FR2707940A1 - Windscreen wiper system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper system including control means (1), actuator means (2) and windscreen wiping means (11) characterised by a blade (14) moving between an extreme left position (17a) and an extreme right position (17b), while remaining parallel to the stream lines of the window (17).

Description

WINDSCREEN WIPER SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a wiper system, in particular, for high speed train.

 The main function of wiper systems is to remove visual pollution from the exterior surface of the window. The wiper systems of the prior art mainly comprise control means, actuator means and wiper means. By wiper means should be understood wiper means and / or washer.

 The state-of-the-art control means are manipulated by an operator, in general the driver of the vehicle, or are actuated automatically as a function of automatic means for detecting external quantities. The control means make it possible, for example, to define a certain number of commands such as for example: stopping or general operation of the wiper system, putting the secondary backup wiper system into operation, starting up the watering.

 The control means of the prior art mainly comprise electrical and / or pneumatic means.

 The control means mainly comprise a motor to provide the movement back and forth and a glass sprinkler pump.

 The wiper means generally comprise an arm and a blade and at least one blade.

 The main disadvantage of the wiper systems of the prior art is a lack of cleaning efficiency, resulting in poor evacuation of visual pollution.

 Another disadvantage of the wiper systems of the state of the art is poor positioning and poor holding of the blade on the glass, hence the creation of streaking and wiping defects under claws, as well as spreading impurities, lack of wiping, blocking of the arm and poor flexibility of the pneumatic motors used. These drawbacks are due to the velocities of the flows on the glass and to the frontal pressures on the latter at high speed.

 Another disadvantage of the wiper systems of the prior art is that in the external position, also called the parking position, the blade tends to leave the window and alter the bodywork near the edge of the window.

 Another disadvantage of the wiper systems of the prior art is that the wiper speed of the blade is irregular or even insufficient due to the aerodynamic forces and despite the oversized motors.

 Another disadvantage of the wiper systems of the prior art is that they require the use of two motors and two wiper systems, the two arms of which are connected by complex linkages.

 Another drawback of the wiper systems of the state of the art results from the problems associated with the forces of support of the blade on the non-constant glass, from the problems linked to the presence of an emergency wiper system and from the problems linked to complex actuator means.

 Another drawback of the wiper systems of the state of the art is linked to the presence of a spoiler creating discontinuous flow lines and pressures on the glass, hence poor functioning and cleaning quality.

 It is the merit of the applicant to propose a wiper system which overcomes the drawbacks of the wiper systems of the prior art.

 The wiper system of the invention comprises control means, actuator means and wiper means in which the blade moves between its extreme left position and its extreme right position while remaining parallel to the flow lines of the window.

 An advantage of the wiper system of the invention is better aerodynamic stability since the blade no longer moves while opposing the stop pressures.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the wiper system is such that the orientation, in the plane of the glass, of the blade is determined by the profile of the surface of a blade orientation cam in contact with the mobile end of a rod arranged free in translation in an arm of the wiper means.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the wiper system is such that the vertical position, relative to the window, of the arm of the wiper means is determined by the profile of the surface of a cam for positioning the arm in contact with the arm of the wiper means so as to determine the force of support of the blade on the window.

 An advantage of the wiper system according to these characteristics is the limitation of the forces for pressing the blade on the window in the vertical direction to the window and in the direction of movement of the blade, hence a reduction in wiping faults.

 Another advantage of the wiper system of the invention is that the use of a single arm allows a reduction in costs and an improvement in the reliability of the wiper means.

 Another advantage of the wiper system of the invention is that, in the parking position, the arm and the brush have the possibility of positioning themselves without contact outside the window without damaging the bodywork.

 Another advantage of the wiper system of the invention is that the system is more reliable because it uses two different energy sources.

 Another advantage of the wiper system of the invention according to the second embodiment is the elimination of the emergency wiper and therefore the use of a single wiper, the emergency function being carried out at the level of the actuator means.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the description of an embodiment of a wiper system according to the invention, description in which
- Figure 1 is a representation of the flow on a central window of a high speed train;
- Figure 2a is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the wiper system of the invention;
- Figure 2b is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the wiper system of the invention;
- Figures 3a and 3b are, respectively, a front view and in side section of the wiper system of the invention and, more particularly, of the brush orientation cam and the arm positioning cam;
- Figures 4a and 4b are, respectively, a front view and a longitudinal side sectional view of the previous view of the brush orientation cam and the arm positioning cam;
- Figure 4c is a sectional view of the positioning cam of the arm;
- Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of the control means and actuator means of the wiper system of the invention according to the second embodiment;
- Figures 6a, 6b and 7 show two embodiments of an indexing clutch of the invention used in the wiper system of the invention according to the second embodiment.

 The flow lines 100 on the central window 17 of the high speed train are shown in FIG. 1.

 The wiper system according to the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2a comprises control means (not shown), actuator means 2 and wiper means 11 (with or without washing or watering).

 The actuator means 2 comprise two electric motors 21, 22 permanently coupled in one direction of rotation by means of free wheels 23, 24. the axis of the two free wheels is connected to an endless screw 25 which drives a wheel 26 in rotation with a significant reduction. The rotational movement thus obtained is transformed into an reciprocating movement using transformation means 26. This reciprocating movement moves the brush 14 from an external position 17c to an extreme right position 17b passing through an extreme left position 17a and on return respectively by the extreme right position 17b, the extreme left position 17a and the external position 17c.

 The wiper means 11 comprise at least one blade 13, a blade 14, an arm 12, an orientation cam 15 of the blade in the plane of the window 17 and a vertical positioning cam 16 of the arm 12. The blade 13 is in contact with the glass 17.

 The brush 14 is articulated on the arm 11 at one of its ends, the other end of the arm being integral with the axis of rotation 9 via the support 18 of the orientation cam 15 of the brush.

 A rod 19 arranged free in translation in the arm 12 is actuated in translation by the orientation cam 15 of the brush.

 The translational movement of this rod 19 is transmitted to a brush-arm articulation 20 so as to be transformed into a rotational movement applied to the brush 14. I1 results from the above that the orientation in the plane of the window 17 of the brush 14 is determined by the profile 15a of the surface of the orientation cam 15 of the brush in contact with the movable end in translation of the rod 19.

 The arm 12 of the wiper means is guided vertically with respect to the window 17 using the positioning cam 16 of the arm. The profile 16a of the surface of the positioning cam 16 of the arm in contact with the arm 12 of the wiper means determines the distance between the blade 14 and the window 17 and therefore the bearing force of the blade 13 on the window 17.

 The orientation cam 15 of the brush and the positioning cam 16 of the arm shown are cams of the spring and roller type. It is obvious that other types of cams may be used.

 As explained more precisely below in the description relating to FIG. 2b, the brush 14 is in the direction of flow from the extreme right position 17b to the extreme left position 17a. Between these two positions, the glass cleaning is perfect. Between the external position 17c and the extreme left position 17a, the scanning is disturbed since it is not in the flows. The external position 17c is the stable position when stopped, it is the parking position of the system.

 The sprinkler system (not shown) is a system parallel to the wiper system. The windshield washer pump is for example a known gear pump.

 For the emergency function, as soon as an electric motor breaks down, fault detectors 28, 29 make that, by means of a known electronic circuit (not shown), the remaining motor always runs, roughly with the same torque but with reduced speed.

 The wiper system according to a second embodiment shown in Figure 2b includes control means 1, actuator means 2 and wiper means 11 (with or without washing or watering).

 The control means 1 make it possible to define a stop position, an on position with or without watering and a backup position.

 The actuator means 2 comprise an electric motor 3, an indexing clutch 4, a sprinkler pump 5, a pneumatic cylinder 6 and its distributor 7.

 The electric motor 3 delivers a rotational movement. This rotational movement is transformed in known manner by linkage means 8 into a back and forth movement, right to left. This movement back and forth, in normal operation (the control means 1 are in the on position) takes place between an extreme left position 17a and an extreme right position 17b of the brush 14.

This back and forth movement is taken up or not by the indexing clutch 4 and is transmitted or not to the arm 12 of the wiper means 11 via a rotation axis 9. The rotation axis 9 is secured to the indexing clutch 4 as well as to the rod 10 of the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 6.

 The sprinkler pump 5 is actuated by the linkage means 8 so as to spray a washing liquid on the window 17 as a function of the back and forth movement, right or left, transmitted to the arm 12 of the wiper means 11. The pump irrigation system is, for example, a gear pump actuated by the electric motor 3.

 The pneumatic cylinder 6 and its distributor 7 control the rotation of the axis of rotation 9 of the arm 12 of the wiper means 11 by means of the rod 10 of the piston of the cylinder 6. This rotation takes place, in operation of emergency (the control means 1 are in the emergency position), from an external position 17c of the brush 14, called the parking position, and the extreme right position 17b of the brush 14, if the parking position is to the left of the window 17 , or left, if the parking position is on the right of the window 17.

 The pneumatic cylinder 6 is preferably a double-acting pneumatic cylinder.

 According to this embodiment of the invention, the normal operation of the wiper system uses the electric motor 3 and the indexing clutch 4, and the emergency operation of the wiper system uses the pneumatic cylinder 6 and its distributor 7.

 The wiper means 11 comprise at least one blade 13, a blade 14, an arm 12, an orientation cam 15 of the blade in the plane of the window 17 and a vertical positioning cam 16 of the arm 12. The blade 13 is in contact with the glass 17.

 The brush 14 is articulated on the arm 11 at one of its ends, the other end of the arm being integral with the axis of rotation 9 via the support 18 of the orientation cam 15 of the brush.

 A rod 19 arranged free in translation in the arm 12 is actuated in translation by the orientation cam 15 of the brush.

 The translational movement of this rod 19 is transmitted to a brush-arm articulation 20 so as to be transformed into a rotational movement applied to the brush 14. It follows from the above that the orientation in the plane of the window 17 of the brush 14 is determined by the profile 15a of the surface of the orientation cam 15 of the brush in contact with the movable end in translation of the rod 19.

 The arm 12 of the wiper means is guided vertically with respect to the window 17 using the positioning cam 16 of the arm. The profile 16a of the surface of the positioning cam 16 of the arm in contact with the arm 12 of the wiper means determines the distance between the blade 14 and the window 17 and therefore the bearing force of the blade 13 on the window 17.

 The orientation cam 15 of the brush and the positioning cam 16 of the arm shown in FIG. 2 are cams of the spring and roller type. It is obvious that other types of cams may be used.

 Figures 3a and 3b show the orientation cam 15 of the brush and the positioning cam 16 of the arm. The brush orientation cam shown is of the window and lug type.

 The orientation of the blade 14 of the wiper means relative to the window 17 is obtained by transforming the differential movement between the arm 12 and the rod 19 into a movement of rotation of the blade.

 The profile 15a of the surface of the orientation cam 15 of the brush is the function of the positioning angle of the arm 12. A given angular displacement of the arm generates a differential displacement of the rod 19.

 In normal operating mode, the lug moves from the extreme left position 17a to the extreme right position 17b. As a result, following the transmission of the displacement of the rod 19 in the arm 12, the orientation of the brush in the plane of the window 17 is not fixed between its extreme positions.

 Figures 4a and 4b are, respectively, a front view and a longitudinal side sectional view of the previous view of the brush orientation cam and the arm positioning cam.

 Figure 4c is a sectional view of the arm positioning cam.

 In addition to the profile 15a of the brush orientation cam enabling the brush to be oriented, the profile at one 15c of the ends of the orientation cam is such that it defines the orientation of the brush when the arm is in external position 17c, called the parking position.

 The profile 16a of the surface of the positioning cam 16 of the arm is a function of the geometry of the window 17, more precisely of its radius of curvature.

 In addition to the profile of the positioning cam making it possible to orient the arm 12 vertically, the profile at one 16c of the ends of the positioning cam is such that it defines the external position 17c of the brush, called the parking position. This profile at the end of the surface of the positioning cam is, for example, a raised flat 16c (FIG. 4c), so that the wiper blade is not in contact with the window 17 when the arm is in external position.

 Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of the control means 1 and actuator means 2 of the wiper system of the invention.

 The diagram shows an electrical wiring 0-12 Volts and a pneumatic wiring 7.5 to 9 bars.

 This FIG. 5 shows an on-off control 41 and a manual watering control 42.

 Also shown: the electric motor 3, the indexing clutch 4, the sprinkler pump 5 the pneumatic cylinder 6 and its distributors 7.

 Figures 6a, 6b and 7 show two embodiments of an indexing clutch 4 of the invention.

 The function of the indexing clutch 4 is to put the arm 12 of the wiper means 11 in the extreme left position 17a as well as to connect the axis of rotation 9 of the arm 12 to the linkage means 8 by means of an axis of rotation 65.

 The indexing clutch 4 is of the electromagnetic type. The purpose of the indexing clutch 4 is to impose a rotation on the axis of rotation 9 so that, when it is started, the brush 14 passes from the external position 17c to the extreme position 17a while by coupling the axis of rotation 9 to the linkage means 8.

 To do this, in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6a, the indexing clutch 4 comprises electromagnetic clutch means 61 and mechanical indexing means 62.

 The rotational movement is obtained by an indexing cam 63 and a lug 64.

 As shown in FIG. 6b of the developed part of 360 of the indexing cam 63, at rest, the lug 64 occupies the position denoted C corresponding to the external position 17c of the arm, called the parking position.

 In the emergency operating mode of the wiper system, the linkage means 8 are not connected to the arm 65 of the clutch means 61. By actuating the pneumatic cylinder 6, the lug 64 of the indexing means 62 is susceptible to move between the position denoted C and the position denoted B. These positions correspond, respectively, to the external position 17c and to the extreme right position 17b. The wiper blade therefore moves back and forth between these two positions.

 In normal operating mode of the wiper system, the clutch means 61 are supplied and the linkage means 8 are connected to the arm 65 of the clutch means 61. Under the action of the pneumatic cylinder 6 the lug 64 then passes from the position denoted C to the position denoted A, which results in a relative rotation between the arm 65 of the clutch means 61 and the axis of rotation 9 of the arm 12.

The arm 12 has therefore moved from the external position 17c to the extreme left position 17a. The back and forth movement of the arm between the extreme positions, left 17a and right 17b, is then controlled by the electric motor 3.

 According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the indexing clutch 4 comprises electromagnetic clutch means 71 and mechanical indexing means 72. The mechanical indexing means 72 consist of two flat surfaces 73, 74 produced, respectively, at the end of the axis of rotation 9 of the arm 12 and at the end of the axis of rotation 65. These two surfaces planes 73, 74 face each other, but are offset following an offset of the axis of rotation 9 of the arm around the longitudinal axis of the axes of rotation 9, 65.

 The displacement from the external position 17c to the extreme left position 17a is obtained, when the clutch means are energized, after positioning the flat surfaces 73, 74 against each other. To come to be positioned one against the other, the axis of rotation 9 of the wiper arm pivots about its longitudinal axis so that the arm moves from the external position 17c and to the position far left 17a.

Claims (6)

1. Wiper system comprising control means  (1), actuator means (2) and wiping means  window (11) characterized by a moving broom (14)  between an extreme left position (17a) and a  extreme right position (17b) remaining parallel to the  glass flow lines (17). 2. The wiper system according to claim 1, in  which orientation, in the plane of the window (17),  of the brush (14) is determined by the profile (15a) of the  surface of an orientation cam (15) of the brush  contact with the movable end of a rod (19)  arranged freely in translation in an arm (12) of  wiper means (11). 3. Wiper system according to any one of  claims 1 and 2, wherein the position  vertical, relative to the window (17), of the arm (12)  wiper means (11) is determined by the  profile (16a) of the surface of a cam  positioning (16) of the arm in contact with the arm  (12) wiper means (11) so as to  determine the support force of the blade (13) on the  window (17). 4. Windscreen wiper system comprising control means  (1), actuator means (2) and wiping means  ice (11), with or without washing or watering,  characterized in that:  - the control means (1) make it possible to define a  off position, an on position with or without  watering and an emergency position; and  - the actuator means (2) comprise two motors  electric (21,22) permanently coupled in a  one direction of rotation using freewheels  (23,24), the axis of the two free wheels being connected to  a worm (25) which drives a wheel (26) in  rotation with a significant reduction, the  rotational movement thus obtained being transformed  in a reciprocating motion using means of  transformation (26), said reciprocating movement  moving the brush (14) from an external position (17c)  at an extreme right position (17b) passing through  an extreme left position (17a) and vice versa. 5. Wiper system comprising control means  (1), actuator means (2) and wiping means  ice (11), with or without washing or watering,  characterized in that:  - the control means (1) make it possible to define a  off position, an on position with or without  watering and an emergency position; and  - the actuator means (2) comprise a motor  electric (3), an indexing clutch (4), a  sprinkler pump (5), a pneumatic cylinder (6) and  its distributor (7); actuator means in  which:  - the electric motor (3) delivers a movement of  rotation transformed by linkage means  (8) moving back and forth, right left,  between an extreme left position (17a) and a  extreme right position (17b) of the brush (14), the  back and forth movement being taken up or not by  the indexing clutch (4) and being transmitted or  no to the arm (12) of the wiper means (11) by  via an axis of rotation (9) integral  the indexing clutch (4) and the rod  (10) of the piston of the pneumatic cylinder (6);  - the sprinkler pump (5) is actuated by the  linkage means (8) so as to spray a  washing liquid on the glass (17) depending on the  back and forth movement, right or left,  transmitted to the arm (12) of the wiper means  (11);  - the pneumatic cylinder (6) and its distributor (7)  control the rotation of the rotation axis (9) of the  (arm (12) of the wiper means (11) by  through the piston rod (10) of the cylinder  (6), said rotation being carried out, depending  emergency assistance, from an external position (17c)  of the broom (14), called the parking position, and the  extreme right position (17b) of the brush (14), if the  parking position is to the left of the window (17),  or the extreme left position, if the position of  parking is to the right of the window (17); and  - the pneumatic cylinder (6) is a pneumatic cylinder  double-acting. 6. The wiper system according to claim 5, in  which the sprinkler pump (5) is a  gears powered by the electric motor (3).