JPH11301420A - Vehicle wiper device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a wiper device capable of absorbing an external impact. SOLUTION: In a vehicle wiper device in which a windshield wiper blade attached to a tip end of the wiper arm swings a windshield, a pivot shaft 20 fixed to a base end of the wiper arm 12 is fixed to a vehicle body. The pivot holder 30 is rotatably supported through the cylindrical bearing portion 31 of the pivot holder 30 and is pivotally supported on the cylindrical bearing portion 31 by a locking plate 23 locked between the cylindrical bearing portion 31 and the pivot shaft 20. The relative movement of the shaft 20 in the axial direction is restricted, and the locking plate 23 against an axial load of not less than a predetermined value on the pivot shaft 20 from above.
Is a vehicle wiper device that can be broken to release the lock and move the pivot shaft 20 downward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiper device for automatically wiping rainwater, snow, mud, dust, and other foreign matter adhering to the surface of a windshield of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a wiper device, a pivot shaft is generally supported by a pivot holder attached to a vehicle body panel of a vehicle, and a base end of a wiper arm is fixed to an end protruding outside the pivot shaft. The wiper blade attached to the oscillating tip wipes the windshield surface.

Therefore, the wiper blade and the wiper arm are outside the windshield, and the end of the pivot shaft to which the wiper arm is fixed projects outside the vehicle body surface.

[0004]

Accordingly, the wiper arm and the pivot shaft end are susceptible to an external impact load. If the impact load is received properly, the body of the wiper and the body panel of the wiper mounting portion may be damaged.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to provide a wiper device capable of absorbing an external impact.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle wiper device in which a windshield wiper wipes a windshield with a wiper blade attached to the tip of the wiper arm by swinging a wiper arm.
A pivot shaft fixed to the base end portion of the wiper arm is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder fixed to a vehicle body, and is rotatably supported between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft. The relative movement of the pivot shaft in the axial direction with respect to the cylindrical bearing portion is restricted by the locked locking plate, and the locking plate is broken by a predetermined axial load or more on the pivot shaft from above. To release the lock to move the pivot shaft downward to provide a vehicle wiper device.

When an excessive load is applied to the pivot shaft at the base end of the wiper arm from the outside of the vehicle, the locking plate locked between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft breaks, and the pivot shaft is broken. The lock can be released to move inward to absorb the impact load, thereby minimizing damage to the wiper body and the body panel of the wiper mounting portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wiper device for a vehicle in which a wiper blade attached to a tip end of the wiper arm swings the windshield by swinging the wiper arm, and a pivot shaft fixed to a base end of the wiper arm. Is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder fixed to the vehicle body, and is rotatably supported by the cylindrical bearing portion by a locking plate locked between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft. Relative to the pivot shaft is restricted, and the locking plate is deformed to release the lock to move the pivot shaft downward with respect to an axial load applied to the pivot shaft from above that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. This is a vehicle wiper device that can be used.

When an excessive load is applied to the pivot shaft at the base end of the wiper arm from outside of the vehicle, the locking plate locked between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft is deformed to deform the pivot shaft. The lock can be released to move inward to absorb the impact load, thereby minimizing damage to the wiper body and the body panel of the wiper mounting portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wiper device according to the first or second aspect, the pivot holder has a flange portion formed on an outer periphery of the cylindrical bearing portion on the vehicle body side, A thin portion having a low breaking strength is formed around the cylindrical bearing portion of the flange portion.

When an excessive load is applied to the pivot shaft at the base end of the wiper arm from the outside of the vehicle at an angle in the axial direction, the cylindrical bearing portion of the flange portion of the pivot holder that supports the pivot shaft. Stress concentrates on the periphery, the thin part having a small thickness and low breaking strength is broken, and the pivot holder falls into the vehicle body to absorb the impact load.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wiper device for a vehicle in which a wiper blade attached to a tip end of the wiper arm swings the windshield by swinging the wiper arm, wherein the pivot shaft is fixed to a base end of the wiper arm. Is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder fixed to the vehicle body, and a fastening member fastened to the outer periphery of the pivot shaft with a predetermined fastening force is engaged with the cylindrical bearing portion. The pivotal shaft is stopped to restrict the relative movement of the pivot shaft in the axial direction with respect to the cylindrical bearing portion, and exceeds a frictional force caused by the tightening of the fastening member with respect to an axial load of a predetermined value or more on the pivot shaft from above. A wiper device for a vehicle that slides the pivot shaft downward.

