JP2566512B2 - Vehicle air wiper - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle air wiper,
In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle air wiper that forms a plurality of air curtains by jetting compressed air from an air jet nozzle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A front windshield of a vehicle is usually equipped with a mechanical wiper. When such a mechanical wiper is used, the oscillating wiper obstructs the forward field of view to prevent driving. Comfort is reduced. Further, such a mechanical wiper has a drawback that an oil film is easily attached to the outer surface of the front windshield. Further, it is difficult to wipe the corners of the front windshield with a mechanical wiper, and there is a problem that the corners are left dirty or rainwater is falling.

Against this background, the applicant of the present invention proposed the air wiper, June 21, 1977 (1977).
The utility model registration application was filed on the date, 1983 (198
3 years) Received utility model registration on August 10 (Registration No. 1501677). The "Vehicle air wiper" related to this utility model registration is equipped with an air nozzle that injects compressed air from the compressed air supply means installed in the vehicle body from below to above in front of the front windshield so that rainwater can be blown off by air. I have to. In particular, one air curtain (rear surface air curtain) is formed substantially parallel to the front windshield and substantially over the entire surface, and a swinging type air nozzle is provided further forward of the vehicle than the rear air curtain to form the front air curtain. Is forming. In this way, the double air curtains on the front surface and the rear surface are formed so that rainwater can be blown off well.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional air wiper has a double curtain of a rear air curtain closer to the windshield and a front air curtain farther from the front windshield than the windshield. In some cases, such as when the vehicle speed is high, the rainwater may not be sufficiently wiped off by the air curtain. Further, since a strong wind is generated in front of the front windshield, the temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the front windshield becomes large, and dew condensation may occur on the inner side surface of the front windshield. In particular, there is a circumstance that dew condensation is likely to occur in the low temperature season. Furthermore, if the air from the air injection nozzle that swings to the left and right blows outwards on both sides of the front windshield, the area near the vehicle may be affected when passing through a narrow alley or when the air wiper is activated during a stop. There is a problem that compressed air injected may hit a person passing by.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned various problems, and its purpose is to make the rainwater blowing action more effective and to prevent the windshield glass from dew condensation. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air wiper that can effectively prevent fogging.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle air wiper according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a compressed air supply means installed in a vehicle body and the front surface at a position near a front lower end of a front window glass. A first air curtain is installed along the lower edge of the windshield at predetermined intervals to inject the air sent from the compressed air supply means from the lower side to the upper side along the outer surface of the front windshield to form a first air curtain.
Is installed so as to inject upwardly the air sent from the compressed air supplying means at a position near the front of the lower edge of the front windshield, and is substantially parallel to the outer surface of the front windshield. A second air injection nozzle portion that is provided so as to be capable of swinging in a direction, and that forms a second air curtain at a position farther from the front window glass than the first air curtain by the swinging operation; A vehicle air wiper including a swing drive means for causing the air injection nozzle section to perform the swing operation,
The second air injection nozzle unit includes a plurality of nozzles, and the nozzles form the second air curtain from two or more small curtains having different distances from the front window glass. , Of the front windshield
One or more sensors installed in the central position in the left-right direction
1 or multiple on the left and right sides, respectively
Several pieces are installed on each side of the front windshield.
And swings at a different tilt angle from the center nozzle
Side nozzle part, and each nozzle
Air is blown outward from both left and right sides of the front windshield.
The swinging operation angle is set so that it does not protrude, and it is in the vicinity of the front of the front windshield edge and the first air jet.
It is characterized in that a blowout port is arranged at a position in the vicinity of the injection nozzle portion, and a warm air supply means for sending the warm air upward along the outer surface of the front windshield is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle air wiper having a lower end portion near both left and right sides of the front windshield.
It is installed with a fulcrum at the position, and the front wheel
Along the left and right sides of the windshield.
The front of the fulcrum when centered
Machine that reciprocates by turning toward the center of the windshield
Type windshield, further comprising the front windshield
On the left and right sides of the
A sensor is provided to detect the presence of intruders in the area,
When an intruder is detected by the sensor, supply the air
The feature is that it is stopped .

[0008]

[0009]

According to the vehicle air wiper of the present invention, the second air curtain is composed of two or more small curtains, and the small curtains are located at different positions from the front windshield. It is formed. That is, the second air injection nozzle portion is formed by a plurality of nozzles that perform a swinging motion so that two or more such small curtains are formed.
Center nozzle part with different front and rear inclination angles
And the side nozzle part . Therefore, the first
In addition to the first air curtain formed along the outer surface of the front window glass at a position near the outer surface of the front window glass by the air injection nozzle section, the second air injection nozzle section has at least two or more small curtain layers. Therefore, at least triple air curtains are formed as a whole. Therefore, the function of blowing off the rainwater that has fallen is further enhanced, and the rainwater can be sufficiently avoided even when there is a large amount of rain or the vehicle speed is fast. further,
At the outer surface of the front windshield, warm air is blown upward from below by the hot air supply means, so the outer surface of the front windshield is warmed appropriately, effectively preventing condensation on the inner surface of the windshield. Can be prevented.

Further, the nozzles are installed so as to swing together so that the jetted air does not flow outward from the left and right sides of the front window glass, so that it can be used by people near the vehicle. Direct injection of air is effectively avoided. That is, the damage of high-pressure jet air is prevented and the safety of objects and people in the vicinity of the vehicle when the air wiper is introduced into the vehicle is ensured.

[0011]

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle air wiper and the arrangement of nozzles according to an embodiment, and shows a hood portion of a vehicle 10 and a front window glass 12 portion.

First, the nozzles forming the first air curtain and the second air curtain are the front window glass 1
It is installed in the vicinity of the lower end of 2, that is, in the position near the front window glass 12 of the bonnet. For convenience of description, the four nozzles 14a to 14d forming the first air injection nozzle portion are shown in a circle in the drawing. These nozzles 14 are installed substantially parallel to each other and along the outer surface of the front window glass 12 so as to wipe the compressed air upward. That is, the front window glass 1
The first air curtain is formed so as to be close to the outer surface of 2.

Next, in the figure, the three nozzles 16a, 16b, 16c constituting the second air injection nozzle portion are shown in a rectangular shape. The nozzle 16b is installed substantially at the center of the front window glass 12 in the left-right direction.
a and 16c are installed near the left and right ends, respectively. These nozzles 16a to 16c each perform a swinging motion to form fan-shaped small air curtains 18a, 18b and 18c, respectively, as shown in the drawing. In addition, each nozzle 1
4, 16 are attached to the soundproof pipe 58. Each nozzle 14 forming the first air curtain is fixed to the soundproof pipe 58 at a predetermined position, and each nozzle 16 forming the second air curtain has a jet port exposed at a predetermined position of the soundproof pipe 58. It is installed in the state.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of a swinging mechanism for swinging the nozzle 16a installed in the soundproof pipe 58 as an example. As shown in the figure, the nozzle 16a has a nozzle tip portion protruding from the opening 58, and is connected to the pipe 38 to which compressed air is sent via a flexible pipe 60. The nozzle 16a is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 62, and a small motor 64 and a cam 66 that is rotated by the small motor 64 are installed in the vicinity of the nozzle 16a. As the cam 66, one having a substantially egg-shaped plane shape is used so that the nozzle 16a can be swung in an appropriate angle range. Also,
A coil spring 70 is attached to a lower position of the nozzle 16a between the spring 16 and the spring stopper member 68, and urges the upper portion of the nozzle 16a so as to always contact the cam 66.

Further, each nozzle 16a, 16b, 16c
The swaying direction and angle are adjusted so that the sprayed air does not directly blow out from the left and right sides 12a and 12b of the front window glass 12 to the left and right sides. Although it may protrude in the left-right direction at the position above the front window glass 12, there is no problem because the air ejection speed is also reduced at that portion. Small air curtains 18a, 18b and 1 constituting the second air curtain shown in FIG.
8c is not formed on the same plane, the left and right small air curtains 18a and 18c are jetted on a substantially common plane, and the small air curtain 18b at the center is smaller than the two small air curtains 18a and 18c. Is also formed at a position farther from the front windshield 12. This is achieved by installing the nozzles 16a and 16c and the nozzle 16b at different inclination angles in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the hot air supply means is installed. In the present embodiment, the hot air outlet 20a is provided between the nozzles 14a and 14b and between the nozzles 14c and 14d. 20b is installed (see FIG. 1). Hot air is sent out from the hot air outlets 20a and 20b, and both are moved upward by the air flow of the first air curtain.

