JP2002160608A - Washer tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washer tank having improved harmony and appearance in an engine room as well as from the outside of a vehicle and facilitating visual check of a remaining amount of liquid residing in the tank without requiring special means separately. SOLUTION: The washer tank 34 comprises an upper tank portion 34A and a lower tank portion 34B formed in container shape with respective opening portions 320, joined to each other at the end faces of the opening portions 320A, 320B. The upper tank portion 34A has a water injection port 66 in position, through which a washing liquid is injected, and is molded of a colored and non-transparent resin material. The lower tank portion 34B is molded of a transparent or semi-transparent resin material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washer tank formed by joining an upper tank portion and a lower tank portion each formed into a container having an opening.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a washer device for injecting a cleaning liquid toward a front window glass, and this washer device is provided with a resin-made washer tank for storing the cleaning liquid. Have been. In addition, this washer tank is usually disposed in the remaining space in the engine room of the vehicle together with various components such as an engine, various electric components, and auxiliary components such as reinforcing members, and is provided near a lower end of the front window glass by a hose or the like. The cleaning liquid is supplied to the arranged nozzle. In recent years, modularization with a wiper device has been performed, and a device in which a washer device is arranged together with a wiper device at or near a cowl portion at a lower end portion of a front window glass has been proposed.

The cowl portion is provided with an air inlet for an air conditioner. Above the cowl portion, raindrops and foreign matter do not enter the air inlet, and further, the appearance of the vehicle is improved. Garnish colored black is attached for the purpose of.

However, since the entire washer tank is generally formed of white resin, when a user opens an engine hood attached to the vehicle body for maintenance or the like and opens the engine hood, when the user looks into the engine room, the surrounding area is reduced. The harmony with the various parts was poor, and the appearance due to the adhesion of dust and the like was noticeable. In particular, when the garnish is disposed near the cowl portion, the garnish may have a mesh-shaped outside air inlet for taking in air into the cowl portion. The white (different color from the carnish) washer tank could be seen, and the appearance could be impaired even with the engine hood closed.

Therefore, it is conceivable to improve the harmony with the surroundings and improve the appearance by molding the entire washer tank with a colored resin. However, when it is desired to visually check the remaining amount of the washer tank from the outside, It is difficult from the outside, and there is a problem that the cost is increased by separately providing a means for detecting the liquid amount.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves such a problem.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a washer tank in which the harmony in the engine room is improved to improve the appearance, and the remaining amount of the stored liquid in the tank can be easily visually checked from the outside without separately providing special means. I do.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object. However, the symbols in parentheses of the following means indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiment described later, and the present invention is not limited to this.

The washer tank (34) according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises an upper tank part (34A) and a lower tank part (34B) each formed in a container shape having an opening (320). A washer tank (34) joined at the end faces of (320A, 320B), wherein the upper tank part (34A) is provided with a water inlet (66) into which a cleaning liquid is injected at a predetermined position, and is provided with a colored opaque material. The lower tank part (34)
B) is characterized by being formed of a transparent or translucent resin material.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the upper tank portion is formed of a colored and opaque resin material, it can be set to a color that is in harmony with parts in the engine room, and can be used for maintenance and the like. The appearance when the inside of the engine room is viewed from above can be improved. In addition, dirt due to the attachment of dust and the like can be made inconspicuous. Further, when the washer tank is arranged at a position where the upper tank portion is irradiated with sunlight (for example, when the upper tank portion forms a part of the garnish), it is molded with a colored opaque resin. Since the upper tank blocks the inside of the washer tank from light, it is possible to prevent the stored cleaning liquid from being deteriorated by irradiation.

Further, since the lower tank portion of the washer tank is formed of a transparent or translucent resin material, the remaining amount of the cleaning liquid stored in the washer tank can be easily visually checked from the outside. be able to.

