JPH052375Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a snow removal device for a vehicle that removes snow that accumulates at the bottom of a vehicle windshield mainly due to the wiping action of the wiper during snowfall. .

(Prior art) Generally, when a vehicle such as a car is driven during snowfall, snowflakes adhering to the windshield are wiped away by wipers, but when the outside air temperature is particularly low or there is heavy snowfall, etc. In some cases, the snow removed by the wipers may accumulate at the bottom of the windshield, or the accumulated snow may freeze due to low temperatures, making it difficult for the driver to see clearly. .

As an attempt to solve this situation, there is a "windshield snow melting device" disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 54-51744. This product is characterized by having a hollow pipe connected to a heating fluid source installed along the frame edge of the lower side of the windshield. This is intended to melt the snow on the edge of the frame.

(Problem that the invention aims to solve) However, with such conventional "windshield snow melting devices", when there is a large amount of snow adhering to the windshield such as during a snowstorm or heavy snowfall, Approximately 10mm around the area will melt, but
Since snowflakes that accumulate at the bottom of the other windshields cannot be melted, the wiper's wiping range gradually narrows, making it difficult to operate the wipers smoothly and ensure visibility for the occupants. .

(Purpose of the invention) The present invention was made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to:
Even when the vehicle is driven during heavy snowfall, by preventing snow from accumulating on the lower edge of the windshield, the wiper can secure the wiping range and provide visibility for the occupants. To provide a snow removal device for a vehicle that has high snow removal ability by introducing and removing snow.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the snow removal device for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided with a snow removing device for a vehicle according to the present invention, in which the snow removal device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a snow removing device that is wiped by a wiper on a glass supporting portion of a vehicle body panel that supports the lower edge of a windshield. A guide member for guiding snow accumulated near the lower edge is arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge, and the guide member has a gutter-like guide path for taking in the accumulated snow. A screw rotor is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction while opening facing the lower end edge, and a screw rotor having a spiral wing section for snow transfer is rotatably installed inside the guideway, and the screw rotor is rotatably provided with a spiral wing section for transferring snow. The screw rotor is rotatably connected to a rotating member for driving a wiper, and the guide member is provided with an engine cooling member. A heating passage communicating with the water supply path is provided along the guide path, an engine cooling water inlet is provided on both sides of the vehicle body of the heating passage, and an engine cooling water inlet is provided on the side of the central part of the vehicle body of the heating passage. It is characterized by having a discharge port.

(Function) In the snow removal device for a vehicle according to the present invention, when the windshield is wiped with a wiper during snowfall, snowflakes are gathered at the lower edge of the windshield, but there is a guide member at the lower edge of the windshield. Because the guideway faces the window, snowflakes that have gathered on the lower edge of the windshield enter the guideway. A screw rotor is provided in the guideway, and the screw rotor is formed with a spiral wing section that transfers snow in the guideway toward both sides of the vehicle body.The spiral wing section moves snow from the center of the vehicle body to both sides of the vehicle body. The screw rotor is rotated in conjunction with the rotating member for driving the wiper, so when the rotating member for driving the wiper is rotated, the screw rotor rotates in opposite directions. As it rotates, the snow taken into the guideway is pushed by the spiral wings and removed to both sides of the vehicle body. In the guideway, the amount of snow on both sides of the car body is greater than on the center side of the car body, but since the heating passage of the guide member allows engine cooling water to flow in from both sides of the car body, the snow on both sides of the car body in the guideway is The snow is heated enough to melt. Therefore, the screw rotor can rotate smoothly,
The removal of snow that accumulates at the bottom of the windshield is further promoted.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the snow removal device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a vehicle snow removal device 1 according to this embodiment.
The vehicle snow removal device 1 is shown assembled to a vehicle body panel 3 in front of a front windshield 2 of an automobile. It is being In this embodiment, the vehicle snow removal device 1 is provided between the wiper pivot 4a of the wiper 4 protruding from the cowl top 3a and the front windshield 2, and is assembled on the cowl top 3a so as to extend in the vehicle width direction. It is being This snow removal device 1 for a vehicle is formed into an elongated shape so as not to hinder the rotation of the wiper arm 4b and the wiper blade 4c.

