JP4128522B2 - Cleaning device for vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of a cleaning device for a vehicle illumination lamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technical field that aims to reduce the size and manufacturing cost while ensuring a good rectifying function.

  There is a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of a vehicular lamp, for example, a vehicular headlamp.

  Such a cleaning apparatus includes a type including an injection nozzle for injecting cleaning water and a nozzle holder for holding the injection nozzle (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-63-65966

  By the way, in a washing | cleaning apparatus, a color | collar may be arrange | positioned inside an injection nozzle in order to rectify the washing water supplied to an injection nozzle and to make the washing water injected from an injection port fine.

  However, when the collar is arranged inside the injection nozzle, the collar is a separate part from the injection nozzle, so the number of parts of the cleaning device is increased and an assembly process for arranging the collar is required. There is a problem that the rise of. In particular, in the type in which the injection nozzle is held in the nozzle holder as in the cleaning device described in Patent Document 1, since there is a color in addition to the injection nozzle and the nozzle holder, three parts are required. turn into.

  Further, by providing a collar which is a separate component from the spray nozzle, an arrangement space for the collar is required, and the cleaning device may become large.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and to reduce the size and manufacturing cost while ensuring a good rectifying function.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention includes a supply unit having a supply channel to which cleaning water is supplied, and the cleaning water supplied to the supply channel of the supply unit. A head part having an ejection part having an ejection port through which the liquid is ejected and an opening part opened to one side, and a lid member that closes the opening part of the head part are provided, and the supply part and the head part are ejected from the ejection nozzle And forming a space that communicates with the supply flow channel, the injection port, and the opening inside the head portion, and as the diameter of the supply flow channel approaches the space portion of the head portion in the supply portion A narrowed aperture is formed.

  Accordingly, in the vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention, the cleaning water is rectified by the throttle unit of the supply unit.

  The vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention includes a supply unit having a supply channel to which cleaning water is supplied and an injection port having an injection port through which the cleaning water supplied to the supply channel of the supply unit is injected. And a lid member that closes the opening portion of the head portion, and the supply portion and the head portion are integrally formed as an injection nozzle, A space portion communicating with the supply channel, the injection port, and the opening is formed inside, and a throttle portion that has a diameter that decreases as the diameter of the supply channel approaches the space portion of the head portion is formed in the supply portion. It is characterized by.

  Therefore, a good rectification function is ensured by the narrowed portion, and the number of parts of the cleaning device and the number of assembling steps can be reduced while ensuring the good rectification function, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since it is not necessary to provide a collar that is a separate component from the spray nozzle in order to rectify the cleaning water, it is possible to reduce the size of the cleaning device without requiring a corresponding arrangement space.

  In the invention described in claim 2, since the rising portion that makes the area of the injection port smaller than the space continuous inside the injection port is provided in the injection unit, immediately before the washing water is injected from the injection port. The flow path is changed by the standing wall portion to generate turbulent flow, and the cleaning water having a certain spread is injected to the vehicular illumination lamp, so that the cleaning efficiency can be improved.

  In the invention described in claim 3, since the restricting portion for restricting the injection range of the cleaning water injected from the injection port is provided in the vicinity of the injection port of the head portion, there is no problem other than the illumination lamp for the vehicle. It is possible to prevent the cleaning water from being sprayed to a necessary portion, and to prevent a reduction in cleaning power that may be caused by excessive expansion of the spray range.

  In the invention described in claim 4, since the vehicle lighting lamp protrudes outward from the vehicle body when it is cleaned, and is stored inside the vehicle body when it is not cleaned, the cleaning device is provided only when necessary. Thus, it is possible to ensure a good appearance of the vehicle when not in use and to prevent damage to the cleaning device.

  In addition, since it is housed inside the vehicle body during non-cleaning, the size of the cleaning device can be reduced accordingly.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode of a vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the best mode shown below, the vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle headlamp cleaning device. The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to a vehicle headlamp cleaning device, and the present invention can be widely applied to all illumination lamp cleaning devices provided in a vehicle.

  First, an outline of a vehicle headlamp will be described (see FIG. 1).

  The vehicle headlamp 100 includes an irradiation unit 101, and the irradiation unit 101 is disposed in a space 104 defined by a lens cover 102 and a lens body 103.

  The irradiation unit 101 includes an inner panel 105, a reflecting mirror 106 attached to the rear end of the inner panel 105, a light source 107 attached to the reflecting mirror 106, and light emitted forward from the light source 107. The projection lens 108 projects forward from an opening 105 a formed in the inner panel 105. A light shielding member 110 is disposed in a space 109 formed by the reflecting mirror 106. The light shielding member 110 is positioned in front of the light source 107 and serves to block the downward light emitted from the light source 107 and limit the light / dark boundary in the vehicle light distribution.

  A cover body 111 is disposed on the lower side of the lens cover 102, and the cover body 111 includes a lens portion 111a formed of a transparent material and a reflection portion 111b formed of an opaque material. In the cover body 111, the reflection part 111b is visually recognized through the lens part 111a, and a cleaning device described later disposed behind the reflection part 111b is not visually recognized.

  The cover body 111 may be a member for opening and closing an opening formed in the bumper, for example.

  The cover body 111 is provided with a mounting portion 112 protruding rearward. Holding members 113, 113 protruding downward are attached to the lower surface portion 103 a of the lens body 103.

  Next, the cleaning device will be described.

  The main body 2 of the cleaning device 1 is held by holding members 113 and 113 provided on the lower surface 103a of the lens body 103 (see FIG. 1).

  The main body 2 includes a cylinder 3 and a piston 4 supported by the cylinder 3 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder 3 is formed by integrally forming a cylindrical portion 3a that is long in the front-rear direction and an inner flange portion 3b that is provided at the front edge of the cylindrical portion 3a.

  The piston 4 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and is longer than the cylindrical portion 3 a of the cylinder 3 in the front-rear direction. The front end portion of the piston 4 is provided as a water supply connection portion 4a, and has an outer diameter that is smaller than that of other portions. Engagement protrusions 4b and 4b protruding outward are provided on the water supply connecting portion 4a. Inside the piston 4, a spring hooking projection 4c is provided at a position near its front end. A stopper projection 4d projecting outward is provided at a position near the rear end of the piston 4, and a sliding ring 5 made of, for example, a rubber material is provided on the rear side of the stopper projection 4d. It is attached in a fitting shape.

  In a state where the piston 4 is supported by the cylinder 3, the sliding ring 5 is in close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder 3. The piston 4 can be moved forward with respect to the cylinder 3 until the stopper projection 4 d comes into contact with the inner flange portion 3 b of the cylinder 3.

  The cover body 111 is attached to an attachment portion 112 protruding from a water supply body, which will be described later, connected to the piston 4 (see FIG. 1).

  A back cap 6 is attached to the rear end portion of the cylinder 3 in an outer fitting manner. The back cap 6 is formed by integrally forming a mounted portion 6a formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and a connecting pipe portion 6b provided at the rear end of the mounted portion 6a and protruding upward from the mounted portion 6a. A spring support protrusion 6c is provided inside. The connecting pipe portion 6b of the back cap 6 is connected to a pressure pump (not shown). The pressure pump is connected to a washing water tank (not shown) and is fixed to the inside of the vehicle body (not shown) or the vehicle headlamp 100.

  The back cap 6 has a mounted portion 6 a attached to the rear end portion of the cylinder 3. In a state where the attached portion 6 a is attached to the rear end portion of the cylinder 3, the tension coil spring 7 is stretched between the spring hooking protrusion 4 c of the piston 4 and the spring support protrusion 6 c of the back cap 6. Therefore, the piston 4 is urged backward by the tension coil spring 7, that is, in a direction in which the piston 4 is drawn into the cylinder 3.

  A water supply body 8 is connected to the water supply connecting portion 4a of the piston 4 (see FIG. 3). The water supply body 8 includes a valve disposition portion 9 and a cleaning water supply pipe 10 and a connecting pipe 11 protruding from the valve disposition portion 9 in opposite directions.

  The internal space 9 a of the valve disposition portion 9 is communicated with the cleaning water supply pipe 10 and the connecting pipe 11. A water stop wall 9 b that protrudes upward from the lower surface of the valve disposition portion 9 is provided inside the valve disposition portion 9. A check valve 12 is arranged inside the valve arrangement portion 9.

  The check valve 12 has a main portion 12a formed in a substantially disc shape and a protrusion 12b protruding downward from the central portion of the main portion 12a, and a receiving portion 12c is provided on the upper surface of the central portion of the main portion 12a. It has been. A disc spring 13 is disposed on the upper surface of the check valve 12, and a central portion of the disc spring 13 is elastically contacted with the receiving portion 12c.

