JPH0253656A - Window washer for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit washer fluid to be promptly obtained of necessary quantity and temperature by small consumption of power by providing a subtank of smaller capacity than a main tank and controlling an electric heater, provided in this subtank, to be electrified by a temperature detecting switch. CONSTITUTION:A subtank 11 is placed in a condition that it communicates with a main tank 10, and washer fluid in the subtank 11 is always maintained in a range of predetermined fluid level by starting and stopping a supply pump 15 through a control unit 20 in cooperation with upper and lower limit switches of a float 14a in a fluid level detecting switch 14. When a temperature of the washer fluid in this subtank 11 decreases not more than a predetermined value (about 60 deg.C), a temperature detecting switch 13 operates being turned on, and a flow of electric current in an electric heater 12 under the on-condition of a heater switch heats the washer fluid in the subtank 11. The washer fluid, placed in a heated condition, is jetted from injection nozzles 17a when a delivery pump 16 is actuated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automobile window washer that discharges washer fluid to clean a windshield, and particularly relates to an automobile window washer that is equipped with a heating device that heats the washer fluid. It is related to.

(Prior Art) As a conventional art, there is one described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54-59'731.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a tank 1 containing washer fluid and an ejection nozzle 2 arranged toward a windshield 5 are connected by a pipe 3.

A heating element 4 made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor is attached to the middle of the pipe 3, and a lead wire 4a of the heating element 4 is connected to a battery.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a small auxiliary tank 6 is connected to the side of the tank 1, and a heating element 4 consisting of a plurality of positive temperature coefficient thermistors is attached to the circumferential surface of the auxiliary tank 6. 6 had a structure in which the above-mentioned pipe 3 was connected.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In all of the above conventional systems, the jet nozzle 2 is ejected from the tank 1.
Since the washer fluid flowing toward the windshield is heated by the heating element 4, the time for heat exchange is shortened, and the washer fluid is raised to a temperature that dissolves the oil film adhering to the windshield, for example, about 60°C. If you try to heat it up, a large amount of electricity is required in a short period of time, which has the disadvantage that you cannot make use of the car's battery power source.

To solve this problem, there was a structure in which a heat exchange pipe was wrapped around the engine's exhaust pipe or the radiator's water hose, but this took time to install and the washer fluid leaked when the washer was not in use. It had the disadvantage of overheating and boiling.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a novel automobile window washer that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, a subtank having a predetermined volume smaller than the mentank containing washer fluid is provided, and a supply pump supplies the washer fluid in the mentank to the subtank, and a discharge pump discharges the washer fluid in the subtank to the outside.
An electric heater that heats the washer fluid in the sub-tank is provided, a temperature detection switch that detects the temperature of the washer fluid in the sub-tank and controls energization of the electric heater, and a temperature detection switch that detects the liquid level in the sub-tank and operates the supply pump. A liquid level detection switch for controlling energization is provided, and a discharge switch for allowing and cutting off energization to the discharge pump is provided.

(Function) Since the present invention has the above configuration, the temperature of the washer fluid stored in the sub-tank is detected by the temperature detection switch and by the electric heater whose energization is controlled based on the detected value of the temperature detection switch. The temperature will be maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Further, the amount of washer fluid stored in the sub-tank is maintained at a predetermined amount by being supplied from the main tank by a supply pump that is detected by a liquid level detection switch and whose operation is controlled by this liquid level detection switch. .

Also, when the discharge switch is turned on and off,
The discharge pump operates and stops, and the washer fluid in the sub-tank is discharged to the outside and stops.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a control circuit diagram thereof.

In FIG. 1, numeral 10 is a mentank, and about 2Q of washer fluid is stored in this mentank.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cylindrical sub-tank, which is formed to have a volume that can accommodate approximately 500 liters of washer fluid.

This sub-tank 11 includes an electric heater 12 that heats the washer fluid (A) in the sub-tank 11, a temperature detection switch 13 that detects the temperature of the washer fluid (A), and a temperature detection switch 13 that detects the temperature of the washer fluid (A) in the sub-tank 11. Float-type liquid level detection switch 14 that detects the liquid level, that is, the amount
Place.

Further, a supply pump 15 that supplies the washer fluid in the mentank 10 to the subtank 11, and
A discharge pump 1 that discharges the washer fluid inside to a discharge pipe 17.
6, the distal end of the discharge pipe 17 is divided into two directions, and an ejection nozzle 17a opening toward the window glass 18 is attached to the distal end.

Reference numeral 20 represents a control circuit for each of the above-mentioned devices, as shown in FIG.

That is, E is a battery power source, and the electric heater 12, supply pump 15, and discharge pump 16 are connected in parallel to this power source E.

The circuit of the supply pump 15 has a keep relay SW3 (
self-holding relay) is connected in series, and this keep relay
Upper limit switch SW1 and lower limit switch SW2 in parallel with W3
Connect with.

These upper limit switch SWI and lower limit switch SW2 are turned on when the float 14a of the liquid level detection switch 14 is located at the lower part L1 and the upper part L2 (FIG. 1) of the sub-tank 11.

The circuit of the upper limit switch SW1 has a keep relay SW3.
An excitation coil MCI that releases, that is, turns off, and an excitation coil MC2 that turns on the keep relay SW3 are connected in series to the circuit of the lower limit switch SW2.

In addition, a thermostat T (temperature detection switch) is connected in parallel with the electric heater 12, a magnet switch MG is connected in series to the circuit of the electric heater 12, and the temperature detection switch 1
In the circuit No. 4, an excitation coil MC3 for turning on the magnet switch MG and a pilot lamp PL are connected in parallel.

The thermostat T is set to turn on at temperatures below about 60°C and turn off at temperatures above 60°C.

In FIG. 2, SW4 is a discharge switch that connects and disconnects the circuit of the discharge pump 16, and SW5 is a heater switch that connects and disconnects the circuit of the electric heater 12 and thermostat T.

Next, the operation mode of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, when the float 14a of the liquid level detection switch 14 reaches the bottom L1 position of the sub tank 11.

The lower limit switch SW2 is turned on and current flows through the excitation coil MC2, which turns on the keep relay SW3, starts the supply pump 15, and supplies the washer fluid in the men tank 10 to the sub tank 11.

When the washer fluid in the sub-tank 11 reaches the upper part L2, the upper limit switch SWI turns on and current flows through the excitation coil MCI, which causes the keep relay SW3
is released, the supply pump 15 is stopped, and the supply of washer fluid into the sub-tank 11 is stopped.

When the temperature of the washer fluid in the sub-tank 11 is 60° C. or lower, the thermostat T is turned on.

When heater switch SW5 is turned on in this state,
A current flows through the exciting coil MC3, thereby turning on the magnet switch MG, a current flows through the electric heater 12, and the washer fluid in the sub-tank 11 begins to be heated. At the same time, the pilot lamp PL lights up, confirming that heating is in progress.

Then, the temperature of the washer fluid in the sub tank 11 is 60°C.
When the temperature reaches ℃, the thermostat T is turned off to cut off the current in the excitation coil MC3, which turns off the magnet switch MG, cutting off the electricity to the electric heater 12 and heating the washer fluid in the sub-tank 11. will be stopped. At the same time, the pilot lamp PL goes out, allowing confirmation of completion of heating.

Next, a window wiper (not shown) is operated by another drive system, and in this state, the discharge switch SW4 is turned on.

Then, the discharge pump 16 starts and the heated washer fluid in the sub-tank 11 passes through the discharge pipe 17 and is discharged from the jet nozzle 17a to the windshield 18. gushing towards
As a result, the oil film, ice and snow, etc. adhering to the surface of the window glass 18 are melted and removed by the heated washer fluid.

In this case, the supply pump 15 is stopped until the float 14a descends to the bottom L1 of the sub-tank 11 and the lower limit switch SW2 is turned on.
A constant temperature (6
0℃), and the window glass 18
Efficiently melts oil film or ice and snow adhering to the surface of
It can be removed.

Also, when the heater switch SW5 is turned off,
Washer fluid at normal outside temperature will be ejected from the ejection nozzle.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides an electric heater in a sub-tank having a predetermined small volume, and controls energization of the electric heater by a temperature detection switch. The washer fluid in the sub-tank can be heated and maintained in advance when not in use.

Therefore, it is possible to quickly obtain the washer fluid in the required amount and temperature with a small current value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control circuit diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of main parts showing another conventional example. 10: Mentank, 11: Subtank, 12: Electric heater, 13: Temperature detection switch, 14: Liquid level detection switch, 14a: Float, 15: Supply pump, 16: Discharge pump, 17: Discharge pipe. 17a: Spray nozzle, 18: Windshield, 20: Control device, E: Power supply, SWI: Upper limit switch, SW2
: Lower limit switch, SW3: Keep relay (self-holding relay), SW4: Discharge switch, SW5: Heater switch, MC1 to MC3: Excitation coil, T: Thermostat (temperature detection switch), MO: Magnet switch. Application agent Hisada Matsumoto 1 Figure 2 Go to Figure 18, 2W4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A subtank with a predetermined volume smaller than the mentank containing washer fluid is provided, and a supply pump that supplies the washer fluid in the mentank to the subtank, a discharge pump that discharges the washer fluid in the subtank to the outside, and a subtank in the subtank. An electric heater that heats the washer fluid is provided, a temperature detection switch that detects the temperature of the washer fluid in the sub-tank and controls energization of the electric heater, and a temperature detection switch that detects the liquid level in the sub-tank and controls energization of the supply pump. A window washer for an automobile, characterized in that a liquid level detection switch is provided, and a discharge switch is provided for allowing and cutting off energization to the discharge pump.