JP2011204422A - Optical axis adjustment structure of lighting fixture for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical axis adjustment structure for a lighting fixture for a vehicle carrying out optical axis adjustment with good workability without varying arrangement of an optical axis adjustment mechanism.SOLUTION: Through holes for tools 13, 14 are formed on an expansion section 2A of a housing 2 for having a tool T go through to operate an aiming gear 12 of the optical axis adjustment mechanism as the optical axis adjustment mechanism for a headlamp (lighting fixture for vehicle) 1 composed by storing at least a bulb which is a light source in a lamp chamber defined by the housing 2 and a lens 3 covering an opening section of the housing 2, having the optical adjustment mechanism included in the housing 2 and arranging the aiming gear (operating section) 12 of the optical axis adjustment mechanism below the expansion section 2A projecting from a back surface of the housing 2 or in a bottom section on the outer side of vehicle.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp such as a headlamp.

  A vehicular lamp such as a headlamp is provided with an optical axis adjustment mechanism (aiming mechanism) for adjusting the optical axis of the light source. The optical axis adjustment mechanism is accommodated in the lamp chamber of the vehicular lamp. The light source and the reflector holding the light source are supported on the housing by a pivot shaft and an adjustment screw so as to be tiltable, and the optical axis is adjusted by rotating the adjustment screw and tilting the reflector with the light source about the pivot shaft.

  With regard to such an optical axis adjustment mechanism, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an adjustment screw is accommodated in a housing, and a lid (back cover) that closes the valve insertion opening of the housing is removed and the adjustment screw is rotated during optical axis adjustment. Proposals have been made to prevent the occurrence of rust and the like of the adjustment screw by adopting it.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a bulging portion that bulges in an eave-like shape from the back wall of the housing is formed above the orthogonal conversion gear mechanism in order to prevent damage to the orthogonal conversion gear mechanism provided on the back wall of the housing. A configuration is proposed.

  9 and 10 show a conventional example of an optical axis adjustment structure for a headlamp provided with an optical axis adjustment mechanism.

  9 and 10 are rear views of the headlamp 101 arranged on the left side of the vehicle, and the rear surface of the housing 102 of the illustrated headlamp 101 has a cylindrical shape for accommodating components such as an igniter (not shown). The bulging portion 102A protrudes, and the opening of the bulging portion 102A is covered with a detachable bowl-shaped back cover 109. In these headlamps 101, an optical axis adjusting aiming gear 111 in the vertical direction and an optical axis adjusting aiming gear 112 in the horizontal direction are arranged around the bulging portion 102A of the housing 102. Each of the aiming gears 111 and 112 is connected to an end portion of an adjustment screw (not shown) that passes through the housing 102 and projects out of the housing 102.

  In the optical axis adjustment mechanism provided in the headlamp 101 shown in FIG. 10, an operation shaft 120 for transmitting rotational force to the optical axis adjustment aiming gear 112 in the horizontal direction is raised upward, and at the upper end thereof. A separate aiming gear 121 is attached.

JP 7-312104 A JP-A-7-296606

  In the optical axis adjusting mechanism of the headlamp 101 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the left and right optical axis adjusting aiming gear 112 is obliquely outwardly and outwardly below the bulging portion 102 </ b> A of the housing 102. Therefore, in the headlamp 101 shown in FIG. 9, when adjusting the optical axis in the left-right direction, it is necessary to insert a tool T such as a screwdriver from above and turn the optical axis adjusting aiming gear 112. For this reason, it is necessary to design so that the fender panel (not shown) on the side of the vehicle does not interfere with the insertion locus of the tool T.

  Further, the optical axis adjustment work must be performed for each of the left and right headlamps 101 while standing near the center of the vehicle front in the vehicle width direction so as not to block the headlamp light. In the axis adjustment work, since the insertion position of the tool T is on the side of the vehicle of the headlamp 101 and is far from the center in the vehicle width direction, the worker has an unreasonable posture with the elbows extended. There is a problem that it is a work and a burden is applied to the elbow.

