JPH0753203Y2 - Vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The vehicle headlamp of the present invention will be described according to the following items.

A. Industrial fields of use B. Overview of the device C. Prior art D. Problems to be solved by the device E. Means for solving the problem F. Example [Figs. 1 to 7] F-1 .Basic configuration [Figs. 1 to 5] a. Discharge lamp device a-1. Discharge lamp a-2. Lamp holder a-2-a. Insulation base a-2-b. Lead support a-2-c. Insulation cylinder for discharge prevention a-2-d. Metal support a-3. Attachment of discharge lamp to lamp holder b. Reflector F-2. First embodiment [Fig. 6] F-3. Second embodiment [Fig. 7] G. Device Effect (A. Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a novel vehicle headlight. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp using a discharge lamp as a light source, and a new vehicle headlamp capable of obtaining good light distribution by defining a position of a discharge arc of a discharge lamp with respect to a reflecting mirror. It is intended to provide a light.

(B. Outline of the Invention) The vehicle headlamp of the present invention is one in which a point approximately midway between the line connecting the two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp is located at the focal point of the reflecting mirror. By doing so, it is possible to reduce glare light without significantly reducing the lamp light amount, obtain a light flux that is easy to control, and obtain good light distribution.

(C. Prior Art) It has been proposed to use a discharge lamp, for example, a metal halide discharge lamp as a light source of a vehicle headlight.

In this case, the discharge lamp is supported by the lamp holder, and the lamp holder is attached to the reflecting mirror.

Then, the discharge lamp is attached to the lamp holder so that the discharge electrode of the discharge lamp is located on the central axis of the lamp holder, and the reflecting mirror is provided with a lamp mounting hole centered on the optical axis thereof. The lamp holder supporting the discharge lamp is attached to the mounting hole.

(D. Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the discharge lamp, the discharge arc is not formed linearly between the discharge electrodes but is formed so as to draw a curved arc upward.

Therefore, in the above-described conventional vehicle headlamp, the discharge arc is located at a position displaced upward from the optical axis of the reflecting mirror, and, as a matter of course, a large amount of luminous flux is generated from the position displaced from the focal point of the reflecting mirror. Most of the light beams that are difficult to control other than the light beams that are easy to control, such as the parallel light beam (in the case of a parabolic reflector) and the light beam focused on the second focus (in the case of an elliptical reflector), will be emitted. Therefore, there is a problem that the lens design becomes extremely difficult.

(E. Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the vehicle headlamp of the present invention has a substantially intermediate portion between the line connecting two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp. This point is located at the focal point of the reflector.

Therefore, in the vehicular headlamp of the present invention, since a point approximately midway between the line connecting the two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp is located at the focal point of the reflecting mirror, discharge from the focal point occurs. Since the distance to the point in the arc can be made small over the entire length of the discharge arc, the proportion of light largely deviated from the focal point in a small distance is small, and most of the light is collected in the parallel light flux or the second focal point. It becomes a light beam that can be easily controlled, such as a light beam to be emitted, lens design is facilitated, and good light distribution can be obtained.

(F. Embodiment) [FIGS. 1 to 7] The details of the vehicle headlamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments.

First, the basic configuration of the discharge lamp device and the reflecting mirror will be described, and then each embodiment will be described.

(F-1. Basic configuration) [FIGS. 1 to 5] (a. Discharge lamp device) In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a discharge lamp device, which comprises a discharge lamp and a lamp holder for supporting the discharge lamp.

(A-1. Discharge lamp) 2 is a metal halide discharge lamp, in which both ends of the glass tube are pinch-sealed to form a central discharge space 3 and continuous pinch-sealing portions 4 and 4 at both ends thereof.

Numerals 5 and 5 are metal foils individually sealed in the pinch seal portions 4 and 4, and 6 and 6 are electrode rods. The electrode rods 6 and 6 have pinch seal portions 4 except the ends 6a and 6a. 4 is sealed and the other end is connected to the metal foils 5, 5.
The ends 6a, 6a of the electrode rods 6, 6 project into the discharge space 3 to form a discharge electrode.

Reference numerals 7 and 7 denote lead wires, one half of which is sealed in the pinch seal portions 4 and 4 and connected to the metal foils 5 and 5,
The other half portions project from the outer end surfaces of the pinch seal portions 4 and 4 in directions opposite to each other.

(A-2. Lamp holder) 8 is a lamp holder, which is composed of an insulating base, a lead support, an insulating cylinder for discharge prevention, and a metal support.

(A-2-a. Insulating Base) 9 is an insulating base, and is made of, for example, an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The insulating base 9 is formed by integrally forming a substantially disk-shaped base portion 10 and a protruding portion 11 protruding from the front surface of the base portion 10. The protruding portion 11 is one size smaller than the base portion 10 and has a thick upper end. It has a shape similar to that of a cut-out portion, and is arranged substantially concentrically with the base portion 10. Due to this difference in shape between the base portion 10 and the protruding portion 11, the outer edge portion 10a of the base portion 10 is projected like a flange. ing.

A ridge-shaped partition wall 12 is integrally provided so as to cross the substantially center of the back surface of the base portion 10 in the vertical direction.

Further, from a position near the lower end of the front surface of the projecting portion 11, a connecting cylinder 13 is integrally provided so as to project forward.

(A-2-b. Read support) 14 and 15 are read supports.

The lead support 14 is provided so as to pass through the insulating base 9 in the front-rear direction at a position near the upper end of the protrusion 11, and the lead support 15 is connected to the connecting cylinder 13 near the lower end of the protrusion 11.
It is provided so as to penetrate through the insulating base 9 in the front-back direction at the position where is formed, and thus penetrates through the connecting cylinder 13.

Then, the rear end portions 14a, 15a of these lead supports 14, 15
The amount of protrusion from the insulating base 9 is substantially the same, and is slightly smaller than the amount of protrusion of the partition wall 12 from the insulating base 9. Then, the rear end portions 14a and 15a serve as terminal portions.

It should be noted that such lead supports 14 and 15 are provided on the insulating base 9
It is formed integrally with the insulating base 9 by so-called insert molding in which a part of the mold is inserted into the molding die at the time of molding.

(A-2-c. Insulation cylinder for discharge prevention) 16 is an insulation cylinder for discharge prevention.

The insulating tubular body 16 is formed of ceramics and has a long tubular shape in the front-rear direction. An insertion hole 17 formed through the center of the insulating tubular body 16 has a portion 17a that is substantially the latter half of the insertion hole larger than the remaining portion. It is formed to a diameter.

Further, the outer diameter of the front half portion 16a of the insulating cylindrical body 16 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rear half portion 16b.

Then, the insulating cylinder 16 is fitted on the connecting cylinder 13 of the insulating base 9, that is, the connecting cylinder 13 is fitted on the large diameter portion 17 a of the insertion hole 17. Then, the insulating cylinder 16 is fixed to the insulating base 9 by an appropriate means, for example, adhesion.

(A-2-d. Metal support) Reference numerals 18 and 18 'are metal supports, which are formed of conductive metal plates and have substantially the same shape.

The metal supports 18 and 18 'have a side surface and are substantially L-shaped,
The bases 19 and 19 'are curled to form a tubular shape. U-shaped cut grooves extending from the center to the base end are formed in the support portions 20 and 20 'extending from the front half of the base portions 19 and 19' in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the base portions 19 and 19 '. Support pieces 21, 21 'are formed by folding back the portion surrounded by the cut groove toward the tip side, and the tip and the front and rear are provided between the support pieces 21, 21' and the tip portions of the support portions 20, 20 '. Mounting grooves 22 and 22 'which are open to the inside are formed.

The metal support 18,18 'as described above has its base 19,19'.
Is slidably fitted over the front ends of the lead supports 14 and 15, and in this state, the base portions 19 and 19 'are pressed against the lead supports 14 and 15 by the elasticity of the material of the metal supports 18 and 18', As long as a force for rotating the supports 18 and 18 'with respect to the lead supports 14 and 15 is not applied, the posture is maintained.

The support portion 20 of one metal support 18 is in a posture of hanging from the tip of the lead support 14, and the support portion 20 'of the other metal support 18' is in a posture of rising from the tip of the lead support 15. It In this state, the metal support 18,
The mounting grooves 22, 22 'of the 18' are positioned on a line extending in the axial direction of the insulating base 9 of the lamp holder 8.

The metal supports 18 and 18 'are lead supports 1
The posture is adjusted by rotating with respect to 4, 15 and, when the adjustment is completed, the bases 19, 19 'are attached to the lead supports 14, 15'.
It is fixed to the front end of the by spot welding. The fixing is performed at the time of mounting the discharge lamp described later.

As described above, the metal supports 18 and 18 'are fixed to the tips of the lead supports 14 and 15.

(A-3. Mounting of discharge lamp on lamp holder) The lead wires 7, 7 of the discharge lamp 2 are inserted into the mounting grooves 22, 22 'of the metal supports 18, 18'. The inside is moved back and forth and up and down to adjust the position. Then, when the position adjustment is performed, the lead wires 7, 7 are fixed to the supporting portions 20, 20 'of the metal supporting bodies 18, 18' and the supporting pieces 21, 21 'by spot welding.

On the other hand, the metal supports 18,18 'can be rotated with respect to the lead supports 14,15, which allows for lateral adjustment.

After the adjustment of the position of the discharge lamp 2 as described above, the lead supports are attached to the bases 19 and 19 'of the metal supports 18 and 18'.
It is fixed to the front ends of 14 and 15 by spot welding.

In this way, the discharge lamp device 1 is formed.

(B. Reflecting mirror) 23 is a reflecting mirror of an automobile headlamp, and a lamp mounting hole 24 is formed in the center of the rear part thereof, and the lamp mounting hole 24 on the rear surface of the reflecting mirror 23 is slightly separated from its opening edge. An annular mounting cylinder portion 25 is formed so as to surround the position so as to project rearward.

The discharge lamp device 1 is inserted from the rear into the lamp mounting hole 24 of the reflecting mirror 23, and the protruding portion 11 of the insulating base 9 thereof is inserted.
Is inserted into the lamp mounting hole 24, and the base portion 10 is fitted into the mounting tubular portion 25. Then, the outer edge portion 10a of the base portion 10 of the insulating base 9 comes into contact with the rear surface of the flange portion 26 formed by the difference in diameter between the lamp mounting hole 24 and the mounting tubular portion 25, and the discharge lamp device 1
Are positioned with respect to the reflecting mirror 23.

Incidentally, 27 and 27 are cords connected to a discharge circuit (not shown), and the tips 27a and 27a whose coating is removed are the terminal portions 14a and 1a.
Separately connected to 5a.

The length of the mounting cylinder portion 25 provided on the reflecting mirror 23 is equal to that of the insulating base 9.
The thickness is slightly more than twice the thickness of the base portion 10, and the adhesive 29 is filled in the concave portion 28 formed by this shape difference, and
Solidified. As a result, the discharge lamp device 1 becomes
While being fixed to 23, discharge between the terminal portions 14a and 15a is prevented.

The front surface of the reflecting mirror 23 is covered with a lens (not shown).

(F-2. First Embodiment) [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows a first embodiment 30A of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.

The reflecting mirror 23A in this Example 30A is a parabolic reflecting surface 31.
The has, the center of the arc C ₂₄ of the lamp mounting hole 24 is located稍下side from the optical axis x-x of the reflector 23A. That is, the line 32 extending parallel to the optical axis x-x of the center of the arc C ₂₄ street reflector 23A of the lamp mounting hole 24 will be positioned a distance d away from the optical axis x-x downwards.

In the discharge lamp device 1A, the discharge electrodes 6a, 6a are located on the central axis of the lamp holder 8, that is, on the line cc passing through the centers of the arcs of the base 10 and the protrusion 11 of the insulating base 9.

Then, when the discharge lamp 2 is lit, the discharge arc 33 begins to draw an upward curved arc, and its center
33c is located above the center line cc of the lamp holder 8.

Therefore, such a discharge lamp device 1A is provided with the reflecting mirror 23A.
, The center line c-c of the lamp holder 8 and the center line 32 of the lamp mounting hole 24 coincide with each other.
The center 33c of 33 is located above the center line 32 of the lamp mounting hole 24. Therefore, if the distance D between the center line c-c of the lamp holder 8 and the center 33c of the discharge arc 33 is 2.4 mm, for example, the above d (distance between the line 32 and the optical axis xx) is set to 1.2 mm. If set, the center 3 of the discharge arc 33
3c and the center line cc of the lamp holder 8 (two discharge electrodes
It is also a line connecting 6a and 6a. The point s, which is substantially in the middle of the distance from), is located on the optical axis xx of the reflecting mirror 23A. The front surface of the flange portion 10a of the discharge lamp device 1A and the point s
By defining the distance between the reflection mirror 23A and the flange 26 of the reflecting mirror 23A and the focal point f,
It will be located at the focal point f of 23A. When the focus f is set at the point s in this way, the focus f is set at the center 33 of the discharge arc 33.
Although the amount of lamp light is slightly reduced as compared with the case of setting to c, the average distance from the focal point f to an arbitrary point in the discharge arc 33 can be made smaller, so that the distance from the focal point greatly deviates. It is possible to obtain a light flux that is easy to control because the proportion of light is small, and it is possible to reduce glare light (due to uncontrollable or difficult-to-control light that is emitted away from the focus).

(F-3. Second Embodiment) [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment 30B of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.

In the headlight 30B according to the second embodiment, the reflecting mirror 23B
Is located the center C ₂₄ of the lamp mounting hole 24 on the optical axis x-x, and, a discharge lamp device 1B, the discharge electrodes 6a, 6a is positioned below the center line c-c of the lamp holders 8, A point s substantially in the middle between the line 34 connecting the discharge electrodes 6a, 6a and the center 33c of the discharge arc 33 is located on the center line cc of the lamp holder 8.

When such a discharge lamp device 1B is attached to the reflecting mirror 23B, the optical axis xx of the reflecting mirror 23B and the center line cc of the lamp holder 8 coincide with each other.
It is located at the focal point f of 23B.

(G. Effect of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the vehicle headlight of the present invention is a reflector having a focus, a lens arranged in front of the reflector, a reflector and a lens. And a discharge lamp disposed between the discharge lamps and a center of a discharge arc of the discharge lamp and a line connecting the two discharge electrodes.

Therefore, in the vehicular headlamp of the present invention, since a point approximately midway between the line connecting the two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp is located at the focal point of the reflecting mirror, discharge from the focal point occurs. Since the distance to the point in the arc can be made small over the entire length of the discharge arc, the proportion of light largely deviated from the focal point in a small distance is small, and most of the light is collected in the parallel light flux or the second focal point. A luminous flux or the like to be lit becomes an easily controlled luminous flux, which facilitates the lens design and reduces glare, thereby obtaining a good light distribution.

In the description of the above embodiments, the reflecting mirrors are all parabolic reflecting mirrors, but the reflecting mirror in the present invention is not limited to a parabolic reflecting mirror, and has an elliptic reflecting mirror or the like having a focal point. The present invention can be applied to any device having a reflecting mirror.

In addition, the specific structures shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples for implementing the vehicle headlight of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limited by these. Is not to be interpreted.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 show the basic structure of a discharge lamp device and a reflecting mirror. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a side view with a part cut away. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main portion showing a state in which a discharge lamp is attached to a reflecting mirror, and FIG. 6 is a headlight for a vehicle of the present invention. The first embodiment of the lamp is shown in (A)
The figure is an enlarged exploded sectional view, (B) is an enlarged assembled sectional view,
The drawing shows a second embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the present invention.
(A) is an enlarged exploded sectional view, and (B) is an enlarged assembled sectional view. Explanation of symbols 30A …… Vehicle headlight, 1A …… Discharge lamp device, 2 ……
Discharge lamp, 6a …… Discharge electrode, 24 …… Lamp mounting hole, 33
...... Discharge arc, 33c …… Center of discharge arc, s …… 2
A point approximately midway between the line connecting the two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp, C ₂₄ ... the center of the lamp mounting hole, x
-X ... Reflector optical axis, f ... Reflector focus, cc ...
… Central axis of the lamp holder (the line connecting the two discharge electrodes), 30B …… Vehicle headlight, 1B …… Discharge lamp device,
2 ... Discharge lamp, 6a ... Discharge electrode, 24 ... Lamp mounting hole, 33 ... Discharge arc, 33c ... Discharge arc center, 34
...... Line connecting two discharge electrodes, s ...... A point approximately midway between the line connecting two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp, C ₂₄ ...... Center of lamp mounting hole, xx ...... Reflector optical axis, f …… Reflector focal point, cc …… Lamp holder central axis

Claims (5)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A reflecting lamp having a focal point, a lens arranged in front of the reflecting mirror, and a discharge lamp arranged between the reflecting mirror and the lens, and a line connecting two discharge electrodes and a discharge lamp. A vehicle headlamp characterized in that a point approximately midway between the center of the discharge arc of 2. A reflecting mirror is a parabolic reflecting mirror, and a focal point thereof is located at an approximately intermediate point between a line connecting two discharge electrodes and a center of a discharge arc of a discharge lamp. A vehicle headlamp according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim 3. The reflecting mirror is an elliptical reflecting mirror, and the first focus thereof is located at a point approximately midway between the line connecting the two discharge electrodes and the center of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp. A vehicle headlamp according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim 4. The lamp of a discharge lamp device, wherein the center of the lamp mounting hole is located slightly below the optical axis of the reflecting mirror, and the discharge electrode of the discharge lamp is arranged on the central axis of a lamp holder holding the discharge lamp. A utility model registration claim characterized in that the holder is attached to the lamp mounting hole.
Headlight for a vehicle according to the paragraph 2 or 3 5. The lamp of a discharge lamp device, wherein the center of the lamp mounting hole is located on the optical axis of the reflecting mirror, and the discharge electrode of the discharge lamp is arranged slightly below the central axis of the lamp holder holding the discharge lamp. A utility model registration claim characterized in that the holder is attached to the lamp mounting hole.
Headlight for a vehicle according to the paragraph 2 or 3