JPH03253446A - Wiper device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve change and adjustment of a turning radius of a wiper blade with a simple composition by constituting a wiper supporting mechanism by a cam fixed to the car body, a cam follower mounted on the wiper supporting mechanism side, a gear rotated in interlock with the cam follower, and a shaft member. CONSTITUTION:In a wiper supporting mechanism 1, when a supporting shaft 5 is turned to move a cam 20 in the direction of turning of the shaft relative to a casing 7, a cam follower 17 moves a sliding member 15 frontward and rearward (F-R) by the action of the cam 20. (That is, a small-diameter gear 13 travels on a fixed rack gear 18 back and forth). At this time, as the gear 13 rotates, a large-diameter gear 12 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow (A-B), and a shaft member 8 engaged with the large-diameter gear is moved back and forth. Thus, a wiper arm 2 mounted on the tip end of the shaft member 8 is moved in such a direction to reduce or increase the distance from the supporting shaft 5, and thereby the turning radius of a wiper blade provided on the wiper arm 2 is increased or decreased.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a wiper device for a vehicle.

(Prior art) Generally, in a vehicle, the front windshield has a
A wiper device having a wiper blade is disposed at the tip thereof, and the wiper blade is reciprocated in an arc along the windshield to wipe the surface of the windshield and secure the driver's visibility. There is.

In this case, conventionally, the length from the center of rotation of the wiper device to the wiper blade is generally constant, and therefore the range wiped by the wiper blade is indicated by the chain line (symbol E) in FIG. It was limited to a concentric fan-shaped area as shown in .

However, in recent years, there has been a trend for vehicles to have streamlined body shapes in order to improve their aerodynamic characteristics, and as a result, the front windows have become shaped to wrap around the sides of the vehicle more than before. , the surface area, ie, the wiping range required of the wiper device, also tends to increase.

In such a case, if the area wiped by the wiper device on the windshield W is simply a fan-shaped area, a relatively large portion remains unwiped at the upper corner of the windshield W, making it difficult to ensure the driver's visibility. Unfavorable in this respect.

Against this background, for example, Utility Model Application No. 62-59559
In the publication, the rotation radius of the wiper blade is configured to change according to its rotation position, thereby increasing the wiping area as shown by the solid line in Fig. 12 (symbol E). A so-called telescopic wiper device has been proposed. The one in Fig. 12 is an example in which a telescopic wiper device Z is provided only on the driver's seat side, and a conventional fixed wiper device Z is provided on the passenger seat side. The wiping range by the wiper device Z is the same as that of the telescopic wiper device Z.
It is narrower than in case 1.

(Problem to be Solved by the Present Invention) However, in this known wiper device, the rotation radius of the wiper blade is adjusted by using a complex planetary gear mechanism having a plurality of gears. This not only complicates the structure of the wiper device itself, but also increases the size of the wiper device itself due to the vertical bulkiness of the gears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made to provide a wiper device for a vehicle that can change and adjust the rotation radius of a wiper blade with a simple and compact configuration.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, as specific means for solving the problems, (1) In the invention according to claim 1, a wiper is arranged on the vehicle body side and is rotated in an arc by a drive means. In a vehicle wiper device in which a wiper arm having a wiper plate at its tip is attached to a support mechanism,
The wiper support mechanism is moved in the radial direction by a cam fixed to the vehicle body and a cam that is attached to the wiper support mechanism and comes into contact with the cam as the wiper support mechanism rotates in an arc. Consisting of a cam follower, a gear that rotates in conjunction with the movement of the cam follower, and a shaft member to which the wiper arm is attached at its tip and that is moved forward and backward in the axial direction as the gear rotates. It is characterized by what it did.

