JP2006130949A - Cleaning device of lighting fixture for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein there is a fear that a clearance and rattling are generated between a cover and an outer side surface of a bumper in a conventional cleaning device of a lighting fixture for a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The cover holder 7 always urges the cover 8 to a nozzle 6 direction side and pivotally retains it in all directions. As a result, the cover 8 is pivotable relative to the nozzle 6 in all directions by the cover holder 7. Therefore, the cover 8 can certainly follow to the outer side surface of the bumper 2 and generation of the clearance and rattling between the cover 8 and the outer side surface of the bumper 2 can be certainly prevented by that degree. Appearance is enhanced by eliminating the clearance and rattling between the cover 8 and the outer side surface of the bumper 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp cleaner for cleaning a lens by spraying a cleaning liquid from a nozzle onto the lens of the lamp.

  Conventionally, this type of vehicle lamp cleaner has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). A conventional vehicle lamp cleaner will be described below. In addition, the code | symbol with a parenthesis respond | corresponds to patent document 1. FIG. This conventional vehicle lamp cleaner device (1) is equipped with a cylinder (2) provided inside a bumper (11) as an exterior part of a vehicle, and the cylinder (2) is extendable and retractable. A piston (32) that extends due to the pumping of the cleaning liquid, and the piston (32) are provided. The piston (32) extends outward from the opening (74) of the bumper (11) by the extension of the piston (32), and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the vehicle. A nozzle (67) for injecting the lens of the lamp, and a cover (75) that is mounted on the nozzle (67) via a cover holder and covers the opening (74) when not operating. is there. The cover holder is composed of a sphere (65) and a joint (80) which are fitted to each other so as to be rotatable.

  The operation of the conventional vehicle lamp cleaner device (1) will be described below. When the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank is pumped into the cylinder (2) by a pump, the piston (32) extends from the cylinder (2), and the nozzle (67) protrudes outward from the opening (74) of the bumper (11), The cleaning liquid is sprayed from the nozzle (67) onto the lens of the vehicle lamp. Thereby, the lens of the vehicle lamp is cleaned with the cleaning liquid. When cleaning is stopped and the pumping of the cleaning liquid is stopped, the spraying of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle (67) stops, the piston (32) is retracted into the cylinder (2), and the nozzle (67) is bumpered. The opening (74) of (11) is housed inside, and the cover (75) covers the opening (74) of the bumper (11). At this time, the cover (75) covers the opening (74) following the outer surface of the bumper (11) by the mutual rotating action of the sphere (65) of the cover holder and the joint (80). There is no gap or rattling between the cover (75) and the outer surface of the bumper (11).

  However, in the conventional vehicle lamp cleaner (1), the plate-shaped anti-rotation portion (66) of the ball portion (65) is engaged with the slit (84) of the joint (80) so that the ball portion ( 65) and the joint (80) are configured to prevent mutual lateral rotation. For this purpose, in the conventional vehicle lamp cleaner device (1), the rotation preventing portion (66) and the slit (84) in which the cover (75) is engaged with the bumper (11). Can rotate within a certain angle in one direction of the plane direction, but only the small gap between the rotation preventing portion (66) and the slit (84) rotates in the other direction. For this reason, in the conventional vehicular lamp cleaner device (1), there is a possibility that a gap or rattling may occur between the cover (75) and the outer surface of the bumper (11).

JP-A-8-58532

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in the conventional vehicle lamp cleaner (1), there is a possibility that a gap or rattling occurs between the cover (75) and the outer surface of the bumper (11). There is in point to be.

  The present invention is characterized in that the cover holder constantly urges the cover toward the nozzle direction and holds the cover in a swingable manner in all directions.

