Windshield washer nozzle for motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a windshield washer nozzle for motor vehicles comprising a mounting base (E) supporting a body (1) containing, on the one hand, a washer fluid supply conduit and, on the other hand, a head (2) containing a nozzle (3) for spraying the fluid through an ejection orifice (20), characterized in that said body (1) is housed telescopically in a sleeve (11) integral with the base (E) and in that said nozzle (3) is delimited by at least two diverging walls whose angular separation is adjustable. (Fig. 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield washer nozzle for motor vehicles

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of washing motor vehicles and is concerned, more particularly, with an improved and modular nozzle intended for washing the windows and glass of the vehicle.

[0002] Windshield washer nozzles mounted on vehicles are generally fixed and involve integration constraints. Indeed, each vehicle has a specific interface for integrating the nozzle. Furthermore, the design of these nozzles is currently difficult because, once mounted on the vehicles, the parameters of the washer fluid jet (orientation, angular amplitude and width, etc.) are generally permanently fixed, and neither the position of the nozzle body in space nor that of the internal spray nozzle can be adjusted to adapt locally to the area or equipment of the vehicle to be washed.

[0003] There are already many models of windshield washer nozzles such as the one described in patent application WO202119566A1. This nozzle includes a component for adjusting only the angular orientation of the nozzle inside the nozzle head when it is mounted on the vehicle so as to adapt the jet to the position of the windshield.

[0004] However, this adjustment, which is made once and for all, only affects the nozzle angle and therefore does not offer all the possibilities for subsequent jet orientation in space. Furthermore, it does not include any means of visualizing and refining this adjustment to obtain precise parameters for the liquid jet during spraying.

[0005] In this context, the invention sought mainly to solve the problem raised by known nozzles by proposing an improved solution consisting of equipping the nozzle with several means of orienting the liquid jet in space.

[0006] This goal is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a windshield washer nozzle for motor vehicles comprising a mounting base supporting a body containing, on the one hand, a supply conduit for the washing liquid and carrying, on the other hand, a head containing a nozzle for spraying the liquid through an ejection orifice, characterized in that said body is housed telescopically in a sleeve integral with the base and in that said nozzle is delimited by at least two diverging walls whose angular separation is adjustable.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the nozzle of the invention, the head is in the form of a socket extending perpendicularly to said body and on the lateral wall of which the ejection orifice is provided.

[0008] According to an advantageous feature of the nozzle of the invention, the front wall of the head has an access opening to a device for adjusting the angular spacing of the nozzle walls.

[0009] According to a specific embodiment of the nozzle of the invention, the adjustment member consists of a cavity with a hexagonal cross-section formed in a mandrel and intended for the introduction of a tool, said mandrel being integral with a bushing in which the walls of the nozzle are formed.

[0010] According to a feature of this variant, the bushing comprises a series of radial grooves, each of which is delimited by the diverging walls of the nozzle.

[0011] According to another advantageous feature of the nozzle of the invention, the head has peripheral graduations indicating the spacing of the nozzle walls.

[0012] Preferably, the angular spacing of the nozzle walls is adjustable between 30° and 70°.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the nozzle of the invention, the head is pivotally mounted on the body.

[0014] According to yet another embodiment, the nozzle of the invention includes an electric actuator that selectively ensures at least one of the corresponding displacements, corresponding to the translation of the body, the pivoting of the head and the separation of the nozzle walls.

[0015] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield washer nozzle as defined above.

[0016] In its most general aspect, the invention proposes a windshield washer nozzle providing an improved technical solution to the problem raised by the search for means to ensure a spraying of a washing liquid in a way that is modulated in width and orientation in all directions.

[0017] Thus, thanks to the invention, it becomes possible, in the context of the development of prototype nozzles for vehicles, to precisely adjust the angular value of the jet coming from the nozzle according to the future local implantation of the nozzle.

[0018] Depending on its position on the vehicle, the horizontal and vertical orientation of the nozzle head, and therefore that of the nozzle, will be adjusted angularly and vertically in order to obtain an optimal jet of liquid in relation to the equipment intended to be washed (headlights, windshield, windows, cameras, ...).

[0019] The versatility of the invention makes it possible to reduce, at the same time, the diversity of nozzles, the diversity of support bases which are specific to each vehicle, the development costs both at the prototype stage (by facilitating development), and at the industrial mass production stage as well as the number of part references.

[0020] Furthermore, the efficiency of washing the various equipment is significantly improved, thanks to a precise and targeted jet of liquid which saves the washing liquid.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, for which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the windshield washer nozzle of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a partial side view of the nozzle of [Fig. 1].

[0024] [Fig.3] is a front view of the nozzle head of [Fig.1].

[0025] [Fig.4] is a front view in section along AA of the nozzle head of [Fig.1].

[0026] [Fig.5] is a vertical cross-sectional view of the nozzle of [Fig.1].

[0027] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0028] Naturally, the embodiment of the nozzle of the invention schematically illustrated in the figures above and described below is given only by way of non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided for in the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined to create others.

[0029] The invention relates to the general field of washing the windows and glass of motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with an improvement of the on-board nozzles intended for the local washing of various equipment installed on these vehicles.

[0030] In general and traditionally, as shown in particular in Figures 1 and 2, windshield washer nozzles comprise a mounting base E for the vehicle which supports a body 1 containing a washer fluid supply conduit C ([Fig. 3]) connected to a fluid circuit. This body 1 carries a head 2 containing a nozzle 3 for spraying the fluid through an ejection orifice 20.

[0031] The invention aims to improve the exterior washing of various vehicle equipment by providing a nozzle that allows the jet of washing liquid to be directed in an adjustable manner and in several directions in space depending on its location on the bodywork and the relative position of the equipment to which it is dedicated.

[0032] For this purpose, the body 1 of the nozzle of the invention is housed telescopically in a sleeve 11 integral with the base E, as illustrated by [Fig. 1]. In the embodiment shown here, the body 1 is cylindrical and slides axially inside the sleeve 11, which is also cylindrical.

[0033] The nozzle head 2 is here in the form of a socket extending perpendicularly to the body 1 and on the lateral wall of which the ejection orifice 20 is provided. Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the nozzle of the invention (not shown), the head 2 is pivotally mounted on the body 1.

[0034] According to the invention, the nozzle 3 is delimited by at least two diverging walls whose angular spacing is adjustable in order to modify and to adjust the width of the wash liquid jet.

[0035] Where appropriate, according to a variant not shown, this gap is adjustable by activating an actuator ensuring the movement of the diverging walls of the nozzle and thus adjusting their relative angular position.

[0036] The front wall of the head 2 has an access opening for an adjustment mechanism for the angular separation of the nozzle walls 3. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the adjustment mechanism consists of a hexagonal cavity 30 formed in a mandrel 32 integral with a plug 31 in which the diverging walls of the nozzle are formed. The cavity 30 is intended for the insertion of a tool such as an Allen key (not shown), and the plug 31 is also connected to the wash fluid supply conduit C.

[0037] The valve 31, shown partially in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a series of radial grooves (and here three grooves 3a, 3b, 3c) intended for the ejection of the sprayed washing liquid and each of which is delimited by the diverging walls of the nozzle 3. This valve 31 is rotatably mounted in the head 2 by engaging with the mandrel 32 carrying the cavity 30. Thus, by maneuvering the tool engaged in this cavity, it is possible to rotate the valve 31 to select one of the grooves and position it opposite the ejection orifice 20.

[0038] The head 2 has peripheral graduations 21 indicating the spacing of the nozzle walls 3 and / or the reference of the groove positioned opposite the orifice 20, and therefore the angle of the liquid jet. Preferably, the angular spacing of the lateral walls of the grooves is between 30° and 70°. This angular range corresponds either to one of the grooves 3a, 3b, 3c, which is activated by rotation of the mandrel 32 and pivoting of the valve 31, or to an adjustment of the position of these walls by means of an electric actuator (not shown).

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment of the nozzle of the invention, this actuator can then ensure, selectively and / or jointly, at least one of the corresponding displacements, to the axial translation of the body in the sleeve 11, to the pivoting of the head 2 and to the rotation of the plug 31 or even to the separation of the walls of the nozzle 3.

[0040] Thus, thanks to the nozzle of the invention and depending on the position of the vehicle equipment requiring frequent washing, the nozzle will be adjusted angularly and vertically in order to obtain optimized orientation and width of the liquid jet with respect to each of this equipment

Claims

Claims

1. Windscreen washer nozzle for motor vehicles comprising a mounting base (E) supporting a body (1) containing, on the one hand, a washing liquid supply conduit and carrying, on the other hand, a head (2) containing a nozzle (3) intended for spraying the liquid through an ejection orifice (20), characterized in that said body (1) is housed telescopically in a sleeve (11) integral with the base (E) and in that said nozzle (3) is delimited by at least two diverging walls whose angular spacing is adjustable.

2. Nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the head (2) is in the form of a sleeve extending perpendicular to said body (1) and on the side wall of which the ejection orifice (20) is provided.

3. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wall of the head (2) has an access opening to a member for adjusting the angular spacing of the walls of the nozzle.

4. Nozzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said adjustment member consists of a cavity (30) of hexagonal section formed in a mandrel (32) and intended for the introduction of a tool, said mandrel being integral with a valve (31) in which the walls of the nozzle (3) are made.

5. Nozzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said valve (31) comprises a series of radial grooves (3a, 3b, 3c) each of which is delimited by the diverging walls of the nozzle (3).

6. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (2) has peripheral graduations (21) indicating the spacing of the walls of the nozzle (3)

7. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular spacing of the walls of the nozzle (3) is adjustable between 30° and 70°

8. / V. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (2) is pivotally mounted on the body (1).

9. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electric actuator ensuring, selectively, at least one of the movements corresponding to the translation of the body (1), the pivoting of the head (2) and the separation of the walls of the nozzle (3).

10. Motor vehicle equipped with a windshield washer nozzle according to one of the previous claims.

Images