JP4950909B2 - Wiper device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper device that drives a wiper arm to wipe a windshield provided in a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wiper device is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The wiper device swings a wiper arm on which a wiper blade is mounted to wipe rain, dust, and the like attached to a windshield. . The wiper device includes a pivot shaft to which a wiper arm is fixed, and an electric motor that drives the pivot shaft. The electric motor is driven by operating an operation switch in the vehicle interior, whereby the wiper device is driven via the pivot shaft. The blade is swung.

  A wiper device including a pair of wiper arms, such as a tandem type wiper device and a counter-wiping type wiper device, is provided with a pair of pivot shafts corresponding to each wiper arm. A link mechanism is provided between each pivot shaft and the electric motor. By this link mechanism, the rotational motion of the electric motor is converted into a swing motion, and each pivot shaft swings in synchronization. As such a wiper device, a pair of pivot holders rotatably supporting each pivot shaft is fixed to both ends of the pipe-shaped frame member, and the electric motor is fixed to a substantially central portion of the frame member by a motor bracket. A so-called frame-integrated modular wiper device is known.

As a modular wiper device, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known. The wiper device described in Patent Document 1 includes a motor bracket in which a link mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the frame member across the electric motor, and a distal end side is extended so as to straddle the link mechanism. And after inserting the pin member provided in the front end side of the motor bracket into the insertion hole of the vehicle, the fixing portion provided in each pivot holder is fixed to the vehicle with a bolt, and thereby the wiper device is supported by the vehicle at three points. To be fixed to.
JP 2004-330799 A (FIG. 2)

  By the way, it is desired that the modular wiper device be further downsized in order to improve the conveyance efficiency and improve the assembling ability to save space. Also, depending on the vehicle side design (body design), for example, the extension direction of each pivot shaft can be set at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle, that is, the degree of freedom of installation in the vehicle is improved. What can be done is desired.

  However, according to the wiper device described in Patent Document 1 described above, since the motor bracket extends straight toward the vehicle body so as to be substantially parallel to the link mechanism, the dimension in the thickness direction of the wiper device is particularly large. In this respect, there is room for improvement in reducing the size of the wiper device.

  Further, when the extending direction of each pivot shaft is set to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle, depending on the inclination angle, it is necessary to bring the motor bracket and the link mechanism closer to each other. In this case, the link mechanism that swings during the operation of the wiper device and the motor bracket may interfere with each other, and there is a limit to improving the degree of freedom of installation in the vehicle.

  The objective of this invention is providing the wiper apparatus which can aim at the size reduction of an apparatus and can aim at the improvement of the installation freedom with respect to the vehicle of an apparatus.

The wiper device according to the present invention includes a pair of pivot shafts to which a pair of wiper arms are respectively fixed, and an electric motor that drives the pivot shafts, and drives the wiper arms to wipe a windshield provided in a vehicle. A wiper device having a holder attachment portion attached to the vehicle, a pair of pivot holders for rotatably supporting the pivot shafts, a frame member for connecting the pivot holders, and fixing to the frame member And a motor bracket having a motor mounting portion to which the electric motor is mounted, and provided between the electric motor and each pivot shaft, and converting each rotary motion of the electric motor into a swinging motion to each pivot shaft. A link mechanism that transmits to the motor, and a direction that is provided at the motor mounting portion and intersects the link mechanism And extending portion is extended, provided on the distal end side of the extending portion, and a bracket mounting portion mounted to the vehicle, provided on the extending portion side of the motor mounting portion, the frame member is fixed On the line segment that crosses the extension part connecting the frame fixing part, the first center of the motor attachment part and the second center of the bracket attachment part, on the side where the frame fixing part of the extension part opens. A link swing allowing recess that allows swinging movement of the link mechanism, and the extending direction of the extending portion is inclined at a predetermined angle from the mounting surface of the motor mounting portion toward the link mechanism side. And the frame member and the link mechanism are configured not to interfere with each other.

