JP6544159B2 - Wiper device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are wiper devices including a lever extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis from a pivot shaft, and a rod for transmitting a driving force, one end of which is connected to the tip of the lever via a ball joint. For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This ball joint has a ball pin fixed to the lever side and a joint case fixed to the rod side. The ball pin has a shaft portion erected on the lever and a spherical portion provided at the tip of the shaft portion by having its base end portion crimped through the lever and the joint case includes the spherical portion. It has a spherical recess (mounting recess) that holds the roller in a rollable manner.

Patent No. 4142494 gazette

  However, in the wiper apparatus as described above, since the shaft portion is erected in the plate thickness direction on the lever and the plane of the lever and the spherical portion to which the driving force is input are offset, the lever and the rod are When the driving force is transmitted between them, the force (force in the direction to tilt the ball pin) in the direction inclined to the orthogonal direction of the plate thickness (that is, the direction along the plane of the lever) It will join. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the thickness and secure the rigidity so that the lever is not deformed by the force in the inclined direction from the shaft portion. This causes, for example, an increase in the material cost of the lever.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a wiper device capable of reducing the thickness of a lever.

  A wiper device that solves the above problem transmits a driving force that extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis from the pivot shaft and rotates integrally with the pivot shaft, and a driving force whose one end is connected to the tip of the lever via the ball joint. And a rod, the ball joint having a rolling center disposed within a thickness range of the lever.

  According to the same configuration, the ball joint has its center of rolling disposed within the range of the plate thickness of the lever, so when the driving force is transmitted between the lever and the rod, It is possible to prevent or suppress the application of force in the direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction. This makes it difficult for the lever to be deformed, and the rigidity can be secured even if the plate thickness of the lever is reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the force to be inclined from acting on the pivot shaft that rotates integrally with the lever.

In the above-mentioned wiper device, it is preferable that the ball joint is disposed at a central position where the rolling center is within the range of the plate thickness of the lever.
According to the same configuration, the ball joint is disposed at the center position at which the rolling center is within the range of the plate thickness of the lever, which makes it more difficult for the force to be deformed by the lever. It becomes possible to make it thinner.

  In the above-mentioned wiper device, the ball joint is rotatably accommodated in a joint case in which a spherical portion of a ball pin implanted on the rod side is provided on the lever side, and the joint case is the lever It is preferable to form in the cap shape which covers the extension side of the said pivot shaft, and to have an opening part on the opposite side to the extension side of the said pivot shaft.

  According to the same configuration, the ball pin is implanted on the rod side, the joint case is provided on the lever side, and the ball pin can roll from the opening on the opposite side to the extension side of the pivot shaft of the joint case Be housed. Then, since the extension side of the pivot shaft in the joint case is covered by the cap shape, the joint case is, for example, raindrops or the like invading from the pivot shaft side to which the wiper is fixed at the tip, reaching the ball joint Penetration inside is prevented or suppressed.

  In the wiper device of the present invention, the thickness of the lever can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The whole schematic diagram of the wiper apparatus in one Embodiment. The partial sectional view which shows the connection state of the 1st lever and connecting rod in one Embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The partial cross section figure for demonstrating the ball joint in one Embodiment. The partial sectional view which shows the connection state of the 1st lever and connecting rod in another example. The partial sectional view which shows the connection state of the 1st lever and connecting rod in another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a wiper device will be described according to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, the wiper apparatus includes first and second pivot holders 1 and 2 and a connecting frame 3 connecting them, and is fixed to a lower body of a front window (not shown).

  Further, the wiper device includes a first pivot shaft 4 rotatably supported with respect to the first pivot holder 1 and a radial direction (axial orthogonal direction) extending from a lower end of the first pivot shaft 4. It has a first lever 5 that pivots integrally with the pivot shaft 4. The first wiper W1 is fixed to the upper end portion of the first pivot shaft 4.

  In addition, the wiper device includes a second pivot shaft 6 rotatably supported with respect to the second pivot holder 2, and extends in a radial direction (axial orthogonal direction) from a lower end of the second pivot shaft 6. A second lever 7 is provided which pivots integrally with the pivot shaft 6. The second wiper W2 is fixed to the upper end portion of the second pivot shaft 6.

Further, the wiper device includes a connecting rod 8 having one end connected to the tip of the first lever 5 and the other end connected to the tip of the second lever 7.
The wiper apparatus further includes a motor 9 fixed to the connecting frame 3 and a crank arm 11 extending radially from the output shaft 10 of the motor 9 (axially orthogonal direction) and integrally rotating with the output shaft 10 . In the present embodiment, the output shaft 10 of the motor 9 is disposed at a position closer to the first pivot shaft 4 than the second pivot shaft 6.

  The wiper device also includes a drive rod 12 having one end connected to the tip of the crank arm 11 and the other end connected to the middle of the connecting rod 8. In the present embodiment, the drive rod 12 is connected to a position closer to the second lever 7 than the first lever 5 in the connecting rod 8.

  The first lever 5, the second lever 7 and the drive rod 12 are all disposed on the upper side of the connection rod 8 (the distal end sides of the first and second pivot shafts 4 and 6). It is linked with

Specifically, the first lever 5 and the connection rod 8, the second lever 7 and the connection rod 8, and the drive rod 12 and the connection rod 8 are connected to each other via a ball joint 21.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ball joint 21 has a ball pin 22 fixed to the connecting rod 8, a joint case 23 fixed to the first lever 5, and a dustproof / waterproof cover 24. Since each ball joint 21 is similar, only the ball joint 21 connecting the first lever 5 and the connecting rod 8 will be described in detail, and the description of the other ball joints 21 will be omitted.

  The ball pin 22 has a fixing portion 22b in which a fixing hole 22a is formed through which the connecting rod 8 is fixed, a shaft 22c extending in a direction perpendicular to the fixing hole 22a from the fixing portion 22b, and a shaft 22c. And a spherical portion 22d provided at the tip of the lens. That is, the ball pin 22 extends in the orthogonal direction from the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod 8 and is provided in such a manner as to be implanted to the connecting rod 8 and has a spherical portion 22 d at its tip. The outer surface of the spherical portion 22d is formed in a shape in which the upper and lower portions of the spherical body are partially removed.

  The joint case 23 has a spherical recess 23a for holding (accommodating) the spherical portion 22d therein in a rollable manner, and the upper side of the spherical portion 22d (the extension of the first and second pivot shafts 4, 6) It is formed in a cap shape covering the side) and has an opening on the lower side (the side opposite to the extending side of the first and second pivot shafts 4 and 6). The joint case 23 also has an annular groove 23b on the outside, in which the inner edge of the attachment hole 5a formed in the first lever 5 is fitted.

  The dustproof and waterproof cover 24 has a fixed annular portion 24a which is externally fitted to the shaft portion 22c, and a thin closed portion 24b provided so as to close the lower opening of the joint case 23. The closed portion 24b has flexibility, and closes the lower opening of the joint case 23 even if the ball joint 21 rolls (more specifically, even if the spherical portion 22d slides relative to the spherical recess 23a). Elastic deformation follows to maintain the state.

  In the ball joint 21 of the present embodiment, the rolling center (that is, the center of the spherical portion 22d) Z is within the range Y of the plate thickness of the first lever 5 and is disposed at the center position within the range Y Are provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the rolling centers Z of all (three) ball joints 21 are arranged on a straight line. In other words, the rolling center Z of the ball joint 21 connecting the drive rod 12 and the connecting rod 8 is the rolling center Z of the ball joint 21 connecting the first lever 5 and the connecting rod 8, and the second lever 7. And the rolling center Z of the ball joint 21 connecting the connecting rod 8 with each other.

Next, the operation of the wiper device configured as described above will be described.
For example, when a washer switch provided at the driver's seat is operated, a drive current is supplied to the motor 9, and the output shaft 10 and the crank arm 11 are rotationally driven. Then, the power is transmitted to the first and second levers 5 and 7 through the drive rod 12 and the connecting rod 8, and the first and second levers 5 and 7 reciprocate and thereby pivot the first and second pivots. The shafts 4 and 6 are rotated, and the first and second wipers W1 and W2 fixed to the first and second pivot shafts 4 and 6 synchronously reciprocate and reciprocate, and the wiping operation is performed.

Next, characteristic effects of the above embodiment will be described below.
(1) The ball joint 21 has the rolling center Z thereof disposed within the range Y of the plate thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7, so the first and second levers 5 and 7 and the connecting rod 8 The first and second levers 5 and 7 can be prevented or suppressed from being applied with a force in a direction inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7 when the driving force is transmitted therebetween. This makes it difficult for the first and second levers 5 and 7 to be deformed, and the rigidity can be secured even if the plate thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7 is reduced. As a result, for example, the material cost of the first and second levers 5 and 7 can be reduced. Further, it is possible to prevent the force to be inclined to act on the first and second pivot shafts 4 and 6 integrally rotating with the first and second levers 5 and 7, respectively.

  In the conventional wiper device, when the shaft of the ball pin is caulked to the first and second levers, the shaft is slightly inclined from the direction perpendicular to the first and second levers, etc. Although the variation of the swing angle range of the first and second levers becomes large and the swing angle range of the wiper tends to vary, this can be avoided.

  (2) The ball joint 21 is deformed to the first and second levers 5 and 7 because the rolling center Z is disposed at the center position within the range Y of the plate thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7. Force is less likely to be applied, which in turn makes it possible to make the plate thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7 thinner.

