JP3232263B2 - Washer tank - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washer tank for storing a liquid such as a window washer liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among the washer tanks which are applied to a wiper device of a vehicle and contain a liquid such as a window washer liquid,
There is known a configuration in which a water injection pipe is inserted and attached from an opening formed in an upper wall portion of a tank body.

[0003] In this type of washer tank, a grommet is provided at a peripheral portion of an opening of the tank body, and a water injection pipe is held and sealed via the grommet. Further, the washer tank is provided with a mounting portion for fixing the vehicle body near the upper end of the water injection pipe. When attaching this washer tank to the vehicle body, the tank body is fixed to the vehicle body and the mounting part of the water injection pipe is fixed to the vehicle body, so that the water injection pipe can be prevented from unnecessary rattling and wobbling It has become.

However, with such a structure, the structure of a molding die for integrally molding the mounting portion with the water injection pipe is complicated, and the cost is high. On the other hand, if the mounting portion cannot be formed integrally, it must be formed separately and then mounted on the water injection pipe, which increases the number of parts, complicates the mounting work, and increases the number of mounting (work) steps. And the cost was also high in this case.

Further, in such a structure in which the mounting portion is fixed to the vehicle body, it is naturally necessary to provide a corresponding fixing portion also on the vehicle body side, which also causes a high cost. Further, since the mounting portion attached to the water injection pipe in this manner protrudes greatly from the tank main body or the water injection pipe, it is easy for an operator to catch on the installation portion, which is a factor that hinders smooth maintenance work and the like.

[0006] Further, such a water injection pipe must not only prevent rattling and wobble, but also prevent it from unnecessarily coming out of the tank body. That is, for example, when the liquid contained in the tank body freezes, the water injection pipe tends to be pushed out of the tank body by the internal pressure. Therefore, even in such a case, it is necessary to take measures to surely prevent the water injection pipe from coming off.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention not only prevents the water injection pipe from wobbling or wobbling unnecessarily, and also prevents the water pipe from slipping out, but also realizes a low-cost and excellent assemblability washer tank. The goal is to obtain

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washer tank including a main body for storing a liquid, and a water injection pipe inserted through an opening formed in an upper wall of the main body. In the washer tank, the inner surface of the bottom wall of the main body is integrated with the tip of the water injection pipe.
And the water injection pipe inserted through the opening
Having a holding projection into which the tip of the water injection pipe is fitted.
Has a longitudinal intermediate portion held by the opening, and
The end is held by the holding projection .

In the washer tank according to the first aspect, the water injection pipe inserted from the upper wall opening of the main body has its tip (the lower end in the main body) held by the holding projection provided on the bottom wall of the main body. . That is, the water injection pipe is not only held at the middle longitudinal portion by the opening formed in the upper wall of the main body, but also held at its tip by the holding projection, and is held at two points as a whole.

[0010] Therefore, in the washer tank, the water injection pipe is prevented from being unnecessarily rattled or wobble before being attached to the vehicle body.

Further, in this washer tank, it is not necessary to provide a special mounting portion for the water injection pipe as in the prior art, so that the number of parts is reduced, and a complicated assembling operation is not required and the cost is reduced. Further, since there is no need to provide a special fixing portion for fixing the water injection pipe to the vehicle body as in the related art, the mounting operation process is not required in this point, and the cost is reduced.

Further, since there is no portion projecting outward from the water injection pipe (a portion corresponding to a conventional attachment portion), the worker is not inadvertently hooked and does not hinder smooth maintenance work and the like. .

As described above, the washer tank according to the first aspect not only can prevent the water injection pipe from unnecessarily rattling or swaying, but also has a low cost and excellent assemblability.

A washer tank according to a second aspect of the present invention is the washer tank according to the first aspect, wherein the washer tank is provided at an opening portion of the main body and a corresponding longitudinal middle portion of the water injection pipe. Inserted through the opening and held
The water supply pipe is characterized by comprising a retaining means for preventing the water injection pipe held by the projection from coming out of the main body.