  On the other hand, in the headlamp 101 shown in FIG. 10, since the optical axis can be adjusted by tilting the tool T as shown in the drawing, the burden on the operator is reduced, but the structure is complicated. There is a problem that the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp capable of performing optical axis adjustment with good workability without changing the arrangement of the optical axis adjustment mechanism. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least a bulb as a light source is accommodated in a lamp chamber defined by a housing and a lens covering the opening, and an optical axis adjustment mechanism is provided in the housing. An optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp, wherein the operation portion of the optical axis adjustment mechanism is disposed below a bulging portion protruding from the rear surface of the housing or at a lower portion on the outer side of the vehicle, and the operation of the optical axis adjustment mechanism A tool through-hole through which a tool for operating the part passes is formed in the bulging part of the housing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a waterproof cap is attached to the tool through hole.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 2, wherein a ventilation function is added to the waterproof cap.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the tool through hole is constituted by a through hole on the operator side and a through hole on the optical axis adjusting mechanism side, A guide rib is formed on the inner surface of the back cover that closes the opening of the bulging portion, and guides the tool passed from the through hole on the operator side to the through hole on the optical axis adjustment mechanism side.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the tool through-hole through which the tool for operating the operation part of the optical axis adjustment mechanism passes is formed in the bulge part of the housing, the operation part of the optical axis adjustment mechanism is swelled in the housing. Even if it is a vehicular lamp arranged below the protruding part or at the lower part outside the vehicle, it is operated by passing the tool diagonally through the tool through-hole formed in the bulging part without changing the arrangement of the operating part. The optical axis can be adjusted with good workability by operating the unit. The worker stands near the center in the vehicle width direction of the front part of the vehicle, and the left and right sides of the bulge portion of the housing are positioned on the opposite side of the operator, without extending the elbow. Since the optical axis of each of the vehicle lamps can be adjusted, the physical burden on the operator is reduced.

  In addition, a complicated mechanism such as an operating shaft that transmits the rotational force to the optical axis adjusting aiming gear for changing the arrangement of the operating portion of the optical axis adjusting mechanism is not required, thereby reducing the number of parts, reducing costs, and improving productivity. Can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the problem of interference between the bulge portion of the housing and the tool does not occur, the bulge portion can be enlarged, and the valve replacement operation through the large opening of the bulge portion is facilitated. For example, when a method of attaching the back cover to the bulging portion by rotation is employed, the workability of attaching the back cover is enhanced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the tool through hole formed in the bulging portion of the housing is closed by the waterproof cap when the optical axis is not adjusted, the tool through hole enters the housing. Intrusion of water and dust is prevented.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the ventilation function is added to the waterproof cap that closes the tool through hole formed in the bulging portion of the housing when the optical axis is not adjusted, the inside of the housing is ventilated, Clouding is prevented. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a separate ventilation cap in the housing, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the optical axis is adjusted, if the tool is inserted from the through-hole on the worker side formed in the bulging portion of the housing while the back cover is attached to the housing, the tool is back cover. Since the guide rib formed on the inner surface of the optical guide is guided to the through-hole on the optical axis adjusting mechanism side, the work of penetrating the tool is facilitated and the workability is improved. In addition, there is no problem that parts such as an igniter accommodated in the bulging portion of the housing are damaged by the tool.

  Further, since the guide rib is formed on the inner surface of the back cover, the problem of interference between the guide rib and peripheral parts outside the back cover does not occur, and the guide rib can be easily formed, so that productivity is improved. Since the back cover is removed from the housing when the valve is replaced, the guide rib formed on the back cover does not obstruct the replacement operation.

It is a front side perspective view of the headlamp provided with the optical-axis adjustment structure which concerns on this invention. It is a back side perspective view of a headlamp provided with the optical axis adjustment structure concerning the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the bulging part of the housing from the inside of a housing. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a headlamp provided with the optical axis adjustment structure concerning the present invention. (A) is the back side perspective view which shows the optical axis adjustment operation | movement of the headlamp provided with the optical axis adjustment structure which concerns on this invention, (b) is the back side perspective view which removes and shows a back cover. It is the perspective view which looked at the bulging part of the housing where the tool was passed from the inside of a housing. It is a partial inner surface view of a back cover which shows a mode that a tool is guided along the guide rib formed in the inner surface of a back cover. (A)-(c) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the various aspect of the waterproof cap which plugs up a tool through-hole. It is a rear view of the headlamp provided with the conventional optical axis adjustment structure. It is a rear view of the headlamp provided with the conventional optical axis adjustment structure.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a front perspective view of a headlamp having an optical axis adjusting structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headlamp, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bulging portion of the housing as seen from inside the housing. 4 is a partial sectional view of the headlamp, FIG. 5A is a rear perspective view showing the optical axis adjustment work of the headlamp, and FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view showing the back cover removed. 6 is a perspective view of the bulging portion of the housing through which the tool is passed, as viewed from the inside of the housing, and FIG. 7 is a portion of the back cover showing how the tool is guided along the guide rib formed on the inner surface of the back cover. FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are partial cross-sectional views showing various aspects of the waterproof cap that closes the tool through hole.

  The headlamp 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided on the left side of the front part of the vehicle, and is shown in FIG. 4 in a lamp chamber 4 defined by a housing 2 and a lens 3 covering the opening. Further, the light source includes a bulb 5 serving as a light source, a reflector 6 holding the bulb 5, a hood 7 for blocking direct light from the bulb 5, an igniter 8 attached to the rear end of the socket 5a of the bulb 5, and the like. Yes. Since the left and right headlamps 1 are symmetrical in terms of the arrangement of components and the basic configuration of both is the same, only the left headlamp 1 will be illustrated and described below.

  A cylindrical bulge 2A for housing components such as the igniter 8 and the like is integrally projected at the center of the rear surface of the housing 2, and a circular opening 2a (see FIG. 5) of the bulge 2A. (B) is closed by a detachable bowl-shaped back cover 9.

  Incidentally, the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with an optical axis adjustment mechanism (aiming mechanism) for adjusting the optical axis of the bulb 5. This optical axis adjusting mechanism includes a bulb 5 housed in the lamp chamber 4 and a reflector 6 that holds the bulb 5 and a pivot shaft (not shown) and an adjusting screw 10 (FIG. 3 and FIG. The optical axis is adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw 10 and tilting the reflector 6 together with the valve 5 about the pivot axis.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertical optical axis adjustment is performed on the upper right side (side closer to the center in the vehicle width direction) around the bulging portion 2A on the back surface of the housing 2. An aiming gear 11 for rotating is arranged, and an aiming gear 12 for adjusting the optical axis in the left-right direction is arranged at the lower left part (a position far from the center in the vehicle width direction). Each of the aiming gears 11 and 12 is connected to an end of an adjusting screw 10 (only one is shown) of the optical axis adjusting mechanism.

  Thus, in a state where the left headlamp 1 is assembled to the left side of the front portion of the vehicle, an operator standing at the center in the vehicle width direction in front of the vehicle has an aiming gear 11 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The tool T (see FIG. 5) is easy to operate, but the operation of the aiming gear 12 disposed below the worker far side is not easy because the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 becomes an obstacle.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tool T penetrates obliquely from the worker side (center side in the vehicle width direction) toward the aiming gear 12 in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2. Are formed on the outer periphery of the bulging portion 2A. Then, on the inner surface of the back cover 9, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the tool T passed through the tool through hole 13 on the operator side is passed to the tool through hole 14 on the aiming gear 12 side. Are formed integrally with the guide rib 9A, and the tool T passed through the tool through hole 13 on the operator side is inserted into a guide groove 9a (see FIG. 7) between the two guide ribs 9A. And is guided to the tool through hole 14 on the aiming gear 12 side. Specifically, the back cover 9 is attached in a state of being positioned on the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 by a positioning structure (not shown). At the positioned position, both ends of the guide rib 9A are arranged in the vicinity of the tool through hole 13 and the tool through hole 14, and both ends of the guide groove 9a between the two guide ribs 9A are at the tool through hole 13 and the tool through hole. It arrange | positions so that the hole 14 may be opposed. In addition, the hole diameter of the tool through-holes 13 and 14 and the groove width of the guide groove 9a are formed slightly larger than the shaft diameter dimension of the tool T, and the posture of the inserted and penetrated tool can be maintained. .

  Thus, when adjusting the optical axis, an operator stands at the center in the vehicle width direction in front of the vehicle and simultaneously adjusts the optical axis of the left and right headlamps 1. For example, the horizontal optical axis adjustment of the left headlamp 1 is performed. 5, the tool T is inserted into the bulging portion 2A from the tool through hole 13 on the operator side formed in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 as shown in FIG. Then, as described above, the tool T is guided to the tool through hole 14 on the aiming gear 12 side along the guide groove 9a between the two guide ribs 9A formed on the inner surface of the back cover 9, as shown in FIG. The tip protrudes from the tool through hole 14 to the outside of the bulging portion 2A and meshes with the aiming gear 12. Therefore, if the operator turns the tool T in this state, the aiming gear 12 that meshes with the tip of the tool T is turned. Note that FIG. 5B shows the back cover 9 removed for easy understanding, but in actuality, the optical axis adjustment is performed with the back cover 9 attached.

As described above, when the aiming gear 12 is rotated, the adjusting screw 10 is also rotated integrally. Therefore, the reflector 6 screwed to the adjusting screw 10 is tilted together with the valve 5 around the pivot shaft (not shown). The left and right optical axes are adjusted. It should be noted that the adjustment in the vertical direction of the optical axis is simple because it is only necessary to turn the aiming gear 11 disposed on the side closer to the operator. The same optical axis adjustment is performed in the same manner for the right headlamp 1 (not shown), and the operator can adjust the optical axis of the left and right headlamps 1 with good workability while standing in the center in the vehicle width direction. .

  By the way, when optical axis adjustment is not performed, the tool through holes 13 and 14 formed in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 are closed by a waterproof cap 15 as shown in FIG. Intrusion of water and dust from the through holes 13 and 14 into the housing 2 is prevented. If the tool through holes 13 and 14 are closed with a waterproof cap 17 provided with a seal ring 16 as shown in FIG. 8B, water and dust can be prevented from entering the housing 2 more effectively. it can. Further, if a waterproof cap 19 provided with a filter 18 having a ventilation function (a function of passing water but not allowing air) as shown in FIG. 8C is used, the inside of the housing 2 is ventilated and the inner surface of the lens 3 is vented. Clouding is prevented. In this case, since it is not necessary to separately provide a ventilation cap in the housing 2, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. When the waterproof caps 15, 17 and 19 are provided, the guide rib 9A has a back surface as shown in FIG. 8 in order to prevent interference with the waterproof caps 15, 17 and 19 attached to the tool through holes 13 and 14. The cover 9 is not provided on the entire inner surface, and the peripheral portion of the back cover 9 and both ends of the guide rib 9A form a predetermined interval by a notch or the like.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the tool through holes 13 and 14 through which the tool T for turning the aiming gear 12 of the optical axis adjusting mechanism passes are formed in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2, the aiming gear 12 is connected to the housing 2. The tool T is formed in the bulging portion 2A as shown in FIG. 5 without changing the arrangement of the aiming gear 12 even when the bulging portion 2A is disposed at the lower part of the vehicle outside. The optical axis can be adjusted with good workability by turning the aiming gear 12 through the holes 13 and 14 obliquely. Since the worker can stand near the center of the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle and adjust the optical axis of the left and right headlamps 1 without greatly extending the elbows, the physical burden on the worker is reduced. .

  Further, according to the optical axis adjusting mechanism according to the present embodiment, a complicated mechanism for changing the arrangement of the aiming gear 12 is not required, so that the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the productivity can be improved. it can.

  Further, since the problem of interference between the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 and the tool T does not occur, the bulging portion 2A can be enlarged, and the valve 5 can be replaced through a large opening of the bulging portion 2A. In addition to facilitating the work, for example, when adopting a method of attaching the back cover 9 to the bulging portion 2A by rotation, the workability of attaching the back cover 9 is enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, when the optical axis is adjusted, the tool T is inserted into the operator side tool through hole 13 formed in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2 while the back cover 9 is attached to the housing 2. Since the tool T is guided to the tool through hole 14 on the side of the aiming gear 12 by the guide rib 9A formed on the inner surface of the back cover 9, the work of penetrating the tool T is facilitated and workability is improved. In addition, there is no problem such that the tool T damages parts such as the igniter 8 accommodated in the bulging portion 2A of the housing 2.

  Further, since the guide rib 9A is formed on the inner surface of the back cover 9, the problem of interference between the guide rib 9A and peripheral parts outside the back cover 9 does not occur, and the formation of the guide rib 9A is facilitated, so that the productivity is improved. . Since the back cover 9 is removed from the housing 2 when the valve 5 is replaced, the guide rib 9A formed on the back cover 9 does not interfere with the replacement work.

  In the above, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the optical axis adjustment structure of the headlamp has been described. However, the present invention relates to the optical axis adjustment structure provided in any other vehicle lamp other than the headlamp. Of course, the same applies.

1 Headlamp (vehicle lamp)
2 housing 2A housing bulge 2a bulge opening 3 lens 4 lamp chamber 5 bulb (light source)
5a Valve socket 6 Reflector 7 Hood 8 Igniter 9 Back cover 9A Back cover guide rib 9a Back cover guide groove 10 Adjusting screw 11 Aiming gear for adjusting the optical axis in the vertical direction 12 Aiming gear for adjusting the optical axis in the horizontal direction 13, 14 Tool penetration Hole 15 Waterproof cap 16 Seal ring 17 Waterproof cap 18 Filter 19 Waterproof cap T Tool

Claims (4)

A bulb as a light source is accommodated in a lamp chamber defined by a housing and a lens covering the opening, and an optical axis adjustment mechanism is provided in the housing, and an operation portion of the optical axis adjustment mechanism protrudes from the rear surface of the housing. An optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp, which is arranged below a bulging portion or a vehicle outer lower portion,
An optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp, wherein a tool through hole through which a tool for operating an operation portion of the optical axis adjustment mechanism passes is formed in the bulging portion of the housing.   2. The optical axis adjusting structure for a vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a waterproof cap is attached to the tool through hole.   The optical axis adjusting structure for a vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein a ventilation function is added to the waterproof cap. The tool through-hole is composed of an operator-side through-hole and an optical axis adjusting mechanism-side through-hole, and an inner surface of a back cover that closes the opening of the bulging portion of the housing is formed from the operator-side through-hole. The optical axis adjustment structure for a vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a guide rib for guiding the passed tool to a through hole on the optical axis adjustment mechanism side.

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