In this embodiment, the vehicle snow removal device 1 includes an exterior case 5 as a guide member assembled to a cowl top 3a, a screw rotor 6 housed inside the exterior case 5, and a wiper that rotationally drives the screw rotor 6. It consists of a drive device 7a and a cable 7b that transmits the driving force of the wiper drive device 7a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the exterior case 5 is supported by a clip 8 that is press-fitted into a mounting hole h opened in the cowl top 3a, thereby fixing it to the cowl top 3a. . The clip 8 has a support part 8 arranged toward the front of the vehicle body.
a is formed to prevent the exterior case 5 from falling toward the front of the vehicle body even if snow is gathered toward the cowl top 3a under the wiping force of the wiper blade 4c. The exterior case 5 is formed in a gutter shape so as to extend along the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2 extending in the vehicle width direction, and includes a guide path 9 extending in the longitudinal direction of the exterior case 5. A snow intake port 10 is opened in the guide path 9 and opens facing the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2. It is disposed so as to extend facing the lower end edge 2a. The opening edge 10a at the bottom of the snow intake port 10 of the exterior case 5 is located at the lower part of the exterior case 5 closest to the cowl top 3a so that the snow transferred by the screw rotor 6 does not scratch the upper surface of the cowl top 3a. It extends slightly from the lower end edge 2a. The opening edge 10b at the top of the snow intake port 10 of the exterior case 5 has a lower edge so as to prevent the snow that has entered the exterior case 5 from the snow intake port 10 from being blown up above the cowl top 3a when the screw rotor 6 rotates. It extends slightly to the 2a side. The gutter-shaped guide path 9 formed in the exterior case 5 extends in the longitudinal direction of the exterior case 5, and extends along the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2 when the exterior case 5 is assembled onto the cowl top 3a. will be placed in A screw rotor 6 for transferring snow is installed inside the guide path 9 along the extending direction of the guide path 9, and a rotating shaft 6a of the screw rotor 6 is mounted at both ends of the outer case 5. A supporting bearing portion 11 is provided. The bearing portion 11 is provided with a hole 11a through which snow passes. Snow removal ports 12 are provided at both ends of the guide path 9 in the longitudinal direction to remove snow in the guide path 9 transferred by the screw rotor 6 to the side of the vehicle body. The snow removal port 12 and the snow intake port 10 are continuous and integrally opened.

A heating passage 13 for heating the exterior case 5 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the guide path 9 of the exterior case 5, and the exterior case 5 has a double structure due to the heating passage 13. An engine cooling water inlet 13a communicating with an engine cooling water supply line (not shown) is formed at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the heating passage 13, and an engine cooling water inlet 13a is formed at the vehicle center side of the heating passage 13. A discharge port 13b is provided, and engine cooling water heated by the engine (not shown) is taken in from the engine cooling water inlet 13a and passed through the heating passage 13, and engine cooling water is supplied from the engine cooling water discharge port 13b. By returning the snow to the system path, the exterior case 5 is heated and the snow introduced into the guide path 9 is melted. By intensively heating the snow that collects on both sides of the vehicle body along the guideway 9 and melting the snow near the bearing 11 more quickly than the snow near the center of the vehicle, the snow freezes near the bearing 11. is prevented. In addition, since engine cooling water flows into the engine cooling water outlet 13b near the center of the vehicle body from both sides of the vehicle body, the engine cooling water is simply flowed in one direction from one side of the vehicle body to the other side. Compared to the case where it flows, the temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction of the exterior case 5 is less uneven, and the engine cooling water is prevented from cooling excessively on the vehicle body center side of the cowl top 3a. In this embodiment, the engine cooling water supply line to which the inlet 13a and outlet 13b of the heating passage 13 are connected is the supply line between the thermostat in front of the radiator supply port and the exhaust port. A bypass connection is provided between the thermostat and the radiator outlet. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and a supply line between the engine and the heater core may also be used.

The screw rotor 6 is composed of a rotating shaft 6a that is pivotally supported by a bearing 11 of the outer case 5, and a spiral wing section 14 formed around the rotating shaft 6a. It is formed from one end to the other end. A branching portion 15 is formed in the center of the spiral wing portion 14 to distribute and transfer snow taken into the exterior case 5 from the center of the vehicle body toward both sides of the vehicle body.
The spiral wing portion 14 is formed so as to rotate from the wing portion 5 toward both sides of the vehicle body in opposite directions. That is, when the right wing section 14a disposed on the right side of the vehicle body in FIG. formed to be sent,
A left wing section 14b disposed on the left side of the vehicle body in FIG.
Similarly, when viewed from the right side of the vehicle body, the spiral wing portion 1 rotates clockwise.
4 is formed so that when the guide path 9 is rotated, the snow in the guide path 9 is sent toward the left side of the vehicle body. The right end of the rotating shaft 6a of the screw rotor 6 is connected to a cable 7 that can be connected to a wiper drive device 7a.
b, and when receiving the rotational force of the cable 7b, the spiral wing portion 14 rotates along the guide path 9 while facing the snow intake port 10.

As a result, when the snowflakes adhering to the front windshield 2 are brought to the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2 by the wiping operation of the wiper 4,
Snow collected on the lower edge 2a is taken into the guide path 9 through the snow intake port 10. The spiral wing section 14 has a branch section 15 formed in the center thereof, and is formed so that the forming directions of the right wing section 14a and the left wing section 14b are opposite to each other. When the wing part 14 is rotated, the snow in the guide path 9 is distributed at the center of the vehicle body and transferred toward both sides of the vehicle body, and the snow in the guide path 9 is removed from the snow removal port 12 to the side of the vehicle body.

The screw rotor 6 is made of synthetic resin so that it rotates smoothly even when the outer case 5 curves along the front windshield 2, and snow in the guide path 9 does not freeze on the screw rotor 6. It has flexibility.

The wiper drive device 7a, as shown in FIG.
Engine room side standing wall part 3b of cowl top 3a
The rotary member 16 of the wiper drive device 7a is provided in an air box 17 below the cowl top 3a. The rotating member 16 has a shaft 16a that drives the link mechanism 4d so as to swing the wiper arm 4b via the link mechanism 4d, and a gear 16b is provided on the shaft 16a. This gear 16b can mesh with a gear 18 rotatably supported by a bracket B provided on the air box 17 side of the cowl top 3a. A spring 19 that biases away from the gear 16b and engages the gear 16b.
and an operating plate 20 that compresses the spring 19 toward the bracket B and engages and disengages the gears 16b and 18. The operation plate 20 is slidably supported on the bracket B. The operating panel 20 is connected to the other end of a cable wire 21, one end of which is provided on an instrument panel (not shown) near the driver's seat. The end of the tube C through which the cable wire 21 is inserted is supported by a cable wire bracket 21a fixed to the vertical wall 3b of the cowl top 3a, and when the cable wire 21 is pulled from the driver's seat, the gear 16b
When the meshing between the gear 16b and the gear 18 is released and the cable wire 21 is relaxed at the driver's seat, the gear 16b and the gear 18 will mesh with each other. The cable wire 21 can be locked on the driver's seat side so as to maintain a tensioned state, and the gears 16b and 18 can be engaged and disengaged as appropriate.

One end of the cable 7b is connected to a gear 18 that can move away from and approach the bracket B. The other end of the cable 7b is inserted through the mounting hole 3c of the cowl top 3a and connected to one end of the rotating shaft 6a of the screw rotor 6, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Cable 7b connects gear 16
When the gear 18 is engaged with the gear 18, the snow taken into the guide path 9 is sent to both sides of the vehicle body by the spiral wing portion 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, a metal pipe 22a is provided on the wall surface 17a of the cowl top 3a on the air box 17 side, communicating with the engine cooling system passage and allowing engine cooling water to pass therethrough. By being installed inside the air box 17 side, this metal pipe 22a is less susceptible to the influence of outside air, and the heating effect of the cowl top 3a is enhanced, and the metal pipe 22a exists between the outer case 5 and the lower edge 2a. The snow is easily melted and taken into the guide path 9, and moreover, the snow on the upper surface of the cowl top 3a is also melted.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the vehicle snow removal device 1 according to the first embodiment is applied to a concealed type automobile in which the wiper 4 is hidden behind the hood panel 30 when viewed from the front of the vehicle body. Now, the vehicle body rear side edge 30a of the hood panel 30
The cowl top 3a extends to the vicinity of the lower edge 2a of the front window glass 2, and a cowl top 3a exists below the rear edge 30a of the hood panel 30. A molding 31 is formed on the cowl top 3a and extends toward the lower edge 2a of the front window glass 2 and supports the lower edge 2a. The vehicle snow removal device 1 is assembled on the molding 31 of the cowl top 3a, so that it is not very visible from the front side of the vehicle body. Back side 3 of mall 31
A metal pipe 22a is disposed on the 1a side, as in the case of the vehicle snow removal device 1 according to the first embodiment, and a metal pipe 22a is arranged to allow engine cooling water to pass through the lower end edge 2.
This makes it easier for snow that exists between the outer case 5 and the outer case 5 to enter the snow intake port 10, and also makes it easier to remove snow that has gotten between the rear edge 30a of the vehicle body of the hood panel 30 and the molding 31. ing. Note that both ends of the exterior case 5 in the vehicle width direction are bent slightly upward, so that the snow removal port 12 is connected to the hood panel 30.
It is located above the vehicle to remove snow from the sides of the vehicle. The rest of the configuration of the device is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

