FR3096632A1 - Wiper bearing carrying a temporary holding element of a motion transmission rod, sub-assembly, - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a bearing (P1) which carries an element (54) for maintaining in position relative to the bearing (P1) of a motion transmission rod (30), the holding element (54) being mounted movably. relative to the bearing (P1) between a position in which an active part (90) cooperates with a portion of the connecting rod (30) and a position in which the active part (90) is remote from the connecting rod (30), characterized in that the retaining element (54) carries in rotation a fixing screw (V1) of the bearing (P1). The retaining element (54) is mounted movably relative to the bearing (P1) in a direction parallel to the screwing axis (AA1) and it comprises another active part (100) which cooperates with a portion of the bearing (P1 ). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2.

Description

Windscreen wiper bearing carrying a temporary retaining element for a motion transmission rod, sub-assembly,

and motion transmission mechanism comprising such a bearing

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a bearing for guiding in rotation a drive shaft of a motion transmission mechanism, such as a wheelhouse, for driving in rotation a motor vehicle windscreen wiper.

The invention also relates to a subassembly of a motion transmission mechanism comprising at least one bearing.

The invention also relates to a motion transmission mechanism comprising a first and a second subassembly interconnected by a motion transmission rod.

Technical background

The invention relates more particularly to a bearing carrying an element for holding in position relative to the bearing of a motion transmission component, such as in particular a connecting rod connecting two bearings associated with a drive gear motor common to two windscreen wipers.

Such a holding element is used to position and temporarily immobilize various components of the wheelhouse and for example the connecting rod relative to the bearing, in particular to facilitate transport and/or mounting of the wheelhouse on a motor vehicle.

Thanks to the use of at least one such holding element, it is possible to limit the degrees of freedom of relative movement of the various components of the wheelhouse which, apart from the stages of packaging, transport and/or assembly and fastening, are necessary for the proper functioning of the wiper system in use on the vehicle.

We thus know different designs of a bearing in which the holding element is mounted to move relative to the bearing between:

-- an active position in which an active part of the retaining element cooperates with a portion of the component, such as for example a connecting rod for transmitting movement between two bearings;

-- and a retracted position in which the active part is remote from said portion of the component.

The invention aims to propose a design of such a bearing allowing easy maneuvering of the holding element between its two positions.

The invention proposes a bearing for guiding in rotation a drive shaft of a motion transmission mechanism for driving in rotation a windscreen wiper of a motor vehicle, the bearing carrying a holding element in position relative to the bearing of a motion transmission component, in which the holding element is mounted so as to move relative to the bearing between:

-- an active position in which an active part of the holding element cooperates with a portion of the component;

-- and a retracted position in which the active part is away from said portion of the component,

characterized in that the holding element carries a member for fixing the bearing by screwing so that, during the fixing by screwing of the bearing, the fixing member by screwing causes the movement of the holding element from its position active to its retracted position.

According to other features of the bearing:

- the screwing axis of the fixing device is aligned with the axis of a hole in the bearing;

- the holding element is mounted to move relative to the bearing in a direction parallel to the screwing axis of the fixing member;

- the holding element comprises means which cooperate with the bearing to immobilize it in rotation around the screwing axis during the axial displacement of the holding element from its active position to its retracted position;

- the holding element comprises another active part and, in said active position of the holding element, the other active part cooperates with a portion of the bearing and, in the said retracted position of the holding element, the other part active is remote from said portion of the bearing;

- the screwing member is a screw, and the retaining element comprises a disc-shaped part which carries the fixing screw in rotation and which is traversed axially by the shaft of the screw;

- each active part is an elastically deformable clamp;

- the holding element comprises, arranged along an axis of movement between its active and retracted positions:

-- an upper branch forming a support for a screw-fastening member of the bearing;

- an intermediate branch which carries said first active part;

-- A lower branch which carries said other active part.

The invention also proposes a subassembly of a motion transmission mechanism for driving a motor vehicle windshield wiper in rotation, this mechanism comprising at least:

- a bearing according to the invention;

- A crank whose first end is connected to the bearing and whose second end carries a ball joint;

- a motion transmission rod, one end of which is mounted articulated on said ball joint,

and in which the holding element is mounted to move relative to the bearing in translation along an axis.

The holding element is mounted to move relative to the bearing along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.

Each elastically deformable clamp is open axially along the axis of movement of the holding element.

The invention also proposes a motion transmission mechanism for driving motor vehicle windshield wipers in rotation comprising a first and a second sub-assembly interconnected by a motion transmission rod, characterized in that the at least one of the first and/or second subassemblies is produced according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

– is a perspective view which illustrates an example of the design of a system for driving windscreen wipers in rotation, the movement transmission mechanism of which comprises a first bearing a second bearing, one of which carries a temporary retaining element made of position of a motion transmission rod between the two bearings;

- is a perspective view on a larger scale in side view of the bearing equipped with the temporary holding element which is illustrated in its active position for temporarily holding the connecting rod in position for transmitting movement between the two bearings;

- is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the temporary retaining element is illustrated in its retracted position for releasing the connecting rod for transmitting movement between the two bearings;

- is a perspective view on a larger scale in side view of the holding element illustrated in Figures 2 and 3;

- is a large-scale detail view which illustrates the cooperation of the holding element with a complementary portion of the associated bearing;

- is a view similar to that of Figure 2 from another angle;

- is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 in which the components are illustrated in their same relative positions, but without the holding element;

- is a detail view from below of the bearing body illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7; And

- is a detail view below of the elements illustrated in Figures 2 and 6.

detailed description

In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions will be designated by the same references.

In the remainder of the description, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the trihedron "L, V, T" of the figures will be adopted - without reference to terrestrial gravity and in a non-limiting manner. A horizontal plane is also defined which extends longitudinally and transversely.

The vertical axis V extends from bottom to top, while the longitudinal axis L extends from left to right when considering Figure 1.

The system 20 for driving the wipers in rotation (not shown) of FIG. 1 comprises in particular a geared motor 22 comprising an output shaft 24 for driving in rotation, around its axis A2, a windscreen wiper (not shown) of which a drive arm is adapted to be fixed on the upper free end section 26 of the drive shaft 24.

There is also shown in Figure 1 a plate 23 for mounting and fixing the geared motor 22 on a motor vehicle.

Within the meaning of the invention, the plate 23 and the geared motor 22 constitute a bearing P2 for guiding the output shaft 24 in rotation about its axis of rotation A2, bearing which is intended to be fixed on a structural element of a motor vehicle (not shown).

The system 20 comprises a connecting rod 30 for transmitting the rotational movement of the output shaft 24 of the geared motor 22 to another shaft 32 for driving in rotation another wiper (not shown) including a drive arm is adapted to be fixed on the upper free end section 34 of the drive shaft 32.

The drive shaft 32 is carried and guided in rotation about its axis of rotation A1 by a bearing P1, this first bearing P1 being intended to be fixed on a structural element of the motor vehicle (part C of which is illustrated in the figures 2, 3 and 9).

Connecting rod 30 has a second end 29 which is connected to drive shaft 24, guided in rotation by bearing P2, by a crank 36 which is connected in rotation to drive shaft 24.

The crank 36 carries a pin 38 of axial orientation to which it is connected in rotation.

The crank pin 38 is connected to the second end 29 of the connecting rod 30 by a ball joint type connection of known design not shown in Figure 1.

All along the main central section body, the connecting rod 30 has an inverted U section comprising a flat horizontal upper back 44 and two parallel vertical side wings 46.

Each vertical wing 46 is delimited downwards by a longitudinal edge 48, the two edges 48 being coplanar and parallel to the upper back 44.

In known manner, each of the two opposite longitudinal ends 29 and 31 of the connecting rod 30 is in the form of a horizontal plate which carries an associated ball joint which receives a corresponding ball joint of the associated crankpin.

The connecting rod 30 has a first end 31 which is connected to the drive shaft 32 by another crank 40 which is connected in rotation to the drive shaft 32.

The crank 40 carries a pin 41 of axial orientation to which it is connected in rotation.

This pin 41 is connected to the first end 31 of the connecting rod 30 by a ball joint of known design.

The system 20, consisting in particular of the two bearings P1 and P2 and of the connecting rod 30 which connects them, constitutes an assembly or system intended to be mounted and fixed - in a determined relative position of its various elements and components - on one or more elements structures of a motor vehicle.

This relative position can advantageously be obtained by at least one element 54 for holding the connecting rod 30 in position with respect to the first bearing P1.

Concerning the bearing P1, the part of the body 50 of the latter which carries the holding element 50 is a corner part 52 which is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 6 to 8 and which is here produced in one piece by molding with the body was in which the drive shaft 32 is housed and guided in rotation.

The body 50 of the bearing P1 is generally in the form of a triangular plate, each of the corner parts of which is designed to allow the mounting and fixing of the bearing P1 on a structural element of the vehicle (part C of which is illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 9).

To this end, each of the corner parts includes in particular – without limitation – a hole T1, T2, T3 for the passage of the rod of an associated fixing screw V1, V2, V3.

The corner part 52 thus comprises a vertical opening hole T1 whose axis AA1 is here substantially parallel to the axis A1 of rotation of the drive shaft 32.

The corner part 52 is delimited vertically upwards by a plane upper face 56 orthogonal to the axis AA1 of the hole T1.

The plate-shaped body 50 is generally delimited by a planar lower face 58 which, in the area of the corner part 52, is parallel to the upper face 58.

The plate-shaped body 50 is generally delimited by a vertical side wing 62 which extends upwards and which is delimited by a horizontal upper edge 64.

The wing 60 extends in particular the corner part 52 with its horizontal upper edge 64 coplanar with the upper face 58.

As illustrated in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 8, near the corner portion 52, the side flange 62 has, in its lower edge 65, a notch 66, while the body 50 in the form of plate comprises, in line with notch 66, a through slot 68.

We will now describe in detail the element 54 for temporarily holding the connecting rod 30 in position with respect to the bearing P1, and in particular here with respect to the body in the form of a plate 50.

The holding element 54 is here a part made by molding in plastic material.

The holding element 54, from top to bottom considering for example Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, here comprises:

- an upper branch 70 forming a support for the fixing screw T1 associated with the corner part 52;

- an intermediate branch 72 which carries a first active part which is capable of cooperating with an associated portion of the body 50;

- a lower branch 74 which carries a second active part which is capable of cooperating with an associated portion of the movement transmission rod 30.

The three branches 70, 72, and 74 each extend substantially in a horizontal plane.

The intermediate 72 and lower 74 branches extend longitudinally and transversely respectively, while the upper branch 70 extends angularly between the other two branches 72 and 74.

The three branches 70, 72, and 74 are rigidly connected to each other by a vertical mast 76 reinforced by a curved stiffening core 78.

The upper branch 70 is shaped like a flat pierced disc 80 comprising a central hole 82 and which is delimited by two parallel and opposite upper 84 and lower 86 faces.

The central hole 82 is capable of being crossed by the rod of the fixing screw V1. The upper face 84 of the drilled disc 80 is able to cooperate with the lower face of the upper head of the fixing screw V1, here with the interposition of an interposed washer 88.

The upper branch 70 may comprise means (not shown in the figures) for retaining the fixing screw V1 in position on the retaining element 54 and relative to the bearing P1, in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, while allowing the rotation of the screw with a view to fixing the bearing P1.

Such means thus make it possible to produce a sub-assembly comprising a “captive” screw V1.

It is for example possible to provide a retaining washer for the screw V1 arranged under the lower face 86, or any other similar known solution.

At its free end, the intermediate branch 72 carries a first active part 90 which is capable of cooperating with the associated portion of the body 50 comprising the notch 66 and the slot 68.

This first active part for fixing the retaining element 54 to the body 50 of the bearing P1 is shaped as an elastically deformable clamp which comprises two external 92 and internal 94 parallel vertical cheeks which delimit between them a housing 96 open vertically upwards whose width corresponds substantially to the thickness of the wing 62 (see in particular FIG. 5).

Inner cheek 94 is sized to be received through lumen 68.

At its upper end, the outer flange 92 comprises a retaining lip 98 whose lower face is located vertically at a distance allowing it to cooperate with a portion facing the upper edge 64 of the wing 62 of the body 50 .

The upper face 99 of the spout 98 is inclined to form a ramp.

At its free end, the lower branch 74 carries a second active part 100 which is capable of cooperating with an associated section of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement.

This second active part for fixing the holding element 54 to the movement transmission connecting rod 30 is shaped as an elastically deformable clamp which comprises two external 102 and internal 104 parallel vertical cheeks which delimit between them a housing 106 open vertically towards the high and whose width corresponds substantially to the transverse width of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement, separating the outer faces of its parallel vertical side wings 46

At its upper end, an elastically deformable central section of the outer flange 102 comprises a retaining lip 108 whose lower face is located vertically at a distance allowing it to cooperate with a portion facing the upper back 44 of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement.

At its upper end, an elastically deformable central section of the inner flange 104 comprises a retaining lip 110 whose lower face is located vertically at a distance allowing it to cooperate with a portion facing the upper back 44 of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement.

The upper face of spout 108 and spout 110 is inclined to form a ramp.

Thus, the holding element comprises an elastically deformable upper clamp 90 and an elastically deformable lower clamp 100 which are both open axially upwards along an axis parallel to the axis AA1, the two clamps 90 and 100 being moreover angularly offset from each other.

This design makes it possible to put in place and temporarily fix the retaining element 54 on the body 50 of the bearing P1 and on the motion transmission rod 30 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

The installation can be carried out, for example, by first fitting the first upper elastic clamp 90 onto the body 50 of the bearing P1, thus making the retaining element 54 integral with the bearing P1 and positioned in a determined position with respect to the landing P1.

Then, in a second step, the associated section of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement can be fitted elastically in the second lower gripper 100 so as to temporarily position the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement relative to the body 50 of the bearing P1.

Elastic fitting operations are facilitated by ramps 99, 108 and 110.

In addition to its function of temporarily positioning the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement with respect to the bearing P1, the design according to the invention of the holding element 54 makes it possible to support the fixing screw V1 in position with in particular its axis aligned with the axis AA1 of the hole T1, with for example a part of the lower free end section of the screw T1 engaged axially in the hole T1.

The fixing of the bearing P1 on a structural part of a motor vehicle (part C of which is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 9) is carried out by screwing in the fixing screws and in particular by screwing in the fixing screw T1.

Starting from the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the screwing of the fixing screw V1 causes an axial displacement, vertically from top to bottom, of the fixing screw V1 relative to the body 50 of the bearing P1, and thus of its head which then drives in axial movement, vertically from top to bottom, the upper branch 70 and therefore of the retaining element 54 relative to the body 50 of the bearing P1.

This movement continues until the end of the screwing operation which corresponds in particular to the axial tightening of the drilled disc 80 between the washer 88 and the upper face 56 of the corner part 52 of the body 50 of the bearing P1.

This final position is illustrated in particular in Figure 3.

In this position, the holding element 5′ is in a retracted position in which it no longer performs the function of relative positioning and temporary holding.

Indeed, during the axial displacement of the retaining element 54 relative to the bearing P1, the first upper elastic clamp 90 is disengaged from the body 50 of the bearing P1 and the associated section of the connecting rod 30 for transmitting movement is disengaged from the second lower gripper 100.

