DE102019203686A1 - Windshield wiper arrangement with a separate connection unit for establishing an electrical connection - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a windshield wiper arrangement having a wiper arm and having a wiper blade that can be connected to the wiper arm and a wiper strip arranged in an adapter unit, the wiper blade having a heating device for heating the wiper strip, a connecting element being rotatably connectable to the adapter unit and a locking spring on one of the The side facing away from the adapter unit, the wiper arm being slidable at the end over the connecting element steered by the adapter unit at a mounting angle and being lockable on the connecting element by the locking spring, the wiper arm having at least one water line and at least two electrical lines, which are located in a connection area facing the adapter unit of the wiper arm, the adapter unit having a fluid coupling directed towards the connection area for fluid-tight receiving of an end section of the water line and a connection unit the adapter unit is arranged adjacent, which has at least two sockets for receiving and for electrical contacting of the electrical lines.

Description

The invention relates to a windshield wiper arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Windshield wipers are used to clean the windshields of vehicles from water, dirt and snow in order to provide the driver with an optimal view. Usually, dirt can be loosened by using spray nozzles with windshield wiper water and thus removed more efficiently with the help of the windshield wipers.

Modern windshield wipers can have integrated spray nozzles for windshield wiper water as well as heating devices which prevent the windshield wipers from freezing at low temperatures. Such windshield wipers usually have a large number of components. Due to the large number of components, the manufacture and assembly of such windshield wipers can be complex.

Disclosure of the invention

The object on which the invention is based can be seen in proposing a windshield wiper arrangement which can be manufactured and assembled as simply as possible.

This object is achieved by means of the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent subclaims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a windshield wiper assembly is provided. The windshield wiper arrangement has a wiper arm and a wiper blade which can be connected to the wiper arm and which has a wiper strip arranged in an adapter unit. The wiper blade has a heating device for heating the wiper strip. A connecting element can be rotatably connected to the adapter unit and has a locking spring on a side facing away from the adapter unit. The end of the wiper arm can be pushed over the connecting element deflected by the adapter unit at a mounting angle and locked on the connecting element by the locking spring. The wiper arm has at least one water line and at least two electrical lines which open into a connection area of the wiper arm facing the adapter unit. The adapter unit has a fluid coupling directed towards the connection area for receiving an end section of the water line in a fluid-tight manner. The windshield wiper arrangement also has a connection unit which is arranged adjacent to the adapter unit. The adapter unit has at least two sockets for receiving the ends and for making electrical contact with the electrical lines.

Due to the fluid coupling, the adapter unit is set up essentially to receive water lines in a fluid-tight manner. The connection unit, which can be designed as an extension of the adapter unit, is essentially used to establish electrical connections between electrical lines and the heating device. As a result, the connections arranged in the connection area of the wiper arm can be connected by separate components.

This structure can increase the safety, since different components are used for the production of electrical connections and fluid-carrying connections.

Furthermore, the connection unit produced separately from the adapter unit can be produced in a technically simpler manner, which reduces the production effort. The assembly of the windshield wiper arrangement remains simple, since the connection unit can be used as an extension of the adapter unit.

During the assembly of the windshield wiper arrangement, a mechanical connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade can be established in a first step by inserting and locking the wiper arm on the connecting element at the end. Here, the electrical lines opening in the connection area of the wiper arm and the at least one water line are optimally aligned with the sockets of the connection unit and the fluid coupling of the adapter unit.

In a second step, the wiper arm can be folded or pressed against the adapter unit or the connection unit, whereby the electrical lines are pressed in an electrically conductive manner into the sockets of the connection unit and the at least one water line is pressed into the fluid coupling of the adapter unit.

The adapter unit and the connection unit can for example consist of a plastic, a metal, a composite material and the like.

According to one embodiment, the wiper arm locked to the connecting element can be pivoted into an operating angle in the direction of the adapter unit, the at least one water line at the end with the Fluid coupling and the at least two electrical lines are connected at the end to the at least two sockets. The operating angle can preferably be set by pressing the wiper arm with the connecting element against the adapter unit and the connection unit. As a result, the wiper blade can run essentially parallel or flat next to the wiper arm. The operating angle is preferably the angle at which the windshield wiper arrangement rests on the windshield of a vehicle during operation. The operating angle can preferably include an angle range within which the electrical lines within the sockets make electrical contact and the at least one water line is fluid-tightly connected to the fluid coupling. For this purpose, the electrical lines and the at least one water line can be inserted into the connections of the adapter unit and the connection unit over a distance and can be displaced in the insertion direction within the adapter unit and the connection unit. By this measure, slight deviations from a defined operating angle can be compensated or allowed while ensuring the electrical and fluid-tight connections.

According to a further embodiment, the at least one water line runs through the wiper arm, the at least two electrical lines being arranged outside the wiper arm. In this way, the water line can be laid in a protected manner within the wiper arm, so that damage from falling rocks is avoided. The electrical lines can be secured against possible effects of the water in the water line by running outside the wiper arm. This allows the electrical lines to be installed or replaced more easily.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, a connection housing is attached to the wiper arm in the connection area of the wiper arm, the connection housing being designed to accommodate the at least two electrical lines and to form electrical plug connections to the sockets of the connection unit. The wiper arm can preferably have a holder in the connection area to which the connection housing can be attached. The connection housing can preferably snap into place on the holder and, in the locked state, rest against the wiper arm in the connection area. In this way, influences on aerodynamic properties of the wiper arm can be reduced. By means of the connection housing, the electrical lines laid outside the wiper arm can be received at the end, deflected in the connection direction and optimally aligned with respect to the sockets of the connection unit. The connection housing can thus be configured as a plug which can be preassembled on the wiper arm.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the wiper blade has at least one spoiler which runs parallel to the wiper strip and has a fluid channel. The wiper blade has end caps with water nozzles arranged at the end, the water nozzles being connected to the fluid channel of the at least one spoiler in a fluid-conducting manner. The at least one spoiler can preferably extend in the longitudinal direction from the adapter unit and realize additional mechanical stability of the wiper blade. A spoiler can preferably be arranged directly on the adapter unit in the longitudinal direction at least on one side of the adapter unit, which spoiler is closed off at the end by a cap with at least one water nozzle. The fluid channel of the spoiler can preferably be connectable at least on one side to a fluid channel of the adapter unit. For this purpose, the spoiler can be pushed into a corresponding recess in the adapter unit in the longitudinal direction. The fluid channel of the adapter unit is connected directly or indirectly to the fluid coupling. In this way, water fed into the fluid coupling can be guided directly into the fluid channel by at least one spoiler. The fluid-conducting connection between the adapter unit and the fluid channel of the spoiler can preferably be formed by a frictional or material connection between the spoiler and the adapter unit. For example, the spoiler can be glued or welded to the adapter unit.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the fluid coupling of the adapter unit can be connected to the at least one water nozzle in a fluid-conducting manner via the fluid channel of the at least one spoiler. By using the spoiler described above, a fluid line can be formed between the fluid coupling of the adapter unit and at least one water nozzle. The fluid channel of the spoiler can thus guide the windshield washer water flowing into the fluid coupling from the water line to the water nozzles. The water nozzles can preferably be oriented against the flow direction of the windshield washer water within the fluid channel of the spoiler and thus spray an area on the windshield of the vehicle that is adjacent to the wiper blade. For this purpose, the end caps can be configured to deflect the windshield washer water flowing through the fluid channel in an opposite direction.

According to a further embodiment, the connection unit has a fluid channel, the fluid channel of the connection unit being the fluid coupling connects to the fluid channel of a spoiler. As a result, connecting pins introduced into the connection unit for establishing a mechanical connection to the adapter unit can simultaneously be used as fluid channels. As a result, several water nozzles, which are positioned at the end of the wiper blade, can be supplied with windshield washer fluid.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the wiper blade has at least one reinforcing strip, the heating device being arranged along the reinforcing strip. The adapter unit and the connection unit preferably have a bushing for receiving the reinforcing strip with the heating device. The lead-through of the adapter unit and the lead-through of the connection unit can, in the installed state, preferably merge into one another in an aligned manner and thus accommodate the reinforcing strip unhindered. The heating device can be designed, for example, as a film or a wire mesh, which generates Joule heat when an electrical current is applied and thus heats the wiper blade. In particular, the heating device can be glued or incorporated on the reinforcing strip. The reinforcing strip can for example extend parallel to the wiper strip in the form of a reinforcing rib. The reinforcement strip can preferably have a higher rigidity than the wiper strip and thus serve to mechanically stabilize the wiper strip. The wiper strip can preferably be coupled to the reinforcing strip via the at least one spoiler. For this purpose, the at least one spoiler can rest on one side on the reinforcing strip and, on an opposite side, enclose the wiper strip in some areas via retaining rails. The wiper strip can be coupled to the reinforcing strip and stabilized along the longitudinal direction by the at least one spoiler.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the connection unit is designed to produce an electrical connection between the at least two electrical lines inserted into the sockets at the ends and the heating device inserted into the bushing. For this purpose, the connection unit can have contact pins or contact springs which make electrical contact with the heating device at defined positions. In this way, if the heating device is correctly aligned with respect to the connection unit, an electrical connection can be established automatically between the sockets and the heating device. The sockets of the connection unit are preferably also equipped with clamping elements or spring elements so that electrical lines protruding into the beeches are contacted with a minimal contact resistance.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the at least one spoiler has retaining rails and is fastened to the wiper blade by the retaining rails in the longitudinal direction along the at least one reinforcing strip. As a result, the at least one spoiler can mechanically couple the reinforcing strip to the wiper blade via the retaining rails in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction or in the pressing direction of the wiper blade against the windshield. The wiper strip of the wiper blade made from an elastic material can thus be structurally supported so that unintentional bending of the wiper strip in the wiping direction of the windshield wiper arrangement is prevented.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Scheibenwischeranordnung gemäß einer Ausführungsform,
• 2-4 schematische Darstellungen eines Verbindungsbereichs eines Wischarms der Scheibenwischeranordnung,
• 5-8 schematische Darstellungen einer Adaptereinheit und einer Anschlusseinheit der Scheibenwischeranordnung,
• 9-15 schematische Darstellungen zum Veranschaulichen einer Montage des Wischarms an der Adaptereinheit der Scheibenwischeranordnung und
• 16 eine Detailansicht des Verbindungsbereichs mit dem in einem Betriebswinkel angeordneten Wischarm.

In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with the aid of greatly simplified schematic representations. Show here

• 1 a perspective illustration of a windshield wiper arrangement according to an embodiment,
• 2-4 schematic representations of a connection area of a wiper arm of the windshield wiper arrangement,
• 5-8 schematic representations of an adapter unit and a connection unit of the windshield wiper arrangement,
• 9-15 schematic representations to illustrate an assembly of the wiper arm on the adapter unit of the windshield wiper arrangement and
• 16 a detailed view of the connection area with the wiper arm arranged at an operating angle.

In the 1 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a windshield wiper assembly 1 shown according to one embodiment. The windshield wiper assembly 1 has a wiper blade 2 and a wiper arm 4th on.

The wiper blade 2 has a wiper strip 6th on which by spoilers 8th , 9 is mechanically stabilized. The wiper strip 6th is preferably made of an elastic material and is used for cleaning windshields. The wiper blade 2 has two spoilers according to the embodiment 8th , 9 on.

Next to the adapter unit 10 is a connection unit 12th positioned. The connection unit 12th is as an extension of the adapter unit 10 executed. It's a spoiler 8th longitudinal L. from the adapter unit 10 and a spoiler 9 longitudinal L. from the connection unit 12th guided.

The spoilers 8th , 9 each have an end cap 14th on which the wiper blade 2 complete at the end.

The spoilers 8th , 9 cover a heating device 16 which is parallel to the wiper strip 6th extends and the wiper blade 2 can heat. The heating device 16 can have two electrical lines 18th be supplied with electrical energy. The electrical lines 18th are next to the wiper arm 4th or on the outside of the wiper arm 4th relocated. The electrical lines 18th are via a connection housing 19th towards the connection unit 12th guided. The connection housing 19th is on the side of the wiper arm 4th arranged.

The connection unit 12th serves to establish a detachable electrical connection between the electrical conductors 18th and the heating device 16 . The connection unit is used in particular 12th to establish a connection between the through the connection housing 19th guided electrical conductors 18th and the heating device.

Through the wiper arm 4th runs a water pipe 20th . The water pipe 20th is used to provide windscreen washer fluid. The water pipe 20th is over the wiper arm 4th and through the adapter unit 10 releasably guided. The spoilers 8th , 9 have fluid channels 22nd which via the adapter unit 10 with the water pipe 20th are fluidly connected. The fluid channels 22nd extend the entire length of the spoiler 8th , 9 up to the end caps 14th inside. The end caps 14th also have fluid channels 24 which deflect the windscreen washer fluid and in water nozzles 26th end up. The water jets 26th are in the direction of the adapter unit 10 directed. For the sake of simplicity, the fluid channels are 22nd , 24 just along a spoiler 8th shown.

The arrows schematically illustrate the flow of energy for operating the heating device 16 and the flow of water along the wiper arm 4th as well as through the wiper blade 2 .

The 2 to 4th show schematic representations of a connection area V of the wiper arm 4th the wiper assembly 1 . In particular, the course of the electrical lines 18th as well as the water pipe 20th along the wiper arm 4th illustrated in detail.

In the 2 is the external arrangement of the connection housing 19th on the wiper arm 4th shown. The wiper arm points to this 4th in the connection area V a bracket 28 on. The connection housing 19th can in the holder 28 Snap-in and therefore fixed on the side of the wiper arm 4th attached.

The snap connection of the junction box 19th is in the 3 clarified. Such an arrangement of the connection housing 19th the electrical lines 18th straight next to the wiper arm 4th run away. Through the connection housing 19th can be the electrical connection of the heating system 16 from the connection of the water pipe 20th be separated so that there is increased security against a short circuit.

The 4th illustrates the course of the electrical lines 18th through the connection housing 19th through. According to the embodiment, the electrical lines 18th at an angle of 90 ° within the connection housing 19th deflected and aligned at the ends.

The water pipe 20th is inside the wiper arm 4th also deflected by an angle of 90 ° and aligned at the end.

The wiper arm 4th also has a locking opening 30th on and is made hollow. This forms the wiper arm 4th an end receiving area 32 out. The recording area 32 is on one of the adapter units 10 facing side opened in sections. The recording area 32 is supported by two support rails on this side 34 limited. The support rails 34 are as bent material sections of the wiper arm 4th executed.

In the 5 to 8th are schematic representations of the adapter unit 10 and the connection unit 12th the wiper assembly 1 shown. In particular, a method for mounting the wiper blade is used here 2 shown in the essential steps.

In a first step, the adapter unit 10 provided. The adapter unit has two rotation pins 11 on which transverse to the longitudinal direction L. are aligned. Furthermore, the adapter unit 10 a fluid coupling 36 on. The fluid coupling 36 serves to receive an end section of the water pipe 20th . In particular, the fluid coupling 36 fluid-conducting with the fluid channels 22nd , 24 as well as the water jets 26th get connected.

In a further step, a reinforcement bar is made 38 provided and with the adapter unit 10 connected. The adapter unit 10 an implementation 40 on, which extends lengthways L. through the adapter unit 10 runs through it. The 7th shows a cross section of the adapter unit 10 with the implementation 40 . The adapter unit 10 also has a second implementation 42 which is open on one side. The second execution 42 is used to pick up and align the wiper strip 6th .

On the reinforcement bar 38 is the heating device 16 arranged. The heating device 16 is designed as a film and with the reinforcement strip 38 glued. Via the reinforcement bar 38 becomes parallel to the adapter unit 10 the connection unit 12th pushed. The connection unit 12th a corresponding implementation. The implementation of the connection unit, not shown 12th is considered an extension of the implementation 40 the adapter unit 10 executed. This allows the reinforcement bar 38 through the adapter unit 10 and the connection unit 12th extend through. The connection unit can preferably 12th on the adapter unit in the longitudinal direction L. be arranged in a latching manner. This can be done, for example, via a connecting pin 44 done, which in the adapter unit 10 can be used positively or frictionally and extends in the longitudinal direction L. from the connection unit 12th stands out. On one of the adapter units 10 opposite side has the connection unit 12th a second connecting pin 45 on, which for the end-side receiving a spoiler 9 serves.

The connection unit 12th has two sockets 46 on. The sockets 46 protrude parallel to the fluid coupling 36 from the connection unit 12th and serve to make electrical contact with the electrical lines 18th , which end from the connection housing 19th towards the connection unit 12th stick out. The connection unit 12th is particularly set up for the added heating device 16 about the sockets 46 to be connected electrically and with the electrical lines 18th to pair.

In a further step, which is in the 8th illustrated is the assembly of the spoiler 8th , 9 carried out. The spoilers 8th , 9 are lengthways L. against the adapter unit 10 and against the connection unit 12th pushed. A spoiler 9 can via the connecting pin 45 with the connection unit 12th get connected. For this purpose, the connecting pin protrudes into a channel or fluid channel 22nd of the spoiler 9 inside.

The connecting pins 44 , 45 can alternatively also have a fluid channel which carries the windshield washer fluid from the adapter unit 10 into the fluid channel 22nd of the spoiler 9 passes through.

The adapter unit 10 has a recess 48 on which the spoiler 8th can be used in a form-fitting manner at the end. The arrows show the installation direction of the spoilers 8th , 9 . The fluid channel 22nd of the spoiler 8th becomes fluid-conducting with the fluid coupling 36 connected. A fluid connector is shown in magnification A. 50 illustrates which one in the recess 48 is arranged. The fluid connector 50 is with the fluid coupling 36 conductively connected. Will the spoiler 8th into the recess 48 inserted at the end, so forms the fluid connector 50 with the fluid channel 24 a conductive connection.

When installing the spoiler 8th , 9 serves the reinforcement bar 38 as a guide rail for the spoiler 8th , 9 . The spoilers 8th , 9 also reach around the wiper strip 6th and mechanically couple it with the reinforcement bar 38 . Then the end caps 14th end of the reinforcement strip 38 to be ordered. The spoilers 8th , 9 grip around the wiper strip 6th via support rails 47 and thus form a form-fitting support.

The 9 to 15th show schematic representations to illustrate an assembly of the wiper arm 4th on the adapter unit 10 of the wiper blade 2 .

Here is a connector 52 rotatable with the adapter unit 10 connected. For this purpose, the connecting element 52 on the rotation pins 11 the adapter unit 10 engaged and thus formed a hinge. The connecting element 52 has a locking spring 54 on.

The 10 to 12th illustrate the mechanical connection of the wiper arm 4th on the adapter unit 10 . The mechanical connection is made without prior connection to the water pipe 20th or the electrical lines 18th . The wiper arm is used to establish the mechanical connection 4th via the connecting element 52 pushed. The connecting element 52 thus protrudes into the receiving area 32 of the wiper arm 4th in such a way that the locking spring 54 through the locking opening 30th protrudes through. The locking spring 54 is as a flexible material section of the connecting element 52 executed. The locking spring must be used to loosen the mechanical connection 54 out of the locking opening 30th pressed and the wiper arm 4th from the fastener 52 subtracted from.

The mechanical connection between the wiper arm 4th and the connecting element 52 can preferably under a mounting bracket 56 respectively.

In the 13 to 15th is the pivoting of the wiper arm 4th from the mounting bracket 56 in the operating angle 58 shown. By moving the wiper arm 4th in the operating angle 58 are the electrical lines 18th with the sockets 46 connected. At the same time the water pipe 20th into the fluid coupling 36 used fluid-conducting. According to the exemplary embodiment, the wiper arm 4th in the operating angle 58 snap into place. Moving the wiper arm 4th in the operating angle 58 is in the 13 illustrated. The operating angle 58 is according to the embodiment 0 ° with respect to the adapter unit 10 .

The 16 shows a detailed view of the connection area V with that in the operating angle 58 arranged wiper arm 4th . In the operating angle 58 are the electrical lines 18th via the connection housing 19th with the sockets 46 electrically conductively connected. At the same time is the water pipe 20th into the fluid coupling 36 used. The arrows illustrate the flow of water 60 as well as the current flow 62 through the wiper assembly 1 in the connection area V .

Claims (10)

Windshield wiper arrangement (1), having a wiper arm (4) and having a wiper blade (2) which can be connected to the wiper arm (4) and a wiper strip (6) arranged in an adapter unit (10), the wiper blade (2) having a heating device (16) for heating the wiper strip (6), a connecting element (52) being rotatably connectable to the adapter unit (10) and having a locking spring (54) on a side facing away from the adapter unit (10), the wiper arm (4) at the end via the in a mounting bracket (56) steered by the adapter unit (10) connecting element (52) and can be locked by the locking spring (54) on the connecting element (52), the wiper arm (4) at least one water pipe (20) and at least two electrical Having lines (18) which open into a connection area (V) of the wiper arm (4) facing the adapter unit (10), characterized in that the adapter unit (10) has a connection area (V) directed fluid coupling (36) for the fluid-tight receiving of an end section of the water line (20) and a connection unit (12) is arranged adjacent to the adapter unit (10), which has at least two sockets (46) for receiving and electrically contacting the electrical lines ( 18). Wiper arrangement according to Claim 1 , wherein the wiper arm (4) locked with the connecting element (52) can be pivoted into an operating angle (58) in the direction of the adapter unit (10), with the at least one water line (20) at the end with the fluid coupling (36) in the operating angle (58) ) and the at least two electrical lines (18) are connected at the end to the at least two sockets (46). Wiper arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 , the at least one water line (20) running through the wiper arm (4), the at least two electrical lines (18) being arranged outside the wiper arm (4). Wiper arrangement according to Claim 3 , wherein a connection housing (19) is fastened to the wiper arm (4) in the connection area (V) of the wiper arm (4), the connection housing (19) being designed to accommodate the at least two electrical lines (18) and electrical plug connections to the Form sockets (46) of the connection unit (12). Windshield wiper arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , wherein the wiper blade (2) has at least one spoiler (8, 9) which runs parallel to the wiper strip (6) and has a fluid channel (22), the wiper blade (2) end caps (14) with water nozzles (26) ), the water nozzles (26) being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the fluid channel (22) of the at least one spoiler (8, 9). Windshield wiper arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , the fluid coupling (36) of the adapter unit (10) being connectable to the at least one water nozzle (26) in a fluid-conducting manner via the fluid channel (22) of the at least one spoiler (8, 9). Wiper arrangement according to Claim 6 wherein the connection unit (12) has a fluid channel, the fluid coupling (36) being connectable to the fluid channel of a spoiler (8, 9) via the fluid channel of the connection unit (12). Windshield wiper arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , the wiper blade (2) having at least one reinforcing strip (38), the heating device (16) being arranged along the reinforcing strip (38), the adapter unit (10) and the connection unit (12) each having a bushing (40) for receiving the reinforcing strip (38) with the heating device (16). Wiper arrangement according to Claim 8 , the connection unit (12) being set up to establish an electrical connection between the at least two electrical lines (18) inserted into the sockets (46) at the ends and the heating device (16) inserted into the bushing (40). Windshield wiper arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , wherein the at least one spoiler (8, 9) has retaining rails (47) and is fastened to the wiper blade (2) by the retaining rails (47) in the longitudinal direction (L) along the at least one reinforcing strip (38).

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