JP4172710B2 - 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 for reducing the thickness by providing a spray nozzle with a function of changing the flow direction of cleaning water.

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

  Such cleaning apparatuses include the following types including an injection nozzle for injecting cleaning water and a nozzle holder for holding the injection nozzle (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The cleaning device a includes a cylinder b and a piston c supported by the cylinder b so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and a nozzle holder d is connected to a front end portion of the piston c.

  The nozzle holder d holds an injection nozzle e formed in a substantially spherical shape, and the injection nozzle e is rotatable with respect to the nozzle holder d in an arbitrary direction. Therefore, by rotating the spray nozzle e with respect to the nozzle holder d, it is possible to adjust the spray direction of the cleaning water sprayed from the spray nozzle e.

  The cylinder b is held by the vehicle headlamp f via the holding members g, g, and the lens member h disposed below the vehicle headlamp f is attached to the nozzle holder d.

  The cleaning device a is housed inside the vehicle body when the vehicle headlamp f is not cleaned (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7), and the piston c projects forward from the cylinder b during cleaning, so that the lens The member h, the nozzle holder d, and the injection nozzle e are integrally projected toward the outside of the vehicle body (a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7).

  When the injection nozzle e protrudes to the outside of the vehicle body, cleaning water is supplied from a cleaning water tank (not shown) to the injection nozzle e through the cylinder d and the nozzle holder d, and from the injection nozzle e to the vehicle headlamp f. Washing water is sprayed toward the lens surface (lens cover).

JP 2001-233182 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional cleaning apparatus, in order to enable the injection nozzle e to rotate with respect to the nozzle holder d, when the injection nozzle e rotates, the lower end thereof contacts the inner surface of the nozzle holder d. A escape space i for avoiding this is formed inside the nozzle holder d. Accordingly, the washing water supplied from the cylinder b to the nozzle holder d is converted into a direction in which the flow direction when the supply is supplied from the space i to the injection nozzle e is substantially orthogonal, and further flows immediately before being injected from the injection nozzle e. The direction is changed and injected toward the lens surface of the vehicle headlamp f.

  However, in the conventional cleaning device a, the height of the nozzle holder d is increased by the amount of the escape space i as described above, which hinders downsizing and thinning of the cleaning device a. is there.

  In particular, there are many cases in which reduction in the height direction of the cleaning device a is required due to restrictions on the design of the vehicle headlamp f.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and to reduce the thickness thereof.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention is configured such that a supply portion having a supply flow path to which cleaning water is supplied and a head portion having an injection port from which the cleaning water is injected are integrated. An injection nozzle formed in the head portion, forming a space portion communicating with the supply flow channel and the injection port inside the head portion, washing water supplied to the space portion from the supply flow channel of the supply portion, so as to jet from the injection port in a direction an acute angle relative to the flow direction in the supply flow path, the head portion has an opening for communicating the outside space, provided the lid member for closing the opening It is a thing.

  Therefore, in the vehicular illuminating lamp cleaning device of the present invention, the direction in which the cleaning water flows is converted into an acute angle inside the injection nozzle.

The vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device of the present invention includes an injection nozzle formed integrally with a supply portion having a supply flow channel to which cleaning water is supplied and a head portion having an injection port through which the cleaning water is injected. A space portion communicating with the supply channel and the injection port is formed inside the head portion, and the washing water supplied from the supply channel of the supply portion to the space portion flows in the supply channel. The head portion has an opening that communicates between the outside and the space, and a lid member that closes the opening is provided .

  Accordingly, the flow direction of the cleaning water is changed inside the injection nozzle, and a nozzle holder for holding the injection nozzle is not required. Therefore, the height of the cleaning device can be reduced correspondingly. Can be made thinner.

In the invention described in claim 2, since the control surface for controlling the flow path of the wash water flowing in the space portion is formed on the surface of the lid member , the volume or shape of the space portion is changed to change the wash water. The desired flow path can be secured and the particle size of the washing water can be controlled.

  In the invention described in claim 3, a water supply body having a flow path for supplying cleaning water to the injection nozzle is provided, and at least a part of the supply portion of the injection nozzle is formed in a substantially spherical surface. Since the connecting portion connected to the water supply body is provided, the injection nozzle can be rotated in any direction with respect to the water supply body. Adjustments can be made.

  In the invention described in claim 4, since the vehicle lamp is projected outward from the vehicle body when washed, and stored inside the vehicle body when not washed, the vehicle looks good when not used. Can be ensured, and damage to the cleaning device can be prevented.

  Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the cleaning device during non-cleaning.

  In the invention described in claim 5, since the head part and the supply part of the injection nozzle are arranged linearly with respect to the water supply body to which the supply part is connected, the height dimension of the injection nozzle is set. Can be reduced.

  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 cleaning water supply pipe 10 of the water supply body 8 by press-fitting (see FIGS. 3 and 6). 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 control surface 27a.

  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 control surface 27 a is substantially at the lower end of the front opening edge of the supply flow path 23. Is matched. Accordingly, the cleaning water supplied from the supply flow channel 23 to the space portion 15 a is smoothly flowed toward the injection port 22 by controlling the flow channel along the control surface 27 a.

  Thus, by forming the control surface 27a on the lid member 26, it is possible to change the volume and shape of the space portion 15a to secure a desired flow path for the wash water and to control the jet direction of the wash water. .

  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 spray nozzle 14 can be tilted (rotatable) 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 the spray port 22 is within this tilt range. It is possible to adjust the injection direction of the wash water injected from (the range in which adjustment is possible is indicated by angle S in FIG. 5).

  Moreover, the injection nozzle 14 can rotate with respect to the water supply body 8 in the length direction of the supply unit 16, that is, the direction around the axis extending in the front-rear direction, and the direction around the axis (the R direction shown in FIG. 6). In this case, the injection direction of the washing water injected from the injection port 22 can be adjusted.

  Further, in a state where the supply unit 16 of the spray nozzle 14 is connected to the cleaning water supply pipe 10 of the water supply body 8, the cleaning water supply pipe 10, the supply unit 16, and the head unit 15 are arranged substantially linearly in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the height dimension of the injection nozzle 14 can be reduced.

  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 washing water supplied from the supply flow channel 23 to the space 15a of the head unit 15 is changed so that the flow channels are substantially orthogonal when flowing from the supply flow channel 23 to the space 15a (FIG. Arrow A) shown in FIG. At this time, the washing water flows along the control surface 27a of the lid member 26 as described above.

  The washing water supplied to the space 15a is jetted from the jet port 22 toward the surface of the lens cover 102 of the vehicle headlamp 100 in the opening direction of the jet port 22 of the jet nozzle 14, that is, above the rear side. (Arrow B shown in FIG. 5). Therefore, the direction in which the cleaning water is ejected from the ejection port 22 is a direction that is folded back with respect to the flow direction in the supply flow path 23, and the angle α between them is an acute angle (see FIG. 5).

  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 device 1, the injection nozzle 14 is integrally formed by the head portion 15 and the supply portion 16, and is supplied from the supply flow path 23 of the supply portion 16 to the space portion 15 a of the head portion 15. Since the supplied wash water is jetted from the jet port 22 in a direction that makes an acute angle with respect to the flow direction in the supply flow path 23, the flow direction of the wash water is converted inside the jet nozzle 14.

  Accordingly, unlike the conventional cleaning device, a nozzle holder for holding the spray nozzle is not required, and the height of the front end portion of the cleaning device 1 can be reduced accordingly, and the cleaning device 1 is thin. Can be achieved.

  In particular, this is extremely effective when the height of the front end portion of the front strip device 1 is required to be reduced due to restrictions on the design of the vehicle headlamp.

  Further, as described above, since the cleaning device 1 protrudes outward from the vehicle body during cleaning and is stored inside the vehicle body when not cleaned, 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.

  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 expansion disassembled perspective view which shows an injection nozzle and a water supply body. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional washing | cleaning apparatus with a part of vehicle body.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Vehicle headlamp (vehicle illumination lamp), 1 ... Cleaning apparatus, 8 ... Water supply body, 14 ... Injection nozzle, 15 ... Head part, 15a ... Space part, 15b ... Opening part, 16 ... Supply part, 22 ... injection port, 23 ... supply channel, 25 ... connecting portion, 26 ... lid member, 27a ... control surface

Claims (5)

An injection nozzle formed integrally with a supply unit having a supply flow path to which cleaning water is supplied and a head unit having an injection port through which the cleaning water is injected;
A space portion communicating with the supply flow path and the injection port is formed inside the head portion,
The cleaning water supplied to the space from the supply channel of the supply unit is jetted from the injection port in a direction that is an acute angle with respect to the flow direction in the supply channel ,
The head portion has an opening communicating the outside and the space portion,
A vehicular illuminating lamp cleaning apparatus comprising a lid member for closing the opening . The vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a control surface for controlling a flow path of the cleaning water flowing in the space is formed on the surface of the lid member. A water supply body having a flow path for supplying cleaning water to the spray nozzle;
3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the supply portion of the injection nozzle is provided as a connection portion having an outer surface formed in a substantially spherical shape and connected to the water supply body. Lighting lamp cleaning device. 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. The head part and the supply part of the spray nozzle are arranged linearly with respect to the water supply body to which the supply part is connected. The claim 1, claim 3, claim 3 or claim 4, The vehicle illumination lamp cleaning device described.

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