Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/005351, filed May 18, 2004. This applications claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 103 22 627.3, filed May 20, 2003.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention concerns a headlamp for vehicles with a reflector comprising a reflector opening for receiving a gas discharge lamp, with an ignition device for operating the gas discharge lamp, with holding means for releasably connecting the ignition device to a reflector, with electromagnetically compatible contact means arranged between the ignition device and the reflector.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     From DE 202 08 295 U1 is known a headlamp for vehicles with a reflector, a gas discharge lamp and an ignition device, in which the ignition device and the gas discharge lamp form a common unit. For electromagnetically shielding the junction between the lamp/ignition device unit and the reflector there is provided as the electromagnetically compatible contact means an electromagnetically compatible shield plate which is ring-shaped and arranged between a surface of the reflector neck and a surface of the ignition device. The electromagnetically compatible shield plate has mounting openings to which is attached a holding spring. The holding spring is fitted by means of an adapter part arranged on the rear side of the ignition device, so that there is a rigid connection between the lamp/ignition device unit and the reflector. A drawback of the known headlamp is that, to fix the lamp/ignition device unit with the reflector, several holding means must be provided, namely the stirrup-shaped holding spring, the adapter part and the electromagnetically compatible shield plate.  
         [0006]     From U.S. Pat. No. 6 390 657 B1 is known a headlamp for vehicles, in which a socket of the gas discharge lamp is connected to a reflector. The lamp socket has flexible tabs which with their free ends extend in a rearward direction and form reliable electrical contacting with a plug arranged on the rear side of the socket. From U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,856 B2 is known a headlamp for vehicles with a reflector, a gas discharge lamp and an ignition device, in which the ignition device and the gas discharge lamp form a common unit. As holding means for fastening the reflector to the ignition device, bell-shaped holding elements extend rearwardly from the reflector neck. For electromagnetic shielding, electromagnetically compatible contact means are designed as metal clips which encompass the reflector neck and a peripheral surface of the ignition device in a frame-like, clamp-like fashion.  
         [0007]     From DE 201 07 817 U1 is known a headlamp for vehicles with a reflector, a gas discharge lamp arranged in an opening of the reflector and an ignition device, wherein on the ignition device on the one hand and in the region of the reflector opening on the other hand are provided holding means for the releasable connection of the ignition device to the reflector. The holding means comprise latch hooks or latch surfaces, such that the ignition device is connected to the reflector by a bayonet fastening. The gas discharge lamp is attached to the reflector by means of a receiving device in the region of the reflector opening. For electromagnetic shielding of the junction between the ignition device and the reflector there is provided an electromagnetically compatible contact means which is constructed as a spring washer and arranged in planar fashion between a housing of the ignition device and a surface of the reflector neck. The spring washer is flexible and undulating in the direction of rotation, so that it adapts in the sense of good contacting between the mutually facing surfaces of the ignition device and the reflector neck. A drawback of the known headlamp is that the electromagnetically compatible contact means must additionally be kept ready for assembly of the headlamp.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is the object of the invention to develop a headlamp for vehicles in such a way that the expenditure on fastening including in particular the electromagnetically compatible contact means is further reduced.  
         [0009]     To achieve this object, the invention characterised in that the holding means includes a holding element which together with the ignition device and the gas discharge lamp forms a common unit, and in that the electromagnetically compatible contact means is integrated in the holding element, in such a way that, in a locking position of the holding element with the reflector, there is an electrically conductive connection between the ignition device and the reflector.  
         [0010]     The particular advantage of the invention lies in that assembly or dismounting of the gas discharge lamp connected to the ignition device is simplified. According to the invention, the electromagnetically compatible contact means forms part of a holding element which is preferably releasably connected to the ignition device and/or the socket of the gas discharge lamp. Advantageously, the holding element forms a receptacle for the electromagnetically compatible contact means, so that there is simplified fastening both of the gas discharge lamp and of the ignition device to the reflector. Due to the defined position of the electromagnetically compatible contact means on the holding element, there is reliable contacting between the ignition device and the reflector in the locking position of the holding element.  
         [0011]     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding element is ring-shaped. It is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the gas discharge lamp. Further, the holding element comprises fastening means for releasable connection to a neck of the reflector. Preferably, the fastening means are constructed in such a way that the holding element forms part of a bayonet fastening. As a result, easy and reliable fastening of the gas discharge lamp/ignition device to the reflector can be ensured.  
         [0012]     According to a development of the invention, the holding element comprises several recesses distributed in turret fashion, through which in each case electromagnetically compatible contact elements engage in clamping relationship. Advantageously, several electromagnetically compatible contact elements are integrally connected to each other. Advantageously, the electromagnetically compatible contact elements are held captive on the holding element.  
