Patent Publication Number: US-2023147387-A1

Title: Lighting Device for a Vehicle Headlamp

Description:
The invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle headlamp, comprising:
         a light module, configured to emit a light distribution,   a fan configured to dissipate heat produced by the light module, when the fan is in an end position,   a support frame configured to hold the light module, wherein the support frame comprises a securing device which is disposed on the support frame, wherein the securing device is configured to secure the fan in the end position on the securing device.       

     Further, the invention relates to a vehicle headlamp comprising at least one lighting device according to the invention. 
     Further, the invention relates to a method for assembling of a lighting device. 
     In the state of the art, the fan is secured in conventionally assemblies by screw connections or clamping with use of additional parts. The leads to a significant effort with regard to the securing of the fan in a desired position. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced lighting device. 
     To achieve this object, the securing device comprises a protrusion extending along an axis and a first fastening-element, wherein 
     the fan comprises an engaging-opening corresponding to the protrusion of the securing device, and a second fastening-element corresponding to the first fastening-element of the securing device, 
     wherein the securing device is arranged in a way, that allows the fan to be brought into an intermediate position on the securing device by inserting the engaging-opening of the fan onto the protrusion, such that the fan is mounted pivotable around the axis on the securing device, 
     wherein the securing device is arranged in a way, that allows the fan to be brought into the end position on the securing device by rotating the fan starting from the intermediate position around the axis, such that the second fastening-element of the fan engages with the first fastening-element of the securing device to secure the fan in the end position. 
     As a result of this solution, a reliable locking and centering system for the fan on the support frame of the lighting device is provided, which ensures an accurate positioning in relation to the light module. 
     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a guide section built as a groove, which extends orthogonal to the axis, and the fan comprises a guiding-element corresponding to the groove, wherein the groove is configured to receive the guiding-element, when the fan is brought into the end position starting from the intermediate position, such that the guiding-element in combination with the groove lead the fan into the end position. 
     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a first abutment-portion, wherein the fan abuts on the first abutment-portion when the fan is brought into the end position in order to limit the pivot movement of the fan around the axis. 
     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a second abutment-portion configured to limit a movement of the fan along the axis when the fan is in the end position. 
     Advantageously, the first fastening-element of the securing device is built as latching-element, wherein the second fastening-element of the fan is built as a counter latching-element. 
     Advantageously, the first fastening-element of the securing device is built as a detent lug and the second fastening-element is built as a rigid protrusion, wherein the rigid protrusion snaps in the detent lug, when the fan is brought into the end position. 
     Advantageously, the support frame and the securing device are made of an integral piece of material, preferably made of one material. 
     The object of the invention is also achieved by a vehicle headlamp comprising at least one lighting device. 
     The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for assembling of a lighting device, comprising the following steps in chronological order:
         a) providing   a light module, configured to produce a light distribution,   a fan configured to dissipate heat produced by the light module, when the fan is in an end position,   a support frame configured to hold the light module, wherein the support frame comprises a securing device which is disposed on the support frame, wherein the securing device is configured to secure the fan in the end position on the securing device, wherein the securing device comprises a protrusion extending along an axis and a first fastening-element, wherein the fan comprises an engaging-opening corresponding to the protrusion of the securing device, and a second fastening-element corresponding to the first fastening-element of the securing device,   b) bringing the fan into an intermediate position by inserting the engaging-opening onto the protrusion, such that the fan is mounted pivotable around the axis on the securing device,   c) bringing the fan into the end position by rotating the fan starting from the intermediate position around the axis, such that the second fastening-element of the fan engages with the first fastening-element of the securing device to secure the fan in the end position.       

     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a guide section built as a groove, which extends orthogonal to the axis, and the fan comprises a guiding-element corresponding to the groove, wherein the groove is configured to receive the guiding-element, when the fan is brought into the end position starting from the intermediate position, such that the guiding-element in combination with the groove lead the fan into the end position. 
     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a first abutment-portion, wherein the fan abuts on the first abutment-portion when the fan is brought into the end position in step c) in order to limit the pivot movement of the fan around the axis. 
     Advantageously, the securing device comprises a second abutment-portion configured to limit a movement of the fan along the axis when the fan is in the end position. 
    
