GB2323271A

GB2323271A - Vehicle headlamp washer

Info

Publication number: GB2323271A
Application number: GB9805207A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kazuaki Saito; Hitoshi Hirose
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-19
Filing date: 1998-03-11
Publication date: 1998-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-11
Also published as: JP3625981B2; DE19811827B4; DE19811827A1; GB9805207D0; GB2323271B; JPH10258712A

Abstract

The vehicle headlamp washer comprises a T-shaped washing liquid supply tube 100, two nozzle holders 120, one attached to each end 102 of horizontal bar portion 101 of T-shaped tube 100, a spray nozzle 130 held in each nozzle holder 120 and a coupling tube 80. The headlamp washer is mounted via coupling tube 80 on a cylinder/piston arrangement by which the washer is raised by the washing liquid pressure against a spring (see Figure 1). The washing liquid flows from the cylinder, through tubes 80, 100 and holders 120 and is directed at the headlamp by spray nozzles 130. The arrangement allows effective washing of headlamps of large width and curvature and changes in lens width are easily accommodated by manufacturing tube 100 in different lengths. The nozzle holders may be formed integral to tube 100 (see Figure 6).

Description

1 0 1;4 2323271 VEHICULAR HEADLAMP WASHER The present invention relates to

an improved vehicular headlamp washer. More particularly, the invention relates to a headlamp washer well adaptable for the washing of a vehicular headlamp lens which is large in width and curvature.

There has been proposed a headlamp washer for washing a vehicular headlamp lens of a large width.

The proposed vehicular headlamp washer of this type is shown in its major portion in Fig. 8.

A nozzle holder 1 is provided with a couple of holding tubes 2 arranged side by side and in parallel. A washing-liquid supplying tube 3 is located in the lower part of the holding tubes 2. The holding tubes 2 are integral, in structure, with the washing-liquid supplying tube 3. In the structure of each holding tube 2, one end of the holding tube is opened, while the other end is substantially closed. The washing-liquid supplying tube 3 is structured such that one end of the washing-liquid supplying tube is opened while the other end is substantially closed. The substantially closed end of the washing-liquid supplying tube 3 is coupled with the substantially closed ends of the holding tubes 2. The inner space of the washing-liquid supplying tube 3 communicates with the inner spaces of the holding tubes 2.

- 1 0 A tip of a liquid-supply coupling tube 4 is fit into the washing-liquid supplying tube 3 through its opened end. The liquid-supply coupling tube 4 receives from washing liquid from a washing-liquid supplying machine. Spray nozzles (not shown) are placed within the holding tubes 2 of the nozzle holder 1.

In operation, washing liquid is supplied from the washing-liquid supplying machine to the washing-liquid supplying tube 3, through the liquid-supply coupling tube 4. The washing liquid is branched into the holding tubes 2, and is sprayed toward the headlamp lens from the nozzles (not shown) held in the holding tubes 2.

In the proposed headlamp washer thus structured. there is a limit in increasing a distance between the orifices of the two spray nozzles. Therefore, the proposed headlamp washer is capable of insufficiently washing the surface of a vehicular head-lamp lens of the type which is large in width and curvature.

A possible solution to this problem is to widen the interspace between the holding tubes 2 of the nozzle holder. In this case, the diameter of the washing-liquid supplying tube 3 is inevitably increased. Attempt to use the washing-liquid supplying tube 3 of the increased diameter entails the manufacturing of washing-liquid supplying tubes specially specified since the dimensions of the washing-liquid supplying tube 3, commercially available, is specified by related regulations.

1 ' 4 Another possible solution to the problem is to adjust the directions of the spray nozzles within the holding tubes 2. The solution also fails to satisfactorily solve the problem. If the adjustment is possible, its amount is insufficient for the reason that the orientations of the paired holding tubes 2 in the molding process are invariable, and hence the orientation adjustment is inevitably limited within a narrow range.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp washer capable of washing the entire surface of a vehicular headlamp lens which is large in width and curvature.

A vehicular headlamp washer having the following construction presents the best solution to the problems accompanying the afore-mentioned proposed headlamp washer. The headlamp washer of the invention comprises: spray nozzles for spraying washing liquid; a washing-liquid supplying tube shaped like T, the tube including a horizontal bar portion and a vertical portion connecting to the horizontal bar portion; and nozzle holders, located in the vicinity of the distal end of the horizontal bar portion of the washing-liquid supplying tube, for holding the spray nozzles.