  The wiper device according to the present invention is characterized in that the bracket mounting portion is inserted into an insertion hole of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, the motor mounting portion of the motor bracket is provided with an extending portion that extends in a direction intersecting the link mechanism, and the first center of the motor mounting portion and the second center of the bracket mounting portion are connected. Since the link swing allowable recess that allows the link mechanism to swing is provided on the side where the frame fixing portion of the extension opens on the line segment that crosses the section, the link mechanism is brought close to the extension and the link A swing motion can be performed in the swing allowable recess. Therefore, the dimension of the wiper device in the thickness direction can be reduced, and it is possible to improve the conveyance efficiency and the ease of assembly to the vehicle.

  According to the present invention, since the frame fixing portion to which the frame member is fixed is provided on the extension portion side of the motor mounting portion, the link mechanism and the frame member can be brought close to each other. Therefore, the useless space formed between the link mechanism and the frame member can be eliminated, the size of the wiper device in the width direction can be reduced, and the wiper device can be further downsized.

  According to the present invention, since the extending direction of the extending portion is inclined by a predetermined angle from the mounting surface of the motor mounting portion toward the link mechanism, the extending direction of each pivot shaft is set at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle. Tilt can be set. Therefore, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation of the wiper device in the vehicle while ensuring the swing of the link mechanism within the link swing allowable recess, and the degree of freedom of design on the vehicle side can be improved.

  According to the present invention, since the bracket mounting portion is inserted into the insertion hole of the vehicle, it is not necessary to secure a space for arranging a fastening member (bolt) or the like on the side opposite to the insertion side of the bracket mounting portion. . Therefore, a large link swing allowable recess can be taken, and as a result, the wiper device can be further miniaturized.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view partially showing the front side of a vehicle on which the wiper device according to the present invention is mounted, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the wiper device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is the wiper device of FIG. FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are explanatory views for explaining the structure of the motor bracket, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for explaining the extending portion of the motor bracket. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are explanatory views for explaining the swing motion of the link mechanism in the link swing allowable recess.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a windshield 11 as a windshield is provided on the front side of the vehicle 10, and DR that wipes rain, dust, and the like attached to the windshield 11 on the windshield 11. A side (driver's seat side) wiper blade 12a and an AS side (passenger seat side) wiper blade 12b are provided.

  The DR-side wiper blade 12a is rotatably attached to the distal end side of the DR-side wiper arm 13a, and the AS-side wiper blade 12b is rotatably attached to the distal end side of the AS-side wiper arm 13b. The wiper blades 12a and 12b are in elastic contact with the windshield 11 by coil springs (not shown) provided inside the wiper arms 13a and 13b, respectively.

  The wiper blades 12a and 12b perform a reciprocating wiping operation in the same direction in synchronization with the wiping ranges 11a and 11b formed between the lower inversion position LRP and the upper inversion position URP on the windshield 11. It has become. That is, the wiping pattern of each wiper blade 12a, 12b is a tandem type. In addition, the code | symbol MP on each wiping range 11a, 11b has shown the intermediate position between the lower inversion position LRP and the upper inversion position URP.

  The vehicle 10 is equipped with a wiper device 14 (broken line in the figure) that drives the wiper arms 13a and 13b to perform a reciprocating wiping operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper device 14 is a so-called frame-integrated modular wiper device in which the motor body 22 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the frame member 20 by a motor bracket 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper device 14 includes a DR-side pivot shaft 15a to which the DR-side wiper arm 13a is fixed, and an AS-side pivot shaft 15b to which the AS-side wiper arm 13b is fixed. The DR side pivot shaft 15a is rotatably supported by the DR side pivot holder 16a, and the AS side pivot shaft 15b is rotatably supported by the AS side pivot holder 16b.

