JP2006321443A - Wiper device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain an appropriate condition of attachment of a link cover for a wiper arm of a four-link type wiper even when the link cover is lifted in the direction apart from a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The link cover 36 is connected to the wiper arm 24 by a tension coil spring 52. When a lump of snow growing at the time of snowfall uplifts the link cover 36 in the direction apart from the vehicle, the appropriate condition of attachment of the link cover 36 is maintained by the elongation of the tension coil spring 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle wiper device for wiping a windshield glass of a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle wiper device in which a cover is attached to a link mechanism portion such as a 4-link type.

  An example of a link cover provided in a link mechanism of a four-link wiper is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

This vehicle wiper device is a four-contact type (four-link type) in which a main lever and a sub lever are connected to an arm head (wiper arm). A link cover is attached to the link mechanism for preventing external contact.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-227572

  However, in such a vehicle wiper device, there is a possibility that a snow mass solidified by repeated operation of the wiper during snowfall may interfere with the link cover.

  In consideration of the above-described facts, the present invention has an object to provide a vehicle wiper device that does not affect the proper arrangement of the link cover even if foreign matters such as snow interfere with the link cover in the link wiper. is there.

  A wiper device for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention is a wiper arm that reciprocates while holding a wiper blade at a tip, a link mechanism that reciprocates the wiper arm, a link cover that covers the link mechanism, An urging means is provided for allowing the link cover to approach the link mechanism with an urging force so that the link cover can be separated from the link mechanism against the urging force when an external force is applied.

  According to the above configuration, the wiper arm reciprocates as the link mechanism reciprocates the wiper arm. The wiper blade held at the tip of the wiper arm reciprocates together with the wiper arm, thereby wiping rain and snow on the windshield glass.

  When the wiper device is stopped during snowfall, there is a link cover that is approaching the link mechanism by the urging force of the urging means, so that snow does not accumulate in the link mechanism. However, when the wiper device is activated, the link cover that covers the link mechanism moves back and forth together with the wiper arm, and snow that accumulates around the link mechanism may push the link cover away from the vehicle. Since the link cover is separated from the link mechanism, the link cover is maintained at an appropriate position and a smooth wiper operation is ensured.

  A vehicle wiper device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, a guide is provided to hold the link cover so as to be able to be relative to the link mechanism.

  According to the above configuration, when the snow accumulated around the link mechanism pushes the link cover away from the vehicle, the link cover is separated from the link mechanism. By removing the snow, the separated link cover is returned to the original position by the guide that holds the link cover relative to the link mechanism.

The vehicle wiper device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the vehicle wiper device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing means is provided with a tension coil spring having one end attached to the link cover and the other end attached to the wiper arm. According to the above configuration, the extension coil spring extends and the link cover is separated from the link mechanism, thereby ensuring a smooth wiper operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle wiper device according to the first or second aspect is provided with a leaf spring having one end attached to the link cover and the other end fixed to the wiper arm as the biasing means. According to the above configuration, the leaf spring having better shape stability than the tension coil spring extends and the link cover is separated from the link mechanism, thereby ensuring a smooth wiper operation.

  In the vehicle wiper device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the link type wiper, even if the link cover interferes with foreign matter, the link cover is separated from the link mechanism, so that a smooth wiper operation is ensured.

  The vehicle wiper device according to the second aspect of the present invention can hold the link cover relative to the link mechanism by the guide.

  In the vehicle wiper device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the tension coil spring extends and the link cover can be separated from the link mechanism.

  In the vehicle wiper device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the leaf spring extends and the link cover can be separated from the link mechanism.

  A vehicle wiper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle inner side direction.

  FIG. 4 shows the windshield glass 12 of the vehicle 10 to which the first embodiment is applied, the rear portion of the front engine hood 14, and the cowl louver 16 disposed therebetween. Further, wipers 18 and 20 are disposed on the upper surface of the lower portion of the windshield glass 12. The base end portion of the wiper 18 is at the vehicle width direction outer side, and the base end portion of the wiper 20 is at the substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction. It is attached to the car body.