The vehicular headlamp washer thus constructed is flexibly adaptable for various types of vehicular headlamps of different lens widths by merely adjusting the length of the horizontal bar portion of the washing-liquid supplying tube.

In the accompanying drawings:- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a vehicular headlamp washer when it is not used, Figs. 1 to 5 cooperating to show the headlamp washer as a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarge sectional view showing the headlamp washer of Fig. 1 when it is used; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of a key portion of the Fig. 1 washer; Fig. 4 is an enlarged, exploded view in perspective of the key portion of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional view showing a key portion where a spray nozzle is held within a nozzle holding part of a nozzle holder; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in perspective of a key portion of another vehicular headlamp washer which is a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an enlarged, exploded view in perspective of the key portion of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a major portion of a proposed headlamp washer for washing a vehicular headlamp lens.

Exemplar embodiments-of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 through 5 cooperate to show a vehicular headlamp washer which constitutes a first embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicular headlamp washer is designated by reference ---.

numeral 10. A main body 20 of the vehicular headlamp washer 10 is fixedly mounted on a vehicle body within a bumper 3 0 as a part of the vehicle body. The main body 20 includes a cylinder 40 and a piston 50 slidably supported by the cylinder 40. The cylinder is coupled to a washing-liquid tank (not shown) by way of pipe means. In washing a headlamp (not shown), washing liquid, e.g. p water, is forcibly supplied from the washingliquid tank into the cylinder 40.

Pressure of the washing liquid that is supplied into the cylinder 40 progressively increases within the cylinder as the supply of the washing liquid progresses. with the progressive increase of the liquid pressure, the piston 50 moves upward out of the cylinder 40 (Fig. 2). when the liquid pressure reaches a predetermined value of pressure, a check valve 60 that is provided at the bottom end of the piston 50 opens, and washing liquid reaches the extreme end of a center through-hole, i.e., a liquid passage 51 of the piston 50. upon completion of the spraying of washing liquid, the pressure of the washing liquid 1, a 4 within the cylinder 40 decreases, and the pressure decrease and a resilient force of a compressed coiled spring 70 moves the piston 50 to within the cylinder 40. The coiled spring 70 is interposed between the outer wall of the piston 50 and the inner wall of the cylinder 40. The check valve 60 may be any of the conventional valves if the valve is opened when a hydraulic pressure acting on one side of the valve is in excess of a predetermined level of pressure, and it is closed when the hydraulic pressure decreases to below the predetermined one.

A liquid-supply coupling tube 80 is attached to the tip of the piston 50. The liquid-supply coupling tube 80 includes a major portion 81 and a coupling portion 82 continuous to the upper end of the liquid-supply coupling tube 80. The major portion 81 includes a large diameter part 83 and a small diameter part 84 extended from the lower end of the large diameter part 83. Ring-like ribs 85, while being spaced apart from each other, are raised from the outer surface of the small diameter part 84. At a position closer to the upper end of the large diameter part 83, a f lange 8 6 is extended outward f rom the outer surf ace of the large diameter part 83. A fitting groove 86a is formed in the circumf erential outer f ace of the f lange 8 6. The coupling portion 82 is f ormed with a couple of coupling plates 8 7, which are arranged upright on the upper end f ace of the large diameter part 83. Those coupling plates 87 have engaging holes 88, respectively.

6 - ' 4 4 The small diameter part 84 of the liquid-supply coupling tube 80 is fit into the upper end of the liquid passage 51. One end of a bellows-like boot 90, made of elastic material, e.g., rubber, is fit into the fitting groove 86 of the flange 86 of the liquid-supply coupling tube 80. The other end of the bellows-like boot 90 is fit onto the outer surface of the lower end part of the cylinder 40. When the piston 50 is moved out of the cylinder 40, a part of the piston located above the'upper end of the cylinder 40 is not exposed since the bellows-like boot 90 is used.