When an excessive load is applied to the pivot shaft at the base end portion of the wiper arm from outside the vehicle, the frictional force generated by the tightening of the fastening member fastened to the pivot shaft and locked to the cylindrical bearing portion is exceeded. The pivot shaft slides downward and moves inwardly of the vehicle body to absorb the impact load, thereby minimizing damage to the wiper body and the vehicle body panel at the wiper mounting portion.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a front windshield 2 of an automobile 1 to which a wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment is applied.

A pair of wiper devices 10 are provided on the left and right sides of the front windshield 2 in front of the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. The wiper arm 12 swings the wiper blade 11 left and right in sliding contact with the surface of the front windshield 2 to wipe out rainwater and foreign matter, thereby ensuring a good view.

The right and left wiper arms 12 are tandem-type wiper devices 10 having swing centers at predetermined positions on the lower edge of the front windshield 2 and swinging simultaneously in the same direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base end of the wiper arm 12 is formed with a shaft hole in which serrations are formed on the tapered inner peripheral surface, and the tapered outer peripheral surface of the pivot shaft 20 is formed in the coaxial hole. The fittings are fixedly fitted with the engraved tips. A cap 15 is put on the tip.

The pivot shaft 20 is rotatably supported by a pivot holder 30. The pivot holder 30 has a cylindrical bearing portion 31 for supporting the pivot shaft 20 and a flange portion 32 extending on the outer periphery thereof. Are integrally formed.

The pivot shaft 20 has cylindrical supports 21 and 21 fitted at upper and lower portions of a substantially lower half portion inserted into the cylindrical bearing portion 31, and the support 21 has an outer diameter. The pivot shaft 20 is rotatably positioned on the central axis of the cylindrical bearing 31 slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical bearing 31.

A groove 20a is formed circumferentially at a predetermined position slightly above the upper support 21 of the pivot shaft 20, and a ring 22 is fitted in the groove 20a. On the other hand, a hollow disk-shaped locking plate 23 is in contact with the upper end opening edge of the cylindrical bearing portion 31 of the pivot holder 30, and the inner diameter of the locking plate 23 is substantially equal to the diameter of the pivot shaft 20. It is penetrated by.

The locking plate 23 is made of a low-strength material having low ductility, and a hollow disk-shaped washer 24 is provided between the locking plate 23 and the ring 22 fitted on the pivot shaft 20. The pivot shaft 20 is axially positioned with respect to the pivot holder 30 via the locking plate 23 and the washer 24, and is rotatably supported. Washer as shown in FIG.
The outer diameter Dw of 24 is set smaller than the inner diameter Dh of the cylindrical bearing portion 31.

The pivot holder 30 has a flange 32
Mounting holes are drilled at several locations near the edge of the
An annular groove 34 is formed around the base of the cylinder 32, that is, around the cylindrical bearing portion 31, and a thin portion 35 having a small thickness is formed at the same portion by the annular groove 34.

The pivot holder 30 has a cylindrical bearing portion 31 penetrating from above through an opening provided in the vehicle body panel 3 of the vehicle body, a flange 32 is applied to the vehicle body panel 3, and a bolt 36 inserted into a mounting hole is provided with a bolt 36. 3 and is screwed and fixed by a nut 37. A link member 27 that rotates the pivot shaft 20 is fitted to an end of the pivot shaft 20 protruding downward from the cylindrical bearing portion 31.

As described above, the wiper device 10 is mounted on the vehicle body panel 3, and when the pivot shaft 20 pivotally supported by the pivot holder 30 rotates via the link member 27, the wiper arm 12 integrally moves the pivot shaft 20. The wiper blade attached to the tip of the wiper arm 12 by swinging to the center
11 slides on the surface of the front windshield 2 to wipe off rainwater and the like.

If an impact load is applied to the base end of the wiper arm 12 in a substantially axial direction from outside the vehicle, the cap
A load is applied to the pivot shaft 20 via 15. Then, the ring 22 integral with the pivot shaft 20 presses the washer 24 downward,
The washer 24 presses the inner peripheral side of the locking plate 23 supported at the open end of the cylindrical bearing portion 31 of the pivot holder 30.

Since the outer diameter Dw of the washer 24 is smaller than the inner diameter Dh of the cylindrical bearing portion 31, the washer 24 acts to push the inner peripheral side of the locking plate 23 into the cylindrical bearing portion 31 and has a low strength. The stop plate 23 undergoes shear failure, and the outer peripheral portion is cylindrical bearing portion 31.
The inner peripheral portion is pushed into the cylindrical bearing portion 31 together with the washer 24 while being left at the open end of the pivot shaft 20 as shown in FIG.
Falls into the body panel 3.

