JP4556767B2 - Wiper support structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of a wiper support structure for a vehicle.

In the conventional wiper support structure, a wiper pivot is bolted using a two-part wiper bracket, and a slit is provided in the bolt insertion hole of one bracket so that a collision load from the front of the vehicle acts on the wiper pivot fixing portion. In this case, the impact on the collision object is reduced by separating the two wiper brackets (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-312450 A

  However, in the above prior art, there is a problem that the rigidity of the cowl top is lowered because the two-part wiper bracket is used.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and its object is to provide a wiper support structure capable of effectively mitigating the impact on the collision object while ensuring the rigidity of the cowl top. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A cowl top that is disposed along the lower edge of the windshield of the vehicle, has a front wall and a rear wall, extends in the vehicle width direction, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section that opens upward;
A wiper bracket supported by the front wall and the rear wall and having a wiper unit mounting portion to which a wiper unit is mounted;
In the wiper support structure with
A portion supported by at least the front wall and the rear wall of the wiper bracket is integrally formed;
The wiper unit support point of the wiper unit mounting portion is offset to one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a straight line connecting the front wall side wiper bracket support point and the rear wall side wiper bracket support point of the cowl top. And

In the present invention, since the wiper unit support point is offset from the straight line connecting both wiper bracket support points, the wiper unit support point is provided in the position on the straight line connecting both wiper bracket support points. Becomes easy to deform with a small load from the wiper unit. Therefore, the wiper bracket can be easily lowered and displaced while forming the part supported by at least the front wall and the rear wall of the wiper bracket to ensure the rigidity of the cowl top, and the impact on the collision object can be reduced. Can be effectively mitigated.

  Further, since the collision load input to the wiper unit is transmitted to the wiper bracket as a torsional force centered on a straight line connecting both wiper bracket support points, the change in the shape of the cowl top at the time of the collision can be suppressed small.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the wiper support structure of the present invention will be described based on Examples 1 and 2.

First, the configuration will be described.
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cowl top 1 of a vehicle to which the wiper support structure of the first embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the cowl top 1 of the first embodiment.

  The cowl top 1 according to the first embodiment is a vehicle body skeleton member disposed along the lower edge of a vehicle windshield (not shown). The cowl top 1 has a front wall 2 and a rear wall 3 that rise substantially vertically, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section with an upper opening. Further, flange portions 2 a and 3 a that extend in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the front wall 2 or the rear wall 3 and form a part of the front wall 2 or the rear wall 3 are respectively provided at upper ends of the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3. Is formed.

  Wiper brackets 7 and 8 to which wiper units 5 and 6 are attached are supported on the flange portions 2a and 3a. Wiper arms 4 a and 4 b are supported on the wiper units 5 and 6. The wiper bracket 7 is welded to the flange portion 2a of the front wall 2 and the flange portion 3a of the rear wall 3 at two points in the vehicle width direction of the front end portion 7a and the rear end portion 7b. Similarly, the wiper bracket 8 is welded to the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3 of the cowl top 1 at two points on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the front end portion 8a and the rear end portion 8b. In FIG. 2, x marks described at the positions of the front end portions 7 a and 8 a and the rear end portions 7 b and 8 b of the wiper brackets 7 and 8 indicate welding points between the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3 of the cowl top 1.

  The cowl top 1 accommodates a wiper motor 9 and a wiper link 10 for driving the wiper arms 4a and 4b. When the wiper motor 9 is driven, the rotational force of the wiper motor 9 is transmitted to the wiper link 10 to swing the wiper arms 4a and 4b, and a wiper blade (not shown) attached to the tip of the wiper arms 4a and 4b is moved to the front. Slide on the glass surface of the glass.

[Configuration of wiper unit mounting part]
The wiper unit 5 has two arm portions 5a and 5b, and is fastened to the wiper bracket 7 by bolts 11a and 11b. In the first embodiment, the wiper unit mounting portion is formed separately from the side protrusions 7c and 7d of the wiper bracket 7 and the bolts 11a and 11b. Of the wiper unit support points A and B of the bolts 11a and 11b (the center points of the tightened bolts 11a and 11b), the wiper unit support point A is a front wall side wiper bracket support point (front end portion) of the cowl top 1. Position offset by a predetermined amount Δα to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to a straight line m connecting the center of the two welding points 7a) and the rear wall side wiper bracket support point (the center of the two welding points of the rear end 7b). Is arranged.

  The bolt insertion portions 12a and 12b of the arm portions 5a and 5b are formed to be cracked, and when a load greater than a set value is applied to the wiper unit support points A and B, the arm portions 5a and 5b are bolts 11a and 11b. Set to separate from. In the first embodiment, the set load is set to an input load within the elastic deformation range of the wiper bracket 7, that is, an input load that is not accompanied by plastic deformation and can be supported to the extent that the wiper arm 4 a does not vibrate when the wiper motor 9 is driven.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Rotation moment conversion action of collision load]
When an obstacle comes into contact with the wiper unit 5 from the front of the vehicle, the wiper bracket 7 rotates about the straight line m so that the wiper unit support point A is directed downward, whereby the wiper unit 5 is lowered and displaced. .