A washing-liquid supplying tube 100 is coupled to the upper end of the liquid-suppl y coupling tube 80. The washing-liquid supplying tube 100 is shaped like T. A horizontal bar portion 101 (corresponds to a horizontal bar of T) of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100 is opened at both ends 102 thereof. Through the open ends 102, washing liquid flows out of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100. Mounting pieces 103 having mounting holes 103a, while being spaced from each other, are projected outward from the outer surface of the horizontal bar portion 101. Another mounting piece 103 having a mounting hole 103a is projected outward from the outer surf ace of a vertical bar portion 104 (corresponds to a vertical bar of T) of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100.

A ring-like fitting groove 105 is formed in the outer surface of the lower end part of the vertical bar portion 104. The washing-liquid supplying tube 100 is coupled at the lower end part to the liquid-supply coupling tube 80. A couple of guide plates 106, while being oppositely disposed, extends over the halfway part of the outer surface of the vertical bar portion 104.

The guide plates 106 is integral with the vertical bar portion 104 in structure. Each of the guide plates 106 includes a front part 106a and a rear part 106b. The rear part 106b is continuous to the trailing end of the front part 106a, and inclined toward the outer surface of the horizontal bar portion 101. The front part 106a of each guide plate 106 is extended in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the horizontal bar portion 101, and hence those front parts 106 are in parallel with each other. Anengaging projection piece 107 is projected outward from the fore end of each front part 106a. The rear part of the engaging projection pieces 107 provides a slanted face 107a.

To couple the washing-liquid supplying tube 100 to the liquid-supply coupling tube 80, the rear part of the vertical bar portion 104 is fit into the large diameter part 83 of the liquid-supply coupling tube 80 in a state that an 0-ring 110 is f it into the ring-like f itting groove 105 of vertical bar portion 104 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100. In the coupling process, the coupling plates 87 of the liquid-supply coupling tube 80 are respectively guided along the guide plates 106 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100; the leading ends of the coupling plates 87, respectively, slide forward on the slanted faces 107a of the engaging projection pieces 107 while being bent 8 - 4 outward or becoming apart from each other; and the engaging projection pieces 107 of the -guide plates 106 are respectively f it into the engaging holes 88 of the coupling plates 87 of the coupling portion 82, thereby securing a reliable coupling.

Nozzle holders 120 are respectively coupled into the opened ends 102 the horizontal bar portion 101 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100.

Each nozzle holder 120 is shaped like L; one of the legs of L serves as a nozzle holding part 121; the other leg forms a coupling tube 122. The coupling tube 122 has a flange 123 located closer to the extreme end of the coupling tube 122. A portion between the flange 123 and the extreme end of the coupling tube 122 serves as a coupling part. A ring-like rib 125 is formed on the coupling part of the coupling tube 122.

Fitting parts 124 of the nozzle holders 120 are fit into the open ends 102 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100, respectively. In this case, the fitting parts 124 are inserted into the open ends 102 till the flanges 123 of the coupling tubes 122 are abutted against the end faces of the open ends 102.

Spray nozzles 130 are held by the nozzle holding parts 121 of the nozzle holders 120, respectively. Each spray nozzle 130 includes a spherical main body 131, substantially spherical in shape, and an orifice part 132 that is protruded upward from the spherical main body 131 and has an discharging orifice 133. A passage 134 passes through the spherical main body 131 in a state ' 0 that one end of the passage 134 is opened to form the discharging orifice 133, while the other end of the passage 134 is opened at the bottom of the spherical main body 131. The spherical main body 131 of each spray nozzle 130 is placed within the corresponding nozzle holding part 121, and rotatable since it is spherical.

A covering member 140 is applied to the thus assembled vehicular headlamp washer in a state that it covers the nozzle holders 120 and the horizontal bar portion 101 of'the washing-liquid supplying tube 100 of the assembly. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the covering member 140 has two holes 141 located at both ends thereof and three mounting bosses 142 when viewed from above. In mounting the covering member 14 0 onto the washing-liquid supplying tube 100, the mounting bosses 142 of the covering member 140 are respectively aligned with the mounting pieces 103 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100; and mounting screws 150 are inserted into and fastened to the mounting holes 103a of the mounting pieces 103 and the mounting bosses 142. When the covering member 140 is thus mounted onto the washing-liquid supplying tube 100, the discharging orifices 133 of the spray nozzles 130 are exposed to outside through the holes 141 of both ends of the covering member 140.