The temporary retaining element 54 can remain permanently attached to the bearing P1 in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

If necessary, to guide the holding element 54 vertically during the screwing operation and in particular to avoid any rotation around the axis AA1, it is possible to provide angular indexing means, for example by extending the internal cheek 94 which then remains engaged in the light 68.

In a variant not shown, it is possible to keep only the pierced disc 80 by separating the rest of the retaining element 54, for example by breaking it according to a fracture starter provided for this purpose.

The invention is not limited to a screw fixing member consisting of a fixing screw.

The holding element can, for example, rotate a nut capable of cooperating with a threaded rod integral with the structural element of the vehicle.

Claims (12)

Bearing (P1) for guiding in rotation a drive shaft (32) of a motion transmission mechanism for driving in rotation a windscreen wiper of a motor vehicle, the bearing (P1) carrying an element (54) for holding in position relative to the bearing (P1) of a motion transmission component (30), in which the holding element (54) is mounted to move relative to the bearing (P1) between:
-- an active position in which an active part (90) of the holding element (54) cooperates with a portion of the component (30);
-- and a retracted position in which said one active part (90) is remote from said portion of the component (30),
characterized in that the holding element (54) carries a fixing member (V1) by screwing the bearing (P1), so that when fixing the bearing (P1) by screwing, the fixing member (V1 ) by screwing causes the movement of the holding element (54) from its active position to its retracted position. Bearing (P1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the screwing axis of the fixing member (V1) is aligned with the axis (AA1) of a hole (T1) of the bearing (P1). Bearing (P1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (54) is mounted to move relative to the bearing (P1) in a direction parallel to the screwing axis (AA1) of the fixing member (V1). Bearing (P1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the holding element (54) comprises means which cooperate with the bearing (P1) to immobilize it in rotation about the screwing axis (AA1) during axial displacement of the holding element (54) from its active position to its retracted position. Bearing (P1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (54) comprises another active part (100), and in that:
- in said active position of the holding element (54), said other active part (100) cooperates with a portion of the bearing (P1);
- And in said retracted position of the holding element (54), said other active part (100) is remote from said portion of the bearing (P1). Bearing (P1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the member for fixing by screwing is a screw (V1), and in that the holding element (54) comprises a disc-shaped part (80) which carries the fixing screw (V1) in rotation and which is traversed axially by the rod of the fixing screw (V1). Bearing (P1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that each active part (90, 100) is an elastically deformable clamp. Bearing (P1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the holding element (54) comprises, arranged along an axis of movement between its active and retracted positions,
- an upper branch (70) forming a support for a fixing member (V1) by screwing the bearing (P1);
- an intermediate branch (72) which carries said first active part;
- a lower branch (74) which carries said other active part. Subassembly of a motion transmission mechanism for driving a motor vehicle windscreen wiper in rotation, this mechanism comprising at least:
- a bearing (P1) according to any one of the preceding claims;
- a crank (40) whose first end is connected to the bearing (P1) and whose second end carries a ball joint;
- a connecting rod (30) for transmitting movement, one end (31) of which is mounted articulated on said ball joint,
and in which the holding element (54) is mounted to move relative to the bearing (P1) in translation along an axis (AA1). Sub-assembly according to Claim 9, characterized in that the retaining element (54) is mounted to move relative to the bearing (P1) along an axis (AA1) parallel to the axis (A1) of rotation of the shaft (32) training. Subassembly according to Claim 10 taken in combination with Claim 8, characterized in that each elastically deformable clamp is open axially along the axis (AA1) of movement of the holding element (54). Motion transmission mechanism (20) for driving motor vehicle windscreen wipers in rotation comprising a first and a second subassembly interconnected by a motion transmission rod (30), characterized in that the at least one of the first and/or second subassemblies is made according to any one of claims 9 to 11.