(II) In the invention as claimed in claim 2, a wiper arm having a wiper blade at its tip is attached to a wiper support mechanism which is arranged on the vehicle body side and is rotated in an arc around its support shaft by a drive means. In the vehicle wiper device, the wiper support mechanism includes a base end member having one end fixed to the support shaft and a rack gear extending in the axial direction, and a base end member that extends and contracts in the axial direction with respect to the base end member. a tip member that is displaceably mounted and has a rack gear that extends in the axial direction; one end of the tip member is pivoted at a position on the vehicle body side that is offset in the radial direction with respect to the support shaft; The present invention is characterized by a link having a gear member integrally formed with a small diameter gear that meshes with the rack gear of the proximal end member and a large diameter gear that meshes with the rack gear of the distal end member.

(III) In the invention as set forth in claim 3, the wiper support mechanism, which is arranged on the vehicle body side and is rotated in an arc around its support shaft by a drive means, includes a wiper arm having a wiper blade at its tip. In the vehicle wiper device, the wiper support mechanism includes a base end member that is fixed to the support shaft and rotates in an arc integrally with the support shaft, and that is movable toward and away from the base end member in the axial direction. and a distal end member to which the wiper arm is attached to the distal end thereof, and a distal end member that engages with a fixed gear fixedly disposed on the vehicle body side and rotates as the proximal end member rotates. a first gear that rotates with the first gear; a second gear integrally formed coaxially with the first gear; The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a third gear that is rotatable in conjunction with a belt member, and that the belt member and the tip member are connected through a link.

(Function) According to each invention of the present application having such a configuration, the following function can be obtained.

(i) In the invention set forth in claim 1, the cam follower that contacts the cam moves as the wiper support mechanism rotates in an arc, and the gear rotates in response to the displacement, and accordingly, the wiper arm is provided. The shaft member moves back and forth in its axial direction, changing the rotation radius of the wiper blade, that is, the wiping range of the wiper blade.

(11) In the invention set forth in claim 2, the base end member attached to the vehicle body rotates around the support shaft, so that the small diameter gear attached to one end of the link and meshed with the rack gear of the base end member is rotated. The distance from the support shaft increases or decreases, and the small diameter gear rotates. Then, a large-diameter gear formed integrally with the small-diameter gear and meshed with the rack gear of the distal end member rotates to move the distal end member forward and backward in the axial direction relative to the proximal end member. Increase or decrease the rotation radius of the wiper blade attached to the tip member.

(iii) In the invention according to claim 3, when the base end member rotates around the support shaft, a second gear attached to the base end member and meshing with the first gear on the vehicle body side rotates; Accordingly, the belt attached to the second gear runs. When this belt runs, the position of the connecting portion between the belt and the link connected thereto changes relative to the base end member, and as a result, the tip end connected to the belt via the link changes. The member moves forward and backward relative to the proximal end member, and the rotation radius of the wiper blade attached to the distal end member via the wiper arm increases and decreases.

(Effect of the invention) Therefore, in the vehicle wiper device of each invention of the present application,
The rotation radius of the wiper blade can be increased or decreased by using a cam mechanism and a rack and pinion mechanism in the invention described in claim 1, and by using a link mechanism and a rack and pinion mechanism in the invention described in claim 2. In addition, in the claimed invention, each is realized by using a link mechanism and a gear mechanism, so for example, a planetary gear mechanism with a complicated structure consisting of a plurality of gears as in the above-mentioned known example is not possible. Compared to the case where this method is used, an effect can be obtained in that the structure of the device itself can be easily simplified and made more compact.

In addition, since the invention according to claim 1 uses a cam mechanism with a large degree of freedom in design, it is easy to set the most effective wiping range of the wiper blade in practice by setting the shape of the cam. This makes it possible to achieve the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in designing the wiper device and, by extension, the shape of the vehicle body.

Further, in the invention as claimed in claim 2, since the telescopic mechanism is constituted by the proximal end member and the distal end member which are mutually telescopic, and the link and the gear member provided at one end thereof, the above-mentioned known example There are fewer parts and moving parts than in the case of
The effect is that operational reliability is improved accordingly.

