HEADLAMP FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

This invention relates to a headlamp for vehicles, comprising a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged for producing a specified light distribution, wherein the optical unit is arranged so as to be movable via an adjustment device with respect to a horizontal and/or vertical axis, and the adjustment device comprises a threaded screw, which is coupled via a ball joint to the housing or to a support frame fastened to the housing, and a threaded shank of the threaded screw is in threaded engagement about a rotational axis with a receiving part, wherein the receiving part is insertable into a fastening part integrally connected to the optical unit, wherein the receiving part is a locking body with a base element extending perpendicularly to the rotational axis and a plurality of locking and/or fastening means projecting from the base element.

Claims

1. A headlamp for vehicles, the headlamp comprising: a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged for producing a specified light distribution, wherein the optical unit is arranged so as to be movable via an adjustment device with respect to a horizontal axis and/or a vertical axis, wherein the adjustment device comprises a threaded screw which is coupled via a ball joint to the housing or to a support frame fastened to the housing, wherein a threaded shank of the threaded screw is in threaded engagement about a rotational axis with a receiving part, wherein the receiving part is insertable into a fastening part integrally connected to the optical unit, and wherein the receiving part is a locking body with a base element extending perpendicularly to the rotational axis and a plurality of locking and/or fastening means projecting from the base element.

2. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein a plurality of expansion elements, as the locking and/or fastening means, project from the base element of the locking body, in which the plurality of expansion elements, in an assembled position, bear against an inner wall of the fastening part.

3. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein a resilient locking element, as the locking and/or fastening means, projects from the base element of the locking body and, in an assembled position, is connected in a locking manner to a locking lug from an outer wall of the fastening part.

4. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein the base element of the locking body comprises a bulge running in the plane of the base element and, in an assembled position, rests against a stopper jaw of the fastening part to form an anti-rotational lock for the locking body.

5. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein the fastening part comprises a hole with an inner wall which comprises axial support ribs.

6. The headlamp of claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the hole, in an end area facing away from the base element, comprises an end section which has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of a further area of the hole facing the base element of the locking body.

7. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of expansion elements is connected exclusively on an end face to the base element of the locking body.

8. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of expansion elements extends in a circumferential angle of the locking body in an angular range of less than 90.

9. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein a plurality of identically configured expansion elements are arranged offset to one another in a circumferential direction, wherein the plurality of expansion elements are arranged at a distance from one another.

10. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein a peripheral surface of at least one of the plurality of expansion elements is shaped as a circular ring cutout.

11. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein the plurality of expansion elements are configured in such a way that a thread is cut on an inner side of each of the plurality of expansion elements by engaging the threaded screw in a through hole of the locking body in an assembled position.

12. The headlamp of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of expansion elements are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction and exhibit a distance to each other in an initial state before engaging a hole of the fastening part such that, when the plurality of expansion elements engage the hole, mutually facing radial sides of adjacent expansion elements are guided along the axial support ribs of the hole.

13. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein a fastening bar projects from the base element of the locking body as the locking and/or fastening means, which, in an assembled position, engages in a pocket-shaped accommodation of the fastening part.

14. The headlamp of claim 13, wherein the fastening bar is arranged in the pocket-shaped accommodation in a clamping and/or adhesive manner.

15. The headlamp of claim 1, wherein the fastening part is made of a metallic die-cast material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is elucidated in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a locking body of the adjustment device shortly before it is inserted into a hole of a fastening part of an optical unit of the headlamp;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the locking body before the same is inserted into the hole of the fastening part as shown in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a perspective rear view in the assembled position of the locking body, in which it is fixed to the fastening part;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a perspective rear view of the inserted locking body on the fastening part, wherein a threaded screw has been cut into expansion elements of the locking body so that the threaded screw is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable relative to the locking body; and

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the optical unit with a heat sink, wherein the optical unit is connected via the adjusting device in a linearly displaceable manner to a support frame of the headlamp at corner areas thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

[0021] A headlamp for vehicles comprises a housing in which a light source and an optical unit are arranged for producing a specified light distribution. The headlamp is arranged in a front area of the vehicle. By way of example, the light source and/or the optical unit can be controlled in such a way that a dipped beam distribution or, for example, a fog light distribution is generated. If necessary, a direction indicator light function could also be generated. FIG. 5 shows a rear side of the optical unit, which is formed by a heat sink 1. The heat sink 1 comprises a plurality of cooling fins 2 projecting against a main radiation direction H of the headlamp. The heat sink 1 comprises an opening 3 on the bottom side for inserting the light source. The heat sink 1 is configured as a rectangle and is respectively coupled in a linearly displaceable manner in corner areas 4 via an adjustment device 5 to a support frame 6 that is firmly connected to the housing.