  The disc spring 13 and the check valve 12 are attached to the inside of the valve arrangement portion 9 in a state where the outer peripheral portions are in close contact with each other. In the check valve 12, the lower surface of the main portion 12 a is elastically contacted with the upper edge of the water blocking wall 9 b by the spring force of the disc spring 13 in a state where a predetermined or higher water pressure is not applied to the check valve 12. Therefore, in a state where the check valve 12 is elastically contacted with the water stop wall 9b, the internal space 9a of the valve disposition portion 9 is separated into two spaces before and after the water stop wall 9b.

  The connecting pipe 11 protrudes rearward from the valve disposition portion 9 and has engagement holes 11a and 11a. The connecting pipe 11 is connected to the water supply connecting portion 4a by engaging the engaging projections 4b and 4b of the piston 4 with the engaging holes 11a and 11a, respectively.

  An injection nozzle 14 is connected to the washing water supply pipe 10 of the water supply body 8 by press fitting (see FIG. 3). The injection nozzle 14 is formed by integrally forming a head portion 15 and a supply portion 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  The head portion 15 includes a cylindrical portion 17 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending vertically and an injection portion 18 provided so as to close an upper opening of the cylindrical portion 17. The injection unit 18 includes a roof portion 19, side wall portions 20 and 20, and a protruding wall portion 21.

  The roof portion 19 is provided so as to protrude substantially rearward from the front edge of the cylindrical portion 17, and the tip portion is formed in a substantially semicircular shape. A standing wall portion 19 a that protrudes downward is provided at the leading edge of the roof portion 19.

  The side wall parts 20 and 20 are respectively provided continuously on the left and right sides of the roof part 19 so as to protrude upward from the left and right side edges of the cylindrical part 17. The side walls 20 and 20 are respectively formed with inclined surfaces that are separated from each other in the right and left direction as they continue to the rear of the roof portion 19, and the inclined surfaces are formed as restricting portions 20 a and 20 a. The restriction portions 20a and 20a have an opening angle θ (see FIG. 4) of, for example, about 80 °, and play a role of restricting the injection angle in the left-right direction of the cleaning water injected from the injection unit 18.

  The protruding wall portion 21 is provided so as to protrude forward from the rear edge of the cylindrical portion 17, and is positioned behind and below the roof portion 19. The leading edge of the projecting wall portion 21 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the leading edge of the roof portion 19.

  An opening is formed between the standing wall portion 19a of the roof portion 19 and the protruding wall portion 21, and this opening is formed as an injection port 22 for injecting cleaning water. The injection port 22 is formed in a horizontally long shape so as to extend in the left-right direction, and its area is made smaller than the space inside the injection port 22 by the standing wall portion 19a. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the vertical width H <b> 1 of the injection port 22 is made smaller than the vertical width H <b> 2 of the space immediately inside the injection port 22.

  The supply part 16 of the injection nozzle 14 protrudes rearward from the cylinder part 17 of the head part 15. The supply unit 16 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its internal space is formed as a supply channel 23 to which cleaning water is supplied. As shown in FIG. 5, the supply flow path 23 is formed as a throttle portion 23 a that decreases in diameter as it approaches the space portion 15 a inside the head portion 15 except for the front end portion thereof. The front end portion of the supply flow channel 23 is formed as the same diameter portion 23 b having the same diameter. Therefore, the supply channel 23 has the largest diameter of the outer opening of the throttle portion 23a.

  The supply channel 23 of the supply unit 16 communicates with the space 15 a of the head unit 15, and the space 15 a communicates with the opening 15 b on the lower side of the head unit 15 and the ejection port 22.

  The supply portion 16 is formed such that the outer shapes of the neck portion 24 and the connecting portion 25 are different. The neck portion 24 has an outer surface formed in a circumferential surface shape, and the connecting portion 25 has an outer surface formed in a spherical shape. The maximum outer diameter of the connecting portion 25 is larger than the outer diameter of the neck portion 24.

  The opening 15 b on the lower side of the head portion 15 of the injection nozzle 14 is closed by the lid member 26. The lid member 26 is formed by integrally forming an inner fitting portion 27 and a receiving projection 28 that protrudes forward from the lower edge of the front end portion of the inner fitting portion 27. A portion on the rear end side of the upper surface of the inner fitting portion 27 is inclined downward as it goes rearward, and this inclined surface is formed as a first control surface 27a. Further, a portion of the upper surface of the inner fitting portion 27 that is continuous with the front end of the first control surface 27 a is formed as a second control surface 27 b that is parallel to the axial direction of the supply flow path 23.

  The lid member 26 has the inner fitting portion 27 inserted into the space portion 15a from below and is attached to the head portion 15 in a press-fit state, and closes the opening portion 15b. In a state where the lid member 26 is attached to the head portion 15, the receiving projection 28 is in contact with the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 17, and the rear end of the first control surface 27 a is the front opening edge of the supply flow channel 23. It is almost coincident with the lower end. Accordingly, the wash water supplied from the supply flow path 23 to the space portion 15 a is smoothly flowed toward the injection port 22 by controlling the flow path along the first control surface 27 a.

  Here, by adjusting the volume ratio of the space portion 15a and the same-diameter portion 23b (or the cross-sectional area ratio of the space portion 15a and the same-diameter portion 23b), a desired injection amount, spread, pattern, etc. of the washing water are ensured can do. That is, the shape of the space portion 15a is changed by adjusting the positions of the first control surface 27a and the second control surface 27b of the lid member 26. By increasing the cross-sectional area of the space portion 15a to the same diameter portion 23b by 2 to 5 times and increasing the volume of the space portion 15a to the same diameter portion 23b by 10 to 40 times, the spread of the washing water spray pattern and the injection density can be increased. Optimization can be achieved.

  The volume of the same diameter portion 23b is calculated from the radius d / 2 and the length l (see FIG. 5), and the cross sectional area of the same diameter portion 23b is a cross section parallel to the axial direction of the supply flow channel 23. Yes, calculated by the product of diameter d and length l (see FIG. 5).

  The injection nozzle 14 is connected by inserting the supply portion 16 into the cleaning water supply pipe 10 of the water supply body 8 in a press-fitted state. In a state where the supply unit 16 is connected to the cleaning water supply pipe 10, the connection part 25 whose outer surface is formed in a spherical shape is in contact with the inner surface of the cleaning water supply pipe 10. Therefore, the injection nozzle 14 can be inclined in any direction until the outer surface of the neck 24 of the supply unit 16 contacts the front opening edge of the cleaning water supply pipe 10 and is injected from the injection port 22 within this inclination range. The injection direction of the washing water can be adjusted.

  The injection nozzle 14 is rotatable with respect to the water supply body 8 in the length direction of the supply unit 16, that is, in the direction around the axis extending in the front-rear direction, and is also injected from the injection port 22 in this direction around the axis. The washing water injection direction can be adjusted.

  Below, operation | movement of the washing | cleaning apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

  When not used, that is, when the cleaning water is not supplied to the cylinder 3, the piston 4 moves to the cylinder except for its tip by the spring force of the tension coil spring 7 disposed inside the cylinder 3. 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

  When cleaning water is pumped from the cleaning water tank into the cylinder 3 by a pressure pump, the cleaning water is supplied from the cylinder 3 to the valve arrangement portion 9 of the water supply body 8. When the water pressure of the cleaning water in the cylinder 3 increases, the piston 4 protrudes from the cylinder 3 due to the water pressure, and accordingly, the injection nozzle 14, the water supply body 8 and the cover body 111 are integrated into the outside of the vehicle body. (See FIG. 2).

  When the piston 4 protrudes from the cylinder 3 to a predetermined position and the water pressure of the washing water in the cylinder 3 further increases and the water pressure becomes a predetermined value or more, the check valve 12 disposed in the valve disposition portion 9 of the water supply body 8. Is moved upward against the spring force of the disc spring 13, and the cleaning water reaches the spray nozzle 14 from the valve disposition portion 9 through the cleaning water supply pipe 10. At this time, the cleaning water flows through the supply flow path 23 of the supply section 16 of the injection nozzle 14, but is rectified by the throttle section 23 a of the supply flow path 23, and the fine wash water is injected from the injection port 22. Will be. Therefore, the aperture 23a of the supply unit 16 has the same rectifying function as that of the collar.

  The wash water supplied from the supply flow path 23 to the space 15 a of the head portion 15 is jetted from the jet port 22 toward the surface of the lens cover 102 of the vehicle headlamp 100. Immediately before the washing water is jetted from the jet port 22, the flow path is changed by the standing wall 19 a provided in the jet unit 18, turbulence is generated, and the washing water is in a state of having a certain spread from the jet port 22. Is injected. Accordingly, the cleaning water having a certain spread with respect to the lens cover 102 is jetted, and the cleaning efficiency can be improved.

  Further, when the cleaning water is injected from the injection port 22, the undesired expansion of the cleaning water is suppressed by the restriction portions 20 a and 20 a formed on the side wall portions 20 and 20 of the injection unit 18. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning water from being sprayed to unnecessary portions other than the lens cover 102 and to prevent the cleaning power from being lowered due to excessive expansion of the spraying range.

  When the supply of the cleaning water from the cleaning water tank to the cylinder 3 is stopped, the check valve 12 is moved downward and closed by the spring force of the disc spring 13 with the decrease in the water pressure, and further the water pressure is lowered to lower the piston. 4 is drawn into the cylinder 3 by the spring force of the tension coil spring 7, and the injection nozzle 14, the water supply body 8, and the cover body 111 are returned to their original positions before cleaning.

  As described above, in the cleaning apparatus 1, the supply unit 16 in which the throttle unit 23 a having the same rectifying function as that of the collar is formed integrally with the head unit 15. While securing, the number of parts of the cleaning device 1 and the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a collar that is a separate component from the spray nozzle 14 for rectifying the cleaning water, it is not necessary to provide a corresponding arrangement space, and the cleaning device 1 can be downsized.

  Further, as described above, the cleaning device 1 protrudes outward from the vehicle body during cleaning and is stored inside the vehicle body when not cleaning, so that the cleaning device 1 protrudes from the vehicle body only when necessary and is not used. At the same time, it is possible to ensure a good appearance of the vehicle and to prevent the cleaning device 1 from being damaged. Further, since the piston 4 is pulled into the cylinder 3 and the cleaning device 1 is housed inside the vehicle body during non-cleaning, the cleaning device 1 can be downsized accordingly.

  In the above, the injection nozzle 14 in which the portion excluding a part of the supply flow path 23 is formed as the throttle portion 23a is shown as an example, but instead of the injection nozzle 14 as shown in FIG. You may use the injection nozzle 14A formed as the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 23c in which a diameter becomes small as the whole supply flow path 23A approaches the space part 15a.

  When the injection nozzle 14A is used, the length of the throttle portion 23c can be increased, so that the functionality of the rectifying function can be improved.

  The specific shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described best mode are merely examples of the implementation of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limited by these. It should not be interpreted in a general way.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 show the best mode of the present invention, and this figure is a side view of a cleaning apparatus that shows a state at the time of non-cleaning along with a part of a vehicle body in a cross section. It is a side view of the washing | cleaning apparatus which shows the state at the time of washing | cleaning with a part of vehicle body by making a part into a cross section. It is an expanded sectional view of a cleaning device. It is an enlarged plan view of an injection nozzle. It is an expanded sectional view of an injection nozzle shown in the state where a lid member was attached. It is an expanded sectional view which shows another injection nozzle in the state in which the cover member was attached.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Vehicle headlamp (vehicle illumination lamp), 1 ... Cleaning apparatus, 14 ... Injection nozzle, 15 ... Head part, 15a ... Space part, 15b ... Opening part, 16 ... Supply part, 18 ... Injection part, 19a ... Standing wall part, 20a ... Restriction part, 22 ... Injection port, 23 ... Supply flow path, 23a ... Restriction part, 26 ... Lid member, 14A ... Injection nozzle, 23A ... Supply flow path, 23c ... Restriction part

Claims (4)

A supply unit having a supply channel through which the wash water is supplied;
A head portion having an injection portion having an injection port through which the cleaning water supplied to the supply flow channel of the supply portion is injected, and an opening portion opened on one side;
A lid member that closes the opening of the head portion,
The supply part and the head part are integrally formed as an injection nozzle,
Inside the head portion is formed a space that communicates with the supply channel, the injection port, and the opening,
A cleaning device for a vehicular illuminating lamp, characterized in that a narrowing portion is formed in the supply portion so that the diameter of the supply channel decreases as it approaches the space portion of the head portion. The apparatus for cleaning a vehicular illumination lamp according to claim 1, wherein the injection portion is provided with a standing wall portion that makes an area of the injection port smaller than a space continuous inside the injection port. 3. A vehicle illumination lamp cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a restricting portion for restricting an injection range of the washing water injected from the injection port is provided in the vicinity of the injection port of the head unit. apparatus. 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular lamp is protruded outward from the vehicle body when the vehicular lamp is cleaned, and is stored inside the vehicle body when the vehicular lamp is not cleaned. Cleaning equipment.

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