Lamp, method for manufacturing a lamp and use of a holder for such a lamp

Abstract

A lamp (10), which is particularly a motor vehicle headlight, comprises a burner (12) for emitting light, which is supported by a holder (16) for mechanically connecting the burner (12) with a socket (14). The holder (16) comprises a metal ring (26) surrounding the burner (12). The metal ring (26) is thermally connected to the burner (12) via a single connecting surface (40), which is in planar contact to the burner (12) over an angle of 350 in circumferential direction. Due to the increased heat transfer to the environment the used materials are less subjected to heat, so that the overall lifetime and the shock resistance of the lamp (10) are increased at the same time.

Claims

1. Lamp comprising: a burner (12) for emitting light, a holder (16) for mechanically connecting the burner (12) with a socket (14), the holder (16) comprising a metal ring (26) and at least one leg (28) protruding from the metal ring (26), wherein: the holder (16) supports the burner (12), the metal ring (26) surrounds the burner (12), the metal ring (26) is thermally connected to the burner (12) via a single connecting surface (40) that is in planar contact to the burner (12) at an angle of 350 in circumferential direction and abuts against the burner (12), and the burner (12) comprises a glass body (22) and a metal bush (24) fixed to the glass body (22), the metal bush (24) being in planar contact to the metal ring (26) of the holder (16).

2. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the single connecting surface (40) is in planar contact to the burner (12) at an angle of 350, particularly 355, preferably 360 in circumferential direction along the whole extent of the connecting surface (40) in axial direction.

3. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the metal ring (26) of the holder (16) comprises a plane substantially ring-shaped front face pointing away from the socket.

4. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein: the leg (28) comprises a leg portion (30) and a foot portion (32), the leg portion (30) and the foot portion (32) are one-piece and the foot portion (32) and the leg portion (30) are angled by an angle , which is 45135, particularly 60120, preferably 75105, most preferred 8892.

5. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the holder (16) comprises a damping opening for providing a defined damping characteristic for the holder (16).

6. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the holder (16) is made of a metal sheet, particularly by stamping and forming.

7. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the ring (26) is made of a ring-formed strip-like sheet, whose front ends are connected to each other by at least one connecting member inserted into a corresponding recess.

8. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the metal bush (24) is partially molded in the glass body (22).

9. Method for manufacturing a lamp (10) comprising the steps: providing a metal sheet, stamping a holder sheet from the metal sheet by a single stamping step, forming the holder sheet to a ring (26) and at least one leg (28) protruding from the ring (26), and inserting a burner (12) into the ring (26) such, that the ring (26) is in direct contact with and thermally connected to the burner (12) via a single connecting surface (40) that is in planar contact to the burner (12) at an angle of 350 in circumferential direction and abuts against the burner (12) wherein: the burner (12) comprises a glass body (22) and a metal bush (24) fixed to the glass body (22), and inserting the burner (12) into the ring (26) comprises inserting the metal bush (24) into the ring (26), the metal bush (24) being in planar contact to the ring (26).

10. Method according to claim 9, whereby the leg (28) is formed such, that a foot portion (32) of the leg (28) is angled to a leg portion (30) of the leg (28) by an angle , which is 45135, particularly 60120, preferably 75105, most preferred 8892.

11. Method according to claim 9, whereby the holder sheet comprises a strip-like sheet, from which the leg (28) protrudes, and the leg (28) is formed such, that a foot portion (32) of the leg (28) is angled to a leg portion (30) of the leg (28) by an angle , which is 45135, particularly 60120, preferably 75105, most preferred 8892.

12. Method according to claim 9, further comprising partially molding the metal bush (24) in the glass body (22).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a drawn to scale side view of a lamp according to the invention and

(3) FIG. 2 is a drawn to scale sectional side view of the lamp of FIG. 1 along line A-A.

(4) FIG. 3 is a drawn to scale sectional side view of a lamp according to one or more embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(5) Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a lamp 10 adapted to be used as motor vehicle headlight, which comprises a burner 12 mechanically connected to a socket 14 by means of a holder 16. The burner 12 comprises three conductor pins 18 electrically connected to two filaments 20 arranged inside a glass body 22 (FIG. 2). A metal bush 24 is fixed to the glass body 22 and inserted into the holder 16.

(6) The holder 16 comprises a metal ring 26, from which three legs 28 protrude. The metal ring 16 is in planar contact to the metal bush 24 via a connecting surface 40 of the metal ring 16 in an overlapping area between the metal ring 16 and the bush 24 improving the heat transfer from the burner 12 to the environment by thermal conduction from the bush 24 to the ring 26. Further cooling openings 29 are provided between a pair of legs 28, so that ambient air can cool the burner 12 without meeting a barrier. Each leg 28 of the holder 16 comprises a leg portion 30 and a foot portion 32, wherein the foot portion 32 is angled with respect to the substantial axial arranged leg portion 30 by an angle of nearly 90. The foot portion 32 is substantially arranged to the leg portion 30 at nearly right angle, wherein derivations of the angle are still possible to provide a sufficient stiffness of the legs 28 for preventing a significant relative movement of the burner 12 with respect to the socket 14. The holder 16 is one-piece and manufactured from a metal sheet by a single stamping step and subsequent forming steps.

(7) Each conductor pin 18 of the burner is inserted into a corresponding recess 34 and due to this alignment connected to a corresponding conductor 36 of the socket 14. The socket 14 further comprises at least one connecting means 38 for connecting the lamp 10 with a housing or the like. The conductors 36 can be connected with a power supply in the assembled state. The foot portion 32 is connected to the socket 14 by laser welding. Accordingly the metal bush 24 can be connected to the metal ring 26 by laser welding.

(8) Since the drawings are drawn to scale specific length ratios of different elements of the invention can be derived by measuring the illustrated elements in the drawings.

(9) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

(10) For example, it is possible to operate the invention in an embodiment wherein the metal ring 26 and/or the bush 24 comprises in the area of the connecting surface 40 a preferably slit-like recess in axial direction providing a clamping function and a planar contact at the same time.

(11) Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.