FR2691933A1 - Automobile windscreen wiper - has rotating brush mounted on wiper blade, between two scraper blades - Google Patents

Abstract

The windscreen wiper consists of a pivoting blade (3), which is formed from a brush (6), fixed between two scrapers (31). The blade is mounted on a fixed support (4), and can pivot in alternating directions around the axis X-X', which is perpendicular to the plane of the glass (1), when driven by the motor (5). The brush is cylindrical and mounted on the wiper blade, such that it can rotate around the longitudinal axis (63). The brush is driven in rotation by the pinion (64), which is mounted on the brush's shaft (63). As the blade is driven across the glass, the brush pinion is driven by the rack (46), which is fixed in relation to the glass. USE/ADVANTAGE - Long-life automobile windscreen wiper.

Description

 The present invention relates to a windshield wiper for a vehicle window, and more particularly to a windshield wiper with a brush rotated in rotation, for example for a windshield or a rear window of a motor vehicle.

 We have already described, in particular in FR-A-2 630 383, a windscreen wiper for a vehicle window, consisting essentially of a blade that pivots relative to the window to be cleaned. On this blade, two rubber squeegees or the like are mounted, so as to alternate alternately, according to the direction of pivoting of the wiper blade. In addition, a fixed brush is interposed between the two scrapers so as to come into contact with the window to be cleaned when the wiper is operating.

 However, prior art brush wipers work inefficiently, spoil and easily clog.

 Also, the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing a wiper having a good life and allowing easy and effective cleaning of a vehicle window.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a windscreen wiper for a motor vehicle window, of the type comprising a pivoting blade consisting essentially of a brush interposed between two squeegees, characterized in that said brush is mounted on the blade. so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation, when the brush is pivoted.

 More specifically, the invention is characterized in that the aforementioned brush is positively driven in rotation when the brush is pivoted.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the axis of rotation of the brush is provided with a pinion or the like, meshing with a toothed sector secured to the window.

 It will also be specified here that the axis of rotation of the brush is mounted between two flanges provided on a U-shaped element, gutter or the like, and serving as a housing for the brush.

 The invention is also characterized in that the free edges of the gutter-shaped element are each provided with a squeegee.

 According to one characteristic, the U-shaped element comprises a second part forming a support integral with the pivoting control shaft connected to the first part in which the brush is mounted, by means of an articulation.

 In addition, inside the gutter-shaped element, a liquid spray nozzle is fixed so as to open into the space between the bottom of the aforementioned element and the brush.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned nozzle is connected to a liquid supply source by means of a conduit constituting the shaft for controlling the pivoting of the brush.

 The wiper is further characterized in that one end of the aforementioned pivoting control shaft is mounted embedded in a boss or the like, integral with the gutter-shaped element and comprising a portion of duct connected to the projection nozzle by a flexible hose.

However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description of embodiments, given solely by way of example, which follows and refers to the appended drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper according to the invention, with its blade in the raised position;
- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 which shows another embodiment of the wiper according to the invention, with its blade in the cleaning position;
- Figure 3 is a view of the wiper shown in Figure 2, along the line III-III;
- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, along the line IV-IV of lafigure2;
- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4, along the line VV of Figure 2; and
- Figure 6 is a view along arrow VI-VI of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we see a window 1 such as for example a windshield or a rear window of a motor vehicle. A wiper device generally designated at 2 is provided on the vehicle in question, so as not to be able to clean the window 1. The wiper comprises a blade 3 which is mounted approximately parallel to the window 1 and so as to be able to rotate relative to it. Here, the wiper blade * is mounted on a fixed support 4 so as to be able to pivot alternately in one direction and then in the other around a geometric axis XX 'which is perpendicular to the median plane of the window 1. A motor 5 is fixed on the support 4 and connected to the brush 3 so as to cause it to move or rotate alternately about the axis
X-X '.

 The wiper blade 3 essentially consists of an elongated body or arm 34, on which are mounted roughly in parallel two squeegees 31 of rubber or the like, as well as a brush 6.

 According to the invention, the brush 6 is mounted on the wiper blade 3 so as to be able to rotate, during the pivoting of this blade 3, around an axis of rotation 63. More specifically, the brush 6 whose shape is generally cylindrical and which comes into contact with the window pane 1 along one of its tangents substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 63, is positively driven in rotation during the pivoting of the brush 3 about its axis XX '. In other words, the cylindrical brush 6 of the wiper 2 is driven by its own drive means, which will be described later, and not only because of the relative displacement between the window with which it can come into contact and the brush. 3 on which this brush 6 is rotatably mounted. However, it can also be envisaged that the axis of rotation 63 is simply free to rotate. According to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the squeegees 31 which have the shape of blades, as well as the axis of rotation 63 of the cylindrical brush 6 extend parallel to each other, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis YY '(Figure 6) of the brush 3.

 Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 that a pinion 64 or the like is provided on the axis 63 so as to be integral in rotation with the latter. It appears from FIG. 2 that the pinion or toothed wheel 64 has come integrally with the axis of rotation 63.

 Each longitudinal end of the axis of rotation 63 forms a guide bearing in rotation for this axis, and is mounted in a suitable housing provided on the brush 3. Here, the axis of rotation 63 is mounted in clevis via of its end bearings between two flanges 36 provided on the arm 34 of the brush 3.

 According to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the arm 34 in the form of a U-shaped element, gutter or the like, in the concave part of which extend the flanges 36. Preferably, the U element or gutter 34 will be a plastic molding in which the flanges 36 have come from molding. In this case, the clevis mounting housings of the axis of rotation 63 may have the shape shown in FIG. 3, allowing mounting by elastic stapling or "clipping" of this axis 63 on the brush 3.

 On the other hand, it can be seen in Figures 3 to 5 that in the gutter-shaped element 34 the concave part inside which the cylindrical brush is housed is oriented towards the window 1. A rubber squeegee 31 is mounted on each of the free edges 34a of this gutter-shaped element 34.

Like the axis of rotation 63, each of the squeegees 31 can be mounted by "clipping" in a housing of suitable shape, provided at the end of each of the free edges 34a of the gutter-shaped element 34 .

 In the illustrated embodiments, the toothed wheel 64 is arranged slightly projecting from the gutter-shaped element 34, so as to come into engagement with a toothed sector 46 integral with the window 1, when the brush 3 is in its operating position, as in Figures 2 and 5 in particular. More particularly, the sector 46 came integrally with the support 4 which is fixed to the window 1, and to a semi-circular shape. Thus, the brush 3 can rotate about 1800 alternately clockwise and clockwise.

 Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 5, since the pinion 64 is engaged with the toothed sector 46, the brush 6 is positively driven in rotation about its axis 63 in a direction which changes as a function of the pivoting direction of the brush 3 around its axis XX '.

 Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the gutter-shaped element 34 of the arm 3 comprises a first part on which the squeegees 31 and the brush 6 are mounted, as well as a second part designated at 35 which makes support office. A joint 37 is essentially constituted by an axis of rotation connected to the first part and the part forming the support 35 of the element 34. This joint 37 makes it possible to move the squeegees 31 and the brush 36 between the position visible in FIG. 1 ( said raised position) and the position illustrated in Figure 2 (said operating position), and vice versa. In other words, when the brush 3 is in its position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the squeegees 31 and the brush 6 are in contact with the window 1, the end part of the gutter-shaped element 34 can be moved in the direction of arrow R1 in Figure I to place the brush 3 in the raised position. In this raised position, access to the brush 6 and the squeegees 31 is particularly easy, which makes maintenance of the wiper 2 practical. Conversely, when the wiper blade is in the raised position. (FIG. 1) this can be folded down by pivoting around the articulation axis 37 by moving the part of the element 34 where the brush and the squeegees are fixed in the direction of the arrow R2 in FIG. 1. It will be noted here that to guarantee good contact of the squeegees and the brush with the window 1, a return spring 38 is fixed on the one hand to the support 35 and on the other hand to the lifting part of the element 34, to apply the squeegees and the brush of the brush 3 in the direction of the arrow R2. Obviously, the relative positions of the lifting part of the element 34, of the articulation 37 and of the spring 38 will be chosen so that the element 34 remains in the raised position until it is pushed in the direction of the arrow R2.

 In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the wiper 2 is directly mounted on the window 1. However, provision can be made for the wiper according to the invention to be mounted on the part of the body close to the window. to clean. Here, the support plate 4 where the toothed sector 46 is formed is fixed on the window 1 by means of two barrels 41 which project from the face of the support 4 which is opposite to the toothed sector 46. These barrels 41 come lodge in appropriate holes 14 in the window 1 (or in the vehicle body) so that the support plate 4 comes to bear against the external face to be cleaned of the window 1 by means of a flat gasket tightness 42. The motor 5 thanks to which the wiper blade 3 pivots is fixed on the inner face of the window 1 opposite the support plate 4, using these barrels 41.

 On the one hand, a screw 54 for fixing the motor 5 passes through the latter and is received by its free end in an appropriate thread of the barrel 41 closest to the free end of the brush 3. To guarantee a good seal between the two faces of the pane 1, an annular seal is interposed between the latter and the motor 5 which surrounds the barrel 41 where the fixing screw 54 is housed.

 On the other hand, the shaft 53 for controlling the pivoting of the wiper blade 3 is housed with clearance in an appropriate through housing of the barrel 41 opposite to that where the screw 54 is fixed. The pivoting control shaft 53 projects from the support plate 4 to allow its connection with the wiper blade 3. Here, a wall 35a of the support 35 which is substantially parallel to the window 1 comprises a conical housing inside which a projecting portion of corresponding shape of the shaft 53 is housed. A nut 53a is tightened on a threaded part of the shaft 53 which projects from the wall 35a. Thus the support 35 of the gutter-shaped element 34 is clamped against the conical part of the shaft 53. In addition, the free end of the pivot control shaft 53 which is located on the same side of the window 1 that the wiper 2 has a spherical shape designed to be able to fit into a boss 35b of corresponding shape, integrally formed with the support 35.

 Advantageously, a nozzle such as that designated at 8 in FIG. 2 could be provided inside the gutter-shaped element 34 of the wiper blade 3. The nozzle 8 is fixed substantially at the right of the flange 36 closest to the support 35, so as to open into the concave space inside which the brush 6 is housed, between the bottom 34b (FIGS. 3 to 5) of the gutter-shaped element 34 and the brush 6. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the nozzle 8 can project any cleaning liquid onto the window 1, but also onto the brush 8 to keep it clean.

 The nozzle 8 is connected to a source S of supply of cleaning liquid by means of a supply circuit which comprises a conduit 58 (FIG. 2) formed inside the shaft 53, in a direction axial substantially parallel to the geometric axis XX ′. More particularly, a bent pipe 81 is fixed by embedding at the free end opposite to the brush 3 of the control shaft 53, so as to communicate with the axial duct 58. The power source S is connected to this bent duct 81 in particular by a flexible pipe designated at 82. Thus, when the motor 5 drives the brush 3 via the axis 53, the flexible pipe 82 can follow the relative movements of the bent pipe 81.

 At the other end of the shaft 53, the conduit 58 opens into a housing formed in the boss 35b of the support 35. This housing which, like the interior of the bent conduit 81, is hermetically sealed by the embedding of the spherical end of the shaft 53, communicates with a portion of conduit integrally formed with the boss 35b and emerging in the direction of the nozzle 8.

Since the nozzle 8 is fixed to a portion of duct coming from the material with the lifting part of the gutter-shaped element 34, and the portion of duct communicating with the housing of the boss 35b has come from the material with the support 35, a flexible or flexible pipe 83 is hermetically mounted on these two portions of conduits to allow fluid communication between the nozzle and the source S, while allowing the relative displacements (according to the arrows R1 and R2) of the part comprising the nozzle and of the fixed part or support 35 of the gutter-shaped element 34.

 We have therefore described in accordance with the invention a wiper consisting of simple, not very fragile elements which makes it possible, thanks to its rotary brush, to better clean a window of a motor vehicle, and which can be kept clean for a long time using watering the brush with cleaning fluid.

 Obviously, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but includes all the equivalents and combinations of the technical means described, if these are carried out according to the spirit.

Claims (9)

 1. Wiper for window (1) of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a pivoting blade (3) consisting essentially of a brush (6) interposed between two squeegees (31), characterized in that said brush is mounted on the brush (3) so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation (63), during the pivoting of the brush (3).  2. Wiper according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned brush (6) is driven positively in rotation during the pivoting of the blade (3).  3. Wiper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axis of rotation (63) of the brush (6) is provided with a pinion or the like (64), meshing with a toothed sector (46) secured to the glass.  4. Wiper according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the brush (6) is mounted between two flanges (36) provided on a U-shaped element (34), gutter or the like, and serving as a housing for the brush (6).  5. Wiper according to claim 4, characterized in that the free edges (34a) of the gutter-shaped element (34) are each provided with a squeegee (31).  6. Wiper according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the U-shaped element (34) comprises a second support part (35), integral with the shaft (53) for controlling pivoting, connected to the first part in which the brush (6) is mounted by means of a joint (37).  7. Wiper according to claim 4,5 or 6, characterized in that inside the gutter-shaped element (34) a nozzle (8) for projecting liquid is fixed so as to open into the space between the bottom (34b) of the aforementioned element (34) and the brush (6).  8. Wiper according to claim 7, characterized in that the aforementioned nozzle (6) is connected to a source (3) of liquid supply via a conduit (58) constituting the shaft (53 ) of the brush pivoting control (3).  9. A wiper according to claim 8, characterized in that one end of the aforementioned pivot control shaft (53) is mounted embedded in a boss (35b) or the like, integral with the gutter-shaped element (34,35) and comprising a portion of duct connected to the projection nozzle (8) by a flexible pipe (83).