EP2911922A1

EP2911922A1 - Wiping system for a windshield, in particular of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2911922A1
Application number: EP13783045.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gérald CAILLOT
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Priority date: 2012-10-26
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Also published as: WO2014064199A1; FR2997358A1; FR2997358B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiping system for a windshield, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper (1) for said windshield and a device for spraying the windshield in a direction transverse to a direction of longitudinal extension of said wiper. Said system comprises means (50) for deflecting a flow of air from an incident direction, approximately parallel to said direction of longitudinal extension of the wiper, into a direction transverse to said incident direction.

Description

SYSTEM FOR WIPING A WINDSHIELD, IN PARTICULAR OF

MOTOR VEHICLE

The field of the present invention is that of equipment for veh icles, and especially that of the equipment for wiping the windows of automobiles.

Automobiles are commonly equipped with wiper systems to wash the windshield and prevent the driver's vision from being disturbed. These windscreen wipers are conventionally driven by arms or brush holders performing an angular reciprocating movement and comprise elongated brushes, themselves carrying scraping blades made of an elastic material. These blades rub against the windshield and evacuate the water by bringing it out of the driver's field of vision. In a recent version

Referred to as "flat blade" (for "flat blade"), the brooms include a semi-rigid assembly that holds the scraper blade along its entire length.

It is also known to provide the windscreen wipers with spraying devices for bringing a washer fluid which is conveyed from a tank located on the vehicle and which is sprayed in the direction of the vehicle.

20 windshield by nozzles located on the wiper-ice itself for better distribution of the liquid. The latter is projected onto the windshield according to a n ection located in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal extension direction of the brushes.

That being so, it was observed by the applicant that the movement of

25 and comes from the brushes creates a flow of air, oriented parallel to the brushes, which disrupts the projection of the washing liquid, especially when the vehicle is moving. More precisely, the aerodynamic flow encountered by the moving car, which is disturbed by the presence of moving arms and brooms, creates turbulence around the arms and brooms.

This affects the homogeneity of the distribution of the wash liquid on the windshield and may even have the consequence of preventing the washing liquid from reaching the windshield. This results in a degraded washing performance. The invention proposes to solve the above problems and relates to a wiper system of a windshield, in particular of automobile veh icule, comprising a wiper blade of said windshield and a device for spraying the windshield , in particular from said brush, in a direction transverse to a direction of longitudinal extension of said brush.

According to the invention, said system comprises means for deflecting an air flow of an incident direction, substantially parallel to said direction of longitudinal extension of the blade, at a direction transverse to said incident direction,

In this way, the flow of aerodynamic air generated by the movement back and forth of the blades is deflected, which limits or even eliminates the disturbance of the spraying device, without having to modify the general configuration of the devices. brooms and / or their drive arm.

According to different embodiments of the invention which may be taken together or separately:

said broom comprises a stiffening core and a scraper blade, said core imparting a bending to said blade so as to favor the application of said blade to the windshield,

said broom comprises a hooking clip of said stiffening core and said scraping blade;

said deflection means comprise a deflector located on said clip,

said broom comprises a mechanical connector, configured to allow articulation of said broom with respect to a drive arm

Said brush and an adapter freely mounted in articulation on said mechanical connector, said adapter being configured to allow assembly and disassembly of the blade on the arm,

said deflection means comprising a baffle located on said mechanical connector and / or on said adapter,

Said wiper system comprises the drive arm of the wiper,

said deflection means comprise a deflector located on said arm said deflector is located at a distal end of said arm at which distal end said blade is secured,

said deflector is situated at a proximal end of said arm, configured to conceal a drive member from said arm,

The system comprises a gu ide for installing a hydraulic and / or electrical connector between said arm and said blade,

said deflection means comprise a deflector located on said guide,

said deflector comprises a base by which it is fastened to said clip, said mechanical connector, said adapter, said arm and / or said guide,

said deflection means comprise a deflection surface extending in a curved manner,

said deflection surface extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge,

said leading edge is common to said base and to said deflection surface,

said trailing edge is at a distance from said base,

said trailing edge is turned towards said distal end of the arm,

Said deflection surface has, at the trailing edge, a tangent having an angle with respect to said base strictly greater than 0 °, or even 5 °, especially 10 °, and less than 30 °,

said deflection means are derived from material of said clip, said mechanical connector, said adapter, said arm and / or said guide.