         [0013]     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding element is constructed as a holding ring which has functional elements, such that at least part of the holding ring is arranged so as to be movable in the plane of its main extent. In this way, easy release and connection of the holding ring to the ignition device and/or gas discharge lamp is ensured.  
         [0014]     According to a development of the invention, the holding ring is positioned so that it can engage in an annular groove of the ignition device and/or lamp socket, so that there is reliable locking in an axial direction. By functional fastening elements of the holding ring itself, it is locked in a radial direction.  
         [0015]     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding ring has fastening elements, such that a ring segment of the holding ring is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis of the holding ring arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas discharge lamp. Preferably, the fastening elements are firstly formed by a joint on which two semicircular ring segments of the holding ring are mounted. Secondly, the fastening element is a latch lock with latch means which are arranged at an end of the semicircular ring segments of the holding ring facing away from the joint, and cause latch connection of these ends of the ring segments.  
         [0016]     According to an alternative embodiment, the holding ring has two ring segments which are coupled together via a spring element. Release or fastening of the holding ring is in this case effected by pulling the two ring segments apart.  
         [0017]     According to a development of the invention, the holding element has an axial bayonet ring with fastening means such that, after fastening the holding element to the ignition device and/or lamp socket, the lamp/ignition device unit can be connected to the reflector by means of a bayonet fastening. The holding element thus combines several fastening functions. Firstly, it has recesses for clamping fastening of the electromagnetically compatible contact element. Secondly, it even has fastening means, so that it can be engaged in locking fashion in an annular groove of the ignition device or lamp socket. Thirdly, the holding element has a bayonet ring by means of which there is a rigid and reliable connection of the ignition device or gas discharge lamp to the reflector.  
         [0018]     According to a development of the invention, the holding element is designed as a plastic part, so that there is thermal insulation. Further, the holding element serves for tolerance compensation of non-planarities in the region of the junction.  
         [0019]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0021]     Practical examples of the invention are described ˜n more detail below with the aid of the drawings.  
         [0022]     They show:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a projection module from the front for a headlamp,  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lamp/ignition device unit with an open holding element,  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-section through the headlamp,  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of a holding element which is fastened in an annular groove of the ignition device,  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the annular holding element and of electromagnetically compatible contact elements, the holding element being in an open state,  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a schematic front view of a holding element according to a second embodiment, and  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a schematic front view of a holding element according to a third embodiment 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0031]     A headlamp  1  for vehicles essentially consists of a projection module with a gas discharge lamp  3  rigidly connected to an ignition device  2 , a reflector  4  as well as holding means  5  for releasably fastening the ignition device  2  to the reflector  4  as well as electromagnetically compatible contact means  11  for electromagnetic shielding of the junction between the ignition device  2  and the reflector  4 .  
         [0032]     The headlamp  1  as in  FIG. 1  works on the projection principle and moreover has a stop device  6  as well as a lens  8  mounted in a lens holder  7 . From the ignition device  2  via an electromagnetically compatibly shielded plug  9  an electrical connecting wire  10  leads to a remotely mounted control unit, not shown, for generating an operating current. The operating current is necessary in order to generate in the ignition device  2  the high voltage required for ignition of the gas discharge in the lamp  3 .  
         [0033]     For releasable connection of the ignition device/gas discharge lamp unit  2 ′ to a neck  12  of the reflector  4 , a bayonet fastening  13  is provided. To form the bayonet fastening  13 , firstly the reflector neck  12  has stops, not shown, and ring segments  14  behind which engage L-shaped holding projections  15  distributed in the circumferential direction. The holding projections  15  form part of a bayonet ring  16  which is part of a holding element  17  shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0034]     The holding element  17  is ring-shaped and has a holding ring  19  extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis  18  of the gas discharge lamp  3 , as well as the bayonet ring  16  adjoining the outer peripheral surface of the holding ring  19  at the front. The holding ring  19  has a plurality of recesses  20  distributed in turret fashion in the circumferential direction, in which the electromagnetically compatible contact means  11  can be inserted in clamping relationship from a rear side of the holding ring  19 . As can be seen better from  FIG. 5 , the electromagnetically compatible contact means  11  are formed by a plurality of electromagnetically compatible contact elements  11 ′ which are integrally connected to each other and form a partial ring. The electromagnetically compatible contact elements  11 ′ are in each case clamp-shaped and firstly have a spring tab  21  which engages in the recess  20  of the holding ring  19 . Secondly, the electromagnetically compatible contact element  11 ′ has a flat contact face  22  which abuts in planar fashion firstly against a rear side of the holding ring  19  and secondly against a side of the ignition device  2  facing towards the reflector neck  12 , see  FIG. 3 . To improve contacting with the electrically conductive outer casing of the ignition device  2 , the contact face  22  has bulges or contact buttons  23  projecting towards the ignition device  2 .  