In the washer tank according to the second aspect, the water injection pipe inserted from the upper wall opening of the main body has its tip (the lower end in the main body) held by the holding projection provided on the bottom wall of the main body. . Further, the water injection pipe inserted into the main body is prevented from coming out of the main body by the retaining means. That is, the irrigation pipe is not only held at the middle longitudinal portion by the opening formed in the upper wall of the main body, but also at the tip thereof is also held by the holding projection, and is held at two points as a whole, and Exit is also prevented.

Therefore, in the washer tank, before the water pipe is attached to the vehicle body, it is possible to prevent the water injection pipe from unnecessarily rattling or swaying and from coming off.

Further, in this washer tank, it is not necessary to provide a special mounting portion on the water injection pipe as in the prior art, so that the number of parts is reduced, and a complicated assembling operation is unnecessary and the cost is reduced. Further, since there is no need to provide a special fixing portion for fixing the water injection pipe to the vehicle body as in the related art, the mounting operation process is not required in this point, and the cost is reduced. Furthermore, since there is no part that protrudes outward from the water injection pipe (the part equivalent to the conventional mounting part),
The worker is not inadvertently hooked and does not hinder smooth maintenance work and the like.

As described above, the washer tank according to the second aspect can not only prevent the water injection pipe from unnecessarily rattling or swaying and coming out of the water injection pipe, but also has low cost and excellent assemblability.

As the retaining means for preventing the water injection pipe from coming out of the main body, a projection formed at a longitudinal middle portion of the water injection pipe corresponding to the opening of the main body and the projection provided near the opening of the main body are provided. And an arm that restricts movement of the water injection pipe in the withdrawal direction by engaging with the arm.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the entire structure of a washer tank 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The washer tank 10 has a lower body 10A and an upper body 10B. The lower main body 10A and the upper main body 10B are made of resin, are both formed in a substantially box shape having one open side, and are configured such that their open sides are integrally joined. The lower body 10A and the upper body 10B
Are manufactured by, for example, injection molding.

An opening 12 is formed in the upper wall of the upper body 10B. A grommet 1 is provided on the periphery of the opening 12.
4 are provided, and a water injection pipe 16 is further attached. The water injection pipe 16 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a configuration in which the water injection pipe 16 is held and sealed via the grommet 14 by being inserted into the inside from the opening 12 of the upper main body 10B. A cap 18 is attached to the upper end of the water injection pipe 16.

On the other hand, a holding projection 20 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral side of the bottom wall of the lower main body 10A so as to face the opening 12 of the upper main body 10B. The holding projection 20 is formed in a plate shape crossing the cross, and is formed gradually thinner toward the tip (upward). The tip of the water injection pipe 16 is inserted into the holding projection 20, thereby holding the tip of the water injection pipe 16. The holding projection 20 is formed integrally with the lower main body 10A when the lower main body 10A is injection-molded.

As shown in FIG. 2, the washer tank 10 is arranged in an engine room 24 of a vehicle 22. The washer tank 10 supplies a window washer liquid for a wiper device from a water injection pipe 16 to supply a lower body 10A and an upper body 10B. Can be housed inside.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. In the washer tank 10 having the above configuration, the window washer liquid is supplied from the water injection pipe 16 and the lower body 10A is supplied.
And can be accommodated in the upper body 10B.

Here, in the washer tank 10,
Water injection pipe 1 inserted from opening 12 of upper body 10B
The tip 6 (the lower end in the lower main body 10A) is held by a holding projection 20 provided on the bottom wall of the lower main body 10A. That is, the water injection pipe 16 is
Not only the longitudinal middle portion is held by the opening 12 (grommet 14) of B, but also the front end portion is held by the holding projection 20 and is held at two points as a whole.

Therefore, the washer tank 10
In the state before the water injection pipe 16 is attached to the vehicle 22 (engine room 24), it is possible to prevent the water injection pipe 16 from unnecessarily rattling or wobbling.

