JP2002516215A - Link pin - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a link pin (32, 62) made of plastic for connecting two U-shaped members (14, 16, 18) of a wiper blade (10). Has two cylindrical bearing areas (36, 38) and areas (40, 64, 66) adjacent to the bearing areas, the areas being radially inwardly elastically deformable. It has a cross-sectional profile projecting in the direction. According to the present invention, the link pin is formed hollow and the outer peripheral surface of the link pin is closed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a link pin of the type described in the preamble of claim 1.

In a wind wiper device for an automobile, a fixing member is usually fixed to a drive shaft, and a link member is connected to the fixing member via a link pin. A wiper rod is provided following the link member, and a wiper blade is suspended from a hook-like end of the wiper rod. The wiper blade typically has a multi-section support U-shaped mechanism, the support U-shaped mechanism having an intermediate U-shaped member pivotally attached to a central U-shaped member, and an end of the intermediate U-shaped member. Has a claw U-shaped member pivotally connected thereto. The claw U-shaped member holds the head strip of the wiper strip at the end with the pawl. The multi-section support U-shaped mechanism and the spring strip inserted into the head strip allow the wiper strip to conform to the curved windshield with a uniform contact pressure when wiping. In a simple configuration, the middle U-shaped member and the claw U
The figure-shaped member is omitted. Very simply, the intermediate U-shaped member has a pawl that holds the wiper strip.

[0003] US Pat. No. 4,795,288 discloses a link pin made of plastic, the end of which has a plurality of bearing areas of small diameter. The pins are split between the bearing areas, in which case the split between the bearing areas forms a large diameter area. During installation, the split portion is compressed to a small diameter in the bearing area, so that the link pin is pushed through the bearing opening into the U-shaped member surrounded by the side wall. When the link pin reaches the end position, the split part resiliently expands again and secures the link pin between the inner side walls of the inner U-shaped member. The slit between the split parts is
It is susceptible to the notch effect and significantly reduces the breaking strength of the link pin. Furthermore,
Debris accumulates in the intermediate spaces between the split parts, making it difficult to remove the link pins and also causes difficulties during installation.

From DE 44 11 084 B2, a two-part link pin consisting of a radially deformable outer tube sleeve and a rod arranged inside the tube sleeve is known. An expansion element is provided in the central region between the tube sleeve and the rod, which expands the central region of the tube sleeve to a larger diameter in the mounted state and thus fixes the link pin in the axial direction. In order to avoid metal-to-metal friction and thus reduce the operating noise of the entire device, a plastic or noise damping member is arranged between the U-shaped member and the tube sleeve. Link pins are expensive to manufacture and cumbersome to install. This is because the components of the link pins must be aligned with each other and with respect to the U-shaped member.

In addition, the stresses exerted on the tube sleeve by the expansion element are maintained in the tube sleeve in the assembled state and cause fatigue failure during operation.

Advantages of the Invention According to the invention, the link pin is hollow and has a closed outer peripheral surface.
This avoids the notch effect and increases the breaking strength of the link pin. Upon mounting, the area adjacent to the bearing area having a radially projecting cross-sectional profile is elastically deformed and brought to a diameter which approximately corresponds to the diameter of the cylindrical bearing area. When the link pin reaches its end position, the adjacent area is restored to its original state and the link pin is fixed in the axial direction. In this case, the stresses in the link pins that occur during installation are reduced completely or to the desired initial stress, so that the link pins are less stressed in the assembled state.

[0007] Adjacent regions having the above-mentioned cross-sectional profile may be provided between and / or at the ends of the bearing regions of the link pins, in each case two adjacent regions cooperating for axial fixing. I do. If the adjacent areas are arranged between the bearing areas, the two areas can transition to each other seamlessly, for example by providing a bead between the bearing areas, It can be divided by small diameter sections in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions.

