WO2001030621A1

WO2001030621A1 - Jointed connection

Info

Publication number: WO2001030621A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/003585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cindy Brouckaert; Ann Schoeters
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-10-22
Filing date: 2000-10-12
Publication date: 2001-05-03
Also published as: DE19951003A1; JP2003512248A; KR20010099870A; BR0007241A; EP1140587A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a jointed connection, comprising the one first component (22) with a U-shaped cross-sectional profile and bearing openings (34, 36) in the elastically expandable sides (26, 28), which grips a second component (24) with bearing pivots (46, 48) externally arranged on the side walls thereof. On assembly, the bearing pivots (46, 48) engage with ramped surfaces (56, 58) in the bearing openings (34, 36). It is disclosed that the ramped surfaces (56, 58) are arranged with the bearing pivots (46, 48), such that the bearing pivots (46, 48) are linked by a bearing component (50) between the side walls (52, 54) of the second component (24) and that the bearing openings (34, 36) extend in the direction of assembly in the form of oblong holes. The first component (22) is supported in the opposing direction by means of a coaxial bearing surface (38), bearing on the bearing component (50).

Description

Articulated connection

State of the art

The invention is based on an articulated connection according to the preamble of claim 1.

Articulated joints are used in a variety of ways in the art, e.g. for windshield wipers for vehicles. Known windshield wipers have a wiper arm which is constructed from a fastening part and an articulated part articulated thereon with a wiper rod. A hook-shaped end of the wiper rod engages in a hook-in box of a wiper blade, which is formed between two side cheeks of a center bracket, and comprises a hinge pin. The joint thus formed guides the wiper blade over the vehicle window during the swiveling movement.

The wiper blade generally has a multi-section support bracket system with a center bracket, which supports subordinate brackets via articulated connections. At least some of these have claws at their ends, with which they hold a wiper strip on their head strip. The multi-part mounting bracket system and spring rails inserted in the headrail enable Chen that when wiping the wiper strip adjusts to a curved windshield with an even contact pressure. Such wipers are known for example from DE 37 44 237 AI. In the case of simplified designs, subordinate brackets, also called intermediate brackets and claw brackets, can be omitted. In the simplest case, the center bracket itself has claws with which it holds the wiper strip.

From DE OS 25 59 348 a windshield wiper arrangement with a wiper blade is known, the support bracket system of which has several hinged interconnected brackets. 14 shows an articulated version of the saddle type, in which a U-shaped cross-sectional profile of a higher bracket with its elastically expandable side walls engages around a central part of a lower bracket. Bearing openings are provided in the side walls of the higher bracket, into which bearing pins engage on the sides of the lower bracket during assembly.

To facilitate assembly, ramp surfaces lead from the open side of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile to the bearing bores. During assembly, they guide the bearing journals into the bearing openings, which enclose the assembled bearing journals over the entire circumference with a small bearing clearance. The ramp surfaces are inclined to the side walls. Their inclination is limited by the material thickness of the side walls. This, in turn, cannot exceed a certain thickness, since the side walls are elastically expanded during assembly before the bearing pins snap into place. The ramp surfaces weaken the thin-walled side walls. There is also the risk that they shorten and / or weaken the bearing surface of the bearing bores facing the open side of the cross-sectional profile. This results in a simple one quick assembly, but the joint can easily come loose under an unfavorable load, especially if the weakened bearing surfaces wear out over time, especially at the edges.

Advantages of the invention

According to the invention, the rarapa surfaces are arranged on the trunnions in the assembly direction, i.e. on the side on which the bearing journals are shortened by the ramp surfaces, the bearing openings are enlarged to elongated holes, so that the bearing openings only encompass the bearing journals approximately over half the circumference, to the open side of the cross-sectional profile. On the opposite side, the bearing of the second component is taken over by a bearing part which connects the bearing journals to one another and is supported on the first component via a coaxial bearing surface. The second component is secured over the entire circumference with large bearing surfaces in the first component via the bearing part and the journal, so that the bearing surfaces are little loaded and wear little. In this way, despite quick and easy assembly, safe storage is achieved over a long period of time even under unfavorable loads.

In order to further simplify the assembly, it is possible to attach inward bevels to the free ends of the elastically expandable side walls. This can be kept short and have a low tendency, so that the Seitenwän ^¬ en and the bearing surfaces are not compromised. It is often sufficient for the edges to be sufficiently broken. The bearing surface on the first component, on which the bearing part of the second component is supported, is expediently arranged in a web which lies between the side walls of the first component and perpendicular to a top wall to which it is connected. The width of the web can be dimensioned according to the requirements and can be made relatively rigid. As a result, it is suitable for guiding the second component axially precisely with respect to the first component by engaging between two guide surfaces of the second component.

