Lighting device for a motor vehicle

• US 10,634,308 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Carnarius, Angelo, Tikwe, Andreas, Simanek, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): St Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/831,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 362545, 362546, 362547
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/33 specially adapted for headlamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/43 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle has a ventilating device for ventilating the interior of the lighting device. The ventilating device has at least one separate component which is connected to a lower housing wall of the lighting device in the region of a ventilation opening in the housing wall, and through which component external air can pass into the interior. The component is embodied as an air-guiding element by which a slip stream can be selectively deflected from the outside onto at least one specific partial region of a lens of the lighting device. The ventilation and therefore the demisting of the lighting device is significantly improved.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising:

a housing with an interior and a housing wall, said housing wall having a ventilation opening formed therein, and a lens of the lighting device;

a ventilation device for ventilating the interior of the lighting device, said ventilation device having at least one separate component connected to said housing wall in a vicinity of said ventilation opening, said separate component being configured to enable external air from outside to pass into the interior;

said component being an air-guiding element configured to selectively deflect a slip stream of air from the outside onto at least one specific partial region of said lens.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said component is composed of at least two parts.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said component is formed with one air inlet opening and at least two air outlet openings for dividing an air stream entering said component.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one separate component is arranged in a front region of a lower housing wall in close vicinity to said lens.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, which comprises at least one fan in the interior of said lighting device for generating an air flow.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein said fan is oriented so as to generate a vertical air flow.

7. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein said fan is oriented so as to generate a horizontal air flow running transversely with respect to a light emission direction or a travel direction of the motor vehicle.

8. The lighting device according to claim 5, which comprises a heat sink and wherein said fan is positioned to generate an air flow that is guided directly through a heat sink.

9. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein said heat sink has, in cross section, cooling fins which run in a meandering fashion and have clearance distances through which the air flow generated by said fan flows.

10. The lighting device according to claim 8, which comprises a mount supporting said fan and three walls extending from said mount, said three walls being connected to one another in a materially joined fashion and extend along the flow direction of the air flow generated by said fan, and wherein said walls enclose said heat sink, at least for the most part.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one lighting device, the lighting device including:

a housing with a housing wall and a lens defining an interior of the lighting device, said housing wall having a ventilation opening formed therein;

a light source disposed in said interior of said housing;

a ventilation device for ventilating the interior of the lighting device, said ventilation device having an air-guiding element being a separate component connected to said housing wall in a vicinity of said ventilation opening, said air guiding device being configured to enable external air from outside to pass into the interior and to selectively deflect a slip stream of air from the outside onto at least one specific partial region of said lens when the motor vehicle is moving.

12. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising:

a housing with a housing wall and a lens together defining an interior of the lighting device;

said housing wall having a ventilation opening formed therein;

a ventilation device for ventilating the interior of the lighting device, said ventilation device having an air-guiding element being a separate component connected to said housing wall in a vicinity of said ventilation opening, said air-guiding element being configured to enable external air from outside to pass into the interior and to selectively deflect a slip stream of air from the outside onto at least one specific partial region of said lens;

said air-guiding element having one air inlet opening and at least two air outlet openings for dividing the slip stream of air entering said component.

13. The lighting device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one separate component is arranged in a front region of a lower housing wall in close vicinity to said lens.