The part of the bead portion is provided with a hole which is advantageously tapered during installation,
The link pin is compressed radially inward by the press-fitting assembly, in which case the internal contour of the link pin is correspondingly elastically inwardly deformed.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the link pin is axially fixed by the rear end in the mounting direction and the adjacent area provided in the central area adjacent to the other side of the bearing area. In this case, the central region forms a bead whose cross section is reduced in the mounting direction to the cross section of the bearing region. The link pin is thus pushed through the bearing area without using a tool. This is easier if the volume of material displaced inward is smaller. Advantageously, therefore, the bead is divided by a region of small diameter as viewed in the circumferential direction, the raised region of the bead being narrowed in a wedge-like manner towards a gently tapering end. The wide ends ensure a secure axial fixation. Said configuration of the bead portion is advantageously combined with an adjacent area formed by a prefabricated collar at the end of the link pin, wherein the end face of the link pin is closed.

[0010] The bead portion is formed in such a manner that the material is thickened in the region of the bead portion on one surface, and the bead portion is formed on the other surface when the link pin is manufactured with substantially the same material thickness. And is formed by having a curved portion or a bulging portion. In the latter case, a large radial elasticity of the link pin is obtained. This is because when the diameter of the bead portion is reduced, the length of the link pin can be changed and overloading of the chamfered surface adjacent to the cavity is avoided. A similar effect is obtained if the radially projecting cross-sectional profile differs from circular and extends partially inside the cylindrical reference surface of the bearing area and partially outside the reference surface. In this case, the part that extends inside the cross-sectional profile curves outwardly during installation, whereas the part that extends outside compresses inwardly.

The adjacent area provided at the end of the link pin has a cross section similar to that of the adjacent area located between the bearing areas, in which case the adjacent area is provided at one or both ends. Can be formed under heat by means of a suitable tool during installation. In this case, the link pin is expanded conically from the inside.

[0012] In order to protect the hollow space of the link pins from contaminants and to avoid that noise can be generated by the running wind, the hollow space is closed on at least one side, ie on the side exposed to the running wind. It is advantageous to close. When both ends of the link pin are closed, an exhaust opening is provided for exhausting the hollow of the link pin when the hollow is reduced by elastic deformation.

The invention will now be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. The drawings illustrate several embodiments of the present invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination.

The features are advantageously considered individually and combined to form another important combination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wiper blade 10 has a U-shaped mechanism with a central U-shaped member 14, an intermediate U-shaped member 16, and a claw U-shaped member 18, wherein the claw U-shaped member includes a retaining claw. It holds the wiper strip 26 via 20 and is guided over a windshield 28. The wiper blade 10 is pivotally mounted on a wiper rod 12 which engages between two side walls 22 of a central U-shaped member 14 and has a link pin 24.

Each U-shaped member 14, 16, 18 of the U-shaped mechanism is inserted through a bearing hole 56 in the side wall 22 of the U-shaped member 14, 16, 18 into which the link pins 32, 62 are fitted. Are pivotally connected to each other. For example, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the link between the central U-shaped member 14 and the intermediate U-shaped member 16. A plastic member 30 is provided between the central U-shaped member and the intermediate U-shaped member 16 to reduce wear and noise of the central U-shaped member and the intermediate U-shaped member 16.

The link pin 32 has a hollow chamber 34 opened at an end. In addition, the link pin 32 has two bearing areas 36, 38 at the end, between which areas:
An adjacent region 40 having a radially projecting cross-sectional profile is provided. Said area 40 is formed by a bead portion 42 whose end face cooperates with the inner surface of the intermediate U-shaped member 16 and thus secures the link pin 32 in the axial direction.

FIG. 5 shows an attachment type of the link pin 32 having a closed end located rearward in the attachment direction 48. At the time of attachment, the link pin 32 is press-fitted via a molding member 50 having a hole 52 that is stepped in a tapered shape. Molded member 5
Due to the reduced diameter of the bore 52 at the zero end 54, the radially projecting cross-sectional profile is compressed radially inward to the diameter of the cylindrical bearing areas 36, 38 or bearing bore 56. Therefore, the link pin can be attached through the bearing hole 56. When the link pin 32 reaches the end position, the resiliently compressed region 40 is expanded and an axial fixation takes place between the inner side walls 22 of the intermediate U-shaped member 16. In this case, it is advantageous if the adjacent area 40 has a sliding slope 74 at least in the mounting direction.

