JP2008007046A - Wiper arm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiper arm having a press spring for generating a pressing force of a wiper blade against a surface to be wiped which has a mechanism capable of easily adjusting the spring force of the press spring without disassembling the wiper arm. <P>SOLUTION: The wiper arm 1 comprises an arm head 2, a retainer 4, and a coil spring 16 provided between the arm head 2 and the retainer 4. A screw member 13 is mounted to a guide pin 10 to guide the coil spring 16, and the base end 16A of the coil spring 16 is abutted on a nut 15 which is screwed to a screw groove 13A of the outer circumference of the screw member 13. On the other hand, the fore end 16B of the coil spring 16 is supported by a stopper member 20. The pressing force of the wiper arm 1 can be adjusted by changing a compression amount in the initial state of the coil spring 16 by changing the screwing position of the nut 15 with respect to the screw member 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper arm provided with a mechanism that can adjust the spring force of a push spring in a wiper arm having a push spring that generates a pressing force against a surface to be wiped by a wiper blade.

  A wiper device generally includes a wiper blade that wipes a surface to be wiped such as a window surface of an automobile, a wiper arm that supports the wiper blade, and a drive motor that is linked to the wiper arm via a link mechanism. . A wiper arm generally includes an arm head coupled to a link mechanism, a retainer coupled to the arm head so as to be rotatable, and an arm piece held by the retainer, and the wiper blade is held by the arm piece. A spring means is provided at a connecting portion between the arm head and the retainer. This spring means urges the retainer toward the surface to be wiped to generate a pressing force for pressing the wiper blade against the surface to be wiped (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-47604 by the present applicant). No., Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-208266, Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-144339, etc.).

  FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show the structure in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the arm head and the retainer in the conventional wiper arm. As illustrated, in the wiper arm 101, the arm head 102 and the retainer 103 are connected to each other via a shaft 104 so as to be rotatable. A guide pin 105 is provided at the tip of the arm head 102. The guide pin 105 includes a base end portion 106 and a longitudinal portion 107 extending from the base end portion 106, and is pivotally supported by the base end portion 106 so as to be rotatable with respect to the arm head 102.

  A coil spring 110 is disposed around the longitudinal portion 107 of the guide pin 105. The base end portion 110 </ b> A of the coil spring 110 is supported on the end surface 106 </ b> A of the base end portion 106 via the washer 111. On the other hand, the tip 110B of the coil spring 110 abuts on the support plate 113A of the stopper member 113. Accordingly, the coil spring 110 is sandwiched between the base end portion 106 of the guide pin 105 and the support plate 113A of the stopper member 113 and is held in a compressed state. The stopper member 113 is fixed to the retainer 103 via a rivet 112.

  With such a configuration, when the wiper blade is not pressed against the surface to be wiped, the retainer 103 is slightly rotated clockwise with respect to the arm head 2 from the state shown in FIG. 15 by the spring force of the coil spring 110. It is in a position rotated in the direction. On the other hand, when the wiper blade is pressed against the surface to be wiped, the retainer 103 is pushed in a direction to increase the angle with respect to the arm head 102 (counterclockwise in FIG. 15) by the reaction force from the surface to be wiped. As a result, the coil spring 110 that is in a more compressed state than the initial state gives a spring force to rotate the retainer 4 in a direction to return to the initial state, and a pressing force corresponding to the spring force is generated. . The magnitude of such pressing force is determined by the compression amount of the coil spring 110 in the initial state, and this compression amount is adjusted by changing the thickness of the washer 111.

Some conventional wiper arms include a tension spring between the arm head and the retainer, and a pressing force is generated by the spring force of the tension spring. For example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2049435 by the present applicant proposes a wiper arm provided with a tension spring and a motor mechanism for adjusting the spring force of the tension spring.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-47604 Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-208266 Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-144339 Utility model registration No. 2049435

  As described above, in the wiper arm 101 that generates the pressing force using the conventional pressing spring, the pressing force is adjusted by changing the washer 111 to one having a different thickness. For this reason, in order to change the pressing force, the connecting structure (the rivet 112 and the stopper member 113) between the arm head 102 and the retainer 103 must be disassembled once, and the washer 111 must be replaced. It was necessary to prepare a plurality of washers 111 having different thicknesses. Further, if a motor for adjusting the spring force is provided like a wiper arm using a tension spring, the structure becomes complicated and the cost increases. In addition, it is difficult to secure a position where the adjustment motor is arranged in the push spring type wiper arm.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and in a wiper arm provided with a push spring that generates a pressing force against a surface to be wiped of a wiper blade, the push spring without disassembling the wiper arm. An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper arm provided with a mechanism capable of easily adjusting the spring force of the.

