JPH059263Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a snow removal device for a vehicle that removes snow that accumulates at the bottom of a vehicle windshield mainly due to the wiping action of a wiper during snow removal. .

(Prior art) Generally, when a vehicle such as a car is driven during snow removal, the snowflakes adhering to the windshield are wiped away with wipers, but when the outside air temperature is particularly low or snow removal is intense, etc. In some cases, it may become difficult for the driver to see clearly due to the snow being wiped away by the wiper being accumulated at the bottom of the windshield, or the accumulated snow freezing due to the low temperature.

As an attempt to solve this situation, there is a "windshield snow melting device" disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 54-51744. This product is characterized by having a hollow pipe connected to a heating fluid source installed along the frame edge of the lower side of the windshield. This is intended to melt the snow on the edge of the frame.

(Problem that the invention aims to solve) However, with such conventional "windshield snow melting devices", when there is a large amount of snow adhering to the windshield such as during a snowstorm or heavy snowfall, Approximately 10mm around the area will melt, but
Since snowflakes that accumulate at the bottom of the other windshields cannot be melted, the wiper's wiping range gradually narrows, making it difficult to operate the wipers smoothly and ensure visibility for the occupants. .

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was devised focusing on the above-mentioned problem, and is intended to prevent snow from accumulating on the lower edge of the windshield even when the vehicle is driven during heavy snowfall. To provide a snow removal device for a vehicle, which can ensure the visibility of a passenger, can automatically remove ice and snow during snowfall without relying on human operations, and can contribute to safe running of a vehicle. The purpose is to

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the snow removal device for a vehicle according to this invention has the above-mentioned A snow introduction member is disposed that faces the lower end edge and extends in the vehicle width direction, and a screw rotor having a spiral wing portion is rotatably disposed within the snow introduction member, and An ice/snow detecting device for detecting the accumulated state of ice/snow as an electrical information signal is provided nearby, and the ice/snow detecting device is provided with a signal for rotating the screw rotor when the information signal exceeds a reference value regarding the time to start removing the ice/snow. A computing device that outputs a command signal is connected to the computing device, and an operating member that connects the screw rotor drive mechanism and the screw rotor by the command signal is connected to the computing device. Further, in the snow removal device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the screw rotor is composed of a right wing section on the right side of the vehicle body and a left wing section on the left side of the vehicle body, which are rotatable independently of each other. The ice and snow detecting devices are disposed near each of the wing section and the left wing section, and the ice and snow detecting devices on both the left and right sides are respectively connected to the arithmetic device, and the arithmetic device is connected to the left and right wings with respect to the information signal. When a standard operating range in which both the left and right wings can be rotated simultaneously is set, and when either the left or right information signal indicates a value greater than or equal to the standard operating range, only the wing in front of the driver's seat of the left and right wing parts is rotated. It is characterized by being set to output an emergency signal that causes it to rotate.

(Function) In the vehicle snow removal device according to the present invention, the snow introducing member and the lower edge of the windshield are moved by the wiping operation of the wiper provided on the vehicle body panel supporting the lower edge of the windshield. When ice and snow accumulate during this period, the detection device detects the accumulation state of the accumulated ice and snow as an information signal and inputs it to the arithmetic device. When the accumulation of ice and snow progresses and the information signal indicates a value exceeding the reference value, a command signal for rotating the screw rotor is output from the arithmetic unit to the operating member, and the operating member operates to rotate the screw rotor and drive. Connection with the mechanism is made, the screw rotor starts rotating, ice and snow are automatically introduced into the snow introducing member, and the introduced ice and snow is transferred in the vehicle width direction.

In addition, when the vehicle snow removal device according to the present invention is constructed as described in the embodiment section, ice and snow detection devices are provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body, so that ice and snow detection devices are installed on both sides of the vehicle body at the lower edge. The state of accumulation is detected as an information signal. When the accumulation state of ice and snow on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body is output as information signals, these information signals are input to a calculation device, and it is determined whether or not these information signals are within a preset standard operating range. When each of the information signals indicates a value within the standard operating range, a command signal for rotating the left and right wing parts is output to the operating member, and the left and right wing parts rotate simultaneously. When either of the left or right information signals indicates a value within the standard operating range, a command signal is output to the operating member to move the wing on the side that indicates the information signal within the standard operating range, and neither of the left and right information signals When the value exceeds the standard operating range, an emergency command signal to remove snow from the area in front of the driver's seat is output to the operating member, and only the wing on the driver's side is rotated to remove ice and snow that accumulates on the windshield in front of the driver's seat. removed.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the snow removal device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a planar configuration of a vehicle snow removal device 1 according to the present invention, in which 2 is a front windshield, 3a is a cowl top grill as a vehicle body panel supporting the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2, and P is the front pillar. The vehicle snow removal device 1 is disposed on the cowl top grille 3a and below the wiper 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, this vehicle snow removal device 1 includes a case portion 5 (snow introduction member) fixed onto a cowl top grille 3a, and a case portion 5 disposed within the case portion 5. a screw rotor 6, a drive mechanism 7 that drives the screw rotor 6, and a snow sensor 8 (ice and snow detection device) disposed on the case portion 5.
, a computing device 9 connected to a snow sensor 8, and an actuator 10 (operating member) operated by the computing device 9. Ice and snow are removed from the case portion 5 and the lower edge by the wiping operation of the wiper 4 or snowfall. 2a, the snow sensor 8 converts the accumulated state of ice and snow into an electrical information signal to the arithmetic unit 9.
The information signal inputted to the arithmetic unit 9 is calculated and converted into a command signal, and when this command signal is inputted to the actuator 10, the actuator 10 is actuated to control the drive mechanism 7 and the screw rotor 6. The connection is made, ice and snow are introduced into the case part 5 by the rotation of the screw rotor 6, and the case part 5
The snow inside is transferred to the screw rotor 6 and removed to the sides of the front pillar P.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the case portion 5 is composed of a right case portion 5a on the right side of the vehicle body (left side in FIG. 5) and a left case portion 5b on the left side of the vehicle body (right side in FIG. 5). The screw rotor 6 is rotated separately on the right and left sides of the vehicle body. Right side case part 5a and left side case part 5b
are respectively held by a gear case 5c disposed on the center portion of the vehicle body, and held by clips 11 that are press-fitted into mounting holes h of the cowl top grille 3a.
As shown in FIG. 3, the right side case part 5a and the left side case part 5b have a gutter-like cross-sectional shape and extend along the lower edge 2a of the front window glass 2 in the vehicle width direction. Snow guide paths 12a and 12b extending in the vehicle width direction are formed in the right case portion 5a and the left case portion 5b, respectively.
Snow intake ports 13a and 13b are opened in 2a and 12b, respectively, facing the lower edge 2a. Both ends of the right side case portion 5a and the left side case portion 5b on the side of the vehicle body are provided with bearing portions 1 that pivotally support the screw rotor 6.
4a and 14b. Bearing part 1
4a, 14b are opened with removal ports 15a, 15b for removing snow in the snow guideways 12a, 12b to the sides of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the exclusion ports 15a, 15
b opens on the side of the front pillar P. Ends of the right side case part 5a and the left side case part 5b on the vehicle body center side are held by a gear case 5c.
The gear case 5c is arranged on the cowl top grill 3a. A gear mechanism for rotating the screw rotor 6 is housed inside the gear case 5c.

A light receiving diode 8a constituting one of the snow sensors 8 is disposed on the outside of the case parts 5a and 5b, and on the indoor side of the front windshield 2,
A light receiving diode 8b forming the other side of the snow sensor 8 that emits light to the light receiving diode 8a is disposed. That is, the snow sensor 8, which detects as an information signal the accumulation state of ice and snow accumulated between the lower edge 2a and the case part 5, is composed of a light receiving diode 8a and a light receiving diode 8b. A plurality of 8b are arranged in the vehicle width direction along the lower end edge 2a.
Each of the light receiving diode 8a and the light emitting diode 8b is connected to the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2.
The light emitting diode 8
The light emitted from the front windshield 2 is transmitted through the lower edge 2a of the front window glass 2 and is received by the light receiving diode 8a. Each of the light emitting diodes 8b has a switch S as shown in FIG.
The light receiving diodes 8a are connected to the power source B via the switch S so that a voltage from the power source B is applied to emit light when the light receiving diodes 8a are connected, and each of the light receiving diodes 8a is connected to the arithmetic unit 9. Switch S is installed on instrument panel I near the driver's seat, and is turned on and off by the driver's operation. In this embodiment, the snow sensor 8 is constructed by an optical method as described above, but it can be constructed by, for example,
It may be configured with a sensor that uses ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic waves, or changes in electrical resistance, and the measurement results may be converted into electrical signals and input to the arithmetic unit 9.

The screw rotor 6 is made of synthetic resin so that it rotates smoothly even when the case portion 5 curves along the front windshield 2, and the snow in the snow guide paths 12a and 12b does not freeze on the screw rotor 6. , has flexibility. In this embodiment, the screw rotor 6 is comprised of a right wing section 6a that is housed in a right case section 5a and a left wing section 6b that is housed inside a left case section 5b. Right wing section 6a
The left wing portion 6b has rotating shafts 16a, 16b which are supported by bearing portions 14a, 14b, and spiral wing portions 17a,
17b is formed. Rotating shafts 16a, 16b
has a rotation axis extending in the direction in which the snow guide paths 12a and 12b extend (vehicle width direction). Rotating shaft 16
The ends of a and 16b on the vehicle body center side are rotatably supported by the case gear case 5c. The spiral wing portions 17a and 17b extend in the vehicle width direction and rotate in the same direction. Rotating shafts 16a, 16b
A drive mechanism 7 is connected to the end of the vehicle body center side.

In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 7 includes a wiper drive device 18 that swings the wiper 4 and a wiper drive device 1.
8 and a drive gear 20 fixed to the tip of the cable 19 inside the gear case 5c.
and gears 21a, 21b fixed to the ends of the rotating shafts 16a, 16b inside the gear case 5c.

The wiper drive device 18, as shown in FIG.
A shaft 23 extending from the motor 18a toward the air box 22 includes a swing mechanism 4a for swinging the wiper arm 4 and a gear for the cable 19. A gear 23a that meshes with 19a is provided. The cable 19 is rotatably supported by a bracket 24 fixed to the front vertical wall 3c, and the bracket 24 and the gear 1
A spring 2 is provided between the gear 9a and the gear 23a to move the gear 19a away from the bracket 24 and engage the gear 23a.
5 is wound. Bracket 24 and gear 19
An arm 10 extending from an actuator 10 (operating member) connected to the arithmetic device 9 is located outside of the a.
A is provided. The arm 10a is formed in a U-shape, and when it receives a command signal from the arithmetic unit 9, the actuator 10 operates to move the arm 1.
0a moves forward and backward in the direction in which the cable 19 extends, thereby meshing and disengaging the gear 19a and the gear 23a.

The tip of the cable 19 on the gear case 5c side is
As shown in FIG. 5, it is rotatably inserted into a gear case 5c, and a drive gear 20 is fixed to the tip thereof. The gear case 5c includes a rotating shaft 16.
a, 16b are rotatably inserted, and the rotating shaft 16
A and 16b have gears 21 that mesh with the drive gear 20.
a and 21b are fixed. Snow guide path 12a,
When the spiral wing parts 17a and 17b transfer the snow in the snow to both sides of the vehicle body, the gears 21a and 21b are sufficiently engaged with the drive gear 19 by receiving the reaction force of the ice and snow. A clutch mechanism 26 is interposed between the gears 21a, 21b and the drive gear 19.

The clutch mechanism 26 includes a clutch main body 26 that displaces the gears 21a and 21b in the vehicle width direction.
a and this clutch body 26a into the gear case 5.
and a wire portion 26b that is displaced within c. The clutch main body 26a includes a pressing plate portion 27a that can come into contact with the outer end surface α ₁ of the gear 21a, and
a pressing plate portion 27b that can come into contact with the outer end surface α ₂ of b;
The gear 21 is disposed between the gears 21a and 21b.
It has a pressing plate portion 27c that can come into contact with the inner end surfaces β ₁ , β ₂ of a, 21b. Clutch body 26
A shows a wire portion 26 loosely inserted into the gear case 5c.
b are connected at one end. An actuator 28 connected to the arithmetic device 9 is provided at the other end of the wire portion 26b.

This actuator 28 receives an emergency command signal from the arithmetic unit 9 and moves the clutch main body 26a to the left side when it is difficult to rotate the left and right wings at the same time due to excessive accumulation of ice and snow on the lower edge 2a. Move it to the wing part 6b side and rotate only the right wing part 6a on the driver's side. The clutch main body 26a is rotated so as to rotate the one of the wing parts that requires snow removal.
When an emergency command signal is not received from the arithmetic unit 9, the clutch main body 26a is located at the center of the gear case 5c so as not to come into contact with the gears 21a and 21b. The wire portion 26b is connected to an operating button (not shown) in the driver's seat, and when the operating button is manually pulled, the clutch main body 26a moves to the left wing portion 6.
The rotation of the left wing portion 6b is stopped by being displaced to the b side, and the gear 21a of the right wing portion 6a meshes with the drive gear 20, so that only the right wing portion 6a rotates.

As shown in FIG. 3, a metal pipe 29 is provided on the wall surface 22a of the cowl top grille 3a on the side of the air box 22, which communicates with the engine cooling system passage and through which engine cooling water passes. The metal pipe 29 is connected to an engine coolant supply line (not shown) that guides engine coolant flowing out of the engine to the radiator, and a control valve 3 is connected to the engine coolant supply line at the connection point.
0 is provided, and a temperature sensor 31 is provided on the wall surface 22a. The temperature sensor 31 is connected to the computing device 9 and inputs the temperature state of the wall surface 22a to the computing device 9 as a temperature signal. The computing device 9 is connected to the control valve 30, and the computing device 9 is set to open the control valve 30 when a temperature signal below a reference value set regarding the temperature state of the wall surface 22a is input. . Since the metal pipe 29 is not exposed outside the vehicle, it is less susceptible to the influence of outside air, and serves as a snow guide by melting snow existing between the case portion 5 and the lower edge portion 2a and snow on the cowl top grille 3a. Road 1
2a, 12b.

The arithmetic unit 9 is configured to receive an information signal regarding the accumulation state of ice and snow detected by the light receiving diode 8a, and regarding this information signal, it is possible to simultaneously rotate the right wing section 6a and the left wing section 6b. A standard operating range has been established. This standard operating range is set based on the accumulation state of ice and snow that can be removed without cumulatively increasing the amount of ice and snow on the lower edge 2a when the right wing section 6a and the left wing section 6b are rotated simultaneously. , from the thinnest accumulation state where it is desirable to start snow removal with either the left or right wing,
This is to set the width indicated by the numerical value of the information signal up to the thickest accumulation state, which is the limit that allows simultaneous snow removal by the left and right wings.

In this embodiment, the arithmetic unit 9 detects that either the right wing section 6a or the left wing section 6b's information signal indicates a value above the standard operating range, and ice and snow are accumulating on the lower edge 2a and are gradually increasing. At times, it is set to output an emergency command signal to rotate only the right wing section 6a on the driver's seat side. That is, the arithmetic unit 9 selects the maximum value for the right wing section 6a and the maximum value for the left wing section 6b for each information signal input from the plurality of light receiving diodes 8a, respectively, and determines that these maximum values are The right wing section 6 is set to determine whether or not each is within the standard operating range.
When either the maximum value of a or the maximum value of the left wing portion 6b exceeds the standard operating range, the actuator 28
It is set to output an emergency command signal.