An operation of the vehicular headlamp washer thus constructed will be described.

, 1 In a state that the vehicular headlamp washer is not used, viz., washing liquid is not supplied to the cylinder 40 of the headlamp washer, the piston 50 is placed within the cylinder 40 by the resilient force of the compressed coiled spring 70, and an opening 31 of the bumper 30 is closed with the covering member 140.

wa s hing 1 iqu id is f orc ibly suppl ied f rom a was hing-1 iqu id supplying machine (not shown) to the bottom part of the cylinder 40. With the supply of the washing liquid, a pressure of the washing liquid progressively increases; it pushes upward the piston 50; the piston juts out of the cylinder 40; and the nozzle holders 12 0 are moved through and above the opening 31 of the bumper 30. when the piston 50 is thus moved out of the cylinder 40 and reaches its maximum height, the washing-liquid pressure further increases within the cylinder 40; in turn, the check valve (60 located at the bottom part of the piston 50) is opened; the washing liquid passes through the liquid passage 51, liquid-supply coupling tube 80, and washing-liquid supplying tube 100 and reaches the nozzle holders 120; and the washing liquid passes through the passages 134 of the spray nozzles 130 and is forcibly discharged, at the discharging orif ices 133, toward the vehicular headlamp lens.

The supply of the washing liquid to the cylinder 40 is stopped; the washing-liquid pressure decreases; the check valve 60 is closed; the piston 50 is retracted into the cylinder 40 with - 1 1 - 0 the aid of the resilient force of the compressed coiled spring 7 0; and the covering member 14 0. closes the opening 31 of the bumper 30.

It is noted that in the vehicular headlamp washer 10 thus constructed and operating, the length of the horizontal bar portion 101 of the washingliquid supplying tube 100 is adjustable in the manufacturing stage of the washer. This indicates that the vehicular headlamp washer 10 may flexibly be adapted for various types of vehicular headlamps of different lens widths.

It is noted further that the nozzle holders 120 may be turned about the open ends 102 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100. With the technical feature, the discharging orifices 133 of the spray nozzles 130 are adjustable in their orientations in a large range. Therefore, the vehicular headlamp washer 10 may be applied to the lenses of large curvatures for their satisfactory washing.

Furthermore, it is noted that the vehicular headlamp washer 10 is constructed such that when the headlamp washer is not used, it is placed inside the bumper 30, and when used, it is protruded out of the bumper 30. This feature accrues to the following advantage: a washing liquid pressure acts on the horizontal bar portion 101 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 100, and hence the pressure acting on the spray nozzles 130 is reduced.

- 12 h Figs. 6 and 7 show another vehicular headlamp washer which is a second embodiment of the present invention.

The headlamp washer of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in 1) the configurations of the washing-liquid supplying tube and the nozzle holders and 2) those tube and holds being integral with each other in structure. Hence, only those different portions are illustrated and will be described for simplicity.

AS shown, a washing-liquid supplying tube 200 is shaped like T, viz., a Tshaped pipe member is used. A horizontal bar portion 201 (corresponds to a horizontal bar of T) of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200 is opened at both ends 202 thereof. Through the open ends 202, washing liquid flows out of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200. A vertical bar portion 203 (corresponds to a vertical bar of T) of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200 serves as a coupling part when the washing-liquid supplying tube 200 is coupled with a liquid-supply coupling tube (not shown).

Nozzle holders 210 are protruded upward from the locations of the open ends 202 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200, while the vertical bar portion 203 thereof is extended downward from the center of the washingliquid supplying tube. The nozzle holders 210 is integral with the washing-liquid supplying tube 200.

Each nozzle holder 210 consists of a nozzle holding part 211 that is tubular and short in lengthwise direction, and a coupling part 212 that is also tubular, smaller in diameter than the nozzle holding part 211, and continuous to the nozzle holding part 211. The coupling part 212 of the nozzle holders 210 is fluidly continuous to the corresponding open end 202 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200.

Plugs 220 are respectively putInto the openings of the open ends 202 of the horizontal bar portion 201, thereby closing the openings.

Spray nozzles 130 are placed within the nozzle holding parts 211 of the nozzle holders 210, respectively.