Furthermore, in the invention as claimed in claim 3, since the telescoping mechanism is constituted by a belt and a link connected to the belt, it is different from, for example, a case where the telescoping mechanism is constituted by a planetary gear mechanism as in the above-mentioned known example. This makes it possible to make the base of the wiper arm slimmer, improving its aesthetics. This has the effect that the wiper blade can be raised more linearly, contributing to an improvement in the degree of freedom in setting the wiping range.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIRST EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 to 3 show a wiper support mechanism l attached to the vehicle body side of a wiper device according to an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim 1 of the present application.

This wiper support mechanism 1 is for supporting and rotating the wiper arm 2 having a wiper blade (not shown) attached to its tip, and is fastened to the vehicle body side member 3. It has a support shaft 5 rotatably supported by the boss member 4 and rotated in an arc via a lever 6 by a wiper drive motor (not shown). A casing 7, which will be described later, is fixedly attached to a tip end 5a of the support shaft 5 that protrudes outward from the vehicle body. Further, a protrusion 2 is provided at the upper end of the boss member 4.
0a and land portions 20b located on both sides thereof.

A plate-shaped cam 20 having a diameter 20c is fixed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support shaft 5.

The casing 7 is integrally formed in a substantially rectangular box shape with an open top surface, and the rear portion of the bottom surface 7a is fixed to the support shaft 5. Therefore, the casing 7 is rotated in an arc integrally with the support shaft 5 by the wiper drive motor.

Further, in the upper part of the casing 7, a shaft member 8 having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction is provided at its tip 8a.
penetrates the tip 7a of the casing 7 and projects forward thereof, and is arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof. Further, the rear end portion 8b of the shaft member 8 has slit-shaped guide grooves 9a, 9 on both sides thereof.
The guide member 9 formed with the guide groove 9a, 9
The shaft member 8 is attached with its end a oriented in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the shaft member 8. The guide grooves 9a, 9a are connected to the rail portions 10a, 10a of a pair of rail members IO, which are attached to the upper part of the casing 7 in the longitudinal direction so as to sandwich the shaft member 8 from both left and right sides thereof. It is slidably inserted. Therefore, the shaft member 8 is movable along the rail member 10 in its axial direction (in the direction of arrow FR in FIG. 2).

Further, a rack gear 1 is provided on the lower surface side of this shaft member 8.
1 is formed. At a position below the rack gear 11, there is a gear member 19, which is made up of a large-diameter gear 12 and a pair of left and right small-diameter gears 13. 15, with the supporting shaft I4 oriented in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft member 8. The large diameter gear I2 of this gear member 1.9
is meshed with the rack gear 11 of the shaft member 8. Moreover, the small diameter gear I3 of this gear member 19 is
It is meshed with a fixed rack gear 18 formed in the casing 7 below and facing the shaft member 8.

Further, the cam 2 is provided at the rear of the slide member 15.
A cam follower 17 is rotatably mounted so as to abut and engage with the cam 20, and the slide member 15 is always urged toward the cam 20 by a spring 16 disposed between the slide member 15 and the casing 7. There is.

Therefore, when the support shaft 5 rotates and the cam 20 is displaced relative to the casing 7 in the rotation direction,
The cam follower 17 receives the cam action of the cam 20 and moves the slide member 15 in the front-rear direction (in the direction of arrow FR in FIG. 2) (that is, causes the small diameter gear 13 to travel in the front-rear direction on the fixed rack gear 18). Then, this small diameter gear 13
With the rotation of the large diameter gear 12, the large diameter gear 12 rotates in the direction of the arrow A-B, and the shaft member 8 meshed with the large diameter gear 12 is moved forward and backward in the front and rear directions. By this forward and backward movement of the shaft member 8,
The wiper arm 2 attached to the tip of the shaft member 8 moves toward and away from the support shaft 5,
The radius of rotation of the wiper blade provided on the wiper arm 2 with respect to the support shaft 5 increases or decreases, and the wiping range thereof changes.

