FR2468489A2 - WIPER IMPROVES IN PARTICULAR FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Windscreen wipers for the alternating sweeping of a surface. This wiper comprises a frame which consists of a main element and two end elements articulated to said main element, the main element being associated with a spreader able to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the scraper blade. Usable in particular for scanning a motor vehicle windshield.

Description

This application for the first certificate of addition is

  stain in claim 1 of the French patent application number 77-22 790 filed July 25, 1977. The aforementioned patent application

  describes a wiper intended in particular for motor vehicles

  biles, consisting of an arm driven by a rotational movement

  and articulated armature with said arm, said armature

  supporting by means of spreaders a scraper blade

  in a flexible elastically deformable material.

  To improve, at each inversion of the scanning direction, the in-

  version of the inclination of the wiping lip of the scraper blade with respect to the ice, it is provided on the wiper of the type referred to above means for pivoting of the rudder relative to the armature around an axis substantially parallel to the scraper blade, this pivoting being of limited amplitude on either side of an average position. The aforementioned means consist in

  particular to give to the rim of the rudder which is not

  to the scraper blade, a cross-section of

  die that cooperates with a stirrup or a clevis of the frame.

  A windshield wiper of this kind provides an effective wiping

  Increased age, when compared to similar prior art wipers in which the scraper blade could tilt by means of a hinged joint, not between a rudder and the associated armature, but between frame and the wiper arm. Indeed, this type of arm-reinforcement connection

  has the disadvantage of providing an additional degree of freedom

  since the articulation allows the pivoting of the armature not only around an axis perpendicular to the scraper blade, but also around an axis parallel to the scraper blade. As a result, the guiding between the wiper arm and the armature is poorly

  assured and that the wiping procured leaves something to be desired. In the towel

  ice described in the patent application 77-22 790, the connection between the wiper arm and the frame is a conventional type of articulation which is not disturbed by the change of inclination

  the scraper blade being scanned.

  In the French patent application number 78-28 347,

  On October 4, 1978, a windshield wiper was described, consisting of a main element and two terminal elements.

  articulated to said main element, resilient means being provided

  seen at the joints of the terminal elements with the

  reinforcement to push each end element

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  towards the surface to be swept. On this wiper, the scraper blade is directly attached by stirrups to the main frame member. The present invention aims at improving the efficiency of such a windscreen wiper by providing for attaching the scraper blade to the main armature member by means of a pivotable rudder beam. on the one hand, around an axis perpendicular to the scraper blade and, on the other hand, around a

  axis parallel to the scraper blade. Indeed, the pivoting of the palon-

  denying about an axis perpendicular to the scraper blade makes it possible to better follow the variations in the radius of curvature of the windshields to be wiped while the limited amplitude pivoting along an axis parallel to the scraper blade has the effect of favoring the reversal of the inclination of the scraper blade with respect to the windshield

  each inversion of the scanning direction.

  The subject of the present invention is therefore the industrial product

  triel that constitutes a windshield wiper, in particular for

  wiping a windshield of a motor vehicle, said wiper

  ice being entrained by a windshield wiper arm hinged by

  armature, said armature being connected to a blade

  cleuse by means of at least one hinged lever

  said armature, the scraper blade being attached to the ends of the

  lonnier mentioned above by fasteners, said rudder being adapted to

  pivoting with respect to the armature, on the one hand, around a sensing axis

  perpendicularly to the scraper blade and, on the other hand,

  turn of an axis substantially parallel to the scraper blade, said

  with limited amplitude on both sides of a posi-

  medium, characterized in that the reinforcement consists of

  a main element and in two end elements articulated

  said main element, the articulation of an end element on the main element of reinforcement being provided with an elastic means for pushing the end element in the direction of the surface to be scanned, the element reinforcement having, in its central zone, a U-shaped cross-section, the part

  central rudder being hinged to the interior of the aforementioned U.

  In a preferred embodiment, each element of ex-

  armature tremité comprises, at its terminal end opposite to

  the one where the articulation with the main element of the

  mature, a scraper blade attachment; fasteners elements

  end of the armature and rudder on the scraper blade con-

  in a stirrup that encloses the back of the blade.

M 3. 2468489

  cleuse which is opposed to the wiping lip of said blade on the surface to be scanned; the articulation-of the rudder relative to

  the main element of reinforcement around a substantially

  pendicular to the scraper blade is performed by giving the bor--

  the rudder blade, which is opposite to that facing the scraper blade, a convex shape held with play inside the U-shaped cross-section of the main element

  frame; the pivoting of the rudder around a sensitive axis

  parallel to the scraper blade is achieved by giving the

  harrow, which cooperates with the inner wall of the U of

  the main element of reinforcement, in the central zone of said pallet

  deny, a section by a plane perpendicular to the scraper blade,

  which is rounded; the two flanks-of the central part of the

  deny, which cooperate with the parallel wings of the U of the main frame member, are substantially parallel or slightly convergent towards the scraper blade; two wells are formed in the central part of the spreader, these two substantially parallel wells opening, on the one hand, at one of their ends facing the scraper blade and, on the other hand, to their other end, on either side of the convex zone of the

