DE102014205433A1 - Windscreen washer system for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a windscreen washer system for motor vehicles with a reservoir (3) arranged in the engine compartment under the hood (2) for windscreen cleaning fluid and a filler neck (5) located remotely from the reservoir (3) and accessible from a location outside the engine compartment , Such a windshield washer system is to be designed such that the filler neck (5) for the windscreen cleaning fluid is attached to an optimally located location of the vehicle and the filling and closing of the filler neck (5) is easy and uncomplicated to handle. This is achieved in that the filler neck (5) arranged in the region between the windshield (6) and the hood (2) below one of the windshield wiper (8) and in its inactive position at least partially from the edge ending in front of the windshield (6) (7) the engine hood (2) is concealed, that the filler neck (5) is movable with its wiper (8) pivoted upward from its inactive position into an externally accessible operating position and that in this operating position window cleaning liquid in the nozzle (5) can be filled is.

Description

The invention relates to a windscreen washer system for motor vehicles with a arranged in the engine compartment under the hood reservoir for windscreen cleaning fluid and a remote from the reservoir filler neck, which is accessible from a lying outside of the engine compartment.

In modern marketable motor vehicles, especially in passenger cars, the reservoir for the window cleaning fluid in the engine compartment is located under the hood. The connected to the reservoir filler neck is located immediately above the reservoir and is only accessible when the hood is opened. The opening of the hood and the handling inside the engine compartment is not only ergonomically unfavorable for the appropriate operator, but also extremely unpleasant, since this area of the motor vehicle is usually more or less polluted.

It is therefore a concern of the automotive industry to facilitate the filling of the reservoir with window cleaning fluid and in particular to attach the filler neck at a location that is easily accessible from the outside and in a non-polluted area.

From the DE 198 33 465 For example, it is known to attach the filler neck for the window cleaning fluid on the outside of the motor vehicle and to close with a flap. Preferably, the filler neck should be located next to the tank lid for the fuel tank, so that both openings can be closed with a common cover. However, this measure has not been proven in practice, especially as in such a construction there is a risk that the operator mistook the filler neck for the cleaning liquid with the tank lid for the fuel tank.

From the EP 2 236 367 It is also known to attach the filler neck of the reservoir for the window cleaning liquid on the inside of a door spar, which surrounds the door opening. Although such a position of the filler neck is easily accessible and usually not heavily polluted, this construction has not been proven and has not found an entrance into modern motor vehicle designs. For even such a construction has significant disadvantages, such as a possible contamination of the vehicle interior due to spilled window cleaning fluid or due to a difficult to produce connection between the filler neck and the reservoir located in the engine compartment.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a windscreen washer system for motor vehicles, in which the filler neck for the window cleaning fluid attached to an optimally located location of the vehicle and the filling and closing of the filler neck is easy and uncomplicated to handle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the filler neck is arranged in the region between the windshield and the hood below one of the windshield wiper and in its inactive position is at least partially covered by the edge of the hood ending in front of the windshield, that the filler neck with upwardly pivoted windshield wiper can be moved from its inactive position into an externally accessible operating position and that in this operating position window cleaning fluid in the nozzle is filled.

The inventive construction provides optimum access to the filler neck, which can be made invisible to the outside, is easily accessible and beyond causing no contamination of the vehicle by possibly overflowing window cleaning liquid, since the filler neck is located immediately in front of the windshield of the vehicle and its overflow can be easily connected to the front rain gutter of the vehicle.

Also, the handling is extremely simple, because the filler neck can be easily moved by hand from its inactive position in which it is at least partially hidden by the edge of the hood, in its operating position in which the window cleaning liquid can be filled.

The filler neck is preferably pivotable about a substantially vertical axis between its inactive position and its operating position.

With the aid of such a pivoting mechanism, it is possible to easily close and open the filler neck, wherein the filler neck can be opened in its operating position and closed in its inactive position by means of a closure element.

From its operating position, the filler neck can then be manually moved back to its inactive position in which it is hidden.

The opening and closing of the filler neck is advantageously carried out automatically, by its position change from the inactive position to its operating position and vice versa.

In the construction according to the invention there is also no risk that the filler neck remains in its operating position and accidentally not closed. By pivoting back of the respective windscreen wiper from its upwardly pivoted position to its rest position, the filler neck is automatically moved back to its inactive position in which it disappears under the edge of the hood. This is preferably done by the filler neck is unlocked during pivoting back of the respective windscreen wiper from its upwardly pivoted position to its rest position and pivoted by a restoring spring in its inactive position.

When the windscreen wiper returns to its rest position, it covers the filler neck in its inactive position, so that it is also protected against unauthorized access.

In order to hold the pivotally arranged filler neck each stable in its respective position, it can be latched into its inactive position and its operating position.

Preferably, the edge of the filler neck is sealed by a sealing element to the hood underside in the inactive operating state. This sealing element may be an integral part of the filler neck, but may also be attached to the hood.

With the inventive Einfüllstützen also the requirements of pedestrian protection can be easily met. This is preferably done by choosing the appropriate position of the pivot point relative to the bonnet outer surface and the selection of suitable form and material combinations of the filler neck.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawing and described in detail below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

1 in a perspective view of the front view of a passenger car, in which the arranged in the engine compartment reservoir for the window cleaning fluid and the filler neck are shown in dashed lines;

2 a view of the passenger car obliquely from above to illustrate the extreme positions of the wipers;

3 : in enlarged view a section of 2 with closed filler neck; #

4 : the same representation as in 3 with opened filler neck;

5 : a section from 4 in an enlarged view;

6 : a similar view as 4 immediately prior to pivoting back the filler neck from its operating position to its inactive position; and

7 : A representation with swung back single nozzle in its inactive position and at the same time swung back wiper in its rest position.