In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 21 denotes an upper cover attached to the upper surface side of the casing gate so as to cover the shaft member 8.

The operation of the wiper support mechanism 1 constructed in this manner is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. That is, the state shown in FIG. 4 is a state in which the wiper device is retracted (that is, a state in which the wiper blade is retracted along the lower edge of the front window, as shown at position a in FIG. 12), and In this case, the cam follower 17 is located on one land portion 20b of the cam 20, and the square guide member 15 is located at the rearmost end. Therefore, the shaft member 8 is also in the most retracted position, and the radius of rotation of the wiper blade is at its minimum.

The state shown in Figure 5 is the wiper support mechanism! is rotated approximately 45 degrees around the support shaft 5 from the state shown in FIG.
In this state, the cam follower 17 is in contact with the protrusion 20a of the cam 20, and the slide member 15 is positioned at the most advanced position. Therefore, the shaft member 8 is also in its most protruding state, and the rotation radius of the wiper blade is maximized.

The state shown in FIG. 6 is the maximum wiping position (12th
In this case, the cam follower 17 is in contact with the other land portion 20c of the cam 20, and the slide member 15 is in the most retracted position. Therefore, the shaft member 8 is also in the most retracted position, and the radius of rotation of the wiper blade is minimized.

As the above-mentioned action is continuously repeated as the support $1115 rotates in a reciprocating arc, the wiping range is moved to the outside in the radial direction at the position corresponding to the corner of the windshield W, as shown by the solid line E in FIG. This realizes a wiping characteristic that extends in both directions.

The movement of the shaft member 8 toward and away from the casing 7 is caused by the cam action of the cam 20 and the rotational movement of the gear member 19 as described above. 12 and the small diameter gear 13 are integrally formed, the soyaft member 8
is subjected to an accelerating effect in terms of speed, and an amplifying effect in terms of displacement. This speed increase/amplification ratio can be easily adjusted by the shape of the cam 20 and the ratio of the diameter dimensions of the large diameter gear 12 and the small diameter gear 13. For example, as in the above-mentioned known example, a planetary gear mechanism This can contribute to an improvement in the degree of freedom in setting the wiping characteristics compared to the case where the wiping characteristics are fixed at the initial setting due to the use of the wiping characteristics.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 7 to 9 show a wiper support mechanism 31 provided in a wiper device according to an embodiment of the invention set forth in claim 2 of the present application. This wiper support device 31 is
A proximal end member 33 has one end 33a fixed to a support shaft 32 that is rotated in an arc by a wiper drive motor (not shown), and a proximal end member 33 is arranged so as to be extendable and retractable in an externally fitted state on the other end 33b side of the proximal end member 33. and a tip member 34 to which a wiper arm (not shown) is attached, and a link 35 of a predetermined length, one end 35a of which is rotatably supported by a link support shaft 39 disposed on the vehicle body side.
Gear member 3 attached to the other end 35b of the link 35
6.

The base end member 33 has a first rack gear 40 formed on one side of a slit-shaped groove 33C formed along the axial direction from the other end 33b side. Further, the distal end member 34 has a groove 3 provided in the axial direction from the proximal end 34a side in order to insert the proximal end member 33 therein.
4b, a second lock gear 41 is formed on the side facing the first rack gear 40. Also, the first rack gear 40 on the proximal end member 33 side and the second rack gear 41 on the distal end member 34 side The two-lack gear 41 is vertically offset as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

On the other hand, the gear member 36 includes a small-diameter gear 37 that meshes with the first rack gear 40 and a small-diameter gear 37 that meshes with the second rack gear 41.
The large-diameter gear 38 meshing with the large-diameter gear 38 is coaxially and integrally formed, and is supported by the other end 35b of the link 35 via its support shaft 36a.