[0022] The adjustment device 5 comprises a linear guided threaded screw 7, which is connected to the support frame 6 at one end via the ball joint 8. The ball joint 8 can be formed by a cup accommodation 9 of the support frame 6 and a ball head of the threaded screw 7. The ball head of the threaded screw 7 is usually rotatably mounted in the cup accommodation 9.

[0023] The threaded screw 7 comprises a threaded shank 10 which, in the assembled position, is in threaded engagement with a receiving part configured as a locking body 11, wherein the locking body 11 is firmly connected to a fastening part 13 of the optical unit or alternatively heat sink 1 which comprises a hole 12. The threaded screw 7 is rotatably mounted in the locking body 11 about a rotational axis A, which also forms an axis of symmetry of the threaded screw 7, so that, relative to the housing, the optical unit can be swiveled about a horizontal swivel axis S.sub.1 and/or vertical swivel axis S.sub.2 depending on the actuation of one or a plurality of the threaded screws 7 arranged at the four fastening points.

[0024] As can be seen more clearly from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fastening part 13 is arranged in the corner areas 4 of the heat sink 1, wherein the fastening part 13 is arranged in a projecting manner with an arcuate outer wall 14, which wall extends from a vertical edge 15 of the heat sink 1 to a horizontal edge 16 of the heat sink 1 extending at right angles to the same. The outer wall 14 hereby sweeps over a reflex angle. The hole 12 is arranged in the curve of the outer wall 14 with a hollow cylindrical-shaped inner wall 17. A pocket-shaped accommodation 19 is arranged between a bottom 18 of the outer wall 14 and the hole 12 for inserting a fastening bar 20 of the locking body 11.

[0025] The locking body 11 comprises a base element 21. From a front side 23 of the base element 21, the threaded screw 7 is inserted into the locking body 11 or alternatively into the through hole 22 of the same. A plurality of locking and/or fastening means project from a rear side 24 of the base element 23 opposite the front side 23.

[0026] On the one hand, a number of expansion elements 25 project from the rear side 24 of the base element 21, which expansion elements, in the assembled position, rest against the inner wall 17 of the fastening part 13. In the present embodiment example, four identically shaped expansion elements 25 are provided, each of which extends in the circumferential direction U of the locking body 11 at a circumferential angle in a range of less than 90. The expansion elements 25 are respectively configured like a piece of pie and comprise a circular ring-shaped peripheral surface 26, which comes into contact with the inner wall 17 of the fastening part 13. The expansion elements 25 are respectively integrally connected to the base element 21 exclusively at the rear side 24 of the same base element. The expansion elements 25 are thus configured to be movable or resilient transversely to the rotational axis A. The expansion elements 25 connect directly to an edge 27 of the through hole 22.

[0027] At a greater radial distance compared to the expansion elements 25, two opposing resilient locking elements 28 extend from the rear side 24 of the base element 21 as locking and/or fastening means. The resilient locking elements 28 interact with a locking lug 29 arranged on the outer wall 14 of the fastening part 13, so that the locking body 11 fastened to the fastening part 13 is fixed in a locking manner in the direction of the axis A. The resilient locking elements 28 are formed by loops on the outer peripheral edge of the locking body 11, the recess 30 of which engages behind the locking lug 29 in the shape of a barb.

[0028] In addition, a number of fastening bars 20 project from the rear side 24 of the base element 21 as locking/fastening means, each of which engages in the pocket-shaped accommodation 19 of the fastening part 13 in the assembled position. In the present embodiment example, the fastening bars 20 are cylindrical and/or curved with a taper towards a free end, wherein, in the assembled position, they are arranged in a clamping manner in the pocket-shaped accommodation 19.

[0029] Alternatively or additionally, the fastening bars 20 can also be fixed in the pocket-shaped accommodation 19 of the fastening part 13 by adhesive means.

