JPH10119731A - Headlight cleaning device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set a length of an outer cylinder body in a cleaning liquid jetting condition longer than that in a housed condition by expanding the outer cylinder body by means of expansion of a spring member expanded by a fluid pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied to the outer cylinder body inside and jetting the cleaning liquid from a jet nozzle. SOLUTION: When cleaning liquid is supplied, an outer cylinder 2 is extended, and then, a check valve 39 is opened so as to jet cleaning liquid from a jet nozzle 52. In this process, a spring force of a spring member 32 is set to be lower than that of a closing spring 48. When supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, a liquid pressure is lowered, so that the check valve 39 is closed, and an outer cylinder 2 is shrunk so as to be housed. In this way, the outer cylinder body 2 is shrunk by means of the tensile coil spring type spring member 32 so as to be housed, and the outer body 2 is extended when the spring member 32 is expanded, so that the outer cylinder body 2 length in an extended condition can be set to be longer than that in a housed condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel vehicle headlight cleaning apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for reducing the length at the time of operation, that is, the length at the time of storage when compared with the length at the time of spraying the cleaning liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a vehicular headlamp cleaning device that is housed in a vehicle body when not in operation and protrudes outside the vehicle body when in operation to inject cleaning liquid.

[0003] For example, there is one described in JP-A-6-270775.

[0004] That is, a piston (6) is slidably fitted in the cylinder (5), a cleaning liquid injection nozzle (15) is supported at a distal end of the piston (6), and a proximal end of the piston (6) is mounted on the piston (6). A closing valve (14) is provided.

The cylinder (5) and the piston (6)
The first spring (16) is interposed between the first spring (16) and the piston (6) is housed in the cylinder (5) by the force of the first spring (16) trying to expand when not operating. It has become.

[0006] When the cleaning liquid is supplied into the cylinder (5), the spring force of the second spring (19) and the first spring (16) for holding the closing valve (14) in the closed position is reduced. Due to the difference, the first spring (16) contracts due to the liquid pressure of the cleaning liquid, whereby the piston (6) projects from the cylinder (5). And the piston (6)
Is projected to a predetermined position, the pressure of the cleaning liquid overcomes the spring force of the second spring (19), the shut-off valve (14) is opened, and the cleaning liquid is ejected from the cleaning liquid injection nozzle (15).
Injected from.

When the injection of the cleaning liquid is completed, the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder (5) decreases, so that the closing valve (1)
4) closes and the first spring (16) expands, whereby the piston (6) is housed in the cylinder (5).

[0008]

In the conventional apparatus for cleaning a headlight for a vehicle described above, the first spring (1) is used.
Since the piston (6) protrudes from the cylinder (5) when the cylinder (5) is compressed, the minimum length of the first spring (16) when contracted is the cylinder (5) and the piston (6). Therefore, the protrusion length of the piston (6), that is, the interval between the storage position of the cleaning liquid injection nozzle (15) and the protrusion position cannot be made large.

Further, when the pistons are stacked in a plurality of stages, the number of compression springs is required, which increases the number of parts and complicates the structure.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to increase the length at the time of projection, that is, the length at the time of operation, relative to the length at the time of storage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a single spring member even when the number of cylinders constituting the outer shell cylinder increases.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a headlamp for a vehicle, wherein a plurality of cylindrical bodies are slidably fitted to each other to extend and contract. A body is formed, and an injection nozzle for injecting a cleaning liquid is provided at a tip end of the outer shell cylinder. A spring member for contracting the outer shell cylinder by a contraction force is disposed inside the outer shell cylinder, and the outer shell is provided. The spring member expands due to the pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied into the shell cylinder, the outer shell cylinder expands, and the cleaning liquid is jetted from the jet nozzle.

Therefore, according to the apparatus for cleaning a headlamp for a vehicle of the present invention, since the outer shell cylinder is extended by the extension of the spring member, the operation is shorter than the stored length of the outer shell cylinder. The length of time can be lengthened.

Further, even if the number of cylinders constituting the outer shell cylinder increases, only one spring member is sufficient.

[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle headlamp cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

A cleaning device 1 for a vehicle headlamp has an outer shell 2. The outer shell cylinder 2 is configured such that three cylinders are slidably fitted to each other so as to be able to expand and contract as a whole.

The cylindrical body 3 on the base end side is the thickest and is a cylinder fixed to the vehicle body. A stopper ridge 4 protruding inward is formed at the tip of the cylinder 3, and a plurality of guide grooves 5, 5, ... extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface. An engagement ridge 6 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the cylinder 3.

The intermediate cylinder 7 has a cylindrical shape slightly smaller than the cylinder 3 and is slidably fitted in the cylinder 3 and is referred to as a first piston. The first piston 7
Are projected from the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion of the cylinder 3, and the guided projections 8, 8,... Slide in the guide grooves 5, 5,. Freely engaged. And
When the first piston 7 projects most from the cylinder 3, the guided projections 8, 8,... Engage with the stopper ridges 4 of the cylinder 3, and do not project further from the cylinder 3. I have.

A stopper ridge 9 projecting inward is formed at the tip of the first piston 7, and a plurality of guide grooves 10, 10,... Extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface.

The cylindrical body 11 at the tip has a cylindrical shape slightly thinner than the first piston 7 and is slidably fitted in the first piston 7 and is called a second piston. On the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the second piston 11, a guided projection 12,
Are projected, and the guided projections 12, 12,.
Are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 10, 10,... Of the first piston 7. And the second piston 1
In the state where the first projection 1 projects most from the first piston 7, the guided projections 12, 12,... Engage with the stopper ridges 9 of the first piston 7, and project further from the first piston 7. Not to be.

The outer diameter of the distal end portion 13 of the second piston 11 is smaller than that of the other portions, and an engaging ridge 14 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface. An inner flange 15 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the distal end portion 13 near the distal end, and an annular portion 16 protruding in the proximal direction is integrally formed on the inner edge of the inner flange 15.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a boot made of an elastic material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like. An outwardly projecting flange 19 is formed at the base end of a bellows-like cylindrical main portion 18. A tubular portion 20 is continuously provided at a tip of the portion 18, and a flange 21 protruding outward is formed at a tip of the tubular portion 20.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a back cap, which is a short cylindrical connecting portion 24 connected to the opening edge of the main portion 23 whose base end is closed and which has a larger diameter than the main portion 23 and has a short cylindrical shape.
And a connecting pipe portion 25 protruding from the side surface of the main portion 23 are integrally formed. An engaging recess 26 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a side wall portion of the connecting portion 24. A spring hook 27 is formed at the center of the inner surface of the bottom of 23.

When the boot 17 is inserted into the outer shell cylinder 2 and the peripheral edge of the flange 19 on the base end side of the boot 17 is in contact with the base end of the cylinder 3, the back cap 22 is 3 and the engagement ridge 6 on the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the cylinder 3 is fitted into the engagement recess 26 of the back cap 22, whereby the base end of the cylinder 3 is The flange 19 at the base end of the boot 17 is clamped by the base end of the cylinder 3 and the back cap 22.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a top stopper, which is a cylindrical portion 29.
A flange 30 protruding outward from the front end of the cylindrical portion 29 is integrally formed.
1, 31 are formed.

The front end flange 21 of the boot 17 is in contact with the front end surface of the inner flange 15 of the second piston 11, and in this state, the cylindrical portion 29 of the top stopper 28 is pressed into the annular portion 16. It is fitted inside. As a result, the distal end of the tubular portion 20 of the boot 17 is sandwiched between the annular portion 16 of the second piston 11 and the tubular portion 29 of the top stopper 28, and the flange 21 of the boot 17 is Inner flange 15 of piston 11 and top stopper 2
8, whereby the tip of the boot 17 is fixed to the tip of the second piston 11. The ridge 3 of the cylindrical portion 29 of the top stopper 28
The first and the first pistons 31 attach the cylindrical portion 20 of the boot 17 to the second piston 1.
The inner peripheral surface of the first annular portion 16 is pressed more strongly, and the nectarity at this portion is well maintained.

The spring member 32 is formed as a tension coil spring. An annular portion 33 is formed at the distal end of the spring member 32, and a hook 34 is formed at the proximal end. Then, the annular portion 33 is brought into contact with the tip of the second piston 11, and the hook 34 is connected to the back cap 22.
Is locked by the spring hook portion 27. Therefore, the spring member 32
The pistons 7, 11 are pulled so as to be housed in the cylinder 3 by the contraction force of the cylinder 3, and when not in operation, as shown in FIGS.
It is in a state of being stored inside.

A check valve portion 35 is attached to the tip of the second piston 11.

The check valve portion 35 includes a top half 36
A check valve 39 is formed by arranging required elements in an outer shell 38 formed by a back half 37 and a back half 37.

The top half 36 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an inner flange 40 protruding inward at the distal end. A cylindrical cylindrical portion 41 extends from the inner edge of the inner flange 40 toward the base end. An annular space 42 is provided outside the cylindrical portion 41 so as to protrude.
Is formed. The base end portion 43 of the top half 36 is a connecting portion whose diameter is larger than the other portions.
An engagement recess 44 extending annularly is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the connecting portion 43.