In the link pin 62 according to FIG. 3, the regions 64, 66 adjacent to the cylindrical bearing regions 36, 38 with a radially projecting cross-sectional profile are provided by the link pin 62.
At the end. The cross-sectional profile basically corresponds to the adjacent area 40 in FIG.
Can be configured similarly. Here too, it is advantageous if at least the region 66 has a sliding ramp 76 in the mounting direction 48. Regions 64 and 66 are mutually separated (FIG. 3)
Or individually cooperating with the central region 40 between the bearing regions 36, 38 for axial fixing (FIGS. 4 and 10). Advantageously, for the second alternative embodiment, the regions 40, 64 adjacent on both sides of the bearing region 36 located rearward in the mounting direction 48 are selected. In this embodiment, on one side, a prefabricated, for example injection-molded collar 78 forms a region 64 located at the end and on the other side a bead 42 between the bearing regions 36, 38 in the mounting direction 48. It is reduced to the cross section of the bearing areas 36, 38 (FIGS. 4 and 10). The link pin 32 is pushed into the U-shaped members 14 and 16 without using a special molding member 50. To facilitate this, according to FIG. 10, the bead portion 42 is circumferentially divided by a region 44 of reduced diameter, which region is enlarged in the mounting direction 48 so that the bead portion The raised area at 42 is wedge-shaped narrowed toward a gently tapering end.

The regions 64, 66 provided at the ends of the link pins 62 are formed under heat by tools 68, 70 during or after the attachment of the link pins 62. Tool 70
Has a tapered addition, whereby the end of the cavity 34 is conically enlarged. At the opposite end of the link pin 62, the area 64 is provided with the stepped tool 6
8 or formed by a suitable prefabricated collar 78 which cooperates with an area 66 provided at the opposite end of the link pin 62 as an opposing bearing.

The bead portion 42 need not extend over the entire circumferential direction of the link pin and over the entire length between the bearing areas 36, 38 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The bead portion is formed such that the bead portion is circumferentially defined by the region 44 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10).
Alternatively, it is sufficient to be interrupted axially by the region 46 (FIG. 13). In the variant according to FIGS. 11 and 12, the cross-sectional contours 58, 60 of the adjacent areas 40, 64, 66 differ from the circular shape and are partially inside the cylindrical reference surfaces of the bearing areas 36, 38. And extend outside. The cross-sectional profile 58 is formed in an elliptical shape, while the cross-sectional profile 60 is formed in a polygonal shape. Cross-sectional profile 58,
The cross-sectional contours 58, 60 assume a substantially cylindrical contour of the bearing areas 36, 38, since the pressure acting on the projecting sections 60 bulges the areas located between the sections.

The link pin 32 according to FIG. 6 has, in particular, an exhaust opening 72 for closing the end of the link pin and for evacuating the cavity 34. Further, in the region of the bead portion 42, since the hollow chamber 34 has a curved portion or a bulged portion 80, the link pin 32
Has a substantially uniform material thickness in the axial direction. Link pin 3 by bending portion 80
The two are subjected to a compressive load during installation, both on the outer chamfer and on the chamfer for the cavity 34, so that cracks in these areas are avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a section of a wiper blade.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 with the assembly device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a link pin having a closed end.