  The present invention provides a blade support portion connectable to a wiper blade, an arm head rotatably connected to the blade support portion, and the blade support portion disposed between the blade support portion and the arm head. A wiper arm having a pressing spring that generates a pressing force for pressing the wiper blade supported by the wiper surface, and a contact member that contacts at least one end of the pressing spring; Position changing means for changing the position of the pressing spring relative to the pressing spring, and the pressing force can be adjusted by the displacement of the contact member by the position changing means.

  The position changing unit may include a screw unit, and the contact member may be a member screwed into the screw unit.

  The wiper arm may include a guide pin that guides the push spring, the position changing unit may include a screw member having a screw unit, and the screw member may be attached to the guide pin.

  The screw member may be a cylindrical member attached coaxially with the guide pin, and the screw means may be a screw groove formed on a cylindrical outer periphery of the screw member.

  The wiper arm may include a guide pin that guides the push spring, and the screw means of the position changing means may be directly formed on the guide pin.

  The wiper arm includes a stopper member that supports an end portion of the push spring on the blade support portion side, the position changing unit includes a screw member having a screw unit, and the screw member is disposed on the stopper member. May be attached.

  The screw member may be a cylindrical member attached to the stopper member, and the screw means may be a screw groove formed on a cylindrical outer periphery of the screw member.

  The wiper arm may include a stopper member that supports an end of the push spring on the blade support portion side, and the screw means of the position changing means may be formed directly on the stopper member.

  The abutting member includes a substantially cylindrical main body having a screw formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a flange portion provided on the outer periphery of the main body, and a screw means in which the screw on the outer periphery of the main body is formed on the stopper member; In addition to screwing, the flange portion may abut against the end of the push spring.

  According to the present invention, a pressing spring (for example, a coil spring 16) provided between a blade support (for example, a retainer 4 and an arm piece 5) of a wiper arm (for example, a wiper arm 1) and an arm head (for example, an arm head 2). ) In the compressed state, the abutting member (for example, the nut 15, the cylindrical member 30, the nuts 45 and 55) that abuts on the end of the push spring is supported by the position changing means (for example, the screw member 13, the screw portion 12 </ b> A, and the screw support It can change by displacing using the part 26 and the screw members 40 and 50). Therefore, the adjustment of the pressing force of the wiper arm can be performed very easily without disassembling the wiper arm. Further, if the position changing means is provided with screw means and the abutting member is screwed into the screw means, the abutting member and the position changing means can be configured simply and at low cost, and without taking up space. And the shape of the wiper arm is not enlarged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entire configuration of a wiper arm common to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the wiper arm 1 includes an arm head 2, a retainer 4 rotatably connected to the arm head 2 via a shaft 3, and an arm piece 5 held by the retainer 4. ing. The arm head 2 is connected to a drive mechanism (drive motor and link mechanism) (not shown) at the base end 2A. The arm piece 5 is connected to a wiper blade (not shown) at the hook portion at the tip. With such a configuration, the wiper blade supported by the wiper arm 1 is moved along the surface to be wiped such as the window of the automobile by the drive mechanism, and wipes the surface to be wiped. In addition, the unit of the retainer 4 and the arm piece 5 in the embodiment corresponds to the blade support portion in the claims.

  FIG. 2 is a partial bottom view of the wiper arm 1 showing the vicinity of the connecting portion between the arm head 2 and the retainer 4 in the wiper arm 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a guide pin 10 is rotatably attached to the distal end portion 2B of the arm head 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide pin 10 includes a proximal end portion 11 and a longitudinal portion 12. The proximal end portion 11 is a portion that is attached to the distal end portion 2B of the arm head 2, and includes a shaft hole 11A into which an attachment shaft is inserted. The longitudinal portion 12 is an elongated portion having a rectangular cross section and extends from the proximal end portion 11 in the longitudinal direction.

  A screw member 13 is coaxially attached to the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10. The screw member 13 is a cylindrical member having a screw groove 13 </ b> A formed around the screw member 13, is fitted around the longitudinal portion 12, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the end portion 11 </ b> B of the base end portion 11.

  4A to 4C show some examples of the screw member 13. FIG. In each drawing, a front view of the screw member 13 is shown on the left side, and a side view is shown on the right side. 4A, the screw member 13 includes a mounting hole 13B having a circular cross section that penetrates the screw member 13 in the longitudinal direction. The diameter of the circular cross section of the mounting hole 13B is substantially equal to the length of the long side of the rectangular cross section of the longitudinal portion 12. When the longitudinal portion 12 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 13B, the screw member 13 is fixed so as not to rotate with respect to the longitudinal portion 12.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the screw member 13 includes a mounting hole 13C having a rectangular cross section that penetrates the screw member 13 in the longitudinal direction. The screw member 13 is fixed so as not to rotate with respect to the longitudinal portion 12 by fitting the longitudinal portion 12 having the same rectangular cross section into the mounting hole 13C.

  4C, the screw member 13 includes a mounting hole 13D that penetrates the screw member 13 in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of notches 13E formed on the end surface on the base end portion 11 side. When some of these notches 13E (two of the four notches 13E in this embodiment) are fitted to the end face 13A of the base end portion 11, the screw member 13 rotates with respect to the longitudinal portion 12. Not to be fixed. In addition, the longitudinal part 12 of the guide pin 10 will be in the state arrange | positioned in the attachment hole 13D.

  Referring again to FIG. 2, the nut 15 is screwed into the screw groove 13 </ b> A of the screw member 13. A coil spring 16 is arranged on the same axis of the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10 and the screw member 13, and the position of the coil spring 16 is guided by the guide pin 10. The base end portion 16 </ b> A of the coil spring 16 is in contact with the nut 15 and supported by the nut 15.

  On the other hand, a stopper member 20 is provided on the distal end portion 16B side of the coil spring 16. The stopper member 20 includes both side walls 21 arranged along the inner side surface of the retainer 4, and rivets 24 that penetrate the holes 22 formed in these side walls 21 and the holes 23 formed in both side walls of the retainer 4. , Fixed to the retainer 4. The stopper member 20 is provided with a support plate 25, and the distal end portion 16 </ b> B of the coil spring 16 is abutted against and supported by the support plate 25.

  With such a configuration, the coil spring 16 is held in a predetermined compressed state between the nut 15 and the support plate 25, and the wiper blade supported by the wiper arm 1 is moderately applied to the surface to be wiped (for example, the window of an automobile). It acts to give a pressing force to be pressed with a strong strength.

  More specifically, in the initial state (the wiper blade is not pressed against the surface to be wiped), the wiper arm 1 has a certain angle with respect to the arm head 2 by the spring force of the coil spring 16. It is in the state. That is, the retainer 4 is at a position slightly rotated in the clockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the wiper blade attached to the wiper arm 1 is pressed against the surface to be wiped (for example, the window surface of an automobile), the retainer 4 makes an angle with respect to the arm head 2 by the reaction force from the surface to be wiped. Pushed in the expanding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the coil spring 16 is further compressed from the initial state. As a result, the coil spring 16 urges the retainer 4 to rotate in a direction to return to the initial state, and the wiper blade is pressed against the surface to be wiped with a pressing force corresponding to the urging force.

  The strength of such pressing force is adjusted by changing the compression amount of the coil spring 16 in the initial state. According to the present embodiment, such a change in the compression amount of the coil spring 16 can be executed by changing the screwing position of the nut 15 with respect to the screw member 13. That is, when the nut 15 is screwed in the direction of the coil spring 16 (right direction in FIG. 2), the coil spring 16 is compressed and the pressing force becomes stronger. On the other hand, when the nut 15 is screwed in the direction of the arm head 2 (left direction in FIG. 2), the amount of compression of the coil spring 16 decreases and the pressing force becomes weaker. Therefore, the adjustment of the pressing force according to the present embodiment can be performed very easily without once disassembling the structure of the connecting portion of the arm head 2 and the retainer 4 (the rivet 24 and the stopper member 20). Further, the structure for adjusting the pressing force is a very simple structure including the screw member 13 and the nut 15 and can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, this adjustment mechanism can be configured without taking up space, and the shape of the wiper arm 1 is not enlarged.

  FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, in this embodiment, instead of attaching the screw member 13 to the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10 in the first embodiment, the screw portion 12A is directly attached to a part of the longitudinal portion 12. (See FIG. 6A). The nut 15 is screwed into the screw portion 12A (see FIG. 6B) and supports the base end portion 16A of the spring 16.

  FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, in the present embodiment, the base end portion 16 </ b> A of the coil spring 16 is supported by the end portion 11 </ b> B of the base end portion 11 via a washer 18. On the other hand, on the tip end portion 16B side of the coil spring, the cylindrical member 30 provided with the screw 32 around the screw member 26 of the stopper member 20 is screwed and attached. The distal end portion 16 </ b> B of the coil spring 16 abuts on a flange portion 31 provided on the cylindrical member 30. Thus, the coil spring 16 is sandwiched between the end portion 11B of the base end portion 11 and the flange portion 31 of the cylindrical member 30, and is held in a compressed state.

  8A and 8B show the cylindrical member 30 taken out. As shown in the drawing, the substantially cylindrical main body of the cylindrical member 30 is provided with an annular flange portion 31 so as to be located on the outer periphery in the vicinity of the base end portion (the end portion disposed on the coil spring 16 side). ing. A screw 32 is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 30 on the distal end side (the right side in FIG. 8A) from the flange portion 31 of the main body. In addition, an extending portion 33 having a hexagonal cross section is extended at the distal end portion of the cylindrical member 30. Furthermore, a through hole 34 that penetrates the cylindrical member 30 in the longitudinal direction is formed in the central portion of the cylindrical member 30.

  In FIG. 9A, the stopper member 20 in this embodiment is taken out and shown. As illustrated, the stopper member 20 includes a threaded plate 26 between the side walls 21 on both sides. A circular screw hole 26A is formed in the threaded plate 26, and a screw 26B is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the screw hole 26A. The cylindrical member 30 is attached to the threaded plate 26 by screwing the screw 32 of the cylindrical member 30 into the screw 26B.

  FIG. 9B shows a state where the cylindrical member 30 is attached to the threaded plate 26. As shown in the drawing, the distal end portion 16B of the coil spring 16 is supported in contact with the flange portion 31 of the cylindrical member 30, and the coil spring 16 is held in a predetermined compressed state. The longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10 is disposed in the through hole 34 of the cylindrical member 30 so as not to interfere with the cylindrical member 30.

  The compression amount of the coil spring 16 in the initial state can be adjusted by changing the position of the flange portion 31 relative to the coil spring 16 by changing the screwing amount of the cylindrical member 30 with respect to the threaded plate 26. In this case, the screwing amount of the cylindrical member 30 can be changed simply by engaging a tool such as a wrench with the extending portion 33 of the cylindrical member 30 and rotating the cylindrical member 30. Therefore, adjustment of the pressing force of the wiper arm 1 (adjustment of the compression amount in the initial state of the coil spring 16) can be performed very easily without removing the coil spring 16 and the stopper member 20 from the wiper arm 1.

  FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the base end portion 16A of the coil spring 16 is supported by the end portion 11B of the base end portion 11 of the guide pin 10 via the washer 18 as in the third embodiment. On the other hand, the tip 16B of the coil spring 16 is supported by contacting a nut 45 screwed into a screw groove 41 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) on the outer periphery of the screw member 40. The screw member 40 is non-rotatably attached to the fixing portion 27 of the stopper member 20 at the extended portion 42 at the tip.

  11A and 11B show the screw member 40 taken out. As shown in the figure, the screw member 40 includes a screw groove 41 on the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical main body. An extension portion 42 having a hexagonal cross section is provided at the distal end portion of the screw member 40. A through hole 42 is formed in the central portion of the screw member 40 to penetrate the screw member 40 in the longitudinal direction and to arrange the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10.

  FIG. 12A shows a cross-sectional view of the stopper member 20 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, a fixing portion 27 including a pair of plate members 27A and 27B is provided between the side walls 21 of the stopper member 20. Between these plate members 27A and 27B, there is formed a gap portion 27C having such a size that the extended portion 42 of the screw member 40 is just fitted. FIG. 12B shows a state in which the extended portion 42 is fitted in the gap portion 27C. Thus, the screw member 40 is fixed to the stopper member 20 in a non-rotatable manner by the extended portion 42 being closely fitted to the gap portion 27C.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the coil spring 16 is held in a compressed state by abutting a nut 45 whose tip portion 16 </ b> B is screwed into the screw member 40. Since the compression amount of the coil spring 16 in the initial state can be easily changed by changing the screwing position of the nut 45 with respect to the screw member 40, the pressing force pressing the wiper blade against the surface to be wiped disassembles the wiper arm 1. And can be adjusted easily.

  13A and 13B show a screw member 50 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration other than the screw member 50 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

  As illustrated, the screw member 50 of the present embodiment is not fixed to the stopper member 20 but is fixed to the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10. More specifically, the screw member 50 includes a fitting hole 52 having a rectangular cross section penetrating in the longitudinal direction. When the longitudinal portion 12 of the guide pin 10 is fitted into the fitting hole 52, the screw member 50 is fixed to the guide pin 10 so as not to rotate. A screw groove 51 is formed on the outer periphery of the screw member 50, and a nut 55 screwed into the screw groove 51 holds the tip 16 </ b> B side of the coil spring 16.