  Since the wipers 18 and 20 have the same configuration, the wiper 20 will be described below representatively.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wiper 20 includes a wiper blade 22, a wiper arm 24, a main lever 26, and a sub lever 28. The blade holder 22A of the wiper blade 22 is provided with a blade rubber for wiping rain or snow attached to the windshield glass 12, and the blade rubber of the blade holder 22A is in contact with the windshield glass 12 in a stopped state. The longitudinal direction is arranged as the vehicle width direction. The wiper arm 24 that holds the wiper blade 22 at the distal end portion is disposed in the stop state in the longitudinal direction along the vehicle width direction, and the longitudinal cross section thereof is open at the cowl louver 16 side as shown in FIGS. It has a U-shaped cross section. The U-shaped cross section includes a base plate 46 and reinforcing flanges 51 extending from both edges of the base plate 46 toward the cowl louver 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the base end portion of the wiper arm 24 is a flat plate part punched from a thick panel material, and the front end of the main lever 26 in which the longitudinal axis is formed straight in a plan view, The base plate 46 is rotatably supported by a connecting shaft 29. Further, the base end of the main lever 26 is connected to a pivot shaft 30 as a rotation shaft provided in the vehicle. The pivot shaft 30 is connected to a drive source (not shown) and receives a rotational force from the drive source to reciprocate.

  Further, the sub-lever 28 constituting the link mechanism together with the wiper arm 24 and the main lever 26 is a flat plate part punched from a thick panel material, and the longitudinal axis is bent from the intermediate part in plan view. Further, the distal end of the sub lever 28 is pivotally supported by the connecting shaft 31 to the base plate 46 at an intermediate portion near the distal end portion from the proximal end portion of the wiper arm 24. Further, the base end of the sub lever 28 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 32 provided at a predetermined distance from the pivot shaft 30 in the vehicle width direction. Further, a link mechanism is configured by the main lever 26, the sub lever 28, and the wiper arm 24, including a vehicle portion that supports the pivot shaft 30 and the support shaft 32, and is a four-link wiper.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the main lever 26 reciprocates together with the pivot shaft 30, the link mechanism reciprocates the wiper arm 24. The sub lever 28 bends the axes of the main lever 26 and the wiper arm 24 at the start and end points of the reciprocating rotation of the main lever 26, and substantially straightens the axes of the main lever 26 and the wiper arm 24 at the intermediate portion of the reciprocating rotation. To do. As a result, at the center of the wiping angle of the wiper blade 22, the wiper arm 24 and the main lever 26 are positioned substantially on the same line, so that the wiping line of the wiper blade 22 held at the tip of the wiper arm 24 is shown in FIG. As shown by the solid line A shown, the windshield glass 12 extends upward and can be wiped widely up to the corner of the windshield glass 12. A dotted line B in FIG. 5 shows a wiping line of a conventional wiper in which the distance between the tip of the wiper arm and the pivot shaft does not change as a comparison.

  As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a link cover 36 is provided at the base end of the wiper 20 so as to cover the vicinity of the connecting portion of the wiper arm 24, the main lever 26, and the sub-lever 28, which is an intersection of the link mechanism. It has been. The outer shape of the link cover 36 is preferably a shape that covers the link mechanism exposed from the rear end of the front engine hood 14 in order to prevent snow or the like from staying in the link mechanism or foreign matter being caught.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the link cover 36 is integrally formed of a resin material, is fixed to the vehicle outer side (directly above) of the wiper arm 24, and is near the shaft support portion of the main lever 26 and the sub lever 28 to the wiper arm 24. And a covering portion 40 that covers the main lever 26 and the sub lever 28 on the vehicle outer side (directly above).

  Specifically, the covering portion 40 includes a covering plate 42 that covers the surfaces of the main lever 26 and the sub lever 28, and a peripheral wall 44 that is formed on the outer edge of the covering plate 42. The height of the peripheral wall 44 is determined so as not to restrain the movement of the main lever 26 and the sub lever 28. The peripheral wall 44 reinforces the covering plate 42 and prevents snow from entering the covering portion 40 from the side surface. Further, one side of the peripheral wall 44 of the covering plate 42 is a side plate 49 of the mounting portion 38. The mounting portion 38 is connected to the side plate 49 at one end 50 </ b> A parallel to the top plate 48, the side plate 49, and the side plate 49 extending on the same plane as the cover plate 42, and the other end is opposed to the side plate 49. It is comprised with the side plate 50 which forms the gap | interval 50B. As shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 49 and the side plate 50 are configured to wrap and cover the reinforcing flange 51 of the wiper arm 24 from the outside.

  Further, a shaft 58 is provided on the back surface of the top plate 48 (the surface facing the inside of the vehicle) near the opposing gap 50B toward the base plate 46 of the wiper arm 24. The base portion of the shaft 58 is reinforced by a cross-shaped rib plate 60. Further, a cross-shaped rib plate 61 without a shaft is provided near the one end portion 50 </ b> A on the back surface of the top plate 48 toward the base plate 46 of the wiper arm 24, and the top surfaces of the rib plate 61 and the rib plate 60. Is configured to abut against the base plate 46.