Further, the calculation device 9 calculates whether the information signal indicating the maximum value on the right side of the vehicle body or the information signal indicating the maximum value on the left side of the vehicle body is within the standard operating range even if the information signal indicates a value below the standard operating range. The blade section on the side that outputs the information signal is rotated, and if the temperature signal from the temperature sensor 31 is below the reference value, the control valve 30 is opened and engine cooling water is supplied to the metal pipe 29. When the accumulation of ice and snow is very thin and the information signals from the snow sensors 8 on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body both show values below the standard operating range, no command signal is output and the actuator 10 is activated. It is set not to do so.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the wiper arm 4 is hidden under the hood panel 40 when the wiper 4 is not in use. This example shows an example in which the snow removal device 1 is mounted, and in this example, a molding 42 that supports the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2 in cooperation with the flange portion 41 is screwed onto the cowl top panel 3b. There is. The vehicle snow removal device 1 is arranged on this molding 42, and the gear case 5c is installed in the air box 22 with the cable 19 extending along the molding 42 to the front of the vehicle body and then inserted into the air box 22. It is adapted to be interlocked with a drive mechanism 7. The right side case part 5a and the left side case part 5b of the vehicle snow removal device 1 are attached to the molding 4 by a clip 11.
2, and inside the right case part (not shown) and the left case part 5b, there are a right wing part and a left wing part 6b.
Each is equipped with a rotatable interior. The right wing section and the left wing section 6b are operated by an actuator 1 operated by a command signal from an arithmetic unit 9, as in the first embodiment.
0 allows connection to the drive mechanism 7.
In addition, the right side case part 5a and the left side case part 5b have
A plurality of light receiving diodes 8a according to the first embodiment are arranged in the vehicle width direction, and a light emitting diode 8b connected to a power source via a switch S is mounted on a flange portion 41 supporting the lower end edge 2a in the vehicle width direction. Multiple pieces are arranged in . A plurality of light-receiving diodes 8a and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 8b are arranged on both the right side and the left side of the vehicle body.
A and a light emitting diode 8b form a pair, respectively, and constitute a snow sensor 8. The computing device 9 connected to the snow sensor 8 is connected to the right wing section 6 as in the first embodiment.
A standard operating range is set for snow accumulation so that snow can be removed by simultaneously rotating the left wing part 6a and the left wing part 6b, and when either the left or right light receiving diode 8a shows a value above the standard operating range. ,
The actuator 28 is set to be operated by outputting an emergency command signal to rotate only the right wing section in front of the driver. Furthermore, a temperature sensor 31 similar to that in the first embodiment is attached to the wall surface 42a of the molding 42 on the side of the cowl top 3b, and a metal pipe 43 for passing engine cooling water is arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction. The snow introduced into the case part 5a and the left case part 5b as well as the snow accumulated on the molding 42 are melted. A control valve 30 is provided at a portion of the metal pipe 43 that is connected to the engine cooling water supply line.
It is also the same as in the first embodiment that the temperature sensor 31 and the control valve 30 are connected via the arithmetic unit 9, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

(Effect of the invention) Since the vehicle snow removal device according to the invention is configured as described above, when the vehicle is driven during snow removal, snow is prevented from accumulating on the lower edge of the windshield while the vehicle is running. The visibility of the occupants can be ensured, contributing to safe driving of the vehicle. Furthermore, the information signal regarding the state of accumulation of ice and snow is detected by the ice and snow detection device, and the screw rotor is rotated by the command signal obtained as a result of calculating this information signal by the arithmetic device. This has the effect that it can be automatically removed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a snow removal device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection state of the arithmetic unit of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a vehicle of the first embodiment. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the drive mechanism of the first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the vehicle snow removal device according to the second embodiment. 1...Vehicle snow removal device, 2...Front windshield (wind glass), 2a...Lower end edge,
3a... Cowl top grill (body panel), 4
...Wiper, 4a...Wiper swing mechanism, 5a...
Left side case part (snow introduction member), 5b... Right side case part (snow introduction member), 6... Screw rotor,
6a... Right wing section, 6b... Left wing section, 7... Drive mechanism, 8... Snow sensor (ice and snow detection device), 8a
... Light receiving diode, 8b ... Light emitting diode,
9... Arithmetic device, 10... Actuator (operating member), 10a... Arm, 17a, 17b...
Spiral wing section, 19... Cable, 20... Drive gear, 21a, 21b... Gear, 26... Clutch mechanism, 26a... Clutch part main body, 26b... Wire part, 30... Control valve, 31... …
temperature sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) Snow introduction on a vehicle body panel that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports the lower edge of the windshield, opening facing the lower edge and extending in the vehicle width direction. A screw rotor having a spiral wing portion is rotatably disposed within the snow introducing member, and a state of accumulation of ice and snow near the lower end edge is detected as an electrical information signal. a detection device is provided, and a calculation device is connected to the ice and snow detection device for outputting a command signal for rotating the screw rotor when the information signal exceeds a reference value regarding the start time of removing snow and ice, and the calculation device is connected to the calculation device. A snow removal device for a vehicle, characterized in that an operating member connecting the drive mechanism for rotating the screw rotor and the screw rotor is connected by the command signal. (2) The screw rotor is composed of a right wing section on the right side of the vehicle body and a left wing section on the left side of the vehicle body, which are rotatable independently of each other, and the ice/snow detection unit is located near each of the right wing section and the left wing section. The ice and snow detection devices on both the left and right sides are respectively connected to the arithmetic device, and the arithmetic device has a standard operating range in which both the left and right wing portions can be rotated simultaneously in relation to the information signal. In addition, when either the left or right information signal indicates a value equal to or higher than the standard operating range, an emergency signal is output that rotates only the wing in front of the driver's seat among the left and right wing sections. A snow removal device for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim.