DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING A CAB OF A UTILITY VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for illuminating a cab of a utility vehicle, preferably a truck. The device has a roof region (10) and a storage compartment device (12), which is arranged in the roof region (10) and can be closed at least partially by means of a door element (22, 24). The device has an illumination element (38, 40), which is arranged on a roof liner (34) of the roof region (10) such that, by means of the illumination element (38, 40), a cab interior and an interior of the storage compartment device (12) behind the door element (22, 24) can be illuminated when the door element (22, 24) is completely open. The device thus provides function integration since the illumination element (38, 40) is used not only to illuminate the cab interior but also to illuminate the storage compartment device (12) or the luggage rack.

Claims

1. A device for illuminating a cab of a utility vehicle, preferably a lorry, having: a roof region (10); a storage compartment device (12), which is arranged in the roof region (10) and can be closed at least partially by means of a door element (22, 24); and an illumination element (38, 40), which is arranged on a roof liner (34) of the roof region (10) such that, by means of the illumination element (38, 40), a cab interior and an interior of the storage compartment device (12) behind the door element (22, 24) can be illuminated when the door element (22, 24) is completely open.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: the storage compartment device (12) is arranged in the front roof region and/or on the front side of the cab; and/or the door element (22, 24) can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; and/or the illumination element (38, 40) is switched on when the door element (22, 24) is opened and/or switched off when the door element (22, 24) is closed.

3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: a spacing in a longitudinal roof direction between the at least one illumination element (38, 40) and the door element (22, 24) is equal to or greater than a height of the door element (22, 24); and/or the door element (22, 24) does not cover the illumination element (38, 40) in the open state.

4. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the door element (22, 24) covers only an ambient illumination portion of the illumination element (38, 40) in the open state.

5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in a frame or in a frame-like trim panel (36) of a roof hatch device (14).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in a limb (44) of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36), which limb is aligned parallel to a longitudinal roof direction.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein: the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged at least partially in a rear corner region of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36); or the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged adjacent to a rear limb (42) of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36), wherein the rear limb (42) is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction.

8. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein: a rear limb (42) of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36) has a set-back underside surface, preferably for increasing the headroom for a person sitting below the roof hatch device (14), wherein preferably: the set-back underside surface is set back in relation to at least an underside surface of the limb (44) aligned parallel to the longitudinal roof direction, preferably by at least 20 mm, particularly preferably by at least 30 mm, for example in a range between 30 mm and 40 mm, and/or the set-back underside surface is set back substantially along an entire length of the rear limb (42); and/or the set-back underside surface is set back substantially along an entire width of the rear limb (42).

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein: the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in a rear limb (42) of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36), which limb is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction.

10. The device according to one of the preceding claims, furthermore having: a further illumination element (38, 40), wherein preferably: the further illumination element (38, 40) is arranged on the roof liner (34) such that, by means of the further illumination element (38, 40), the cab interior and the interior of the storage compartment device (12) behind the door element (22, 24) can be illuminated when the door element (22, 24) is completely open; and/or the further illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36) of the roof hatch device (14), preferably in a position opposite the illumination element (38, 40) or next to the illumination element (38, 40).

11. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the storage compartment device (12) has a middle storage compartment (18) with a shelf (28); and the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged such that an interior of the middle storage compartment (18) can be illuminated below the shelf (28).

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein: the middle storage compartment (18) has a storage compartment illumination element (38, 40) with which an interior of the middle storage compartment (18) can be illuminated above the shelf (28); and/or the middle storage compartment (18) is closable by means of a shutter (26) or is not closable or is not closable by means of a door element.

13. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the storage compartment device (12) has two outer storage compartments (16, 20), which can each be closed by a door element (22, 24); the door elements (22, 24) can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; the door elements (22, 24) have a height which is smaller than a spacing in a longitudinal roof direction between the illumination element (38, 40) and the door elements (22, 24) in the closed state; and the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in a rear limb (42) of a frame or a frame like trim panel (36) of a roof hatch device (14), which limb is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction, wherein preferably: the rear limb (42) and/or the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged at least partially between the door elements (22, 24) in the open state of the door elements (22, 24).

14. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: the storage compartment device (12) has two outer storage compartments (16, 20), which can each be closed by a door element (22, 24); the door elements (22, 24) can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; and the illumination element (38, 40) is arranged in a limb (44) of the frame or the frame-like trim panel (36), which limb is aligned parallel to a longitudinal roof direction, wherein preferably: one of the door elements (22, 24) covers only an ambient illumination portion of the illumination element (38, 40) in the open state; or none of the door elements (22, 24) covers the illumination element (38, 40) in the open state.

15. A utility vehicle, preferably a lorry, having a device according to one of the preceding claims.

Description

[0038] The embodiments shown in the figures correspond at least partially to one another, so similar or identical parts are denoted by the same reference signs and reference is also made to the description of the other embodiments or figures for explanation thereof in order to avoid repetition.

[0039] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a roof region 10 of a cab (not illustrated in more detail) of a utility vehicle. The utility vehicle is preferably a lorry. A storage compartment device 12 and a roof hatch device 14 are arranged in the roof region 10.