The washer tank (34) according to the second aspect of the present invention is the washer tank (3) according to the first aspect.
In 4), the upper tank portion (34A) is formed integrally with a garnish (32A) extending from the lower end of the front window glass (16) of the vehicle toward the engine room (18) by resin molding. It is characterized by.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the upper tank portion is formed integrally with the garnish, the upper tank portion is disposed relatively high even in the engine room, and thus the transparent or translucent resin material is provided. The amount of liquid can be easily confirmed from the lower tank part formed by the method. Moreover, even if the upper tank part constitutes a part of the garnish,
Since the lower tank portion is formed of a different colored opaque resin, the color and texture can be harmonized with other portions, and the appearance is not impaired.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the washer tank (34) according to the first or second aspect, the upper tank portion (34A) is provided.
The joining between the lower tank portion (34B) and the lower tank portion (34B) is performed by welding.

In the washer tank according to the third aspect, since the end faces of the openings of the upper tank section and the lower tank section are joined by welding, a solvent contained in the adhesive itself, such as an adhesive, or a chemical reaction. For example, the joining surface portion is prevented from being melted and deformed or bubbles are generated after joining, thereby preventing the watertightness of the joining portion at the beginning of joining from being impaired. In addition, since there is no adhesive layer, strong bonding can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washer tank (34) according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the upper tank portion (34A) and the lower tank. The portion (34B) is characterized by being formed by injection molding of different resin materials.

In the washer tank according to the fourth aspect, the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion are made of different resins (for example, those having the same resin base material and having no pigment).
, The upper tank portion and the lower tank portion can have different colors, as well as different textures and transparency. This makes it possible to further improve harmony with the surrounding members when they are integrated or modularized with the surrounding members.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the structure (whole structure) of a part including a wiper device 14 of a vehicle 12 to which a washer device 10 is applied will be described, and then a washer device 10 and a washer which are main parts of the present invention. The detailed configuration of the tank 34 will be described.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, arrows UP,
Arrow LO, arrow FR, arrow RE, arrow RI, and arrow L
When E is shown, the vehicle 1 as viewed from the occupant, respectively.
2, upward, downward, forward, rearward, rightward, and leftward directions. Hereinafter, simply indicating up, down, front, rear, right, and left corresponds to each of the above arrow directions. (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion from a front windshield 16 to a rear end of an engine room 18 of a vehicle 12 to which a washer device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows the vehicle 1
2 are shown in an exploded perspective view.

As shown in FIG. 1, a washer device 10 is integrated with a wiper device 14 in front of a lower end of a front window glass 16 of the vehicle 12 (rearward in an engine room 18).
Is attached. The wiper device 14 and the washer device 10 are accommodated in a width slightly smaller than half of the width of the vehicle 12 and are disposed on the right side of the vehicle 12 when viewed from the occupant.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper device 14 includes a base plate 20.
A wiper motor 22 is fixedly mounted on the top of the reference numeral 0. The output shaft of the wiper motor 22 penetrates below the base plate 20 and is connected to a wiper link 24 arranged below the base plate 20. Wiper link 24
Are connected to a pair of left and right pivots 26, and each pivot 26
Is the wiper motor 2 transmitted through the wiper link 24
2 and protrudes above the base plate 20 while being supported so as to be rotatable around its own axis by the second driving force. A wiper arm 48 described later is connected and fixed to the tip of the pivot 26. Also, the vehicle 12
A plurality of (three in this embodiment) mounting holes 28 for fixing to the washer and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) through holes 30 for mounting the washer device 10 are provided.

A washer device 10 is mounted on the front side of the vehicle 12 alongside the wiper device 14.
The washer device 10 includes a garnish 32A that covers the lower end of the front windshield 16 of the vehicle 12 from the lower end of the engine room 18 and a water inlet 66 that injects a cleaning liquid.
The washer tank 3 is formed by welding an upper tank 34A integrally formed with a washer pump 72 and a lower tank 34B mainly storing a cleaning liquid.
4 is provided. A mounting piece 38 having a through-hole 36 formed at a front end thereof is provided on a front side surface of the washer tank 34 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 12, and is used for mounting to the vehicle 12 as described later. As shown in FIG. 4, two mounting pieces 40 corresponding to the through holes 30 provided in the base plate 20 of the wiper device 14 are provided below the garnish 32A of the washer tank 34. A nut 42 is provided in a state where it is prevented from rotating at the tip end. As a result, the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are connected to the nut 4 of the mounting piece 40 of the washer tank 34 by a bolt (not shown).
2 to be integrally assembled by being screwed.