  The DR side pivot holder 16a is integrally formed with a DR side holder mounting portion 17a for fixing the DR side pivot holder 16a to the DR side body panel 10a of the vehicle 10. A rubber bush 18 is attached to the DR-side holder mounting portion 17a. As shown by a one-dot chain line B in the figure, a bolt 19 is inserted into the bush 18 and the bolt 19 is fixed to the DR-side vehicle body panel 10a. Thus, the DR side pivot holder 16a is fixed to the DR side body panel 10a.

  The AS side pivot holder 16b is integrally formed with an AS side holder attaching portion 17b for fixing the AS side pivot holder 16b to the AS side body panel 10b of the vehicle 10. A bush 18 similar to that on the DR side is mounted on the AS-side holder mounting portion 17b, and a bolt 19 is inserted into the bush 18 and a bolt 19 is inserted into the AS-side vehicle body panel 10b as shown by a one-dot chain line B in the figure. By fixing the AS side pivot holder 16b, the AS side body panel 10b is fixed.

  A frame member 20 extending in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 10 is provided between the pivot holders 16a and 16b. The frame member 20 connects the pivot holders 16a and 16b so as to have a predetermined relative position. Therefore, by preparing the frame member 20 having a different shape, it is possible to deal with different assembly spaces on the vehicle 10 side while sharing the components other than the frame member 20.

  The frame member 20 is formed in a predetermined shape by a hollow cylindrical pipe, and coupling bosses (not shown) provided integrally with the pivot holders 16a and 16b are fixed by caulking at both ends thereof. . However, the frame member 20 is not limited to a hollow cylindrical pipe, and may be a hollow member or a solid member having a hexagonal cross section, for example, in consideration of rigidity required for the frame member 20.

  A wiper motor (electric motor) 21 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the frame member 20 via a motor bracket 30. The wiper motor 21 drives the pivot shafts 15a and 15b, and includes a motor body 22 and a speed reducer 23.

  The motor body 22 is operated by a drive current from an in-vehicle controller (not shown) supplied via the connector 24. The rotation of the motor main body 22 is input to the speed reducer 23, and the speed reducer 23 reduces the rotational speed of the motor main body 22 to a predetermined rotational speed to increase the torque and outputs it to the outside.

  The speed reducer 23 is provided with an output shaft 23a as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3, and one end side of the crank arm 25 is fixed to the output shaft 23a. One end side of the drive connecting rod 26 is rotatably connected to the other end side of the crank arm 25 via a ball joint (not shown).

  One end side of the DR side drive lever 27a is fixed to the DR side pivot shaft 15a, and one end side of the AS side drive lever 27b is fixed to the AS side pivot shaft 15b. The other end side of each drive lever 27a, 27b is mutually connected by the connecting rod 28 which consists of a hollow cylindrical pipe. The other end side of the drive connecting rod 26 is rotatably connected to the other end side of the AS side drive lever 27b via a ball joint (not shown).

  In this manner, the pivot arm 15, the drive connecting rod 26, the drive levers 27 a and 27 b, and the connecting rod 28 are pivotally connected to each other so that the pivot shafts 15 a and 15 b can be rotated as the motor body 22 rotates. It swings within a predetermined angle range.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the motor body 22 is rotated in one direction, the output shaft 23a rotates counterclockwise in the drawing. Along with this, the other end side of the crank arm 25 (one end side of the drive connecting rod 26) rotates counterclockwise to follow the movement locus L1. Then, the drive connecting rod 26 reciprocates in the left-right direction in the figure, and the other end side (one end side of the connecting rod 28) of the AS side drive lever 27b follows the movement locus L2. As the connecting rod 28 reciprocates in the left-right direction in the figure, the other end side of the connecting rod 28 (the other end side of the DR side drive lever 27a) follows the movement locus L3.

  As described above, the pivot shafts 15 a and 15 b are swung in the same direction in synchronization with the rotation of the motor body 22. The connecting rod 28 for swinging the pivot shafts 15a and 15b has an intermediate position from the lower inversion position LRP (solid line in the figure) because the other end sides of the drive levers 27a and 27b follow arc-shaped movement trajectories L2 and L3, respectively. It swings within the range of position MP (broken line in the figure). That is, a space (a space) that allows the connecting rod 28 to swing is required around the connecting rod 28. Note that the upper inversion position URP (one-dot chain line in the drawing) is located at substantially the same position as the lower inversion position LRP in the case of the present embodiment.

  Here, the crank arm 25, the drive connecting rod 26, the drive levers 27a and 27b, and the connecting rod 28 constitute the link mechanism of the present invention provided between the wiper motor 21 and the pivot shafts 15a and 15b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the motor bracket 30 is formed into a predetermined shape by casting an aluminum material or the like. The motor bracket 30 includes a bracket body (motor mounting portion) 31 to which the wiper motor 21 is mounted. ing. A through-hole 32 having a predetermined diameter through which the output shaft 23a (see FIG. 3) of the speed reducer 23 passes is formed in the first center C1 that is a substantially central portion of the bracket body 31. Three screw holes 33 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the through hole 32, and each bolt 34 (see FIG. 3) that fixes the speed reducer 23 is inserted into each screw hole 33. It is like that.

  The bracket body 31 is integrally provided with a mounting leg 35 that is fixed to the front body panel 10c of the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting leg 35 is mounted with a bush 18 similar to that mounted on the holder mounting portions 17 a and 17 b described above. As shown by a one-dot chain line B in FIG. 2, the motor bracket 30 is fixed to the front vehicle body panel 10c by inserting the bolt 19 through the bush 18 and fixing the bolt 19 to the front vehicle body panel 10c.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an extension portion 36 extending in the direction intersecting with the connecting rod 28 constituting the link mechanism, that is, the rear side of the vehicle 10, is integrated with the opposite side of the mounting leg 35 in the bracket body 31. Is provided. A bracket attachment portion 37 to be inserted into an insertion hole 10e provided in the rear body panel 10d on the rear side of the vehicle 10 is integrally provided on the distal end side of the extension portion 36. The bracket attachment portion 37 is made of rubber. The buffer cap 37a is attached. By mounting the buffer cap 37a on the bracket mounting portion 37 in this manner, the bracket mounting portion 37 can be mounted in the insertion hole 10e in a fitted state, and rattling between the bracket mounting portion 37 and the rear body panel 10d is prevented. It is preventing.

  Here, when assembling the wiper device 14 to each of the vehicle body panels 10a to 10d of the vehicle 10, first, as shown by a one-dot chain line A in FIG. 2, the bracket mounting portion 37 is inserted into the rear vehicle body panel 10d. The wiper device 14 is positioned relative to (temporarily fixed). After that, as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line B in FIG. 2, the pivot holders 16a and 16b and the motor bracket 30 are fixed to the vehicle body panels 10a to 10c by the bolts 19 (main fixing).

  A frame fixing portion 38 to which a substantially central portion of the frame member 20 is fixed is integrally provided on the extension portion 36 side of the bracket body 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the frame fixing portion 38 has a substantially arc shape in cross section so that the frame member 20 can be covered on the half side from the periphery. The frame fixing portion 38 is provided with a pair of screw holes 38a. The bolts 39 (see FIG. 2) are inserted into the screw holes 38a, so that the motor bracket 30 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the frame member 20. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a recessed portion (link swing allowable recessed portion) 36 a is provided on the side where the frame fixing portion 38 of the extending portion 36 opens, and this recessed portion 36 a is formed around the connecting rod 28. This space is formed, and the rocking motion of the connecting rod 28 is allowed. The concave portion 36 a is disposed on a line segment SE that crosses the extending portion 36 that connects the second center C <b> 2 that is a substantially central portion on the distal end side of the bracket attachment portion 37 and the first center C <b> 1 of the bracket body 31.