At the in 1 illustrated passenger cars 1 is in the not visible in the drawing engine compartment below the hood 2 in the usual place a dashed tank shown 3 arranged for windscreen cleaning fluid. The storage tank 3 is about a not visible from the outside and dashed lines shown in the drawing connecting line 4 with a filler neck 5 connected. The filler neck 5 is in the area between the windshield 6 and the hood 2 arranged, with the filler neck 5 in its inactive position as far as possible from the edge ending in front of the windshield 7 the hood 2 is covered.

To the filler neck 5 to be able to activate, as in 2 shown, the wipers 8th in the direction of the arrows 9 be brought from its rest position in a pivoted-up position.

In this upwardly pivoted position of the windscreen wiper 8th is the filler neck 5 accessible from outside.

As in particular from 3 shows, is the filler neck 5 after the windshield wiper 8th pivoted upward, initially in its inactive position below the hood 2 that in the 3 and 4 is shown transparent.

In the in 3 illustrated inactive position of the filler neck 5 is the filler neck 5 completely below the hood 2 , Under the edge 7 the hood 2 stands out only a projection 10 of the filler neck 5 out. The lead 10 can be detected by an operator and in the direction of the arrow 11 in his in 4 shown operating position to be moved.

The filler neck 5 is around the input end of the connection line 4 , which is clamped tightly, about a substantially vertical axis back and forth swiveling, between the in 3 shown inactive position and the in 4 illustrated operating position.

The filler neck 5 is provided with a shutter mechanism, not shown in the drawing. This works so that the filler neck 5 in his in 4 shown operating position and over the line 4 with the reservoir 3 is connected while in his in 3 shown inactive position is firmly closed, so no connection to the reservoir 3 given is.

As in 5 illustrated in an enlarged view, the filler neck 5 after the reservoir 3 filled with the window cleaning fluid, manually returns to its inactive position in the direction of the arrow 12 be swung back, so that he then the in 3 illustrated position. Opening and closing the filler neck 5 takes place automatically by its position change, ie by the pivoting in the respective end position.

If the operator after filling the reservoir 3 the filler neck 5 in the in 6 shown operating position leaves or the filler neck 5 accidentally does not swing back to its inactive position, then the in 7 illustrated automatism effectively. After filling the storage tank 3 need the wipers 8th back in the 7 shown rest position to be reduced. This rest position is the normal position in which the windshield wipers 8th Usually, when they are not needed or when it does not rain, they remain.

If the respective windshield wiper 8th from the in 6 shown, pivoted upward position in his in 7 illustrated rest position is pivoted back, it releases a release mechanism of the detent position of the filler neck 5 off and a restoring spring takes this in its closed position. How out 7 can be seen, moves the filler neck 5 then back under the hood 2 and disappears as far as possible behind the edge 7 so that only the projection under the edge 7 the hood 2 protrudes.

In this in 7 shown position of the windscreen wiper 8th he covers the filler neck 5 completely off, so that it is protected against unauthorized access.

To the filler neck 5 each to hold in its inactive position or operating position, locking means may be provided which are not shown in the drawing. As a latching means nubs or spring-loaded projections may be provided which in corresponding notches of the pivotally mounted filler neck 5 engage.

When in the operating position of the filler neck 5 in case of improper filling, window cleaning liquid next to the filler neck 5 or window cleaning liquid over the opening of the filler neck 5 overflows, the excess liquid enters the front rain gutter of the vehicle so that no damage can be done and no wetting caused by the cleaning liquid.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Passenger cars

2

 Engine Hood

3

 Reservoir for window cleaning fluid

4

 connecting line

5

 filler pipe

6

 Windshield

7

Edge of the hood 2

8th

 windshield wipers

9

 arrows

10

Projection of the filler neck 5

11

 arrow

12

 arrow

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19833465 [0004]
• EP 2236367 [0005]

Claims (11)

Windscreen washer system for motor vehicles with one in the engine compartment under the bonnet ( 2 ) arranged reservoir ( 3 ) for window cleaning fluid and one of the reservoir ( 3 ) remote filler neck ( 5 ) accessible from a location outside the engine compartment, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) in the area between the windscreen ( 6 ) and the hood ( 2 ) below one of the windshield wipers ( 8th ) and in its inactive position at least partially from the front of the windshield ( 6 ) ending edge ( 7 ) the hood ( 2 ) is hidden, that the filler neck ( 5 ) with the windscreen wiper ( 8th ) is movable from its inactive position into an externally accessible operating position, and that in this operating position, window cleaning fluid is sucked into the nozzle ( 5 ) is fillable. Windscreen washer according to claim 1, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) from its inactive position in which it is at least partially isolated from the edge ( 7 ) the hood ( 2 ) is covered, by hand in its operating position is movable. Windscreen washer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis between its inactive position and its operative position. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) is opened in its operating position and closed in its inactive position. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) is moved back from its operating position by hand to its inactive position. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening and closing of the filler neck ( 5 ) is done automatically by his position change. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) when pivoting back the respective windscreen wiper ( 8th ) is unlocked from its upwardly pivoted position to its rest position and pivoted by a restoring spring to its inactive position. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the windscreen wiper ( 8th ) in its rest position located in the inactive position filler neck ( 5 ) and protects against unauthorized access. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) in each case in its inactive position and its operating position can be latched. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow of the filler neck ( 5 ) is connected to the front rain gutter of the motor vehicle. Windscreen washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge of the filler neck is sealed by a sealing element to the hood underside in the inactive operating state.

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