         [0035]     As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the spring tabs  21  protrude from the plane of the holding ring  19  and press against a radial and continuous edge surface  24  of the reflector neck  12 . As a result, reliable contacting is ensured in a locking position of the holding element  17 .  
         [0036]     The reflector neck  12  is, like the reflector  4  made of die-cast aluminum, made of an electrically conductive material. Alternatively, the reflector  4  may be made of sheet metal as a deep-drawn component.  
         [0037]     As can be seen from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the holding element  17  has functional elements, so that it can be opened about a pivot axis  25 . The pivot axis  25  extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  18  of the lamp  3  and is formed by a joint  26 , so that a first ring segment  27  of the holding element  17  is arranged so as to be pivotable relative to a second ring segment  28  thereof. The first ring segment  27  and the second ring segment  28  have a latch opening  29  or a latch tab  30  at an end facing away from the joint  26 , so that the ring segments  27 ,  28  are axially locked after engagement thereof with abutment of an inner ring section  31  thereof in an annular groove  32  of the ignition device  2 . The thickness of the inner ring section  31  is selected such that it is mounted with play in the annular groove  32 . The inner ring section  31  has at least one axially projecting fastening projection  33  which engages in a corresponding recess  34  of the lamp socket  3 .  
         [0038]     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , assembly of the holding element  17  with the ignition device  2  takes place by engagement of the first ring segment  27  in the annular groove  32 , the holding element  17  being in an open position. Subsequently the second ring segment  28  is moved in the direction of the first ring segment  27  with engagement of the inner ring section  31  in the annular groove  32 , until the holding element  17  is in the closed position by means of latch connection of the latch tab  30  and the latch opening  29 . The annular electromagnetically compatible contact means  11  have been inserted in the corresponding recesses  20  of the holding ring  19  in clamping relationship beforehand.  
         [0039]     According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the electromagnetically compatible contact means  11  can also be constructed as a corrugated washer which is attached to the holding ring  9  in clamping relationship and has bulges in the direction of front and rear sides.  
         [0040]     The distances between the electromagnetically compatible contact elements  11 ′ connected to each other by a connecting web  35  is relatively small so that there is comprehensive electromagnetic shielding. The length of the connecting webs  35  is preferably a few millimeters, preferably less than 5 mm.  
         [0041]     In the embodiment mentioned, both the holding ring  19  and the bayonet ring  16  are made of plastic material in one piece.  
         [0042]     According to one embodiment, not shown, the bayonet ring can be made of metal or have a metal coating to improve the electromagnetic shielding.  
         [0043]     To assemble the headlamp  1 , the unit  2 ′ composed of the ignition device  2 , the gas discharge lamp  3  and the holding element  17  is connected to the reflector  4 . The holding element  17  is non-rotatably connected to the ignition device  2 . The bayonet ring  16  engages by its forwardly projecting holding projections  15  between the radial ring segments  14  of the reflector neck  12 . By subsequently turning the ignition device  2  relative to the reflector  4  about the longitudinal axis  18  of the gas discharge lamp  3 , locking of the holding element  17  or ignition device  2  to the reflector  4  takes place with clamping abutment of the holding projections  15  on the front side of the ring segments  14 . In the usual manner the holding element  17  is turned together with the ignition device  2  and the gas discharge lamp  3  through an angle of about  45 , in order to move into the locking position.  
         [0044]     The headlamp  1  formed in this way can now be assembled with a housing, not shown, in an opening, not shown, provided in the vehicle body.  
         [0045]     To change the lamp, the unit  2 ′ is removed from the housing of the headlamp  1 , the gas discharge lamp  3  is exchanged and then the unit  2 ′ is reassembled in the housing of the headlamp  1 .  
         [0046]     According to a second embodiment of a holding element  40  as in  FIG. 6 , it can be formed by two ring segments  41 ,  41 ′ which are connected to each other at their ends in each case by a spring element  42 . By applying a force  43  in the direction of action of the spring elements  42 , the holding element  40  can be moved into an open position or closed position.  
         [0047]     According to a third embodiment as in  FIG. 7 , a holding element  50  is designed as a holding ring which has a control rod  51  in a ring section for moving the holding element  50  can be moved into closed and open positions. The control rod  51  has at least two joints  52  and an outer clamp  53  by means of which a snap-fit closed position of the “open” holding ring  50  is made possible.  
         [0048]     As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above- described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Category: f