GB2306204A - Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft. - Google Patents

Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2306204A
GB2306204A GB9520886A GB9520886A GB2306204A GB 2306204 A GB2306204 A GB 2306204A GB 9520886 A GB9520886 A GB 9520886A GB 9520886 A GB9520886 A GB 9520886A GB 2306204 A GB2306204 A GB 2306204A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
spindle
windscreen wiper
bore
clamping device
slot
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9520886A
Other versions
GB9520886D0 (en
Inventor
Raymond Vaughan Rudge
Robert William Currie
David Anthony Fitzsimmons
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BUS BITS AND MORE Ltd
Original Assignee
BUS BITS AND MORE Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BUS BITS AND MORE Ltd filed Critical BUS BITS AND MORE Ltd
Priority to GB9520886A priority Critical patent/GB2306204A/en
Publication of GB9520886D0 publication Critical patent/GB9520886D0/en
Priority to AU72250/96A priority patent/AU7225096A/en
Priority to PCT/GB1996/002508 priority patent/WO1997013662A1/en
Publication of GB2306204A publication Critical patent/GB2306204A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
    • B60S1/34—Wiper arms; Mountings therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
    • B60S1/34—Wiper arms; Mountings therefor
    • B60S1/3425—Constructional aspects of the arm
    • B60S1/3443—Wiper shafts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
    • B60S1/34—Wiper arms; Mountings therefor
    • B60S1/3425—Constructional aspects of the arm
    • B60S1/3445—Joints between elements
    • B60S1/3459—Joints between elements the element being a mounting head and a shaft
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D1/00—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements
    • F16D1/06—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end
    • F16D1/08—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
    • F16D1/0852—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping between the mating surfaces of the hub and shaft
    • F16D1/0864—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping between the mating surfaces of the hub and shaft due to tangential loading of the hub, e.g. a split hub

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hand Tools For Fitting Together And Separating, Or Other Hand Tools (AREA)

Abstract

To permit the fixing of a grease nipple 36 to an end of a shaft to allow lubrication of the bearings 38, an internally splined bore (42) of a wiper body 20 has a slot 44 extending into the wiper body toward the wiper arm such that the slot does not extend as far as the surface of the housing. A bolt passes through the slot to clamp the wiper body onto the splined shaft.

