FR3042763A1 - INTERCHANGEABLE CARTRIDGE TANK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WINDSCREEN DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reservoir for a windscreen washer device comprising a tank (2) comprising a main compartment intended to contain a rinsing liquid, a chute (4) fluidly connected to said main compartment, and a first circulation pump as well. fluidly connected to said main compartment and including an outlet (11) to be connected to a pipe bringing said rinsing liquid to a nozzle; said tank (2) having a recess adapted to removably receive an interchangeable cartridge (20) containing a washing liquid, said tank further comprising a secondary compartment adapted to be fluidly connected with said cartridge, said tank further comprising a second circulation pump (34) comprising an outlet (35) intended to be connected to a pipe bringing said washing liquid to said nozzle.

Description

INTERCHANGEABLE CARTRIDGE TANK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WINDSCREEN DEVICE.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of windshield washer devices for motor vehicles. It aims in particular an additional cartridge cartridge interchangeable for such a washer device.

Background of the invention

The windscreen washer devices for a motor vehicle conventionally comprise a tank comprising a tank intended to contain a liquid such as water or an anti-freeze liquid, a filling chute fluidly connected to this compartment, as well as a circulation pump. also fluidly connected to the compartment and comprising at least one outlet intended to be connected to a pipe bringing the washing / rinsing liquid to at least one nozzle capable of spraying it on a glass surface of the vehicle such as the windshield or the rear window.

In order to improve the quality of the cleaning, especially in summer to rid the windshield crushed midges, or in winter to defrost, it is known from the patent application EP0148716 B1 a windshield wiper device having two separate tanks respectively containing a washing liquid and a rinsing liquid (for example a mosquito liquid and water in summer, or an anti-icing liquid and an anti-freeze rinse liquid in winter).

The two tanks are each equipped with a circulation pump and connected to nozzles via a T-connection with interposition between the T-connection and each pump of a non-return.

The device also comprises a differential pump controller which is in the form of an electromechanical or electronic timer, directly connected or by means of a relay actuated by a control lever, and having delayed voltage and off of electric pumps.

The duration of powering up of the first contact is adjustable while the second contact is cut off when the joystick is released.

Such a windscreen washer device thus successively allows washing and rinsing the windshield with a minimum expenditure of concentrated washing liquid. In addition, the use of a rinsing liquid makes it possible to rid the windshield of any trace of concentrate necessarily remaining with the known washing active liquids. In use, the user unfortunately sometimes tends to err during the filling so that the concentrated washing liquid comes to be in the tank for the rinsing liquid or vice versa which greatly affects the efficiency windshield wash. At each summer-winter transition and in order not to impair the effectiveness of the active agents contained in the anti-icing wash liquids, the user must first purge the remainder of the anti-mosquito washing liquid previously contained in the tank, this is particularly tedious and can cause burns in the hands due to the corrosive nature of these washings.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

It proposes for this purpose a tank for windshield washer device of a motor vehicle comprising a tank comprising a main compartment intended to contain a rinsing liquid such as water or an anti-freeze rinsing liquid, a filler neck connected fluidically. in said main compartment, and a first circulation pump also fluidly connected to said main compartment and comprising at least one outlet intended to be connected to a pipe bringing said rinsing liquid to at least one nozzle capable of spraying it on a glass surface of said vehicle; characterized in that said tank has a recess adapted to removably receive an interchangeable cartridge defining an internal volume containing a washing liquid such as a mosquito liquid or an anti-icing liquid, said tank having an independent secondary compartment said main compartment and adapted to be fluidly connected with said internal volume of the cartridge after its introduction, said tank further comprising a second circulation pump comprising at least one outlet intended to be connected to a pipe bringing said washing liquid up to to the said jet.

Because the washing liquid is contained in an interchangeable removable cartridge, the tank according to the invention makes it possible to avoid any risk of confusion during the filling operations since only the main compartment containing the rinsing liquid is accessible via the chute. On the other hand, the user no longer needs to purge the remainder of the old washing liquid before changing it since it is enough simply to replace the old cartridge with a new one containing another type of liquid washing.

Moreover, by integrating the cartridge into the volume of the tank, the tank according to the invention offers a particularly compact and elegant solution in comparison with two separate tanks according to the prior art. The invention also allows the car manufacturer to control the type of washing liquid circulating in the windshield washer circuit and to ensure a regular income after-sales.

According to preferred features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the bottom of said cartridge comprises a neck defining an opening hermetically sealed by a peelable seal; said recess has an opening extending by a skirt opening into said secondary compartment of said tank, said neck of the cartridge being able to be introduced inside said skirt during the installation of said cartridge so that said washing liquid flows into said secondary compartment; said skirt supports a striker able to pierce automatically said lid when placing said cartridge; - Said neck further has a seal for abutting against the inner periphery of said skirt during the introduction of said cartridge; said cartridge has a shape complementary to that of said recess; said cartridge comprises means for maintaining it in said recess of the tank; - Said holding means comprise at least one vertical rib projecting from said cartridge and adapted to cooperate slidingly with a complementary vertical groove formed in one of the walls defining said recess of the vessel; said cartridge comprises gripping means to facilitate its sliding placement in said recess or its withdrawal; and / or - said tank, said chute and / or said cartridge are made via a three-dimensional printing process from a plurality of superimposed layers of a thermoplastic polymer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. a perspective view of three quarters front of the reservoir of the windscreen washer device according to the invention illustrating the operation of setting up the interchangeable cartridge on the tank of said tank; - Figure 2 shows a view similar to Figure 1 but taken three quarter back; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of three quarter front tank according to the invention after introduction of the cartridge; - Figure 4 shows a view similar to Figure 3 but taken three quarter back; - Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 3 but taken from above; - Figure 6 is a sectional view of the reservoir taken along the plane VI-VI of Figure 5; and - Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane VII-VII of Figure 5.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The storage tank 1 shown in FIGS. 6 comprises a rigid tank 2 having a substantially parallelepipedal shape and comprising a main compartment 3 intended to contain a rinsing liquid such as water in summer or an anti-freeze liquid in winter .

It also comprises a flushing liquid filling chute 4 attached to the top of the tank 2 near one of its lateral edges 2A, 2B 2A and fluidly connected to the main compartment 3.

This chute 4 is conventionally in the form of a pipe provided at its free end with an orifice closed by a plug 6.

The latter here comprises a ring 7 secured to the chute 4 and a cover 8 connected to said ring 7 by an elastic hinge 9 and adapted to snap on the free end of the chute 4 to close its orifice.

The closure of the orifice of the chute 4 can also be achieved by another means such as a plug screwed onto the free threaded end of the chute 4.

The tank 2 and the chute 4 are advantageously made in one piece by molding from a suitable thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene.

This bowl 2 - chute 4 assembly can also be obtained by a three-dimensional printing process from a plurality of superimposed layers of a thermoplastic polymer such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PLA (Polylactic Acid).

The tank 1 also includes a first circulation pump 10 fixed against the rear longitudinal face 2C of the rigid vessel 2 and fluidly connected to the main compartment 3 via a stitching made in its lower part (Figure 6).

This first circulation pump 10 comprises two outlet ducts 11, 12.

The first conduit 11 is intended to be connected by its connector 11A to a pipe for bringing the rinsing liquid to the front spray nozzles able to spray on the windshield of the vehicle.

The second conduit 12 is for its part to be connected by its connector 12A connector to a pipe for bringing the rinsing liquid up rear nozzles suitable for spraying the liquid on the rear window of the vehicle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vessel 2 has a parallelepipedal recess 13 extending from its upper front corner located opposite the chute 4.

This recess 13 is delimited by a wall 13A parallel and recessed vis-à-vis the longitudinal front face 2D of the tank 2, by a bottom wall 13B parallel to the bottom of the tank 2, and a transverse wall 13C parallel and recessed vis-à-vis the second side edge 2B of the same tank 2.

The bottom wall 13B has in the central part a circular opening 14 extending by a cylindrical skirt 15 opening into a secondary compartment 16 of the rigid vessel 2, independent of the main compartment 3 (Figure 6).

As illustrated by the figures, the tank 2 is able to removably receive an interchangeable cartridge 20 having a shape complementary to that of the recess 13 of the tank 2 and intended to be housed therein.

This cartridge 20 defines an internal volume 21 containing a washing liquid such as an anti-mosquito liquid or an anti-icing liquid (Figure 6).

The bottom of the cartridge 20 has in the central part a cylindrical neck 23 having a free end chamfered and defining an opening 24 hermetically sealed by a peelable seal not shown in the figures.

The latter, preferably made of aluminum and thermosealed on the edge of the neck 23, ensures a perfect seal of the cartridge 20 during storage so as to avoid any flow of the washing liquid.

The neck 23 is adapted to be introduced inside the skirt 15 during the introduction of the cartridge 20, so that the washing liquid contained in its internal volume flows into the secondary compartment 16 of the tank 2.

In order to guarantee the seal between the neck 23 and the skirt 15, the neck 23 also has an annular groove partially receiving an O-ring 26 preferably made of an elastomeric material and intended to bear against the inner periphery of the skirt 15. los of the introduction of the cartridge 20 (Figure 6).