  Here, when an excessive collision load is input to the wiper unit 5 and a load greater than the set value is applied to the wiper unit support point A, the wiper unit 5 is separated from the wiper bracket 7 and falls downward. That is, since the load input to the wiper bracket 7 is suppressed to a value corresponding to the set value, deformation of the cowl top 1 can be avoided.

[Prevention of interference with wiper motor, etc.]
In the first embodiment, the offset direction of the wiper unit support point A with respect to the straight line m is set to be opposite to the wiper unit 5 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when a collision load is applied to the wiper unit 5, the wiper bracket 7 is rotated to the side opposite to the wiper unit 5 by rotating the wiper unit support point A side of the wiper bracket 7, thereby causing interference between the wiper bracket 7 and the motor 9 and the wiper link 10. Is avoided.

[Prior art issues]
In the conventional wiper support structure, the wiper unit support point of the wiper bracket is arranged on a straight line connecting the front wall side wiper bracket support point and the rear wall side wiper bracket support point of the cowl top (FIG. 3A). ). Therefore, when a collision load is input to the wiper from the front of the vehicle (FIG. 3 (b)), the load in the same direction as the collision load is input to the straight line connecting both wiper brackets of the wiper bracket. The amount of deformation increases and is accompanied by breakage (FIG. 3 (c)). In addition, when the support rigidity of the wiper bracket is high, the falling displacement of the wiper unit is restricted, so that the collision load cannot be sufficiently absorbed.

  In order to solve this problem, the wiper pivot portion mounting structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-312450 uses a two-part wiper bracket that separates when receiving a predetermined collision load, thereby impacting the collision object. Has eased.

  However, in this prior art, since the wiper bracket is divided into two, there is a problem that the rigidity of the cowl top is reduced. Further, since the two wiper brackets are overlapped and the wiper is bolted to the overlap portion, assembly accuracy is required.

[Reduction of collision load input to the cowl top]
On the other hand, in the wiper support structure of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the wiper unit support point A is set to the wiper bracket support point of the front wall 2 of the cowl top 1 and the wiper bracket support of the rear wall 3. The straight line m connecting the points was offset by a predetermined amount Δα outward in the vehicle width direction.

  That is, the collision load input to the wiper arm 4a is converted into a torsional force about the straight line m and transmitted to the wiper bracket 7, and the wiper unit support point A is rotated downward (FIG. 4 (b). )), The wiper unit 5 can be easily dropped downward, and the impact on the collision object can be effectively mitigated (FIG. 4 (c)).

  Further, in the first embodiment, the wiper unit support point A is provided on the opposite side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the wiper unit 5 across the straight line m, so that a collision energy transmission path from the wiper unit 5 to the wiper bracket 7 is provided. Can be long. That is, since the transmission path of the collision energy can be lengthened and absorbed by the deformation of the side portions of the wiper unit 5 and the wiper bracket 7, a change in the shape of the wiper bracket 5 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when an excessive load is applied to the wiper unit support point A, the wiper unit 5 is detached from the wiper bracket 7, so that the collision load input to the wiper bracket 7 is a predetermined value or less. Can be suppressed.

[Cowl top rigidity improvement]
In the first embodiment, the wiper bracket 7 is divided into two parts by integrally forming at least a portion (front end portion 7a and rear end portion 7b) supported by the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3 of the cowl top 1 in the wiper bracket 7. Compared to the conventional technique, the rigidity of the cowl top 1 can be further increased. Moreover, since the precision at the time of assembling the wiper bracket 7 to the cowl top 1 is not required with respect to the prior art, the cost can be reduced.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the wiper support structure of Example 1, the effects listed below are obtained.

  (1) A cowl top 1 which is disposed along the lower edge of the windshield of the vehicle, has a front wall 2 and a rear wall 3 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and is formed in a U-shaped cross-section with an upper opening. , A wiper bracket 7 having a wiper unit mounting portion supported by the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3 to which the wiper unit 5 is mounted. The straight line m connecting the wall-side wiper bracket support point and the rear wall-side wiper bracket support point was offset to one side in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, deformation and breakage of the cowl top 1 when the wiper unit 5 receives a collision load can be suppressed while securing the rigidity of the cowl top 1.

  (2) Since the wiper unit support point A is provided at a position opposite to the wiper unit 5 across the straight line m connecting the wiper bracket support points, the collision energy transmitted to the wiper bracket 7 can be further reduced. .

  (3) Since the portion supported by at least the front wall and the rear wall of the wiper bracket is integrally formed, the rigidity of the cowl top 1 can be further enhanced as compared with the conventional technique in which the wiper bracket is divided into two parts.