[0040] The storage compartment device 12 is arranged on the front side of the cab, above a windscreen. The storage compartment device 12 has, for example, three storage compartments 16, 18 and 20, in particular an outer storage compartment 16 on the driver side, a middle storage compartment 18 and an outer storage compartment 20 on the passenger side. It is, for example, also possible that the storage compartment device 12 has more or fewer storage compartments, which can be arranged above one another and/or next to one another, for example.

[0041] The three storage compartments 16, 18, 20 are arranged next to one another. The outer storage compartments 16, 18 can each be closed by means of a door element 22, 24. The door elements 22, 24 can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes. The middle storage compartment 18 is closable by means of a shutter 26, for example. The middle storage compartment 18 is divided into a top region and a bottom region by a shelf 28. The top region can be illuminated by means of a storage compartment illumination element 30.

[0042] In FIGS. 1 and 3, the door element 22 is open, the shutter 26 is closed and the door element 24 is closed. In FIG. 2, the door element 22 is open and the shutter 26 is closed. In FIG. 4, the shutter 26 is open and is not shown.

[0043] The roof hatch device 14 enables aeration and ventilation of the cab. The roof hatch device 14 can be arranged centrally in the roof region 10. The roof hatch device 14 can have an openable roof hatch 32. The roof hatch 32 can be opened, for example, manually or by means of a motor, depending on the design.

[0044] The roof hatch device 14 has a frame or a frame-like trim panel 36 in the region of a roof liner 34 of the roof region 10. The trim panel 36 covers the roof hatch device 14 from inside the cab.

[0045] The roof hatch device 14 moreover has two illumination elements 38, 40 which can be switched on. The illumination elements 38, 40 are arranged on or in a rear (longitudinal) limb 42 of the trim panel 36. By way of example, the two illumination elements 38, 40 are arranged next to one another and centrally in the limb 42.

[0046] The door elements 22, 24 have a height (door element height), which is greater than a spacing along a longitudinal direction of the cab or the roof region 19 between the closed door elements 22, 24 and the two illumination elements 38, 40. The illumination elements 38, 40 are expediently arranged such that they are not covered by the open door elements 22, 24. The illumination elements 38, 40 can be arranged at least partially between the open door elements 22, 24 in the rear limb 42, for example.

[0047] On the one hand, this central arrangement of the illumination elements 38, 40 enables the illumination elements 38, 40 to illuminate an interior (driver and passenger area) of the cab. On the other hand, this arrangement moreover enables the illumination elements 38, 40 to additionally illuminate the storage compartments 16, 18, 20 when these are open. The door elements 22, 24 do not cover the illumination elements 38, 40. The illumination elements 38, 40 can be switched on and off manually, for example. If the illumination elements 38, 40 are switched off, they can also be switched on automatically when the door elements 22, 24 are opened and/or they can be switched off, e.g. by means of a contact on the storage compartment device 12, when the door elements 22, 24 are closed.

[0048] With respect to the middle storage compartment 18, it is moreover possible to illuminate the bottom region below the shelf 28, which can be only inadequately illuminated by the storage compartment illumination element 30, if at all. For illustrative purposes, in FIG. 4, light beams of the illumination elements 38, 40 are represented by way of example by dashed lines and light beams of the storage compartment illumination element 30 are represented by way of example by dotted lines.

[0049] The illumination elements 38, 40 therefore have an integration of functions as interior illumination for the cab on the one hand and as illumination for the storage compartments 16, 18, 20 on the other. It is thus possible to at least partially dispense with separate illumination for the control compartments 16, 18, 20, for example.

[0050] It can also be possible that the illumination elements 38, 40 are not arranged in the roof hatch device 14, at least in part, but in another position on the roof liner 34.

[0051] The configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be particularly preferably used when the roof region 10 is comparatively high, as illustrated. The storage compartment device 12 is then typically likewise comparatively high, e.g. in a range between ca. 300 mm and ca. 500 mm. Accordingly, the door elements 22, 24 are also high so that they might cover illumination elements if the illumination elements were arranged in the two transverse limbs of the trim panel 36. The illumination elements 38 and 40 are therefore arranged in the rear (longitudinal) limb 42 of the trim panel 36. Furthermore, the middle storage compartment 18 expediently does not have an upwardly pivotable door element which might cover the illumination elements 38 and 40. Instead, the middle storage compartment 18 is, for example, closable by means of the shutter 26 or, for example, not closable at all.

[0052] Another configuration is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8. This configuration can in turn be particularly preferably used when the roof region 10 of the cab is medium height, as illustrated. In this case, the storage compartment device 12 on the front side of the cab can likewise be medium height, e.g. in a range between ca. 250 mm and ca. 300 mm.