When the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are assembled, each pivot 2 of the wiper device 14
6 is a pivot hole 44 provided in the garnish 32A.
Through the garnish 32A. A wiper arm 48 is connected to each pivot 26 in this state, and a wiper blade 50 is connected to the tip of each wiper arm 48. As described above, the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are configured to be integrally modularized before being assembled to the vehicle 12. In the garnish 32A of the washer device 10, through holes 46 are formed at positions corresponding to the three mounting holes 28 of the base plate 20, respectively.
And a blind such as a cap (not shown).

On the other hand, below the lower end of the windshield 16 of the vehicle 12 and on the right side of the rear end of the engine room 18,
Screw holes 52 are formed at positions corresponding to the three mounting holes 28 on the base plate 20. A bracket 54 extends from the lower end of the front window glass 16 toward the engine room 18 at a position slightly offset rightward from the approximate center of the vehicle 12 in the width direction. At the end of the bracket 54, screw holes 56 are formed at positions corresponding to the through holes 36 of the mounting piece 38 of the washer tank 34, and bolts (not shown) are screwed into these screw holes 52, 56, so that the vehicle In this configuration, the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are attached to the device 12.

Further, a portion of the vehicle 12 below the lower end of the front windshield 16 where the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are not mounted at the rear end of the engine room 18, that is, a portion of the vehicle 12 viewed from an occupant in the vehicle width direction. A cowl outer panel 58 is provided on the left side. The upper part of the cowl outer panel 58 is provided with a garnish 32B continuously arranged with the garnish 32A.
Covered by These cowl outer panels 58
And the garnish 32B together with the partition wall 61 of the vehicle 12 form a cowl box (air intake duct) 62. An opening 63 for air intake is provided at an appropriate position of the garnish 32B. The opening 63 is formed in a mesh shape (not shown) to prevent intrusion of dust and the like into the cowl box 62. I have. Also, cowl box 62
The rear end of the vehicle 12 has an air hole 6 communicating with the passenger side space.
4 are provided and communicate with an air conditioner and a ventilation port (not shown).

As described above, the vehicle 12 to which the washer device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied has a portion where the modularized washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are arranged, a portion for taking in air, and a portion for taking in air. Are separated and the limited space in the vehicle 12 can be effectively used. (Detailed Configuration of Washer Device 10 and Washer Tank) Next, the detailed configuration of the washer device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on FIGS.

3 to 5 show a front view, a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of the entire structure of the washer device 10. 3 shows a state in which the upper tank 34A of the washer tank 34 and the garnish 32A are integrally formed of a colored opaque resin material. In addition to FIGS. 4 and 5, FIGS. Similarly to FIG. 3, the upper tank 34A and the garnish 32A are formed of a colored opaque resin material. However, since the configuration in the drawing is difficult to see, they are shown without coloring.

As described above, the washer device 10 includes the garnish 32A and the washer tank 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the garnish 32A is formed in a substantially arcuate shape using a colored opaque resin material. On the other hand, the washer tank 34 has an upper tank 34A and a lower tank 34B, each of which is formed into a container having an opening 320 by injection molding, and the upper tank 34A and the lower tank 34B are connected to end faces of the openings. And are welded in a watertight state at a welding line W to be the mating surface.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper tank 34A has a garnish 32A integrally formed by injection molding.
The garnish 32A and the upper tank 34A are made of the same colored and opaque resin material, for example, a resin material selected depending on temperature characteristics or the like, but a mixture of a thermoplastic resin such as a polypropylene resin or a polyethylene resin and a pigment is used. ing. As the pigment, carbon or the like is used in the case of black. A front portion of the upper tank 34A protrudes from the front lower end of the garnish 32A toward the engine room 18, and a water inlet 66 for injecting a cleaning liquid is integrally provided on the upper surface of this portion. This allows
The operation of injecting the cleaning liquid into the washer tank 34 can be easily performed without the garnish 32A becoming an obstacle. Further, a cap 68 for preventing overflow of the cleaning liquid is detachably fitted to the water inlet 66.

On the other hand, the lower tank 34B has an opening 320B made of a transparent or translucent resin material, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as a polypropylene resin or a polyethylene resin.
Is formed in a substantially rectangular container shape corresponding to the opening 320A of the upper tank 34A, and the inside thereof is transparent or translucent so that the liquid amount can be visually checked from outside (around) the washer tank 34. As described above, the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B are both formed in a container shape, and constitute a storage tank for storing the cleaning liquid by joining the end surfaces of the openings 320 by welding. . In other words, each of the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B constitutes a container.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the washer tank 34 has an upper tank 34A and a lower tank 34 at the left rear end located below the garnish 32A.
A hose holding portion 70 cut out over the entire height of B is formed, and is used for laying a piping hose 84 described later.
A plurality of (two in the present embodiment) clamps 72 are integrally formed on the side surface of the hose holding portion 70 so as to be aligned upward. Also, the bottom 34D of the lower tank 34B
A portion slightly offset leftward from the center in the left-right direction is defined as a lowest portion 34E, and a pump connecting portion 74 extending further downward is provided near the rear end of the lowest portion 34E. A concave portion 76 for holding a washer pump 78 to be described later is provided on a rear surface (side surface) of the lower tank 34B from above the pump connecting portion 74 to the rear end (the side opposite to the engine room 18).

In the recess 76 of the washer tank 34, a washer pump 78 is arranged. The washer pump 78 has a suction port 80 provided at the lower end thereof toward the front, and a pump connection portion 74 of the washer tank 34.
The cleaning liquid in the washer tank 34 can be sucked. Further, a discharge port 82 serving as a cleaning liquid discharge section provided from the lower end rearward to the left of the washer pump 78 is connected to one end of a flexible piping hose 84. The piping hose 84 rises substantially vertically along the hose holding portion 70 of the washer tank. In this state, the piping hose 84 is fixed and held by the clamp 72 provided on the hose holding unit 70.

A washer nozzle 86 is connected to the other end of the pipe hose 84. Washer nozzle 8
6 is a garnish 3 above the hose holding portion 70.
2A, and the washing liquid inlet 8
8 are provided. By this, this garnish 3
The piping hose 84 that has passed through 2 is in a substantially vertical direction (vertical direction).
The cleaning liquid inlet 8 of the washer nozzle 86
8 is connected. Also, the washer nozzle 86
Three jet ports (not shown) are provided, and each jet port can jet a cleaning liquid toward the lower right side, upper center, and lower left side of the front window glass 16, respectively.

Washer tank 3 according to the above embodiment
Reference numeral 4 indicates that the upper tank portion 34A is formed of a thermoplastic resin such as a polypropylene resin or a polyethylene resin with a colored opaque resin material in which a black pigment such as carbon is mixed. The color can be set in harmony with the type, and the appearance when the inside of the engine room 18 is viewed from above for maintenance or the like can be improved. Here, engine room 18
When it is disposed inside, the ambient temperature is often high, and when heat resistance is required, it is preferable to employ a polypropylene resin.

The formation of the colored opaque resin of the upper tank portion 34A makes it possible to make the dirt less noticeable even when oils and other fats and dust adhere to the surface of the washer tank 34, especially to the upper surface. Further, the garnish 32A is formed integrally with the upper tank portion 34A, and forms a part of the exterior of the vehicle 12. Therefore, sunlight is irradiated, but since the upper tank portion 34A and the garnish 32A are formed of a colored opaque resin, the upper tank portion 34A shields the inside of the washer tank 34 from light and irradiates the stored cleaning liquid with sunlight. Can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Even if the upper tank portion 34A constitutes a part of the garnish 32, it is formed of a different colored opaque resin from the lower tank portion 34B, so that the color and texture are harmonized with the other portions. The appearance of the vehicle is not impaired.

