FI120968B - Windscreen wiper - Google Patents

Description

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Windscreen wiper

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper comprising a frame and an interchangeable feather element which can be attached to the frame.

The windscreen wiper according to the invention also preferably has a heating line in connection with the housing and / or fuse part and a thermostat which switches electric current to the heating line when the outdoor temperature drops below a predetermined limit and interrupts electric current from the heating line.

Such windshield wipers are known in the prior art, e.g., from U.S. Patent Nos. 4,603,451 and 2004/0006839 A1 and US 6,507,973. Further, the Applicant's prior patent FI 106370 discloses a heated windshield wiper, which melts a small amount of silicone on the surface of the windshield to form a clear water repellent surface.

Known windshield wipers have the problem that the spring force of the wiper arm and / or the stiffness of the wiper itself is not always sufficient to press the wiper blade 20 along its entire length against the surface of the windscreen, leaving behind a wiper result. This problem occurs especially when there is ice or dirt on the windscreen surface.

It is a further object of the invention to develop a windscreen wiper of this type such that the pressure exerted by the molten glass is more evenly distributed over the entire length of the molten glass. A further object of the invention is to provide easy replaceability of the feathers, whereby winter-heated feathers and non-heated feathers can be used.

This object of the invention is achieved on the basis of the features set forth in the appended claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

In the following, one embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a windscreen wiper according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the windscreen wiper of Figure 1 in perspective view.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge body 7 and a replaceable feather cartridge 2, 7 according to another embodiment of the invention.

10 The windscreen wiper includes a body 1 and a replaceable fuse part 2 which can be secured to the body by means of a cassette body 7. A heating cable 3, such as a strip-shaped resistor wire or a power supply to the heating lines 4 of the fuse part, passes between the housing 1 and the cartridge body 7 and is secured and / or embedded in the body 1. The fuse part 2 and cartridge body 7 15 must be replaced. At the end of the fuse cassette 2, 7 and the body 1 there is a connector 16 which connects the heating part 3 of the body part to the heating conduit 4 inside the fuse part. The connector may alternatively be located in the middle of the wiper If desired, the heating cable can run only with the frame or with the fuse. The body 1 and the cassette body 7 may be plastic and may be manufactured by injection molding.

A thermostat 5 is connected to the power supply lines 3a inside the shaft 9 which switches the electric current to the heating line 3,4 when the outdoor temperature drops below a predetermined limit (e.g. + 4 ° C) and cuts the electric current from the heating line 3,4 when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit . The thermostat 5 can also be connected directly to the heating line 3, 4, measuring its temperature. In this case, the heating current can be cut off, for example, when the resistance wire temperature is + 75 ° C.

The feather member 2 according to the invention includes a fluid-limiting hollow-filled elastic member 6 which is interposed between the cassette body 7 and the molten 2b, allowing for distance variations between the cassette body 7 and the molten 2b. The fluid-like substance may be a gas such as air, liquid, jelly, colloid, soft silicone, etc. This fluid-like substance may communicate via microchannels to the pen 2b, leaving small amounts of material on the glass surface to form a water repellent clear surface or film. Alternatively, or in addition to the step 35, the feather 2b itself is made of components 3 such that at least one component provides a controlled water-repellent clear surface to the surface of the windscreen. At the same time, such a surface is dirt repellent, i.e., facilitates the work of the molten to remove dirt from the surface of the windscreen.

As the pressure of the fluid-like substance 2a is uniformly distributed over the entire length of the resilient member 6, the pressure exerted by the molten 2b on the glass, respectively, is uniformly distributed over the entire length of the molten.

The body 1 is a trough-shaped rigid profile formed as a U or C profile receiving the feathers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cassette body 7 is comprised of body members interconnected by a longitudinal film hinge 11 of the wiper, around which parts of the cassette body 7 are rotatably limited. The diaphragm hinge 11 is sufficiently rigid to hold the cassette body in a rest position as shown in Figs. 1 or 3, where it can be inserted into the body 1. However, the hinge 11 15 allows the cassette body 7 to be opened for mounting the fuse part 2. The cassette body 7 has locking lugs 12 between or behind the locking projection 13 of the fuse part 2 when the cassette body 2 is in a resting position where it can be inserted into the body 1. The embodiment of Fig. 3 differs from Fig. 1 in that the cassette body 7 of Fig. 3 has two diaphragm hinges 11 and correspondingly at the upper-20 corners of the resilient part 6 of the fuse part 2 there are two locking projections 13 which engage behind the cams 12 of the cassette body. This gives the elastic member 6 a better support than the attachment of Fig. 1.

The cassette body 7 is locked to the body 1 by locking means 15 whose locking clips snap into the recesses of the body 1 when the cassette body 7 is stationary inside the body 1. The locking can be released by turning the locking members outward. The body 1 may have, for example, spring-loaded rocking levers whose ends snap into the recesses of the cassette body 7 when the cassette body 7 is inserted into the body 1. In this case, the release is effected by pressing the levers so that they turn against the spring load, whereby the locking is released and the sealing cassette 2, 7 can be removed and replaced. This easy interchangeability is also important 30 because the summer ink pen need not be heated. If replacing the feather cartridge were difficult, the user would not always replace the feather, but would consume a more expensive heating feather also in the summer.

An indicator light 10 is connected to the heating line 3 or to the current supplying line 3a which indicates that the heating is on. In the case shown, the indicator light 10 is on the wiper arm 9.

Preferably, one or more longitudinal stiffeners 8 are provided inside the feather member 2. The heating resistors 4 can be inserted parallel to the channel 2c of the feather member 2 immediately above the feather 2b.

The wiper arm 9 is secured to the body 1 by any suitable mechanism 10 which allows angular variation between these longitudinal directions within small limits. In its dormant state, the body 1 may be slightly curved or straighter than the curvature of the windscreen, whereby the flexibility of the molten 2b and the resilient member 6 allows the curvature of the molten to adjust to the curvature of the windscreen. Due to the rigid structure of the body part 1 and the resilient structure 15 of the feather member 2, the feather 2b is pressed against the surface of the windscreens of varying curvature at a constant force throughout its length. Even if there are irregularities on the wiping surface due to ice or dirt, there are no shadows on the wiping result.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the resilient portion 6 of the feather member 2 has a plurality of folds 14 for increasing the elastic movement of the feather 2b within a relatively small range of pressure applied to the feather.

The fluid pressure in the cavity of the elastic member 6 must be selected for the purpose, as well as the elasticity and wall thickness of the elastic member material. In this case, the feather 2b kal-25 is listed as a suitable wipe angle n as the wiper moves back and forth.

Furthermore, the rigid body 1 directly attached to the arm is a more advantageous structure in terms of electricity export and the location of the resistance lines. The wires will not remain visible and will not be exposed to damage (friction, twisting, etc.). Power can be supplied from a fuse box. Also, the position of the thermostat 5 can be selected so as to provide good reliability in the freezing conditions of winter. Heating is automatically turned on when needed. Replacing the worn fuse part 2 can be done easily and quickly without the need to replace the wiper body 1, which may be permanently attached to the arm 12, however, so that it can be replaced with tools if the body-35 part 1 is damaged.

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Since the body part 1 is long-lived, it is advantageous to construct a washing liquid spraying apparatus thereon. In the case shown, the spray channels 17 with their nozzles 18 are located on both sides of the body 1 at the outer and lower edges of the body. In both channels 17, the washing liquid is supplied by its own supply pipes 17a, which are inside the shaft 9 or can also be mounted on the shaft 9. The feed pipes 17a may be connected to a suction valve which distributes the washing fluid in turn to the different feed pipes 17a and to the different spray channels, so that the spraying is carried out only or mainly from the front edge of the wiper in the direction of movement of the wiper. Such a mechanism is described in the applicant's patent FI-85356.

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The windshield wiper according to the invention reduces crashes when visibility is improved even in poor weather conditions.

Claims (12)

Windscreen wiper, comprising a body (1) and a replaceable fuse part (2) which can be mounted to the body, the feather part (2) comprising a resilient part (6) between the cartridge body (7) and the fuse (2b). permitting variations in the distance between the cartridge body (7) and the fuse (2b), the body (1) being substantially rigid, characterized in that the resilient fuse part (2) is attached to the cartridge body (7) which together with the fuse part (2) 7) with a replaceable cassette body (7)! lockable in the receiving space of the body (1). 10 Windscreen wiper according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) is a trough-shaped rigid profile formed as a U or C profile receiving the feather cassette (2, 7). Windscreen wiper according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cassette body (7) consists of body members which are connected to one another by a hinge (11) around which the cassette body parts are pivotally restricted and that the cassette body (7) has locking lugs (7). 12) between or behind which the locking tab (13) of the feather member (2) is pinched or gripped when the cassette body (7) is in a resting position where it can be inserted into the body (2). Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a heating line (3, 4) in connection with the body and / or fuse part and a thermostat (5) which switches electric current to the heating line (3, 4). The condition drops below a predetermined limit and cuts off the electric current from the heating line (3, 4) when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating line (3) passes along a housing (1) having at its end or center a connector (16) which engages the fuse portion (2) of the heating cable (3) in connection with the housing. to the heating cable (4) inside. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a longitudinal stiffener (8) is provided inside the feather part (2). 35 Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the feather (2b) is made of such components that at least one component releases a clear water-repellent clear surface onto the surface of the windscreen. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the feather member (2) contains, through microchannels, a substance in contact with the feather (2b), which forms a clear water-repellent surface on the windscreen surface. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the resilient part (6) of the feather member (2) has a plurality of folds (14) for increasing the elastic movement of the molten member (2b) within a relatively small range of pressure force. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that a signal light (10) is connected to the heating line (3) or to the power supply line thereof, which indicates that the heating is on. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that there are washing liquid spray channels (17) with nozzles 20 (18) on both sides of the body. Windscreen wiper according to Claim 11, characterized in that the washing liquid is arranged to be alternately supplied to the various spray channels (17) such that the spraying is carried out only or mainly from the front side of the wiper in the direction of movement of the wiper. Windscreen wiper according to Claim 3, characterized in that the cassette body has two diaphragm hinges (11) spaced from one another and the locking part (2) respectively have two locking shoulders (13) located in the upper corners of the fusing part. Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the elastic member (6) delimits a cavity filled with fluid-like material (2a) or soft silicone.