Patent Application
20250237368
Priority is claimed to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-005784, filed Jan. 18, 2024, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.
In the related art, there is a vehicle lamp in which a lighting unit configured to radiate light forward is disposed inside a lighting body constituted by a housing with a front surface that is open, and an outer lens (cover lens) configured to cover the opening of the housing.
Such a vehicle lamp has a structure in which members such as a light source lamp (light source), an inner lens (light guide body), a reflector, an extension, a bracket, and the like, that constitute a lighting unit, are disposed inside a lighting body, and these members are attached to an inner side of the lighting body.
Incidentally, in the vehicle lamp, for example, the air inside the lighting body expands and contracts due to temperature changes caused by turning the lighting unit on and off, or temperature changes caused by the external environment in which the lighting unit is installed, such as solar light irradiation or engine heat, so ventilation (intake/exhaust) is provided through a ventilation port (breathing hole) provided in the lighting body (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-335292).
Meanwhile, in the vehicle lamp, when the outside temperature is lower than the temperature in the lighting body, humidity (moisture) in the lighting body may be condensed on an inner surface of the outer lens to generate cloudiness on the inner surface of the outer lens. When condensation (cloudiness) is generated on an inner surface of the outer lens, not only does it result in a poor appearance, but it also reduces the transmittance of the light emitted forward from the lighting unit, resulting in deterioration in lamp function (in particular, illuminance).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-335292 discloses a cloudiness prevention structure of a vehicle lamp configured to prevent cloudiness on a lens surface of a lighting tool by passing air through the lighting tool, in which an introduction route connected to a draft passage to discharge air in a vehicle compartment to the outside of a vehicle body and a discharge route branched off from the introduction route and configured to directly discharge the air in the vehicle compartment to the outside of the vehicle body are disposed in the lighting tool, a tip of the introduction route opens in a lamp chamber in which a bulb is provided, and the discharge route has a middle portion communicating with the inside of the lamp chamber and a tip that opens outside the vehicle body.
According to the invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-335292, the air in the vehicle compartment is led through the draft passage to the introduction route, and a part of the air is discharged to the outside of the vehicle body through the discharge route, but most of the air flows into the lamp chamber from the tip of the introduction route. Then, the air that flows into the lamp chamber flows into the discharge route via a connecting portion between the discharge route and the lamp chamber, and is then discharged from the discharge route to the outside of the vehicle body. Accordingly, sufficient air becomes flowing through the lamp chamber, making it possible to prevent cloudiness on the inner surface of the lens.
However, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-335292, an introduction route configured to introduce the air from the vehicle compartment into the lamp chamber is required to provide a duct that forms an introduction route, and a discharge route to discharge the air from the lamp chamber to the outside of the vehicle body. The duct is a separate part from the vehicle lamp, and its structure becomes more complex. In addition, the increase in the number of parts also leads to increased costs.
An aspect of the present invention is directed to providing a vehicle lamp capable of ventilating the inside of a lighting body through a simple configuration, and further, controlling a flow air in the lighting body.
An aspect of the present invention provides the following configurations.
According to the aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp capable of ventilating the inside of a lighting body through a simple configuration, and further, controlling a flow air in the lighting body.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.
Further, in the drawings used in the following description, in order to make each component easier to see, dimensions of each component may be shown at different scales, and dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as in reality.
As the embodiment of the present invention, for example, a vehicle lamp 1 shown in
Further,
In addition, in the drawings as described below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, an X-axis direction indicates a forward/rearward direction (lengthwise direction) of the vehicle lamp 1, a Y-axis direction indicates a leftward/rightward direction (widthwise direction) of the vehicle lamp 1, and a Z-axis direction indicates an upward/downward direction (height direction) of the vehicle lamp 1.
The vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment is, for example, an application of the present invention to vehicle headlights (head lamps) mounted on both corner portions on a front end side of a vehicle (not shown).
Specifically, as shown in
The lighting unit 5 includes, for example, a light source 6 configured to emit white light (hereinafter, simply referred to as light), and a reflector 7 configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source 6, and the light reflected by the reflector 7 is radiated toward a side in front of the vehicle.
In addition, an extension 8 configured to cover surroundings of a front surface side of the reflector 7 (the lighting unit 5) is disposed inside the lighting body 4. Further, a bracket (not shown) or the like configured to attach the above-mentioned members to an inner side of the lighting body 4 is disposed inside the lighting body 4. Further, the shape of the lighting body 4 can be changed as appropriate to match the design of the vehicle lamp 1.
The lighting unit 5 is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the light reflected by the reflector 7 described above is directed to be emitted toward the side in front of the vehicle, but may be configured, for example, to direct the light emitted from the light source 6 toward the side in front of the vehicle using a light guide body (not shown) such as an inner lens or the like.
For the light source 6, a light source lamp such as a halogen lamp, an HID lamp, or the like, can be used. In addition, in addition to the above-mentioned light source lamp, light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs), or the like, can also be used. Further, the number of the light emitting elements is not limited to one and may be plural.
Incidentally, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, as shown in
In the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, at least one of the plurality of ventilation ports 11 and 12 has a different diameter between the front surface side and the back surface side of the housing 2.
Specifically, the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment has the first ventilation port 11 in which a diameter a2 on the back surface side is smaller than a diameter a1 on the front surface side of the housing 2 (a1>a2), and the second ventilation port 12 in which a diameter b2 on the back surface side is greater than a diameter b1 on the front surface side of the housing 2 (b1<b2).
In addition, the first ventilation port 11 is disposed on an upper side of the housing 2, and the second ventilation port 12 is disposed on a lower side of the housing 2. That is, the first ventilation port 11 is located above the second ventilation port 12.
The first ventilation port 11 and the second ventilation port 12 have ducts 21 and 22 protruding in tubular shapes from at least one of the back surface side and the front surface side of the housing 2. In the embodiment, the first ventilation port 11 has a first duct 21 protruding in a tubular shape from the back surface side of the housing 2. The second ventilation port 12 has a second duct 22 protruding in a tubular shape from the back surface side of the housing 2. The first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 are constituted by ventilation holes (breathing holes) passing through the first and second ducts 21 and 22.
The first duct 21 has a tapered straight hole shape having a diameter linearly (continuously) reduced from an opening end 21a on the front surface side toward an opening end 21b on the back surface side. The second duct 22 has a tapered straight hole shape having a diameter linearly (continuously) increased from an opening end 22a on the front surface side toward an opening end 22b on the back surface side.
A filter 31 and a cap 32 configured to cover the first ventilation port 11 and the second ventilation port 12 are provided on the back surface sides of the first duct 21 and the second duct 22.
The filter 31 is made of a breathable disk-shaped member such as nonwoven fabric, paper, or sponge. The filter 31 is disposed while being sandwiched between the opening ends 21b and 22b and the cap 32 on the back surface sides of the first and second ducts 21 and 22.
The cap 32 is fitted to the first and second ducts 21 and 22 so as to cover the back surface sides of the first and second ducts 21 and 22. A gap in communication with the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 is provided inside the cap 32.
In the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, ventilation within the lighting body 4 is performed through the first ventilation port 11 and the second ventilation port 12, preventing condensation (cloudiness) from occurring on the inner surface of an outer lens 3.
Specifically, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, due to the pressure difference (dynamic pressure or static pressure) occurring inside and outside the lighting body 4, an air current F1 is generated on the side of the first ventilation port 11, flowing from the opening end 21a on the front surface side of the first duct 21 to the opening end 21b on the back surface side, and exhaust is performed inside the lighting body 4.
Meanwhile, on the side of the second ventilation port 12, an air current F2 is generated that flows from the opening end 22b on the back surface side of the second duct 22 toward the opening end 22a on the front surface side, and is taken into the lighting body 4. In addition, within the lighting body 4, an air current F3 is generated, flowing from the second ventilation port 12 of the lower side to the first ventilation port 11 of the upper side.
Accordingly, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, the circulation (convention) of the air inside the lighting body 4 is performed by controlling the flow directions of the air currents F1, F2 and F3, which are generated by the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the lighting body 4. In addition, by performing the circulation (convention) of the air along the inner surface of the outer lens 3, it is possible to prevent cloudiness from occurring on the inner surface of the outer lens 3.
In addition, the pressure difference inside and outside the lighting body 4 is generated not only by the expansion/contraction of the air inside the lighting body 4 due to the temperature change inside the lighting body 4 described above, but also by the air current (traveling wind, or the like) flowing outside the lighting body 4 when the vehicle is traveling.
Accordingly, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, not only the temperature change within the lighting body 4, but also the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the lighting body 4 that occurs when a vehicle is traveling causes the air circulation (convention) within the lighting body 4 described above, making it possible to prevent cloudiness from occurring on the inner surface of the outer lens 3.
Further, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, when the air in the lighting body 4 expands, since the circulation (convention) of the air within the lighting body 4 is promoted, it is possible to enhance a cloudiness prevention effect on the inner surface of the outer lens 3.
In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the embodiment, the air heated inside the lighting body 4 described above rises to become the air current F3, which generates a strong air current F3 from the second ventilation port 12 of the lower side to the first ventilation port 11 of the upper side, and a flow velocity of this air current F3 increases. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the heat dissipation effect within the lighting body 4, and to efficiently lower the temperature within the lighting body 4.
Further, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Specifically, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 are not limited to the configuration of the first and second ducts 21 and 22 described above, but may be configured as shown, for example, in portions (A) to (D) of
Among these, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 shown in a portion (A) of
Meanwhile, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 shown in a portion (B) of
Meanwhile, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 shown in a portion (C) of
Meanwhile, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 shown in a portion (D) of
In addition, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 can be optimized by appropriately changing their disposition and number to match the space K within the lighting body 4, as shown, for example, in a portion (A) of
Among these, the lighting body 4 shown in the portion (A) of
Further, the present invention may be configured to include a ventilation port having the same diameter between the front surface side and the back surface side of the housing 2, as long as at least one of the plurality of ventilation ports has a different diameter between the front surface side and the back surface side of the housing 2.
In addition, the diameter a1 on the front surface side and the diameter a2 on the back surface side of the first ventilation port 11, the diameter b1 on the front surface side and the diameter b2 on the back surface side of the second ventilation port 12, or the lengths of the first and second ducts 21 and 22 are not particularly limited but may be changed as appropriate.
Meanwhile, when the diameter a2 on the back surface side of the first ventilation port 11 and the diameter b2 on the back surface side of the second ventilation port 12 are aligned (a2=b2), it is possible to keep the inflow of air into the lighting body 4 low and promote the outflow of the air from the lighting body 4.
In addition, the first and second ventilation ports 11 and 12 are not limited to being disposed in the upward/downward direction as described above, but may also be disposed in the leftward/rightward direction, with the first ventilation port 11 acting as an exhaust port and the second ventilation port 12 acting as an intake port, making it possible to provide ventilation within the lighting body 4 through the first ventilation port 11 and the second ventilation port 12.
Further, in the embodiment, while the case in which the present invention is applied to the vehicle headlight (head lamp) has been exemplified, the vehicle lamp to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-mentioned front-side vehicle lamp, but for example, the present invention may be applied to a rear-side vehicle lamp such as a rear combination lamp or the like.
Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention will become clearer through examples. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, but may be changed and executed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In a first example, as shown in portions (A) to (C) of
Among these, the box 100 shown in the portion (A) of
Meanwhile, the box 100 shown in the portion (B) of
Meanwhile, the box 100 shown in the portion (C) of
In addition, a partition wall 104 configured to partition the upper ventilation port 101 and the lower ventilation port 102 is provided inside the box 100.
For the boxes shown in the portions (A) to (C) of
As a result, in the box 100 shown in the portion (A) of
Meanwhile, in the box 100 shown in the portion (B) of
Meanwhile, in the box 100 shown in the portion (C) of
From the above, by making the diameters of the upper ventilation port 101 and the lower ventilation port 102 different and in opposite directions, a difference in pressure loss occurs. In addition, pressure loss causes a difference in the flow velocity (dynamic pressure) of the air current, and the direction of the air current is determined by the resulting dynamic pressure difference. Accordingly, it was confirmed that the flow of the air current F generated in the box 100 could be controlled.
In a second example, the flow of the air current F generated within the box 100 shown in the portions (A) and (B) of
As a result, in the box 100 shown in the portion (A) of
On the other hand, in the box 100 shown in the portion (B) of
From the above, it was confirmed that by making the diameters of the upper ventilation port 101 and the lower ventilation port 102 different and in opposite directions, the flow velocity of the air current F generated in the box 100 is improved when the temperature inside the box 100 is increased.
In a third example, a temperature change from a room temperature within the box 100 shown in the portions (A) and (B) of
As a result, the temperature in the box 100 shown in the portion (A) of
From the above, it was confirmed that by making the diameters of the upper ventilation port 101 and the lower ventilation port 102 different and in opposite directions, the circulation (convention) of the air within the box 100 is promoted when the temperature within the box 100 is increased.
In particular, in the box 100 shown in the portion (B) of
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-005784 | Jan 2024 | JP | national |