The components can basically be made from any suitable material. The articulated connection according to the invention is particularly suitable for components of a windshield wiper, wherein the components can be made of plastic.

drawing

Further advantages result from the following description of the drawing. In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The expert will consider the features expediently also individually and consider it meaningful combinations together ^¬.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows part of a wiper blade of a Scheibenwi ^¬ exchanger in side view, 2 two components of an articulated connection according to the invention before assembly,

3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 2,

Fig. 4 shows a section corresponding to Fig. 3 in the semi-assembled state of the articulation and

Fig. 5 shows a section corresponding to Fig. 3 in the assembled state of the articulation.

Description of the embodiment

A wiper blade 10 comprises a central bracket 12, to which 18 intermediate brackets 14 are connected via articulated connections. To this 18 claw brackets 16 are articulated via the same articulated connections, which hold a wiper strip 20. 2 to 5 an articulated connection 18 between a first component 22 and a second component 24 is shown. The first component can either be the central bracket 12 or the intermediate bracket 14 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, the second component 24 is the intermediate bracket 14 or the claw bracket 16.

The first component 22 has in the region of the articulated connection 18 a U-shaped cross-sectional profile (FIG. 3), the side walls 26, 28 of which are connected by a cover wall 30 and can be elastically expanded laterally. The side walls 26, 28 have bearing openings 34, 36 which are expanded in the mounting direction 44 to elongate holes which can extend into the area of the top wall 30.

The second component 24 has side walls 52, 54, on the outside of which bearing journals 46, 48 are arranged, which are supported by a bearing part 50 between the side walls 52, 54 are interconnected.

During assembly, the second component 24 is pushed into the first component 22 in the assembly direction 44 from the open side of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The side walls 26, 28 meet with the inner edges of their free ends on ramp surfaces 56, 58 of the second component 24. This creates a force component in the axial direction of the trunnions 46, 48, by means of which the side walls 26, 28 are spread outward. When the journals 46, 48 reach the bearing openings 34, 36, they snap into place and are supported on the open side of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile with their circumference at the bearing openings 34, 36. In the assembled state, the bearing part 50 is supported on a bearing surface 38 of the first component 22. The bearing surface 38 is formed in a web 32 which is connected to the top wall 30. The web 32 and the bearing surface 38 can be made wide and rigid. They are thus suitable for guiding the second component 24 precisely laterally by the web 32 between two guide surfaces

66, 68 of the side walls 52, 54 engages. This results in a permanent, easy-to-assemble, articulated connection 18, the bearing areas 60, 62, 64 of which have a considerable width and hold the components securely over the entire circumference of the articulated connection.

In order to further improve the assembly or to reduce the inclination of the ramp surfaces 56, 58, inlet bevels 40, 42 can be provided on the inner sides of the free ends of the side walls 26, 28. These are kept relatively narrow. It is often sufficient if the edges in question are broken sufficiently. The components shown are made of a suitable material, such as sheet metal or plastic.

reference numeral

10 wiper blade 50 bearing part

12 center brackets 52 side wall

14 intermediate bracket 54 side wall

16 claw bracket 56 ramp area

18 articulated connection 58 ramp area

20 wiper strip 60 storage area

22 first component 62 storage area

24 second component 64 storage area

26 side wall 66 guide surface

28 side wall 68 guide surface

30 top wall

32 bridge

34 warehouse opening

36 warehouse opening

38 storage space

40 bevels

42 entry slope

44 Direction of assembly

46 bearing journals

48 journals

Claims

Expectations

1. Articulated connection, in which a first component (22) with a U-shaped cross-sectional profile, which has bearing openings (34, 36) in its elastically expandable side walls (26, 28), a second component (24) with bearing pins (46, 48) engages around the outside on its side walls (52, 54), the bearing pins (46, 48) engaging in the bearing openings (34, 36) during assembly via ramp surfaces (56, 58), characterized in that the ramp surfaces (56, 58) are arranged on the bearing journals (46, 48), that the bearing journals (46, 48) are connected between the side walls (52, 54) of the second component (24) via a bearing part (50) and that the bearing openings (34, 36) extend as elongated holes in the mounting direction, the first component (22) being supported in the opposite direction on the bearing part (50) via a coaxial bearing surface (38).

2. Articulated connection according to claim 1, characterized in that inlet bevels (40, 42) are attached to the inside at the free ends of the elastically expandable side walls (26, 28).

3. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing surface (38) is arranged in a web (32) which is between the side walls (26, 28) of the first component (22) and perpendicular to a top wall (30) to which it is connected.

4. Articulated connection according to claim 3, characterized in that the web (32) between two guide surfaces

(66, 68) of the second component (24) is guided laterally.

5. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components (22, 24) are made of plastic.

6. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components (22, 24) are components of a windshield wiper.