On the other hand, the lower tank portion 34B of the washer tank 34 is made of a transparent or translucent resin material such as a polypropylene resin or a polyethylene resin, and is formed without mixing a pigment. . Therefore, the remaining amount (at least a predetermined amount or less) of the cleaning liquid stored in the washer tank can be easily visually confirmed from the outside.

As can be understood from the above, although the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B differ depending on the presence or absence of the pigment, it is preferable that the resin material as the base material is the same.
This is because the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B are joined together by welding in a water-tight state with the end surfaces of the openings 320A and 320B attached to each other. This is because the molecular bonding force of the welding surface becomes stronger.

Further, since the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B are separately injection-molded with different resins (for example, the same resin base material with and without pigment), the upper tank portion 34A and the lower tank portion 34B are separately molded. Section 34A and lower tank section 34
B may be different from B in color, texture, transparency and the like. This makes it possible to further improve harmony with the surrounding members when they are integrated or modularized with the surrounding members.

In the above embodiment, since the garnish 32A and the washer tank 34 are integrally formed by welding, the garnish 32A and the washer tank 34 are assembled when the washer device 10 is mounted on the vehicle 12. No need for work, Garnish 32A
The module is modularized to include a washer nozzle 86 fixed to the washer, a washer pump 78 connected to the washer tank 34, and a piping hose 84 communicating the washer nozzle 86 and the washer pump 78, so that the assembling property to the vehicle 12 is further improved. improves.

In the above-described embodiment, the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are arranged on the right side of the vehicle 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. The washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 that are symmetrical with respect to the line may be arranged on the left side of the vehicle 12.

In the above embodiment, the washer device 10 and the wiper device 14 are arranged separately from the cowl box 62. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the washer device 10 and the wiper device The device 14 may be arranged in the cowl box 62.

Further, in the above embodiment, the garnish 32A of the garnish 32 and the washer tank 34
The present invention is not limited to this example. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper tank portion 90A and the lower tank portion 90B formed by injection molding are formed with respective openings. May be joined in a watertight state by welding to form a washer tank 90 without garnish. This washer tank 90
Is an upper tank portion 90A provided with a long water inlet 91.
However, as in the above embodiment, the entire upper tank portion 90A together with the water inlet 91 is formed of a black thermoplastic resin (for example, a polypropylene resin or a polyethylene resin) using carbon as a pigment. A black cap 92 of the same color as the upper tank portion 90A is attached to the water inlet 91 so that the cleaning liquid stored in the tank does not overflow. Note that the lower tank portion 90B has the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. As described above, in another embodiment, the upper tank portion 90A may be configured as a single washer tank 90 (a garnish is not integrally formed) using a colored opaque resin.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a vehicle to which a washer tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a vehicle to which the washer tank according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an entire configuration of a washer device to which a washer tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an entire configuration of a washer device to which a washer tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration of a washer device to which a washer tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a washer tank according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Washer apparatus, 12 ... Vehicle, 16 ... Front window glass, 18 ... Engine room, 32 ... Garnish, 34, 90 ... Washer tank, 66, 91 ... Filling port, 78 ... Washer pump, 82 ... Discharge port (washing liquid discharge) 84) Piping hose, 86 ... Washer nozzle, 320 ... Opening.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A washer tank formed by joining a tank portion and a lower tank portion each formed in a container shape having an opening to each other at end surfaces of the openings, wherein the upper tank is located at a predetermined position. A washer tank provided with a water injection port into which a cleaning liquid is injected, formed of a colored and opaque resin material, and wherein the lower tank portion is formed of a transparent or translucent resin material. 2. The washer according to claim 1, wherein said upper tank portion is formed integrally with a garnish extending from a lower end portion of a front window glass of the vehicle to an engine room side by resin molding. tank. 3. The washer tank according to claim 1, wherein the joining between the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion is performed by welding. 4. The upper tank portion and the lower tank portion are formed by injection molding of different resin materials, respectively.
The washer tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: