 is positioned in the contact area 114, along the periphery of the protective glass 120. The adhesive strip 161 is positioned above the flattened tube 162, in the contact area 114. The adhesive tape 161 extends over the entire length of the flattened tube 162.An example of a contact area 114 is shown in [Fig. 6]. In this example, the contact area 114 is a groove 115 formed on the outer contour of the cavity 112 of the housing 110 and adapted to receive the end of the protective glass 120 and the disassembly tape 160. In particular, the groove 115 receives the flattened tube 162, positioned at the bottom of said groove, and the adhesive tape 161 positioned above the flattened tube 162, in the groove 115. As in the embodiment of [Fig. 4B], the flattened tube 162 of the embodiment of [Fig. 4C] is designed to be connected, at least at one end, to a fluid injection activation device. This fluid injection activation device can be identical to that described above for the embodiment of [Fig. 4B].The flattened tube 162 is placed alongside the bead of adhesive material (see examples of adhesives mentioned previously) to form the disassembly strip 160, positioned between the housing 110 and the protective lens 120 during the manufacture of the lighting system 100. When the lighting system 100 is disassembled, a fluid (air, water, foam, etc.) is injected into the flattened tube 162, which causes it to expand (i.e., inflate so that it returns to its initial tubular shape), resulting in the adhesive strip 161 breaking and thus separating the protective lens 120 from the housing 110. The lighting system 100 can then be disassembled.
[0045] In the preceding description, the disassembly tape 160 was described for a lighting system 100. In some embodiments, a disassembly tape identical to that described for the lighting system 100 can be used to seal the optical unit and the housing of a lighting module 130. Indeed, a lighting module 130 generally comprises: • a housing (called the second housing, as opposed to the housing of the lighting system which is the first housing), in which a light source as well as optical and / or electronic components are housed, • an optical unit closing the second housing and hermetically sealed onto the second housing; this optical unit may comprise a single optic or several optics combined to offer multiple functionalities, and • an adhesive tape ensuring the sealing of the optical unit onto the second housing.
[0046] In these embodiments of the invention, the adhesive tape is replaced by a disassembly tape, called the second disassembly tape (as opposed to the first disassembly tape bonding the protective glass and the first housing of the lighting system). This second disassembly tape is made from the same materials as those described above for the first disassembly tape 160 of the lighting system 100. Its activation is achieved by means of activation devices by heating or by injection of a fluid, identical to those described for the lighting system 100. The preceding description relating to the different embodiments of the first disassembly tape and the activation devices is also valid for the case where the lighting module(s) 130 are also equipped with a disassembly tape.In these embodiments, the disassembly of the internal module(s) 130 of the lighting system 100 is planned from the manufacturing stage of said internal modules, just as the disassembly of the lighting system 100 is planned during the manufacturing of said lighting system. Thus, not only can the lighting system 100 be disassembled to access the internal components, parts, and modules, but the internal modules can also be disassembled to access their light source(s), optical unit(s), and all the components and parts located inside an internal module. It is then possible to repair, remanufacture, or recycle any element of the lighting system 100 and / or the internal modules 130.
[0047] As explained previously, the lighting system 100 includes means for its subsequent disassembly without damaging any of the elements forming said lighting system. Disassembly of such a lighting system 100 can be carried out by following the method 300 shown functionally in [Fig. 8]. In the embodiment of [Fig. 8], the disassembly method 300 includes a first step 310 of selecting the lighting system 100 to be disassembled. It then includes an operation 320 of installing an activation device around the contact area 114 between the protective glass 120 and the first housing 110, and in particular around the disassembly strip 160. The method 300 then includes an operation 330 of activating the selected activation device, which has the effect of expanding the expandable element(s) of the disassembly strip 160.This selected activation device is activated until the expandable element(s) are expanded. At this point, the adhesive tape 161 tears, leaving the . The protective glass 120 and the housing 110 are detached (operation 340). The first housing 110 and the protective glass 120 can then be separated from each other (operation 350) so as to obtain two distinct elements: obtaining 362 the housing 110 and obtaining 364 the protective glass 120. Access 366 to all the internal components, parts and modules of the lighting system 100 is then possible.
[0048] In certain embodiments, the process 300 may include, after operations 362, 364, 366 of obtaining the protective glass 120 and the housing 110 of the lighting system 100, operations of disassembling one or more lighting modules located in the cavity of the first housing 110. These operations of disassembling one or more lighting modules are operations identical to operations 310 to 350 described above but applied to the optical unit and the second housing of the lighting module to be disassembled.
[0049] Although described through a number of examples, variants and embodiments, the lighting system and the method of disassembling said lighting system include various variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, it being understood that these variants, modifications and improvements are part of the scope of the invention.
Claims
Demands
1. Lighting system (100) for motor vehicle, comprising: - a first housing (110) adapted to be fixed in the motor vehicle, - at least one lighting module (130) housed in the first housing (110) and comprising at least one light source, and - a protective glass (120) closing the first housing (110) and hermetically sealed on said first housing, characterized in that it comprises a first disassembly strip (160) housed between the protective glass (120) and the first housing (110), the disassembly strip (160) comprising an adhesive tape (161) and at least one expandable element (162, 163, 164) expanding under the effect of an external activation.
2. Lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the expandable element (162, 163, 164) is an element made of thermoplastic material (163) expanding under the effect of external thermal activation.
3. Lighting system according to claim 2, characterized in that the expandable element comprises thermoplastic balls (163a, 163b) housed within the adhesive tape (161) and distributed over a length of said adhesive tape.
4. Lighting system according to claim 2, characterized in that the expandable element comprises a thermoplastic bead (163a, 163b) housed within the adhesive tape (161) and extending over a length of said adhesive tape.
5. Lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the expandable element (162, 163, 164) comprises a flattened tube (164) extending within the adhesive tape (161) and expanding under the effect of an injection of a fluid.
6. Lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the expandable element comprises a flattened tube (162) juxtaposed to the adhesive tape (161), extending between said adhesive tape and the first housing (110) and expanding under the effect of an injection of a fluid.
7. Lighting system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the fluid injected into the flattened tube (162, 164) is air, a liquid or a foam.
8. Lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the expandable element (163) is activatable by means of a heat-generating device.
9. Lighting system according to any one of claims 1, 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that the expandable element (162, 164) is activatable by means of a fluid injection device.
10. Lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lighting module (130) comprises a second housing closed by an optical unit and housing at least one light source, the optical unit being hermetically sealed on the second housing by means of a second disassembly tape, identical to the first disassembly tape.
11. A method for disassembling a protective glass (120) and a first housing (110) of a lighting system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises the following operations: a. installation (320) of an activation device near the first disassembly strip (160) of the lighting system (100), b. activation (330) of the activation device to expand the expandable element (162, 163, 164) of the first disassembly strip (160) and detach the protective glass (120) from the first housing (110).
12. Disassembly method according to claim 11, wherein the lighting system (100) conforms to any one of claims 2, 3, 4 and 8, characterized in that the operation a) of installing the activation device comprises the installation of a heat-generating device at least around the first disassembly strip.
13. Disassembly method according to claim 11, wherein the lighting system (100) conforms to any one of claims 5, 6, 7 and 9, characterized in that the operation a) of installing the activation device comprises the installation of a device for injecting a fluid into the expandable element.
14. Disassembly method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises, after separation of the protective glass (120) and the first housing (110) of the lighting system, a disassembly of at least one lighting module (130), comprising operations identical to operations a) and b) of claim 11, applied to an optical unit and a second housing of the lighting module.