  Further, four opposing rib plates 62 and four hooks 54 are formed on the opposing surfaces of the side plate 49 and the side plate 50 of the mounting portion 38. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the four hooking portions 54 are formed at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 38, and an L-shaped hooking portion whose leading end faces upward in the vehicle. 54. One end of four tension coil springs 52 as hooking means for biasing the link cover 36 to the wiper arm 24 and hooking the link cover 36 to the wiper arm 24 are hooked to the L-shaped hooking portion 54. ing.

  The other end of the tension coil spring 52 is hooked on four hooking plates 56 formed outside the reinforcing flange 51 of the wiper arm 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the hooking plate 56 is formed by cutting and raising the reinforcing flange 51, and has an L shape with the tip portion directed downward in the vehicle.

  In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the position of the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24 is determined by inserting the shaft 58 through the through hole 53 provided in the base plate 46 of the wiper arm 24. It is done. Further, the base plate 46 of the wiper arm 24 contacts the top surfaces of the cross-shaped rib plates 60 and 61 by the urging force of the tension coil spring 52, whereby the positions of the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 in the axial direction of the shaft 58 are determined. . Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the relative movement between the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24 is limited within a predetermined range by the front end of the rib plate 62 and the reinforcing flange 51 of the wiper arm 24 facing each other. Is done. In other words, the shaft 58, the cross-shaped rib plates 60 and 61, and the rib plate 62 serve as guides that hold the link cover 36 so as to be able to be relative to the wiper arm 24 constituting the link mechanism. In FIG. 2, a gap is provided between the reinforcing flange 51 and the rib plate 62, but the positions of the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 are determined by eliminating the gap and applying the rib plate 62 to the reinforcing flange 51. May be.

  Further, since the mounting portion 38 is restrained from moving by a tensile force acting in the direction perpendicular to the tension direction of the tension coil spring 52 by the plurality of tension coil springs 52, the mounting portion 38 is omitted even if the shaft 58 is omitted. Does not greatly deviate from the wiper 20. Accordingly, in this case, the rib plate 62 is also omitted, and the link cover 36 can be moved relatively relative to the wiper arm 24 in the longitudinally perpendicular direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2) of the wiper arm 24 between the link cover 36 and the wiper arm 24. Even so, the link cover 36 is not greatly displaced by the tensile force of the tension coil spring 52.

  When a force in a direction away from the vehicle (arrow C shown in FIG. 2) is applied to the link cover 36, the tension coil spring 52 extends, so that the link cover 36 is shown by an imaginary line (two-dot chain line) in FIG. Although it is in a raised state away from the wiper arm 24, it is connected by the tension coil spring 52, so it does not fall off from the wiper arm 24.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the vehicle wiper device according to the present embodiment, the link cover 36 that covers the link mechanism prevents snow or the like from staying in the link mechanism, or foreign matter is caught in the link mechanism. However, when the wiper device is operated during snowfall, the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 reciprocate, and the snow accumulated on the cowl louver 16 may grow in a convex direction from the vehicle while being solidified by the repeated operation of the wiper 20. . The grown snow mass pushes the link cover 36 away from the vehicle. In addition, snow may enter the gap between the link cover 36 and the wiper arm 24, and the snow that has entered may push up the link cover 36. However, in the present embodiment, since the link cover 36 is connected to the wiper arm 24 by the tension coil spring 52 that elastically deforms by tension, the link cover 36 drops off from the wiper arm 24 when the tension coil spring 52 extends. In other words, the wiper arm 24 is raised away from the vehicle.

  Therefore, even if the link cover 36 is pushed up in the direction away from the vehicle, the link cover 36 is attached to the wiper arm 24 by the extension of the tension coil spring 52. Thereby, even if the link cover 36 interferes with foreign matter, a smooth wiper operation is ensured.

  Further, by removing the snow accumulated in the cowl louver 16, the tension coil spring 52 returns the link cover 36 to the original position by its elasticity.

  Next, a vehicle wiper device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, about the same member as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the link cover 36 is not connected to the wiper arm 24 by the tension coil spring as in the first embodiment, but instead is replaced by three leaf springs 64. It is connected to the wiper arm 24. In this embodiment, the rib plate 62 (see FIG. 2) for limiting the position of the wiper arm 24 and the link cover 36 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24 is not provided unlike the first embodiment. The leaf spring 64 has this function.

  The three leaf springs 64 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24 and are arranged in a staggered manner so as not to face each other. As shown in FIG. 7, the leaf spring 64 is formed with a diameter-enlarged portion 65 </ b> A that is expanded by heating after a pin 65 projecting integrally from the top plate 48 of the resin mounting portion 38 passes through one end. As a result, it is fixed to the top plate 48. An intermediate portion of the leaf spring 64 is a V-shaped bent portion 64B, and a straight portion 64C along the outer side of the reinforcing flange 51 is extended from the distal end portion of the bent portion 64B. A bent portion 64 </ b> A that is locked to the end of the reinforcing flange 51 is formed at the tip of the straight portion 64 </ b> C with a V-shape with the tip facing the inside of the wiper arm 24. The link cover 36 is fixed to the wiper arm 24 by sandwiching the reinforcing flange 51 between the bent portion 64A and the bent portion 64B.

