GB2174186A

GB2174186A - Anti-glare fog lamps

Info

Publication number: GB2174186A
Application number: GB08609522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jesus Nogueira Romero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-19
Filing date: 1986-04-18
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: ES286202U; JPS61253701A; ES286202Y; FR2580781A1; GB8609522D0; CH667625A5; IT8653283V0; IT8667315A0; BE904630A; DE3612889A1

Abstract

An anti-glare fog lamp is provided in which a grill is placed between the parabolic reflector and diffuser glass of the lamp, so reducing secondary beams. The grill may be formed of opposed and interengaging strips. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fog lamp This invention relates to a fog lamp and a grill being part of a fog lamp.

With the fog-lamp of the invention optimal fog penetration is achieved, since the light beam is perfectly directed and secondary light beams are eliminated.

With the grill of this invention, not only is the lamp performance improved, as a result of the effectiveness of its light beam, but it also gives greater safety for the drivers of other vehicles whom are not subject to glare from these lamps.

The fact that the light beam better penetrates the fog is due to the effects created by a grill which is placed between the reflector and the light diffuser glass.

One such effect is to concentrate the light beam and the other is that, from the main beam, a secondary beam is eliminated which causes the glare and loss of visibility in the fog.

This secondary beam which is eliminated shines from the bottom edge of the parabolic reflector, from the filament and from the inverted prisms of the crystal, and is directed upwards, so illuminating the fog particles and, therefore, reflecting between the main beam from the lamp and the driver's field of vision.

If this secondary beam is eliminated, the driver's visual field is improved, there being no particle of fog illuminated between the field of vision and the main beam, The lamp operates as an anti-glare unit from all angles, provided, of course, that this is not the main beam. This is to the special advantage of vehicles which are travelling in the opposite direction.

The passage of vehicles in the opposite direction is thus completely safe and neither of the drivers is subject to glare: for example, a person at 20 m in front of the vehicle with its lights on would only have his or her legs illuminated, but on looking towards the vehicle, the person would see only two glass units illuminated by indirect light. This phenomenon also has many applications but perhaps the most important, because of the safety factors involved, is in the motor-car industry.

Therefore, in an anti-glare fog lamp of standard type, with a halogen lamp, parabolic reflector and glass, a grill is provided which produces the anti-glare phenomenon and is inserted between the parabola and the glass.

The grill assembly is formed by a series of open orifices which are open from the front to the back and through which the light passes emitted or directed by the reflector: however, the most important factor is that the only rays which emerge are those which are emitted substantially parallel to the main lamp axis, thus eliminating secondary rays which are produced by beams which are not substantially parallel to the focal axis and others also produced by the lamp filament, all of which are absorbed by the grill.

The grill assembly may have a honeycomb form, with a thickness of e.g. 16 mm and may adopt the shape which is most suitable according to the lamp: this will in no way affect the properties which are described above.

This thickness must be borne in mind since it has a relation with the length of the light beam in the area to be iit.

In the honeycomb form grill assembly, the openings are normally rectangular since this exploits the light better: the walls should be extremely thin, e.g. between 0.5 and 0.1 mum.

It is also true that these openings might be of a different shape, but luminosity may be lost: in general, it should be borne in mind that the larger diameter is advantageously on the horizontal plane.

The number of cells in the grill advantageously varies between 312 and 320 per dm2.

It is very important that each partition of the grill, or all its openings, be covered in a black substance of non-reflecting type, whether paint, lamp black or some similar product, along with the edges and both the front and rear faces.

In order to clarify not only the structure as such of the grill but also its function, the invention is illustrated below by way of example only without limitation of the invention and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows perspective view of the grill.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of Fig.

1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective cross-section view of the grill in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one of the cells defining the grill in Fig. 1.

With reference to the Figs., grill -1- is shown, comprising interengaging strips, preferably in metal, of castellated configuration and defining a grid -2- which delimits the corresponding cells -3-.

The cells -3- are rectangular in shape and have an interior coating -4- basically of black paint, lamp black or a similar product, as have its edges and front and back faces. -5-.

The strips which form the cell are connected by an exterior element or frame -6which defines one grill unit.

The invention is capable of many modifications in detail.