Accordingly, the impact load is absorbed, and damage to the body panel of the wiper body and the wiper mounting portion can be minimized. Since the broken plate is the locking plate 23, it can be easily repaired by replacing the locking plate,
The wiper arm 12, the wiper blade 11, and the pivot holder 30 can be reused.

The above is a case where an impact load is applied to the pivot shaft 20 substantially in the axial direction. When an impact load is applied at a certain angle in the axial direction, the locking plate 23 has an effect of causing shear failure. Load is applied to the cylindrical bearing portion 31 of the pivot holder 30, and stress concentrates on the thin portion 35 between the cylindrical bearing portion 31 of the flange 32 and the portion fixed to the vehicle body panel 3 by the bolt 36. As a result, the thin portion 35 having a low breaking strength is broken, and the cylindrical bearing portion 31 falls into the body panel 3 as shown in FIG.

Also, the breaking strength of the thin portion 35 is
When a relatively small impact load is input, the impact load is absorbed by the shear fracture of the locking plate 23, and when a relatively large impact load is input, the setting is made larger than the shear strength. By breaking the thin portion 35 of the flange 32 after the shear failure of the stop plate 23, the pivot shaft can be dropped inward into the vehicle body panel 3 in a stepwise manner, and effective and efficient shock absorption can be performed. .

Therefore, the impact load is absorbed, and damage to the body panel of the wiper body and the wiper mounting portion can be minimized. Since the broken part is the flange 32 of the pivot holder 21, it can be easily repaired by replacing the pivot holder, and the wiper arm 12 and the wiper blade 11 can be reused.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The pivot holder 60 attached to the vehicle body panel is formed integrally with a cylindrical bearing portion 61 that supports the pivot shaft 50 to which the base end of the wiper arm 42 is fixed and a flange portion 62 extending around the outer periphery thereof. Things.

The pivot shaft 50 has a cylindrical support 51 fitted at a predetermined position inserted into the cylindrical bearing portion 61, and the pivot shaft 50 is attached to the central axis of the cylindrical bearing portion 61 by the support 51.
Are rotatably positioned.

A groove 50a is formed circumferentially at a predetermined position of the pivot shaft 50 slightly above the support 51, and a ring 52 is fitted into the groove 50a to form a ridge in the circumferential direction. . On the other hand, a hollow disk-shaped locking plate 63 is in contact with the upper opening edge of the cylindrical bearing portion 61 of the pivot holder 60, and the locking plate 63
Has a pivot shaft whose inner diameter is approximately equal to the diameter of the pivot shaft 50.
Penetrated by 50.

The locking plate 63 is formed of a material having low rigidity and ductility. The ring 52 fitted to the pivot shaft 50 is locked to the locking plate 63 so that the locking plate 63 is fixed to the pivot holder 60. The pivot shaft 50 is axially positioned and rotatably supported.

Assuming that an impact load is applied to the base end of the wiper arm 42 in a substantially axial direction from outside the vehicle, a load is applied to the pivot shaft 50 via the cap 45. Then pivot axis
The ring 52 integral with 20 is the cylindrical bearing part of the pivot holder 60
The inner peripheral side of the locking plate 63 supported by the opening end of the 61 is pressed downward.

The ring 52 acts to push the inner peripheral side of the locking plate 63 into the cylindrical bearing portion 61, and the low-rigidity locking plate 63 bends the inner peripheral portion downward to enlarge the inner diameter. The ring 52 is pushed into the cylindrical bearing portion 61 together with the pivot shaft 50, and as shown in FIG.
The pivot shaft 50 falls into the body panel 3 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the impact load is absorbed, and damage to the body panel of the wiper main body and the wiper mounting portion can be minimized. It is the locking plate 63 that has been deformed, so it can be easily repaired by replacing the locking plate,
The pivot holder 60 and the wiper arm 42 can be reused.

Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The pivot holder 90 attached to the vehicle body panel has a cylindrical bearing portion 91 that pivotally supports the pivot shaft 80 to which the base end of the wiper arm 72 is fixed, and a flange portion 92 extending around the outer periphery thereof are integrally formed. Things.

At a predetermined position in the upper and lower portions of the inner periphery of the cylindrical bearing portion 91, a reduced diameter portion 91 a having the same diameter as the pivot shaft 80 having a slightly reduced diameter is provided, and the pivot shaft 51 is rotated about the central axis of the cylindrical bearing portion 91. Positioning freely.

