JPH0438248A - Window washer solution heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate any frost and ice stuck to a windowshield or the like upon dissolution by selecting a passage for a window washer solution to the vicinity of an engine and heating it only at cold time, while circulating this solution at a constant time interval. CONSTITUTION:When an ignition switch 2 is turned on, power is made into a control part 8, stable voltage is secured by a stabilized power circuit 11, voltage showing a vehicle temperature split by a temperature sensing element 10 and a resistor 19 is impressed on a (+) input end of a comparator 16, and another voltage showing a specified temperature split by resistors 17, 18 is impressed on a (-) input end of the comparator 16 as well. At this time, if the vehicle temperature is less than the specified one, output of the comparator 16 comes to an 'L' level, an interval between emitter and collector of a transistor 37 is conducted with each other, therefore a current comes on to both passage selector solenoid valves 5, 6 in consequence. Finally a relay contact 9a and a pump drive motor 4 both are turned to ON, through which a washer solution is sprayed to the passage solenoid valve 5 from a tank.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention is capable of defrosting the windshield by switching the flow path of the window washer fluid to the vicinity of the engine, heating it, and injecting it onto the windshield only in cold weather. The present invention relates to a window washer fluid warming device.

(Prior Art) Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a conventional window washer fluid injection device.
2 is an ignition switch, 3 is a window washer fluid injection switch, and 4 is a pump drive motor that drives the injection pump.
Connected in series between both negative poles.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the flow path of the window-on gloss liquid.

In FIG. 5, the washer fluid stored in the window-on-gloss fluid tank 48 is injected from a pair of nozzles 42L and 42R through a tube 39 by driving a pump (not shown) by the pump drive motor 4. It is configured as follows.

Next, the operation will be explained. ignition switch 2
Then, when the window washer fluid injection switch 3 is turned on, the pump drive motor 4 is driven, and the washer fluid flows from the tank 48 shown in FIG. 5 through the tube 39. , nozzle 42L, 42
Window washer fluid is sprayed from R onto the windshield.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Since the conventional window washer liquid injection device is configured as described above, the tank 48 can be used regardless of whether it is summer or winter.
Unheated window washer fluid is injected from the nozzles 42L and 42R through the tube 39.

However, in general, when the windshield of an automobile is cold, frost adheres to or forms ice, and windshield wipers cannot remove this frost, which poses a major problem in driving.

Note that as a proximal technique, there is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-268722.

This invention was made to solve the above problem, and only in cold weather, the window washer fluid is heated,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a window washer fluid heating device capable of melting frost or ice adhering to a windshield.

[Means to solve the problem]

The window washer fluid heating device according to the present invention includes a temperature measuring means for detecting the vehicle temperature, a heating means for switching the flow path of the window washer fluid to the vicinity of the engine in cold weather, and heating the window washer fluid at regular intervals. A wave path switching means for circulating the liquid is provided.

[Function] When the vehicle temperature detected by the temperature measuring means of the present invention is lower than a predetermined value, when the ignition switch is turned on, the window washer fluid flow path is switched to the vicinity of the engine by the switching means at fixed time intervals. The window washer fluid is heated by the heating means while suppressing the temperature rise of the window washer fluid beyond a predetermined level, and the heated window washer fluid is injected onto the windshield when the window washer fluid injection switch is turned on.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the window washer fluid warming device of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the overall configuration of one embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a vehicle battery, 2 is an ignition switch, 3 is a window washer liquid injection switch, and 4 is a pump drive motor, which are the same as those in FIG. 4.

An ibnirasilane switch 2 is connected between the positive and negative terminals of the vehicle battery 1. Pump drive motor 4° relay contact 9
a (normally open contacts) are connected in series.

Further, reference numerals 5 and 6 indicate flow path switching solenoid valves that respectively switch the flow path of the window washer fluid. One end of each of these flow path switching solenoid valves 5.6 is a connection point P1 between the ignition switch 2 and the pump drive motor 4.
It is connected to the.

The other ends of the flow switching solenoid valves 5.6 are respectively connected to respective collectors of transistors 29.30 in the control section 8.

Similarly, a flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is connected between the collector of the transistor 31 and the connection point 21. This flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is energized when switching the flow path for circulating the window washer liquid when the window washer liquid is not injected.

On the other hand, 10 is a temperature-sensing element (such as a thermistor) as a temperature measuring means for detecting the vehicle temperature. One end of this temperature sensing element 10 is connected to the (+) input end of the comparator 16, and the other end is connected to the input end of the regulator 13.

The (+) input terminal of the comparator 16 is connected to the negative electrode (hereinafter referred to as earth line L) of the vehicle battery 1 via a resistor 19, and the (-) input terminal of the comparator 16 is connected via a resistor 17 to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery 1. It is connected to the other end of the thermal element 10, and is also connected to the ground line L1 via a resistor 18.

In this way, the comparator 16 and the resistors 17 to 19 constitute a comparison circuit 15 that compares the specified value and the vehicle temperature.

Resistors 17 and 18 in this comparator circuit 15 are resistors that determine the specified voltage, and resistor 19 is a resistor that is connected in series with the temperature sensing element 10 to generate a voltage corresponding to the vehicle temperature.

The output terminal of the comparator 16 is connected to the base of a switching transistor 37. The emitter of the transistor 37 is connected to the input terminal of the regulator 11, and the collector is connected to the collector of the switching transistor 21 via the resistor 27 in the timer circuit 20.

The switching transistor 21 and the switching transistor 22 are switched alternately, and the base of the transistor 210 is connected to the collector of the transistor 22 via the capacitor 26, and the base of the transistor 220 is connected to the collector of the transistor 2 via the capacitor 23.
1 collector.

The collector of transistor 22 is connected via resistor 28, and the bases of both transistors 21 and 22 are connected to resistor 2, respectively.
4.25 to the collector of the transistor 37.

The second timer circuit 20 includes transistors 21 and 22, and a resistor 2.
3, 24, 25, 27.28 and capacitor 2326
constitutes a well-known multivibrator,
Resistors 24, 25 and capacitor 2326 are used to determine the circulation cycle of window washer fluid near the engine. Note that resistors 27 and 28 are current limiting resistors.

Further, the collector of the transistor 37 is connected to a resistor 33.3.
4 to the bases of the transistors 29 and 30, respectively.

Transistors 29-31 serve as drivers for driving flow path switching solenoid valves 5-7, respectively. The emitters of these transistors 29-31 are connected to the ground line L.

Furthermore, the collector of the transistor 21 of the timer circuit 20 is connected to the base of the transistor 32 via a resistor 36, and is also connected to the earth line L1 via a diode 38 for surge voltage countermeasures and a switch 4 for ejecting window washer fluid. It is connected to the.

The collector of the transistor 32 is connected to a connection point P via a relay coil 9b, and is also connected to a ground line L via a window washer liquid jetting switch 3.
It is connected to the.

Further, the collector of the transistor 21 of the timer circuit 20 is connected to the base of the transistor 31 via a resistor 35.

The stabilized power supply circuit 11 is composed of a regulator 13 and capacitors 12 and 14, where the capacitor 12 is a noise absorbing capacitor and the capacitor 14 is a ripple absorbing capacitor. These capacitors 1
2.14 is connected between the regulator 13 and the earth line L3.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a washer fluid flow path, and a pump is driven by a pump driving motor 4 to circulate washer fluid stored within four days in the tank.

This tank 48 is connected to a flow path switching solenoid valve 7 via a washer fluid tube 47, and this flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is connected to the washer fluid tube 4
1 through the nozzle 42L.

42R.

Further, the flow path switching valve 7 is connected to the solenoid valve 6 via a washer fluid tube 40. The flow path switching solenoid valve 6 is connected to the washer fluid tube 39.4
connected to the flow path switching solenoid valve 5 via 6;
This flow path switching solenoid valve 5 is connected to the tank 48.

The washer fluid tube 46 is piped near the engine (not shown) and receives radiant heat from the engine to heat the washer fluid circulating inside. The liquid tube 46 constitutes a heating means.

The flow path switching solenoid valves 5 to 7 are constructed as shown in FIG. This FIG. 3 is a sectional view, and shows the flow path switching solenoid valve 6 as a representative, and as is clear from this FIG. A plunger 43 is connected to this spool 45. The plunger 43 is pushed down by the bias of the coil 46 against the elasticity of the spring 44.

Depending on whether the coil 46 is energized or deenergized, the A path, the B path, and the
The A path and the C path are switchable, and the A path is connected to the washer fluid tube 40 in FIG. 2, and the B path and C path are each connected to the washer fluid tube 39.46 in FIG. 2. It looks like this.

Next, the operation will be explained. ignition switch 2
When turned on, power is applied to the control unit 8, a stable voltage is obtained by the stabilized power supply circuit 11, and the vehicle temperature divided by the temperature sensing element 10 and the resistor 19 is connected to the (+) input terminal of the comparator 16. A voltage indicating the specified temperature divided by the resistor 17.18 is applied to the (-) input terminal of the comparator 16.

When the vehicle temperature is higher than the specified temperature, that is, when there is no frost or ice on the windshield, the comparator 16
" level is maintained, the transistor 37 is in an off state, and the timer circuit 20 and the drive transistors 29 to
Neither 32 is turned on, and the wave path switching valve solenoid 5~
7 are all off.

In this state, when the window washer fluid ejection switch 3 is turned on, current flows through the relay coil 9b, the relay contact 9a is turned on, and the pump drive motor 4 is driven.

The wave path of the window washer fluid at this time will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The wave path switching solenoid valve 7 in FIG. , 40.41, and is injected from injection nozzles 42L and 42R.

At this time, the state of the flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is that the vehicle temperature is above the specified temperature, so the coil 46 remains deenergized, the plunger 43 is pushed up by the spline 44, and the C path is closed by the spool 45. The flow path switching solenoid valve 57 communicates from the A path to the B path, and the flow path switching solenoid valve 6 communicates from the B path to the C path.

Next, when the vehicle temperature falls below the specified temperature, the temperature sensing element 1
The voltage divided by 0 and resistor 19 is the voltage divided by resistor 17.1
8, the output of the comparator 16 becomes "L" level, the emitter and collector of the transistor 37 become conductive, and the transistor 29.3
A current is applied to the base of the transistor 29, 30 to conduct between the collector and emitter of the transistor 29, 30, and a current flows to the flow path switching solenoid valve 56, turning it on.

In addition, a transistor 37 is also passed through the timer circuit 20,
Power is supplied from the stabilized power supply circuit 11, and the timer circuit 2
0, the time constant of the capacitor 23 and the resistor 24, and the time constant of the capacitor 26 and the resistor 25, the transistor 21.
22 repeats the non-conduction and conduction between the collector and emitter of each other.

When transistor 21 is non-conducting, transistor 31.3
A transistor 37 is connected to the base of 2 from the stabilized power supply circuit 11.
, resistor 27, and resistor 35, 36, respectively, to turn on transistor 3132.

When the transistor 31 is turned on, the flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is turned on, and when the transistor 32 is turned on, the relay 9B is turned on, and the relay contact 9a is turned on.

When the relay contact 9a is turned on, the pump drive motor 4 is turned on. As a result, washer fluid is injected from inside the tank 48 to the flow path solenoid valve 5.

Conversely, when conduction occurs between the collector and emitter of transistor 21, no current flows to the bases of transistors 31 and 32.
Neither the flow path switching valve solenoid 7 nor the relay 9B is turned on, and the pump drive motor 4 is not driven.

To explain this state using FIG. 2, when the flow path switching solenoid valve 5.6 is turned on, the flow path of the window washer fluid is switched between the washer fluid tubes 46 and 40.
Switches so that they are in communication.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the state of the flow path switching solenoid valve at this time is that the plunger 43 is absorbed and is pushed down against the elasticity of the spring 44, the spool 45 is pushed down, and the B path is opened. closed, channel C opens and the flow channel is switched.

Next, when the transistor 21 is non-conductive, the flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is turned on, contrary to the above, so that the flow path is switched from the washer fluid tube 41 to the washer fluid tube 47.

At this time, since the pump drive motor 4 is driven, the window washer fluid flows from the tank 5 to the washer fluid tube 46.
- Flow path switching solenoid valve 6 - Washer liquid tube 40 - Flow path switching solenoid valve 7 -') A circulation operation is performed which returns to the tank 48 through the washer liquid tube 47-.

By performing this circulation operation, it is possible to prevent the window washer fluid from heating up too much and rising to near the boiling point.
Therefore, if you spray it on a cold windshield,
This prevents the risk of cracks or injury to the human body due to careless operation.

When the washer fluid injection switch 3 is turned on in this circulating state, the base voltages of the transistors 31 and 32 become "L" level in FIG. 1, and therefore the transistor 3132 becomes non-conductive.

At this time, the flow path switching solenoid valve 7 is turned on, but since current flows through the relay coil 9b through the contact of the switch 3, the relay contact 9a is turned on and drives the pump drive motor 4.

In other words, in the flow path of the window washer fluid, as shown in FIG. 2, the flow path switching solenoid valves 5 and 6 are on and the wave path switching solenoid valve 7 is off, so as described above,
The flow path switching solenoid valve 5.6 communicates between the A path and the B path in FIG. 3, and the flow path switching solenoid valve 7 connects the A path and the C path.
The window washer liquid heated by the washer liquid tube 4G is injected from the washer liquid tube 4G through the injection nozzles 42L and 42R.

Further, in this case, in order to prevent the window washer fluid from heating up too much, the timer circuit 20 was used to circulate the window washer fluid, but as a circulation means, the temperature of the washer fluid tube was detected.
Similar effects can be obtained by driving the tank drive motor 4.

Further, in the above embodiment, the window washer liquid was only injected onto the windshield, but it is obvious that it may also be ejected onto the rear glass.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, warmed window washer fluid is sprayed during cold weather, so it melts frost and ice adhering to the windshield or rear glass, and the windshield wiper The effect is that it can be easily removed by the operation of .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The first part is a circuit diagram of a window washer fluid heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for explaining the wave path of window washer fluid in the same embodiment, and FIG. A cross-sectional view of the wave path switching solenoid valve in the example, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional window washer liquid injection device, and Part 5 is for explaining the flow path of the window washer liquid in the conventional window washer liquid injection device. FIG. 1... Vehicle battery, 2... Ignition switch, 3... Window washer liquid injection switch, 4
...Pump drive motor, 5-7...Flow path switching solenoid valve, 8...Control unit, 9a...Relay contact,
9b... Relay coil, 10... Temperature sensing element, 15.
...Comparison circuit, 20...Timer circuit, 21.22.2
9-3237...transistor, 48...tank,
39-41.47... washer fluid tube. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Masuo Oiwa 4 Figure 5 Figure 2 Figure 3 Procedure correction amount

Claims (1)

[Claims] A temperature measuring means for detecting vehicle temperature; a comparison circuit for comparing the detected value of the temperature measuring means with a predetermined specified value; heating means for heating the window washer fluid by switching the flow path to the vicinity of the engine; and means for circulating the window washer fluid.