1. A fog lamp, wherein the grill is inserted between the parabolic reflector and the diffuser glass of the lamp, and is made up of strips, specially shaped, and superimposed so that they define a regular and symmetrical assembly of cells, each of which has a coating based on an anti-glare substance which covers

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fog lamp This invention relates to a fog lamp and a grill being part of a fog lamp. With the fog-lamp of the invention optimal fog penetration is achieved, since the light beam is perfectly directed and secondary light beams are eliminated. With the grill of this invention, not only is the lamp performance improved, as a result of the effectiveness of its light beam, but it also gives greater safety for the drivers of other vehicles whom are not subject to glare from these lamps. The fact that the light beam better penetrates the fog is due to the effects created by a grill which is placed between the reflector and the light diffuser glass. One such effect is to concentrate the light beam and the other is that, from the main beam, a secondary beam is eliminated which causes the glare and loss of visibility in the fog. This secondary beam which is eliminated shines from the bottom edge of the parabolic reflector, from the filament and from the inverted prisms of the crystal, and is directed upwards, so illuminating the fog particles and, therefore, reflecting between the main beam from the lamp and the driver's field of vision. If this secondary beam is eliminated, the driver's visual field is improved, there being no particle of fog illuminated between the field of vision and the main beam, The lamp operates as an anti-glare unit from all angles, provided, of course, that this is not the main beam. This is to the special advantage of vehicles which are travelling in the opposite direction. The passage of vehicles in the opposite direction is thus completely safe and neither of the drivers is subject to glare: for example, a person at 20 m in front of the vehicle with its lights on would only have his or her legs illuminated, but on looking towards the vehicle, the person would see only two glass units illuminated by indirect light. This phenomenon also has many applications but perhaps the most important, because of the safety factors involved, is in the motor-car industry. Therefore, in an anti-glare fog lamp of standard type, with a halogen lamp, parabolic reflector and glass, a grill is provided which produces the anti-glare phenomenon and is inserted between the parabola and the glass. The grill assembly is formed by a series of open orifices which are open from the front to the back and through which the light passes emitted or directed by the reflector: however, the most important factor is that the only rays which emerge are those which are emitted substantially parallel to the main lamp axis, thus eliminating secondary rays which are produced by beams which are not substantially parallel to the focal axis and others also produced by the lamp filament, all of which are absorbed by the grill. The grill assembly may have a honeycomb form, with a thickness of e.g. 16 mm and may adopt the shape which is most suitable according to the lamp: this will in no way affect the properties which are described above. This thickness must be borne in mind since it has a relation with the length of the light beam in the area to be iit. In the honeycomb form grill assembly, the openings are normally rectangular since this exploits the light better: the walls should be extremely thin, e.g. between 0.5 and 0.1 mum. It is also true that these openings might be of a different shape, but luminosity may be lost: in general, it should be borne in mind that the larger diameter is advantageously on the horizontal plane. The number of cells in the grill advantageously varies between 312 and 320 per dm2. It is very important that each partition of the grill, or all its openings, be covered in a black substance of non-reflecting type, whether paint, lamp black or some similar product, along with the edges and both the front and rear faces. In order to clarify not only the structure as such of the grill but also its function, the invention is illustrated below by way of example only without limitation of the invention and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows perspective view of the grill. Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of Fig. 1. Figure 3 shows a perspective cross-section view of the grill in Fig. 1. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one of the cells defining the grill in Fig. 1. With reference to the Figs., grill -1- is shown, comprising interengaging strips, preferably in metal, of castellated configuration and defining a grid -2- which delimits the corresponding cells -3-. The cells -3- are rectangular in shape and have an interior coating -4- basically of black paint, lamp black or a similar product, as have its edges and front and back faces. -5-. The strips which form the cell are connected by an exterior element or frame -6which defines one grill unit. The invention is capable of many modifications in detail. CLAIMS

1. A fog lamp, wherein the grill is inserted between the parabolic reflector and the diffuser glass of the lamp, and is made up of strips, specially shaped, and superimposed so that they define a regular and symmetrical assembly of cells, each of which has a coating based on an anti-glare substance which covers the interior surface as well as the edges and side faces; through the said cells, the only light rays which can pass are those emitted parallel to the main focal axis, thus eliminating the other rays which forr-i il-,e secondary beam and which are the cause of glare and of loss of visibility in the fog.

2. A tog lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strips are connected by an externai element or frame, which defines a grill unit.

3. A fog lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ceil has a prism shape and rec tangular cross-section

4. A fog lamp as claimed in claim 1.

wherein each of the strips has a longitudinal direction castellated configuration.

5. A fog lamp substantially as described and with reference to the drawings.

6 A grill for a fog lamp as specified in any preceding claim.

7. A grill for a fog lamp, comprising opposed and interengaying castellated strips.