The back half 37 has a substantially cylindrical shape, a thick annular portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion, and an engagement ridge 45 extending annularly is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the thick annular portion. I have. An engagement recess 46 extending annularly is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base end of the back half 37. Thus, the tip of the back half 37 is fitted inside the connecting portion 43 of the top half 36, and the engaging ridge 45 is fitted into the engaging recess 44 of the connecting portion 43, and the top half 36 and the back half 37 are fitted. Are combined and integrated to form an outer shell 38.

The check valve 39 is opened as long as the fluid pressure at the base end side of the outer shell 38 becomes a predetermined value or more, so that the passage from the base end to the front end of the outer shell 38 is opened. May be something. For example, a stop valve described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-24942 or Japanese Patent Application No. 6-216796 can be employed. In terms of its characteristics, the check valve 39 has a diaphragm 47 made of an elastic material for partitioning the liquid passage from the base end to the tip of the outer shell 38 in the middle, and a compression coil spring-like closure for holding the diaphragm 47 in the closure position. A spring 48 is arranged in the annular space 42. When the hydraulic pressure on the proximal end side of the outer shell 38 exceeds a predetermined value, the closing spring 48 is compressed, the diaphragm 47 is deformed, and the passage closed by the diaphragm 47 is opened.

In the above-described check valve portion 35, the base end of the back half 37 is externally fitted to the distal end 13 of the second piston 11, and the engagement concave portion 46 engages the second piston 11. The engagement of the ridge 14 couples the tip of the second piston 11.

A nozzle case 49 is attached to the tip of the check valve section 35.

The nozzle case 49 has a housing 51 integrally formed at the end of a connecting pipe 50, and an injection nozzle 52 is fitted in the housing 51 in a tiltable manner. The outer peripheral surface 51b of the storage unit 51 is formed in a spherical surface except for an opening 51a that exposes the injection nozzle 52 to the outside.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a nozzle cover which is supported by the nozzle case 49 so as to be tiltable.

The nozzle cover 53 includes a main portion 54 having a hat shape, and three connecting legs 55 suspended from the lower surface of the main portion 54.
55 and 55 are integrally formed. Connecting leg 55,
55 and 55 have a plate shape, and their extension axes extend substantially parallel to each other. Each of the connecting leg portions 55, 55, 55 has its tip end elastically contacted with the outer peripheral surface 51b of the storage portion 51 of the nozzle case 49, and the elastic contact portion has a spherical concave portion 55a,
55a, 55a are formed, and the recesses 55a, 55a,
5a is adapted to the outer peripheral surface 51b. FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the connecting legs 55, 55, 55.
As shown in FIG. 2, one is left at the rear and the two are slightly obliquely rearward at the front.

Thus, the cylinder 3 is supported by a vehicle body (not shown), and the nozzle case 49 enters and exits through a part of the vehicle body, for example, an opening formed in a bumper.

1 and 2 in the housed state.
As shown in FIG. 7, the pistons 7 and 11 are housed in the cylinder 3 by the tensile force caused by the contraction of the spring member 32, the nozzle case 49 is located inside the opening of the bumper (not shown), and the nozzle cover 53 is connected to the opening of the bumper. Part is covered. The connecting pipe 25 provided at the base end of the cylinder 3 is connected to a motor pump (not shown).
During operation, the cleaning liquid is supplied by the motor pump to the connecting pipe portion 2.
5, and is supplied into the cylinder 3. Then, the supplied cleaning liquid reaches the base end of the check valve section 35 through the inside of the boot 17.

When the cleaning liquid is supplied into the cylinder 3 and the hydraulic pressure increases, the hydraulic pressure causes the spring member 32 to expand and the first and second pistons 7 and 11 project from the cylinder 3. Go. As a result, the pistons 7, 11 extend to the state shown in FIG.
Can reach a position suitable for cleaning the front lens of the headlight.

When the hydraulic pressure of the cleaning liquid at the base end of the check valve portion 35, that is, the hydraulic pressure applied to the diaphragm 47, exceeds a predetermined value, the closing spring 48 is compressed, the diaphragm 47 is deformed, and the check valve 39 is moved. The opening cleaning liquid is injected from the injection nozzle 52 through the nozzle case 49.

