Vehicle with improved washer fluid filling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) having a windscreen (2) and a body (3), wherein a closable inlet (5) for a wash water for cleaning the windscreen (2) is provided between a partial area (6) of the body (3) and a seal (4) of the windscreen (2) or a water deflector strip attached to the windscreen (2), wherein the partial area (6) and the seal (4) or water deflector strip are arranged to overlap at least partially.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to a vehicle with an improved washer fluid filling system, wherein the washer fluid is used to clean the vehicle's windows.

[0002] It is known from the prior art that vehicles can clean their windows, in particular the windshield and / or rear window, using washer fluid. For this purpose, a reservoir is located below the vehicle's hood. To fill the reservoir, the hood must be opened to access the filler neck. However, this procedure is time-consuming and carries the risk that the washer fluid level will be neglected, resulting in an insufficient supply.

[0003] Filling devices for windshield washer fluid are known from the prior art, for example from DE 10 2015 204 791 A1, DE 10 2014 206 780 A1 and DE 20 2016 106 334 U1.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a vehicle that enables simple and reliable refilling of wash water while being easy and cost-effective to manufacture and assemble. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. The dependent claims contain preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] The problem is solved by a vehicle that has a windshield and a body shell. A closable inlet for washer fluid is provided between a section of the body shell and a windshield seal or a water deflector strip attached to the windshield. The body shell section and the seal overlap at least partially. The inlet is located at the junction of the vehicle's A-pillars. Thus, the inlet is concealed between the body shell and the windshield and therefore less conspicuous than other external filling points, such as fuel filler flaps. At the same time, the inlet allows for easy and reliable filling of the vehicle with washer fluid without having to open the hood or any other body panels.A reservoir for the wash water is advantageously located between a side wall and a support beam of the vehicle.

[0006] Preferably, the inlet comprises a frame body and a filling element that can be moved out of the frame body. When the filling element is moved into the frame body, the inlet is closed. Conversely, when the filling element is moved out of the frame body, it forms a funnel for the wash water. Thus, the filling element is a drawer-like element that can be moved both out of and into the frame body.

[0007] A fluid connection to the reservoir is located on the frame. When the filling element is moved out of the frame, forming the filling funnel, easy and reliable refilling with wash water is possible. Conversely, when the filling element is moved back into the frame, the frame is sealed. This also results in the entire inlet being discreetly positioned on the vehicle.

[0008] A particularly advantageous feature is that the frame element has an overflow and a vent. The overflow prevents wash water from remaining in the filling element, for example, due to an excessively high fill level. This specifically prevents water from escaping or splashing when the filling element is closed, i.e., when it is moved into the frame.

[0009] The venting system ensures, in particular, that air can escape from the storage tank into the surrounding area as soon as wash water is added.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous that the filling element can be moved out of the frame body by a translational and / or a rotational movement. In particular, the filling element can be connected to the frame body via a connecting axis to enable a rotational movement. This allows for a space-saving inlet design and enables both a reliable seal and the formation of a filling funnel.

[0011] Advantageously, a locking mechanism is provided between the filling element and the frame body. In particular, this is a double-pressure locking mechanism. This means that pressure must be applied to the filling element towards the frame body both to lock and to unlock.

[0012] Such double-action locking mechanisms, also known as push-push locks, are commonly found in vehicles, for example, on fuel filler flaps. This type of lock ensures a secure and reliable closure of the inlet, while simultaneously allowing the user to easily and effortlessly open it to add washer fluid.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the filling element is provided to be lockable by a locking element. This locking element can be advantageously coupled to the vehicle's central locking system. This prevents unauthorized persons from opening the inlet. The coupling with the central locking system ensures convenient locking of the filling element.

[0014] The inlet is advantageously positioned so that it has a flush finish with both the bodywork section and the seal or water deflector strip. This flush finish ensures, in particular, that the inlet is visually unobtrusive on the vehicle.

[0015] The inlet is advantageously located at the A-pillar junction of the vehicle. This location allows for optimal mounting and easy access for the vehicle's occupants. Therefore, the A-pillar junction offers an ideal installation location for the inlet. Furthermore, this location allows for a visually discreet placement, ensuring that the inlet remains unobtrusive when closed.

[0016] Advantageously, the vehicle is provided with a reservoir tank. This reservoir tank stores the wash water. The reservoir tank is located below a front panel of the vehicle. It is particularly advantageous for the reservoir tank to be positioned between the side wall and the support beam of the vehicle, and furthermore, it is advantageously concealed by the side wall seal.

[0017] To fill the reservoir tank via the inlet, a connecting element is provided to link the reservoir tank and the inlet. This allows the reservoir tank to be positioned below the vehicle's front hood in a space-saving manner. Thanks to the connecting element, filling via the inlet is possible regardless of the reservoir tank's installation location.

[0018] Since the inlet is particularly advantageously located at the A-pillar node, it is also ensured that the inlet is always positioned higher than the storage tank, thus enabling filling by gravity.

[0019] The reservoir tank also advantageously features a lockable filler neck. This lockable filler neck is located under the front hood and allows the reservoir tank to be filled. This arrangement is common in many vehicles. By opening the filler neck, washer fluid can be added to the reservoir tank with the front hood open.

[0020] It is still preferred that the connecting element linking the inlet to the storage tank leads into the filling channel. This allows filling via both the inlet and the filling channel.

[0021] The relevant body panel is advantageously a cowl cover. The cowl cover is designed to overlap the seal or water deflector strip at least partially. This allows the inlet to be advantageously positioned flush with the cowl cover and the seal or water deflector strip, thus providing both an easily accessible filling point for the user and ensuring the inlet is visually unobtrusive on the vehicle.

[0022] Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 a first schematic partial view of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 a second schematic partial view of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the invention with the inlet for wash water closed, Fig. 4 a third schematic partial view of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the invention with the inlet for wash water open, Fig. 5 a schematic view of the vehicle's washer system, and Fig. 6 a schematic partial view of the inlet for wash water of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 1 has a windshield 2 and a body 3. The windshield 2 can be cleaned with washer fluid, which can be filled via an inlet 5.

[0024] The inlet 5 is located at an A-pillar junction 14 of the vehicle 1. In particular, the inlet 5 can be accessed without having to open a front flap 10 of the vehicle 1. Rather, the inlet 5 allows the filling of wash water regardless of the state of the front flap 10. The inlet 5 is particularly advantageously closable to prevent the ingress of contaminants and to prevent the escape of wash water.

[0025] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic partial view of the vehicle 1. A portion of the body 3 is shown transparently. The inlet 5 is located at the A-pillar junction 14, and the inlet 5 is connected to a storage tank 9 via a connecting element 11 (see Figure 2). Fig. 5) is fluid-connected. The storage tank 9 is positioned lower than the inlet 5, so that filling with wash water is possible by means of gravity.

[0026] The Fig. 3 and Fig. Four images show different perspectives of the section from vehicle 1. In the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 shows that the inlet 5 is arranged between a section 6 of the body 3 of the vehicle 1 and a seal 4 of the windshield 2. In particular, the inlet 5 is flush with the section 6 of the body 3 and the seal 4.

[0027] As an alternative to the seal 4, the inlet 5 can also be located between a water deflector strip attached to the windshield 2 and the body section 6 3, and be flush with these components. If the inlet 5 is located in the Fig. In the closed position shown in Figure 3, the inlet 5 is discreetly arranged on the outside of the vehicle 1.

[0028] If a user wishes to refill the washer fluid reservoir, inlet 5 can be opened. Opening inlet 5 allows for filling with washer fluid, and its location at the A-pillar junction 14 facilitates simple and effortless filling. This location is particularly convenient for the user. Inlet 5 can be located on the driver's or passenger's side, or there can be one inlet 5 on each side.

[0029] To enable the opening and closing of the inlet 5, the inlet 5 is provided with a frame body 7 and a filling element 8. The frame body 7 is arranged at the A-pillar node 14 and serves as a filling chamber. The frame body 7 is fluidly connected to the connecting element 11.

[0030] The filling element 8 is a drawer-like element that can be moved out of and into the frame body 7. When the filling element 8 is moved into the frame body 7, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the inlet 5 is closed. However, if the filling element 8 is moved out of the frame body 7, it forms a funnel for filling wash water into the inlet 5. This is illustrated in Figure 3. Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 shown.

[0031] The filling element 8 can be a drawer-like element that can be moved relative to the frame body by a rotational movement and / or a translational movement.

[0032] In particular, in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 shows a variant in which the filling element 8 is moved in or out of the frame body by rotating it. This allows a user to easily and effortlessly open the inlet 5 to add wash water. At the same time, the inlet 5 can be reliably closed when no wash water needs to be added.

[0033] The filling element 8 can be locked to the frame body 7 by means of a locking mechanism, which is particularly advantageous. This locking mechanism is specifically a double-pressure actuation mechanism. This means that pressure on the filling element 8 in the direction of the frame body 7 is necessary both to lock and to unlock it. A similar concept is known, in particular, for fuel filler flaps on vehicles.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows how wash water can be filled into the reservoir 9 via the inlet 5. For this purpose, the connecting element 11 provides a fluid connection between the inlet 5 and the reservoir 9. The connecting element 11 opens into a filling channel 12 of the reservoir 9. The filling channel 12 can be opened and closed, with the opening point of the filling channel 12 located below the front flap 10.

[0035] In particular, the filling channel 12 represents a conventional filling method for the storage tank 9. Thus, this familiar conventional filling method 12 below the front flap 10 remains in place, while the inlet 5 is additionally available to allow filling without opening the front flap 10.

[0036] Fig. Figure 6 schematically shows the inlet 5. It again illustrates that the filling element 8 can be pivoted relative to the frame body 7 in order to open or close the inlet 5. The filling element 8 can be closed relative to the frame body 7 by means of a locking element 13, which is advantageously coupled to a central locking system of the vehicle 1. This prevents unauthorized opening of the inlet 5. It is also shown in Fig. Figure 6 shows that the frame body 7 is pot-shaped and fluidly connected to the connecting element 11. Reference symbol list: 1 vehicle 2 Windscreen 3 Bodywork 4 Seal 5 Admission 6. Body section 7 frame bodies 8 Filling element 9 storage tank 10 Front flap 11 Connecting element 12 Filling channel 13 Locking element 14 A-pillar nodes

Claims

[1] Vehicle (1) comprising a windscreen (2) and a body (3), wherein a closable inlet (5) for a washer fluid for cleaning the windscreen (2) is provided between a partial area (6) of the body (3) and a seal (4) of the windscreen (2) or a water deflector strip attached to the windscreen (2), wherein the partial area (6) and the seal (4) or the water deflector strip are arranged to overlap at least partially, characterized by , that the inlet (5) is located at an A-pillar node (14) of the vehicle (1). [2] Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the inlet (5) has a frame body (7) and a filling element (8) that can be moved out of the frame body (7), wherein the filling element (8) can be moved into the frame body (7) to close the inlet (5) and can be moved out of the frame body (7) to form a filling funnel for wash water. [3] Vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the filling element (8) can be moved out of the frame body (7) by a translational movement and / or by a rotational movement. [4] Vehicle (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that a locking mechanism exists between the filling element (8) and the frame body (7), in particular a locking mechanism with double pressure actuation. [5] Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the filling element (8) can be closed by a closing element (13), wherein the closing element (13) is preferably coupled to a central locking system of the vehicle (1). [6] Vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the inlet (3) has a flush finish both to the sub-area (6) and to either the seal (4) or the water-catching strip. [7] Vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a storage tank (9) for wash water is arranged below a front flap (10) of the vehicle (1), wherein the storage tank (9) and the inlet (5) are fluidly connected by a connecting element (11). [8] Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that a lockable filling channel (12) of the storage tank (11) is provided under the front flap (10), wherein the connecting element (11) opens into the filling channel (12). [9] Vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the sub-area (6) of the body (5) is a cowl cover.

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