Next, the structure of the compressed air supply unit for supplying the compressed air to the nozzles 14 and 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Two pumps 22a and 22b as compressed air supply sources
Is installed, these pumps 22 hang a V-belt 28 on the rotary shaft 26 of the engine 24, and by this V-belt,
The rotary shafts 30a and 30b of the pumps 22a and 22b are rotated to reciprocally move the pistons inside to efficiently supply compressed air. In the air path from the pump 22 to each of the nozzles 14 and 16, first, a pressure adjusting valve 32 is installed and further communicates with a flow dividing valve 34. Then, two pipes 36 and 38 are drawn out from the shunt valve 34, a gauge 40 such as a pressure gauge or a flow meter is attached to them, and further, a throttle valve 42 that can be adjusted in the vehicle is interposed. There is. And finally, it is communicated with each of the nozzles 14 constituting the first air jet nozzle portion and the nozzles 16 constituting the second air jet nozzle portion.

Next, the hot air is supplied to the hot air outlets 20a, 20b by a hot air generator 44 whose air volume can be adjusted by an operation from inside the vehicle. FIG. 3 shows this warm air generator 44.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, a small motor 46, a fan 48 attached to its rotation shaft, and a heater 50 on the downstream side of the air sent by the fan 48 are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot air outlets 20a, 2
0b indicates the vicinity of the nozzle 14 which is the first air injection nozzle portion.
Since it is provided in the side position, the hot air outlet 20a,
If the warm air is blown up to 20b, it moves with the flow of the air curtain, so that the small motor 46 needs only a small power. The warm air generator 44 is switched from the inside of the vehicle to send out the warm air. In addition, it is preferable that the warm air generator 44 is provided with a heat insulating material 52 on the outer periphery thereof and installed at a position closer to the passenger compartment. In addition, in FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a cooling fan, and 56 denotes a radiator.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a nozzle installation portion of the vehicle 100. The first air curtain and the second air curtain are indicated by broken lines in the figure. The first air curtain 17 is blown upward along the outer surface of the front window glass 12 in the vicinity thereof. Ie 4
It is formed by compressed air blown out from the one nozzle 14a to 14d.

Next, the second air curtain 102 has two small curtains 104 and 106 (18a, 18b and 1 in FIG. 1) which are different in distance from the front window glass 12.
8c). Therefore, when the angle of the air curtain 102 with respect to the front window glass 12 is α, the angle of the small air curtain 104 is β, and the angle of the small air curtain 106 is γ, the relationship of α>β> γ is established. In the present embodiment, the installation angles of the air injection nozzles 16a and 16c are adjusted so that the small air curtain 104 extends upward substantially vertically to the ground.

FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship in the front-rear direction of the air curtains 102, 104 and 106. As shown in the drawing, the first positions formed by the air injection nozzles 14a to 14d at positions immediately near the front window glass 12 are shown. Air curtain 10
2 is formed. One small air curtain 104 of the second air curtain is two smaller small air curtains (18a, 18c) formed on the same plane by the swinging motions of the two left and right air injection nozzles 16a and 16c. It consists of The small air curtain 106 formed by the swinging motion of the air injection nozzle 16b is located at the outermost position.

When the vehicle is driven in such an air curtain forming state, the upper portions of the air curtains 102, 104 and 106 flow backward due to wind pressure as shown in FIG. And the area above it is completely covered by the fast flow of air. As a result, the rainwater that has fallen cannot reach the front window glass 12, is reliably blocked by the triple air curtain, and is blown backward. further,
At the position closest to the front windshield 12, a warm air outlet 20 is provided.
Since the warm air 108 is sent from a and 20b,
It is possible to prevent the temperature of the outer surface of the front window glass 12 from significantly lowering, and to effectively prevent dew condensation on the inner surface of the front window glass 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a display board 40a of a gauge 40 such as a pressure gauge or a flow meter is installed inside the vehicle so that information on wiping compressed air can be checked. Similarly, since the operation portion 42a for adjusting the throttle valve of the pipe that sends out the compressed air is installed in the vehicle, the driver can appropriately adjust the amount of air to be ejected according to the condition of rain intensity. Is. Further, when the front windshield 12 is fogged due to the temperature drop due to the air injection, since the operating portion 44a of the warm air generator 44 is also provided inside the vehicle, the hot air delivery ON / OFF operation is performed. Easy to do.

Next, FIG. 7 shows another structural example of the warm air supply mechanism. As illustrated, an auxiliary window glass 72 is further installed inside the front window glass 12, and a space 200 is formed between the front window glass 12 and the auxiliary window glass 72. And the warm air generator 44
The warm air from is blown into the space 200. That is, the warm air outlets 20a and 20b
Both open into this space. A gap 202 is formed in the upper portion of the front window glass 12 so that the warm air blown therein flows out rearward. In addition, small projections 74 and 76 are formed in the gap 202 to prevent rainwater and the like from flowing back, respectively. According to such a configuration, the auxiliary window glass 7
With respect to No. 2, there is no large temperature drop on both the outer surface and the inner surface, so dew condensation on the surface is reliably prevented, and also on the front window glass 12, hot air flows directly along the inner side surface, so dew condensation is effectively prevented. To be done.

FIG. 8 shows an auxiliary member used when the vehicle air wiper according to the above embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. Mechanical wipers 78a, 78 that rotate on the left and right ends of the front window glass 12, respectively.
b is attached. This is installed in order to operate when the air wiper fails for some reason, and it is normally installed so as not to block the air from the air injection nozzles 14 and 16 and the hot air outlet 20. In the state, it is installed so as to extend along both left and right sides of the front windshield 12. And the figure
As shown by the upper dashed line, the left and right sides of the front windshield 12
With the installation position of the lower end near both sides as the fulcrum,
It makes a reciprocating rotary motion toward it. Also, front window glass 1
Sensors 80a and 80b using infrared rays and the like are attached near the lower end portions on both left and right ends of 2, and actuate the air wiper when a person's hand or face enters the curtain portion while the air wiper is operating. It is installed to stop.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the second air curtain has a total of two layers, one layer before and one behind the other in the above embodiment, but the air injection nozzles 16a and 16c are connected so as to form air curtains on different surfaces, for a total of 4 layers. An air curtain of layers may be formed.

[0028]

As described above, according to the vehicle air wiper of the present invention, the rain can be blown off in the vicinity of the front glass by the first air curtain, and at least two or more can be blown in front of it. The layered air curtain can more reliably prevent rain from falling onto the windshield. Further, since the compressed air does not blow out from both sides of the front windshield to the outside, it is possible to prevent adverse effects on people in the vicinity. Furthermore, since it is possible to avoid a decrease in the temperature of the outer surface of the front windshield due to the jet of air by sending out warm air, it is possible to effectively prevent dew condensation on the inner side surface of the windshield and facilitate the introduction of an air wiper. Has been.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air wiper according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a swinging motion mechanism of a second air injection nozzle portion.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a warm air supply unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation state of main parts and an air curtain forming position in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of each air curtain with respect to the front window glass.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the action of the air curtain.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a double-window glass type warm air supply mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of connecting an accessory member when the embodiment is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 12 Front window glass 14 Air injection nozzle which comprises a 1st air injection nozzle part 16 Air injection nozzle which comprises a 2nd air injection nozzle part 18a, 18b, 18c Small curtain which comprises a 2nd air curtain 20 Warm air delivery port 22 Compressor 44 Warm air generator 102 First air curtain 104, 106 Small air curtain constituting second air curtain

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A compressed air supply means installed in a vehicle body, and installed at predetermined positions along a lower edge of the front windshield at a position near the front lower end of the front windshield and fed from the compressed air supply means. A first air injection nozzle portion that injects the generated air from below along the outer surface of the front window glass upward to form a first air curtain; and the compressed air at a position near the front of the lower edge of the front window glass. The first air curtain is installed so as to jet the air sent from the supply means upward, and is provided so as to be capable of swinging motion in a direction substantially parallel to the outer surface of the front window glass. A second air injection nozzle section that forms a second air curtain at a position farther from the front window glass, and a swinging operation for the second air injection nozzle section. In the vehicular air wiper including a swing driving means, the second air injection nozzle portion includes a plurality of nozzles, and the nozzles have different distances from the front window glass. To configure the second air curtain from the above small curtains, one or a plurality of center nozzle parts installed in a central position in the left-right direction of the front window glass, and one or a plurality of center nozzle parts on the left and right sides respectively. And a side nozzle part that is installed at a different angle from the center nozzle with respect to the outer surface of the front windshield, and each of the nozzles has jet air from both left and right sides of the front windshield. The swinging operation angle is set so as not to extend outward, and the first air jet is provided in the vicinity of the front of the lower edge of the front window glass. The vehicle air wiper, characterized in that the warm air supply means for delivering the blowout the nozzle portion vicinity is arranged hot air upward along the front window glass outer surface is provided.