  As shown in FIG. 5, since the extending portion 36 includes a recess 36 a, the extending direction of the extending portion 36 is inclined by a predetermined angle from the mounting surface to which the wiper motor 21 of the bracket body 31 is attached to the connecting rod 28 side. I am letting. Accordingly, when the height h1 from the reference position SL on the lower end side of the motor bracket 30 to the bracket mounting portion 37 does not tilt the extending portion 36 while allowing the swinging motion of the connecting rod 28 (2 in the figure). The height dimension is lower than the height dimension h2 of the dotted line (h1 <h2). That is, the degree of freedom in setting the extending direction of the extending portion 36 can be greatly improved as compared with the prior art, and therefore the inclination of the central axis PC of each pivot shaft 15a, 15b (see FIG. 2). Various angles can be set with respect to the horizontal direction of vehicle 10 (reference position SL).

  Next, the operation of the wiper device 14 configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, when an operation switch (not shown) such as a passenger compartment is operated, the motor body 22 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. Then, the rotational movement of the motor main body 22 is converted into a swinging movement by the link mechanism and transmitted to the pivot shafts 15a and 15b. As a result, the wiper blades 12a and 12b reciprocate over the wiping ranges 11a and 11b via the pivot shafts 15a and 15b. At this time, the connecting rod 28 constituting the link mechanism swings in the recess 36a of the extension 36 as shown by the arrows in FIGS.

  When each wiper blade 12a, 12b moves forward and moves from the lower inversion position LRP to the intermediate position MP, the connecting rod 28 moves in the recess 36a to the upper side in the figure (see FIG. 6A). When each wiper blade 12a, 12b moves from the intermediate position MP to the upper reversal position URP, the connecting rod 28 moves downward in the recess 36a (see FIG. 6B). On the contrary, when the wiper blades 12a and 12b perform the backward operation and move from the upper reversal position URP to the lower reversal position LRP via the intermediate position MP, the connecting rod 28 moves in the recess 36a as described above. 6a and 6b as shown in FIG.

As described above in detail, according to the wiper device 14 according to the present embodiment, the bracket body 31 of the motor bracket 30 is provided with the extending portion 36 that extends in the direction intersecting the connecting rod 28, and the first center. On the line segment SE crossing the extending portion 36 connecting C1 and the second center C2, a recess 36a that allows the connecting rod 28 to swing is provided on the side where the frame fixing portion 38 of the extending portion 36 opens. Therefore, the connecting rod 28 can be moved in the recess 36 a by being brought close to the extending portion 36. Therefore, the dimension of the wiper device 14 in the thickness direction can be reduced, and the conveyance efficiency of the wiper device 14 can be improved and the assembling property to the vehicle 10 can be improved.

  Further, according to the wiper device 14 according to the present embodiment, since the frame fixing portion 38 to which the frame member 20 is fixed is provided on the extending portion 36 side of the bracket body 31, the connecting rod 28, the frame member 20, Can be brought close together. Therefore, the useless space between the connecting rod 28 and the frame member 20 can be eliminated, the size of the wiper device 14 in the width direction can be reduced, and the wiper device 14 can be further downsized.

  Furthermore, according to the wiper device 14 according to the present embodiment, the extending direction of the extending portion 36 is inclined at a predetermined angle from the mounting surface of the bracket body 31 to which the wiper motor 21 is mounted to the connecting rod 28 side. The extending direction of each pivot shaft 15a, 15b can be set to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction of vehicle 10 (reference position SL). Therefore, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation of the wiper device 14 in the vehicle 10 while ensuring the swinging of the connecting rod 28 in the recess 36a, and the degree of freedom in designing the vehicle 10 (degree of freedom in vehicle body design). Can be improved.

