FR2843083A1 - Device for windscreen wiping with wear indicator for use in automobile vehicles, comprises a neutralization film which is removed at the start of usage to activate the indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises at least one brush or strip of a windscreen wiper, where the strip is equipped with a wear indicator (10) which can display the strip usage. The wear indicator measures the period (time) of utilization and/or the wear of the windscreen wiper strip. The wear indicator is an electronic chronometer, or an electronic counter of the number of cycles of wiping, where the wiping cycle represents the movement of the strip from its stationary position back to the stationary position. The electronic chronometer or the electronic counter comprises a switch which is activated at the start of usage, and is equipped with a display including a light-emitting diode (LED) (12). The wear indicator (10) is activated by lifting a neutralization film (13). The wear indicator (10) is fastened by an adhesive and/or screws and/or clipping to at least one strip or an arm (11) of windscreen wiper. The wear indicator allows the adjustment of parameters affecting the wear such as the pressure of application, the temperature, the UV-light, the chemical composition of the rain water, the solid matter content of the rain water, the jetted water, and the characteristics of the material of the brush of windscreen wiper. In other embodiments, the wear indicator comprises (i) an indicator for measuring the chemical and/or physical reactions as a function of time on at least one brush, (ii) a change of color and/or a display of text when the time limit is attained, (iii) a unit with a basic part and a pointer which is mounted so that it can be pivoted by a spring force when an adhesive fastening the pointer along the basic part becomes worn and the adhesion falls below the elastic force, (iv) an adhesive applied to a window which is of variable thickness and covers text and/or a pictogram and/or a color forming a signal, (v) a color layer applied to a head of the strip with a gripping part fastening the strip to the arm and enclosing the head, (vi) a material applied along the strip at the level of its narrow part, where the material is of a different color from that of the strip, which is obtained by co-extrusion, (vii) a hole in transverse direction of the strip, (viii) a color rod enclosed by the strip, or (ix) a brush filled with color fastened on the strip.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device

  wiper, in particular for a motor vehicle comprising at least one wiper blade. State of the art According to the state of the art, it is generally known that the wiper blades wear out more or less quickly as a function of time. This wear has various causes such as for example the action of ultraviolet light on the wiper blade or blade, fouling of the window or windshield, for example in summer due to dried insects or in winter at cause of the ice deposited on the glass, the influence of the temperature, a significant force of application of the blade against the glass etc ... In general, the progression of the wear of the blade windscreen wipers can only be detected by a very critical observation of the wiped area 15. As the wiping capacity deteriorates permanently even without mechanical or other stress by ultraviolet radiation and the influence of temperature, in many cases this deterioration is not noticed by the driver. So especially when driving at night, the formation of traces or a film of grease can create

  unpredictable critical glare situations caused by oncoming traffic. Thus the insidious and imperceptible progression of wear and tear on the wiper blade seriously endangers traffic safety.

  OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to develop a wiper device of the type defined above to enable the wear of the wiper blades to be detected in time even in a relatively early state,

  in a situation that is not yet critical for traffic safety.

  Disclosure of the invention For this purpose the invention relates to a wiper device

  of the type defined above, characterized in that the wiper blade has a wear indicator to display the wear of the blade.

  This wear indicator immediately informs the driver as soon as the wear progress has reached a critical state for the

  traffic safety. This is particularly important for vehicles that change drivers frequently, such as rental vehicles, because the driver is even more misinformed than otherwise about the progress of wear on the wiper blades.

  In order for the wear indicator to provide as reliable information as possible regarding the instant wear of the wiper blade, the wear indicator can measure the duration of use.

  and / or wear by abrasion of the wiper blade or wiper blade.

  The wear indicator can be produced in the form of an electronic stopwatch or an electronic wiping cycle counter; as well as wiping corresponds to a movement of at least

  a wiper blade starting from a rest position and returning to its rest position. The wear indicator can thus be produced very economically since the necessary electronic components are conventional commercial components available very economically in large series.

  The electric or electronic chronometer or the electric or electronic counter for wiping cycles may comprise a counter which activates the electric or electronic chronometer or the electric or electronic counter for wiping cycles but which preferably cannot be neutralized. This switch is implemented by the installation personnel after the installation of the wiper blade.

  In order to be able to notify the driver of the vehicle reliably that the critical wear limit has been reached, the electric or electronic stopwatch or the electric or electronic wiping cycle counter can be fitted with an LED display. When the critical wear limit is reached, the LED display starts to light up or flash. The LED display is installed on the wiper blade 25 so that it can be recognized without difficulty by the driver while driving.

  The wear indicator can also be produced to include an indicator measuring chemical and / or physical reactions as a function of time on at least one blade or wiper blade.

  The wear indicator can thus grasp the influence of ultraviolet radiation and that of the chemical reactions produced by the components of rain or spray water or even the friction of the wiper blade on the vehicle window. The wear indicator also captures the overall effect of influences acting on the wiper blade so that the influence

  time is also recorded by the wear indicator.

  If the indicator is equipped with a display that changes color and / or displays text when a critical wear limit is reached, the

  driver can easily know that the wear limit has been reached while driving.

  As an alternative to the activation of the wear indicator by a switch or as a fundamental possibility for activating or implementing the wear indicator, in the case where electrical switches are technically absolutely not possible, it is possible to activate the wear indicator by removing a film which normally neutralizes the wear indicator. This film is removed by the installation personnel after the installation of the wear indicator on the wiper or the wiper arm. The wear indicator may comprise a unit with a base body provided with a needle and this needle is pivotable relative to the base body at the end of the latter; this needle is stressed by an elastic force which rocks the needle as soon as the adhesive force of an adhesive which blocks the needle over its entire length to the base body and thus prevents its pivoting movement, passes below the elastic force. This allows for a very simple and mechanically economical construction wear indicator. As soon as the critical wear limit of the wiper blade is reached, the needle pivots for example in a vertical position and thus signals to the driver, while driving, that

the wear limit has been reached.

  The wear indicator is easily and reliably attached by

  glue and / or screws and / or a snap connection on at least one blade of the wiper blade or wiper arm.

  In order for the wear indicator to provide reliable results, the wear indicator can adjust the parameters influencing the wear such as for example the application pressure, the temperature, the ultraviolet radiation, the chemical composition of the water. rainwater, the solid content of rainwater and spray water and the characteristics of

  the material of at least one wiper blade.

  According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the wear indicator may also include an adhesive which is fixed to the windshield. The adhesive attached to the windshield and more generally the window, allows the number of wiping cycles to be measured because the friction of the wiper blade on the adhesive removes the layers of adhesive over time. . Depending on the vehicle-specific application pressure of the wiper blade on the windshield, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be changed. The climatic conditions of use of the wiper device and the characteristics of the material of the wiper blade can be taken into account by modifying the thickness of the adhesive layer. If the adhesive covers a text and / or a pictogram and / or a signal color, this will indicate to the driver that the wear limit is reached as soon as the text and / or pictogram and / or the color of the signal are visible after the blade has removed the layer covering the

  text and / or pictogram and / or color.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the wear indicator may comprise a layer of color applied to the rubber head of at least one wiper blade; this head is clamped by claws which fix the wiper blade to the arm and the colored layer at the edge of the claws covers the text and / or pictogram of the head

of the wiper blade.

  Due to the permanent alternating movements of the wiper blade during the operation of the wiper device, due to the elasticity of the blade which moves in the claws, there is friction between the claws and the blade. Thus over time the color enters the claws and the blade is also abraded in the area of the edge of the

  scratches and the text below and / or the pictogram will become visible as soon as the critical wear limit is reached.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the wear indicator consists of an applied material that the wiper lip 25 along at least one blade surrounded by this material. This material can for example be co-extruded with the blade and have a different color than that of the material of the wiper blade. As soon as the material of the other color appears on the wiper lip, the driver will know, for

  driving, that the wear limit is reached.

  It is also possible to produce the wear indicator

  in the form of a hole transverse to at least one wiper blade.

  As soon as the authorized wear of the wiper blade is reached, the lip of the blade presents an interruption at least at the level of the hole so that at this place during the operation of the wiper there will remain a thin trace of water on the windshield indicating to the driver that the limit

wear is reached.

  It is also possible according to another embodiment of the wear indicator, to use a colored rod installed in the wiper blade and surrounded by at least one blade, and which applies the color to the screen -brise as soon as the authorized wear of the wiping lip is reached. The resulting color trace on the windshield shows the

  driver it's time to change the wiper blade.

  Another economical and easy embodiment consists in producing the wear indicator in the form of a brush filled with color installed on at least one wiper blade. During the wiping movement, the color comes out of the brush. As soon as the broom no longer deposits color, this indicates to the driver that he must now change the blade

wiper.

  Drawings The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of the various examples of the wiper device shown in the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure la is a top view of an arm of wiper corresponding to a first embodiment of a wear indicator, - Figure lb is a top view of the wear indicator of Figure la before the removal of a covering film, - FIG. 1c shows the wear indicator of FIG. 1a after the removal of the covering film, - FIG. 1d is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the wear indicator, - FIG. 2a is a top view of a third of the wear indicator, FIG. 2b is a top view of the indicator 2a before the removal of the covering film, - FIG. 2c is a top view of the indicator 2a after the removal of the covering film, - Figure 3a is a top view of a fourth of the wear indicator, - Figure 3b is a top view of the indicator 3a before the removal of the cover film, - Figure 3c is a top view of the indicator 3a after the removal of the cover film , embodiment of wear of the wear figure of the figure wear embodiment of the wear figure of the figure - Figure 4a is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the indicator wear before reaching the wear limit, - Figure 4b is a perspective view of the wear indicator of Figure 4a once the wear limit is reached, - Figure 5 is a view perspective of a sixth embodiment of the wear indicator, - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the wear indicator, - Figure 7 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the wear indicator,

  - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the wear indicator.

  Description of embodiments

  Figures la-ic show a wear indicator 10 applied to a wiper arm 11. The wear indicator 10 is in the field of view of the driver of the vehicle so that he can at any time see the wear indicator 10. The wear indicator 10 is equipped with an electronic stopwatch not shown in detail or with a wiping cycle counter, electronic not shown. When the wear limit is reached, an LED display 12 starts to flash, thus signaling to the driver that it is time to change the wiper. After removal of a covering film 13, which cuts, for example, two contacts facing each other, the wear indicator 10 is used. After having released the covering film 13 (FIG. 1c) ), the contacts not detailed here are electrically connected and the wear indicator 10 is thus activated. The wear indicator 10 is fixed to the wiper arm by gluing and / or by screws not detailed here or

  again by a snap connection on the wiper arm 1 1.

  FIG. 1d shows a wear indicator 100 also equipped with an electronic chronometer or an electronic counter for wiping cycles. The wear indicator 100 includes a front part 101 which slides over a rear part 102. When assembling the front side 101 and the rear side 102, the centering studs 103 are slid into corresponding holes 104. During the assembly of

  the wear indicator 100, a plate 105 is trapped provided with the electronic circuit and the LED display 106 between the front side 101 and the rear side 102.

  Figures 2a-2c show a wear indicator 20 mounted on a wiper arm 21. The wear indicator 20 includes an indicator 22 which displays the progress of the wear of the wiper blade. not detailed here by a change in color of the indicator 22. The indicator 22 detects chemical and / or physical reactions in function

  tion of time on a wiper blade not detailed here. As the wear indicator 20 is located in this way on the wiper arm 21 so that at all times the driver can see the indicator 22 and thus recognize the change in color of the indicator 22 by a color of reference 24. As soon as the color of the indicator 22 corresponds to the reference color 24, the driver knows that the wiper must now be replaced. The wear indicator 20 is activated by removing a covering film 23. After removing the covering film

  23 (Figure 2c) indicator 22 is exposed to environmental influences.

  Then the indicator 22 gradually begins to change color (see FIG. 2c) until finally reaching the reference color 24. At this time, the driver knows that he has reached the wear limit of the wiper blade. ice cream. Figures 3a-3c show the wear indicator 30 installed

  on a wiper arm 31. The wear indicator 30 is also equipped with an indicator 32. The operation of the wear indicator 30 corresponds in principle to that of the wear indicator 20 ( see figure 2a2c).

  Only the mounting and the external shape of the wear indicator 30 differ from those of the wear indicator 20. The wear indicator 30 com20 carries a covering film 33 which protects the indicator 32 against the influence of the environment until the indicator is activated. As soon as the indicator 32 has a color which corresponds to the reference color

  34, it is time to change the wiper blade.

  Figures 4a and 4b show a wear indicator 40.

  The wear indicator 40 is installed on a wiper arm 41. To mount the wear indicator 40 on the wiper arm 41,

  centering studs 45 which are introduced for mounting in the orifices 43.

  The wear indicator 40 has a base body 41 and a needle 42.

  The needle 42 is bonded to the base body 41 using an adhesive not shown. The glue of the needle 42 is exposed to the same environmental influences as the wiper blade. Environmental influences gradually deteriorate the adhesive so that it loses its adhesive characteristic over time. As soon as the adhesive force of the plastic material drops below a certain value, the needle 42 pivots under the effect of the elastic force to which it is subjected and comes into a vertical position (see FIG. 4b). As the wear indicator 40 is installed so as to be visible to the driver while driving, as soon as the needle 42 is tilted to the vertical position, the driver will be

  the wiper blade has reached the wear limit.

  FIG. 5 shows a layer of color 50 provided under a claw 51 on the head 52 of a blade 53 of a wiper blade in the area of the edge of the claw 51. The claw 51 and the lifter 54 fix the blade 53 has an arm, not shown. During the back and forth movement of the blade 53, the head 52 of the blade rocks in the claw 51. The claw 51 exerts friction on the head 52 and on the color layer 50 and gradually removes the layer of color 50. Under the color layer 50 there may be a text not shown in detail and / or a pictogram clearly indicating that the color layer 50 has been removed by wear. As soon as the driver recognizes the text or pictogram that has become visible or legible, he knows that the wiper blade has reached its wear limit. FIG. 6 shows a wiper blade 60 whose lip

  61 includes a material 62 of a different color than that of the lip 61.

  The material 62 is surrounded by the lip 61 and does not become apparent until the lip 61 has exceeded authorized wear. As the lip 61 and the material 62 have different colors and the wiping lip 61 is always easily recognized by the driver during movement,

  the driver will immediately see that the wear limit has been reached.

  FIG. 7 shows a wiper blade 70, the lip 71 of which has a hole 72. As soon as the wear of the lip 71 is greater than the lower edge of the hole 72, the wiping lip 71 is interrupted at calf level. of the hole 72 so that during operation, at the level of the hole 71 the water will no longer be swept from the glass and there will remain a thin trace of water, nevertheless clearly visible on the glass indicating to the driver

that the wear limit has been reached.

  Figure 8 shows a wiper blade 80 with a blade

  82 provided with a colored reservoir 81. The brush 82 applies a colored liquid to the window during the operation of the wiper device.

  As soon as the color of the reservoir 80 is consumed, the brush 82 can no longer apply color to the glass. The driver will then know that the

wear limit is reached.

Claims (12)

REVEN DI CATI 0 NS) Wiper device in particular for a motor vehicle comprising at least one wiper blade (53, 60, 70, 80), characterized in that the wiper blade (53 , 60, 70, 80) has a wear indicator (10,, 20, 30, 40, 62, 72, 82) to display the wear of the blade. ) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100, 20, 30, 40, 62, 72, 82) measures the duration of use and / or the wear of the wiper blade (53, 60, 70, 80). ) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100) is an electronic chronometer.   4) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100) is an electronic counter for wiping cycles and a wiping cycle represents the movement of at least a wiper blade from its rest position until the return in its rest position.   ) A wiper device according to any one of claims 3   or 4, characterized in that the electronic chronometer or the electronic cycle counter   wiper has a switch to activate.   60) A wiper device according to claim 5, characterized in that the electronic chronometer or the electronic cycle counter   is fitted with an LED diode display (12, 106).   70) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (20, 30) comprises an indicator (22, 32) for measuring chemical and / or physical reactions as a function of time over at minus a wiper blade.   80) Wiper device according to claim 7, characterized in that   when the wiper blade wear limit is reached, the indicator changes color and / or displays text.   90) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100, 20, 30) is activated by the removal of a film   neutralization (13, 23, 33) of the wear indicator (10, 100, 20, 30).   100) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (40) comprises a unit with a base body (41) provided with a needle (42), the needle ( 42) being pivotally mounted at one end of the base body (41), so as to pivot relative to the base body (41) and the needle (42) is biased by a spring force which makes it pivot as soon as the adhesive force of an adhesive which blocks the needle (42) along its length to the body   base (41) and thus blocks the pivoting movement, passes below the elastic force.   11) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100, 20, 30, 40) is fixed by an adhesive and / or screws and / or a connection by snap on at least one wiper blade or a wiper arm.   ) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator (10, 100, 20, 30, 40) makes it possible to adjust the parameters influencing the wear and in particular the application pressure of temperature, ultraviolet radiation, chemical composition of rainwater, solid matter content of rainwater and projected water as well   as the material characteristics of at least one wiper blade.   il 13) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that   the wear indicator has an adhesive applied to a vehicle window.   14) A wiper device according to claim 13, characterized in that   the thickness of the adhesive layer is variable.   15) A wiper device according to claim 13, characterized in that   the adhesive covers a text and / or a pictogram and / or a color forming a signal.   160) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator comprises a layer of color (50) applied to at least one head (52) of at least one wiper blade glass (53), with claws (51) fixing the blade (53) to the arm and which surround the head (52) of the blade, and in the area of the edge of the claws (51) on the head (52) of the blade, the   color layer (50) covers a pictogram and / or text.   ) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator is a material (62) applied along at least one   wiper blade (60) at its lip (61), and surrounded by it.   ) Wiper device according to claim 17, characterized in that   the material (62) has a different color than that of the blade (60).   ) Wiper device according to claim 17, characterized in that   at least one blade (60) and the material (62) of the wear indicator are ob35 held by co-extrusion.   ) Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator is a hole (72) provided in the transverse direction   at least one wiper blade (70).   210) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator is a colored rod surrounded at least by a wiper blade.   22) A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wear indicator is a brush filled with color (82), the brush (82) being   provided on at least one wiper blade (80).