Waterproof structure

Abstract

To provide a waterproof structure capable of satisfying waterproofness with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A waterproof structure 44 of a boundary between a first component constituting a closed space C and a second component attached to an opening 36a of the first component includes a labyrinth 46 provided in the boundary, and a press-in portion 48 located closer to the closed space than the labyrinth in the boundary.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproof structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicle headlamps are equipped with a leveling device that can adjust the light axis in the vertical direction while the vehicle is moving or stopped. The leveling device can be driven by a motor or manually operated by the driver using a wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the latter case, the leveling device is mainly composed of a mechanism and a waterproof rubber boot, and is designed to provide sealing properties by fitting the rubber boot to the rear end of the mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-124143 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, some vehicle headlamp leveling devices use an adjusting screw to adjust the aiming of the headlamp. Such leveling devices are often placed on the engine room side outside the lamp chamber, and are designed to be waterproof against water that may enter the engine room. In particular, in the case of a structure in which some of the components constituting the leveling device slide against each other, adding a sealing member such as an O-ring or packing can improve waterproofing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a new waterproof structure that satisfies waterproof requirements with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a waterproof structure of one embodiment of the present invention is a waterproof structure for the boundary between a first part that forms a closed space and a second part that is attached to an opening of the first part, and includes a labyrinth provided at the boundary, and a press-fit portion provided on the closed space side of the boundary relative to the labyrinth.

[0007] According to this embodiment, the labyrinth makes it difficult for water to seep into the closed space from the outside. Even if water does seep into the labyrinth, the press-fit portion located deep inside the labyrinth provides waterproofing.

[0008] The second component may be rotatably attached to the first component. In this way, at the boundary where the components rotate relative to each other, instead of deformation of the O-ring sandwiched between the components, a direct press-fit portion is provided between the components to the extent that the components can rotate relative to each other, thereby achieving a waterproof structure with a simple configuration.

[0009] The first part may be fixed to a body of a lamp chamber of a vehicle headlamp, and the second part may rotate an adjusting screw that adjusts the aim of the vehicle headlamp. This makes it possible to realize a waterproof structure that makes it difficult for water to enter the closed space even when the adjusting screw rotates.

[0010] The first part may have an annular small diameter part on the inner circumferential surface of the opening, and the press-fit part may be a region that is deformed by the small diameter part being pressed by the outer circumferential surface of the second part when the second part is pressed into the opening. In this way, the press-fit part can be provided simply by assembling the second part to the first part.

[0011] The outer peripheral surface of the second part may be made of a material harder than the small diameter part. This makes it possible to make the second part less likely to deform, for example, even if a jig is touched to the outer peripheral surface of the second part and rotated. Here, hardness is one of various mechanical properties of a material, and can be defined, for example, by Vickers hardness or Rockwell hardness.

[0012] The first component may be made of polybutylene terephthalate resin or polypropylene resin, and the second component may be made of nylon resin. In this way, by pressing the second component made of nylon resin into an opening of the first component made of polybutylene terephthalate resin or polypropylene resin, which is softer than nylon resin, a part of the first component is deformed, and a press-fit portion is formed between the second component and the first component.

[0013] The labyrinth may be formed by combining an annular recess or annular protrusion formed to surround the opening of the first component with an annular protrusion or annular recess of the second component, thereby forming a labyrinth around the entire circumference of the opening.

[0014] The annular protrusion of the first component may be in contact with a bottom of the annular recess of the second component, which makes it more difficult for water that has entered the labyrinth to flow toward the press-fit portion.

[0015] The annular recess of the first component may have an outer side surface that is inclined so that the groove width increases from the bottom to the top. This makes it easier for water that has entered the labyrinth to be discharged to the outside again.

[0016] The second component may have an annular guard located radially outward of the labyrinth and having a tip that protrudes beyond the labyrinth toward the first component, thereby making it difficult for water from the outside to flow directly toward the labyrinth.

[0017] Any combination of the above components, and any conversion of the expression of the present invention between a manufacturing method, a device such as a lamp or lighting, a light-emitting module, a light source, etc. are also valid as aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, waterproofing can be achieved with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the leveling device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the waterproof structure shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing how the rotating member is attached to the cover, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of an area D shown in FIG. 5(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, parts, and processes shown in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. In addition, the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, but are merely examples, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

[0021] (Vehicle headlights) 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment. A vehicle headlamp 10 has a lamp chamber 16 defined by a lamp body 12 having an opening in the forward direction of the vehicle and a transparent cover 14 covering the opening of the lamp body 12. A lamp unit 18 that irradiates light in the forward direction of the vehicle is housed in the lamp chamber 16. The lamp unit 18 is configured to be swingable around a pivot mechanism 20a attached to the inner wall surface of the lamp body 12.

[0022] A mounting hole 18c is formed on the rear surface of the lamp unit 18 on the vehicle rear side, and a bulb 22 is attached as a light source through this mounting hole 18c. For example, an incandescent bulb, a halogen lamp, a gas discharge lamp, a discharge bulb, an LED, etc. can be used as the bulb 22, but in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the bulb 22 is configured as a gas discharge lamp. A reflector 24 is formed on the inner wall surface of the lamp unit 18, and reflects the light emitted from the bulb 22 forward.

[0023] An opening 12b is formed in the rear wall 12a of the lamp body 12 at the rear of the lamp chamber 16, and an annular wall 12c is formed around the opening 12b. A back cover 26 is attached to the annular wall 12c of the lamp body 12 so as to close the opening 12b. A power supply cord 28 of the bulb 22 is routed near the annular wall 12c.

[0024] A rod-type leveling device 30 is attached to the upper end of the lamp body 12. The leveling device 30 is mainly composed of a case 32 and an adjusting screw 34, and the case 32 is attached to the rear surface of the lamp body 12. Therefore, the case 32 is disposed outside the lamp body 12.

[0025] An adjusting screw 34 is attached to the rod-type leveling device 30, and a threaded portion 34a is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw 34 protruding from the case 32. The threaded portion 34a is rotatably coupled to a nut portion 18b formed at the upper portion of the rear surface of the lamp unit 18. This connects the lamp unit 18 and the leveling device 30.

[0026] The other end of the adjusting screw 34 is fixed to a rotating member (described later) that is rotatably mounted on the case 32. The adjusting screw 34 also rotates when a gear provided on the rotating member is rotated by a jig (e.g., a screwdriver) (described later). When the threaded portion 34a of the adjusting screw 34 rotates relative to the nut portion 18b, the nut portion 18b is displaced relative to the threaded portion 34a.

[0027] As described above, the lamp unit 18 is configured to be swingable around the pivot mechanism 20a. Therefore, the pivot mechanism 20a functions as a rotation fulcrum, and the nut portion 18b functions as a point of application. With the above configuration, when the screw portion 34a of the adjusting screw 34 enters the nut portion 18b by rotating the rotating member in one direction using a jig, the nut portion 18b moves backward, i.e., to the right in FIG. 1. Then, the lamp unit 18 tilts to assume a rearward tilting position around the pivot mechanism 20a. Also, when the screw portion 34a of the adjusting screw 34 retreats from the nut portion 18b by rotating the rotating member in the other direction using a jig, the nut portion 18b moves forward, i.e., to the left in FIG. 1. As a result, the lamp unit 18 tilts to assume a forward tilting position around the pivot mechanism 20a. When the lamp unit 18 is in a forward tilting position, the illumination direction is downward, and conversely, when the lamp unit 18 is in a backward tilting position, the illumination direction is upward.

[0028] By performing such aiming adjustment, it becomes possible to adjust the optical axis of the lamp unit 18 relative to the vehicle body. As a result, the reach of the forward illumination by the vehicle headlamp 10 can be adjusted to an optimal distance. In addition, the leveling device 30 is configured so that the leveling adjustment can be performed by sliding the adjusting screw 34 without rotating it, driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the case 32. The leveling adjustment is a function for adjusting the optical axis when the vehicle attitude changes due to passengers getting on and off or luggage being loaded, causing the optical axis to change.

[0029] (Leveling device) Next, the configuration of the leveling device according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a front view of the leveling device according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2. Note that in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, some components are omitted.

[0030] The case 32 constituting the leveling device 30 has a cover 36 which is a part that mainly constitutes the upper part of the case, a base 38 which is a part that mainly constitutes the lower part of the case, and a rotating member 40 to which the adjusting screw 34 is fixed. The cover 36 and the base 38 form a closed space C inside the case 32.

[0031] The rotating member 40 is rotatably mounted in the circular opening 36a of the cover 36. As shown in Fig. 3, the rotating member 40 has an insertion hole 40a formed in the direction of the rotation axis R into which the other end of the adjusting screw 34 is slidably fitted. An annular crown gear 51 that meshes with the driver 42 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member 40 so that the optical axis of the lamp unit 18 can be adjusted by the driver 42.

[0032] (waterproof structure) Next, the waterproof structure of the case 32 will be described. The waterproof structure shown in Fig. 3 has a shape that is almost symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis R, and the rotating member 40 has an annular portion whose cross-sectional shape centered on the rotation axis R is almost the same in the circumferential direction. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the waterproof structure 44 shown in Fig. 3. The waterproof structure 44 includes a labyrinth 46 provided at the boundary between the cover 36 and the rotating member 40, and a press-fit portion 48 provided on the closed space C side of the boundary with respect to the labyrinth 46. Here, the boundary refers to the area where two parts are in contact or facing each other.

[0033] As a result, the labyrinth 46 of the waterproof structure 44 makes it difficult for water to infiltrate from the outside O toward the closed space C. Even if water does infiltrate the labyrinth 46, the press-fit portion 48 located deep inside the labyrinth 46 provides waterproofing.

[0034] Furthermore, in the waterproof structure 44 according to the present embodiment, at the boundary where the cover 36 and the rotating member 40 rotate relative to each other, a direct press-fit portion 48 is provided between the parts to an extent that the parts can rotate relative to each other, rather than a deformation of an O-ring sandwiched between the parts. This makes it possible to realize the waterproof structure 44 with a simple configuration that omits an O-ring.

[0035] The cover 36 and base 38, which correspond to the first component, are fixed to the lamp body 12 in the lamp chamber 16 of the vehicle headlamp 10. The rotating member 40, which corresponds to the second component, rotates the adjusting screw 34 that performs aiming of the vehicle headlamp 10. This makes it possible to realize a waterproof structure 44 that makes it difficult for water to enter the closed space C even when the rotating member 40, in which the adjusting screw 34 is slidably held, rotates.

[0036] FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing how the rotating member 40 is attached to the cover 36, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of the area D shown in FIG. 5(a). The cover 36 is provided with an annular small diameter portion 36c, a large diameter portion 36d, and a tapered portion 36e on the inner peripheral surface 36b of the opening 36a. The tapered portion 36e is formed so as to connect the small diameter portion 36c and the large diameter portion 36d. The step between the small diameter portion 36c and the large diameter portion 36d is about 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The aforementioned press-fit portion 48 is an area that is deformed by the small diameter portion 36c being pressed by the outer peripheral surface 40b of the rotating member 40 when the rotating member 40 is pressed into the opening 36a. This allows the press-fit portion 48 to be provided simply by assembling the rotating member 40 to the cover 36.

[0037] The outer peripheral surface 40b of the rotating member 40 according to this embodiment is made of a material harder than the small diameter portion 36c of the cover 36. This makes it possible to make the rotating member 40 less likely to deform, for example, even when the outer peripheral surface 40b of the rotating member 40 is touched with a driver 42 to rotate the rotating member 40. Here, hardness is one of various mechanical properties of a material, and can be defined, for example, by Vickers hardness or Rockwell hardness.

[0038] The cover 36 according to this embodiment is a molded part made of polybutylene terephthalate resin or polypropylene resin. The rotating member 40 according to this embodiment is a molded part made of nylon resin. Thus, by pressing the rotating member 40 made of nylon resin into the opening 36a of the cover 36 made of polybutylene terephthalate resin or polypropylene resin, which is softer than nylon resin, mainly the small diameter portion 36c of the cover 36 is deformed, and a press-fit portion 48 is formed between the rotating member 40 and the cover 36.

[0039] 4 and 5, the labyrinth 46 is formed by combining the annular recess 36f or the annular protrusions 36g, 36h formed so as to surround the opening 36a of the cover 36 with the annular protrusion 40c or the annular recesses 40d, 40e of the rotating member 40. As a result, the labyrinth 46 is formed around the entire outer periphery of the opening 36a.

[0040] The annular protrusion 36g of the cover 36 is in contact with the bottom of the annular recess 40d of the rotating member 40. This makes it more difficult for the water that has entered the labyrinth 46 to flow toward the press-fit portion 48.

[0041] The annular recess 36f of the cover 36 has an outer side surface 36j that is inclined so that the groove width increases from the bottom toward the top. This makes it easier for water that has entered the labyrinth 46 to be discharged to the outside again.

[0042] 3, the rotating member 40 has an annular guard 50 that is outside the labyrinth 46 in the radial direction Y and has a tip 50a that protrudes toward the cover 36 side beyond the labyrinth 46. This makes it difficult for water to flow directly from the outside O toward the labyrinth 46. In addition, a snap joint 40g (anti-slip structure) is formed near the entrance 40f of the fitting hole 40a of the rotating member 40 to prevent the rotating member 40 from slipping out of the cover 36.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and suitable combinations or substitutions of the configurations of the embodiment are also included in the present invention. In addition, it is possible to suitably rearrange the combinations and processing order in the embodiment based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, and to make modifications such as various design changes to the embodiment, and the embodiment to which such modifications have been made is also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 vehicle headlamp, 12 lamp body, 18 lighting unit, 30 leveling device, 32 case, 34 adjusting screw, 34a threaded portion, 36 cover, 36a opening, 36b inner surface, 36c small diameter portion, 36d large diameter portion, 36e tapered portion, 36f annular recess, 36g annular convex portion, 36j side surface, 38 base, 40 rotating member, 40b outer surface, 40c annular convex portion, 40d annular recess, 44 waterproof structure, 46 labyrinth, 48 press-fit portion, 50 guard, 50a tip.

Claims

1. A waterproof structure for a boundary between a first part constituting a closed space and a second part attached to an opening of the first part, A labyrinth provided at the boundary; a press-fit portion provided on the boundary on the closed space side of the labyrinth; Equipped with The first component has an annular small diameter portion on an inner circumferential surface of the opening, the press-fit portion is a region that is deformed by the small diameter portion being pressed by an outer circumferential surface of the second part when the second part is pressed into the opening, A waterproof structure in which the outer peripheral surface of the second component is made of a material harder than that of the small diameter portion.

2. 2. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the second part is rotatably mounted relative to the first part.

3. The first component is fixed to a body of a lamp chamber of a vehicle headlamp, 3. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the second part rotates an adjusting screw for aiming a vehicle headlamp.

4. A waterproof structure for a boundary between a first part constituting a closed space and a second part attached to an opening of the first part, A labyrinth provided at the boundary; a press-fit portion provided on the boundary on the closed space side of the labyrinth; Equipped with The first component has an annular small diameter portion on an inner circumferential surface of the opening, the press-fit portion is a region that is deformed by the small diameter portion being pressed by an outer circumferential surface of the second part when the second part is pressed into the opening, The first part is made of polybutylene terephthalate resin or polypropylene resin, A waterproof structure characterized in that the second part is made of nylon resin.

5. A waterproof structure for a boundary between a first part constituting a closed space and a second part attached to an opening of the first part, A labyrinth provided at the boundary; a press-fit portion provided on the boundary on the closed space side of the labyrinth; Equipped with the labyrinth is formed by combining an annular recess or an annular protrusion formed so as to surround the opening of the first component with an annular protrusion or annular recess of the second component, A waterproof structure, characterized in that the annular recess of the first component has an outer side surface that is inclined so that the groove width increases from the bottom toward the top.

6. 6. The waterproof structure according to claim 5, wherein the annular protrusion of the first component contacts a bottom of the annular recess of the second component.

7. A waterproof structure for a boundary between a first part constituting a closed space and a second part attached to an opening of the first part, A labyrinth provided at the boundary; a press-fit portion provided on the boundary on the closed space side of the labyrinth; Equipped with A waterproof structure characterized in that the second component has an annular guard located radially outside the labyrinth and having a tip that protrudes beyond the labyrinth toward the first component.

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