    
     
       In the following, in order to further demonstrate the present invention, illustrative and non-restrictive embodiments are discussed, as shown in the drawings, which show: 
         FIG.  1    a perspective view of an example of a lighting device with a light module, a securing device disposed on a support frame and fan, wherein the fan is in an end position on the securing device, 
         FIG.  2    a detailed perspective view of the securing device of  FIG.  1   , 
         FIG.  3    a detailed perspective view of the securing device and the fan, 
         FIG.  4    an intermediate position of the fan on the securing device, 
         FIG.  5    the end position of the fan on the securing device in a perspective view, and 
         FIG.  6    the end position of the fan on the securing device in a side view. 
     
    
    
       FIG.  1    shows a lighting device  10  for a vehicle headlamp, comprising a light module  50 , configured to emit a light distribution, a fan  100  configured to dissipate heat produced by the light module  50 , when the fan  100  is in an end position P2, and a support frame  70  configured to hold the light module  50 . 
     The support frame  70  comprises a securing device  200  which is disposed on the support frame  70 , wherein the securing device  200  is configured to secure the fan  100  in the end position P2 on the securing device  200 . The securing device  200  comprises a protrusion  210  extending along an axis Z and a first fastening-element  220 , as can be seen in  FIG.  2   , which shows a detailed perspective view of the securing device  200 . Further, the support frame  70  and the securing device  200 , and all of the components of the securing device  200 , are made of an integral piece of material, preferably made of one material. 
     The fan  100  comprises an engaging-opening  110  corresponding to the protrusion  210  of the securing device  200 , and a second fastening-element  120  corresponding to the first fastening-element  220  of the securing device  200 , which can be seen in  FIG.  3   , which shows the fan  100  and the securing device  200  in a perspective view. 
     Further, the securing device  200  is arranged in a way, that allows the fan  100  to be brought into an intermediate position P1 on the securing device  200  by inserting the engaging-opening  110  of the fan  100  onto the protrusion  210 , such that the fan  100  is mounted pivotable around the axis Z on the securing device  200 , which is illustrated in  FIG.  4   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the securing device  200  is arranged in a way, that allows the fan  100  to be brought into the end position P2 on the securing device  200  by rotating the fan  100  starting from the intermediate position P1 (shown in  FIG.  4   ) around the axis Z, such that the second fastening-element  120  of the fan  100  engages with the first fastening-element  220  of the securing device  200  to secure the fan  100  in the end position P2. Also, the securing device  200  comprises a guide section built as a groove  250 , which extends orthogonal to the axis Z, and the fan  100  comprises a guiding-element  150  corresponding to the groove  250 , wherein the groove  250  is configured to receive the guiding-element  150 , when the fan  100  is brought into the end position P2 starting from the intermediate position P1, such that the guiding-element  150  in combination with the groove  250  lead the fan  100  into the end position P2, as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . 
     Further, the securing device  200  comprises a first abutment-portion  260 , wherein the fan  100  abuts on the first abutment-portion  260  when the fan  100  is brought into the end position P2 in order to limit the pivot movement of the fan  100  around the axis Z, which can be seen in  FIG.  5   . Moreover, the securing device  200  comprises a second abutment-portion  270  configured to limit a movement of the fan  100  along the axis Z when the fan  100  is in the end position P2. 
       FIG.  6    shows the fan  100  in the end position P2 on the securing device  200  in a side view, wherein the first fastening-element  220 , which is built as a detent lug, and the second fastening-element  120  of the fan  100 , which is built as a rigid protrusion, can be seen in detail, wherein the rigid protrusion snaps in the detent lug, when the fan  100  obtained the end position P2 on the securing device  200 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         Lighting device . . .  10   
         Light module . . .  50   
         Support frame . . .  70   
         Fan . . .  100   
         Engaging-opening . . .  110   
         Second fastening-element . . .  120   
         Guiding-element . . .  150   
         Securing device . . .  200   
         Protrusion . . .  210   
         First fastening-element . . .  220   
         Groove . . .  250   
         First abutment-portion . . .  260   
         Second abutment-portion . . .  270   
         Axis . . . Z