  In the vehicle lamp cleaner according to the present invention, the cover can swing in all directions with respect to the nozzle by the cover holder. For this reason, the vehicle lamp cleaner device of the present invention reliably follows the outer surface of the exterior part of the vehicle as compared with the conventional vehicle lamp cleaner device having a rotating function in one direction. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of gaps and rattling between the cover and the outer surface of the exterior part. The appearance is improved by eliminating a gap or rattling between the cover and the outer surface of the exterior part. In particular, the vehicle lamp cleaner device of the present invention constantly urges the cover toward the nozzle direction side by the cover holder, so even if the position of the outer surface of the exterior part varies in the direction in which the cover and the nozzle are put in and out, This variation can be dealt with, and the cover can be securely adhered to the outer surface of the exterior part. As a result, the generation of gaps and rattles between the cover and the outer surface of the exterior part can be further reliably prevented, and the appearance is further improved.

  Embodiments of a vehicle lamp cleaner according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vehicle lamp cleaner device in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle lamp cleaner device in this embodiment. The cleaner apparatus 1 is for cleaning dirt on the surface of a lens (not shown) of a headlamp of an automobile with a cleaning liquid, for example.

  The cleaner device 1 includes an exterior part of a vehicle, in this example, a cylinder 3 provided inside a bumper 2, a piston 4 that is provided in the cylinder 3 so as to be extendable and contracted, and is extended by pumping a cleaning liquid, The piston 4 is equipped with a nozzle 6 that protrudes outward from the opening 5 of the bumper 2 by the extension of the piston 4 and sprays cleaning liquid onto the lens, and the nozzle 6 is equipped with a cover holder 7. And a cover 8 that covers the opening 5 when not in operation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 6 includes two injection nozzles 9 and a nozzle holder 10 that holds the two injection nozzles 9 at one end of the piston 4. In addition, although the injection direction of the two injection nozzles 9 is the same in the vertical direction (the expansion and contraction direction of the piston 4), it may be changed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover holder 7 constantly urges the cover 8 toward the nozzle 6 and holds the cover 8 so as to be swingable in all directions. That is, the cover holder 7 includes a first holder 11 provided on the nozzle 6 and having a tapered surface 13, a second holder 12 provided on the cover 8 and having a tapered surface 14, and the second holder 12. It comprises a coiled spring 15 that constantly urges the tapered surface 14 against the tapered surface 13 of the first holder 11 and holds it in a swingable manner in all directions.

  A cylindrical fixing portion 16 is integrally provided on one end surface (upper end surface) of the nozzle holder 10.

  The first holder 11 is a so-called cap, and includes a plate portion 17, a cylindrical fixing portion 18 provided integrally on an edge of one surface (lower surface) of the plate portion 17, and the other surface of the plate portion 17. It is comprised from the column-shaped attachment part 21 integrally provided in the center part of (upper surface). The tapered surface 13 is provided in a mortar shape around the attachment portion 21 on the other surface of the plate portion 17.

  The second holder 12 has a cylindrical shape in which one end (lower end) is closed and the other end (upper end) is opened. A through hole 22 that is slightly larger than the attachment portion 21 is provided in the center of the closing portion of the second holder 12. Further, two engaging claws 23 are provided on the outer surface of the side portion of the second holder 12 in a matching body. Further, the tapered surface 14 is provided in a mortar shape around the through hole 22 on one surface (upper surface) of the closed portion of the second holder 12.

  The cover 8 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. Two elastic plates 24 are integrally provided on the bottom surface of the cover 8 so as to correspond to the two engaging claws 23, respectively. The two elastic plates 24 are each provided with an engagement hole 25.

  The fixing portion 18 of the first holder 11 is fixed to the fixing portion 16 of the nozzle holder 10. On the other hand, the two engagement claws 23 of the second holder 12 are elastically engaged with the engagement holes 25 of the two elastic plates 24 of the cover 8 respectively. The through hole 22 of the second holder 12 is fitted to the attachment portion 21 of the first holder 11 from the outside, and the tapered surface 14 of the second holder 12 is placed on the tapered surface 13 of the first holder 11. The spring 15 is fitted into the mounting portion 21 from the outside. The push nut 26 is fixed to one end (upper end) of the mounting portion 21 in a state where the spring 15 is compressed between the portion where the tapered surface 14 of the second holder 12 is provided and the push nut 26. Then, the cover 8 and the second holder 12 are urged toward the nozzle 6 by the spring force of the spring 15 in a compressed state, while the first holder 11 is moved through the push nut 26. It is biased toward the cover 8 side. As a result, the tapered surface 13 of the first holder 11 and the tapered surface 14 of the second holder 12 are pressed against each other. As a result, the cover 8 is always urged toward the nozzle 6 by the cover holder 7 and is held swingably in all directions.

