JP2004322853A - Washer device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washer device for a vehicle capable of enhancing reliability by reliably preventing water ingress from a vent hole. <P>SOLUTION: The washer device 1 for a vehicle comprises a tank 4 to store a cleaning solution, a washer pump 2 for a front side, and a washer pump 3 for a rear side. The washer pumps 2 and 3 are mounted on the tank 4. The washer pump 2 pressure-feeds cleaning solution to a washer nozzle to spray the cleaning solution on a windshield of the vehicle, and the washer pump 3 pressure-feeds the cleaning solution to the washer nozzle to spray the cleaning solution on the rear glass of the vehicle. The washer pumps 2 and 3 are connected to each other with an elastically expandable or elastically contractible elastic hose 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle washer device for pumping a cleaning liquid stored in a tank by a washer pump.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle has a vehicle washer device used for cleaning a windshield or the like. The vehicle washer device includes a washer pump and a tank. The washer pump drives the motor in the washer pump to pump the cleaning liquid from the tank, and the housing of the washer pump has a motor chamber that houses the motor and an impeller chamber that houses the impeller. have.
[0003]
The air in the motor chamber repeats expansion and contraction due to heat generated by driving the motor. That is, the motor generates heat by driving the motor, and the air in the motor chamber expands. Further, when the motor stops, the temperature of the motor decreases, and the air in the motor chamber contracts.
[0004]
By the way, if the motor is hermetically sealed, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the motor chamber when the air in the motor chamber contracts. As a result, the cleaning liquid may enter the motor chamber from the seal between the motor housing and the output shaft, and the motor may be immersed in water to cause abnormal operation.
[0005]
In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed to provide a washer pump housing with a breathing hole communicating between the inside of the motor and the outside of the housing. However, since this washer pump is attached to a tank arranged in the engine room, when it is wet during running on rainy weather or during car washing, there is a possibility that water droplets may enter through the breathing hole. As a technique for preventing water from entering through the breathing hole, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a wall is formed in a washer tank (tank) so as to face the breathing hole (breathing hole), Techniques and the like for preventing direct flooding have been proposed.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-86351
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the breathing hole is fundamentally exposed to the outside, it is relatively effective for flooding in normal rainy weather, but when receiving strong flooding from outside due to heavy rain etc. However, there is a risk that water may enter the housing through the breathing hole, and this has not been a fundamental solution.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems existing in such a conventional technology, and an object thereof is to improve reliability by reliably preventing water from entering through a breathing hole. It is an object of the present invention to provide a washer device for a vehicle.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, a tank that stores a cleaning liquid and a motor that is pressure-fed to a washer nozzle attached to the tank and that blows the cleaning liquid to a portion of the vehicle to be cleaned are driven. In a vehicle washer device provided with a washer pump serving as a source, a breathing hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the housing is provided in a housing of the washer pump, and an elastic expansion or elastic contraction communicating with the breathing hole is possible. The main point is that a simple bag is attached.
[0010]
According to the invention described in claim 2, a tank for storing a cleaning liquid, and a plurality of washer pumps having a motor as a driving source, which is mounted on the tank and pressure-feeds a washer nozzle that blows the cleaning liquid to a location to be cleaned of the vehicle, is provided. In the washer device for a vehicle, the housing of each of the washer pumps is provided with a breathing hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the housing, and each of the breathing holes is a connection pipe capable of elastic expansion or contraction. And that they are connected to each other.
[0011]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a tank for storing a cleaning liquid, a washer pump for a front which is driven by a motor mounted on the tank and for pressure-feeding a washer nozzle for blowing the cleaning liquid onto a windshield of a vehicle, and the tank And a rear washer pump having a motor driven by a motor for driving a washer nozzle for spraying the cleaning liquid onto a rear glass of the vehicle, the front washer pump and the rear washer pump. The housing is provided with a breathing hole communicating the inside and the outside of the housing, and the respective breathing holes are connected to each other by a connection pipe capable of elastic expansion or contraction. .
[0012]
In the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the breathing hole is provided in a pipe portion formed to protrude from the housing, and the bag body or the bag is provided. The gist of the connection pipe is that it is connected to the breathing hole by being connected to the pipe section.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the invention, the connection pipes are respectively connected to pipe sections formed to protrude from the respective housings and provided with the breathing holes, and the connection pipes Are connected to each other via a connecting member.
[0014]
According to the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claim 4 or 5, the stopper portion is formed in the tube portion or the connection member to be locked inside the bag body or the connection tube. The gist is that it has been done.
(Action)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a washer pump and a bag are formed by connecting a bag body that can be elastically expanded or contracted by a breathing action to a breathing hole to absorb expansion and contraction of the internal air volume in the motor chamber due to the breathing action. The space formed by the body can be sealed. Therefore, even if the housing receives strong water from the outside of the housing, the ingress of water into the housing from the breathing hole is reliably prevented, so that the operation failure of the washer pump due to the ingress of water can be avoided. Therefore, the reliability of the vehicle washer device can be improved.
[0015]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the respective breathing holes of the respective washer pumps are connected to each other by a connection pipe which can be elastically expanded or contracted by the respiratory action, so that the inner air volume in the motor chamber is expanded and contracted by the respiratory action. The space formed by each washer pump and the connection pipe can be sealed while absorbing water. Therefore, even if the housing receives strong water from the outside of the housing, the ingress of water into the housing from the breathing hole is reliably prevented, so that the operation failure of the washer pump due to the ingress of water can be avoided. Therefore, the reliability of the vehicle washer device can be improved.
[0016]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the breathing holes of the front and rear washer pumps are connected to each other by a connection pipe that can be elastically expanded or contracted by the respiratory action, so that the inside of the motor chamber due to the respiratory action is provided. The space formed by each washer pump and the connection pipe can be sealed while absorbing the expansion and contraction of the internal air volume. Therefore, even if the housing receives strong water from the outside of the housing, the ingress of water into the housing from the breathing hole is reliably prevented, so that the operation failure of the washer pump due to the ingress of water can be avoided. The reliability of the vehicle washer device can be improved.
[0017]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the pipe portion is formed, a step of providing a mounting member for mounting the bag or the connection pipe to the housing becomes unnecessary. Therefore, connection of the bag or the connection pipe becomes easy.
[0018]
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, by fixing the connecting member to, for example, a tank or the like, it is possible to prevent the connecting pipe from being in the way. Further, even when three or more washer pumps are used, the connection pipes can be connected to each other by changing the shape of the connection member.
[0019]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the bag or the connecting pipe from coming off from the pipe or the connecting member by the retaining portion.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the vehicle washer device 1 includes a front washer pump 2, a rear washer pump 3, and a tank 4. The tank 4 is arranged in the engine room, and stores a cleaning liquid therein. A water refill hole 4a is provided on one end side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the tank 4, and washer pumps 2 and 3 are fitted on the other end side (lower side in FIG. 1) of the tank 4.
[0021]
The washer pumps 2 and 3 are fitted to the opening 5 of the tank 4 via a grommet 6 so as to expose a part of the washer pumps 2 and 3 to the outside. The washer pumps 2 and 3 are attached to the lower part of the tank 4 so that the washing liquid can be pumped out even if the flow rate of the washing liquid in the tank 4 becomes small. The washer pump 2 discharges the cleaning liquid in the tank 4 from the discharge port 7 and feeds the cleaning liquid to a washer nozzle (not shown) installed near the lower portion of a windshield (not shown). As a result, the cleaning liquid is sprayed on the windshield, which is a portion to be cleaned of the vehicle. The washer pump 3 discharges the cleaning liquid in the tank 4 from the discharge port 7 and pressure-feeds the cleaning liquid to a washer nozzle (not shown) installed near the upper portion of a rear glass (not shown). As a result, the cleaning liquid is sprayed on the rear glass, which is a portion to be cleaned of the vehicle.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the washer pumps 2 and 3 are provided with a housing 8 made of fiber reinforced resin and having a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. The housing 8 includes a body 9, a lid 10, and a pump casing 11. The pump casing 11 is fitted on the base end side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the body 9, and the lid is placed on the distal end side (the right side in FIG. 2). The body 10 is fitted. A motor 13 serving as a drive source of the washer pumps 2 and 3 is accommodated in a motor chamber 12 partitioned and formed in the housing 8, and an armature 14 having an output shaft 14a of the motor 13 is accommodated in the motor housing 13a. I have. The motor chamber 12 and the inside of the motor housing 13a communicate with each other.
[0023]
The pump casing 11 has a suction hole 15 on the side (left side in FIG. 2) inserted into the tank 4. Then, the cleaning liquid in the tank 4 is sucked through the suction hole 15. A pump chamber 16 is formed in a space surrounded by the pump casing 11 and the body 9. The pump chamber 16 communicates with the discharge port 7 (shown in FIG. 1) via a flow path 17. As shown in FIG. 2, an impeller 18 is housed in the pump chamber 16. The impeller 18 is connected to an output shaft 14 a protruding from the inside of the motor 13 toward the pump casing 11. The impeller 18 is configured to rotate by driving the motor 13. A seal portion 19 is provided between the body 9 and the output shaft 14 a to prevent the cleaning liquid in the pump chamber 16 from entering the motor chamber 12.
[0024]
A connector housing 20 is provided on the lid 10 so as to protrude outward. A connector that is electrically connected to the motor 13 via the terminal 20a is mounted on the connector housing 20.
[0025]
An air passage 24 that connects the motor chamber 12 and the outside of the housing 8 is formed at a tip end side (a lower right portion in FIG. 2) of the housing 8. The ventilation path 24 includes a communication chamber 25, an internal communication section 26, and an external communication section 27, and is located at the other end of the tank 4 when the housing 8 is assembled to the tank 4. The communication chamber 25 is formed in a portion adjacent to the flow path 17 in the axial direction so as to be partitioned from the flow path 17, and extends along the axial direction of the housing 8. The internal communication portion 26 is formed so as to extend from one end (the right side in FIG. 2) of the communication chamber 25 to both sides in the circumferential direction of the housing 8 along the circumferential direction thereof, and connects the motor chamber 12 to the communication chamber 25. It has become. The external communication portion 27 is formed so as to extend along the radial direction of the housing 8 (the body 9), and allows the communication chamber 25 to communicate with the outside.
[0026]
A substantially cylindrical pipe portion 28 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the body 9. The pipe portion 28 protrudes along the radial direction of the body 9 (protrudes in the direction of gravity when attached to the tank 4). In the pipe part 28, a breathing hole 28a extending in the same direction as the external communication part 27 is formed. The proximal end of the breathing hole 28a is communicated with the external communication portion 27, and the distal end of the breathing hole 28a is open to the outside.
[0027]
A stopper portion 29 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the tube portion 28. The retaining portion 29 extends in the entire circumferential direction of the tube portion 28. The outer diameter of the stopper portion 29 is set to be the same as the outer diameter of the tube portion 28 at the distal end of the tube portion 28, and to be larger than the outer diameter of the tube portion 28 toward the base end side of the tube portion 28. ing. That is, the retaining portion 29 is formed so as to taper toward the tip of the tube portion 28. The outer peripheral surface of the retaining portion 29 is a tapered surface inclined with respect to the central axis of the tube portion 28.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3, the respective pipe portions 28 formed in the housings 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 are connected to each other by an elastic hose 31 as a connection pipe. Specifically, one end of the elastic hose 31 is fitted to the tube 28 of the washer pump 2, and the other end of the elastic hose 31 is fitted to the tube 28 of the washer pump 3. Thereby, the insides of the housings 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 communicate with each other. The elastic hose 31 is a rubber hose and is elastically deformable. Specifically, the elastic hose 31 expands in the outer diameter direction when the internal pressure increases. The capacity of the elastic hose 31 is such that air can be sent into each housing 8 even when the pressure inside the housings 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 is simultaneously reduced.
[0029]
The inner diameter of the elastic hose 31 is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the retaining portion 29 and is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tube portion 28. Therefore, when the end portion of the elastic hose 31 is fitted to the tube portion 28, first, the inner peripheral surface of the elastic hose 31 is pressed by the retaining portion 29, and the end portion of the elastic hose 31 increases its inner diameter. Deform. Accordingly, the end of the elastic hose 31 is deformed in a direction to reduce the inner diameter by the restoring force generated in the elastic hose 31. As a result, the retaining portion 29 is locked to the inner peripheral surface of the end of the elastic hose 31, and the end of the elastic hose 31 is retained by the retaining portion 29.
[0030]
In the vehicle washer device 1 configured as described above, when a windshield washer switch (not shown) is operated, the motor 13 in the washer pump 2 is operated, and a rear glass washer switch (not shown) is operated. , The motor 13 in the washer pump 3 operates. As a result, the cleaning liquid stored in the tank 4 is pressure-fed to the front washer nozzle or the rear washer nozzle. As a result, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the washer nozzle and sprayed on the front glass or the rear glass.
[0031]
The air in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13 a expands or contracts due to heat generated by driving the motor 13. That is, when the motor 13 generates heat by driving the motor 13, the air in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a expands. At this time, a part of the air expanded in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a flows into the elastic hose 31 through the ventilation path 24 and the breathing hole 28a. When the pressure inside the elastic hose 31 increases, the elastic hose 31 expands in the outer diameter direction. As a result, the pressure increase in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a is absorbed and reduced by the expansion of the elastic hose 31.
[0032]
When the temperature of the motor 13 decreases due to the stop of the motor 13, the air in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a contracts. At this time, the air in the elastic hose 31 flows into the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a through the breathing hole 28a and the ventilation path 24. Therefore, decompression in the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a is avoided, and the cleaning liquid is prevented from entering the motor housing 13a from the seal portion 19, so that the motor 13 does not get wet by the penetrated cleaning liquid.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the simultaneous operation of the washer switch for the windshield and the washer switch for the rear glass is rarely performed in normal use.
[0034]
Further, the pipes 28 formed in the housings 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 are connected to each other by elastic hoses 31 so that the space formed by the washer pumps 2 and 3 and the elastic hoses 31 is completely sealed. can do. Therefore, even when strong water is received from the outside due to heavy rain or the like, it is possible to fundamentally solve the intrusion of water into the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a from the breathing hole 28a and the ventilation path 24.
[0035]
According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Each pipe portion 28 formed in the housing 8 of the front washer pump 2 and the rear washer pump 3 is connected to each other by an elastic hose 31. Thereby, the space (the motor chamber 12, the inside of the motor housing 13a, the breathing hole 28a, and the like) formed by the washer pumps 2, 3 and the elastic hose 31 can be completely sealed. Therefore, even when the housing 13 receives strong water from the outside of the housing 8 due to heavy rain or the like, water is reliably prevented from entering the motor chamber 12 and the motor housing 13a from the breathing hole 28a, so that the motor 13 is flooded. This prevents the motor 13 from malfunctioning. Specifically, it is possible to prevent the water that has entered the motor chamber 12 from coming into contact with the terminal 20a and prevent the motor 13 from malfunctioning. In addition, water that has entered the motor housing 13a causes rust, which prevents the motor 13 from malfunctioning due to the rust. Therefore, the reliability of the vehicle washer device 1 can be improved.
[0036]
(2) By connecting each pipe portion 28 with one elastic hose 31, a countermeasure against water of the vehicle washer device 1 is taken. Therefore, for example, by connecting one end of the elastic hose 31 to each pipe portion 28 and connecting the other end of each elastic hose 31 to a small room different from the tank 4, it is possible to prevent water from entering through the breathing hole 28a. It is not necessary to provide a small room for each of the washer pumps 2 and 3 as in the case of the above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the vehicle washer device 1 from increasing. Therefore, the vehicle washer device 1 can be manufactured at low cost.
[0037]
In addition, the washer pumps 2 and 3 are attached to the tank 4. That is, since the washer pumps 2 and 3 are arranged close to each other, the elastic hoses 31 connecting the pipes 28 formed on the housing 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 can be relatively short. Therefore, the vehicle washer device 1 can be manufactured at a lower cost.
[0038]
(3) The housing 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3 is formed with a tube 28 projecting therefrom. Therefore, unlike the case where the pipe portion 28 is not formed, there is no need to provide a mounting member for connecting the elastic hose 31 and the inside of the housing 8 of each of the washer pumps 2 and 3 to the housing 8. Become. Therefore, the end of the elastic hose 31 can be easily connected to each pipe portion 28.
[0039]
(4) Since the retaining portion 29 is locked to the inner peripheral surface of the elastic hose 31, the end of the elastic hose 31 is prevented from moving toward the distal end of the tube portion 28 by the retaining portion 29. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the elastic hose 31 from coming off from the tube portion 28 by the retaining portion 29.
[0040]
The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, the elastic hose 31 is made of rubber, but may be made of another material such as an elastomer having the same elasticity as rubber.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 4, one end of each of the elastic hoses 31 is connected to a pipe 28 formed in the housing 8 of each of the washer pumps 2 and 3, and the other end of each of the elastic hoses 31 is used as a substantially cylindrical connecting member. May be connected to each other via a falling-off prevention joint 41. The fall prevention joint 41 may be fixed to the tank 4 so as not to fall off.
[0042]
With this configuration, the handling of the elastic hose 31 is improved, and it is possible to prevent the elastic hose 31 from hanging in the engine room and obstructing it. In addition, it is necessary to form the engaging recess on the side of the tank 4 and process the tank 4 as in the case where the elastic hose 31 is fitted to the engaging recess and the elastic hose 31 is fixed to the tank 4. Absent. That is, since the conventional tank 4 can be used as it is, the vehicle washer device 1 can be manufactured at lower cost. Furthermore, even when there are three or more washer pumps, the elastic hoses 31 connected to each washer pump can be connected to each other by changing the falling prevention joint 41 into a plurality of branched shapes.
[0043]
Further, at both ends of the falling-off prevention joint 41, a retaining portion 42 that is locked to the inner peripheral surface of each elastic hose 31 may be formed to prevent each elastic hose 31 from coming off. Each of the retaining portions 42 has the same shape as the retaining portion 29 formed in the tube portion 28.
[0044]
The vehicle washer device 1 of the embodiment includes the front washer pump 2 used for cleaning the windshield, and the rear washer pump 3 used for cleaning the rear glass. Further, a headlamp washer pump used for cleaning the headlamp may be provided. That is, the vehicle washer device 1 may include three or more washer pumps.
[0045]
-Instead of connecting the elastic hose 31 to the pipe part 28 formed in the housing 8 of the washer pumps 2 and 3, a bag that can be elastically expanded or contracted by a respiratory action may be connected. With this configuration, even when the vehicle washer device 1 includes only one washer pump, it is possible to reliably prevent water from entering through the breathing hole 28a.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, instead of separately providing the washer pump 2 for the front and the washer pump 3 for the rear, a washer pump for both the front and the rear may be provided.
[0047]
Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.
(A) In a washer pump driven by a motor mounted on a tank for storing the cleaning liquid and for pressure-feeding a washer nozzle for spraying the cleaning liquid to a location to be cleaned of a vehicle, the housing communicates with the inside and outside of the housing. A washer pump provided with a respiratory hole that communicates with the bag and a resiliently inflatable or resilient bag or connection tube communicating with the respiratory hole.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, reliability can be improved by reliably preventing water from entering through the breathing hole.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle washer device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a washer pump.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the vehicle washer device.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a vehicle washer device according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washer device for vehicles, 2, 3 ... Washer pump, 4 ... Tank, 8 ... Housing, 13 ... Motor, 28 ... Pipe part, 28a ... Breathing hole, 29, 42 ... Retaining part, 31 ... Connection pipe Elastic hose, 41: Fall-off prevention joint as a connecting member.

Claims (6)

A vehicular washer device comprising: a tank for storing a cleaning liquid; and a washer pump having a motor as a driving source, the driving source being a motor attached to the tank and pressure-feeding a washer nozzle for blowing the cleaning liquid to a location to be cleaned of the vehicle.
A housing for the washer pump, a breathing hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the housing is provided, and an elastically expandable or contractible bag body communicating with the breathing hole is attached. Washer device. A vehicular washer device comprising: a tank for storing a cleaning liquid; and a plurality of washer pumps having a motor as a driving source, the driving source being a motor that pressurizes a washer nozzle attached to the tank and blows the cleaning liquid to a location to be cleaned of the vehicle.
The housing of each washer pump is provided with a breathing hole that communicates the inside and the outside of the housing,
The above-mentioned breathing holes are connected to each other by a connection pipe capable of elastic expansion or contraction. A tank for storing a washing liquid, a front washer pump driven by a motor mounted on the tank and forcing a washer nozzle for blowing the washing liquid onto a windshield of the vehicle, and a rear glass of the vehicle attached to the tank and using the washing liquid as a driving source. A washer device for a vehicle including a rear washer pump having a motor that drives a washer nozzle that blows to a washer nozzle as a driving source,
The housing of the front washer pump and the housing of the rear washer pump are provided with breathing holes that communicate the inside and the outside of the housing, and each of the breathing holes is a connection capable of elastic expansion or contraction. A vehicle washer device connected to each other by a pipe. The said breathing hole is provided in the tube part protruded and formed from the said housing, The said bag or the said connection pipe is connected with the said breathing hole by being connected to the said tube part, The said breathing hole is characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle washer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The said connection pipe is each connected to the pipe part which protrudes from each said housing and is provided with the said breathing hole, Each said connection pipe is mutually connected via the connection member, The Claim 2 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The vehicle washer device according to 3. The said pipe part or the said connection member is formed with the stopper part latched inside the said bag body or the said connection pipe, The Claims characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle washer device.

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