  (3) The ball pin 22 is implanted on the connecting rod 8 side, the joint case 23 is provided on the first and second levers 5 and 7 side, and the ball pin 22 is on the lower side of the joint case 23 (first and second It is accommodated rollably from the opening part of the 2nd pivot shaft 4 and the opposite side to the extension side of). And since the upper side (extension side of the 1st and 2nd pivot axes 4 and 6) in joint case 23 is covered by cap shape, from the 1st and 2nd pivot axes 4 and 6 side, for example, raindrops And the like enter and reach the ball joint 21. Infiltration into the joint case 23 is prevented or suppressed.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, the first lever 5, the second lever 7 and the drive rod 12 are all disposed on the upper side of the connecting rod 8 (the distal end side of the first and second pivot shafts 4 and 6) Although it is supposed that it is connected with the rod 8, it is not limited to this and may be connected in other arrangement.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first lever 5 may be disposed on the lower side of the connecting rod 8 so as to be connected to the connecting rod 8. In this case, the second lever 7 and the drive rod 12 may also be disposed on the lower side of the connecting rod 8 so as to be connected to the connecting rod 8.

  Also, for example, any one of the first lever 5, the second lever 7 and the drive rod 12 may be changed to be disposed on the opposite side of the connecting rod 8 in the vertical direction and to be connected to the connecting rod 8. .

  In the above embodiment, the ball pin 22 in the ball joint 21 has the fixing portion 22b in which the fixing hole 22a is formed, through which the connecting rod 8 is fixed, but the ball pin 22 having the spherical portion 22d The connection rod 8 may be connected in another configuration.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a bent end of the connection rod 8 may be fixed (by welding or press-fitting) to the shaft 22 c of the ball pin 22.
In the above embodiment, the first lever 5 and the connection rod 8, the second lever 7 and the connection rod 8, and the drive rod 12 and the connection rod 8 are connected via the same ball joints 21 respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected via a joint of another configuration.

  In the above embodiment, the first lever 5 and the connection rod 8, the second lever 7 and the connection rod 8, and the drive rod 12 and the connection rod 8 are each connected via the ball joint 21, and all the ball joints 21 are The rolling center Z is arranged on a straight line, but is not limited to this, and may be changed to a configuration not arranged on the straight line.

  In the above embodiment, the rolling center Z of the ball joint 21 connecting the first lever 5 and the connecting rod 8 and the second lever 7 and the connecting rod 8 has the first and second levers 5 and 7. Although it is arranged within the range Y of the plate thickness, if at least one set (for example, the set of the first lever 5 and the connecting rod 8) has the above-mentioned arrangement, it may be changed to another configuration.

  In the above embodiment, the ball joint 21 is disposed at the center position of the rolling center Z within the range Y of the plate thickness of the first and second levers 5 and 7, but the invention is not limited thereto. You may arrange | position in the position shifted from the center position in the range Y of board thickness.

  In the above embodiment, when the drive rod 12 having one end connected to the tip of the crank arm 11 and the other end connected to the middle of the connecting rod 8 connecting the first lever 5 and the second lever 7 However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the other end of the drive rod 12 may be connected to the tip of the second lever 7.

The technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiment and another example will be described together with the effects thereof below.
(A) A lever extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis from the pivot shaft and rotating integrally with the pivot shaft, and a rod for transmitting a driving force, one end of which is connected to the tip of the lever via a ball joint The ball joint has a spherical portion provided on the rod side, and a joint case provided on the lever side for holding the spherical portion in a rollable manner, and the ball joint A wiper apparatus characterized in that a rolling center which is a spherical center is disposed within a range of a plate thickness of the lever.

  According to the same configuration, the ball joint has its center of rolling disposed within the range of the plate thickness of the lever, so when the driving force is transmitted between the lever and the rod, It is possible to prevent or suppress the application of force in the direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction. This makes it difficult for the lever to be deformed, and the rigidity can be secured even if the plate thickness of the lever is reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the force to be inclined from acting on the pivot shaft that rotates integrally with the lever.

  4 ... 1st pivot axis (pivot axis), 5 ... 1st lever (lever), 6 ... 2nd pivot axis (pivot axis), 7 ... 2nd lever (lever), 8 ... connecting rod (rod), 21 ... Ball joint, 22: ball pin, 22d: spherical portion, 23: joint case, Y: thickness range, Z: rolling center.

Claims (3)

A lever extending axially orthogonally from the pivot shaft and pivoting integrally with the pivot shaft;
And a rod for transmitting a driving force, one end of which is connected to the tip of the lever via a ball joint,
The ball joint is characterized in that a rolling center thereof is disposed within a range of a plate thickness of the lever. The wiper apparatus according to claim 1,
The ball joint is characterized in that the rolling center is disposed at a central position within the range of the plate thickness of the lever. A wiper apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
In the ball joint, a spherical portion of a ball pin implanted on the rod side is rotatably accommodated in a joint case provided on the lever side,
The wiper apparatus is characterized in that the joint case is formed in a cap shape that covers the extension side of the pivot shaft of the lever, and has an opening on the opposite side to the extension side of the pivot shaft.

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