JP2003011790A - Lamp cleaner system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lamp cleaner system capable of preventing foreign matters from entering into a nozzle opening of an injection nozzle. SOLUTION: This lamp cleaner system is composed of a cylinder 4 mounted on a car body for supplying the cleaning liquid 8, a piston telescopically supported to the cylinder 4 and capable of projecting to a position opposite to a cover capable of transmitting the light, at its tip part 6, and the injection nozzle 9 mounted on the tip part 6 of the piston 7 for injecting the cleaning liquid 8 to an outer surface of the cover, and the injection nozzle 9 is provided with a shutoff valve 16 capable of opening and closing the nozzle opening 9a by the pressure of the cleaning liquid 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaner system for a lamp unit such as a headlamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional lamp cleaner system,
For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-19730, a cylinder provided in an opening of a vehicle body, a piston extensible and supported by the cylinder, and an injection nozzle attached to the tip of the piston. In some cases, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle after the piston projects from the cylinder to a predetermined position to remove dust and the like adhering to the front cover of the headlamp.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, since the injection nozzle is exposed from the vehicle body and the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle is always opened, dust and dirt are not generated in the injection nozzle. Foreign matter such as mud or wax may adhere. When foreign matter enters the nozzle opening of the jet nozzle, it may be difficult to jet or may not jet.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and provides a lamp cleaner system in which foreign matter does not enter the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylinder which is provided on a vehicle body and which can supply a cleaning liquid, and a cylinder which is stretchably supported with respect to the cylinder and can transmit at least light. A piston whose tip can project to a position facing the cover, and an injection nozzle which is attached to the tip of the piston and can inject a cleaning liquid onto the outer surface of the cover. A stop valve that can open and close the nozzle opening by the pressure of the cleaning liquid is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle is always closed by the stop valve, foreign matter can be reliably prevented from entering the nozzle opening, and an injection abnormality or the like occurs. There is no fear. Further, by turning on the cleaning liquid injection switch, the cleaning liquid is filled in the cylinder and the tip of the piston is moved to a position facing the cover, so that the cleaning is performed from the injection nozzle attached to the tip of the piston. By injecting the cleaning liquid at a highly effective and appropriate angle, it is possible to appropriately remove dust and the like adhering to the cover of the lamp unit.

A second aspect of the present invention is the lamp cleaner system according to the first aspect, wherein the shut-off valve is a cylindrical collar disposed at the tip of the piston, and A bottomed base that is arranged at a position where a gap is provided inside the collar and has an opening on the injection nozzle side, a valve body that can move back and forth in the base, and the valve body is constantly urged toward the injection nozzle side. A pin that can be inserted into the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle and can be detached from the nozzle opening.
It comprises a flange formed on the base of the pin and press-contactable to the base of the injection nozzle.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the pin of the valve body is inserted in close contact with the nozzle port of the injection nozzle, foreign matter such as dust, mud and wax is surely introduced. There is no risk of being blocked and causing abnormal injection.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lamp cleaner system according to the second aspect, wherein the elastic means is coil-shaped and is interposed between the collar and the bottom of the base. A spring, which closes the flow passage of the piston when the collar is pressed against the base of the injection nozzle by the elastic means, and the collar is disengaged from the base of the injection nozzle by the pressure of the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid can be sprayed from the nozzle.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by turning on the cleaning liquid injection switch, the pressure of the cleaning liquid, which has increased in pressure, passes through the gap between the collar and the base and is applied to the collar of the valve body of the closing valve. In addition, by contracting against the elastic means, a gap is created between the collar and the base of the injection nozzle, and the high-pressure cleaning liquid is ejected through the injection nozzle. When the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned off, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, so that the pressure in the cylinder and the piston is reduced, and the collar of the valve body of the shutoff valve is closed by the elastic means to close the gap with the base of the injection nozzle. The injection of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle is stopped.
The piston also returns to the cylinder. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be jetted and the jetting can be stopped despite the simple structure. Since the structure is simple, the cost is low and the possibility of failure is significantly reduced.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the lamp cleaner system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the cylinder cleaner is provided between the cylinder and the piston. On the other hand, the piston is always biased in the direction of contraction, and the first spring having a spring force smaller than the biasing force of the elastic means is interposed.
The pressure of the cleaning liquid causes the piston to project from the cylinder against the first spring.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned on, when the cleaning liquid is filled in the cylinder and the piston, the pressure by the cleaning liquid is applied to the piston, and the piston expands the first spring. It is pushed against the force and moves, and the injection nozzle side projects from the cylinder. When the first spring is compressed most, the movement of the piston is stopped. Further, the closing valve is pushed and moved against the extension force of the elastic means by the applied pressure, and the space between the closing valve and the base of the injection nozzle is released, thereby communicating with the flow passage of the piston and the cleaning liquid from the injection nozzle. Fires. When the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned off, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, the pressure inside the cylinder is reduced, and the expansion force of the elastic means is overcome, so that the space between the stop valve and the base of the injection nozzle is closed, and the injection nozzle is closed. The injection of the cleaning liquid from is stopped.
Then, the piston is pushed and moved by the extension force of the first spring, the injection nozzle side of the piston enters the cylinder, and the cleaning liquid in the cylinder is pushed back to the outside of the cylinder. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be jetted and the jetting can be stopped despite the simple structure. Since the structure is simple, the cost is low and the possibility of failure is significantly reduced.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The headlamp cleaner system 1 which is the "lamp cleaner system" according to this embodiment has at least a "cover" capable of transmitting light.
Is provided in the headlamp unit 2 which is a "lamp unit" having the front cover 3 which is
4, a piston 7 that is extendably supported by the cylinder 4, and has a tip 6 that can project, and an outer surface of the front cover 3 that is attached to the tip 6 of the piston 7. An injection nozzle 9 capable of injecting the cleaning liquid 8 into the inside, and a lid arranged at a position covering the injection nozzle 9 and capable of closing the opening 5 of the bumper 12, which is the "body" of the automobile 11, when the piston 7 is retracted. Body 1
It is composed of 0 and 0. The lid 10 is the bumper 1
It is preferable that the two opening portions 5 are closed to each other so as to be substantially flush with the bumper 12 so as to be tapered.

The headlamp unit 2 is an automobile 1
One on the front side FR and one on the right side. The front cover 3 is slightly curved on the rear side RR and can transmit light from a light source (not shown). The cylinder 4 is fixed to the headlamp unit 2 at a predetermined angle via a bracket (not shown). By providing the headlamp cleaner system 1 at the center of the headlamp unit 2, the front cover 3 can be uniformly washed.

The headlamp cleaner system 1 is
As shown in FIG. 5, a cleaning liquid injection switch 26 that can be turned on and off, a controller 27, a tank 28 that can store the cleaning liquid 8, and the cleaning liquid injection switch 26.
Is turned on so that the cleaning liquid 8 in the tank 28 can be sucked, and the suction is stopped by turning off the cleaning liquid injection switch 26, and the cylinder 4
And a bifurcated tube 30 communicating with the pump 29. The pump 29 not only stops suction by turning off the cleaning liquid injection switch 26, but also
A backflow, that is, the cleaning liquid 8 may be sucked into the tank 28. The tubes 30 are a first tube 30a connected to the pump 29, a second tube 30b connected to each of the cylinders 4, and a first tube 30a.
And a connecting member 30c to which the second tube 30b is connected. From the mouth 28a of the tank 28,
The cleaning liquid 8 can be introduced, and the mouth 28
By closing 8a, foreign matter such as dust is prevented from entering.

The headlamp cleaner system 1 comprises
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8, the cylinder 4 formed in a tubular shape, the piston 7 that can be retracted in the cylinder 4 and the tip portion 6 of the piston 7 are arranged. A stopper 31 for closing the mouth 4a of the cylinder 4 and a direction in which the piston 7 contracts with respect to the cylinder 4 by being interposed between the stopper 31 of the cylinder 4 and the one end portion 7a of the piston 7, That is, the coil-shaped first spring 13 that is constantly biased so as to be retracted, and the closing valve 16 that can open and close the nozzle port 9a by the pressure of the cleaning liquid 8 on the injection nozzle 9 arranged at the tip portion 6 of the piston 7. And consists of. A flow passage 14 is formed in the center of the piston 7.

The shut-off valve 16 is, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8, a cylindrical collar 34 provided at the tip portion 6 of the piston 7, and an inner side of the collar 34. A base 36 having a bottom (having a bottom 36 a), which is disposed at a position where a gap 35 is provided in the injection nozzle 9 side, a valve main body 37 that can freely move back and forth in the base 36, and the valve main body 3
It is composed of a second spring 17 as "elastic means" which constantly urges 7 toward the injection nozzle 9. The second spring 17 has a spring force larger than the biasing force of the first spring 13.

The valve body 37 is formed on a pin 38 which can be inserted into the nozzle opening 9a of the injection nozzle 9 closely and can be removed from the nozzle opening 9a, and a base portion of the pin 38. And the base portion 9b of the injection nozzle 9
It is composed of a brim 39 which can be pressed against.

The stop valve 16 is closed by the second spring 17.
The flange 39 constituting the above is pressed against the base portion 9b of the injection nozzle 9 to close the flow passage 14 of the piston 7. When pressure is applied to the shutoff valve 16 by the cleaning liquid 8 supplied by the pump 29, the piston 7 is pushed up by the pressure and the other end 7b of the piston 7 is pushed up as shown in FIG. Side, that is, the injection nozzle 9 is projected from the cylinder 4, and
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, by further applying pressure,
From the base 9b of the injection nozzle 9 to the collar 3 of the shutoff valve 16.
When the cleaning liquid 8 is released, the cleaning liquid 8 enters and the cleaning liquid 8 can be sprayed from the nozzle port 9a of the spray nozzle 9. Code 32
Is a piston ring, and 33 is an accordion bellows which is arranged between the stopper 31 and the end of the tip portion 6 of the piston 7 so as to be expandable and contractible.

In the headlamp cleaner system 1 thus obtained, since the nozzle opening 9a of the jet nozzle 9 is always closed by the stop valve 16, foreign matter such as mud or dust may enter the nozzle opening 9a. Is reliably prevented, and there is no risk of abnormal injection. Further, by turning on the cleaning liquid injection switch 26, the cleaning liquid 8 is filled in the cylinder 4 and the tip portion 6 of the piston 7 is moved to a position facing the front cover 3, whereby the tip portion of the piston 7 is moved. By ejecting the cleaning liquid 8 from the ejection nozzle 9 attached to the nozzle 6 at a proper angle with a high cleaning effect, it is possible to appropriately remove foreign matters such as dust adhering to the front cover 3 of the headlamp unit 2.

Further, since the pin 38 of the valve body 37 of the shutoff valve 16 is closely inserted into the nozzle port 9a of the injection nozzle 9, foreign matter such as dust, mud and wax is surely prevented from entering. Therefore, there is no possibility that an injection abnormality will occur. Moreover, the sprayed water of the cleaning liquid 8 is applied to the front cover 3
It becomes easier to hit vertically against, and the cleaning efficiency is significantly improved. Further, since the cleaning liquid 8 is jetted downward, it is difficult for the water droplets to reach other structural parts of the vehicle body such as the bumper 12, and the water droplets do not scatter.

When the cleaning liquid injection switch 26 is turned on, the pressure of the cleaning liquid 8 whose pressure has increased passes through the gap 35 between the collar 34 and the base 36 and is applied to the collar 39 of the valve body 37 of the shutoff valve 16. By contracting against the second spring 17, a gap 40 is formed between the collar 39 and the base portion 9b of the injection nozzle 9, and the high-pressure cleaning liquid 8 is ejected through the nozzle port 9a of the injection nozzle 9.

When the cleaning liquid injection switch 26 is turned off, the supply of the cleaning liquid 8 is stopped, so that the pressure in the cylinder 4 and the piston 7 is reduced, and the collar 39 of the valve body 37 of the shutoff valve 16 is moved to the second spring. The gap 40 between the injection nozzle 9 and the base 9b is closed by 17, and the injection of the cleaning liquid 8 from the injection nozzle 9 is stopped. The piston 7 also returns into the cylinder 4. In this way, the cleaning liquid 8 can be jetted and the jetting can be stopped despite the simple structure. Since the structure is simple, the cost is low and the possibility of failure is significantly reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the headlamp cleaner system 1, the headlamp unit 2 and the front cover 3 are described for the lamps arranged on the front side of the automobile, but are limited to the front side. It may be on the rear side instead of the one.

[0025]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, since the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle is always closed by the stop valve, foreign matter can be reliably prevented from entering the nozzle opening, and injection abnormality or the like can be prevented. There is no danger of this occurring. Further, by turning on the cleaning liquid injection switch, the cleaning liquid is filled in the cylinder and the tip of the piston is moved to a position facing the cover, so that the cleaning is performed from the injection nozzle attached to the tip of the piston. By injecting the cleaning liquid at a highly effective and appropriate angle, it is possible to appropriately remove dust and the like adhering to the cover of the lamp unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the pin of the valve body is inserted in close contact with the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle, foreign matter such as dust and mud is reliably prevented from entering. There is no risk of abnormal injection.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by turning on the cleaning liquid injection switch, the pressure of the cleaning liquid whose pressure has increased passes through the gap between the collar and the base and is applied to the collar of the valve body of the closing valve. In addition, by contracting against the elastic means, a gap is created between the collar and the base of the injection nozzle, and the high-pressure cleaning liquid is ejected through the injection nozzle. When the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned off, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, so that the pressure in the cylinder and the piston is reduced, and the collar of the valve body of the shutoff valve is closed by the elastic means to close the gap with the base of the injection nozzle. The injection of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle is stopped.
The piston also returns to the cylinder. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be jetted and the jetting can be stopped despite the simple structure. Since the structure is simple, the cost is low and the possibility of failure is significantly reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned on, when the cleaning liquid is filled in the cylinder and the piston, the pressure by the cleaning liquid is applied to the piston, and the piston expands the first spring. It is pushed against the force and moves, and the injection nozzle side projects from the cylinder. When the first spring is compressed most, the movement of the piston is stopped. Further, the closing valve is pushed and moved against the extension force of the elastic means by the applied pressure, and the space between the closing valve and the base of the injection nozzle is released, thereby communicating with the flow passage of the piston and the cleaning liquid from the injection nozzle. Fires. When the cleaning liquid injection switch is turned off, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, the pressure inside the cylinder is reduced, and the expansion force of the elastic means is overcome, so that the space between the stop valve and the base of the injection nozzle is closed, and the injection nozzle is closed. The injection of the cleaning liquid from is stopped.
Then, the piston is pushed and moved by the extension force of the first spring, the injection nozzle side of the piston enters the cylinder, and the cleaning liquid in the cylinder is pushed back to the outside of the cylinder. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be jetted and the jetting can be stopped despite the simple structure. Since the structure is simple, the cost is low and the possibility of failure is significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an automobile with a lid body of a lamp cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present invention being closed.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where an injection nozzle is projected from the automobile shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the lamp cleaner system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG.

5 is a lamp cleaner system diagram of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the piston protrudes from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cleaning liquid is sprayed from the state of FIG.

8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Head Lamp Cleaner System (Lamp Cleaner System) 2 Head Lamp Unit (Lamp Unit) 3 Front Cover (Cover) 4 Cylinder 5 Opening 6 Piston Tip 7 Piston 8 Cleaning Liquid 9 Injection Nozzle 10 Lid 11 Car 12 Bumper (Car Body) ) 13 first spring 14 flow passage 16 shutoff valve 17 second spring (elastic means) 34 collar 35, 40 gap 36 base 37 valve body 38 pin 39 collar

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder provided on a vehicle body and capable of supplying a cleaning liquid, and a tip part that can project to a position facing at least a cover that is extendably supported by the cylinder and that is transparent to the cylinder. The piston includes a piston and an injection nozzle attached to the tip of the piston and capable of injecting a cleaning liquid onto the outer surface of the cover. The injection nozzle has a closing valve capable of opening and closing a nozzle opening by the pressure of the cleaning liquid. A lamp cleaner system comprising: 2. The lamp cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off valve has a cylindrical collar provided at a tip portion of the piston and a gap is provided inside the collar. And a bottomed base having an opening on the injection nozzle side, a valve body that can move back and forth in the base, and elastic means that constantly biases the valve body toward the injection nozzle. The valve body includes a pin that can be closely inserted into the nozzle opening of the injection nozzle and can be detached from the nozzle opening, and a pin formed at the base of the pin and pressed against the base of the injection nozzle. A lamp cleaner system characterized by being configured with a possible collar. 3. The lamp cleaner system according to claim 2, wherein the elastic means comprises a coil-shaped spring interposed between the collar and the bottom of the base. The collar is pressed against the base of the injection nozzle to close the flow passage of the piston, and the pressure of the cleaning liquid causes the collar to separate from the base of the injection nozzle, so that the cleaning liquid can be injected from the injection nozzle. A lamp cleaner system characterized by: 4. The lamp cleaner system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a direction in which the piston contracts with respect to the cylinder is provided between the cylinder and the piston. And a first spring having a spring force smaller than the biasing force of the elastic means is interposed, and the piston is projected from the cylinder against the first spring by the pressure of the cleaning liquid. A lamp cleaner system characterized by: