FR2971984A1 - Equipment for washing and wiping windscreen of car, has windscreen wiper mechanism driven by motor, and heating unit heating liquid contained in distribution pipe by heat that is transferred from motor - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment has a windscreen wiper mechanism (1) driven by a motor (3), and a distribution pipe (23) for distribution of a glass pane washing liquid. A heating unit heats the liquid contained in the pipe by heat that is transferred from the motor. The heating unit is arranged to make circulation of the liquid in or against a wall of a barrel of the motor. The heating unit includes a spiroidal channel formed within the barrel. A set of retaining units includes supports placed on the wall of the barrel.

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR HEATING WINDSCREEN WINDOW FLUID OF A VEHICLE

The invention is in the field of mechanisms for wiping vehicle windows such as windshields of motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to equipment for heating windscreen washer fluid.

In known manner, the heating of the windshield washer fluid improves the washing performance through the surfactant effect of the liquid on the glass. This is why many windshield washer fluid heating systems have been developed in the prior art. For example, some systems propose to place an electrical resistance in the windshield washer fluid reservoir, but this solution has the disadvantage of having to heat all the windshield washer fluid contained in the tank while only a small amount this liquid is taken for projection.

To remedy this problem, the document EP0104673 proposes to place a device for heating the windshield washer fluid between the tank and the nozzles, but this solution is expensive because it involves the manufacture and assembly of an additional heating device, while same as there are many hot spots in a vehicle.

That is why solutions for recovering and recovering the heat already present in the vehicle for heating the windshield washer fluid have been developed.

Thus, the document FR2226303 proposes to heat the windshield washer fluid by heat exchange by circulating it in a pipe in contact with the cooling system of the engine. With the same purpose, the document US4694891 proposes to perform a heat recovery from the exhaust gas. The disadvantage presented by these solutions is that the heat transfer is remote from the nozzles so that its effectiveness is limited except to provide means to maintain the heat along the entire length of the distribution pipe, which complicates their implementation .

The invention aims to meet the problems encountered in the prior art by proposing a new window washer fluid heating device by heat exchange which is simple in its implementation and economic.

For this purpose the invention relates to a washing and wiping equipment of the windows of a vehicle comprising a wiper mechanism driven by a motor and a windshield washer fluid distribution pipe remarkable in that it further comprises means for heating in part the windshield washer fluid contained in said pipe by heat transfer from the wiper mechanism motor.

Preferably, the heating means are configured to circulate the windshield washer fluid in or against the shaft wall of said engine.

According to one embodiment, the heating means comprise a spiral channel formed in the thickness of the motor shaft and through which the washing-glass liquid passes.

Advantageously, said spiral channel is extended at each of its ends by a tip connected to one end of the windshield washer fluid distribution pipe.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the heating means comprise means for retaining the windshield washer fluid distribution pipe on the wall of the barrel so that said pipe is wound around said barrel.

Preferably, the retaining means comprise a spiral gutter in which is placed the distribution pipe.

Optionally, the geometry of the gutter is adapted to retain said pipe by clipping.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating means make it possible to heat a volume of windscreen washer fluid representing at least the average volume projected during a projection of washer fluid on the windshield, preferably the volume of heated liquid represents at least the average volume projected during two projections of windshield washer fluid on the windshield

The subject of the invention is also a windscreen wiper mechanism motor shaft for use in equipment as defined above which is remarkable in that it has a channel for circulating a liquid in its wall or means for holding a pipe wrapped around his body.

It will be understood from reading the definition that has just been given that the implementation of the invention is to enhance the heat generated by the windscreen wiper mechanism motor by transferring at least in part to window washer fluid intended to be projected on the windows of the vehicle. The invention consists in giving the drum of the wiper motor a function of heat exchanger. Preferably, the invention consists in modifying the motor shaft in its shape so that it has an interface for transferring heat from the windscreen wiper mechanism motor to the windshield washer fluid. Having observed that a large part of the windscreen washer fluid projections is done while the wipers are already actuated, the invention proposes to recover the heat released by the engine being placed closest to the sprinklers, to know the heat released by the motor of the wiper mechanism. By coupling the wiping and washing mechanisms, the invention makes it possible to produce an economical heating system since it operates by passive heat transfer on the one hand and since it does not require the production and assembly of devices. additional. Likewise, this coupling makes it possible to produce an effective system since it does not heat a given volume, a reserve, of washer fluid already placed near the nozzles. The heated liquid is indeed at the end of the race in the distribution pipe and ready to be projected. This proximity provides an answer to the problems noted in the prior art of cooling the liquid during its transport to the sprinklers. The equipment according to the invention is remarkable for its simplicity which allows it to be easily implemented on vehicles improving the proposed washing services.

The invention will be clearly understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear from reading the following description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a partial representation of a equipment according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a sectional view of a heating device according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of a variant of the heating device according to the invention.

Reference is firstly to Figure 1 showing a wiper mechanism (1) front of a motor vehicle. It typically consists of a motor (3) actuating, via a motor crank (5), a wiper linkage (7) whose function is to drive in an alternating rotational movement the axes (9) of driving the wiper arms (not shown).

The invention is remarkable as we can see in that it exploits the heat released by the motor (3) even the mechanism (1) wiper to heat the windshield washer fluid, that is to say say that it recovers heat on a device that is placed near the washer fluid jets. In fact, it has been observed that projections of windshield washer fluid occur mainly while the windscreen wiper mechanism (1) is actuated. In addition, the windscreen wiper mechanism (1) is generally operated when it is raining and therefore when the outside temperature is low, or when it is most advantageous to spray a heated washing liquid onto the windshield wiper. broken. It has also been found that the motor (3) of the windscreen wiper mechanism (1) gives off heat after only a few seconds. This motor (3) conventionally has a rotor (11) and a stator (13) arranged in a generally metallic cylindrical shaft (15, 27) as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Rotation of the rotor (11) will generate a heat that is transmitted to the barrel (15, 27) metal. According to the invention the barrel (15, 27) has means for circulating the windshield washer fluid (25) in or against its wall for heating. The heating means according to the invention cooperate with the windscreen washer liquid distribution means for conveying said liquid from a reservoir to jets from where it is projected on the windows of the vehicle. In particular, the heating means act at the pipe (23) for dispensing the washer fluid (25). In general, the equipment according to the invention comprises means for circulating the washer fluid (25) in or against the wall of the drum (15, 27) of the windscreen wiper motor (3) direct heating of a given volume of washer fluid (25) in contact with said wall. The windshield washer fluid (25) in the direct vicinity of the nozzles, for example in the pipe portion (23) between said channel and said nozzles, is indirectly heated by thermal irradiation. In order to be able to heat the windshield washer fluid (25), the motor advantageously has on its shaft (15, 27) a spiral channel (17, 29) in the form of a channel or gutter and / or means for retaining the distribution against the wall of said barrel (27).

A first embodiment of an equipment according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 2 showing a sectional view of the shaft (15) of a motor (3) of mechanism (1) wiper. According to the invention, the wall of the barrel (15) comprises a spiral channel (17) formed in its thickness, said channel (17) being in the form of a closed duct. This channel (17) forms at least one turn around the barrel (15) cylindrical. Said channel (17) is intended to be traversed by the windshield washer fluid (25) and comprises as such means for connecting to the pipe (23) for dispensing said liquid. These means are in known manner in the form of end caps (19, 21) each capable of being connected to one end of the pipe (23) for dispensing the washer fluid (25). Indeed, the spiral channel (17) forms a heat transfer interface and will replace the distribution pipe (23). In this configuration, the liquid (25) is directly in contact with the metal wall of the barrel (15) and the efficiency regarding the transfer of calories is optimal.

However, if it is not desired to split the distribution pipe (23) in two, it is possible within the scope of the invention to simply wind it around the cylindrical shaft (27) of the motor (3) so as to form at at least one turn as illustrated in Figure 1. This embodiment of the invention may also be preferred if it turns out to be too complicated from a manufacturing point of view or too expensive to equip the mechanism according to the invention with a barrel having an internal channel replacing said pipe .. For this purpose, the barrel (27) advantageously has on its outer surface retaining means in position of said pipe (23). These means may be for example in the form of flanges integral with the shaft (27) or fixed on its wall. Nevertheless, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, these means can also be in the form of a spiral channel (29) in the form of an open channel receiving the pipe (23). Said spiral gutter (29) forms at least one turn and extends along the length of the shank (27). This makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the distribution pipe (23) and the hot wall of the shaft (27) and thus to improve the efficiency of the heat transfer. The person skilled in the art will benefit from the shape of the gutter (29) holding the pipe (23) which is inserted and clipped there. The material used for the realization of the distribution pipe (23) must allow the transfer of heat from the wall of the drum (27) to the liquid and resist the heat.

The number and the diameter of the turns presented by the channel (17) formed in the thickness of the wall of the barrel (15) or the number of turns made by the hose (23) for dispensing the windshield washer fluid (25) and its diameter make it possible to determine the volume of heated liquid on the one hand the speed with which it is heated on the other hand. Advantageously, the heated volume is determined according to the amount of liquid sprayed at one time on the windshield. According to the invention, the volume of washing-up liquid (25) contained in the turns of the channel (17) or the winding of the pipe (23) around the shank (27) represents at least the average volume corresponding to a pulse of liquid projection. For example, when the average projected volume is of the order of 40 ml the volume of liquid contained in the turns is at least 40 ml. Since the user often makes at least two consecutive projections of windshield washer fluid, the volume of liquid heated against the wall of the drum will be at least twice the average volume of a projection, and for example about 100 ml. According to the invention the liquid is thus heated to a temperature of about 35 ° C.

The invention also relates to a shaft (15, 27) for a windscreen wiper mechanism having means for circulating a liquid in or against its wall. When said wall of the barrel has a channel formed in its thickness to form a closed conduit, it will advantageously be a material resistant to corrosion. For example, it can be stainless steel.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and given only by way of example but encompasses all the variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the framework of the definition that has been given.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Equipment for washing and wiping windows of a vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper mechanism (1) driven by a motor (3) and a pipe (23) for dispensing windshield washer fluid (25), characterized in that it further has means for partially heating the windshield washer fluid (25) contained in said pipe by a heat transfer from the motor (3) of the wiper mechanism (1). 2. Equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the heating means are configured to circulate the washer fluid (25) in or against the wall of the shaft (15, 27) of said motor (3). 3. Equipment according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the heating means comprises a spiral channel (17) formed in the thickness of the shaft (15) of the motor (3) and forming a conduit through which the liquid window washer (25). 4. Equipment according to claim 3 characterized in that said spiral channel (17) is extended at each of its ends by a tip (19, 21) connected to one end of the pipe (23) for dispensing the washer fluid (25). ). 5. Equipment according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the heating means comprise means for retaining the pipe (23) for dispensing the washer fluid (25) on the wall of the barrel (27) of such whereby said pipe (23) is wrapped around said barrel (27). 6. Equipment according to claim 5 characterized in that the retaining means comprise flanges placed on the wall of the barrel (27). 7. Equipment according to one of claims 5 or 6 characterized in that the retaining means comprises a spiral gutter (29) in which is placed the pipe (23) distribution. 8. Equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the geometry of the gutter (29) is adapted to retain said pipe (23) by clipping. 9. Equipment according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the heating means are adapted to allow to heat a volume of windshield washer fluid (25) representing at least the average volume projected during a liquid projection windscreen washer (25) on the windshield, preferably the heated liquid volume is at least the average volume projected during two projections of windshield washer fluid (25). 10. Drum (15, 27) of the motor (3) of wiper mechanism (1) for use in equipment according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that it has a channel (17) of circulation of a liquid in its wall or means for retaining a distribution pipe (23) wound around its body.