Further, in the washer tank 10, since there is no need to provide a special mounting portion for the water injection pipe 16 as in the prior art, the number of parts is reduced, and a complicated assembling operation is not required and the cost is reduced. Furthermore, the water injection pipe 1
It is not necessary to provide a special fixing portion for fixing the 6 to the vehicle 22 in the engine room 24, and in this regard, the mounting operation process is not required, and the cost is reduced.

Further, since there is no portion projecting outward from the water injection pipe 16 (a portion corresponding to a conventional mounting portion),
The worker is not inadvertently hooked and does not hinder smooth maintenance work and the like.

As described above, the washer tank 10 according to the first embodiment not only can prevent the water injection pipe 16 from unnecessarily rattling or swaying, but also has low cost and excellent assemblability. .

In the first embodiment,
The holding projection 20 integrally formed on the bottom wall of the lower main body 10A
The configuration is formed in a plate shape that crosses the cross, but the shape of the holding projection 20 is not limited to this.

For example, like the holding projection 30 shown in FIG.
A configuration in which a part of the outer periphery is formed in a cylindrical shape with a cutout may be employed. The tip of the water injection pipe 16 is fitted and sandwiched between the holding projections 30, whereby the water injection pipe 16 is held at two points as a whole. Therefore, also in this case, the water injection pipe 16 is prevented from unnecessarily rattling or wobbling.

Further, for example, as in a holding projection 40 shown in FIG. 4, a configuration in which a fitting groove 42 is formed in a portion having the same diameter as the water injection pipe 16 as well as a plate shape crossing the cross may be adopted. In the holding projection 40, the tip of the water injection pipe 16 is fitted and held in the insertion groove 42, whereby the water injection pipe 16 is held at two points as a whole. Therefore, also in this case, the water injection pipe 16 is prevented from unnecessarily rattling or wobbling.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the holding projection 20, the holding projection 30, or the holding projection 40 is
Although the lower main body 10A is formed integrally with the lower body 10A when the lower main body 10A is formed by injection molding, the present invention is not limited to this, and each holding projection can also be formed by blow molding.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the entire structure of a washer tank 50 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the washer tank 50, and FIG.
2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a main part of the washer tank 50.

The washer tank 50 has a lower body 50A and an upper body 50B. The lower main body 50A and the upper main body 50B are made of resin, are both formed in a substantially box shape having one open side, and are configured such that their open sides are integrally joined.

An opening 12 is formed in the upper wall of the upper body 50B. A grommet 1 is provided on the periphery of the opening 12.
4 are provided, and an opening 12 (grommet 1) is further provided.
Near the periphery of 4), a pair of arm portions 52 constituting a retaining means is formed. The arm part 52 is formed in an inverted L-shape in side view as a whole by the upper wall 52A and the side wall 52B, and is located around the opening 12 along the circumferential direction, so that the upper wall 52A faces each other. Opening 12
Is extended to the side. In addition, a concave portion 54 is formed in a part of the peripheral edge of the upper wall 52A.

A water injection pipe 56 is attached to the grommet 14 provided in the opening 12 of the upper main body 50B. The water injection pipe 56 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape,
A pair of protrusions 58 constituting a retaining means is formed at the longitudinal middle portion. The protrusion 58 is formed by the arm 5 described above.
2 (the upper wall 52A and the side wall 52B), and the upper wall of the upper body 50B and the arm 52 (the upper wall 52A and the side wall 52B).
B). Further, a projection 60 is formed on the upper surface of the projection 58 provided on the water injection pipe 56. The protrusion 60 is provided on the upper wall 52A of the arm 52.
Corresponding to the concave portion 54 formed therein.

That is, the water injection pipe 56 is inserted into the upper main body 50B from the opening 12 until the projection 58 contacts the upper wall (around the opening 12) of the upper main body 50B, and is further rotated by a predetermined angle in this state. As a result, the protrusion 58 fits between the upper wall of the upper main body 50B and the arm 52 (the upper wall 52A and the side wall 52B), and the convex 60
, And is held. The protrusion 58 is provided between the upper wall of the upper body 50B and the arm 52 (the upper wall 52A and the side wall 5).
2B), and the protrusion 60 is fitted and held in the recess 54 so that the upper wall 52A moves the protrusion 58 upward (moves in a direction away from the upper wall of the upper body 50B). The configuration is such that the water injection pipe 56 is restricted from falling out of the upper main body 50B, and the water injection pipe 56 is stopped from rotating and held at a predetermined position.