  As described above, since the leaf springs 64 contact the reinforcing flanges 51 of the wiper arm 24 and the leaf springs 64 are alternately arranged in a staggered manner, the positions of the wiper arm and the link cover 36 in the longitudinally perpendicular direction of the wiper arm 24 are It is decided.

  The operation of the second embodiment is that when the link cover 36 receives an external force in a direction away from the vehicle, the bent portion 64B of the leaf spring 64 extends in a direction to increase the V-shaped angle, and the link cover 36 is shown in FIG. The raised state shown by the imaginary line (two-dot chain line) is obtained. When this external force disappears, the leaf spring 64 returns the link cover 36 to its original position by its elasticity. In this embodiment, the link cover 36 is attached to the wiper arm 24 by the leaf spring 64. Therefore, when the link cover 36 is mounted, the link cover 36 is simply pressed in the vehicle downward direction (D direction shown in FIG. 7). It can be attached to the wiper arm 24, and the assembly workability is easy.

  Next, a third embodiment of the vehicle wiper device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, about the same member as 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the link cover 36 is not connected to the wiper arm 24 by the leaf springs alternately arranged in a staggered manner as in the second embodiment. The two leaf springs 67 are connected to the wiper arm 24.

  The two leaf springs 67 are disposed at both ends of the mounting portion 36 along the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24. As shown in FIG. 9, the leaf spring 67 has a diameter-enlarged portion 65 </ b> A that is enlarged in diameter by heating after a pin 65 that integrally protrudes from the top plate 48 of the resin mounting portion 38 passes through the center portion thereof. Is fixed to the top plate 48. A V-shaped bent portion 64B and a bent portion 67A are formed on both sides of the leaf spring 67, and a straight portion 64C along the outer side of the reinforcing flange 51 is extended from the distal end portion of the bent portion 67A.

  As described above, the leaf spring 67 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the central portion fixed to the top plate 48 and is configured to sandwich the reinforcing flange 51 from both sides. Therefore, the positions of the wiper arm and the link cover 36 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 24 are determined.

  The action of the third embodiment is that when the link cover 36 receives an external force in a direction away from the vehicle, the bent portions 64B and 67A of the leaf spring 67 extend in a direction to increase the V-shaped angle, and the link cover 36 A raised state shown by an imaginary line (two-dot chain line) in FIG. 9 is obtained. When this external force disappears, the leaf spring 64 returns the link cover 36 to its original position by its elasticity.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to the contractor. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is provided in a four-link wiper, but may be applied to a link cover provided in a wiper employing another link mechanism or the like.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wiper device for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the wiper and the link cover of FIG. 3 are viewed from the lower rear side of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the vehicle wiper device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 3 is rotated 90 ° clockwise. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the wiper device of FIG. 4, showing the vehicle wiper device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the windshield glass periphery of the vehicle which employ | adopted the vehicle wiper apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention from the vehicle front outer side. It is a top view which shows the wiper apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the movement of the wiping line and link mechanism of a wiper. It is a disassembled perspective view equivalent to FIG. 1 which shows the wiper apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 2 which shows the wiper apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view equivalent to FIG. 1 which shows the wiper apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 2 which shows the wiper apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle 22 Wiper blade 24 Wiper arm (link mechanism)
26 Main lever (link mechanism)
28 Sub-lever (link mechanism)
36 Link cover 52 Tension coil spring 58 Shaft (guide)
60 Rib plate (guide)
61 Rib plate (guide)
62 Rib plate (guide)
64 leaf spring 67 leaf spring

Claims (4)

A wiper arm that reciprocates while holding the wiper blade at the tip, and
A link mechanism for reciprocating the wiper arm;
A link cover covering the link mechanism;
An urging means for causing the link cover to approach the link mechanism with an urging force so that the link cover can be separated from the link mechanism against the urging force when an external force is applied;
Wiper apparatus for vehicles provided with.   The vehicle wiper device according to claim 1, wherein a guide is provided to hold the link cover so as to be able to be relative to the link mechanism.   3. The vehicle wiper device according to claim 1, wherein a tension coil spring having one end attached to the link cover and the other end attached to the wiper arm is provided as the biasing means.   3. The vehicle wiper device according to claim 1, wherein a plate spring having one end attached to the link cover and the other end fixed to the wiper arm is provided as the urging means. 4.

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