  A recess 19 is provided in the bumper 2 at a location where the cover 8 is located. The concave portion 19 has a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the cover 8 when viewed from above, and has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the cover 8. As a result, when the cover 8 is accommodated in the recess 19 with almost no gap, the outer surface of the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2 are substantially flush with each other.

  The opening 5 is provided at the bottom of the concave portion 19 of the bumper 2. The opening 5 is slightly smaller than the cover 8 and larger than the nozzle 6 and the cover holder 7. A curved guide portion 20 that accommodates and guides the cover 8 in the concave portion 19 is provided at a corner portion of the concave portion 19.

  Then, the cylinder 3 is attached to a bracket (not shown) inside the bumper 2. The cylinder 3 and a cleaning liquid tank (not shown) are connected to each other by a cleaning liquid pressure feed pipe (not shown) via a pump (not shown). The nozzle 6 faces the opening 5 of the bumper 2. Further, the cover 8 is positioned on the opening 5 of the bumper 2. Thereby, the said cleaner apparatus 1 is equipped with a vehicle.

  The configuration of the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  When the cleaner is not operated (when the cleaner is not used), as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 4A, the piston 4 is moved by the spring force of the piston spring (not shown). Is housed in the cylinder 3, and the closing valve (not shown) is closed by the spring force of the closing valve spring (not shown). Further, since the piston 4 is accommodated in the cylinder 3, the cover 8 is accommodated in the concave portion 19 of the bumper 2 and covers the opening 5 of the bumper 2.

  When the cleaner is operated (when the cleaner is used), as shown in FIG. 3B, the pump is operated to pump the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank into the cylinder 3 through the cleaning liquid pumping pipe. When the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 3 becomes larger than the spring force of the piston spring, the piston 4 extends from the cylinder 3. As a result, the cover 8 is separated from the bumper 2 to open the opening 5 of the bumper 2, and the nozzle 6 protrudes from the opening 5 to face the lens of the headlamp. Further, when the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 3 becomes larger than the spring force of the closing valve spring, the closing valve opens, and the cleaning liquid passes through the pistons from the two injection nozzles 9 to the vehicle lamp, for example, the lens of the headlamp. Be injected. Thereby, the lens of the headlamp is cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

  When the cleaning is completed, the pump operation is stopped and the pumping of the cleaning liquid to the cylinder 3 is stopped. When the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 3 becomes smaller than the spring force of the closing valve spring, the closing valve is closed and the injection of the cleaning liquid from the two injection nozzles 9 is stopped. Further, when the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 3 becomes smaller than the spring force of the piston spring, the piston 4 is retracted and accommodated in the cylinder 3, and FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 1 (B) and FIG. 4 (A). It will be in the state shown in. That is, the nozzle 6 is accommodated in the bumper 2 from the opening 5, and the cover 8 is accommodated in the recess 19 of the bumper 2 to cover the opening 5 of the bumper 2.

  The vehicle lamp cleaner 1 according to this embodiment has the above-described configuration and operation, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  The vehicle lamp cleaner 1 in this embodiment includes a second holder 12 having a tapered surface 14 as well as a first holder 11 having a tapered surface 13, a cover holder 7 composed of a spring 15 and a push nut 26. The cover 8 can swing in all directions with respect to the nozzle 6 composed of the two injection nozzles 9 and the nozzle holder 10. Therefore, the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment has a cover 8 that reliably follows the outer surface of the bumper 2 as compared with a conventional vehicular lamp cleaner device having a rotating function in one direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of a gap or rattling between the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2. By eliminating a gap or rattling between the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2, the appearance is improved.

  Further, in the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment, the cover 8 is constantly urged toward the nozzle 6 by the spring 15 of the cover holder 7, so that the cover 8 can be brought into close contact with the outer surface of the bumper 2. it can. In particular, even if the position of the outer surface of the bumper 2 fluctuates in the direction in which the cover 8 and the nozzle 6 are put in and out (up and down direction) or is inclined as shown in FIG. The cover 8 can be securely adhered to the outer surface of the bumper 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of a gap or rattling between the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2 and further improve the appearance.

  Further, the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment uses the cover holder 7 having the spring 15 to constantly urge the cover 8 toward the nozzle 6 and to swing in all directions. 1 mounting errors and dimensional errors such as the cover 8 and the recess 19 can be sufficiently absorbed in all directions. In addition, the outer surface of the bumper 2 having a three-dimensional shape (that is, the outer surface in the longitudinal direction of the bumper 2 is a curved surface (curved surface having a small curvature), and the outer surface in the short direction of the bumper 2 is a curved surface. (The curved surface has a curvature larger than the curvature of the curved surface in the longitudinal direction)), and it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of gaps and rattling between the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2, Appearance is improved.

  In particular, the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a recess 19 in the bumper 2 where the cover 8 is located. For this reason, in the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment, the cover 8 is accommodated in the recess 19 with almost no gap when not in operation, and the outer surface of the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2 are substantially surface. Become one. Therefore, the appearance of the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment is further improved.

  In addition, since the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment is provided with the curved guide portion 20 at the corner of the recess 19, the cover 8 is covered when the cover 8 is accommodated in the recess 19 when not operating. 8 is reliably accommodated in the recess 19 by the accommodation guide action of the curved guide portion 20, and the outer surface of the cover 8 and the outer surface of the bumper 2 are substantially flush with each other. Therefore, the appearance of the vehicle lamp cleaner device 1 in this embodiment is further improved.

  Further, in the vehicle lamp cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, the cover 8 and the second holder 12 are attached by elastic engagement between the engagement hole 25 of the elastic plate 24 and the engagement claw 23. 8 can be aligned according to the body color of the bumper 2 and the parts other than the cover 8, that is, the cylinder 3, the piston 4, the nozzle 6 and the cover holder 7 can be shared (shared). Thereby, the manufacturing cost becomes low. Moreover, the cover 8 can be arbitrarily replaced.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the vehicle lamp cleaner device in the embodiment. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a non-operating state, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state.

  A vehicle lamp cleaner device 1A according to this modification is such that no bump is provided in a bumper 2A of an exterior part of a vehicle. That is, the portion of the bumper 2A where the cover 8 is located is substantially flat, and the opening 5 is provided in this flat portion. The vehicular lamp cleaner device 1A according to this modification can achieve substantially the same operational effects as the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1 in the above-described embodiment.

  In the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1 in the above embodiment and the vehicular lamp cleaner device 1A according to the modified example (hereinafter simply referred to as the cleaner device 1, 1A), bumpers 2, 2A are used as exterior parts of the vehicle. However, in the present invention, in addition to the bumpers 2 and 2A, a part of the design of the vehicular lamp may be used. For example, a dummy lens (so-called finisher) that is integral with or separate from the lens of a vehicle lamp (headlamp). An opening 5 is provided in the dummy lens, and the opening 5 is opened and closed by a cover 8.

  The cleaner devices 1 and 1A are necessary for each of the left and right headlamps because the vehicle lamps to be cleaned, for example, headlamps, are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the front portion of the vehicle (automobile). On the other hand, the shape of the outer surface of the exterior part of the vehicle on which the left and right cleaner devices 1 and 1A are respectively mounted is different on the left and right and is substantially symmetrical. Similarly to the shape of the outer side surface of the exterior part, the shape of the side surface is different on the left and right sides and is almost symmetrical. For this purpose, the left and right cleaner devices 1 and 1A and the cover 8 respectively corresponding to the left and right headlamps are required. Therefore, the left and right covers 8 must be accurately assembled to the left and right cleaner devices 1 and 1A. is there. Therefore, by providing a structure for preventing erroneous assembly between the cover 8 and the cover holder 7, for example, the second holder 12, the left and right covers 8 can be accurately assembled to the left and right cleaner devices 1, 1 </ b> A. . The misassembly prevention structure may be, for example, a structure in which the size, orientation, shape, etc. of the engagement claw 23 of the second holder 12 and the engagement hole 25 of the elastic plate 24 of the cover 8 are changed to the left and right, respectively. There is a structure in which the second holder 12 and the cover 8 are provided with concavities and convexities whose sizes, orientations, shapes, and the like are changed exclusively for the left and right.

It is explanatory drawing which expanded the principal part which shows the Example of the cleaner apparatus of the vehicle lamp concerning this invention. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the decomposition | disassembly state of the principal part. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the front at the time of cleaner operation | movement, and the front at the time of cleaner non-operation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the cleaner apparatus of the vehicle lamp concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A cleaner device 2, 2A bumper (vehicle exterior parts)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Cylinder 4 Piston 5 Opening part 6 Nozzle 7 Cover holder 8 Cover 9 Injection nozzle 10 Nozzle holder 11 1st holder 12 2nd holder 13, 14 Tapered surface 15 Spring 16 Fixed part 17 Plate part 18 Fixed part 19 Concave part 20 Curve guide part 21 Mounting portion 22 Through hole 23 Engaging claw 24 Elastic plate 25 Engaging hole 26 Push nut

Claims (5)

In a vehicle lamp cleaner for cleaning a lens of a lamp mounted on a vehicle with a cleaning liquid,
A cylinder equipped inside the exterior part of the vehicle;
A piston that is extendable and retractable to the cylinder, and extends by pumping the cleaning liquid;
Equipped with the piston, and a nozzle that projects outwardly from the opening of the exterior component by the extension of the piston and injects a cleaning liquid onto the lens;
The nozzle is equipped with a cover holder, and a cover that covers the opening when not operating,
With
The vehicle lamp cleaner device, wherein the cover holder constantly biases the cover toward the nozzle direction and holds the cover so as to be swingable in all directions.   The cover holder includes a first holder provided on the nozzle and having a tapered surface, a second holder provided on the cover and having a tapered surface, and the tapered surface of the second holder is always tapered from the first holder. 2. The vehicle lamp cleaner device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that is urged against the surface and held so as to be swingable in all directions. In a vehicle lamp cleaner for cleaning a lens of a lamp mounted on a vehicle with a cleaning liquid,
An exterior part of the vehicle in which an opening is provided at the bottom of the recess;
A cylinder installed inside the exterior part;
A piston that is extendable and retractable to the cylinder, and extends by pumping the cleaning liquid;
Equipped with the piston, and a nozzle that projects outwardly from the opening of the exterior component by the extension of the piston and injects a cleaning liquid onto the lens;
The nozzle is equipped with a cover holder, and when not operating, a cover that is accommodated in the recess and covers the opening,
With
The vehicle lamp cleaner device, wherein the cover holder constantly biases the cover toward the nozzle direction and holds the cover so as to be swingable in all directions.   The cover holder includes a first holder provided on the nozzle and having a tapered surface, a second holder provided on the cover and having a tapered surface, and the tapered surface of the second holder is always tapered from the first holder. 4. The vehicle lamp cleaner device according to claim 3, further comprising a spring that is urged against the surface and is held so as to be swingable in all directions.   5. The vehicle lamp cleaner device according to claim 3, wherein a curved guide portion that accommodates and guides the cover is provided at a corner portion of the concave portion.

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