  (4) When the wiper unit mounting part (bolts 11a, 11b and side protrusions 7c, 7d) is formed separately from the wiper bracket 7, 8, and a load greater than the set value is applied to the wiper unit mounting part, Since the wiper unit 5 is set to be detached from the wiper bracket 7, the load input to the ur top 1 can be suppressed to a predetermined value or less according to the set load. In addition, the impact energy absorbing action can effectively mitigate the impact on the collision object and further reduce the injury value.

  (5) The wiper unit support point A is offset to the opposite side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the wiper motor 9 and the wiper link 10 installed in the cowl top 1 across the straight line m connecting both wiper bracket support points. As the wiper bracket 7 rotates, the wiper unit support point A side can be prevented from interfering with the motor 9 and the wiper link 10, and damage to the motor 9, the wiper ring 10, and the like can be prevented.

The second embodiment is an example in which the wiper unit mounting portion is formed integrally with the wiper bracket.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the wiper support structure of the second embodiment. The wiper bracket 11 of the second embodiment is used in place of the wiper bracket 7 of the first embodiment.
The wiper bracket 11 according to the second embodiment forms a wiper unit mounting portion 12 that supports the wiper unit 5 by projecting a vehicle front-rear direction center portion outward in the vehicle width direction. The wiper unit support point C includes a front wall side wiper bracket support point (center of two welding points of the front end portion 11a) and a rear wall side wiper bracket support point (center of two welding points of the rear end portion 11b). ) To the outside in the vehicle width direction by a predetermined amount Δγ.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Parts reduction]
In the second embodiment, since the wiper unit mounting portion 12 is formed integrally with the wiper bracket 11, the number of parts is different from that in the first embodiment in which the wiper unit mounting portions (bolts 11 a and 11 b) are provided separately from the wiper bracket 7. The cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the wiper support structure of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1), (3), and (5) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (6) The wiper unit mounting portion 12 is formed integrally with the wiper bracket 11 by projecting the vehicle longitudinal direction central portion of the wiper bracket 11 to one side in the vehicle width direction. You can go down.

(Other examples)
Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described based on the first and second embodiments, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the first and second embodiments. The present invention includes design changes and the like within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the invention.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the flange portions 2a and 3a are provided on the front wall 2 and the rear wall 3, respectively, and the wiper brackets 7 and 8 are installed on both flange portions 2a and 3a. The wiper brackets 7 and 8 may be constructed directly on the wall 3.

  In the first embodiment, the front end portion 7a and the rear end portion 7b of the wiper bracket 7 are fixed to the front wall 2 or the rear wall 3 by two welding points, and the center position of both welding points is used as the wiper bracket support point. When there are three or more welding points, the center position of the two points on both sides is set as a wiper bracket support point. Moreover, not only welding but bolt fastening may be used.

1 is a perspective view showing a cowl top 1 of a vehicle to which a wiper support structure of Embodiment 1 is applied. 1 is a plan view showing a cowl top 1 of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the problem of a prior art. It is explanatory drawing which shows the collision load input reduction effect | action of Example 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a wiper support structure of Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cowl top 2 Front wall 2a Flange part 3 Rear wall 3a Flange part 4a, 4b Wiper arm 5, 6 Wiper unit 5a, 5b, 6a Arm part 7, 8 Wiper bracket 7a, 8a Front end part 7b, 8b Rear end part 9 Wiper Motor 10 Wiper link 11a, 11b Bolt 12a, 12b Bolt insertion part

Claims (5)

A cowl top that is disposed along the lower edge of the windshield of the vehicle, has a front wall and a rear wall, extends in the vehicle width direction, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section that opens upward;
A wiper bracket supported by the front wall and the rear wall and having a wiper unit mounting portion to which a wiper unit is mounted;
In the wiper support structure with
A portion supported by at least the front wall and the rear wall of the wiper bracket is integrally formed;
The wiper unit support point of the wiper unit mounting portion is offset to one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a straight line connecting the front wall side wiper bracket support point and the rear wall side wiper bracket support point of the cowl top. Wiper support structure. The wiper support structure according to claim 1,
A wiper support structure characterized in that the wiper unit support point is provided at a position opposite to the wiper unit in a vehicle width direction across a straight line connecting both wiper bracket support points. The wiper support structure according to claim 1 or 2,
The wiper support structure is characterized in that the wiper unit mounting portion is formed separately from the wiper bracket, and is set so as to be separated when a load greater than a set value is applied to the wiper unit mounting portion. The wiper support structure according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A wiper support structure characterized in that the wiper unit mounting portion is formed integrally with the wiper bracket by projecting a central portion of the wiper bracket in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward one side in the vehicle width direction. In the wiper support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A wiper support characterized in that the wiper unit support point is offset from the wiper motor and wiper link installed in the cowl top to the opposite side in the vehicle width direction across a straight line connecting both wiper bracket support points. Construction.

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