JP2004338665A - Washer tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein although a tank for storing a wind washer liquid is installed on a front fender and a shroud, it is required that the front fender and the shroud are reinforced so as to withstand to an own weight of the washer liquid, a tank space is required and an engine space is made small. <P>SOLUTION: An internal space (7) of a hollow support lower (3) is filled with the washer liquid (10) and is closed by a cap (8) and the washer liquid (10) is fed out to a nozzle (12) by a pump (11). The support lower (3) supports the own weight of the washer liquid and can sufficiently ensure a sealing property. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a washer tank containing a window washer liquid, and more particularly to a washer tank using a radiator support.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It is known to equip a tank containing the window washer fluid at the front of the vehicle body, for example at a front fender, shroud or cowl top.
Known tanks are box-shaped, and this box-shaped tank is fixed or integrally formed with a front fender, shroud or cowl top.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-53075 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-171041 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-2002-104244
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the washer tank is filled with the washer fluid, the weight of the tank becomes substantial and it is necessary to reinforce the front fender, shroud or cowl top to support this weight. This reinforcement causes a change in the basic structure of the front fender, the shroud or the cowl top and an increase in weight, and this causes a change in the design and reinforcement of the peripheral member, and does not necessarily have a favorable effect on the peripheral member.
[0005]
In addition, it is necessary to secure a new space for installing the tank, which hinders downsizing of the front part of the vehicle body.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described disadvantages of the related art.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention basically uses a technical means for forming a washer tank using an internal space of a radiator support or a side wall thereof.
[0007]
The adoption of such technical means does not need to secure a new space because the part originally existing as a space is used as a tank, and in addition, the weight of the washer fluid is sufficiently supported by the radiator support. Therefore, it is not necessary to install a reinforcing member. For this reason, such technical measures are advantageous in terms of space, weight and cost.
[0008]
According to the present invention, a radiator support for supporting a radiator is formed from a hollow material, a washer liquid is poured into an inner space of the radiator support, an opening of the inner space of the radiator support is closed with a cap, and the washer liquid is pumped. Provide a washer tank that can be supplied to the outside.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Please refer to FIG. A known box-shaped radiator 2 is supported by a radiator support behind the bumper reinforcement 1 extending in the width direction of the vehicle body. The radiator support is composed of a lower support lower 3 and an upper support upper 4 which are substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front. Upper and lower sides of the lower support lower 3 are fixed to the upper support upper 4, and the upper support upper 4 is It is fixed to the body structure.
[0010]
The bumper reinforcement 1 is connected to a side member 5 via a crash box 6. The radiator support is supported by a cross member (not shown), a bumper reinforcement 1, a side member 5, or other structures as necessary.
[0011]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a hole for communicating the internal space 7 of the support lower 3 with the outside is formed in a joint between the upper end of the opposite side of the hollow support lower 3 and the upper support upper 4. This hole is closed by the cap 8. In the illustrated example, the cap 8 is pushed into the cylinder 9 fixed to the hole, but the cap 8 may be screwed to the threaded portion of the cylinder 9.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the internal space of the support lower 3 is used as a tank for the washer liquid 10. Washer liquid 10 in internal space 7 is supplied to nozzle 12 using pump 11 (see FIG. 3) arranged at the bottom of support lower 3.
[0012]
Since the support lower 3 is made of an extruded material of an aluminum alloy, the internal space 7 is completely shut off from the outside, there is no liquid leakage, and the support lower 3 has sufficient strength to support the weight of the washer liquid.
A sealing material is arranged between the pump 11 and the support lower 3 and between the support lower 3 and the cylindrical body 9 to prevent liquid leakage. Thus, even if the washer liquid 10 is wavy due to the vibration of the vehicle body, there is no liquid leakage.
[0013]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inner pipe 13 made of a synthetic resin material is disposed inside the support lower 3, and the inner space 7 of the inner pipe 13 is used as a tank.
The inner pipe 13 is inserted into the extruded profile before bending the extruded profile of the aluminum alloy into a U-shape, so that the inner pipe 13 is also formed by a U-shaped bend for forming the support lower 3. It is formed in the same shape as the support lower 3.
The washer liquid 10 is supplied to the internal space 7 in the inner pipe 13 with the cap 8 removed, and the cap 8 is closed to prevent liquid leakage. The washer liquid 10 is ejected by a pump 11 through a nozzle 12.
[0014]
Since the inner pipe 13 is supported by the support lower 3, the weight of the washer fluid can be supported, and no additional reinforcing member is required.
[0015]
The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described below.
The flange portion 14 extends to the front side of the support lower 3. A U-shaped hollow tank member 15 is attached to the flange portion 14. The tank member 15 is formed of an extruded product of an aluminum alloy material or a synthetic resin material, and has substantially the same shape as the support lower 3.
The top opening on the side of the tank member 15 is closed by a cap 8 as shown in FIG. 4 and a pump 11 as shown in FIG.
[0016]
The tank member 15 and the flange portion 14 are joined by spot welding, an adhesive or the like.
In the example of FIG. 6, the tank member 15 is arranged in the front part of the support lower 3. However, the tank member 15 may be arranged outside the side of the support lower 3, or a plurality of partitions may be provided in the internal space 7. Room.
[0017]
Further, it may be a partial use in which the washer liquid is filled only on the opposite side of the hollow support lower 3.
[0018]
According to the present invention, since a tank for the washer liquid can be formed by using the inner space of the radiator support, particularly the inner space of the support lower, or the space around the lower, there is no need to make an extra space for the tank. In addition, since the radiator support supports the own weight of the washer liquid, a simple configuration that does not require a reinforcing member is provided. In the illustrated example, the internal space of the support lower is used as a tank, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the internal space of the support upper can be used as a tank.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, but showing an example in which an inner pipe is used.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a connection between an inner pipe and a pump.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example in which a tank member is arranged along a radiator support.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bumper reinforcement 2 Radiator 3 Support lower 7 Internal space 8 Cap 9 Cylindrical body 10 Washer liquid 11 Pump 12 Nozzle 13 Inner pipe 14 Flange part 15 Tank member

Claims (5)

The radiator support that supports the radiator is molded from hollow material, the washer liquid is put into the inner space of the radiator support, the opening of the inner space of the radiator support is closed with a cap, and the washer liquid can be supplied to the outside with a pump Washer tank. The washer tank according to claim 1, wherein an inner pipe is inserted into the radiator support, an inner space is defined by the inner pipe, and a cap is attached to the inner pipe. A hollow tank member is arranged along a flange portion of a radiator support formed from a shape member and supporting a radiator, the washer liquid is placed in an inner space of the tank member, an opening of the inner space is closed with a cap, and Washer tank that enables the washer fluid in the internal space to be supplied to the outside by a pump. The washer tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the radiator support has a substantially U shape and is made of an aluminum alloy material. The washer tank according to claim 1, wherein the radiator support comprises a support lower and a support upper, the cap is fixed to the support upper and is attached to a cylinder communicating with the internal space, and the internal space is defined by the support lower.

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