As described above, when the cleaning liquid is supplied, first, the outer cylinder 2 is extended, and then the check valve 39 is supplied.
Is opened, and the cleaning liquid is injected from the injection nozzle 52. For this reason, the spring force of the spring member 32 is made smaller than the spring force of the closing spring 48. Note that it is not always necessary that the cleaning liquid is injected after the outer shell cylinder 2 is completely extended, and there is no particular problem even when the cleaning liquid is started while the outer shell cylinder 2 is extended. .

When the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, the liquid pressure drops, so that the check valve 39 closes and the outer shell 2 contracts, and the storage state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained.

In the above-described cleaning apparatus 1 for a vehicle headlamp, the outer shell tube 2 is contracted by the tension coil spring-like spring member 32 to be in the housed state, and the outer shell is extended by the spring member 32 extending. Since the cylinder 2 was extended,
The length of the outer shell cylinder 2 when extended can be made larger than the length when stored. In particular, even if the number of cylinders forming the outer shell cylinder 2 increases, the number of the spring members 32 is one, and
The structure can be simplified and the number of components can be reduced as compared with a conventional apparatus for cleaning headlamps for vehicles using a compression coil spring.

Further, as described above, the telescopic boot 17 is disposed in the outer shell cylinder 2 and the cleaning liquid flows through the boot 17 so that each of the cylinders constituting the outer shell cylinder 2 is formed. It is not necessary to take special measures for waterproofing the connecting parts of the bodies 3, 7, 11 and the parts sliding on each other.

In the above embodiment, the outer shell cylinder 2 is
Although it is constituted by the individual cylinders 3, 7, and 11, the number is not limited to three and may be two or four or more.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, the cleaning apparatus for a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention comprises a plurality of tubular bodies which are slidably fitted to each other and which can be extended and contracted. An injection nozzle is provided, which is formed and injects a cleaning liquid to a tip portion of the outer shell cylinder, and a spring member for contracting the outer shell cylinder by a contraction force is disposed inside the outer shell cylinder, and the outer shell cylinder is provided. The spring member is extended by the liquid pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied into the body, the outer shell cylinder is expanded, and the cleaning liquid is jetted from the jet nozzle.

Therefore, according to the apparatus for cleaning a headlamp for a vehicle of the present invention, since the outer shell cylinder is expanded by the expansion of the spring member, the operation is shorter than the stored length of the outer shell cylinder. The length of time can be lengthened. Further, even if the number of cylinders constituting the outer shell cylinder increases, only one spring member is sufficient, the number of parts is small, and the structure is simple.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the spring force of the closing spring of the check valve is greater than the spring force of the spring member, the check valve is opened after the outer shell cylinder is completely extended, and the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
An elastic tubular cover externally fitted to a spring member is provided in the outer shell tubular body, and the inside of the tubular cover is used as a passage through which the cleaning liquid passes. There is no need to pay special attention to the waterproofing of the connecting parts and sliding parts.

It should be noted that the specific shapes and structures of the respective parts in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby reduced. It should not be interpreted restrictively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle headlight cleaning apparatus according to the present invention together with FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, which is a side view in a housed state.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in a stored state.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view at the time of operation.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a nozzle case and a nozzle cover.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a spring member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cleaning apparatus of a headlamp for vehicles, 2 ... Outer shell cylindrical body, 3 ... Cylinder (cylindrical body), 7 ... 1st piston (cylindrical body), 11 ... 2nd piston (cylindrical body), 17 ... Boots (cylindrical cover),
32: spring member, 39: check valve, 48: closing spring, 52: injection nozzle

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of cylinders are slidably fitted to each other to form an expandable and contractable outer shell cylinder; and an injection nozzle for jetting a cleaning liquid is provided at a tip end of the outer shell cylinder. A spring member for contracting the outer shell cylinder by a contraction force is disposed inside the outer shell cylinder, and the spring member expands due to the liquid pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied into the outer shell cylinder to expand the outer shell cylinder. A cleaning device for a vehicle headlamp, wherein a cleaning liquid is injected from the injection nozzle. 2. A check valve is provided between the outer shell cylinder and the injection nozzle, and the check valve is held in a closed state by a closing spring, and a pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied to the outer shell cylinder is controlled to a predetermined pressure. When it becomes large, it is made to be in an open state against the spring force of the closing spring, the spring force of the closing spring of the check valve is made larger than the spring force of the spring member, and the outer shell cylinder is extended. The cleaning device for a vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is opened after the cleaning, and the cleaning liquid is injected from the injection nozzle. 3. An elastic tubular cover externally fitted to a spring member is provided in the outer shell tubular body, and the inside of the tubular cover is a passage through which a cleaning liquid passes. Or the washing | cleaning apparatus of the vehicle headlamp of Claim 2.