[0030] On the base element 21, the locking body 11 additionally comprises a bulge 32 extending in the plane of the base element 21, which in the assembled position rests against a stopper jaw 33 of the fastening part 13 to form an anti-rotational lock of the locking body 11 relative to the fastening part 13. The stopper jaw 33 of the fastening part 13 extends in an area close to the bottom 18 and is set back somewhat relative to the outer wall 14, so that the bulge 32 of the locking body 11 can strike against the stopper jaw 33.

[0031] In addition, the rear side 24 of the base element 21 forms a limit stop for the fastening part 13, wherein the rear side 24 of the base element 21 lies flat against a front face side 34 of the fastening part 13.

[0032] In addition, the inner wall 17 of the hole 12 of the fastening part 13 can have support ribs 35 that extend in the axial direction. In this way, the insertion of the expansion elements 25 of the locking body 11 into the hole 12 of the fastening part 13 can be simplified. The support ribs 35 can serve as anti-rotational protection so that the expansion elements 25 do not tear off when the threaded screw 7 is inserted into the through hole 22 of the locking body 11, which is connected to the fastening part 13 in a locking manner. For this purpose, the expansion elements 25 arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction U exhibit a distance to each other in an initial state before engaging in the hole 12 of the fastening part 13 such that radial sides 38 of the adjacent expansion elements 25 facing each other are guided along the axial support rib 35 when the locking body 11 is inserted into the hole 12 of the fastening part 13.

[0033] In the area of a rear side 36 of the hole 12 of the fastening part 13, an end area 37 is provided which has a diameter d.sub.2 that is larger compared to a diameter d.sub.1 of a remaining area of the hole 12. Advantageously, a protection against the pulling out of the locking body 11 is hereby ensured.

[0034] In the following, the movement of the locking body 11 in the assembled position to the fastening part 13 is described. In a first step, with the engagement of the expansion elements 25, the locking body 11 is inserted into the hole 12 of the fastening part 13, wherein the fastening bars 31 each engage in the pocket-shaped accommodations and the locking element 28 engages behind the locking lug 29 of the fastening part 13. The locking body 11 is connected in a locationally secure and vibration-free manner to the fastening part 13.

[0035] In a further step, the threaded screw 7 is inserted into the through hole 22 of the locking body 11 from the front side of the locking body 11, wherein, during initial insertion, a thread is preferably cut on an inner side of the expansion elements 25. Once the thread has been cut, the expansion elements 25 are respectively configured in the shape of a circular ring cut-out, as can be seen in FIG. 4.

[0036] In a further step, the threaded screw 7 is now connected to the support frame 6 via the ball joint 8.

[0037] By actuating or alternatively turning the threaded screw 7 at a free end of the same, for example, using a tool, the optical unit or alternatively the heat sink 1 can now be adjusted linearly relative to the support frame 6 at the attachment points.

[0038] Preferably, the locking body 11 is made of a plastic material. Like the heat sink 1, the fastening part 13 is preferably made of a metal material. Preferably, the fastening part 13 and the heat sink 1 are made of a metallic die-cast material, for example, as an aluminum die-cast part. The heat sink 1 is preferably integrally connected with the fastening part 13. The threaded screw 7 can be made of a plastic material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0039] 1 heat sink [0040] 2 cooling fin [0041] 3 opening [0042] 4 corner area [0043] 5 adjustment device [0044] 6 support frame [0045] 7 threaded screw [0046] 8 ball joint [0047] 9 cup accommodation [0048] 10 threaded shank [0049] 11 locking body [0050] 12 hole [0051] 13 fastening part [0052] 14 outer wall [0053] 15 vertical edge [0054] 16 horizontal wall [0055] 17 inner wall [0056] 18 bottom [0057] 19 pocket-shaped accommodation [0058] 20 fastening bar [0059] 21 base element [0060] 22 through hole [0061] 23 front side [0062] 24 rear side [0063] 25 expansion element [0064] 26 peripheral surface [0065] 27 edge [0066] 28 locking element [0067] 29 locking lug [0068] 30 outer wall [0069] 31 fastening bars [0070] 32 bulge [0071] 33 stopper jaw [0072] 34 front face surface [0073] 35 support ribs [0074] 36 rear side [0075] 37 end area [0076] 38 radial side [0077] d.sub.2 diameter [0078] H main radiation direction [0079] circumferential angle [0080] A rotational axis [0081] S.sub.1 swivel axis [0082] S.sub.2 swivel axis [0083] U circumferential direction

[0084] The above description is that of current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles a, an, the, or said, is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.