On the other hand, on the inner peripheral side of the bottom wall of the lower main body 50A, a holding projection 20 similar to that of the above-described first embodiment is integrally formed facing the opening 12 of the upper main body 50B. The tip of the water injection pipe 56 described above is inserted into the holding projection 20, thereby holding the tip of the water injection pipe 56.

Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the washer tank 50 having the above configuration, the window washer liquid is supplied from the water injection pipe 56 and the lower body 50A is supplied.
And can be accommodated in the upper body 50B.

Here, in the washer tank 50,
Water injection pipe 5 inserted from opening 12 of upper body 50B
The tip 6 (the lower end in the lower body 50A) is held by a holding projection 20 provided on the bottom wall of the lower body 50A. Further, in the water injection pipe 56 inserted into the upper body 50B, the protrusion 58 is fitted between the upper wall of the upper body 50B and the arm 52 (the upper wall 52A and the side wall 52B), and the convex 60 is fitted into the concave 54. And the upper body 50B
Is stopped at the same time, and is stopped at the predetermined position.

That is, the injection pipe 56 is connected to the upper body 50.
Not only is the longitudinal middle part held by the opening 12 (grommet 14) of B, but also the tip part is held by the holding projection 20 and is held at two points as a whole, and is prevented from falling out of the upper main body 50B. .

Therefore, the washer tank 50
In the state before the water supply pipe 56 is attached to the vehicle 22 (engine room 24), the water injection pipe 56 is prevented from unnecessarily rattling or swaying and coming out of the water pipe 56.

Further, in the washer tank 50, it is not necessary to provide a special mounting portion for the water injection pipe 56 as in the prior art, so that the number of parts is reduced, a complicated assembling operation is unnecessary, and the cost is reduced. In addition, the water injection pipe 5
It is not necessary to provide a special fixing portion for fixing the 6 to the vehicle 22 in the engine room 24, and in this regard, the mounting operation process is not required, and the cost is reduced.

Further, since there is no portion (a portion corresponding to a conventional attachment portion) protruding outward from the water injection pipe 56,
The worker is not inadvertently hooked and does not hinder smooth maintenance work and the like.

As described above, the washer tank 50 according to the fourth embodiment not only can prevent the water injection pipe 56 from unnecessarily rattling or swaying, but also can be easily assembled at low cost. Are better.

In the fourth embodiment,
A pair of arms 52 integrally formed on the upper wall of the upper body 50B
Although it is configured such that it is located near the periphery of the opening 12 along the circumferential direction and is opposed to each other, the shape and the formation position of the arm portion 52 are not limited to this. For example, three or more arm portions 52 may be provided near the periphery of the opening 12 along the circumferential direction.
Alternatively, the arm portion 52 may be provided near the periphery of the opening 12 so as to be continuous along the circumferential direction (in a ring shape).

Next, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a washer tank 70 according to a fifth embodiment.

The washer tank 70 has a lower body 70A and an upper body 70B. On the upper wall of the upper body 70B, a female screw portion 72 which functions as an opening and constitutes a retaining means is formed. This female screw part 7
A water injection pipe 74 is attached to 2. A male screw portion 76 constituting a retaining means is formed at a longitudinal middle portion of the water injection pipe 74. The male screw portion 76 corresponds to the female screw portion 72 formed on the upper main body 70B, and can be screwed to the female screw portion 72.

That is, the water injection pipe 74 is
2 into the upper main body 70B, and further, the male screw portion 76 is screwed into the female screw portion 72, whereby the upper main body 7B is inserted.
0B. When the male screw portion 76 is screwed and held by the female screw portion 72, the water injection pipe 74 is prevented from coming out of the upper main body 70B.