In the wiper support device 31 configured in this way, the proximal end member 33 and the distal end member 34 are integrally rotated in an arc in the direction of the arrow C-D by the support shaft 32.
The support shaft 32, the link support shaft 39, and the gear member 3
The relative positions of the three members 6 change. Then, in response to this change in relative position, the small diameter gear 37 of the gear member 36 moves while rotating on the first rack gear 40, and along with this, the large diameter gear 38 integrated with the small diameter gear 37 also moves. As it rotates, the tip member 34 is moved back and forth in its axial direction via the second rack gear 41. The wiper blade (
The radius of rotation of the support shaft 32 (not shown) is changed to provide a wiping characteristic in which the central portion in the wiping direction extends outward, as shown by the solid line in FIG.

In this case, the gear member 36 is connected to the first rack gear 40 of the proximal end member 33 and the second rack gear 41 of the distal end member 34.
The meshing position of the wiper support mechanism I and the rotating position of the wiper support mechanism I are the seventh
As shown in the figure, when the support shaft 32, the link support shaft 39, and the base end member 33 are coaxially arranged, each gear 37, 38 of the gear member 36 is connected to the distal end side of the first rack gear 40 and the second rack gear 41. It is necessary to set them relatively so that they mesh with the proximal ends of the two. That is, the state shown in FIG. 7 is the state in which the radius of rotation of the wiper blade is at its maximum (
That is, the position shown in FIG. 12).

Third Embodiment FIGS. 10 and 11 show a wiper support device 51 used in a wiper device according to an embodiment of the invention set forth in claim 3 of the present application. This wiper support device 51
has a base end member 52, which will be described later, which has a support shaft 54 rotatably supported on a support base 6I fixed to the vehicle body and integrally protrudes from the lower surface thereof. This proximal member 52
is formed into a substantially rhombic box shape, and a distal end member 53 of a predetermined length made of a rod body is disposed inside the proximal end member 5.
It is disposed so as to be able to move forward and backward in the long sleeve direction while passing through one end 52a of the sleeve. Then, this tip member 53
A wiper blade (not shown) is attached to the outwardly projecting distal end of the base end member 52 via a wiper arm.

On the other hand, inside the base end member 52 and the distal end member 5
At the lower position of 3, the large-diameter second gear 57 and the small-diameter third gear 58 rotate while being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the base end member 52 and offset in the radial direction with respect to the support shaft 54. Possibly installed. And this second gear 5
A belt 55 is wound between the third gear 7 and the third gear 58.

Further, on the other end side of the base end member 52 of the gear shaft 62 that supports the second gear 57, a first gear 56 having a smaller diameter than the second gear 57 is provided below the bottom surface 52a of the base end member 52. and is integrally attached to the second gear 57. The first gear 56 is integrally formed on the support base 61 side and is internally meshed with a fixed gear 59 having internal teeth formed in a substantially fan shape centered on the support shaft 54. .

On the other hand, the appropriate positions of this belt 55 and the tip member 53 are as follows.
The two are operatively connected by a link 60 disposed across the two.

Therefore, the support shaft 54 is a wiper drive motor (not shown).
When the arc is rotated in the direction of arrow G-H by
The gear 56 runs on the fixed gear 59 while rotating.

In this case, the rotational force of the first gear 56 is directly transmitted to the second gear 57.
As the second gear 57 rotates, the belt 55
is made to run in a predetermined direction. As the belt 55 runs, the relative positional relationship between the support point 63a on the belt 55 side of the link 60 and the support point 63b on the tip member 53 side changes, and the tip member 53 is pushed and pulled by the link 60 and its axis It is made to move forward and backward in the direction.

Specifically, the state shown in FIG. 1O (i.e., the link 60
The state in which the support point 63a on the side of the belt 55 is located near the third gear 58 and the tip member 53 is at its most retracted position. From position C in FIG. 12), the proximal member 52 is
rotates in the direction of arrow H, the second gear 57 rotates in the direction of arrow ■, and the link 60 moves the tip member 5 from the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
Move while pushing 3 forward. When the link 60 reaches the position shown by the chain line (reference numeral 60'), the tip member 53 is in its most protruding state (that is, the position shown in FIG. 12). Furthermore, when the proximal end member 52 rotates in the H direction from this state, the link 60 moves while drawing the distal end member 53 toward the front side, and is shown by the chain line in FIG.
), the tip member 53 is again set to the most retracted position (ie, the state of position a in FIG. 12). In this way, as the tip member 53 moves forward and backward as the belt 55 runs, the rotation radius of the wiper blade increases and decreases, resulting in a wiping characteristic having a wiping range as shown by the solid line E in FIG. It will be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wiper support mechanism used in a wiper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. -I longitudinal sectional view, FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory views of the operating state of the wiper support mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a wiper support used in the wiper device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A plan view of the mechanism, FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the wiper support mechanism used in the wiper device according to the embodiment, and FIG.
I longitudinal sectional view and FIG. 12 are explanatory diagrams of the wiping range of the wiper blade. 1.31.51 ... Wiper support mechanism 2 ... Wiper arm 3 ... Vehicle body side member 5.32.54 ... Support shaft 7 ... Casing 8 ... Shaft Member II...Rack gear 12.38...Large diameter gear 13.37...Small diameter gear 15...Slide member 17...Cam follower 18...Fixed rack gear 20...Cam 33 .52...Base end member 34.53...Tip member 35...Link 36...Gear member 40...First rack gear 41...Second rack gear 55... Belt 56...First gear 57...Second gear 58...Third gear 59...Fixed gear 60...Links Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A wiper device for a vehicle, comprising a wiper arm having a wiper blade at its tip attached to a wiper support mechanism arranged on the vehicle body side and rotated in an arc by a drive means, The wiper support mechanism is attached to a cam fixed to the vehicle body side, and is moved in the radial direction by coming into contact with the cam as the wiper support mechanism rotates in an arc. It includes a cam follower, a gear that is rotated in conjunction with the movement of the cam follower, and a shaft member that has the wiper arm attached to its tip and is moved forward and backward in the axial direction as the gear rotates. A vehicle wiper device characterized by: 2. A wiper support mechanism arranged on the vehicle body side and rotated in an arc around its support shaft by a drive means,
A wiper device for a vehicle comprising a wiper arm having a wiper blade attached to its tip, wherein the wiper support mechanism is a base having one end fixed to the support shaft and a rack gear extending in the axial direction of the wiper arm. an end member, a tip member that is attached to the proximal end member so as to be extendable and retractable in the axial direction thereof and includes a rack gear that extends in the axial direction; A gear member whose one end is pivotally supported in an offset position, and whose other end is integrally formed with a small diameter gear that meshes with the rack gear of the base end member and a large diameter gear that meshes with the rack gear of the distal end member. A wiper device for a vehicle, comprising: a link to which a wiper device is attached. 3. A wiper support mechanism arranged on the vehicle body side and rotated in an arc around its support shaft by a drive means,
A wiper device for a vehicle comprising a wiper arm having a wiper blade attached to the tip thereof, wherein the wiper support mechanism is fixed to the support shaft and rotates in an arc integrally with the support shaft. and a distal end member which is arranged to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the proximal end member and to which the wiper arm is attached to the distal end thereof, while the distal end member is fixedly disposed on the vehicle body side. a first gear that meshes with a fixed gear and rotates as the base end member rotates; a second gear that is integrally formed coaxially with the first gear; and a second gear that is integrally formed coaxially with the first gear; A third gear is provided which is arranged offset to the second gear and is rotatable in conjunction with the second gear via a belt member, and the belt member and the tip member are connected via a link. A vehicle wiper device characterized by: