Lighting apparatus for vehicles and mounting method

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for vehicles, including: a light-source device containing a light source and a light source carrier; an optical device for generating a predefined light distribution; and a cooling device for the light source; the light source being fastened relative to the optical device in a target calibration position, and the light source carrier being fastened in the target calibration position between a contact surface of the optical device and a contact surface of the cooling device.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for vehicles, with a light source device (1) including a light source (6) and a light source carrier (7), an optics device (2) for generating a predetermined light distribution, having an abutment surface (18) and lugs (14) projecting from the abutment surface (18), and a cooling device (3) for the light source (6), wherein the light source (6) is fastened in a reference aligning position relative to the optics device (2), wherein the light source carrier (7) is adapted to being fastened, in the reference aligning position of the light source (6), between the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (2) and an abutment surface (11) of the cooling device (3), contacting both the abutment surface of the optics device (2) and the abutment surface of the cooling device (3), via at least first and second bearing points provided on the abutment surface of the optics device (2), wherein the first bearing point is adapted to fix the light source carrier (7) in a plane of extent (E) of the abutment surface (18), and the second bearing point is adapted to allow the light source carrier (7) to be displaceable in a direction extending perpendicular to the plane of extent (E) of the abutment surface (18), wherein the cooling device (3) has receiving recesses (29) for receiving the respective lugs (14) of the optics device (2), wherein an inside diameter (d.sub.1) of the receiving recess (29) is larger than an outside diameter (d.sub.2) of the respective lug (14), and wherein the cooling device (3) is fastened to the lugs (14) of the optics device (5) by fastening screws (23) in threaded engagement in respective lugs (14).

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source carrier (7) is planar and has at least two bore holes (19, 19′, 19″) in which respective lugs (14) projecting from the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (2) engages, wherein at least one bore hole (19) of said at least two bore holes (19, 19′, 19″) is formed at a first bearing point (20) as a round hole (19′) adapted to one of the lugs (14) of the optics device (2) such that the light source carrier (7) is fixed at the first bearing point (20) in the plane of extent (E) of the abutment surface, and wherein at least one further bore hole (19) of said at least two bore holes (19, 19′, 19″) is formed as an elongated hole (19″) at a second bearing point (21, 22) such that the light source carrier (7) is displaceably adjustable at the second bearing point (21, 22) in a predetermined aligning direction.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined aligning direction is a principal emitting direction H.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source carrier (7) is fastened to the optics device (2) by a screw connection.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source carrier (7) is positioned via at least two bearing points (20, 21, 22) which are arranged to be distributed in a plane of extent (E) receiving the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (2), wherein the light source carrier (7) is planar and has at least two bore holes (19, 19′, 19″) in which respective lugs (14) projecting from the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (2) engages.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lugs (14) of the optics device (5) have an internal thread, wherein the cooling device (3) has bore holes (24) aligned with the lugs (14) of the optics device (5) at the bearing points (20, 21, 22) for the partial engagement of fastening screws (23) in the lugs (14), wherein a shaft (26) of the fastening screws (23) is in threaded engagement with the respective lug (14).

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (5) is formed by an upper side (12) of a reflector (5), and a quantity of reflector surfaces (16) extends downward in an arc-shaped manner from the outer edge (15) of the reflector (5).

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reflectors (5, 5′, 5″) are connected to one another in one piece, wherein a separate light source carrier (7) and a separate cooling device (3) are connected to each reflector (5′, 5″).

9. A lighting apparatus for vehicles, with a light source device (1) including a light source (6) carried on a printed circuit board light source carrier (7), an optics device (2) for generating a predetermined light distribution, having an abutment surface (18) and lugs (14) projecting from the abutment surface (18), and a cooling device (3) for the light source (6), wherein the light source (6) is fastened in a reference aligning position relative to the optics device (2), wherein the light source carrier (7) is fastened, in the reference aligning position of the light source (6), between the abutment surface (18) of the optics device (2) and an abutment surface (11) of the cooling device (3), via at least first and second bearing points provided on the abutment surface of the optics device (2), wherein the first bearing point is adapted to fix the light source carrier (7) in a plane of extent (E) of the abutment surface (18), and the second bearing point is adapted to allow the light source carrier (7) to be displaceable in a direction extending perpendicular to the plane of extent (E) of the abutment surface (18), wherein the cooling device (3) has receiving recesses (29) for receiving the respective lugs (14) of the optics device (2), wherein an inside diameter (d.sub.1) of the receiving recess (29) is larger than an outside diameter (d.sub.2) of the respective lug (14), and wherein the cooling device (3) is fastened to the lugs (14) of the optics device (5) by fastening screws (23) in threaded engagement in respective lugs (14).

Description

(1) An embodiment example of the invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the drawings:

(2) The drawings show:

(3) FIG. 1 a perspective front view of an assembly consisting of a light source device, an optics device and a cooling device, wherein the assembly is installed in a housing, not shown, of a lighting apparatus;

(4) FIG. 2 an oblique top view of a reflector assembly after positioning of a light source carrier of the light source device on an upper side of a reflector of the reflector assembly;

(5) FIG. 3 top view of the reflector assembly according to FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4 a view of the reflector assembly immediately prior to fixing a cooling device to a reflector of the reflector assembly;

(7) FIG. 5 a front view of the assembly in the mounted state and

(8) FIG. 6 a vertical section through section line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

(9) A lighting apparatus can be used as headlight in the front area of a vehicle, for example, of an agricultural vehicle (agricultural machine), to generate a predetermined light distribution, for example, of a work light, daytime running lamp, low beams and high beams. Alternatively, the lighting apparatus can also be used in a rear area of a vehicle or at another location.

(10) FIG. 1 shows an assembly for generating a low beam light distribution and a high beam light distribution. This assembly is installed in a housing, not shown, which is provided over an opening that is covered by a transparent closing plate.

(11) The lighting apparatus substantially has a light source device 1, an optics device 2 for generating the predetermined light distribution (low beam, high beam) and a cooling device 3 for cooling or dissipating heat from the light source device 1.

(12) The optics device 2 comprises a reflector assembly 4 with a quantity of reflectors 5, three in the present embodiment example, which are connected to one another in one piece. In FIG. 1, a first and a second reflector 5′ are used for low beam light distribution and a third reflector 5″ is used for high beam light distribution. Separate light source devices 1 and cooling devices 3 are associated with reflectors 5, 5′, 5″, respectively. In the following, the mounting of light source device 1 at the first reflector 5′ (the reflector 5′ on the right-hand side viewed from the front) is described by way of example.

(13) The light source device 1 comprises a quantity of light sources 6 (LED light source) which are fixed to a light source carrier 7. In the present embodiment example, only one light source 6 is provided. In addition, control electronics 8 are mounted on the light source carrier 7. The light source carrier 7 is preferably constructed as a printed circuit board, preferably a rigid, planar printed circuit board.

(14) The cooling device 3 comprises an L-shaped cooling body with a first leg 9 and with a second leg 10 preferably extending at right angles to the first leg 9. The first leg 9 extends substantially in horizontal direction, while the second leg 10 extends in vertical direction. The second leg 10 preferably contacts a rear side of the reflectors 5. The first leg 9 is supported on an upper side 12 of the reflector 5. In the mounted state, the light source carrier 7 is arranged between an upper side 12 of the reflector 5 and an abutment surface 11 of the cooling body 3. The abutment surface 11 of the cooling body 3 accordingly forms a contact surface which bears flat against the light source carrier 7. Cooling ribs 13 for dissipating heat into the environment are provided on a side of the first leg 9 remote of the light source carrier 7.

(15) As is apparent from FIG. 2, the reflector 5 has a quantity of lugs 14 at its upper side 12 which serve to fix and align the light source carrier 7. The lugs 14 are arranged to be distributed on the upper side 12 and protrude perpendicularly from the upper side 12. The lugs 14 have an internal thread in each instance.

(16) Reflector surfaces 16 of the reflectors 5 extend downward in a parabolic arc or as freely shaped surfaces from a front outer edge 15 of the upper side 12. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the LED light source 6 is arranged to be directed downward so that the emitted light is deflected forward in principal emitting direction H from the reflector surface 16.

(17) For mounting, the light source carrier 7 fitted with the light source 6 and control electronics 8 is placed on the upper side 12 of the reflector 5 in a first step. The flat side 17 of the light source carrier 7 having the LED light source 6 bears flat against an abutment surface 18 of the reflector 5. The light source carrier 7 has bore holes 19 corresponding to the lugs 14 so that the light source carrier 7 is positioned flat in a plane of extent E of the reflector 5 receiving the upper side 12. The lugs 14 form bearing points for the light source carrier 7 in each instance. In the present case, three lugs 14 and three bearing points are provided such that the light source carrier 7 lies flat in the plane of abutment surface 18 after being placed on the upper side 12 of the reflector 5. The light source carrier 7 preferably extends in a horizontal plane of extent E.

(18) A first bore hole 19′ is formed as a round hole and two second bore holes 19″ are formed as elongated holes so that the light source carrier 7 can be oriented and aligned in an aligning direction, in principal emitting direction H (y-direction) in the present embodiment example. The light source carrier 7 is fixedly positioned in plane of extent E at a first bearing point 20 by means of the round hole 19′. There is provided at a second bearing point 21 and a third bearing point 22 by means of the elongated holes 19″ whose longitudinal direction faces in principal emitting direction H (in y-direction) so that the light source carrier is displaceable relative to the reflector 5 in y-direction at this second bearing point 21 and third bearing point 22.

(19) After moving or displacing the light source carrier 7 relative to the reflector 5 into a reference aligning position in which the light source 6 is located in a desired defined position with respect to the reflector surface 5′, this reference position is fixed by means of fastening screws 23. These fastening screws 23 extend with their respective shaft 26 which is provided with an external thread through a bore hole 24 of the cooling body 3 into the lugs 14 to form a threaded engagement therewith. A head 27 of the fastening screw 23 presses on an annular surface 28 of the cooling body 3. By tightening the fastening screw 23, the light source carrier 7 is clamped and fixed between the abutment surface of the cooling body 3 and the abutment surface of the reflector 5. A receiving recess 29 of the cooling body 3 having an inside diameter d.sub.1 adjoins on a side of the bore hole 24 facing the reflector 5. This inside diameter d.sub.1 is greater than an outside diameter d.sub.2 of the lug 14 so that the reflector 5 is freely supported relative to the cooling body 3 in the plane of extent E. Naturally, the bore hole 24 is larger than an outside diameter of the shaft 26 so that a compensating movement is possible in the plane of extent E of the cooling body 3 relative to the reflector 5. Such a compensating movement of the cooling body 5 relative to the reflector 5 is preferably carried out before moving the light source carrier 7 into its reference aligning position relative to the reflector 5. When the fastening screws 23 are tightened, both the light source carrier 7 and the cooling body 3 are fixed to the reflector 5. The assembly formed in this way can then be fixed in the housing of the lighting apparatus.