Maintaining the cartridge 20 in the recess 13 of the tank 2 is provided by two vertical ribs 27, 28 respectively projecting from its rear face 20A and its internal lateral face 20B, and able to cooperate with two corresponding vertical grooves 29, 30 formed in the longitudinal recessed wall 13A and in the transverse wall 13B of the vessel 2.

Two gripping impressions 31 are formed on both sides in the upper part of the cartridge 20 in order to facilitate its sliding placement in the recess 13 but also its withdrawal when it is empty or in a period of seasonal transition ( need to change the detergent).

The cartridge 20 is advantageously made via a three-dimensional printing process from a plurality of superimposed layers of a thermoplastic polymer such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PLA (Polylactic Acid).

The latter can also be obtained more conventionally by molding from a suitable thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene.

The tank 1 also incorporates a second circulation pump 34 fixed against the rear longitudinal face 2C of the rigid tank 2 and fluidly connected to the secondary compartment 16 (and therefore to the internal volume of the cartridge 20) via a stitching made in the lower part of this tank 2 (Figure 6).

This second circulation pump 34 comprises a third outlet duct 35 intended to be connected by its connector end 35A to a duct making it possible to bring the washing liquid to the front nozzles for spraying this liquid on the windscreen. of the vehicle.

According to non-illustrated embodiments of the invention, the shape and dimensions of the tank, the chute and / or the cartridge may vary to suit the area of implantation of the tank in the vehicle.

According to other embodiments not shown: - the inner peripheral edge of the skirt supports a beveled firing pin capable of automatically piercing the lid during the introduction of the cartridge, the striker having an inner cavity to allow the flow of washing liquid into the secondary compartment; - The means for holding the cartridge in the recess of the tank are different: the latter comprise for example a single vertical groove dovetail protruding from the rear face of the cartridge and cooperating with a complementary groove in the longitudinal wall set back from the tank; the second circulation pump comprises a fourth outlet duct intended to be connected by its connector end to a duct making it possible to bring the washing liquid up to the rear nozzles so that this liquid can also be sprayed on the rear window of the vehicle; and / or the first circulation pump comprises only a single outlet duct intended to be connected by its connector end to a duct making it possible to bring the rinsing liquid to the front nozzles. In such an embodiment, the rinsing and washing liquids contained in the reservoir are therefore sprayed only on the windshield. In general, it is recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any embodiment within the scope of those skilled in the art.

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle windscreen washer reservoir comprising a tank (2) comprising a main compartment (3) for containing a rinsing liquid such as water or antifreeze rinsing liquid, a filler neck (4) fluidly connected to said main compartment (3), and a first circulation pump (10) also fluidly connected to said main compartment (3) and comprising at least one outlet (11) for connection to a pipe supplying said liquid rinsing up to at least one nozzle adapted to spray on a glass surface of said vehicle; characterized in that said tank (2) has a recess (13) adapted to removably receive an interchangeable cartridge (20) defining an internal volume (21) containing a washing liquid such as a mosquito liquid or a anti-icing liquid, said tank (2) having a secondary compartment (16) independent of said main compartment (3) and adapted to be fluidly connected with said internal volume (21) of the cartridge (20) after its introduction, said reservoir further comprising a second circulation pump (34) comprising at least one outlet (35) intended to be connected to a pipe bringing said washing liquid to said nozzle. 2. Tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of said cartridge (20) comprises a neck (23) defining an opening (24) hermetically sealed by a peelable seal. 3. Tank according to claim 2, characterized in that said recess (13) has an opening (14) extending by a skirt (15) opening into said secondary compartment (16) of the tank (2), said neck (23). ) of the cartridge (20) being able to be introduced inside said skirt (15) during the introduction of said cartridge (20) so that said washing liquid flows inside said secondary compartment (16). 4. Tank according to claim 3, characterized in that said skirt (15) supports a striker capable of automatically piercing said lid during the introduction of said cartridge (20). 5. Tank according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said neck (23) further has a seal (26) intended to bear against the inner periphery of said skirt (15) when placing said cartridge (20). 6. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said cartridge (20) has a shape complementary to that of said recess (13). 7. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said cartridge (20) comprises means (27, 28) for maintaining it in said recess (13) of the vessel (2). 8. Tank according to claim 7, characterized in that said holding means comprise at least one vertical rib (27, 28) projecting from said cartridge and slidably engageable with a complementary vertical groove (29, 30) formed in the one (13A, 13C) of the walls (13A, 13B, 13C) delimiting said recess (13) of the tank (2). 9. Tank according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper part of said cartridge (20) comprises gripping means (31) to facilitate its introduction in sliding in said recess (13) or its withdrawal. 10. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said tank (2), said chute (4) and / or said cartridge (20) are made via a three-dimensional printing process from a plurality of superimposed layers of a thermoplastic polymer.