It is a side view showing the whole wiper arm composition common to each embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom view which shows the connection part vicinity of an arm head and a retainer in the wiper arm of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a side view showing a guide pin to which a screw member is attached. Similarly, it is the front view and side view which show the Example of a screw member. Similarly, it is the front view and side view which show the other Example of a screw member. Similarly, it is the front view and side view which show other Example of a screw member. It is a bottom view which shows the connection part vicinity of an arm head and a retainer in the wiper arm of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a side view showing a guide pin provided with a threaded portion. Similarly, it is a side view showing a state in which a nut is screwed into a screw portion of a guide pin. It is a bottom view which shows the connection part vicinity of an arm head and a retainer in the wiper arm of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a side view showing a screw member. Similarly, it is a rear view showing a screw member. Similarly, it is a side view showing a stopper member. Similarly, it is a partially crushed side sectional view showing a state where a screw member is attached to a stopper member. It is a bottom view which shows the connection part vicinity of an arm head and a retainer in the wiper arm of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a side view showing a screw member. Similarly, it is a rear view showing a screw member. Similarly, it is sectional drawing which shows a stopper member. Similarly, it is a rear view which shows the state in which the screw member was attached to the stopper member. It is a side view which shows the state in which the screw member was fixed to the guide pin in the wiper arm of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a bottom view showing a screw member. It is a bottom view which shows the connection part vicinity of an arm head and a retainer in the conventional wiper arm. Similarly, it is a sectional side view showing the vicinity of the connecting portion between the arm head and the retainer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiper arm 2 Arm head 4 Retainer 5 Arm piece 10 Guide pin 11 Base end part 11A Base end part end surface 12 Longitudinal part 12A Longitudinal thread part 13 Screw member 13A Screw member thread groove 15 Nut 16 Coil spring 16A Coil spring Base end portion 16B Coil spring tip portion 20 Stopper member 25 Stopper member support plate 26 Stopper member threaded plate 26A Threaded plate screw hole 26B Threaded plate screw 27 Stopper member fixing portion 30 Cylindrical member 31 Cylinder Flange portion 32 of member Screw 40 of cylindrical member Screw member 41 Screw groove 42 of screw member Extending portion 45 of screw member Nut 50 Screw member 51 Screw groove 52 of screw member Fitting hole of screw member

Claims (9)

A blade support that can be connected to the wiper blade;
An arm head rotatably connected to the blade support;
In a wiper arm comprising a pressing spring that is disposed between the blade support and the arm head and generates a pressing force for pressing the wiper blade supported by the blade support against the surface to be wiped.
A contact member that contacts at least one end of the push spring;
A wiper arm comprising: a position changing unit that changes a position of the abutting member with respect to the pressing spring, wherein the pressing force can be adjusted by a displacement of the abutting member by the position changing unit.   2. The wiper arm according to claim 1, wherein the position changing unit includes a screw unit, and the contact member is a member screwed into the screw unit.   The said wiper arm is provided with the guide pin which guides the said push spring, The said position change means is provided with the screw member which has a screw means, The said screw member is attached with respect to the said guide pin. Wiper arm.   4. The wiper arm according to claim 3, wherein the screw member is a cylindrical member attached coaxially with the guide pin, and the screw means is a screw groove formed on a cylindrical outer periphery of the screw member.   The wiper arm according to claim 2, wherein the wiper arm includes a guide pin for guiding the push spring, and the screw means of the position changing means is formed directly on the guide pin.   The wiper arm includes a stopper member that supports an end portion of the push spring on the blade support portion side, the position changing unit includes a screw member having a screw unit, and the screw member is disposed on the stopper member. The wiper arm according to claim 2 attached.   The wiper arm according to claim 6, wherein the screw member is a cylindrical member attached to the stopper member, and the screw means is a screw groove formed on a cylindrical outer periphery of the screw member.   3. The wiper according to claim 2, wherein the wiper arm includes a stopper member that supports an end portion of the push spring on the blade support portion side, and screw means of the position changing unit is formed directly on the stopper member. arm.   The abutting member includes a substantially cylindrical main body having a screw formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a flange portion provided on the outer periphery of the main body, and a screw means in which the screw on the outer periphery of the main body is formed on the stopper member; The wiper arm according to claim 8, wherein the wiper arm is screwed and abutted with an end portion of the push spring at the flange portion.

Images