[0053] The door elements 22, 24 of the configuration of FIGS. 5 to 8 are accordingly not as high as the door elements 22, 24 of the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 4. This enables the illumination elements 38, 40 to be arranged in the (transverse) limbs 44 of the frame or the trim panel 36 which extend parallel to the longitudinal cab axis. In detail, the illumination elements 38, 40 are arranged directly adjacent to the rear limb 42. Depending on the design, the door elements 22, 24 do not cover the illumination elements 38, 40 or cover only a short front portion of the illumination elements 38, 40, as illustrated. A (coloured) ambient illumination element portion of the illumination elements 38, 40 is preferably arranged in this front portion of the illumination elements 38, 40. The illumination of the cab interior and the storage compartments 16, 18, 20 is not impaired as a result of the ambient illumination element portion being covered. It is possible that only one of the limbs 42 has an illumination element, for example.

[0054] The arrangement of the illumination elements 38, 40 in the limbs 44 can offer a further crucial advantage. In the region of the illumination elements 38, 40, the trim panel 36 for accommodating the illumination elements 38, 40 is enlarged or extended downwards. This enlargement (downward extension) of the trim panel 36 for accommodating the illumination elements 38, 40 expediently does not restrict the headroom for a person sitting below the roof hatch device 14. Nobody is seated directly below the transverse limbs 44. The accommodation of the illumination elements 38, 40 enables the rear (longitudinal) limb 42, below which a person sitting on a middle passenger seat may be located, to be designed such that it is set back or flattened. In detail, an underside surface of the rear limb 42 can be set back in relation to the underside surfaces of the limbs 44, e.g. in a range between 30 mm and 40 mm or more. The underside surface of the rear limb 42 can furthermore be free of raised portions, installations and attachments in order to ensure its flatness. The underside surface of the rear limb 42 can have a flat extent along a total length and width of the rear limb 42. The headroom for the person sitting on the middle passenger seat can thus be increased. This is also relevant insofar as the middle passenger seat is typically arranged in an elevated position since it is arranged on the engine compartment.

[0055] The set-back underside surface of the rear limb 42 increases the comfort in normal operation by increasing the headroom. However, in addition, a survival space for a person sitting on the middle passenger seat can advantageously also be increased in certain accident situations, in particular in the event of rollovers.

[0056] By way of example, in the case of a predetermined accident situation according to ECE R29-3 (as of May 2019), the roof region 10 can become plastically deformed and pressed in. In the test according to ECE-R29-3 C, a 180° sideways rollover of a lorry is represented in such a way that, by means of a plate, a dynamic lateral cab load (impact) is firstly applied to the e.g. left cab side (or the driver side) at an angle of 20° to the vertical, specifically with a load or an energy of 17.6 kJ. A static load on the pre-crashed cab is then realised via a downward load on the roof in the vertical direction by means of a horizontal plate with a load of 98 kN. Dummies are subsequently placed on the seats of the cab in order to check whether or not they come into contact with a roof liner of the cab.

[0057] As a result of the generously dimensioned headroom owing to the set-back underside surface of the rear limb 42, contact between the trim panel 36 and a person can be prevented since an adequate deformation path for the roof region 10 is provided. Therefore, using relatively easily implemented measures, which relate to the dimensioning and design of the trim panel 36 and the arrangement of the illumination elements 38, 40 a sufficiently large survival space can be created for the person on the middle passenger seat. This is achieved without the need for considerably more complex measures relating to additional reinforcement of the roof region 10, for example.

[0058] In this connection, it can moreover be advantageous to position a lever 46 for opening and closing the roof hatch 32 such that it does not project into a region directly below the set-back underside surface of the rear limb 42. By way of example, the lever 46 can expediently be mounted centrally on the roof hatch and can protrude forwards in the forwards direction of travel, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0059] On a top surface, the limbs of the trim panel 36 can be shaped such that they form a liquid conduit. The liquid conduit can be shaped, for example, in the form of a channel. The liquid conduit serves to receive liquid, e.g. drops of rain, which enter through the open roof hatch 32. The liquid conduit can conduct the received liquid to a predetermined point. Electrical components (e.g. the illumination elements 38, 40) can thus be protected from contact with liquid which has entered. The person sitting below the roof hatch device 14 can likewise be protected from drops of liquid.

[0060] The present disclosure is not restricted to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above. Instead, a plurality of variants and modifications is possible, which likewise make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the present disclosure also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims independently of the referenced claims. In particular, the individual features of the independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the subclaims are also disclosed independently of all features of the independent claim 1 and, for example, independently of the features relating to the presence and/or the configuration of the roof region, the storage compartment device and/or the illumination element of the independent claim 1. It should be understood that all range specifications herein are disclosed in such a way that all values falling within the respective range are disclosed individually, so to speak, e.g. also as respectively preferred narrower outer limits of the respective range.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0061] 10 Roof region

[0062] 12 Storage compartment device

[0063] 14 Roof hatch device

[0064] 16 Outer storage compartment

[0065] 18 Middle storage compartment

[0066] 20 Outer storage compartment

[0067] 22 Door element

[0068] 24 Door element

[0069] 26 Shutter

[0070] 28 Shelf

[0071] 30 Storage compartment illumination element

[0072] 32 Roof hatch

[0073] 34 Roof liner

[0074] 36 Trim panel

[0075] 38 Illumination element

[0076] 40 Illumination element

[0077] 42 Limb

[0078] 44 Limb

[0079] 46 Lever