  Further, according to the wiper device 14 according to the present embodiment, the bracket attaching portion 37 is inserted into the insertion hole 10e formed in the rear body panel 10d of the vehicle 10, so that the insertion side of the bracket attaching portion 37 and There is no need to secure a space for arranging bolts (fastening members) on the opposite side. Therefore, the recessed part 36a can be taken large, and the wiper apparatus 14 can be further reduced in size.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the wiping pattern of the wiper device 14 is a tandem type. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other wiping patterns such as a counter wiping type may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the thing which wipes the windshield 11 of the front side of the vehicle 10 was shown as a wiper apparatus, this invention is not restricted to this, The windshield provided in the back side of the vehicle 10 ( The present invention can also be applied to a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a rear glass) or a railway vehicle or an aircraft.

It is explanatory drawing which shows partially the vehicle front side carrying the wiper apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the wiper apparatus of FIG. It is the front view which looked at the wiper device of Drawing 2 from the back side. (A), (b), (c) is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of a motor bracket. It is explanatory drawing explaining the extension part of a motor bracket. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing explaining the rocking | fluctuation motion of the link mechanism in a link rocking | fluctuation permission recessed part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 10a DR side body panel 10b AS side body panel 10c Front side body panel 10d Rear side body panel 10e Insertion hole 11 Windshield (wind shield)
11a, 11b Wiping range 12a DR side wiper blade 12b AS side wiper blade 13a DR side wiper arm 13b AS side wiper arm 14 Wiper device 15a DR side pivot shaft 15b AS side pivot shaft 16a DR side pivot holder 16b AS side pivot holder 17a DR side holder Mounting portion 17b AS side holder mounting portion 18 Bush 19 Bolt 20 Frame member 21 Wiper motor (electric motor)
22 Motor body 23 Reducer 23a Output shaft 24 Connector 25 Crank arm (link mechanism)
26 Drive connecting rod (link mechanism)
27a DR side drive lever (link mechanism)
27b AS side drive lever (link mechanism)
28 Connecting rod (link mechanism)
30 Motor bracket 31 Bracket body (Motor mounting part)
32 Through-hole 33 Screw hole 34 Bolt 35 Mounting leg 36 Extension part 36a Recessed part (link swing allowable recessed part)
37 Bracket mounting part 37a Buffer cap 38 Frame fixing part 38a Screw hole 39 Bolt C1 1st center C2 2nd center SE line segment PC center axis LRP Lower reverse position MP Intermediate position URP Upper reverse position

Claims (2)

A wiper device that includes a pair of pivot shafts to which a pair of wiper arms are respectively fixed, and an electric motor that drives each pivot shaft, and that drives each wiper arm to wipe a windshield provided in a vehicle,
A pair of pivot holders, each having a holder mounting portion attached to the vehicle, and rotatably supporting each pivot shaft;
A frame member connecting the pivot holders;
A motor bracket fixed to the frame member and having a motor mounting portion to which the electric motor is mounted;
A link mechanism that is provided between the electric motor and each pivot shaft and converts the rotational motion of the electric motor into a swing motion and transmits it to each pivot shaft;
An extension portion provided in the motor mounting portion and extending in a direction crossing the link mechanism;
A bracket mounting portion that is provided on the distal end side of the extending portion and is attached to the vehicle;
A frame fixing portion provided on the extension portion side of the motor mounting portion, to which the frame member is fixed;
The link is provided on the side where the frame fixing part of the extension part opens on the line segment that crosses the extension part that connects the first center of the motor attachment part and the second center of the bracket attachment part, and the link A link swinging allowable recess allowing the swinging motion of the mechanism ,
The extending direction of the extending portion is inclined at a predetermined angle from the mounting surface of the motor mounting portion toward the link mechanism, and is configured so that the frame member and the link mechanism do not interfere with each other. Wiper device to do. In the wiper apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol mounting, the bracket mounting portion, the wiper apparatus characterized by being inserted into the insertion hole of the vehicle.

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