7 to 11 show modified examples of the exterior case 5 of the vehicle snow removal device 1 according to the present invention,
The exterior case 40 in FIG. 7 differs from the exterior cases 5 of the first and second embodiments in that it forms a guide path forming wall 41 with a C-shaped cross section that forms the guide path 9 and a heating passage 13. It is formed from a passage forming wall portion 42. Guideway forming wall portion 41 and passage forming wall portion 4
2 is formed by tightly joining the upper and lower edges of an exterior case 40 formed in a cylindrical shape. That is, the guide path forming wall portion 41 and the passage forming wall portion 4
2 and the upper and lower edges 41a, 42a, 41b, 42
b are tightly joined, and thereby the heating passage 13
is formed. Both the guideway forming wall 41 and the passageway forming wall 42 are arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction, and the snow intake port 10 of the guideway 9 is arranged along the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2. be done. On both sides of the vehicle body of the passage forming wall portion 42, similar to the exterior case 5 of the first and second embodiments,
An engine cooling water inlet communicating with the engine cooling water supply line is formed, and an engine cooling water outlet is formed on the side of the passage forming wall 42 toward the center of the vehicle body. In this exterior case 40 as well, similarly to the exterior cases 5 of the first and second embodiments, engine cooling water heated by the engine is taken in from both sides of the vehicle body, so that the engine cooling water is supplied to both sides of the vehicle body of the guide path 9. The collected snow is intensively heated so that the snow near the bearing part 11 melts more quickly than the snow near the branch part 15.
This prevents snow from freezing near the bearing portion 11. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The exterior case 50 shown in FIG. 8 includes the first embodiment,
A protrusion 51 forming a flow path for engine cooling water is provided in the heating passage 13 of the exterior case 5 of the second embodiment, and the protrusion 51 is provided in the exterior case 50 as shown in FIG. It extends in the longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction). An engine cooling water inlet 52a is formed on both sides of the vehicle body of the exterior case 50, and an engine cooling water outlet 52b is formed on the vehicle center side of the exterior case. The engine cooling water that has flowed into the heating passage 13 from the engine cooling water inlet 52a flows from both sides of the vehicle body toward the center of the vehicle, then reverses at the center of the vehicle and flows again toward both sides of the vehicle. , engine cooling water inlet 5
After turning around again near 2a, the water flows toward the center of the vehicle body again, and flows from the engine cooling water outlet 52b to the engine cooling water supply path. Exterior case 5
A guideway forming plate 53 that forms the guideway 9 is joined to the inside of the guideway 9. A snow intake port 10 is opened in the guideway forming plate 53, and snow is introduced into the guideway 9 from the lower edge 2a. It is becoming more and more common. A screw rotor 6 is installed inside the guide path forming plate 53. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the case shown in FIG. 10, a tube 61 forming a heating passage 13 is joined to the outer peripheral surface of an exterior case 60 forming a guide path 9. In the one shown in FIG. 11, both ends of the tube 61 are arranged so as to be located on both sides of the exterior case 60 in the vehicle width direction, and engine cooling water inlets 62a are opened at both ends of the tube 61. An engine cooling water outlet 62b is opened at the center of the vehicle body of the tube 61. The engine coolant inlet 62a and the engine coolant outlet 62b are connected to an engine coolant supply line so that the engine coolant flows therethrough. This tube 61 is double-folded on both sides of the vehicle body of the exterior case 60 so that heat corresponding to the amount of ice and snow being conveyed can be partially obtained, and the folded portion 61a is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the exterior case 60. It is extending. Also, exterior case 6
On the side closer to the center of the vehicle body, the tube 61 is folded back at least twice in the arcuate direction of the outer case 60. The intervals between the folded portions 61b are slightly narrower than those between the folded portions 61a, so that even if the engine cooling water flowing inside the tube 61 has the amount of heat taken away by the folded portions 61a, the amount of ice and snow transported in the folded portions 61b is reduced. In order to obtain an amount of heat commensurate with the amount of heat, the exterior case 60 joined to the folded portion 61b is heated for a slightly longer time than the portion joined to the folded portion 61a. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

According to the vehicle snow removal device 1 described above, the screw rotor 6 is disposed within the guide path 9 of the exterior case 5, 40, 50, 60, and the screw rotor 6
Since the rotating shaft 6a is connected to a cable 7b connected to the wiper drive device 7a, when the gear 16b and the gear 18 are engaged by operating the cable wire 21, the connection between the cable 7b and the wiper drive device 7a is made. The connection is made and the screw rotor 6 rotates. The screw rotor 6 has a spiral wing portion 1.
4 is formed, a branch part 15 is formed in the center of the spiral wing part 14, and the spiral wing part 14 is formed so that the right wing part 14a and the left wing part 14b rotate in opposite directions. Therefore, the snow wiped onto the lower edge 2a of the front windshield 2 by the wiper blade 4c is taken into the guide path 9 through the snow intake port 10 and transferred to both sides of the vehicle body by the screw rotor 6. The snow is reliably removed from the snow removal port 12 to the side of the vehicle body. Moreover, inside the heating passage 13 of the outer case 5, 40, 50, 60,
Engine cooling water inlet 13 provided on both sides of the vehicle body
Since engine cooling water heated by the engine flows in from a, 52a, and 62a, snow near the bearing portion 11 in the guide path 9 melts quickly. Therefore, the spiral wing portion 14 can rotate smoothly, and snow within the guide path 9 can be efficiently removed. In addition, since the spiral wing portion 14 is easy to rotate, the screw rotor 6
The driving force for rotating can be reduced.
Furthermore, the back side of the cowl top 3a or the molding 3
Since a metal pipe 22a through which engine cooling water passes is provided on the back surface 31a of the cowl top 3a, the heating effect of the cowl top 3a is enhanced and the outer case 5
Snow present between the lower end edge 2a and the lower end edge 2a is easily conveyed into the guide path 9. This prevents the wiping range of the wiper blade 4c from being narrowed, ensuring the driver's visibility even during snowfall, and contributing to safe driving of the vehicle during snowfall. .

(Effect of the invention) Since the vehicle snow removal device according to the invention is configured as explained above, the ice and snow that accumulates on both sides of the vehicle body can be melted first using the engine cooling water, which has the most thermal energy. I can do it. Furthermore, the heat exchange path in the center of the car body has been made longer, allowing a longer time for heat exchange between the engine cooling water and the transported ice and snow. It is possible to sufficiently melt ice and snow during transport, and even when the vehicle is driven during heavy snowfall, it prevents snow from accumulating on the lower edge of the windshield, ensuring visibility for the occupants and improving vehicle safety. It can contribute to running. Moreover, the rotation of the screw rotor melts the snow transferred to both sides of the vehicle body in the guideway, which prevents the snow from accumulating on both sides of the screw rotor from freezing and makes it easier to remove the snow. This has the effect of improving snow removal ability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram of a vehicle snow removal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front of the vehicle body, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle snow removal device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vehicle snow removal device according to the first embodiment, FIG. Explanatory diagram showing the engagement state of the wiper drive device and cable according to the embodiment, No. 6
The figure is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a snow removal device for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 7 to 11 are cross-sectional configuration diagrams of an exterior case according to other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of the exterior case of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a partial configuration of the exterior case of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the exterior case of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a partial structure of the outer case of the fifth embodiment. 1...Vehicle snow removal device, 2...Front windshield (wind glass), 2a...Lower end edge,
3a... Cowl top (glass support part), 5,
40, 50, 60...Exterior case (guide member),
6... Screw rotor, 7a... Drive device, 9
... Guide path, 13 ... Heating path, 13a, 52
a, 62a...Engine cooling water inlet, 13b,
52b, 62b...Engine cooling water outlet, 14
...Spiral wing portion, 15... Branch portion, 16... Rotating member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A guide member that guides snow that is wiped away by the wiper and accumulates near the lower edge is provided at a glass support portion of the vehicle body panel that supports the lower edge of the windshield so as to extend in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge. A gutter-like guide path for taking in the accumulated snow is formed in the guide member so as to open toward the lower edge and extend in the vehicle width direction, and a gutter-like guide path for taking in the accumulated snow is formed in the guide path to A screw rotor having a spiral wing portion is rotatably installed inside the screw rotor, and the screw rotor is formed to extend from the center of the vehicle body toward both sides of the vehicle body while turning in opposite directions. A heating passage is provided in the guide member along the guide passage, the heating passage being connected to a rotary member for driving the wiper so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the rotating member for driving the wiper, and the heating passage is provided on both sides of the vehicle body. 1. A snow removal device for a vehicle, characterized in that an engine cooling water inlet is provided at the heating passage, and an engine cooling water outlet is provided at the center of the vehicle body of the heating passage.