A tooth washer 82 is fastened to an outer periphery of a predetermined portion of the pivot shaft 80 with a predetermined tightening force, and the tooth washer 82 is attached to a cylindrical bearing portion of the pivot holder 90.
The upper edge of the upper end 91 is rotatably abutted via a washer 83 so that the relative movement of the pivot shaft 80 in the axial direction is regulated and positioning is performed. Note that a seal ring 93 is interposed at the inner edge of the upper end opening of the cylindrical bearing portion 91.

The tooth washer 82 has a plurality of internal teeth 82a formed in an annular inner circumference and is fastened to the outer circumference of the pivot shaft 80 by the spring force of the internal teeth 82a. The tooth washer 82 is fixed at the upper end opening of the cylindrical bearing 91, and the pivot holder 90 is fixed.
The pivot shaft 80 is positioned in the axial direction with respect to and is rotatably supported.

When an impact load is applied to the base end of the wiper arm 72 in a substantially axial direction from the outside of the vehicle and an axial load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the pivot shaft 80, the frictional force generated by the fastening of the tooth washer 82 is prevented. By sliding the pivot shaft downward, the impact load is absorbed, and damage to the body panel of the wiper body and the wiper mounting portion can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a front windshield portion of an automobile to which a wiper device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting structure of a pivot holder of the wiper device.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a pivot shaft support structure by the pivot holder.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pivot shaft has fallen off due to an axial load.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pivot holder is dropped by a load having an angle with respect to an axial direction.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a pivot shaft support structure by a pivot holder according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional side view showing a state where the pivot shaft has dropped off due to an axial load.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a pivot shaft support structure by a pivot holder according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partially sectional side view showing a state in which the pivot shaft has fallen off due to an axial load.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car, 2 ... Front windshield, 3 ... Body panel, 10 ... Wiper device, 11 ... Wiper blade, 12
… Wiper arm, 15… cap, 20… pivot shaft, 21
... support, 22 ... ring, 23 ... locking plate, 24 ... washer,
27 link member, 30 pivot holder, 31 cylindrical bearing, 32 flange, 34 annular groove, 35 thin part, 36 bolt, 37 nut, 42 wiper arm, 45 cap, 50 Pivot shaft, 51 ... support, 52 ... ring, 60 ...
Pivot holder, 61: cylindrical bearing, 62: flange, 63: locking plate, 72: wiper arm, 80: pivot shaft, 82: teeth washer, 83: washer, 90: pivot holder, 91: cylindrical bearing Part, 92… Flange part, 93…
Seal ring.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhide Kuno 390 Umeda, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wiper device for a vehicle in which a wiper blade attached to a tip of the wiper arm swings a windshield by swinging a wiper arm, wherein a pivot shaft fixed to a base end of the wiper arm is fixed to a vehicle body. The pivot shaft is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder that is rotatably supported by a pivot plate, and the pivot shaft is pivoted with respect to the cylindrical bearing portion by a locking plate that is locked between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft. The vehicle is characterized in that relative movement in the direction is restricted, and the locking plate is broken to release the locking and move the pivot shaft downward in response to an axial load applied to the pivot shaft from above that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. Wiper device. 2. A wiper device for a vehicle, in which a wiper blade attached to a tip end of the wiper arm swings a windshield by swinging a wiper arm, wherein a pivot shaft fixed to a base end of the wiper arm is fixed to a vehicle body. The pivot shaft is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder that is rotatably supported by a pivot plate, and the pivot shaft is pivoted with respect to the cylindrical bearing portion by a locking plate that is locked between the cylindrical bearing portion and the pivot shaft. The vehicle is characterized in that relative movement in the direction is restricted, and the locking plate is deformed to release the locking to move the pivot shaft downward in response to an axial load on the pivot shaft from above that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. Wiper device. 3. The pivot holder has a flange portion formed on a vehicle body side on an outer periphery of the cylindrical bearing portion, and a thin portion having a low breaking strength is formed around the cylindrical bearing portion of the flange portion. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A vehicle wiper device according to claim 2. 4. A wiper device for a vehicle in which a wiper blade attached to a tip of the wiper arm swings a windshield by swinging a wiper arm, wherein a pivot shaft fixed to a base end of the wiper arm is fixed to a vehicle body. The pivot member is rotatably supported through a cylindrical bearing portion of a pivot holder, and a fastening member fastened to an outer periphery of the pivot shaft with a predetermined fastening force is locked to the cylindrical bearing portion to form the cylindrical member. The relative movement of the pivot shaft in the axial direction with respect to the bearing portion is restricted, and the pivot shaft is moved downward by exceeding the frictional force caused by the tightening of the fastening member with respect to a predetermined axial load on the pivot shaft from above. A wiper device for a vehicle, wherein the wiper device slides.