FIG. 6 is a view as seen in the direction of arrow VII.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a modified example of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a modified embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a modified embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view showing another modified embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a view showing another modified embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a view as seen in the direction of arrows XIV-XIV in FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Wiper blade, 12 Wiper rod, 14 Central U-shaped member, 1
6 middle U-shaped members, 18 claw U-shaped members, 20 holding claws, 22 side walls,
24 link pins, 26 wiper strips, 28 windshields, 30
Plastic members, 32 link pins, 34 hollow chambers, 36, 38 bearing areas, 40 adjacent areas, 42 bead sections, 44, 46 areas, 48
Mounting direction, 50 moldings, 52 holes, 54 ends, 56 bearing holes, 58 oval cross-sectional profile, 60 polygonal cross-sectional profile, 62 link pins, 64, 66 adjacent areas, 68, 70 tool, 72 exhaust opening,
74,76 Running slope, 78 collar, 80 curved section

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. The two U-shaped members (14, 16) of a wiper blade (10).
Link pins (32, 62) made of plastic for connecting the two cylindrical bearing areas (36, 38) and areas (40, 40) adjacent to the bearing areas. 64, 66), wherein the region has a radially inwardly deformable radially projecting cross-sectional profile which can be elastically deformed inwardly. A link pin, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the link pin is closed. 2. An annular bead (42) forming said adjacent area (40) with a radially projecting cross-sectional profile and being located between bearing areas. The link pin described in 1. 3. Link pin according to claim 2, wherein the bead (42) is divided by a region (44) of reduced diameter as viewed in the circumferential direction. 4. Link pin according to claim 2, wherein the bead (42) is divided by a region (46) of reduced diameter as viewed in the axial direction. 5. Link pin according to claim 2, wherein the hollow space (34) has a bend (80) in the region (40) of the bead (42). 6. Adjacent area with a radially projecting cross-sectional profile (6).
Link pin according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link pins (40, 64, 66) have a sliding ramp (74, 76) in the mounting direction. 7. Adjacent region with a radially projecting cross-sectional profile.
Link pin according to claim 1, wherein the link pin (40, 64, 66) is arranged at one end of the link pin (32, 62). 8. The adjacent area (40, 64, 66) has a radially projecting cross-sectional profile (58, 60) different from the circular shape, the cross-sectional profile being partially defined. The link pin according to claim 1, wherein the link pin extends inside the cylindrical reference surface of the bearing area and partially outside the reference surface. 9. The cross-sectional profile is elliptical (58) or polygonal (60).
The link pin according to claim 8. 10. The link pin according to claim 1, wherein the link pin has a collar (78) arranged at the rear end of the link pin in the mounting direction (48). Link pin. 11. A bead (42) is provided between the bearing areas (36, 38) and extends axially over the area (40), the cross section of which is oriented in the mounting direction (48). ) Is reduced to the reference cross section of the bearing area (36, 38),
The link pin according to claim 10. 12. The bead portion (42) has a circumferentially reduced diameter region (4).
12. The link pin according to claim 11, wherein the raised area of the bead portion is divided by (4), and the raised area of the bead portion is narrowed in a wedge shape toward a gradually tapering end portion. 13. The link pin according to claim 1, wherein the rear end of the link pin in the mounting direction (48) is closed on the end face side. 14. Link pin according to claim 1, wherein the hollow space (34) of the link pin is closed except for an exhaust opening (72). 15. The link pin according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
32, 62) in a device for mounting tapered holes (52).
) Having a small opening cross section of said hole,
Device for mounting link pins, characterized in that it is designed approximately equal to the circular surface of the bearing area (38). 16. The link pin (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
32, 62), a small bore opening cross section is provided in the bearing area (32).
38) Tapered step holes (52) designed approximately equal to the circular surface of (52).
Of the U-shaped part (14,1) with a small opening cross section.
6) near the bearing hole (56), and the link pin is inserted through the tapered hole into the U.
A method for mounting a link pin, characterized in that the link pin is pressed into a figure-shaped member (14, 16). 17. The method for mounting link pins (32, 62) according to claim 7 or 10, wherein at least one adjacent area (64, 66) with a radially projecting cross-sectional profile is provided. A method for attaching a link pin, characterized in that the link pin (62) is formed at an end thereof at the time of attachment.