On the other hand, the holding projection 20 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral side of the bottom wall of the lower main body 70A so as to face the female screw portion 72 of the upper main body 70B as in the first embodiment. I have. The tip of the water injection pipe 74 described above is inserted into the holding projection 20, thereby holding the tip of the water injection pipe 74.

In the washer tank 70 having the above-described structure, the water injection pipe 74 inserted from the female screw portion 72 of the upper main body 70B has its tip (lower end in the lower main body 70A).
Are held by holding projections 20 provided on the bottom wall of lower body 70A. Further, the water injection pipe 74 inserted into the upper main body 70B is held by screwing the male screw portion 76 to the female screw portion 72, and is prevented from coming off from the upper main body 70B.

That is, the water injection pipe 74 is connected to the upper body 70.
Not only is the longitudinal intermediate portion held by the female screw portion 72 of B, but also the distal end portion is held by the holding projection 20,
It is held at two points as a whole, and escape from the upper body 70B is also prevented.

Therefore, the washer tank 70
In the state prior to being attached to the vehicle 22 (the engine room 24), the water injection pipe 74 is prevented from unnecessarily rattling or swaying and coming off.

Further, in the washer tank 70, since there is no need to provide a special mounting portion for the water injection pipe 74 as in the conventional case, the number of parts is reduced, and a complicated assembling operation is not required and the cost is reduced. In addition, the water injection pipe 7
Since there is no need to provide a special fixing portion for fixing the 4 to the vehicle 22 in the engine room 24, the mounting operation process is not required in this point, and the cost is reduced.

Further, since there is no portion projecting outward from the water injection pipe 74 (a portion corresponding to a conventional mounting portion),
The worker is not inadvertently hooked and does not hinder smooth maintenance work and the like.

As described above, the washer tank 70 according to the fifth embodiment not only can prevent the water injection pipe 74 from unnecessarily rattling or swaying, but also can be easily assembled at low cost. Are better.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the holding projections 20 integrally formed on the bottom walls of the lower main bodies 50A and 70A are formed in a plate shape that crosses the cross. However, the shape of the holding protrusion 20 is not limited to this, and the holding protrusion 30 according to the second embodiment or the holding protrusion 40 according to the third embodiment may be applied. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a washer tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle showing an arrangement state of a washer tank.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view of a washer tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken perspective view of a washer tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken perspective view of a washer tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a water injection pipe, an arm, and the like of a washer tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a water injection pipe, an arm, and the like of a washer tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a water injection pipe and a female screw portion of a washer tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Washer tank 10A Lower body 10B Upper body 12 Opening 16 Water injection pipe 20 Holding protrusion 30 Holding protrusion 40 Holding protrusion 42 Insertion groove 50 Washer tank 50A Lower body 50B Upper body 52 Arm 52A Upper wall 52B Side wall 54 Depression 56 Water injection pipe 58 Projection 60 Convex part 70 Washer tank 70A Lower body 70B Upper body 72 Female screw part 74 Water injection pipe 76 Male screw part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Hayashi 390 Umeda, Kosai-shi, Shizuoka Asumo Corporation (72) Inventor Manabu Tamamura 5-33-8 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (72) Inventor Masahiko Oguro 4-21-1, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Mitsubishi Motors Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Natsukatsu Goto 4-2-1, Shimomaruko 4-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-55-25657 (JP, A) JP-A-5-37619 (JP, U) JP-A-63-4683 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60S 1/46-1/52

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A washer tank comprising: a main body for storing a liquid; and a water supply pipe inserted through an opening formed in an upper wall of the main body. The injection pipe formed integrally with the tip of the water injection pipe and inserted through the opening
The water injection pipe includes a holding projection into which a distal end portion is fitted, and the water injection pipe has a longitudinal middle portion held by the opening.
And the tip is held by the holding projection.
It was, washer tank, characterized in that. Wherein provided on the longitudinal middle portion of said water injection pipe corresponding to the opening portion and which of said main body, is inserted from the opening to prevent the escape from the body of the water injection pipe held by said holding projections The washer tank according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining means.