Also in the vehicular headlamp washer of the second embodiment, the horizontal bar portion 201 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200 is adjustable in the manufacturing stage of the washer. Therefore, the vehicular headlamp washer may flexibly be adapted for various types of vehicular headlamps of different lens widths.

Further, when the vehicular headlamp washer is not used, it is placed inside the bumper, and when used, it is protruded out of the bumper. Therefore, a washing liquid pressure acts on the horizontal bar portion 201 of the washing-liquid supplying tube 200, and hence the pressure acting on the spray nozzles 130 is reduced Additionally, the washing-liquid supplying tube 200 and the nozzle holders 210 aremanufactured in one-piece construction.

This feature leads to reduction of required component parts of the headlamp washer.

The vehicular headlamp washer of the embodiment is constructed such that when the vehicular headlamp washer is not used, it is placed inside the bumper, and when used, it is protruded out of the bumper. If required, the spray nozzles may be fixed in position in both cases of the headlamp washer being in use and not in use. An exemplar measure to f ix the spray nozzles is to fix the washing-liquid supplying tube to the bumper.

As seen from the foregoing description, the vehicular headlamp washer constructed according to the present invention comprises: spray nozzles for spraying washing liquid; a washing-liquid supplying tube shaped like T, a horizontal bar portion of the T-shaped washing-iiquid supplying tube being opened at both ends thereof, the open ends allow to flow washing liquid out of the washing-liquid supplying tube; and nozzle holders, located at the open ends, for holding the spray nozzles.

Since the vehicular headlamp washer is thus constructed, it is flexibly adaptable f pr various types of vehicular headlamps of different lens widths by merely adjusting the length of the horizontal bar portion of the washing-liquid supplying tube.

The headlamp washer of the present invention is specified as follows. The spray nozzles are separate in structure from the washing-liquid supplying tube, each nozzle holder, shaped like L, consists of a nozzle holding part and a coupling tube, and the coupling tubes of the nozzle holders being fluidly continuous to the open ends of the horizontal bar portion of the T-shaped washing-liquid supplying tube, respectively. Therefore, the headlamp washer is applicable to various types of vehicular headlamps of different widths for satisfactory washing by combining standardized nozzle holders.with the washing-liquid supplying tubes whose horizontal bar portions are different in length. Further, since the nozzle holders are adjustable in their orientations with respect to the washing-liquid supplying tube, the vehicular headlamp washer can wash the lenses of large curvatures satisfactorily.

According to the invention, the headlamp washer is further specified that the nozzle holders are integral in structure with the washing-liquid supplying tube. This technical idea reduces the number of required component parts of the headlamp washer, and the number of steps to assemble.

According to another aspect of the invention, the headlamp washer further comprising a cylinder and a piston slidable with respect to the cylinder in the axial direction, and wherein wherein a) the washing-liquid supplying tube is coupled with the extreme end of the piston, b) the piston is slidably moved out of the cylinder by a pressure of washing liquid supplied, and c) washing liquid is forcibly discharged from the spray nozzles in a state that the piston is projected from the cylinder. This technical idea produces the following advantage: a washing liquid pressure acts on the horizontal bar portion of the washing-liquid supplying tube, and hence the pressure acting on the spray nozzles is reduced.

- 17 1 14

Claims

CLAIMS..

1. A vehicular headIamp washer comprising:

a washing-liquid supplying tube comprising a first part and a second part connecting to said first part in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto; at least one nozzle holder, located in the vicinity of the distal end of said first part of said washing-liquid supply tube; and at least one spray nozzle fit in said nozzle holder for spraying washing liquid.

2. The headlamp washer according to claim 1, wherein said spray nozzle is separate in structure from said washing-liquid supplying tube, said nozzle holder, shaped like L, consists of a nozzle holding part and a coupling tube, and said coupling tubes of said nozzle holders being fluidly continuous to said distal end of said first part of said washing- liquid supplying tube.

3. The headlamp washer according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle holder is integral in structure with said washing-liquid supplying tube.

4. The headlamp washer according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a cylinder and a piston slidablewith respect to said cylinder in the axial direction, and wherein said 1 washing-liquid supplying tube is coupled with the extreme end of said piston, said piston is slidably moved out of said cylinder by a pressure of washing liquid supplied, and washing liquid forcibly ejecting from said spray nozzle in a state that said piston projects from said cylinder.