Description

Title: Clamping Devices Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to clamping devices, particularly but not exclusively for use in the provision of a windscreen wiper assembly.
A splined clamping device is utilised where it is desired releasably to connect a mechanism to a shaft for instrumentalities of the device to be moved by movement of the shaft. Conventionally the device comprises a housing provided with an internally splined bore and the spindle is provided with exterior splines capable of interfitting within the bore. Conventionally the housing is split or provided with a slot, the slot extending from the bore and opening into the exterior of the housing, and means, conventionally screw-threaded means, is provided for closing the slot and causing the bore to be tightened around the splined shaft, to bring the splines into driving engagement.
According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a splined clamping device comprising a housing having a splined bore, a slot extending from the bore, screw-threaded means being provided for closing the slot, wherein the slot extends from the bore on the side of the housing on which the instrumentalities are carried.
In this manner the need for the housing to project beyond the bore on the opposite side of the housing is obviated.
Preferably the slot does not project to an exterior surface of the housing, and is preferably enclosed by wall portions of the housing on all sides.
Thus preferably the slot is located wholly within the body of the housing.
Preferably the screw-threaded tightening means is located between the bore and the instrumentalities, preferably passing through the slot in conventional manner.
Such a clamping device is particularly useful 4n the provision of a windscreen wiper assembly, in which the instrumentalities comprise a wiper arm extending from the housing, in that by reducing the size of the housing on the side of the bore opposite to the wiper arm, the assembly may be fitted in position without interference with body parts of the vehicle on which it is mounted.
A conventional windscreen wiper assembly comprises a spindle provided with a frusto-conical portion provided with exterior splining, and a wiper body having a frusto-conical bore of a size similar to said frusto-conical portion of the spindle. Conventionally the spindle is made of steel, and the wiper body is made of aluminium, so that by forcing the wiper body onto the spindle, such as by a tightening screw, the splines of the spindle may deform the frusto-conical bore and enter into driving engagement with the body.
Particularly on large automotive vehicles such as buses, the length of the wiper arm is long, and the load acting upon the inter-engagement between the spindle and the wiper body is large. Frequently, particularly in adverse weather conditions such as snow, the load is sufficient to cause the splines on the spindle to strip out the deformations provided on the bore of the wiper body, requiring the wiper body to be re-tightened onto the spindle. Where this difficulty is encountered on a number of occasions, not only can it be dangerous, requiring the driver of the vehicle to stop to carry out the necessary adjustment, but also in due course the frusto-conical bore in the wiper body becomes oversize, requiring the wiper body to be replaced.
According to this invention there is provided a windscreen wiper assembly comprising a spindle having an end portion which is splined, a wiper body provided with an internally splined cylindrical bore which may be interfitted with the spindle, and tightening means to clamp the splined bore onto the spindle to bring the splines into driving engagement.
Preferably the tightening means is operative at a location between the spindle and the wiper body.
Preferably the wiper body is mounted on the spindle by a clamping device in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.
Difficulty is also encountered with windscreen wiper assemblies, in providing a bearing between the wiper spindle and the sleeve within which the spindle extends. Since in conventional vehicles the wiper body is tightened onto the spindle by an axial nut, difficulty is encountered in providing for the introduction of lubricating fluid into the space between the spindle and the sleeve, particularly in a manner in which the introducing means does not extend forwardly of the forward-most plane of the windscreen wiper assembly.
Conventionally therefore, bearing means for the spindle and the sleeve has been provided by a low friction plastics material such as ptfe. However in use water and dirt will be introduced into the space between the spindle and the sleeve, and this will cause extra wear to take place on the ptfe sleeve, requiring it to be replaced at regular intervals. This is unsatisfactory, particularly in that it may be dangerous if the wiper assembly seizes under adverse operating conditions, and in that replacement of the bearing requires the vehicle to be taken out of service.
According to this invention there is provided a windscreen wiper assembly comprising a spindle provided with a splined end portion, a wiper body provided with a cylindrical bore having interior splines, means for tightening the bore over the spindle to bring the splines into driving engagement, and means to introduce lubricating fluid into the spindle in the axial direction.
By providing the driving engagement between the spindle and the wiper body in the form of cylindrical splines, the need for a tightening nut to force the wiper body onto the spindle in the axial direction is obviated, and allows the use of a tightening means spaced from the longitudinal axis, preferably on the side thereof adjacent to the wiper arm. This permits the provision of a means, such as grease nipple, to be located on the longitudinal axis of the spindle on the outboard side thereof. This permits the use of a metallic bearing between the sleeve and the spindle, such as a bronze bearing such as In particular, a wiper assembly comprising a clamping device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention allows such use of a grease nipple, and the use of a metallic bearing, as described.
There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a windscreen wiper assembly which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, the windscreen wiper assembly comprising a clamping device which is also illustrative of certain aspects of the invention in its own right.
In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional windscreen wiper assembly; Figure 2 is a view showing the spindle and wiper body of the preferred embodiment, in spaced locations; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the wiper body shown in Figure 2, taken in the direction of the arrow A; and Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the spindle and wiper body in operative engagement.
The conventional wiper assembly shown in Figure 1 comprises a steel spindle 6 mounted for rotation in a sleeve 8, cylindrical bearings 10 such as ptfe being provided between the spindle and the sleeve, the spindle and sleeve being held in axial location by a circlip 12.
A portion 14 of the spindle projecting beyond the sleeve 8 is of frusto-conical form, being externally splined, and the end portion 16 of the spindle is threaded, to receive a nut 18. The wiper body 20 comprises a housing 22 of relatively soft material such as aluminium provided with a frusto-conical bore 24, to receive the portion 14 of the spindle 6. By location of the bore 24 over the portion 14 and by tightening the nut 18, the housing may be driven onto the spindle 6, the splines cutting into the bore 24 to bring the spindle and housing into driving engagement.
In accordance with this invention a spindle 30 is provided having a cylindrical end portion 32 provided with splines, and the housing 40 is provided with a cylindrical bore 42 also provided with internal splines, a slot 44 extending from the bore 42 towards the interior of the housing. Screw-threaded means 44 is provided, including a screw passing through the slot 44, for closing the slot 44 and tightening the bore 42 on the splines 32, to bring the housing 40 into driving engagement with the spindle 30.
As is shown in the drawings, the slot 44 extends from the bore 42 on the interior side of the housing, and in particular on the side of the bore from which the instrumentalities, which in the preferred embodiment is in the form of a wiper arm 45, extend. In particular the slot does not open from the housing, and is bounded on all sides by wall portions of the housing.
In this manner there is no projection on the opposite side of the bore, and the underside of the housing may be provided by a smooth curved surface 46 (Figure 3).
Obviating the need for the tightening screw 18 permits an axial bore 34 to be provided in the spindle into which a grease nipple 36 may be countersunk, either being secured in position by a pressing operation or by a screw-threading operation. This permits lubricating fluid to be introduced into the space between the sleeve 8 and the spindle 30, which in turn allows the use of metallic bearings, such as the cylindrical bronze bearings 38 shown in Figure 4. In particular, as will be seen from Figure 4, the grease nipple 36 does not project forwardly of the plane B-B of the wiper body, and thus presents no protrusion which could cause injury.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (19)

1. A splined clamping device, for use in the connection of a drive mechanism to a shaft for instrumentalities of the device to be moved by movement of the shaft, the clamping device comprising a housing having a splined bore, a slot extending from the bore, screw-threaded means being provided for closing the slot, wherein the slot extends from the bore on the side of the housing on which the instrumentalities are carried.
2. A clamping device according to Claim 1 wherein the slot does not project to an exterior surface of the housing.
3. A clamping device according to Claim 2 wherein the slot is enclosed by wall portions of the housing on all sides.
4. A clamping device according to Claim 3 wherein the slot is located wholly within the body of the housing.
5. A clamping device according to Claim 1 wherein the screw-threaded means is located between the bore and the instrumentalities.
6. A clamping device according to Claim 5 wherein the screw-threaded means passes through the slot.
7. A clamping device according to Claim 1, forming part of a windscreen wiper mechanism.
8. A windscreen wiper assembly comprising a spindle having an end portion which is splined, a wiper body provided with an internally splined cylindrical bore for interfitting with the spindle, and tightening means to clamp the splined bore onto the spindle to bring the splines into driving engagement with the spindle.
9. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 8 wherein the tightening means is operative at a location between the spindle and the wiper body.
10. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 8, comprising a clamping device in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 6.
11. A windscreen wiper assembly comprising a spindle provided with a splined end portion, a wiper body provided with a cylindrical bore having interior splines, means for tightening the bore over the spindle to bring the splines into driving engagement, and means to introduce lubricating fluid into the spindle in the axial direction.
12. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 11 wherein the means to introduce lubricating fluid is located on the longitudinal axis of the spindle on the outboard side thereof.
13. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein the means to introduce lubricating fluid comprises a grease nipple.
14. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 11, Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein a metallic bearing is provided between a sleeve within which the spindle extends, and the spindle.
15. A windscreen wiper assembly according to Claim 14 wherein the bearing is a bronze bearing such as "Oilite".mn
16. A windscreen wiper assembly according to any one of Claims 8 to 10 and according to any one of Claims 11 to 15.
17. A splined clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
18. A windscreen wiper assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and/or by reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. Any novel feature or combination thereof hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB9520886A 1995-10-12 1995-10-12 Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft. Withdrawn GB2306204A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9520886A GB2306204A (en) 1995-10-12 1995-10-12 Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft.
AU72250/96A AU7225096A (en) 1995-10-12 1996-10-11 Clamping devices
PCT/GB1996/002508 WO1997013662A1 (en) 1995-10-12 1996-10-11 Clamping devices

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9520886A GB2306204A (en) 1995-10-12 1995-10-12 Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9520886D0 GB9520886D0 (en) 1995-12-13
GB2306204A true GB2306204A (en) 1997-04-30

Family

ID=10782192

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9520886A Withdrawn GB2306204A (en) 1995-10-12 1995-10-12 Slot allowing pinching of a windscreen wiper housing onto a splined shaft.

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7225096A (en)
GB (1) GB2306204A (en)
WO (1) WO1997013662A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB592832A (en) * 1945-06-01 1947-09-30 William Henry Davenport Brouse Improvements in adjustable control levers
GB776177A (en) * 1954-09-15 1957-06-05 William Edward O Shei Improvements in or relating to windscreen wipers
GB847160A (en) * 1959-01-26 1960-09-07 William Edward O Shei Improvements in or relating to windscreen wipers
GB1495844A (en) * 1974-06-20 1977-12-21 Citroen Sa Attachment for a shaft

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2302889A1 (en) * 1973-01-20 1974-07-25 Rau Swf Autozubehoer DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A WIPER ARM TO THE END OF A WIPER DRIVE SHAFT
DE2335840C3 (en) * 1973-07-11 1975-12-11 Erich 1000 Berlin Pokolm Device for lubricating the windshield wiper pendulum axles of motor vehicles
DE3132575C2 (en) * 1981-08-18 1983-12-01 Josef 8016 Feldkirchen Bauer Pivot pin
DE3523441A1 (en) * 1985-06-29 1987-01-08 Swf Auto Electric Gmbh WINDOW WIPER
FR2713178B1 (en) * 1993-11-29 1996-01-05 Valeo Systemes Dessuyage Mechanism for rotating a wiper arm comprising means for varying the orientation of the wiper blade.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB592832A (en) * 1945-06-01 1947-09-30 William Henry Davenport Brouse Improvements in adjustable control levers
GB776177A (en) * 1954-09-15 1957-06-05 William Edward O Shei Improvements in or relating to windscreen wipers
GB847160A (en) * 1959-01-26 1960-09-07 William Edward O Shei Improvements in or relating to windscreen wipers
GB1495844A (en) * 1974-06-20 1977-12-21 Citroen Sa Attachment for a shaft

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997013662A1 (en) 1997-04-17
GB9520886D0 (en) 1995-12-13
AU7225096A (en) 1997-04-30

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)