  upper rudder rim; two snap nipples pre-

  seen in relief on the core of the U of the main reinforcement element engage inside the aforementioned wells and ensure the maintenance with play of the central part of the rudder inside the above-mentioned U; in the central portion of the rudder and the side of said rudder which is disposed opposite the scraper blade, is

  practiced a niche linking the two wells where the

  snapping tones, the detent of the nipples being capable of cooperating with the bottom of the crenel to ensure the maintenance of the rudder inside the U of the main element

  frame; the connecting device of the main element of ar-

  mature with the wiper arm is arranged laterally on

  one of the two parallel wings of the U of the main element of ar-

  mature; the main element and the two end elements of the armature, as well as the rudder are made of material

molded plastic.

  To better understand the purpose of the present invention,

  tion, we will describe below, as a purely illustrative example

  non-limiting, an embodiment represented on the

attached drawing.

  In this drawing: - Figure 1 shows, in elevation, a schematic general view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, an elevational view of the main frame member and the associated rudder equipping the windscreen wiper of Figure 1

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal axial section of the element

  main frame and its associated rudder shown in Figure 2, and - Figure 4 shows a cross section on IV-IV

of Figure 2.

  Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, we see that the scraper blade 1 of the wiper shown is, in its part

  center, carried by a spreader 2 hinged to a main element

  armature 3 while at its ends the scraper blade 1 is

  carried by two end elements 4 of the frame which are

  to the main element 3. Thus, the frame of the windshield wiper

  consists of a main element 3 and two elements of extremi-

  4 identical to the main element 3.

  The two end elements 4 and the main element 3

  which constitute the armature of the windscreen wiper, as well as

  denier 2 are made of molded plastic, for example polyamide. The main element 3 carries, laterally, a connecting device with a wiper arm (not shown) which is intended to drive the wiper in a sweeping motion

  alternative. This connecting device is, in a known manner, constituting

  killed by a flange 5 connected to a side wall of the main element

  pal 3 by two spacers and a flattened axis 6 disposed in the

  plane of transverse symmetry of the wiper. Thanks to this arrangement

  linkage, the wiper arm does not overcome the wiper blade.

  ice, so that the whole is lowered compared to the

windshield to sweep.

  The main element 3 of the armature constitutes a symmetrical piece with respect to its transverse median plane. The cross section (Figure 4) of the main element 3 is U-shaped having two parallel wings 7a, 7b connected at right angles to a perforated core 7c. The two wings 7a, 7b of the U are turned from

side of scraper blade 1.

  At each end of the main element 3 of the

  mature is provided a flattened axis 8 connecting to both wings

  7a, 7b of the U and extending perpendicular to said wings. Cha-

  that flattened axis 8 is intended to cooperate with a cylindrical housing

  jig (not shown) carried by an end element 4 of the

  mature. The articulation of the two end elements 4 with the main element 3 of the frame is carried out according to the teaching

  French patent application number 78-28 347 filed on 4 Oc-

  1978 in the name of the applicant company. This mode of articulation will therefore not be repeated in detail in the present

  description. As described in the above-mentioned application 78-28 347,

  elastic means (not shown) are provided in the zone of ar-

  of the end elements 4 on the main element 3 of

  the armature for pushing said end elements towards

  ice to sweep. A stirrup 9 is provided in the ter-

  of the end elements 4, which is opposite to their articu-

  with the main element 3. The two identical stirrups

  have come from molding with the end elements 4 and are used

  to link the scraper blade with the elements

end 4.

  Both ends of the spreader 2 are provided with a stirrup 10 identical to the stirrups 9 of the end elements 4 of

  the armature. As described in the main patent application

  ro 77-22 790, the rudder 2 can pivot relative to the element

  3 of the reinforcement, not only around a sensitive axis

  perpendicular to the scraper blade 1, but still around a

  axis substantially parallel to said scraper blade.

  As it is visible on the cross section of FIG. 4, the crossbar 2 has, in its central part, a wall 13 rounded upwards and delimited laterally by flanks which

  converge slightly in a direction opposite to the extreme end

  rounded arch. As a variant, the flanks that connect to the

  rounded upper wall 13 may be substantially parallel.

  In longitudinal section, as shown in FIG.

  rounded king 13 of the rudder 2 has the shape of a circular arc of

large radius.

  The central zone of the rudder is arranged inside

  the U-shaped cross-section of the main armor element 3

  ture. The distance between the wings 7a and 7b of the U is sensitive

  equal, within play, to the diameter of the rounded area of the

cross section of the spreader 2.

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  Two substantially parallel wells 11 are made in the central part of the rudder; they come out, at their part

  upper face vis-à-vis the perforated core 7c of the U, from and to

  of the rounded upper wall 13 of the rudder, as can be seen in Figure 3. At their lower part, the

  two wells 11 are joined by a slot, the two walls of which

  The limbs are turned on the side of the scraper blade. The bottom of the crenel is constituted by the rounded wall 13 of the rudder which abuts against the perforated core 7c of the U formed by the main element 3 of reinforcement. Inside the two wells II mentioned above engage two studs 12 provided in relief on the pierced core 7c

  U and arranged symmetrically with respect to the transient median plane.

  3 of the main element 3. The two studs 12 comprise, at their free end, two snap-on shims rotated towards each other, whose spacing is less than the length of the rounded wall 13 of the spreader 2 The two locking studs 12 are intended to maintain the play of the spreader 2 within the main element 3 of reinforcement. It should be noted that there is a certain clearance between the two latching teeth and the rounded wall 13 of the crossbar when the latter is resting on the perforated core 7c of the main element 3.

  play allows the rudder 2 to roll on the perforated core 7c of the element.

  3 and consequently to pivot around a sensitive axis

  perpendicular to the scraper blade. In addition, the lifter 2

  can pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the blade ra-

  cleuse inside the U-section of the main element 3

  thanks to the rounded shape of its cross section, this pivot-

  ensuring an alternative inclination of the rudder relative to

to the windshield while wiping.

  Therefore, it is therefore conceivable that the wiper which has just been described provides improved wiping in comparison with that obtained by the wiper of the similar type described in the French patent application number 78-28 347 where the scraper blade was directly attached by stirrups on the main element

  reinforcement, without the interposition of a rudder capable of pivoting

  ter around two axes of rotation.

  It is understood that the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and may give rise to any desirable modifications, without departing from the scope of the

present invention.

Claims (8)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1 - Wiper, in particular for wiping a motor vehicle windshield, said wiper being driven by a wiper arm hinged relative to a frame, said armature being connected to a blade scraper by   intermediate of at least one spreader articulated to said armament   ture, the scraper blade being fixed to the ends of the aforesaid rudder by fasteners, said rudder being able to pivot relative to the frame, on the one hand, about an axis substantially perpendicular to the scraper blade and, on the other hand, part, about an axis substantially parallel to the scraper blade, said pivoting having a limited amplitude on either side of an average position, characterized in that the armature consists of a main element and two elements end joints articulated to said main element, the articulation of an end element on the main armature element being provided with an elastic means for pushing the end element in the direction of the surface to be scanned , the main frame element having, in   its central zone, a U-shaped cross-section, the central part   trale of the rudder being hinged to the interior of the aforementioned U.   2 - windscreen wiper according to claim 1, characterized in that each end element of the armature comprises, at its end portion opposite to that o is the articulation with the main element of the armature, a blade attachment scraper.   3 - Wiper according to Claim 2, characterized   in that the fasteners of the end elements of the arma- 3on the blade racleun.   ture and the rudder / hold in a shovel> which encloses the   the back of the scraper blade that is opposite to the lip of   suyage said blade on the surface to be scanned.   4 - Wiper according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized by the fact that the articulation of the rudder with   port to the main frame element around a sensitive axis   perpendicular to the scraper blade is achieved by giving   the edge of the rudder, which is opposite to that which is vis-à-   screw of the scraping blade, a convex shape held with play   inside the U-shaped cross-section of the main element cipal frame.   Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the pivoting of the spreader about an axis substantially parallel to the scraper blade is achieved by giving the rim of the rudder, which cooperates with the inner wall of the U of the main frame member, in the area central said rudder, a section by a plane perpendicular to the scraper blade, which is rounded.   6 - Wiper according to claim 5, -   characterized by the fact that the two flanks of the central part   of the rudder, which cooperate with the parallel wings of the U of the main frame member, are substantially parallel   or slightly convergent towards the scraper blade.   7 - Wiper according to claim 4, -   characterized by the fact that two wells are practiced in the   central part of the rudder, these two wells, substantially parallel   leles, opening, on the one hand, at one of their ends, vis-à-vis the scraper blade and, secondly, at their other end, on both sides of the convex zone of the border upper rudder.   8 - windscreen wiper according to claim 7, characterized in that two snap pins provided in relief on   the soul of the U of the main element of reinforcement engage in the   from the aforementioned wells and ensure the maintenance with   rudder inside the aforementioned U.   9 - Wiper according to claims 7 and 8 taken   simultaneously, characterized in that in the central part   the rudder and the side of the rudder which is arranged   with respect to the scraper blade, is practiced a slot connecting the two wells o engage the snap nipples, the snap of the nipples of the pins being able to cooperate with the   bottom of the slot to ensure the maintenance of the rudder   the U of the main frame element.   Windscreen wiper according to one of Claims 1 to 9,   characterized by the fact that the main element and the two end elements of the armature, as well as the lifter,   are made of molded plastic.