JP2852004B2 - Pipe fastening method in pipe type modular wiper device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe fastening method for a pipe type modular wiper device mounted on vehicles such as automobiles, buses, trucks and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general,
Among such modular wiper devices, as a wiper device for wiping a window surface, there is a pipe-type modular wiper device that integrally connects a pair of brackets on which a wiper shaft is pivotally supported via a pipe. However, in this case, if the connection strength of the two brackets is low or the positional relationship between the brackets is displaced, the wiping range of the blade changes, and the required wiping area cannot be secured, or the blade may protrude from the window surface. There is. Therefore, it is required to ensure the pipe fastening accuracy and strength of the bracket, and in order to meet such demands, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 4-71360,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. -86565 has once proposed this. In other words, in this product, the hem of the pipe nut inserted into the pipe insertion hole is bent back and deformed in a swollen shape based on the tightening of the bolt screwed in from the bracket side, so that it is retained and locked to the pipe. Yes, it was possible to achieve pipe fastening with the required accuracy and strength.

However, this method requires a processing step of accurately drilling an insertion hole in a pipe and is inferior in workability. In addition, pipe nuts and bolts are required as parts, and the number of parts is large. Has become.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been conceived in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to provide a pipe fastening method in a pipe-type modular wiper device which can eliminate these disadvantages. In the first invention, the brackets on which the wiper shafts are respectively supported are
In a pipe-type modular wiper device configured to be integrally connected via a pipe, when the pipe is fastened to a bracket, pipe mounting portions protruding from the bracket side are separated from each other by a predetermined interval. It is assumed that at least a pair of engaging concave step surfaces facing in parallel in the state are formed on the outer periphery, and a portion corresponding to each of the engaging concave step surfaces of the pipe externally fitted to the pipe mounting portion is set. It is characterized in that it is crimped with a mold tooth portion that is set to an interval that is larger than the gap but smaller than the value obtained by adding twice the pipe thickness to the gap and pressed against the engaging concave step surface. Is what you do. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a pipe-type modular wiper device configured by integrally connecting brackets each having a wiper shaft that is pivotally supported via a pipe, when the pipe is fastened to the bracket, The protruding pipe mounting portion has at least a pair of engaging concave step surfaces which are opposed to each other in parallel in an inner surface state at a predetermined interval and formed on the outer periphery, and is externally fitted to the pipe mounting portion. A mold tooth portion which is set at a portion corresponding to each of the engagement concave step surfaces of the pipe at an interval smaller than the set interval, but larger than a value obtained by subtracting twice the pipe thickness from the interval. And crimped to press the engaging concave step surface.

According to the present invention, with this structure, the pipe can be securely fastened with a small number of parts and can be easily processed.

[0006]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a first bracket constituting a pipe-type modular wiper device, and the first bracket 1 is formed by casting (die-casting) a metal material such as aluminum. The wiper motor 2 is incorporated in a motor bracket 1h integrally fixed to the motor bracket 1 via bolt and nut fastening means.
A base end of a first wiper rod 4 is pivotally supported via a ball joint 5 at a distal end of a motor link 3 provided integrally with an output shaft of the wiper motor 2. The portion is pivotally supported via a ball joint 7 at the distal end of a first wiper link 6 which is rotatably supported by the first bracket 1. On the other hand, reference numeral 8 denotes a second bracket integrally connected to the first bracket 1 via a steel pipe 9, and a second wiper link rotatably supported by the second bracket 8. A second wiper rod 13 is interposed between the distal end of the first wiper link 6 and the distal end of the first wiper link 6 via ball joints 11 and 12. Then, by the link operation accompanying the driving of the wiper motor 2, these wiper links 6, 10 are connected to the wiper shaft 14,
Reciprocating swinging is performed with the shaft 15 as the axis, whereby the wiping operation of the left and right wiper arms (not shown) integrally attached to the wiper shafts 14 and 15 can be performed. As before.

Now, in the above-described structure, the present invention is applied to the fastening structure of the pipe 9 to the first and second brackets 1 and 8, but since these fastening structures are all the same, Nineth, the fastening structure with the first bracket 1 will be described. The first bracket 1 has a cylindrical pipe mounting portion 1a integrally protruding therefrom, and eight engaging grooves 1b are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe mounting portion 1a. In the circumferential direction, four locking grooves 1b are formed in the upper and lower sides in the circumferential direction, each having two convenience grooves, each having a substantially right-angled cross-sectional shape as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. Each locking groove 1 to be formed
Vertical surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction parallel to each other in the outer surface state of b (that is, both vertical surfaces face each other in a solid state)
Is the engagement cross section 1c of the present invention, and the interval A in the circumferential direction.
Is set to exist. Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, two locking grooves 1 b each having a long concave groove shape are formed as a pair in the axial direction, but the shaft is formed in an outer surface state of each locking groove 1 b. The vertical surfaces that face each other in the direction parallel to each other (the two vertical surfaces also face each other in a solid state) become the engaging cross section 1d of the present invention, and are set to have an interval X in the axial direction. Has become.

The attachment of the pipe 9 to the pipe attachment portion 1a has the following configuration. Where pipe 9
And the inner diameter of the pipe is set substantially equal to the outer diameter of the pipe mounting portion 1a, so that the pipe 9 can be inserted into the pipe mounting portion 1a without being forcedly fitted. On the other hand, reference numeral 16 denotes a metal mold for caulking and fixing the inserted pipe 9 to the pipe mounting portion 1a. The metal mold 16 has an upper (or lower) locking member which is adjacent in the circumferential direction. In order to caulk the pipe 9 at a portion corresponding to the groove 1b, four tooth portions 16a are formed so as to protrude in a substantially right-angled corner shape. It is larger than the circumferential distance A of the competitors, but is twice as large as the pipe thickness C.
The setting is smaller (A <B <A + 2C) than that obtained by adding the circumferential interval A between the c's. On the other hand, the axial distance Y between the teeth 16a in the axial direction is larger than the axial distance X between the locking grooves 1b. However, the doubled pipe thickness C is equal to the axial distance X between the locking grooves 1b. (X <Y <X + 2C), and the pipe 9 is fixed by caulking in this state.

In the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the first and second brackets 1 and 8 are integrally connected via a pipe 9, but the pipe 9 is connected to the brackets 1 and 8. As described above, the pipe 9 is caulked and fixed to the pipe mounting portion 1a and mounted.
As a result, unlike the related art, pipe nuts and bolts are not required, and troublesome drilling of the pipe 9 is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and the processing process is simplified.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the pipe 9 is fastened to the bracket side by caulking.
The pipe 9 is caulked by the tooth portions 16a having a smaller size than the dimension considering the thickness of the pipe 9. As a result, the pipe 9 is brought into a crimped state with no gap with respect to the vertical surface of the engagement groove 1b, so that the rotation is prevented in both the circumferential direction and the positional deviation in both the axial direction is restricted, and the fastening is firm.

In the embodiment, the pipe mounting portion 1
The material of b is aluminum, and the material of the pipe 9 is steel. However, the pipe 9 is caulked at a setting smaller than the dimension considering the wall thickness C of the pipe 9.
The caulked portion of the pipe 9 comes into pressure contact with the pipe mounting portion 1a in a state accompanied by plastic deformation in the locking groove 1b. As a result, crimping with better bite is performed and the fastening strength is improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the number of pairs of engaging concave step surfaces is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The number of engagement recesses can be any number, and they are not opposed to each other on the outer surface as in the first embodiment. It can also be carried out on step surfaces. As the engagement concave step surfaces opposing each other on the inner surface, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, both end surfaces of the long groove-shaped locking groove 1e are used as the engagement concave step surfaces 1f. Alternatively, as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the outer end surfaces of the pair of engagement grooves 1g can be formed as engagement concave step surfaces h. In this case, the engagement grooves 1g formed by the mold teeth 16b are provided. Is fixed by caulking the pipe 9 at both axial end edges, the interval between the engaging concave step surfaces is α, the mold tooth portion 16b
When the thickness of the pipe 9 is C, the interval β is smaller than the interval α, but is larger than a value obtained by subtracting twice the pipe thickness C from the interval α, that is, α>β> α− It can be similarly implemented by setting and performing so as to have a relationship of 2C. In this embodiment, an aluminum bracket and a steel pipe are used. However, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even when the pipe is made of aluminum or the like.

[0013]

In summary, since the present invention is constructed as described above, the pipes connecting the brackets are fastened to the brackets by caulking the pipes to the pipe mounting portions formed on the brackets. As a result, pipe nuts and bolts are not required as in the prior art, and troublesome drilling of the pipe is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and the processing steps are simplified. Moreover, in the caulking process of the pipe, the pipe is caulked by a mold tooth portion of a dimension set in consideration of the wall thickness of the pipe, so that the outer surface state or the inner surface state is opposed to the engaging concave stepped surface. The pipe caulking portion is in a pressure contact state with no gap, and as a result, the pipe is in a high-precision fastening state in which the positional deviation in both directions in which the engaging concave step surfaces are opposed to each other is tightly regulated, whereby the pair of brackets While caulking and fixing the pipe,
It is possible to provide a highly accurate pipe-type modular wiper device by eliminating the positional deviation of the bracket, so that the wiping range does not change due to the positional deviation of the wiper shaft with high reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pipe-type modular wiper device.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the pipe-type modular wiper device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pipe attachment portion.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a crimped state of a pipe attachment part.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing a crimped state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part showing a crimped state of the third embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 First bracket 1a Pipe mounting portion 1b Engagement groove 1c Engagement cross section 1d Engagement cross section 1f Engagement groove 8 Second bracket 9 Pipe

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a pipe-type modular wiper device constructed by integrally connecting brackets each supporting a wiper shaft via a pipe, when the pipe is fastened to the bracket, the pipe projects from the bracket side. The pipe mounting portion is configured such that at least a pair of engaging concave step surfaces facing each other in parallel in an outer surface state at an interval set in advance are formed on the outer periphery, and the pipe externally fitted to the pipe mounting portion. The portion corresponding to each of the engagement concave step surfaces is a mold tooth portion set at an interval larger than the set interval, but smaller than a value obtained by adding twice the pipe thickness to the interval. A pipe fastening method in a pipe-type modular wiper device, wherein a crimping process is performed to press against the engaging concave step surface. 2. In a pipe-type modular wiper device constructed by integrally connecting brackets, each of which supports a wiper shaft, via a pipe, when the pipe is fastened to the bracket, the pipe projects from the bracket side. The pipe mounting portion has at least a pair of engaging concave step surfaces which are opposed to each other in parallel in an inner surface state at a predetermined interval and formed on the outer periphery, and the pipe fitted externally to the pipe mounting portion. The portion corresponding to each of the engaging concave step surfaces is a mold tooth portion set at an interval smaller than the set interval, but larger than a value obtained by subtracting twice the pipe wall thickness from the interval. A pipe fastening method in a pipe-type modular wiper device, wherein a crimping process is performed to press against the engaging concave step surface.