JPH0150619B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Application of the Invention) The present invention relates to an air wiper for securing a front view of a windshield from rainwater that falls on an automobile while driving in the rain.

(Prior Art) When driving a car during rain, it is very important to quickly and completely remove water droplets that adhere to the windshield in order to drive the car safely. For this reason, in the past, an arbitrary number of wipers were disposed on the windshield, and the water droplets were wiped away by pressing and rotating the wiper plates.

However, this method has the following problems.

(1) Water droplets adhering to the windshield cannot be completely wiped away, and the water droplets that fly immediately after wiping stick again, making it difficult to see ahead, and when driving at night, the remaining water droplets The headlights of oncoming vehicles reflected diffusely, making it difficult to see the road ahead, which was the biggest factor in accidents at night when it was raining.

(2) The structure makes it difficult to wipe off water droplets from the entire surface of the windshield, leaving a residue after wiping.As a result, it is difficult to see the wiping residue when it rains, and furthermore, when the rain clears, the muddy water adhering to the wiping residue dries. The muddy surface obstructed visibility and created blind spots, impeding safe driving.

(3) The physical properties of the wiper plate's rubber material deteriorated significantly due to severe conditions such as the rise in temperature due to the scorching sun in summer or the drop in temperature in winter, resulting in a decline in wiping performance in a short period of time. As a result, some portions remain unwiped, or the wiper rubber must be replaced frequently, which is uneconomical.

(4) When the wiper plate was pressed and rotated, mud, sand, etc. that flew up from the road caused scratches on the glass surface, reducing the visibility of the windshield.

(Objective of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention aims to eliminate all the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an air wiper configured to form an air curtain using pressurized air and cover the entire surface of the windshield with this air curtain. purpose.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention provides an air wiper for an automobile that forms an air curtain by injecting pressurized air from a fixed pipe and a movable pipe arranged horizontally in parallel at the lower end of a windshield. A fixed pipe 8 is disposed near the windshield, and an injection hole 12 is provided on its outer circumferential surface through which pressurized air flows along the windshield, and the movable pipe 9 is disposed in front of the fixed pipe 8. Injection holes 16 are provided on the circumferential surface along the longitudinal direction so as to be rotatable according to the vehicle speed, and vehicle speed detection means is provided for increasing the injection angle of pressurized air upward as the vehicle travels at higher speeds. It is characterized by

(Effects of the Invention) According to the air wiper for automobiles of the present invention, the following various effects can be expected.

(1) Since the front and rear double air curtains cover the entire surface of the windshield, the windshield remains in the same condition as on a clear day, allowing for optimal forward visibility regardless of rain. Furthermore, since there is no muddy water attached, the muddy water will not dry up and make visibility impossible even after rain.

(2) Since the air curtain is double layered, even if rainwater enters from the front air curtain, the water droplets will be instantly blown away by the inner air curtain using pressurized air from the fixed pipe. It does not obstruct forward visibility.

(3) Vehicle speed detection means detects the speed of the vehicle, and as the speed increases, the movable pipe rises and simultaneously rotates forward, and the injection hole is rotated upward to direct pressurized air upward. Inject. Therefore, when driving at high speeds under strong wind pressure, the jetting direction of the front air curtain is directed directly upwards, so the performance of the air curtain is less likely to deteriorate, and water droplets do not fly to the windshield.

(4) Since there is no need for a wiper plate that rotates in pressure contact with the windshield, scratches on the glass surface caused by the wiper plate can be prevented, and there is no reduction in the visibility of the windshield.

(Embodiment of the Invention) An embodiment of this invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

An air wiper compressor 1 supplies pressurized air to an air tank 2, which is generated by being rotated by a pulley attached to the output shaft of an engine having a known structure via an electromagnetic clutch.

The above-mentioned air tank 2 detects the internal pressure with the installed pressure sensor, and based on the detection, the above-mentioned electromagnetic clutch is connected and connected to the above-mentioned compressor 1.
, and stores pressurized air at a specified pressure inside it, and the pressurized air is sent to the lower end of the windshield 6 through pipes 4 and 5 by opening and closing of a solenoid valve 3 controlled from the driver's seat. The wiper accommodating portion 7 and both or only one of the fixed pipe 8 and movable pipe 9 provided therein are fed under pressure. In addition, a branch route is provided in the middle of the pressure route of the above-mentioned pressure supply pipe 4, and a solenoid valve 3' controlled from the driver's seat is provided at the branch point, and a solenoid valve 3' that is controlled from the driver's seat is provided on one route. A heating unit 10 is provided which is configured to cut the pressurized air by utilizing the exhaust heat of the engine.

The above-mentioned fixed pipe 8 is held parallel to the lower edge of the windshield 6 on the windshield 6 side of the wiper storage section 7 and fixed to the frame 11, and is configured to supply pressurized air or hot air supplied from the above-mentioned pressure pipe 4. The liquid is ejected along the windshield 6 from a plurality of injection holes 12 formed linearly on the outer peripheral surface.
Further, a protective cover 14 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the protective cover 14, which is rotatably formed in a concentric circle and whose both ends are pivotally supported by shafts 13, 13.

Further, the fixed pipe 8 is equipped with a washer valve 15 that can be operated by a switch installed in the vehicle interior, in order to mix and inject pressurized air or hot air with washer liquid from the injection holes 12 as necessary. This makes it possible to supply washer fluid from a washer tank (not shown).

The above-mentioned injection hole 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and has a V-shaped opening as shown in FIG. The first air curtain K1 is formed so as to match the injected pressurized air upwardly and cover the entire surface of the windshield 6 without any gaps.

Further, the V-shape is formed at a somewhat acute angle on the outside of the openings on both ends of the air curtain to prevent both ends of the air curtain from diffusing outward. Further, the opening area thereof is made much smaller than the opening area of the injection hole 16 of the movable pipe 9, which will be described later, so as to save the capacity of the compressor 1 mentioned above.

The above-mentioned protective cover 14 has an arc-shaped gear 17 fixed to its approximate center, and the opening/closing tool 1 is attached to this gear 17.
8 outer circumferential gears 19 are meshed. Therefore, when the opening/closing tool 18 rotates in the storage direction, the protective cover 14
rotates clockwise to cover the upper surfaces of the injection holes 12..., and when the opening/closing tool 18 rotates in the operating direction, it rotates counterclockwise to open the upper surfaces of the injection holes 12....

The above-mentioned opening/closing tool 18 is pivotally connected to a rotating shaft 20 that is constructed between a pair of support plates 30, 30 that are erected on the above-mentioned frame 11. Further, the aforementioned gear 19 is formed on the outer periphery, and a pressing portion 23 that protrudes forward is provided, and the gear 22 of the opening/closing motor 21 is meshed with the gear 19 on the outer periphery, and the rotation is controlled by the opening/closing motor 21. Ru.

That is, when the opening/closing motor 21 rotates in the storage direction, it rotates counterclockwise, and this rotation rotates the aforementioned protective cover 14 clockwise, and at the same time, the aforementioned movable pipe 9 is pressed by the pressing portion 23 at its tip. The supporting movable frame 24 is pushed down against the biasing force of the spring 25 to hold the movable pipe 9 in the storage position.

The aforementioned movable frame 24 has bearings 2 on both sides.
The support shafts 27, 27 are vertically slidably inserted and fitted into the support shafts 27, 27, which are provided with the support shafts 6, 26 and are formed in a substantially U-shape at an inclined angle rearward from the upper surface of the frame 11 described above. Spring 2 inserted into 27
It is located on 5,25.

These bearings 26, 26, support shaft 27,
27 is subjected to anti-friction treatment such as Teflon coating to reduce sliding resistance.

Further, above and outside of each of the bearings 26, 26, floating plates 28, 28 are provided which serve as vehicle speed detection means and which move the movable pipe 9 up and down using wind pressure.

The floating plates 28, 28 are formed into a dish shape with covers protruding forward on three sides except for the lower part, and a fixture 29 is mounted on support pieces 31, 31 provided on the upper end of the movable frame 24 protruding rearward. It is attached through. The above-mentioned movable pipe 9 is disposed between the support pieces 31, 31 with one shaft 32 and the other with an airtight shaft 3.
3, it is rotatably supported.

Further, a shielding plate 34 having approximately the same length as the movable pipe 9 is provided in front of the movable pipe 9, and both ends are fixed to the aforementioned movable frames 24, 24, and this shielding plate 34 prevents water droplets attached to the upper surface of the bonnet 35. This prevents the air from flowing backward and being sprayed upward from the injection hole 16 of the movable pipe 9 together with pressurized air in the form of a mist.

The above-mentioned airtight shaft 33 is formed to have a hollow shape penetrating through the inside of the shaft, and its connecting portion is kept airtight with a packing etc., and is connected to the above-mentioned pressure pipe 5 to supply pressurized air into the above-mentioned movable pipe 9. .

The above-mentioned movable pipe 9 has injection holes 16 formed in the same manner as the injection holes 12 of the above-mentioned fixed pipe 8 on its outer circumferential surface in a straight line in the length direction, and the pressurized air supplied to the above-mentioned front A second air curtain K2 is formed to cover the front surface of the glass 6 without any gaps.

The aforementioned support piece 31 has a gear 37 rotatably attached to its rear end, and this gear 37 meshes with gears 38 formed on both sides of the outer peripheral surface of the aforementioned movable pipe 9 at the front, and at the rear. It has the same inclination angle as the support shaft 27 described above and meshes with a rack 39 fixed to the frame 11 described above. Therefore, the above-mentioned movable frame 24 is connected to the pressing part 23 of the above-mentioned opening/closing tool 18.
In the retracted position in which the movable pipe 9 is pressed down against the bias of the spring 25, the movable pipe 9 is rotated clockwise, and in this state, the injection holes 16 are located diagonally downward.

Further, when the movable frame 24 moves upward, the gear 37 is rotated by the rack 39 due to this upward movement, and this rotation causes the movable pipe 9 to rotate counterclockwise. Therefore, the injection holes 16... are connected to the movable frame 2.
It is rotated counterclockwise in proportion to the upward movement of 4.

The air wiper constructed in this way is usually stored in the storage state when the opening/closing tool 18 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. The upper surfaces of the injection holes 12 are covered. At the same time, the movable frame 24
is pressed down by the pressing portion 23 to the lower limit of movement against the biasing force of the spring 25, and this pressing causes the movable pipe 9 to rotate clockwise. At this time, the injection holes 16 face diagonally downward, and therefore both the injection holes 12..., 16 of the fixed pipes 8, 9 are prevented from being clogged with sand and mud during driving, and furthermore, in winter, prevents freezing caused by snow, frost, rain, etc. and floating plate 28,2
8 is recessed to the same level as the bonnet 35, the floating plates 28, 28 are not affected by wind pressure when driving in fine weather.

When operating the air wiper during rain, when the wiper switch on the driver's seat is turned on, the wiper switch rotates the opening/closing motor 21 in the standby direction, that is, counterclockwise, for a fixed period of time in the first stage of operation, and then stops rotating. Stop. Therefore, the opening/closing device 18
rotates clockwise, and the pressing portion 23 that was pushing down the movable frame 24 moves upward.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the protective cover 14 of the fixed pipe 8 is rotated counterclockwise and
The upper surface of... is opened, and at the same time, the movable frame 24 is moved upward by the biasing force of the spring 25. Due to this upward movement, the movable pipe 9 and the floating plates 28, 28 protrude to the upper surface of the bonnet 35, and the movable pipe 9 is moved upward. It rotates counterclockwise and enters a standby state with its injection holes 16 facing diagonally.

The wiper switch then switches to the second wiper switch at the end of its operation.
At this stage, the solenoid valve 3 is opened to supply pressurized air to the pressure pipes 4 and 5. Therefore, pressurized air is injected from the injection holes 12 of the fixed pipe 4 and the injection holes 16 of the movable pipe 9, forming double air curtains K1 and K2. When the solenoid valve 3' is actuated to cause pressurized air to pass through the branched path of the pressure pipe 4 provided with the heating unit 10, hot air is injected from the injection hole 12 of the fixed pipe 4.

Therefore, the water droplets adhering to the windshield 6 are instantly blown away by the pressurized air from the fixed pipe 8, and the newly falling rainwater is blown away by the air curtain K2, making the windshield 6 look like it is on a clear day. The situation will be the same.

When the pressurized air is heated by the heating unit 10, the hot air is injected, so that the surface of the windshield 6 is instantly thawed due to snow, frost, rain, etc. when parked on the street at night during the extremely cold season. There is no need to pour boiling water over it.

Furthermore, if the car is driven in a standby state where the levitation plates 28, 28 protrude from the bonnet surface, the levitation plates 28, 28
8 and 28 receive wind pressure from the front and move upward in proportion to the strength of the wind pressure. Movable frame 2 with this upward motion
4, the movable pipe 9 also moves upward, and moreover, the injection holes 16 are rotated upward as shown in FIG. 8 from diagonally above. Therefore, the second air curtain K2
is deformed from the jetting state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 9 to an angle substantially similar to the standby state shown by the solid line under wind pressure. That is, by moving the injection position of the movable pipe 9 upward in response to an increase in vehicle speed and making the injection angle closer to vertical, the effect of the second air curtain K2 due to wind pressure is prevented from decreasing.

Also, when it rains and you want to store the air wiper in the storage position, turn the wiper switch OFF and the wiper switch will operate in the reverse order of when it is ON, and in the first step close the solenoid valve 3 and pressurize the pressure pipe 4.
Step 5: Stop supplying pressurized air. Furthermore, in the second stage of the wiper switch's operation, the opening/closing motor 21 is rotated in the storage direction for a predetermined period of time and then stopped.

Therefore, the opening/closing tool 18 rotates counterclockwise and the pressing portion 23 moves downward. At the same time, the protective cover 14 rotates clockwise and covers the upper surface of the injection holes 12. Further, the movable frame 24 is pushed up to the storage position by the pressing portion 23 of the opening/closing tool 18 against the biasing force of the spring 25. By pressing down the pressing part 23, the movable pipe 9 and the floating plates 28, 28 are recessed to approximately the same level as the bonnet 35, and the movable pipe 9 is rotated clockwise to direct the injection hole 16 diagonally downward. It returns to its original storage state as shown in FIG.

Also, in light rain, etc., it is possible to drive with only the first air curtain K1, and in this case, it is possible to operate the solenoid valve 3 from inside the vehicle to send pressurized air only from the pressure pipe 4 to the fixed pipe 8. can.

In the above-described embodiment, a heating unit 10 using exhaust gas heat is used to send hot air into the fixed pipe 8.
Although the explanation has been given on the case where the engine is provided, cooling heat of the engine may be used, or purified exhaust gas may be introduced.

As explained above, in the present invention, a double air curtain is used, and the blowing direction of the second air curtain is made variable according to the vehicle speed, so that the effect as a perfect air wiper can be achieved in both high-speed and low-speed driving conditions. I can demonstrate it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entire automobile, Fig. 2 is an overall perspective view of the air wiper, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the air wiper, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixed pipe, Fig. 5
7 to 7 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A in FIG. 3,
Fig. 5 is a non-operating position, Fig. 6 is a standby position, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the operating position, Fig. 8 is a side view showing the injection angle of the air curtain in the standby position, and Fig. 9 is an operating position. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the injection angle of the air curtain. 6... Windshield, 8... Fixed pipe, 9
... Movable pipe, 12 ... Injection hole, 16 ... Injection hole, 28 ... Levitation plate, K1 ... First air curtain, K2 ... Second air curtain.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An air wiper that injects pressurized air from a fixed pipe 8 and a movable pipe 9 arranged in parallel in front of the lower end of the windshield 6 to form air curtains K and K2, comprising: The movable pipe 9 is located in the front part of the fixed pipe 8 and has an injection hole 12 on its outer peripheral surface through which pressurized air flows along the windshield. The surface is provided with injection holes 16 along the longitudinal direction so as to be rotatable according to the vehicle speed, and is characterized by being equipped with vehicle speed detection means that increases the injection angle of pressurized air upward as the vehicle travels at higher speeds. An air wiper for automobiles.