The invention will be understood, and for other purposes, features, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed explanatory description of several embodiments of the invention. invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

30 In these drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary wiper system to which the invention is applicable; Figure 2 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of Figure 1, assembled, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system 5 of Figure 1, assembled, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of Figure 1, assembled, according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of Figure 1, assembled, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of Figure 1, assembled, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of Figure 1, assembled, according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, said system being completed with a drive arm;

FIG. 8 is a partial view, in perspective, of the wiper system of FIG. 1, assembled, according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, said system being completed with a drive arm,

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment, according to the invention, of the driving arm of FIGS. 7 and 8.

In these drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like or similar elements.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the invention relates to a windshield wiper system of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. In known manner, said system is intended to follow an angular movement back and forth to evacuate the water and / or other unwanted elements 30 covering the windshield.

Said wiper system comprises a wiper 1 for wiping said windshield. It is, for example, a flat bala i of the type comprising a stiffening core 2 and a scraper blade 3, in particular of rubber. Said stiffening core 2 confers a bending to said scraper blade 3 so as to promote the application of said scraper blade on the windshield.

According to the embodiment of the invention, this rigid core 2 comprises two vertebrae 4 situated at the level of respective grooves formed in said scraper blade 3.

According to a variant, not illustrated, said stiffening core comprises a single vertebra located in a housing formed along the blade.

Said blade 1 may further comprise hooks or hooking fasteners 5 of said stiffening core 2 and said scraper blade 3, located at each longitudinal end of the blade 1. In the embodiment with two vertebrae, they allow to assemble said vertebrae 4 to said scraper blade 3. In the embodiment with a single vertebra,

Said hooking staples 5 blocks the latter longitudinally.

Said blade 1 may also include a body 6, here having a fin 7 for improving the operation of the wiper system. Specifically, the purpose of the fin 7 is to improve the broom plating on the windshield and therefore the aerodynamic performance of the system. Said body 6,

20 lad ite rigid core id 2 and / or lad ite scraping blade 3 are assembled, in particular using said fastening clips 5.

To ensure its mounting, said blade 1 comprises, for example, a mechanical connector 10, configured to allow articulation of said blade 1 relative to an arm 12 of said wiper system, allowing

Driving said brush 1, and an adapter 14, freely mounted in articulation on said mechanical connector 1 0. Said mechanical connector 1 0 is subject to said body 6, said stiffening core 2 and / or said scraper blade 3. Ledit adapter 1 4 is configured to allow assembly and disassembly of the blade 1 on the arm 12.

Said adapter 14 allows a rotation between the blade 1 and the drive arm 12. Indeed, the blade must have at least one degree of freedom in rotation relative to said arm, and more specifically in relation to to a piece or end portion 16 of said arm 12, to allow the blade to follow the curvature of the glazing to be wiped. Said mechanical connector 1 0 here comprises for this purpose pins 18 formed on lateral flanks of said mechanical connector 10, said pins 18 cooperating with orifices 19 5 formed on lateral sides of said adapter 14. The mechanical connector 1 0, carrying the brush, here is inserted into the clevis forming the adapter 14.

For its part, the adapter 14 fits into the end piece 16 by a translation movement along a longitudinal axis of extension of said end piece 16, to come into use position, where it is located in abutment against the end piece 1 6 in which it is fixed reversibly by means of a retractable button 20 locking, which cooperates with a recess 22 formed for this purpose in the upper part of the end piece 16. In this position , said end piece 16

The retractable knob 20 and the recess 22 are provided in the upper part, respectively, of said adapter 14 and said end piece 16, said knob 20 being located at a distal end of a flexible tab 24. Many locking variants are possible.

The end piece 16 of the drive arm 12 has an inverted "U" shape where the opening of this "U" shape faces the windshield. The adapter 14 has a clevis shape, complementary to the internal volume of the end piece 16, so as to be housed in the latter. When placing the blade 1 in the drive arm 12,

The adapter 14 is introduced into said end piece 16 through an opening 26 provided at the distal end thereof and guided by flanges 28 of its lateral flanks, directed towards the inside of said end piece 16. The adapter 14 here has an extremity 30, called cap, closing the distal end of the arm 12.

The system according to the invention further comprises a device for spraying the windshield from said brush 1. As symbolized by the arrows illustrated 3, the sprinkling is carried out in a transverse direction, orthogonal, at a direction of longitudinal extension D of said brush 1.

Said spraying device comprises, for example, channels 32 made here in the body 6, for dispensing the cleaning liquid 5 inside the brush 1 to the spray nozzles, not visible, distributed along said broom 1. Said spraying device further comprises a hydraulic connector 34 supplying the blade 1 from one or more circulation ducts of said liquid, not shown. The mechanical connector 10 is configured to circulate the spraying head of the hydraulic connector 34 to said brush 1. It includes here for this purpose (not visible) ports for connection with the hydraulic connector 34 and leading to the internal channels 32 for dispensing the washer fluid in the brush 1.

Said wiper system may further comprise a device for heating the spraying liquid. Said heating device comprises,

For example, a heating wire, non-visible, located in the brush 1, and an electrical connector 36, supplying said heating wire, said mechanical adapter 1 0 being configured to allow the connection of said electric adapter 36 and its connection to said heating wire.

To facilitate the introduction of the blade 1 in the arm 12, said

The system may further comprise a guide 38 positioning the said hydraulic connectors 34 and / or electrical 36 between said arm 12 and said blade 1, more particularly to allow the connection of said hydraulic connectors 34 and / or electrical 36 to said mechanical connector 10 Said guide 38 is configured to be integral with the actuating arm

25 1 2, in particular its end portion 1 6, and to lock in position said hydraulic connectors 34 and / or electrical 36, in a first configuration of assembly / disassembly of the blade 1, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to give a degree of flexibility in pivoting to its hydraulic connectors 34 and / or electrical 36, here around the pins 18 of the connector

10, in a second configuration, called service, use of ud it wipe system. In this last configuration, the hydraulic connectors 34 and / or electrical 36 are carried by said mechanical connector 10, here through hooks 40, located in the rear part of said mechanical connector 10, while being free to rotate relative to said arm 12.

Said arm 12 comprises opposite distal 60 and proximal ends 62, better visible in FIGS. 7 and 8. Said proximal end 62 is configured to be oriented towards an axis, not shown, of articulation of said drive arm 12 of said brushes 1. Said piece or end portion 16 of said arm 12 is located at said distal edge 60.

As illustrated in the following figures, according to the invention, said system 10 comprising means 50 for deflecting an air flow of an incident direction, substantially parallel to said direction of longitudinal extension D of the blade 1, at a distance of direction transverse to said incident direction, as symbolized by the arrow marked F. The applicant has found that in this way the sprinkler is improved by im ing the disruptive effect of the air flows.

15 aerodynamic generated along the blade 1 by the angular movement back and forth of the blade 1, especially when the vehicle is in rolling mode.

Said deflection means 50 are advantageously located on the rising face of the broom 1, that is to say on the face of the broom intended to be

20 turned up in use. Said trailing edge is preferably turned towards said distal end 60 of the arm 12.

The deflection means 50 comprise one or more deflectors which can be positioned in different parts of the wiper system, as will be developed below.

The at least one deflector comprises, for example, a base 52 for connection to the member of the wiper system which supports them, in particular by following the contour of said member. Said base 52 is, for example, flat. Said deflector here comprises a deflection surface 54, extending in a curved manner, or plane, in particular between a leading edge 56 and an edge

This leading edge 56 is common to said base 52 and to said deflection surface 54. Said trailing edge 58 is at a distance from said base 52. Said deflection surface 54 has, at the edge leak 58, a tangent having an angle with respect to said base 52, for example, strictly greater than 0 °, especially greater than 5 °, see 10 °, and / or less than 30 °. The at least one deflector is, for example, derived from material of the wiper system member which supports them. They may alternatively be snapped, glued, welded or otherwise.

As illustrated in Figure 2, a deflector according to the invention may be located on one of the staples 5 of the blade 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a deflector according to the invention may also be located on said adapter 14, for example at its cap 30. Said adapter here comprises a body inserted inside the terminal end. 16 of the arm 12, said deflector and said body defining a slot 70 in which a flange 72 of said end 16 of the drive arm 12 of the blade 1 is introduced.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a baffle according to the invention can still be located on said mechanical connector 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a deflector according to the invention is this time situated at the level of said guide 38.

As illustrated in the following figures, the deflector is now positioned on said arm 12.

In FIG. 6, said deflector is located at the distal end

60 of said arm 1 2 as in Figures 7 to 9, it is located at the level of the proximal end 62 of said arm 1.

It will be noted that the arm 12 here comprises a driver 83 (visible in FIG. 9 only) and a housing 82. The driver 83 may be covered with a coach cover 80 which is snapped onto this driver 83. The housing 82 pivots around of the driver 83 at the proximal end 62 of the arm 12. A housing cover 81 can also be snapped into the housing 82.

In FIG. 7, said baffle is on said coach cover 80. In FIG. 8, said deflector is on said housing cover 81. In FIG. 9, said deflector is positioned directly on the trainer 83 in the case where there is no coach cover 80. In the above, sprinkling takes place from the wiper blade. However, the invention can also be applied to an onboard wash on the drive arm and / or at the brush connection means on the drive arm, that is to say, at the connector 5 mechanical, adapter and / or the end portion of said arm. In this case, the deflectors considered may correspond to those described in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8. The deflector may also be integrated with one or more sprinklers of the spraying device, to protect the jet of water leaving the nozzle (s). . The invention may also be applied to brooms equipped with irrigation systems, type mini ramp.

Claims

1. Wiper system of a windscreen, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper blade (1) of said windscreen and a device for spraying the windscreen, in a direction transversal to a direction longitudinally extending said brush, said system comprising means (50) for deflecting an air flow of an incident direction, substantially parallel to said direction of longitudinal extension of the brush, at a direction transverse to said incident direction.

2. System according to claim 1 wherein said blade (1) comprises a stiffening core (2) and a scraper blade (3), said core (2) conferring a bending said blade (3) so as to promote the application said blade (2) on the windshield.

3. System according to claim 2 wherein said blade (1) comprises a hooking clip (5) of said stiffening core (2) and said scraper blade (3) and said deflection means (50) comprise a deflector located on said clip (5).

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said broom (1) comprises a mechanical connector (10), configured to allow an articulation of said blade (1) relative to a drive arm (12) of said blade (1) and an adapter (14), freely mounted in articulation on said mechanical connector (10), said adapter (14) being configured to allow assembly and disassembly of the blade (1) on the arm (12).

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said deflection means (50) comprises a shield located on said mechanical connector (10) and / or on said adapter (14).

6. A system according to any one of claims 4 or 5 comprising said drive arm (12) of the blade (1).

The system of claim 6 wherein said deflection means (50) comprises a deflector on said arm (12).

The system of claim 7 wherein said baffle is located at a first end (60) of said arm (12) to which said broom (1) is secured and / or at a second end (62). said arm (1), configured to conceal a drive member from said arm (1).

9. System according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said system comprises a guide (38) for the establishment of a hydraulic connector (34) and / or electrical (36) between said arm (12) and said broom (1) and

Said deflection means (50) comprise a baffle located on said guide (38).

The system of any one of 6 to 9 wherein said deflection means comprises a deflection surface (54) extending

20 curved.

1 1. The system of claim 10 wherein said deflection surface extends between a leading edge (56) and a trailing edge (58).

The system of claim 1 wherein said trailing edge (58) is facing a distal end (60) of the arm (12).

13. System according to any one of claims 1 1 or 12 wherein said deflection surface (54) has, at the trailing edge 30 (58), a tangent having an angle relative to said blade (1) and / or said arm (12), strictly greater than 0 ° and less than 30 °.

14. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said deflection means (50) are derived from material.