JP6430166B2 - Washer tank piping structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a piping structure of a washer tank that injects a washer liquid into a washer tank that stores the washer liquid from an injection port.

  A washer tank for storing a washer liquid for cleaning windows and headlights of a vehicle or the like is disposed in an engine room or the like and connected to a liquid injection port by piping. Hard piping such as polypropylene is used for the piping. The washer tank for storing the washer fluid is generally installed in the engine room or the like. Therefore, when the injection port is in the room, the piping between the washer tank and the injection port is a part in the room and the engine room. It is provided so as to detour. In the bypass part, the straight pipe and the bent pipe are combined to bend the pipe line, and in the pipe connection part, the pipes are connected to each other with a rubber packing in order to prevent water leakage (Patent Document) 1).

JP 2010-12934 A

  The piping structure as described above requires rubber packing at the connecting portion of the tube, and accordingly, the number of parts increases and the workability of the piping also deteriorates. In this regard, when the bent portion is made of a rubber tube at the time of pipe connection, the adhesion to the pipe to be connected is improved, water tightness can be ensured, and rubber packing can be made unnecessary.

  By the way, a level gauge is inserted into the washer tank storing the washer from the liquid inlet for checking the remaining amount of the washer liquid. The level gauge is a long string-like member and has a length that reaches from the liquid injection port to the washer tank. The level gauge is attached to a cap that closes the liquid injection port at the attachment end, and has flexibility, so that the bending portion can be bent along the pipe line and inserted into the washer tank.

  However, when the bent portion is a rubber tube, the friction between the level gauge and the rubber tube increases. For this reason, when the level gauge passes through the bent part, the tip of the level gauge adheres to the inner surface of the rubber tube and cannot move, so that it cannot be inserted into the washer tank. There is.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a washer tank piping structure that enables a level gauge to be smoothly inserted into a washer tank while reducing the number of parts.

  The washer tank piping structure that solves the above-described problems has a pipe that is connected to a washer tank that stores a washer liquid and has an injection port through which the washer liquid is injected. A level gauge having a property is inserted from the liquid injection port to the washer tank. The pipe includes a bent pipe having elasticity. The inner surface of the bent tube has a high friction part and a low friction part. The low friction portion has a smaller coefficient of friction than the high friction portion, and the low friction portion is located on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion with which the tip of the level gauge inserted from the liquid injection port comes into contact.

  According to the said structure, since the said bending tube has elasticity, it closely_contact | adheres with the connection part of the member of a connection other party. Therefore, a watertight member such as rubber packing can be omitted at the connection portion. Further, when the level gauge is inserted from the liquid injection port, the level gauge comes into contact with the low friction part on the outer peripheral side of the bent part of the bent pipe where the pipe line is bent. The washer tank is smoothly inserted without adhering. Therefore, the remaining amount confirmation work can be easily performed.

  In the pipe structure of the washer tank, the bent pipe may further have a connecting end portion connected to a connection partner member on both sides of the bent portion. In this case, a guide member having a smaller friction coefficient than the high friction portion is disposed in the bent pipe. The guide member includes a cylindrical portion disposed at one connection end of the bent tube, and a piece that is continuous with the cylindrical portion and serves as the low friction portion positioned on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion.

  According to the above configuration, the guide member has a simple configuration, can be easily manufactured, and only needs to be inserted into one connection end of the bent tube, which complicates the assembly process. Can also be prevented.

In the pipe structure of the washer tank, the piece preferably has an inclined surface.
According to the above configuration, the tip portion of the level gauge is guided in the direction of the washer tank so as to slide because the piece serving as the low friction portion of the guide member is inclined.

  In the pipe structure of the washer tank, the low friction portion may be a low friction coating layer in which a resin having a smaller friction coefficient than that of the high friction portion is coated on an outer peripheral side of the bent portion.

  According to the said structure, the said low friction coating layer can be easily provided only by apply | coating a coating agent. Further, providing the low friction part does not require other parts, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  In the pipe structure of the washer tank, the pipe may be configured by connecting the first pipe body on the liquid inlet side and the second pipe body on the washer tank side with the bent pipe. In this case, the bent tube is more elastic than the first tube and the second tube.

  According to the above configuration, the connecting portion between the first tubular body and the bent tube and the connecting portion between the second tubular body and the bent tube need not use rubber packing due to the elasticity of the bent tube. Sufficient watertightness can be ensured, the number of parts can be reduced, and the structure can be simplified. In addition, the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

In the pipe structure of the washer tank, the bent portion may have a larger diameter than the one connection end portion.
According to the said structure, the washer liquid inject | poured from the said liquid injection port can be temporarily stored by the said large diameter part, and a washer liquid can be made to flow in the direction of the said washer tank smoothly.

  According to the above configuration, the level gauge can be smoothly inserted to the washer tank while reducing the number of parts.

It is a perspective view which shows the piping structure of the washer tank in 1st Embodiment. It is the perspective view which expanded the connection part with a bending pipe. It is a top view of a level gauge. It is a disassembled perspective view of the piping structure of a washer tank. It is a see-through | perspective perspective view which shows the state by which the guide member was arrange | positioned in the bending pipe. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the guide member was assembled | attached to the bending pipe. It is sectional drawing of the bending pipe | tube in 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state which gave the silicone coating to the outer peripheral side of the bending part.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1-7, embodiment of the piping structure of a washer tank is described.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washer tank piping structure 1 includes a washer tank 2 for storing a washer liquid in an engine room and the like, and an injection port 3 for injecting the washer liquid into the washer tank 2. It is provided on the instrument panel 4. The pipe connecting the liquid injection port 3 and the washer tank 2 has a first pipe 5 provided with the liquid injection port 3 and a second pipe 6 connected to the washer tank 2 connected by a bent pipe 7. Yes.

  The first tubular body 5 and the second tubular body 6 are made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene that is hard but has strength against bending, and is formed by, for example, blow molding. The bent tube 7 is made of a rubber material such as ethylene / propylene / diene rubber (EPDM, EPM) having elasticity and excellent heat resistance, light resistance, and chemical resistance. That is, the first tube body 5 and the second tube body 6 are formed of a material harder than the bent tube 7.

  Specifically, a mounting pad 8 to be attached to the instrument panel 4 is provided at one end of the first tubular body 5. The attachment pad 8 is formed so as to protrude from the first tubular body 5, and is attached so as to close the attachment portion 8 a formed so as to be cut out in the vertical surface 4 a constituting the side surface of the instrument panel 4. The attachment pad 8 is provided with a liquid injection port 3 that is continuous with the end of the first tubular body 5. The first tubular body 5 extends obliquely downward with respect to the mounting pad 8 so that the washer liquid poured from the liquid filling port 3 naturally falls into the washer tank 2, and the tip thereof is connected to the bent pipe 7. And is inserted into the first connection end portion 21 of the bent tube 7.

  The liquid injection port 3 provided in the mounting pad 8 is closed by a cap 12. A level gauge 13 for confirming the remaining amount of the washer liquid in the washer tank 2 is attached to the cap 12 on the back surface, for example. The cap 12 can be removed from the liquid injection port 3 by closing the liquid injection port 3 by rotating it by a predetermined angle in one direction and rotating it by a predetermined angle in the other direction. In a state where the cap 12 is removed from the liquid injection port 3, the level gauge 13 pulled out from the washer tank 2 can confirm the remaining amount of the washer liquid by visually confirming the wet position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the level gauge 13 has a length that reaches the washer tank 2 from the liquid injection port 3, and is formed to be flexible as a whole using a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. It is a string-like member. The level gauge 13 has an attachment end attached to, for example, the back surface of the cap 12, bends along a bent pipeline, and can be inserted into the washer tank 2 in which the washer liquid is stored. The tip of the level gauge 13 is formed with a spherical portion 13a in order to improve slippage with respect to the inner wall of the pipe line, and the tip including the spherical portion 13a is a portion immersed in the washer liquid in the washer tank 2. Become. Note that the shape of the tip is not limited to a spherical shape. An indicator portion 13b such as “LOW”, “1L”, “2L”, “3L”, “FULL” indicating the remaining level of the washer liquid is provided at the tip of the level gauge 13, for example. The user can check the remaining amount of the washer liquid in the washer tank 2 by observing to what index the wet washer liquid is wet.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washer tank 2 has a volume capable of storing about 3 L of washer fluid, and is disposed in the engine room. The washer tank 2 has complex irregularities so as to avoid parts in the engine room, and is fixed to the engine room by screws or the like via a fixing piece 2a formed integrally with the washer tank 2.

  The second tubular body 6 connected to the washer tank 2 is formed by connecting one straight pipe or a plurality of straight pipes, and is connected to the washer tank 2. At least a part of the second tubular body 6 is a bellows tube, and by making it extendable, the connection work with the bent tube 7 is facilitated. The second tubular body 6 is at least partially a bellows tube, so as to absorb vibrations and the like when the vehicle travels, and prevent leakage from the connection portion of the tube, occurrence of pipe evacuation, and the like. The distal end portion of the second tubular body 6 connected to the washer tank 2 serves as a connection end with the bending tube 7 and is inserted into the second connection end portion 22 of the bending tube 7.

  The bending tube 7 is an L-shaped rubber tube, and includes a first connection end 21 connected to the first tube 5, a second connection end 22 connected to the second tube 6, A bent portion 23 is provided between the first connection end portion 21 and the second connection end portion 22.

  As for the 1st connection end part 21, the front-end | tip part of the 1st pipe body 5 is press-fit. Since the first connecting end 21 is a rubber material and has elasticity, it does not need to use rubber packing, and can be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 5 to ensure sufficient water tightness. When the distal end portion of the first tube body 5 is press-fitted, the first connection end portion 21 is fastened and fixed by the band 11 from the outside, and the first tube body 5 is prevented from falling off. In addition, you may make it fix the 1st pipe body 5 and the 1st connection end part 21 with a clip so that it may not fix with the band 11, but demonstrates below.

  The distal end portion of the second tubular body 6 is press-fitted into the second connection end portion 22. Since the second connection end portion 22 is also a rubber material and has elasticity, it does not need to use rubber packing, but can be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second tubular body 6 to ensure sufficient water tightness. When the distal end portion of the second tubular body 6 is press-fitted, the second connection end portion 22 is fastened and fixed by the annular clip 14 from the outside. In addition, you may make it fix the 2nd pipe body 6 and the 2nd connection end part 22 with a tape as mentioned above instead of fixing with the clip 14. FIG.

  The bent portion 23 is a portion connecting the first connection end portion 21 and the second connection end portion 22 and bends the pipe line by approximately 90 °. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bent portion 23 has a large diameter portion 25 with respect to the first connection end portion 21, temporarily stores the washer liquid injected from the liquid injection port 3, and the washer liquid is smooth. Then, it flows into the washer tank 2 via the second connection end portion 22 and the second pipe body 6. The outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23 is a tapered portion 24 so that the washer liquid smoothly flows from the first connection end 21 to the second connection end 22 without splashing.

  In addition, the angle which bends a flow path by the bending part 23 is not limited to 90 degrees. The angle at which the flow path is bent is determined by the position where the washer tank 2 is attached, the position where the liquid injection port 3 is provided, and obstacles such as parts between the washer tank 2 and the liquid injection port 3.

  The inner surfaces of the first connection end 21, the second connection end 22, and the bent portion 23 are formed by the elastic material of the bent tube 7, so that the first tube body 5 and the second tube body are formed. Compared with the friction coefficient of 6, the friction coefficient is large. For this reason, when the level gauge 13 is inserted from the liquid injection port 3, the tip of the level gauge 13 having flexibility adheres to the bent portion 23 where the pipe bends, and the tip does not move. Therefore, there is a possibility that it will not reach the washer tank 2.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the portion from the first connection end 21 to the bent portion 23, a guide for guiding a level gauge 13 inserted from the liquid injection port 3 to the washer tank 2 is inserted therein. A member 31 is disposed. The guide member 31 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene which is hard and has low friction with respect to the bent tube 7 formed of a soft material such as a rubber material. The guide member 31 is a low friction portion having a smaller friction coefficient than the bent tube 7 made of rubber. The guide member 31 is formed by integrally providing a low friction piece 33 for guiding the level gauge 13 on a cylindrical portion 32 having an outer diameter substantially coincident with the inner diameter of the first connection end portion 21. The guide member 31 is inserted from the first connection end portion 21 of the bending tube 7 before being connected to the first tubular body 5 with the low friction piece 33 side as an insertion end. The bent tube 7 in which the guide member 31 is inserted has an inner surface constituted by a low friction portion and a high friction portion, and the position where the guide member 31 is disposed becomes a low friction portion. A position where the rubber material not disposed is exposed becomes a high friction portion. For example, the inner peripheral surface of the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7 and the inner surface of the second connection end portion 22 are high friction portions.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cylindrical portion 32 is provided with positioning recesses 34 and 34 at the end opposite to the low friction piece 33. The positioning recesses 34, 34 are formed in a rectangular shape. In the positioning recesses 34, 34, engagement protrusions 35, 35 are formed in an undercut shape on the inner surface of the first connection end 21. The engaging protrusions 35, 35 are stepped portions 35a that are substantially vertical on the side of the bent portion 23 that is the back of the pipe line, and inclined guide surfaces 35b, 35b on the open end side.

  When the cylindrical portion 32 is inserted into the first connecting end portion 21, the cylindrical portion 32 rides on the inclined guide surfaces 35 b and 35 b, and then the positioning recesses 34 and 34 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 35 and 35 of the first connecting end portion 21. 35 is engaged. The positioning recesses 34, 34 are positioned so that the guide member 31 is not displaced in the direction of the opening end of the first connection end portion 21 by locking the back of the positioning recesses 34, 34 to the stepped portion 35 a. Further, the positioning recesses 34 and 34 have a rectangular shape, and opposite sides are parallel. Correspondingly, the opposing sides of the engaging projections 35, 35 are also formed in parallel. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 32 is restricted from rotating around the tube axis in the first connection end portion 21, and further prevents the pressed-in cylindrical portion 32 from further shifting to the back side of the pipe line.

  Further, the cylindrical portion 32 is provided with engaging portions 36 and 36 protruding from the outer surface. The engaging portions 36, 36 have insertion guide surfaces on the insertion side surface to the first connection end portion 21, and are formed of a rubber material and have elasticity when pressed into the first connection end portion 21. 1 The inner surface of the connecting end 21 is deformed and engaged. Thereby, the engaging parts 36 and 36 cooperate with the engaging protrusions 35 and 35 to prevent the cylindrical part 32 from rotating around the tube axis.

  A low friction piece 33 that is a low friction portion with respect to the bent tube 7 is integrally formed at one end of the cylindrical portion 32. As shown in FIG. 6, the low friction piece 33 has a substantially flat inclined surface 33 a that follows the inner surface of the tapered portion 24 on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23. As a result, the washer liquid injected from the liquid injection port 3 changes the flow direction along the low friction piece 33 and smoothly flows to the washer tank 2. The low friction piece 33 is a resin having a lower friction than the rubber material forming the bent portion 23. Therefore, even when the level gauge 13 is inserted, the tip of the level gauge 13 moves in the direction of the second connection end 22 so as to slide on the inclined surface 33a of the low friction piece 33, and the washer tank 2 Led up to.

  The guide member 31 having the above configuration is a simple configuration in which the low friction piece 33 is provided on the cylindrical portion 32, and can be molded with a simple mold. Further, the guide member 31 only needs to be inserted from the first connection end portion 21 of the bent tube 7, and the assembly process can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  In the washer tank 2 as described above, the second tubular body 6 is first attached to the washer tank 2, and in this state, the washer tank 2 is fixed to the engine room or the like. Of course, the second tubular body 6 may be attached after the washer tank 2 is fixed to the engine room or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 31 is inserted into the bending tube 7 from the first connection end 21 with the low friction piece 33 as an insertion end, and the guide member 31 is fitted. At this time, the cylindrical portion 32 is located at the first connection end portion 21, and the low friction piece 33 is located along the tapered portion 24 of the bent portion 23. The cylindrical portion 32 has the positioning recesses 34, 34 engaged with the engaging protrusions 35, 35 of the bent portion 23, and the engaging portions 36, 36 of the cylindrical portion 32 engaged with the inner surface of the bent portion 23. The guide member 31 is positioned inside the bending tube 7.

  The first tubular body 5 is attached to the bent tube 7 to which the guide member 31 is attached. Specifically, the distal end portion of the first tubular body 5 is press-fitted into the first connection end portion 21 of the bent portion 23 and is fixed by the band 11. When the first pipe body 5 and the bent pipe 7 are joined, an inlet 37 is formed, and the inlet 37 is connected to the second pipe body 6 extending from the already fixed washer tank 2. Specifically, the distal end portion of the second tubular body 6 is press-fitted into the second connection end portion 22 and is fastened and fixed by the annular clip 14 from the outside. The connecting portion between the first tube body 5 and the first connecting end 21 of the bent tube 7 and the connecting portion between the second tube body 6 and the second connecting end portion 22 are made elastic by the bent tube 7. Therefore, it is possible to ensure sufficient water tightness without using rubber packing, to reduce the number of parts and to simplify the configuration. In addition, the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

  Thereafter, the washer liquid is injected into the washer tank 2 from the liquid injection port 3 of the first tubular body 5. At the time of injecting the washer liquid, the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7 in which the pipe bends has an inclined surface 33 a by the low friction piece 33 of the guide member 31 and also has a large diameter portion 25. Therefore, the injected washer liquid is smoothly injected into the washer tank 2 without overflowing.

  When the washer liquid is injected, the level gauge 13 is inserted from the liquid injection port 3 to the washer tank 2. In the level gauge 13, the low friction piece 33 of the guide member 31 that is harder than the bent tube 7 is also disposed in the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7 where the pipe is bent. Inserted. Thereafter, the liquid injection port 3 is closed by the cap 12.

  In order to check the remaining amount of the washer liquid, the cap 12 is removed from the liquid inlet 3 and the level gauge 13 is pulled out from the liquid inlet 3. The user can check the remaining amount of the washer liquid in the washer tank 2 by observing to what index the wet washer liquid is wet. When the level gauge 13 is inserted again from the liquid injection port 3 after checking the remaining amount of the washer liquid, the level gauge 13 is harder than the bent pipe 7 at the bent portion 23 of the bent pipe 7 where the pipe is bent. Since the low friction piece 33 of a certain guide member 31 is arranged, it is inserted up to the washer tank 2 without adhering. Therefore, the remaining amount confirmation work can be easily performed.

According to the piping structure 1 of the washer tank 2 of the first embodiment as described above, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) As for the connection part of the 1st pipe body 5 and the 1st connection end part 21 of the bending pipe 7, and the connection part of the 2nd pipe body 6 and the 2nd connection end part 22, the bending pipe 7 is the 1st pipe body. 5 and the second tubular body 6 are made of a soft rubber material and are elastic, so that it is possible to ensure sufficient water tightness without using rubber packing, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the configuration. Can be realized. In addition, the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

  (2) The guide member 31 has a simple configuration and can be easily manufactured. Further, the guide member 31 only needs to be inserted into the first connection end portion 21 of the bent tube 7, and the assembly process can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  (3) When the level gauge 13 is inserted from the liquid injection port 3, the level gauge 13 has a low friction piece 33 of the guide member 31 that is harder than the bent pipe 7 at the bent portion 23 of the bent pipe 7 where the pipe is bent. Since they are arranged, they are smoothly inserted up to the washer tank 2 without adhering to the inner surface of the bent tube 7. Therefore, the remaining amount confirmation work can be easily performed.

  (4) Since the first tubular body 5 and the second tubular body 6 are also formed of the same material as the guide member 31, it becomes a low friction part, and also on the inner surfaces of the first tubular body 5 and the second tubular body 6, It is possible to prevent the level gauge 13 from adhering.

(5) In the guide member 31, the cylindrical portion 32 has the positioning recesses 34, 34 engaged with the engaging protrusions 35, 35 of the cylindrical portion 32, and the engaging portions 36, 36 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the bent portion 23. By engaging the inner surface, the guide member 31 can be positioned, and the guide member 31 can be prevented from being displaced in the axial direction of the bent tube 7.
In addition, you may change the said 1st Embodiment as follows.

  Although the guide member 31 has been described in which the low friction piece 33 is integrally provided in the cylindrical portion 32 and the whole becomes a low friction portion, the guide member 31 may be only the low friction piece 33. That is, the low friction piece 33 should just be arrange | positioned in the part which the spherical part 13a of the level gauge 13 inserted from the liquid injection port 3 contacts. In the case of only the low friction piece 33, it is attached to the taper portion 24 of the bent portion 23 with an adhesive or the like. Further, the cylindrical portion 32 and the low friction piece 33 may be formed of different materials, and the low friction piece 33 may have a lower friction than the cylindrical portion 32.

The guide member 31 has a large notch on the inner peripheral side of the bent portion 23 without the low friction piece 33, but the low friction piece 33 is also formed in a cylindrical shape, and the entire bent shape is bent in an L shape. The same shape as the part 23 may be sufficient. Thereby, the level gauge 13 inserted from the liquid injection port 3 can be further prevented from adhering to the inner surface of the bending tube 7.
The low friction piece 33 is formed to have a flat inclined surface 33a, but may be a curved surface that curves from the first connection end 21 to the second connection end 22.

  The positioning recesses 34 and 34 of the cylindrical portion 32, the engaging protrusions 35 and 35 of the bent portion 23, and the engaging portions 36 and 36 of the cylindrical portion 32 are misaligned simply by press-fitting the cylindrical portion 32 into the bent tube 7. It may not be provided when no occurrence occurs. Thereby, the structure of the guide member 31 and the bending tube 7 can be simplified.

  -Although the case where the guide member 31 was formed with polypropylene was demonstrated, the material of the guide member 31 will not be specifically limited if it is a hard material whose friction coefficient is smaller than the bending pipe 7. FIG. The guide member 31 may be, for example, ABS resin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polycarbonate resin, polyacetal resin, or the like. The guide member 31 may be a metal tube such as a stainless steel tube or an aluminum tube.

(Second Embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 7, 2nd Embodiment of the piping structure of a washer tank is described. In the second embodiment, the main configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, parts different from the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the same parts as in the first embodiment will be described. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the guide member 31 is disposed in the bending tube 7 and the low friction piece 33 serving as the low friction portion is disposed in the bending portion 23 has been described, but in the second embodiment, the guide member is disposed. A low friction coating layer 41 is provided as a low friction portion at a position where 31 is disposed. The low friction coating layer 41 is provided at least on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7, and here, provided on the inner surface on the outer peripheral side extending from the first connection end portion 21 to the bent portion 23. As a result, the level gauge 13 is inserted up to the washer tank 2 without adhering to the level gauge 13 because the low friction coating layer 41 is provided also in the bent portion 23 of the bent pipe 7 where the pipe is bent.

  Specifically, the low friction coating layer 41 has low friction with respect to a soft resin material such as a rubber material having elasticity that forms the bent tube 7 and improves slipperiness. That is, in the bent tube 7, the inner peripheral portion on the outer peripheral side extending from the first connection end portion 21 provided with the low friction coating layer 41 to the bent portion 23 is a low friction portion. Further, in the bending tube 7, the rubber material is exposed at the inner peripheral side inner surface portion extending from the first connection end portion 21 to the bending portion 23 and the second connection end portion 22 becomes a high friction portion. A silicone coating agent is used for the low friction coating layer 41 used here. In particular, among silicone coating agents, a coating agent having excellent adhesiveness with a rubber material forming the bent tube 7, particularly ethylene / propylene / diene rubber (EPDM, EPM) is used. Specifically, a silicone weather strip coating agent (XS52-A4009) provided by Momentive Performance Materials Japan GK is used.

Such a coating agent forms the low friction coating layer 41 by washing and drying the inner surface on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7, for example, spray-coating, and then heat-curing. . Note that the heating step may be omitted after coating the coating agent.
According to the piping structure 1 of the washer tank 2 of the second embodiment as described above, in addition to the effect (1), the effects listed below can be obtained.

  (6) When the level gauge 13 is inserted from the liquid injection port 3, the level gauge 13 has a lower friction coefficient than the other part of the bent tube 7 on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7 where the pipe is bent. Since the friction coating layer 41 is provided, it is inserted to the washer tank 2 without adhering. Therefore, the remaining amount confirmation work can be easily performed.

(7) The low friction portion only needs to apply the coating agent to the inner surface on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 23 of the bent tube 7 and can prevent an increase in the number of parts and complicate the assembly process. Can be prevented. Moreover, the low friction coating layer 41 can be easily provided only by applying a coating agent.
In addition, you may change the said 2nd Embodiment as follows.

  -The low friction coating layer 41 should just be provided in the part which the spherical part 13a of the level gauge 13 inserted from the liquid injection port 3 contacts. Therefore, for example, the low friction coating layer 41 may be provided on the inner peripheral side in the bent portion 23 or may be provided on the entire inner surface of the bent tube 7.

The low-friction coating layer 41 is not limited to the silicone coating agent as long as it is a coating material having a smaller friction coefficient than the material of the bent tube 7.
In addition, the common components of the said 1st and 2nd embodiment can also be changed as follows.

  The bending tube 7 is not limited to ethylene / propylene / diene rubber (EPDM, EPM) as long as it is a material having elasticity, and is not limited to a rubber material. In addition to this, natural rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene / propylene rubber, silicone rubber, or the like may be used as the rubber material. Moreover, a thermoplastic elastomer etc. may be sufficient. That is, the bent tube 7 may be a soft material that can omit the rubber packing or the like when connected to the first tube body 5 or the second tube body 6.

In the above example, the case where the bent tube 7 is formed of a soft and high-friction resin with respect to the first tube body 5 and the second tube body 6 has been described, but the piping from the liquid injection port 3 to the washer tank 2 is described. May be a series of tubes, i.e. a single tube, made of an elastic material. In such a case, the number of piping parts can be greatly reduced. Alternatively, the bent tube 7 and the first tube 5 may be integrally formed of an elastic material, or the bent tube 7 and the second tube 6 may be integrally formed of an elastic material. Also good. In such a case, the number of piping parts can be reduced.
-As a piping structure, you may make it abbreviate | omit the 2nd pipe body 6, and connect the 2nd connection end part 22 of the bending pipe 7 to the washer tank 2 directly.

  As a piping structure, a plurality of bent pipes 7 may be provided between the liquid injection port 3 and the washer tank 2. In this case, it is preferable that each bending tube 7 has a low friction part.

  The material of the first tube body 5 and the second tube body 6 is not limited to polypropylene, for example, ABS resin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polycarbonate resin, polyacetal resin, etc. May be. Further, a metal tube such as a stainless steel tube or an aluminum tube may be used.

  The level gauge 13 may be attached to any location of the cap 12 or may not be attached to the cap 12. The level gauge 13 may be configured to be held in the vicinity of the liquid injection port 3 so that the whole does not fall into the liquid injection port 3.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pipe structure of washer tank, 2 ... Washer tank, 2a ... Fixed piece, 3 ... Injection port, 4 ... Instrument panel, 4a ... Vertical surface, 5 ... 1st pipe body, 6 ... 2nd pipe body, 7 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Bending pipe, 8 ... Mounting pad, 8a ... Mounting part, 11 ... Band, 12 ... Cap, 13 ... Level gauge, 13a ... Spherical part, 13b ... Indicator part, 14 ... Clip, 21 ... First connection end, 22 2nd connection end part, 23 ... Bending part, 24 ... Taper part, 25 ... Large diameter part, 31 ... Guide member, 32 ... Tube part, 33 ... Low friction piece, 33a ... Inclined surface, 34 ... Positioning recess, 35 ... engaging protrusion, 35a ... step, 35b ... inclined guide surface, 36 ... engaging part, 37 ... inlet, 41 ... low friction coating layer.

Claims (4)

A pipe connected to a washer tank for storing the washer liquid is formed with a liquid injection port through which the washer liquid is injected, and a flexible level gauge is provided in the pipe from the liquid injection port to the washer tank. In the piping structure of the washer tank inserted until
The pipe includes a bent pipe having elasticity,
The inner surface of the bent pipe has a high friction part and a low friction part, and the low friction part has a smaller coefficient of friction than the high friction part,
The low friction part is located on the outer peripheral side of the bent part that contacts the tip of the level gauge inserted from the liquid injection port ,
The bent pipe has connection end portions connected to members of a connection partner on both sides of the bent portion,
A guide member having a smaller coefficient of friction than the high friction part is disposed in the bent pipe,
The guide member has a cylindrical portion disposed at one connection end of the bent tube, and a piece that is continuous with the cylindrical portion and serves as the low friction portion positioned on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion,
The cylindrical portion has a positioning concave portion and an engaging portion protruding from an outer surface of the cylindrical portion at an end opposite to the piece,
The positioning recess engages with an engaging protrusion formed on the inner surface of the bent tube,
The engaging portion engages with the inner surface of the bent tube.
Washer tank piping structure. The piece, piping structure of the washer tank according to claim 1 having an inclined surface. The pipe is formed by connecting the first pipe body on the liquid inlet side and the second pipe body on the washer tank side with the bent pipe,
The pipe structure of a washer tank according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the bent pipe is more elastic than the first pipe body and the second pipe body. The pipe structure of a washer tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bent portion has a larger diameter than one of the two connection end portions of the bent tube on both sides of the bent portion.

Images